The snow is lightly falling, music is playing, my students are happily working. As I sit here glazing, what is going to be a very fun bowl, being entertained by my students conversations, I can't help but think .... it doesn't get any better than this! These are the moments I love my job!

Handy Man?

I have decided not to sell my house. I have been toying with the idea for the past year. But have decided that I would hold off for a while. SO ... I want to do some home improvements. I want shelves in my garage, moldings around my windows, I want to turn my 3rd bedroom into a guest/office room and I REALLY want a soft water system!!! (who would have ever thought THAT would be on top of my list?) For the first two things on my list I need to hire someone ... a handy man! I need a handy man! Where does one get one of those? How much does a handy man cost? I am totally clueless on how this all works. Advise anyone?

A few thoughts ....

* I pulled out of the school parking lot behind one of my co-workers. As we came up to the first light she was turning left and I was going straight. That makes for a very awkward moment. You kinda wave and then what? I always feel like I should unroll my window and say something or make a funny face .. something! You are both just sitting there trying not to look uncomfortable. Even worse is when you try not to make eye contact. It is just one of those awkward moments in life.

* Did you know that if you don't use a bag or bags (I take my own reusable bags, my attempt at going green) at Smith's grocery store they credit you $.05 for every bag you would have used! So not only are you saving the environment you are saving money!

* This has been a very long week! What makes time time 'speed up' or 'slow down'?

That's all. Just a few thoughts.

On New Year's Eve my sisters and thought it would be so funny to take pictures with my mom's snowman village. As you can imagine we thought we were sooo funny. I guess you had to be there. :)

This just might have to be next years Christmas card!

This year I decided that instead of giving my nieces presents (heaven knows that don't need more stuff. I mean what do you get a six year old that has a cell phone!) that I would give them a certificate for a hot chocolate outing with me. One afternoon last week we went to Boarders and got hot chocolates. The guy making the hot chocolates made them extra special with whip cream, chocolate sauce, and white chocolate curls. I hope these outings will create special memories for all of us!

Talulla, Delia, Sunshine, Sari, Cloe
Big smiles ... some with teeth, some without!
Silly girls

Turning 33 and bringing in 2008!

Well today is my 33rd birthday! Holy crap I am thirty-something! Like most of you, my birthday makes me think about my life (with my birthday and new years being a day apart I sure do a lot of analyzing, contemplating, and goal setting this time of year!) As I was going to bed last night I asked myself the basic questions; am I happy? Overall .... yes I am. I am so so so blessed. I enjoy my job, I have a nice home (my townhouse is dang cute!), I have gone and done things that I have wanted to do, I own my car (just had to throw that one in :) I have a wonderful, supportive family, and I have amazing friends. I truly feel that I have made the best of my 33 years. I really don't have any big regrets. Am I where I want to be? This is a hard one. Are we ever really there? There are a ton of things I could do better. I always feel that I could step it up a notch. Am I content? Not really. Just an honest answer. I feel so good about my past accomplishments but I am very ready for the next thing ... whatever that is. I feel that life is made up of mile stones; getting an education, establishing a career, buying a house, getting married, having children, etc. Then you put the cherries on top ie. traveling, furthering your education, swimming Alcatraz (the big goals), all the things that make you ... you! I feel like I have hit all the major milestones that I have control over. I feel that I have put a lot of cherries on top of my ice cream sundae. So now what? I think grad school is going to be in my near future. Mr. Wonderful (as my mom calls him) is welcome to walk into my life! Until then ... I will keep adding cherries to my sundae! Bring on 2008 and being 33! I hope to make it a great year!

I had my little family party last night.

Thanks mom for NOT using 33 candles!

I had some little helpers in opening my presents.

Delia, Clementine, Talulla, Cloe, and Tanner

Lot of fun stuff from my family! Thanks everyone!

Snowshoeing Pictures

We had another great day of snowshoeing. My brother Josh and his wife Lisa visiting from North Carolina joined us.

I fall down a lot! I was only about 10 feet from the car.

Me and my Dad