By this time next week.....

I'm so excited, I can hardly stand it! I can't believe it's been 11 years since I've been home from Chile. Next week at this time, my parents and I will be in Valparaiso, Chile, then getting on a cruise to go down south to Patagonia and around Cape Horn, ending up Buenos Aires, Argentina. The first couple of nights we'll be in Santiago and it works out great because one of the girls I taught when I was on my mission, is now at the University in Santiago, crazy!! and we're planning on meeting up w/her to get a tour of the city. I can't wait to see old friends from my mission and to also explore new places that I wasn't able to go to while I was on my mish and can't wait to see my parents impression of one of the most beautiful, friendliest countries on earth, but of course I'm partial :) For Argentina, have to say, even though I'm excited to see the sights, can't wait to see the Tango dancers! If any look remotely like him, then sign me up :)

Christmas is coming....

 
 
 
 

So this week my friend Maria from my ward invited me to this party that a friend of her who lives in Westwood was throwing at her house. Apparently this lady has been throwing this party for the last 20 years or so to showcase all her decorations and by decorations, I mean her entire house was converted to a little Christmas village. It was amazing, seriously every little nook and cranny had something Christmassy and every Christmas item had a theme, so yes in the laundry room, she had figurines of Santa and his elves ironing, etc... In the bedroom, she had Santa sleeping, etc... It carried on all the way outside where she had an entire Santa surf theme. I really don't know how they live in their house or where they store the stuff when they're not using it, but it was pretty cool. They live in this beautiful mansion and had valet parking and a little catered dinner. All that we had to do was bring a children's book that they donated in our honor. Very generous and such a fun tradition.

A Thanksgiving to Remember......

I just got back from a quick visit home for Thanksgiving, it's never long enough! We had such a great Thanksgiving, everyone except for Mitch and Beck and their fam's were there and they were really missed! Because there were so many of us, we ended up reserving the chapel for our festivities and it actually ended up being perfect. We had a very yummy dinner, played some basketball, played "turkey" bowling, actually it was a cornish game hen, and a mighty thawed one by the end of the round, gross!, did a little dancing and topped off the night w/Sardine's, a family fav and have to say a little bit creepy in the chapel. I really can't even begin to say how thankful I am for my amazing family and friends, I know I really lucked out in that department. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Edible Turkeys

Happy almost Thanksgiving everyone!!! So, thought I would share this cute T. giving idea that my sis. in law, Ali shared w/our fam forever ago and made these for place settings. Seriously, I still can't get over how creative Ali is. I've now adopted making these w/the kids I work w/every year. It's hilarious! It cracks me up, how no matter the age Preschool to Jr. High, they all seem to have fun making them. This year, me and my friend Youmna, a speech therapist at one of my school's did a group w/some of our jr. high kids and made these.

Here's what you need:

Ingredients:
2 gingersnaps
2 chocolate Chips
1 red hot candy
3 candy corn
1 choc. covered cherry (or similar shaped candy, i buy these b/c they're really cheap and hold less than zero temptation for me :)
and choc. frosting

gobble! gobble!

Am, duh? why didn't i think of this before? :)

Twilight!!

So, I thought I would update everyone has to the content of my weekend....aside from reading about vampires, werewolves, etc..., not much. Let me backtrack, I was initially referred to these books by Kim Pee. She was reluctant to recommend it b/c of the whole vampire theme and since neither of us are big into sci fi, but after hearing her rave about it, I thought I would check it out. So, I read Twilight and liked it, but think I read it during a busy time, so didn't fully appreciate it. Well, after hearing about the movie out this weekend and being surrounded by huge Twilight fans in my roomies, decided to give it another read. Fortunately, my roommate Stacy has all the books, so no need to wait and go out and buy the next edition. So, I started Fri. night with the reading, 2 days later and midway through the 3rd book, I'm hooked and very sleep deprived! I still haven't seen the movie, am planning on seeing it tomorrow, so hope it lives up to my expectations, but according to Stacy and Erin, 2 of my roomies, it's definitely worth seeing. Here was the scene around my apt. today:

Happy Veteran's Day!!

So, I'll be honest while I am grateful for our veteran's, most of the time I just enjoy having the day off and don't take the time to really reflect about all of the sacrifices people in the military have made past and present. I love history and when I read stories about these men and women who risk everything for the well being of our country, it makes me so proud to be an American. Today I saw a story on T.V. of a really cute couple who had been married for 10 years, the husband was deployed to Iraq last year and while on the roof of a house guarding the street, was hit by a bomb, barely surviving, suffering a severe traumatic brain injury. He has just relearned to talk and when asked he said "he knew he was making a difference and felt it was right for him to be there". What a great example! In one of my favorite books, " The Greatest Generation", it tells the story of a man who lied about his age, enlisting at 16 years old! (one of many) and then went on to fight for several years, earning various medals of honor for his bravery, but never telling anyone of his remarkable past. I can't imagine anyone being so willing to serve and humble of his successes. Just wanted to say Thank You!! to all the people in the military for your courage and sacrifices!

School's in session

Wow! I am way overdue on posting. Scary how quick time flies! I just have to say if anyone ever has doubts about their worth, all you need to do is work w/kids, they are the instant confidence booster. Too funny, today I went into this Kinder class to do a group w/some kiddies on upper body strengthening and some exercises to prep them for positioning their pencils. So, I'm passing out play-doh to all of the kids when this one little girl says "I like you". So, I smile and was like "I like you too". Well, I love that age b/c the minute one gets attention they want it too. So next I hear "I love you", "I like your shoes", "I like your hair", etc.... I left thinking I was a million bucks. Seriously, I can see why they're the ones we should emulate. Every day when I'm walking across campus I see the things they do and say, even the ones i work with who may not have the cognition, but are amazing with how they just have this inherent sweetness and share everything they have. So, I've been racking my brain thinking of what I'm going to be for Halloween, any ideas? I'm looking for cheap, easy and comfortable? I say that I'm doing it for the kids, but it's really b/c I love Halloween, it seriously brings back so many fun memories. What was one Halloween that was most memorable to you guys and do you remember what you dressed up as?