What do I know.

July 2012 - August 2012  July 4th of July - Celebrating the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays of the entire year. My family always celebrates the entire day, and our home town has lots of activities and things to do.  In fact! While I was on my mission for 18 months, away from my family, with no contact (basically) the only time I was homesick was on the 4th of July.  At the parade with Noah and Abbi. This year was amazing! I missed the sunrise ceremony, but made it to the parade.  The best part about the 4th of July is how many old familiar faces you see, and the community  feeling as you celebrate together.  I literally almost cried at the parade, the feeling of patriotism and community was so strong, and they had an amazing marching band from a college come and perform, the first in years. I should have recorded it.  After the parade we had a great time at the carnival in the park where my dad rushed over to his favo...

January 2012 - March 2012 January New Years - Every January my family has a fancy New Year's dinner, rarely on New Years.  My mom made it up to teach us manners, how to behave appropriately in public and at people's homes.  It was the only dinner of the year where everyone came fully clothed, used napkins, and was barred from expelling bodily gases.  Though, I did light a table decoration on fire once, it got me put outside on the porch in the cold.  One of our traditions is to write down important, or significant events and accomplishments of the year and then write down on the other side what we are looking forward to. Goals, anticipated events, etc.  Its always fun to look back at the previous years, and to realize that, despite feeling like you're coasting along doing nothing, every year is full and memorable in its own way.   (2 things on my list this year that I'll share, starting my MBA degree and The Boy having The Boy Jr, but with re...

My birthday has come and passed.  I am 30 years old.  It was a fine birthday, I rushed home from my ABPA Conference in San Antonio to have dinner with my brothers, sisters, sister-in-law and Ana.  They brought my chocolates, flowers, a desk ornament of a man on a toilet, and a purse.  It was lovely.   I enjoyed making a list of 30 things to do before I'm 30.  It gave me something to work on that was challenging, and added that last bit of stress I was missing while trying to juggle everything else going on in my life.  I wasn't able to finish everything, but I don't regret the things I accomplished and I hope it doesn't diminish the things I did accomplish.  To make myself feel better about my shortcomings, and utter failure, I compiled a list of everything else I did instead of everything I thought I wanted to do....... Visited Mexico and ate lots of new things. Went to Disneyland and didn't freak out...too bad. Taught myself Joo...

I went scuba diving just before Christmas.  This was a special dive, my very first in the real, live ocean.  Instead of sinking in some hot spring in the snowy mountains of Utah I swam with bright, colorful fish, slimy eels, fat turtles, and playful dolphins.   I got to see what a real life ocean shelf looks like, as I accidentally dove the deepest I've ever been, to the chagrin of my dive leader/instructor man.  But as a result I did get to scuba dive while holding hands the whole rest of the time.   In the course of the adventure I became friends with a single older lady, and a (newly) single young Australian man who's ex-girlfriend missed out on the most amazing dive of all time.  Nothing brings people together like a lively, languid, sea sport. Joey and me snorkeling. The closest picture I have to scuba diving.

  Happy Groundhog Day!! In celebration of Groundhog Day and Rosca de Reyes we had a wonderful feast.  In Mexico they used to? still do celebrate Christmas differently.  Instead of Santa bringing gifts on Christmas Eve the Three Wisemen bring gifts on January 6 and put them in the children's shoes.  As part of the festivities they have a delicious bread in the shape of a beautiful wreath.  A little baby Jesus is baked inside of the bread and who ever is served the piece with the baby Jesus is said to be blessed.  In return for the wonderful blessing they are expected to have a feast for their friends/family on February 2nd.  Beautiful Bread I n honor of our Christmas guest, Ana Maria, my mom tried to have this wonderful tradition.  Although it was her first try. My mom's beautiful bread. It tasted delicious, and I lucked out by being blessed with the Baby Jesus in my piece.  So I planned an amazing Rosca de Reyes - ...