"We plunged into the cornucopia quivering with desire and the ecstasy of unbridled avarice"

Christmas 2007 has come and gone. Let’s muse over the highlights and lowlights of the seasons merriment:

My frail attempt at recreating Grandma's caramel popcorn balls. Better luck next year. They conveniently doubled as a tooth-extractor! And, one of those wiley kernels jumped ship right into my pants and burned my stomach.

A trip to the Temple lights with the Zamoras! It
was uber crowded, I guess we weren't the only one with that idea.

Note to self: avoid crowds and go earlier (try March)

Christmas Eve pancake breakfast with friends!

Christmas mayhem with all the little rascals on Christmas eve. Opening presents definitely kept them entertained for a good 45 seconds! Then, they wanted more.

It is clearly evident by the picture below that Ethen loves his new rocking horse.

Big kids can play with toys too! Mike got an indo board. It's much harder than it looks!

Christmas morning with the Smiths!

Santa brought a Wii and guitar hero 3 for the family. Unsure as to how mom feels about the guitar hero. She kept inquiring about the location of the mute button.

Jack may have built a house, but this is the bed that James built. Best present ever!

He got the idea from this pottery barn bed. He is so handy! The first night we slept on it he was unsure if the supports would hold. Luckily they did and then he added some more reinforcements to compensate for all the tamales and holiday treats we have consumed. Sleep over anyone?

I am grateful for...

I am 4 days past due and I am going to cheat...so sew me!

1. Tyler
2. Jared
3. Joshua
4. Ethan
5. My siblings

The Tassel Was Worth The Hassle!

It appears as though my time has finally come to leave the collegiate age, and enter the working world! Last week I turned in all my final paperwork, moved the proverbial tassel, and this week I am officially a college graduate and unemployed! I feel like a million bucks, and probably owe about that much as well. I guess it comes with the territory. I am so grateful for all the support from my family and friends. My family was the utmost driving force in my educational endeavors.

With the exception of my cap not suiting my full-size head as aptly as I would have liked, the day went off without a hitch! It was fabulous to see my family cheering me on. My plans for the future include getting a job and then going back to school. Call me nutty, but I got a little misty eyed as I watched frantic underclassmen cross University Rd. with their noses entrenched in their textbooks as the headed for their finals. I love school!!!

Due to scheduling conflicts (too many fun parties last weekend) my mom is throwing a little get-together this Friday (12/21). We sent out invites, but if you didn’t receive one, all the info. is below! Hope you can make it!

5 more gratefuls

1. All my students at Higley High! Go Knights



2. My little big brother, Jared



3. Rain and the drops they leave on your face








4. Comedy Central for bringing back Kenny V. Spenny







5. My beloved Roxy

I am Grateful!

2 of my sister-in-laws wanted to start a gratitude blog reel. Every Wednesday we are going to post 5 things we are thankful for. I told them I'd play along.

Here goes (in no particular order)

1. Hiro Yamanouchi: He opened my favorite gelato shop (Angel Sweet) here in the valley

2. My scarves: Functional and chic...even in Arizona (I own at least a bakers dozen)

3. Vitamin C: I seem to have contracted a nasty cold-presumably from one of my students. Vitamin C is my sanctuary.

4. My Husband; my hero: I'd be a blaspheme if I didn't mention him

5. Christmas music: even a little Carpenter's this time of year is tolerable

Black Friday, Mint Chocolate, and 2 Losses

Seems as though it’s been eons since I’ve last blogged. Time for a quick update:

11/22: Thanksgiving was remarkable! Love turkey and pumpkin pie/ Hate ASU for losing to USC

11/23: Black Friday; best and worst day to shop! Spent the night with James outside Circuit City in hopes of getting some really breathtaking shopping steals! Had fun shopping, but didn’t get exactly what we spent all night on asphalt for. Will probably do again next year…

11/24: Our illustrious football teams still suck- U of U looses to BYU. What the heck Utes? The highlight of the day was getting our Christmas lights up on our house. Did you know they make them with convenient little clips that attach right to the house? Amazing, I tell you…simply amazing. It’s a design marvel!

11/25-12/1: Back to the grindstone! I don’t know if any of you are familiar with the chocolate phone by LG, but if you are, you have my deepest empathy. Feel free to vent in the comments section! I am on my 3rd phone…by no fault of my own! The mic in my phone stopped working; to talk to anyone I had to be on speaker. Annoying, but doable. And then, it just quit. The whole phone gave up on me. The screen went colorless and presumably ascended to cell phone heaven. They had no replacements at the store, so they are fed-exing me a new one. I give it 6 months before it goes poltergeist on me! In the meantime, I am virtually unreachable. Cut off and banished from the cellular world! My phone is akin to a Swiss army knife- it’s multi functional. It’s not just for chatting; my phone doubles as my alarm clock, entertainment during meetings, and an all around timekeeper. What am I to do? Learn how to read analog? I'd rather just wing it. Consider me survivor woman! Hopefully I’ll make it through.

12/4: Just got the word that I passed my behemoth exams (AEPA exams- secondary ed and chemistry). I am so relieved and want to share my joy with the world! Please, share with me…join in the jubilation!