Christmas

In our family, Christmas Eve is the big, formal event. We have a ham dinner, a white elephant gift exchange, some games and then the traditional opening of one gift from Grandma. And then there is the traditional "feel my guns" moment that I am subjected to by my brother-in-law every time I am in town. Oh boy. This year I obliged him .... and had my nephew take a picture of it promising to put it on my blog! Ha! Take that Doug. :)

We played an M&M game and it was a riot! As soon as you roll doubles with the dice, you want to scoop M&Ms from the bowl into your cup as fast as possible to get as many as possible until someone else rolls doubles and then it is their turn. And you have to scoop the M&Ms with a knife. My mom was a hoot!

Christmas Day is spent at my sister Jill's house, eating finger foods, getting tours of her kids' Christmas loot and watching movies. This is the year I introduced Jill to North & South.

And then, here are the pictures of my mom's reaction to receiving the Halford & Brooks' Family Album. I think it is safe to say she loved it. :)

Life List Achievement: Make a Family History Book to Share

Well, I did it! I completed another life list item. I made a family history book to share with all my family! There are nearly 800 photos in this family photo album and it has five generations in it! Many years ago, my Uncle Rob put this original family album together and gave it to my Grandma Bertha. When she passed away she gave it to my Uncle Doyle. I've had very little contact with him over the years since I left for college and began working ... that is until May of 2007. He allowed my sister and I to scan all of the photos in this album and since then I've been working on cropping those pictures and labeling them. And then over the last few months I've put all those photos into a book and had it published. In all, I ordered 12 copies of it - for my mom, aunt, sisters and cousins. It is amazing! I've really come to know my ancestors and extended family that are in this album (or at least to the extent that you can get to know someone via photo). It's been an amazing experience. Enjoy the photos and the video of the book.

If you are related to me via the Halfords or Brooks' then let me know and I'll send you a link to website where you can purchase your own family album!

P.S. Don't mention this to my mom yet... she's getting it for Christmas this year and she doesn't know about it. :)
P.P.S. I made the book using the Booksmart program via www.blurb.com

Snow Days

I just have the best news ever. Yes, yes, you'll think I'm silly for the little things that I get so excited over. But hey - it doesn't take much to make me happy. :)

First, today was the second work day in a row where we were told to leave work early because of the snow storm. Friday we left early at 4 because of a snow storm and then again today the whole university was shut down at 2 o'clock because of another snow storm! Woo hoo! This hasn't happened in ages... if ever! Yes!

Second, I made it up my street! Yes. I bought new tires earlier this fall and I actually made it up my slightly inclined street to my house after coming home from work. They hadn't plowed my neighborhood yet so it was amazing cuz there was like 4 inches of new snow on my street. Last winter I would have been parking at the bottom of my street and walking up.

That's it. That's my happy snow days' news. :)

By the way, have a merry Christmas! I'm headed home to Idaho tomorrow. Hopefully I won't get stuck in the snow storm but no worries for me - if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear - so I am taking my sleeping bag, my backpacking stove, a truckload of food, my warmest clothes and ski gear and maybe even my snow shoes! I should be well prepared for this treacherous drive before me.

2nd Annual Christmas Music Soiree

This year's soiree was even bigger than last years... and the major difference between the two parties? I played the piano! I played my song, Carol of the Bells, twice. Once at the beginning of the party with no one paying any particular attention to me and I didn't make any mistakes. The second time I played was at the end of the party and this time I had two people looking over my shoulder so I made several mistakes and then when I finished all my friends that "weren't listening to me" applauded me. I was so embarassed. I ran into the kitchen.

Oh it was a riot to sing the old classic, children's Christmas carols - like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. Who knew that single adults in their late 20s and early 30s could get such a kick out of singing those songs!

And then the food. Oh the food. It was so divine - stuffed mushrooms, pumpkin spice bread, marbled chocolate bark, cheese ball and crackers, summer sausage, Russian tea, and then cranberry cake with butter sauce. Mmmmm.

Good friends, good music, good food, good times.

The Nutcracker

A couple of my friends and I took full advantage of the 2-for-1 that I received for completing The Nutcracker 5K last Saturday. It was fabulous!! This definitely a ballet designed for me!


A prince
The magical Snow Land
Snow
Snowflakes
The magical Land of the Sugarplum Fairy
Candy


The music was beautiful and the dancing was fabulous ... even for little old Provo.

I passed my PHR Exam!

Well, today was the big day that I have been preparing for since the end of August: my exam for the Professional in Human Resources certification. And guess what. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the title gives it away.

I PASSED!!!*

*Well, that is my preliminary results... technically I'm not suppose to announce it until I receive the official score from HRCI (Human Resources Certification Institute).

Big Announcement + Hugs = Flying Hot Chocolate

I heard the best news tonight!! My previous roommate, Jewels, is getting married!! And we were so excited about it that when we hugged each either we knocked some hot chocolate off an ironing board and send one mug flying down the staircase getting hot chocolate all over the walls, the carpeted stairs, the entry way floor at the bottom of the stairs and the front door... not to mention the hot chocolate on the ironing board and the wall and carpet by it! We stood there frozen in place for a moment and then burst out laughing while we ran for wet rags to start cleaning it up! And all this occurred while the girl that was buying her housing contract was there to check out the place and meet the roommates! Thankfully she still bought the contract despite our wildness!