Basketball!!

I had a fantastic time at the basketball games yesterday night! Both the girls and boys games were very close, and the Crusaders played hard! The other team tends to be very aggressive, so it's great to see our team really step it up a notch. Girls lost by not too much, boys won by not too much- held their lead to the end! It was pretty intense! The fans were on their feet the last five minutes.

Last Last Last College visit

Finally Exams are over (my last ones in high school. Yippee!!!) and we had the weekend off. Dad and I took that time to look at another college, the last one, for serious this time. Our visit started badly, as the professor we were supposed to talk to was out and the class we attended instead went so long we missed our meeting with my admissions councellor. However as the day wore on things got better. Quick list of things I liked:

I thought the chapels were good, nice music choice, use of scripture, ect.

The campus complete with bell tower and multi level dorms, nice architecture

I enjoyed the class I sat in on, interesting, organized, fun

They have my major, photojournalism, and a good lab to go with it

It's nearer home!

And these are among other plusses. Decision date draws near. It's between this one and Providence. And both call my name very loudly.

A Monster Size Concert

Sorry about the extreme tardiness of this post, I've been pretty busy, and it's not looking like it will be lessening with exams coming *shudder* and my new job (Yay!!). Well, last Saturday Janelle participated in the monster concert, where many students play the same duet at the same time on different pianos with percussion added. It went very well and everyone enjoyed themselves. They played a lot more well-known songs this year. Janelle played Bijou Rag and Swirling winds.

Ice Skating

I recently attended an ice skating party. It was great! It was fun to be with friends- and be on the ice again! I got a few compliments on my skating, so that felt really good. Of course we have had and ice rink in our back yard... And Alan wasn't there, he's much better than me! ;)Afterward we went to a friend's house and watched chick flicks, just us girls. There was food and lots of games. A great way to spend a night in the winter of your senior year!

Christmas at Home

One of the things that keeps our spirits up as we fly farther and farther away from our beloved extended family is the promise of presents when we get home. And they were great! Andrew liked his Periodic table shirt, and Janelle got two webkinz, so she's happy. ;) Among my favorites received from my family were a thesaurus, Prince Caspian, books, a tripod (though that was from a grandparent I guess), and a CELL PHONE!!!!!! I never expected that one, I mean it's one thing to ask and beg, but there are some things you just never actually expect to get. I am a happy camper. I have been really blessed this year, not just from gifts received, but by the friendships I have been given; they seem even richer and brighter this year, or maybe I'm just appreciating them more.

End of our Trip

A few last miscellaneous pictures. Top- pretty windmill near where we went shopping, laced with snow. Next, the rare breyer horse models I got a fantastic deal on while shopping. Bottom, where we slept in the basement all week. And that is the end of our relaxing trip. We got home half an hour before the ball dropped and so didn't have to celebrate in an airport again. How nice. Happy new year!

Christmas Day

Christmas morning started with Church being cancelled because of the snow- after all if it snows there everything closes... So we began our white Christmas at a leisurely pace with a lovely breakfast of coffee cake. Out came the angels that hung over the candles and spun around singing "ting ting" whenever they encountered a bell (I love those!) Then we opened gifts. Grandpa and Grandma got a digital picture frame and liked it. I received body lotions, money, chap sticks and pens. This was followed by lunch and a game night with Uncle Harold. There's no place quite like Grandma's for Christmas.

Other Relatives

My Grandparents aren't the only ones who live on the West coast, so do many of my aunts and uncles, so we spent some quality time with them too, bowling, playing pictionary, eating, talking, playing taboo, and exchanging gifts. And of course the younger boys doing something of their own. What a wonderful time- it was worth the trip. I don't think I've been this relaxed in a long time. Grandpa and Grandma's house is the place to be!