I want to go back

I haven't blogged in a while. I've been busy with school and really haven't thought much about it. But I thought I'd put down one of my thoughts that has been nagging me.

I NEED to go back to Italy. After only a few weeks of class I am already ready. I thought it was great going there after a few Humanities classes at BYU. It was amazing to see the things that I studied. But I know so much more now!! There are way cooler archaeological sites to go see than just Pompeii. I would love to be able to spend a few months there getting to know the place outside the tourist realm. Today they had a study abroad fair at my school. If only it were realistic for me to go....
I love the culture and history of Italy. It's such a beautiful place. There is so much to do and see there.

I need to learn Italian.

Building a Patio

As soon as Russell was free from school, he wanted to work on a patio. After many trips to the hardware store.... Russell finally found the courage to make the purchase and get to work. Phil was our construction manager since he was the only one with any kind of experience in pouring concrete. After getting all the concrete, Russell felt a little over whelmed (60 bags to mix one at a time in a wheel barrel).


After all the stress and a couple of raw knees and wrists, our patio turned out alright!! It will be nice to have for a number of different reasons. For one thing, there wont be so much mud just outside the door which will help with muddy dog paw control. We're also excited to use it for outside dinning on pleasant evenings. Thank you Phil for all your help!

PreChristmas activities and a few Post Christmas Activities

So this picture has nothing to do with Christmas other than we gave her this blanket around then. Athena likes to lay on anything you leave on the floor that might be soft. Dirty socks, folded laundry, material.Athena was really intrigued by the Christmas tree when we first got it. At first, she wouldn't go anywhere near it. Then she just skirted the edges sniffing it.


Then she progressed to sticking her head into the tree, to trying to pull off then pine needles. In the end she found that the pine needles on the floor were a delicious treat, and that the water in the base was very refreshing.
Russell's family came to our house before we all headed to Houston. These are our nephews. They had fun climbing on this chair and jumping off the back.



We went to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. They had a Dora and Diego adventure exhibit garden thingy. Since all the kids are Dora and Diego fans, this is fun for them. This is Alyssa coming through the yellow gate.
Chai digging in the sand.
After Christmas, we all went to this fun little place in Houston. They have all kinds of tunnels and slides built throughout the two rooms. The kids and the guys playing around here with nerf guns.


Sadly this is the only picture we took while in Washington. This is us all geared up to go snowmobiling. What a fun thing!! Neither of us had ever done it before. I would definitely do it again.

Athena and her water-chasing craziness.

We love our dog and her water-craziness. I thought I would put up some fun videos and pictures of her chasing the hose water, chilling in her pool afterwards, and chasing raindrops falling off the roof.



I know this isn't a very good shot. I just think her face looks possessed.
She can jump super high when she is trying to get the water. But it's so quick it's hard to catch. So this is the best picture we have :(
After all the running at full speed, she gets pretty hot. So to cool off, Athena just sprawls out in her little pool I found on the side of the road. The pool, however, was destroyed when we were mixing cement in it for our patio. So we need to get her a new one. What a huge tongue!!

This video shows how excited she gets when you as "ya wanna get sprayed?" She runs so fast!!! Sometimes she slides right into the fence before she can turn around. She barks a lot during this process. Sometimes I wonder if my neighbors ever think I'm torturing my dog.

I can taste the end

Ever since I finished my classes I've been working on making Christmas decorations. We really didn't have much before. Today I can taste the end because I have all but one Christmas project done; and one other project, that isn't a Christmas one, but I promised Russell I would finish it by the time his brother got her.

Russell and I enjoyed spending time this morning making ornaments for our practically naked tree. We got the plane "make your own" ornament things at the craft store and then modge podged Christmas tissue paper to them. Russell felt really creative. I love them!! There not overly fancy for one thing. And we made them together! I still need to do a Christmas picture ornament still.

The stockings have been the biggest thing. Figuring out what I wanted on them and then figuring out how and what to make my designs out of. I googled "christmas Stockings" and looked at tons of pictures until I found some examples and ideas I liked. Mine look really simple but I LOVE them. I've never made anything like them before so it was fun figuring out and learning a new things.

I am currently working on some Christmas pillow cases for my couch pillows. A lot simpler than stockings. I've got one down and 2 more to go! Then the last thing I have to sew before I put my sewing machine up for a while is one last Roman shade.

I've really enjoyed doing all these things, but i'm feeling a little crafted out. Can't wait until they're all done! I'll post pictures once I've got everything done.

Thanksgiving

I hosted Thanksgiving this year for my family. My Mom, Dad, my sister Anna, my brother Tom, and Tom's gf Mary all made it out. My little brother Scott is faithfully serving his mission in Uruguay; he obviously couldn't make it. It was a lot of fun. Thanks family, Russell and I are glad ya'll came to visit!!!

My mom and sister came in the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Monday and Tuesday were spent shopping for Thanksgiving supplies, and me preparing for my speech for school.
Wednesday is when all the fun started after Tom and Mary got in late Tuesday night. Wednesday afternoon we went down to the River Walk and the Alamo downtown. We had great Texas weather that day, the high temperature was around 81.
This is Mom, Tom and Mary on the River Walk boat on one side.
Anna, Russell and I on the other side.







Alamo picturesThe Turkey BowlA little after dinner napping.Sea World FridayRudy's BBQ!!! soo goodWaiting for the guys to finish installing the garage door opener.