Quick Update

My life generally sucks right now. But for those of you who have been in school before (and have other things besides school to take care of), you'll know what I mean.

Finals are next week, and then I have a brief break until the next quarter starts.

In short: I am extremely jaded/burned out right now, after a very long quarter.

Tired of seeing my Christmas post on my blog, I thought I would update with some photos of my favorite things. Hope you enjoy too!

Mount Rainier on a cloudless morning before the sun is up.

My "kid" keeping an eye on me from the other side of the door.

(She is very concerned when I venture outside without her.)

My nephew, Brian Mario, at 6 months.

(Has a pretty solid claim to "best baby ever.")


My nephew, Emeric, almost 5 months,
wishing my dad a happy birthday last week.
(Also has pretty solid claim to "best baby ever" title.)

My sister Katy and her fiance Michael.

(July 9th wedding date)
Their happiness is infectious.

No seriously... just try being sour with them in the room.

There.

Now at least I can see things that make me smile when I see my blog.

What I've been doing this season (so far)

Continuing our holiday tradition of attending a Christmas-themed concert, this year we returned to the Seattle Symphony and their "Holiday Pops" concert featuring Cirque de Symphony. AMAZING! I highly recommend you go to it next year... and remember to buy your tickets early, as they only do a few days of performances.

This is the end of the concert photo, with the Cirque performers in the front.


We got our Christmas Tree up the Sunday after Thanksgiving. For the first time in 13 years, I got help setting up the tree and putting up decorations! Thanks again, Monica. I am grateful you share my passion for the season and you did an amazing job on the tree.


I wanted to capture Lexi next to her first Christmas Tree, but she couldn't seem to hold still long enough for me to get a quality photo. Oh well, she's still cute!

"Santa George" oversaw the decorating from his perch on the back of the couch.

The weekend following Thanksgiving I made a weekend visit to Vancouver, WA, to attend my nephew Callum's baptism. We had a mini-reunion at my sister Alissa's new home in Ridgefield (she and my sister Katy are in the background) when my parents (who had just gotten back 2 days earlier from their Germanic visit with my brother Damon's family) and my brother Matt & Family arrived as well. I had to snap a quick photo with my phone of my adorably-always-tan nephew, Brian Mario.

One of the coolest things about Alissa's new home is a large room just off the garage that easily fits their trampoline. No more worry about rain ruining play time! (Callum is blurred, but Keira, my youngest neice, came out clear in the back.)

I had finals a couple weeks ago. In English 101, we had an in-class essay, which I had little doubt I could easily pass. (I got a 98% on it actually, my best essay score all quarter.)

I was less confident in my History 148 class, however, and took the day off from work to study... which mostly meant read the 120 or so pages of textbook I had fallen behind on! Not wanting to be left out, my cat, Oliver, joined in on the studying. Ultimately I got a 92% on the test (70 out of 76 multiple choice), but thanks to a grading curve, received a 94%.

I am pleased to report that my grades are in and I passed with flying colors -- a 4.0 in my English 101 class and a 3.9 in my History 148! (My Golf class was so easy it is a shame to even mention that 4.0, but an A is an A! Haha)

I will enjoy this Christmas break while it lasts, catching up on recreational reading before the requisite reading begins again.

Lastly, I recommend visiting Downtown Seattle at least ONCE during the holiday season. The lights are colorful, the sounds of carols fun, the annual gingerbread contest entries are amazing, and the large star in the SE corner of Macys is GORGEOUSLY bright and beautiful! (The photo doesn't do it justice.)

From my family to yours -

have a very Merry Christmas!!

Loving CC

I didn't know what to expect when I started back to school in September, but I am really enjoying my classes! It requires a bit more time sacrifice that I had been accustom to, but doing well in all three subjects makes the payoff quite sweet.

The pace of community college is much more pleasant than it was at BYU, but I also realize the student body isn't as competitive either. I shake my head seeing people who don't turn in assignments by their due date (or at all), or don't come to class, and then I remember when I was at BYU and did the same thing. School can be such a waste of money if you aren't ready to commit to it, and this time around I've got my priorities straight... even if it means staying up until after midnight to finish an assignment. (My theory is that my mind is nocturnal.)

We are now in the final weeks of Fall 2010 classes, and I just registered for Winter 2011 classes this afternoon! Time sure does fly.

I will say this: if anyone else is "considering" doing something, seize the opportunity. Before you know it, you are years down the road and no further along. And that is a waste too.