Time for Books Again

I have been on a really long break from school; almost 2 years! When Eddie and I got married and moved to Merced we though that we would only be there for 4-6 months and so I never enrolled in school. We were so wrong... and that really frustrates me! We ended up living there for 15 months and all of that was wasted time.

So I finally started applying for school again in September last year, and at the end chose to attend Sac State, home of the hornets; or in its formal name: California State University-Sacramento. The school particularly takes pride in its 300-acre campus, filled with 3,000 trees, hahah. They actually have them numbered. I guess if I'm ever bored I can go find all the trees. The real reason I chose Sac State was because I had heard of its really good Interior Design program that is CIDA (Council for Interior Design Accreditation) accredited. It was a bummer to find out that almost none of my design classes transferred though, and that's because at BYU-Idaho they focus more on residential design, and at Sac State more on commercial building design. It only means I have a lot more school ahead of me than expected and that I will be more rounded at the end of it all :)

I start school on Monday, Jan 24th! This semester I'm only taking GE courses: US Government, The Modern Middle East (history requirement), The History of Childhood (to fulfill a sociology requirement), Graphic Design, and Intro to Design (which are both pre-requisites to apply for the Interior Design Program). I have classes Monday through Thursday, Fridays are off!

In case you forgot, we live in Walnut Creek right now. From our house to the school is 75 miles. Quick math: 75 miles each way, 150 miles a day, 4 days a week = 600 miles a week just for school, plus $5 toll fee a day!!!! Lots of gas and lots of toll $$.

Anyway, I am super excited to go back to school. I've been kind of a bum for the last year and a half, and I'm excited to have a "life" again.

We did have a Christmas miracle about this whole "going back to school" deal, and maybe I'll share that next time. I am so blessed to have the opportunity of going back to school.

Jingle Bells

Christmas definitely sneaked up on us this year. Last year I was so ready for it, we had all our presents bought and wrapped one month before. This year however... I'm ashamed to say that everything was last minute. My excuse is that we were really busy at the end of the year. I went to Arizona for my best friend's mission farewell in October, In November we went camping and on a cruise, and then SUDDENLY it was December already. Last minute shopping or not, we had a wonderful Christmas.

We got to go to Utah again this year. Eddie could only get 2 days off from work so we were only there for 4 days. We drove this time and I wish we hadn't.

We got there on the morning of Dec. 23, and that day was already busy. My mom had scheduled family pictures at the studio and so the girls spent the afternoon doing hair and make-up and Eddie and dad went to the gym. Unfortunately I don't have the picture on my computer, but I'll post it soon.

On Christmas Eve we went caroling, we sang Silent Night in Portuguese to 7 families in my parents ward. We somehow managed to sound pretty good. Steph, Catherine, and Priscila (my cousin) sang soprano, mom and I - alto, and dad and Eddie - bass. It was pretty neat.

This year we had deep fried turkey, yuuuuum! (By the way... as I'm writing I'm realizing how many missed opportunities I had of taking great pictures, I don't have a picture of the turkey!) My dad started late and so we didn't eat until 11:30 pm, hahah. Mom and dad did a little spiritual devotional before dinner, then we ate.

Steph, Catherine, and Priscila waiting for the devotional to start.

We were starving! No one wanted to take picture at this point. Can you see the turkey??

Secret Santa was a blast! Of course we had to play charades to guess who had who. I got some long-sleeve shirts from Catherine, Mom got a Slow-Cooker recipe book from me, Priscila got a perfume from Eddie, Steph got pj pants from dad, and I don't remember the rest.

Christmas day is always the best. Catherine always wakes us up bright and early to go open all the presents. This year our budget was smaller than last, but for some reason this Christmas seemed a lot richer. We got amazing presents but that's not what did it for me, the spirit of Christmas really touched our family this year.

Old Navy coat I got from Eddie

Crock-Pot mom got from dad

Steph got Eddie's old guitar from us, but she was ecstatic... she's starting to learn how to play.

I got Eddie a guitar stand

Catherine opening up a gift

A new straightener from mom, she literally screamed

Mom got a journal from Steph

Keemie got a new bed, and it was hilarious because the second she saw it she jumped in. She wouldn't even let Laban get anywhere close to it.

Dad got the deep fryer from mom

Pri got watch from mom

Dad gave mom a stylish alarm clock/CD player

Dad got from mom a new cuia... brazilian herbal tea drinking thing from the south (where dad is from)

Catherine has a porcelain doll collection and every year she gets a new one from dad

Those were not all the the presents. In my family we have the custom of each person giving a present to every other person in the family, so we each get around 5 gifts.... pretty fun! But I wasn't about to put every picture on here :)

After presents comes Christmas breakfast!!!!

Mom and dad making french toast

We played lots of games on Christmas day and just hung out in our PJ's at home. It was great as it always is. We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!!!