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.