Wrapping Up the Year

4.0. That is correct. Four. Point. Zero. I think this is my first semester ever in college to get a 4.0!!! I can't believe it. I figured I would get an A in Organizational Behavior, but never would I have hoped to get an A in Economics! I thought maybe a B+ or even an A-. But not an A. Pretty sweet accomplishment if I don't say so myself. All while working full-time, still taking piano lessons (for the most part), and going through dating disappointment #3. 

Christmas was wonderful. Sometimes it is just so wonderful to go home, be anonymous, and not have to put yourself out there. And that is exactly what I did for Christmas: just spent time with my family. The only picture I took was when we went to the Garden-a-Glow at the Idaho Botanical Gardens. 

 

I came home from Christmas in Idaho Tuesday night - just in the nick of time to beat the mess of weather we've had yesterday and today. We got several inches of new snow Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and then it rained most of Wednesday. During the little bit of driving I did Wednesday, I think I hydro-planed on the freeway several times. And then the real cold front hit last night just as everyone was getting off work (except for me since I took the day off). We had a little blizzard or something because we had quite the white-out for about 30 minutes while it dropped another several inches of snow. And then all the water from the rain and slush froze solid. And today, the roads are pure ice and the temperatures freezing cold! I'm talking 20 degrees. Tomorrow the high temperature is going to fall to 11 degrees with the wind chill taking it down to -2 degrees. So what is a girl to do with all this cold weather and time off?

Oh my goodness. There are so many things that one can get done when she has four full days at home with no plans .... well very minimal plans.

• Cleaned out my old, nasty tupperwares and replaced them with new ones I just bought
• Organized my tupperware cupboard, complete with little baskets for my lids
• Cleaned out all of my old chocolate and candy in my stash and replaced them with all the new treats I got for Christmas
• Cleaned out and organized my pantry
• Organized a few shelves in my laundry room
• Put away my Christmas decorations
• Cleaned out my Christmas decorations to make room for my new, full Willow Tree nativity set (thanks Jill!)
• Cleaned my house
• Re-organized my hobby room closet - I made a super easy-to-access stationary drawer and some drawers for my little outdoorsy supplies (you know ... flashlights, headlamps, batteries, my spork, bug repellent, sunblock, backpacking towel, etc.) it's all so easy to find and access now!
• Created a little tote for gifts to so it's all together and easy to get something to give
• Organized my random crafty stuff: all my crocheting stuff is together, my cross-stitch and stitchery stuff is together, my gift-wrapping and ribbons are all together now... so lovely. 
• Cleaned out all of my old coloring stuff that I haven't used in ages
• Finished and ordered my first blog book!
• Found a place that I can take my recyclables to since my HOA won't get a recycling bin for us. Now I just need to figure out a way to organize the recyclables and where in my house to do it until I can drop them off at the compost station - the recyclables have to be separated. Maybe organize them in my trunk?
• Went to spin class every day
• Went grocery shopping
• Delivered a meal to my visiting teachee that just had a baby (thanks Mom! for helping me make the meal and telling me to not make chili!) :)
• Had my two newest tires rotated back to my front so I can actually have traction in all this snow we have been getting

And things I still hope to do:

• Start another baby quilt
• Go snowshoeing
• Paint my empty frames and hang them 
• Read the book I'm currently reading: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
• Call the lady that is restoring my great-grandmother's quilt to see how it's coming - she said it might be done by Christmas (that is another blog entry to come)
• Make sure my quilt journal is up to date
• Make a butternut bisque soup 
• Dabble on the piano with my new piano book: Piano Solos Film Music The Costume Drama Collection. I finally got it! I ordered it on November 21st! It has pieces from Little Women, Becoming Jane, Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice and other movies.

Okay. So you are probably sick of reading about everything I've done over that past couple of days. So I'll finish. :)

Here is my Willow Tree nativity that I got for Christmas from my sister, Jill! (Correction, she got me parts of it.)