Adjusting

New Mexico is a strange state. But then again, so is Colorado. Winter here is unusually warm and dry, with the occasional few minutes of precipitation. Sometimes the weather here is a bit wacky, unlike Colorado where its almost all the time, and the weather will go through nearly all four seasons in a day. Or a week. It entirely depends. It did snow here though! I was so excited!

And then it melted by the next day. But it was pretty while it lasted. 

I'm not complaining too much, I'm not a fan of the cold. I do love watching it snow, playing it in a few times, and then I'm ready for it to go away. If it was possible for it to snow and be 75 degrees, I'd be very, very happy. I don't have to shovel the walk here (yay!) and it's kind of funny how quickly everything here closes. For example:

In CO: Blizzard outside=city throws salt and rocks on the road. School's not cancelled. Maybe a delay or early release. Maybe. 

In NM: Snow flurries on the road=city over salts EVERYTHING and the city virtually shuts down.

It's 74 in my house, and the heat has rarely been turned on in the last two weeks. I think the thermostat usually sits around 65 or 66. Thank you neighbors who blast their heat and keep my place warm!

All of my monsters are school age now, and my little brother isn't a teenager anymore! It's crazy how much I miss them and how quickly they seem to grow up, especially when I don't get to see them every weekend.

The top two photos are Grubbie, she had a Monster High sleepover with her friend Adelaide. They got "monster" makeovers. Grub was "Frankie Stein" daughter of Frankenstein, and Adelaide was "Draculaura", daughter of Dracula. Grubbie is the youngest of my monsters, and as the candle suggests, she turned 5.

The next photo is of  my Ellerbee. She turned 7, and had a "Frozen" party. One of  my sisters emailed me pictures from her party, which I enjoyed seeing. I called her on her birthday and talked to her, which I'm sure she enjoyed as much as I did.

Mase also turned 5, he's almost exactly a month older than Grub. My other sister also sent photos of him for me to see. He had a "Transformers" party, which totally fits him. He was Optimus Prime for Halloween and was the cutest transformer I've ever seen.

New Year, New Adventures!

As it is now 2014, I can't believe I've been in Albuquerque about a month and a half. It doesn't seem like that long, but at the same time it seems so much longer. We're finally moved into our new place, though we I still have quite a bit of unpacking and organizing to do (the spare room door stays shut to ignore the mess when we have company over.) All the paperwork is turned in, finally got the mailbox switched over to our names and have the keys sitting on the counter, and there's food in the kitchen!

My first Christmas not spent at my mom's house went well. We met my sister and her family in Old Town on Christmas Eve to look at the luminarias which are paper bags filled with sand and a candle that are pretty at night (it's a New Mexico thing) and got some really tasty hot chocolate before heading back to their house for Christmas Eve festivities. My niece and I sprinkled "reindeer food" in the front yard, she opened a present, a new set of pajamas, which is a tradition in my brother in law's family, he read her Night Before Christmas, she put out a plate of cookies for Santa and veggies for the reindeer, and we tucked her into bed. My sister, her husband, Paul, and I watched the Trans Siberian Orchestra's Lost Christmas on DVD, which I fell asleep part way through, even though it was really good.

We came back the next morning, coffee in hand, and walked in to squeals form my niece that Santa left her the Monsters High "castle" (school) and then she told us Merry Christmas and asked her parents if she could open presents now that Wally and Paul were here. We had Christmas Day dinner with them, turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, similar to Thanksgiving, (I thought.) Paul and I celebrated with his family a few days after. Everyone brought a dish to dinner, I made a garlic and herb risotto and peppermint pie, Paul made dairy free scalloped potatoes, and we had smoked brisket as the protein. Everything on the table was homemade, from the meat to the rolls to the cranberry sauce. After dinner we exchanged gifts, his puppy was quite happy with the bone he got from us.

I broke in my new crepe pan the following week, using the speculoos I got in my stocking as filling, and more traditional butter and sugar for filling in the rest of them. I may or may not have eaten the speculoos with a spoon while making crepes. I had to make sure it was still good to serve Paul. I mean, what kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't try several spoonfuls of the amazingly delicious gingerbread like spread to make sure he'd like it before giving it to my boyfriend?

Slowly but surely we're settling in, making this place feel more like home. I'm getting photos hung on the walls, setting out things that remind us of family, and breaking in our kitchen with my first cake of the new year/new place.

We also have a new pet. His name is Pickles. He's a hedgehog. And completely hypoallergenic! His friend is Rico. He's a penguin.They generally hang out on the mantle above the fireplace.

Well that's it for now. Got to get back to making dinner. Baked zucchini with pasta. We're pretty excited. And white mint chocolate chip frozen yogurt for after! I hope everyone's staying warm!

30 Days Part VI & VII

I know I'm behind on these, especially since it's December now and it kind of doesn't really "count" anymore, but bear with me, I've been under the weather and trying to finish up my last project for school. Here goes the last nine!

November 22nd

I'm thankful for the spontaneous moments of randomness with my parents I'll treasure forever, and never take them for granted. Like the dancing in the kitchen while singing songs we love but can't really sing with my mom and for the times my dad would mess up my hair just because it irritated me. For her being the shoulder I need to cry on when I'm upset, for the ear to listen when I need someone to talk to, and for no matter what, always telling me to believe in myself. The motorcycle rides he took me on. The life lessons she sent me while I was in college made my day, from the silly things like "remember the tree in your room" to the more helpful ones like "no liquid by Jeffery" (my computer). The Oreos that he would eat the creme filling out of and give me the cookie parts. For her reminding me how proud my dad would be of me and how much he loved me. For finding the drawing of the koalas that were supposed to be us in the notebook he drew when I was thirteen and stuck on a part in my story. For looking at my brother and seeing how strikingly similar he is to my dad in both looks and mannerisms. And most of all, for the love they had for me, how evident it was in everything they ever did, and for always, no matter what, telling me they loved me.

November 23rd

I'm thankful for all the little things in life. The wags I get from the pups in the morning when I get up and they realize I'm still here. The heartfelt hugs from my monsters every time I see them. The warm bubble baths, hot tea, and fuzzy pajamas after a long day. The fact I have someplace to be during the holidays. The first cup of coffee in the morning. I'm surrounded by people I love. The quiet as snowflakes drift from the sky. The stars I can see in this beautiful state I live in. The photos on the walls reminding me of memories I had forgotten. How good a home cooked meal tastes, and how much I missed my mom's cooking.

November 24th

I'm thankful for family traditions. They help me feel close to them even when I'm far away.

November 25th

I'm grateful for having a younger brother who despite all the negative attitudes around him and the people who try to bring him down, has still remained the cheerful, quirky, independent teenager who doesn't care what other people think, he does he own thing and it makes him happy. We've had our differences, but through it all, he's always been there, and I will always be there for him.

November 26th

Happy Birthday to my niece Maiah! She turns fifteen today, and though it's hard for me to believe she's growing up already, she's becoming a lovely young lady, with  high dreams and aspirations, and has the determination to get there!

November 27th

Getting to see my boyfriend after months of waiting and feeling his arms wrap me in a hug so tight and warm, I grin ear to ear, is one of the best feelings ever. I'm so thankful he's in my life, and is makes every day so much better, from the simplest things like telling me good morning and good night every day, to making me laugh and sending me photos of the puppy I miss back at home with him, and for the random texts that remind me how much I love him.

November 28th

I'm so thankful that our family emergency right before dinner started ended with the person being ok after all, and they're back home. For my family stepping up to finish cooking when my mom had to leave, and for pulling dinner together even when she was gone when we sat to eat. For my boyfriend who made sure her food was warm when she came back home, and that there weren't any major attitudes or arguments during dinner. Thanksgiving is about family, and we were all where we needed to be that night.

November 29th

I'm thankful for modern medicine and having a boyfriend who takes care of me all day. I was upset I had to skip Black Friday shopping, but he made me smile, and feel better, and we went to my brother's to watch the Avalanche game that night and hang out.

November 30th

I'm thankful for my family. As crazy, loud, sometimes a little ridiculous as they are, they're so loving, caring, and incredibly supportive. I'm glad we can have family days, even if it's only a few times a year, and spend time together though we live apart. Without them, I wouldn't be where, or who, I am today.

30 Days Part V

November 17th

I'm thankful we have a moving truck (and an awesome brother in law to drive it back) to get my stuff from the state I'm currently living in to the one I'm moving to in a few weeks! It's becoming more and more real!

November 18th

As silly as it may seem, I'm thankful for still being able to sleep in until a slightly ridiculous time, and just relax before the crazy of the final week of school sets in!

November 19th

Today I'm thankful for having my monsters *cough* nieces and nephews, to love and try to be a role model for. I know at times it may not seem like it, and I'm usually far away, but I adore them more than they may realize, though I constantly tell them I love them, and am so incredibly proud of these kids.

 I'm grateful for the random phone calls in the middle of a project from my four year old nephew to tell me he wanted to give me a hug and that he misses me and loves me and he drew mommy a map of where I go to school, who gets so excited when I come to visit he squeals and nearly knocks everything over trying to get to the door, and keeps all the postcards I send him to tell mommy where I went and talks about what I did.





For my four year old niece who makes penguin noises when she sees me to say hello, asks me to tell her stories about a brave little girl and her adventures with her family and puppies in a big castle while we snuggle together in her little bed, and knows no matter how busy I am, we will always, at some point have a "Grub & Wally's Day Out".  For believing in both princess and superheroes, dancing and playing sports, and for self proclaiming she's a"Parrot Princess" just like Wally.





For my nine year old nephew who's always ready for a pickup soccer game in my mom's backyard, asks his mom if he can hang out with me when I come home from college but will of course never admit to me it was his idea in the first place, and who tries to play it cool while we were out whale watching off the coast of California thinking he could run across the deck of the ship right as we hit a big wave and was clinging to me like he really thought he was going to fall overboard (of course he didn't, but slid between my arms as I held onto the railing every time it looked like we might encounter a wave because he knew he was safe.)


I'm grateful for my middle niece who's six and gets excited to have a girl's day with me whenever I come home from college. Who plays dress up with my mom's clothes and my princess tiaras and parades around playing queen, loving on my mom's cats and dogs, and makes me pictures all the time that I get to hang on my walls at home and at school and it makes her so happy when she comes over and she sees I keep them.





My oldest niece and I are more like siblings than aunt and niece, we're seven years apart. I'm thankful for having a relationship with her that's stayed fairly strong as she's grown up, even though I was gone for the beginning of her teenage years, and I'll be gone for the rest of it. For having her watch me in California try to take a photo of the ocean and having a dumb seagull steal my ice cream right out of my hand and her telling me that made her trip because of the look I had on my face when I turned around and she realized it was me. I'm happy we can have bonding time over things we both enjoy, go to the movies, and share a love for Swedish fish.



November 20th

I'm thankful that in exactly a week I'll get to see my Grub and Paul again. It's been such a  long time since September.

November 21st

College is officially over! I'm done! I finished my last final today (although it didn't go that great-don't care too much because it's over now!), said good bye to friends and professors I liked, and hung out with Bryan, Avi, and Kaitlin and just enjoyed our last night together watching Jurassic Park and eating Twizzlers Bryan threw at me. I don't like saying good bye, so it was a little hard, especially with the people I worked with and who are like my second family. I'll see them again though. Soon.

30 Days of Thanks Part IV

November 13th

I'm grateful for having good friends who want to include me in their children's lives, even though we are far apart, but that doesn't matter to either of us. They're always sending me updates and new photos as the little ones grow up, and I'm thankful we haven't lost our close bonds through the distance.

November 14th

Today my partner and I finished our final project for our senior seminar class! All my projects are finally finished for all of my classes and we don't have to worry about it anymore after our presentation!

November 15th

I'm thankful for having a good relationship with my friend's mom. She was able to help me out with a project for school, which I was in dire need of, and hopefully help me establish a connection with the executive pastry at a really nice hotel where I'm moving soon.

November 16th

We found out that the paperwork went through for our condo and my grandparents closed on it today and were given the keys! Paul and I are so incredibly excited!!! I'm very grateful for having a place to call our home, and for the help that my grandparents gave us in getting somewhere of our own while I'm away at school. It's all happened so quickly in the last month, but seemed to take so much longer only because of the anticipation. It'll be all the more exciting and I think reality will begin to set in once Paul and I have the keys in hand and open the door together for the first time.

30 Days Part III

November 9th

Skype is the next best thing to being able to see someone you really miss in person. While it will never come close to the feeling of being able to hold someone in your arms, to hug them, or just to lay against them and talk in person, it helps bridge the gap when you're hundreds of miles apart. I can see their face and hear them talk, and know that soon we'll be in the same place again. It eases the separation just enough so it's slightly more bearable. 2 weeks mon chérie! <3 Thank you whoever came up with the idea of video chat, you're amazing!

November 10th

For spontaneous penguin shaped ice cube fights in the dorm hallway, double chocolate chip cookies, and fits of giggles when procrastination is a welcome distraction to you attempting to do homework.

November 11th

A HUGE you to our veterans for your dedication in protecting our country and for all you've sacrificed. I have a lot of friends and family who are veterans or are still serving, and I think about them all the time. I cannot thank you enough for your service, and am incredibly grateful for all you do.

November 12th

I'm thankful for having my sister offer to come to Denver to pick me up from school once it's over so I won't have to worry about finding a way home after I move out of my dorm.

30 Days Part II

November  5th

For being able to call my mom when it gets overwhelming trying to stay on top of the million things life decides to throw me all at once, and even when I don't believe her when she says everything will work out. And you know what? It always seems to. For providing suggestions and helpful bits of advice when I forgo reason and logic all together, but for not being overpowering. For stepping back enough to let me do things on my own, for letting me try and fail, for telling me to get back up if I fall and to try again. And for always telling me to have a plan b, but if that doesn't work out, don't worry, there's 24 more letters in the alphabet. Thank you for all the life lessons.

November 6th

For having coworkers who can make you laugh and accept you and all your randomness because they're just like that too, and can totally relate. Llamas and lambs anyone?

(I didn't take this photo, I couldn't find the ones I had. This is from Sister Sheep, a Colorado based sheep family. But seriously, how cute are they?)

November 7th

While paying tuition for school, I was thinking about all the people here who when I came to them to say good bye because I my financial aid fell through and I had to go home, dropped everything and spent an entire day talking back and forth with the main campus in Providence, working out something to keep me here so I could finish my last term. They didn't have to help me, let alone make sure I could graduate, but they did because they said they believed I could do it, and I had come too far to have to be sent home, that I was a wonderful young woman, and that sometimes, we all need a little extra help.

November 8th

For having friends who know you need a night out after a ridiculous last few weeks, so they take you out downtown to goof off and be crazy college kids. And for surprising a friend at work who didn't think you'd actually come to see them, and then drives you all home after they get off.