merry christmas!!!

pandas could die

So, apparently this upcoming winter storm is going to be so bad not only could you die but the following other extremes may occur. should you decide to be crazy enough to drive through it:

1.) A kitten will explode every 60 seconds
2.) The eighties fashion trend will increase exponentially (we're talking neon colored leg warmers and aqua net, people!)
3.) The muffin top you refuse to acknowledge you are sporting will double in size
4.) Pandas will become extinct overnight
5.) Palin will be elected President in 2012 (seriously, that's reason enough to stay home and watch "A Christmas Story" marathon on the AMC channel)
6.) Your children will decide that moving out of the house after college is 'over-rated' and decide to live with you 'indefinitely'

is it over or just a break?

no post since June, huh? I knew it had been awhile but didn't realize it was that long.

Sorry.

Really, this whole blog thing started to become tedious and unfulfilling. I felt my posts were uninteresting and I started to get frustrated with a lack of understanding why some applications and pictures weren't working.

Oh yeah, and I've been BUSY. :)

School was nothing short of overwhelming at times, this past semester. 17 credit hours, 7 classes plus an online pet nutrition course kept me pretty busy.

Also, I really do feel like my posts - my whole blogging style, really - is uninteresting. Let me know if you feel otherwise or have any tips for me. I'm considering revving this thing up again but doing things different.....

less words, more pictures.

Here's one for starters. A picture outside our living room in October after the first big snow of the season.

Christmas and New Year's Eve 2008

This year, Ladd and I were able to spend Christmas Day together here in Glenwood Springs. It was nice. We watched movies, ate yummy food, drank our favorite drinks, and gave our furry babies their Christmas gifts. It was nice to have that day for ourselves.

a new scratcher


catnip was had


rawhide bones were chewed


Then, we were thankful to be able to drive home to Kansas the next day to see family again.
This year went down as my favorite time at home for the holidays, since moving out of the house in 1998.

My mom and sister-in-law graciously saved a large amount of their vacation time and used it to spend time with Ladd and me.
A whole week!
And Ladd also saved a week of vacation for the trip as well, which I am very thankful for as well.
It was great.
And once again, the Christmas time with family overlapped with Rachel's birthday.
She chose to spend her 30th birthday with all of us!


This look is showing her nervousness of the cost of the gifts she was about to open from her husband. ;) Cute.


Lots of relaxing, naps, food, drinks, games (I learned about the famous "Wii" - super fun by the way), gifts, bonfire, etc.
I am thankful for the time with them.

My mom and dad paid for Brad, Rachel, Ladd, and me to spend the evening together however we wanted, one night.
We had before dinner drinks at Brad and Rachel's.
Then, we went out for DeLIciOUs burgers!
We finished the night watching The Dark Night at their house.
Good times.
I'm thankful for Brad and Rachel and our relationship with them.
My husband, Ladd, was already friends with both of them before we even met.
Rachel is not only my sister-in-law, but also one of my best friends.
Since we don't see each other often enough, we really enjoyed our time together that night.
Thanks, Mom and Dad.











Time with Ladd's family was one of my best times with them as well.
It was even more relaxing than usual.
My mother-in-law is by far one of the best cooks I know.
Her food is absolutely amazing and I always get so full, because I want "just one more" bite! ;)
I'm sad to say, I forgot my camera when we went to his folk's house.
So, no pictures from the festivities there. :(

Thanks, Jerry and Kristin, for letting us invite ourselves over to see your kitty!
It was fun to be on your turf for a while.
I wish we could spend more time together and get to know more about each other.
Maybe we siblings could all get together for drinks or something, next time the family gets together?!?!?!




We enjoyed New Year's on the farm with a bonfire, per my request.
Ladd and I don't like to be driving on New Year's Eve, since we both like to partake in having a few drinks.
Bonfires are a favorite of mine.
I went to several when I was in High School and college.
Some of which were at my folks' farm.







And the Kansas sunsets.
SO glad to see these again!

my dog bailey would love this, too

half-way point

FINALLY!!!

I just finished my last of 6 finals.
Thank G.O.D.!

This semester seemed particularly long.
I remember last Fall semester being ridiculous, but I don't think it was even this bad. WOW. Hard core.

This semester is officially over which signifies my half-way point in the program.

Its a bit unreal, the more I think about it in that context. Only 1 1/2 more years and I will be set free to the world to utilize (hopefully) all the glorious and wonderous skills that i have learned here.

Amen! Hallelujah! Holy Shit! Where's the tylenol?
(from: Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation - a.k.a. the BEST movie EVER!!!)

So now is when I go toast a glass of ice cold beer and hug my husband and pets for (surviving) helping me through another semester of intense, scholastic craziness!

Cheers!

last day of classes

I have officially finished my last day of regular classes for this semester!

I have one final down and 5 more to go. Two of them are half take-home and half in class. In another class we were assigned a paper due the day of the final.

Let me count this out:
2 papers
3 online quizzes
2 take-home exams
5 in class finals

All of this is to be due at various times within the next 7 days. Some are even due tonight.

Wow. I am officially cramming!

*Sigh*

Any positive vibes/energy you can send my way would be mucho appreciado!!!