Christmas in Palm Desert

Saturday, December 20, 2008

DFW to Palm Desert, CA

Lunch at The Club with Peggy, Cameron & Bob Bob

Checked into our rental house

Peter, PJ, Charley & Kristen arrived

Bob & Alice visit at Lulu & Bob Bob's house

Pizza delivery for dinner

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Shopping at Costco

Lunch pick up at Sherman's
Bought & decorated our Christmas tree

Lynn & Kristen got manicures and pedicures

Monday, December 22, 2008

Skiing in Big Bear at Snow Summit
Steaks on the grill

Hot tub

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Tour around Loma Linda area

TCU vs Boise State Poinsetta Bowl Game watching party

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Kristen's Bridal Shower - Ladies Luncheon

Matt & Charley golf

Chinese food

White elephant/Chinese gift exchange

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Stockings

Breakfast

Gifts

Bob & Alice's house for Christmas Dinner

Friday, December 26, 2008

Visited with Helen

Kristen's wedding dress shopping

Drinks at the Marriot

Dinner at The Club

Saturday, December 27, 2008

PJ, Peter, Charley & Kristen to the airport

Peggy, Cameron, Lynn & Matt to The Club for lunch

Peggy, Cameron and Bob Bob took us to the airport

TCU Nurse Anesthesia - Class of 2010

Well, I did it! One semester down, two years to go. I know that there is a lot of hard work ahead of me, but I know that I can do it. I am looking forward to learning more and can't wait to start clinicals in August.


Our class representatives Bethany and Sarah finally got us all together to take our class picture. I set up my camera and tripod in front of Frog Fountain where Kent & Kim took the pictures for us.


After some editing by Matt we have our final photo.

P.S. I am on the far right.

New post, new blog for the New Year

Sorry I haven't checked in here in a while. It's not that I haven't had things to write about, just no time to write! One of my New Year's resolutions is to post more often!
I am hoping to turn this years blog into a book on blurb.com. It's kind of like my 2008 Journal.

Then, for the new year, I want to start a new blog--my 2009 journal. And I already have some ideas for it. I may even get some help with the new blog design. A fellow blogger at The White House is starting a blog design business and is giving away a free makeover! Click the link, check it out and enter to win!

Well, finals start tomorrow. Keep me in your prayers.

The Twins!

My friend Ron and his beautiful wife Rachel just had their twin boys, Ryan & Logan. I feel so lucky that we were able to see them the day after they were born. They are perfect!

Christmas Decorations

During my Thanksgiving break I took the opportunity to decorate for Christmas since finals were just around the corner. For the third year in a row I put up our fake white Christmas tree. It originally was a joke since I couldn't have a real tree in my DC basement apartment, I bought the tackiest one! But, since then I have grown to love it. It was really pretty this year with my gold and purple decorations with matching wrapping paper and ribbon.

My other favorite decorations are my collection of angels which I used to be display year-round. Now I only get to see them at Christmas. On the other side of the wall I have a beautiful Fontini nativity display. Dad and Deborah started my collection years ago and continue to contribute pieces as a gift each Christmas.

I even got the dogs dressed up in their new Christmas sweaters!

And then we had a Christmas Tree sushi roll.

Thanksmas

This past weekend Matt and I enjoyed a kick-off to the 2008 holiday season--Thanksmas!!

Thanksmas is a family tradition established ??? (about six? years ago)

When my grandparents started to migrate south for the winter, we started to get together the weekend before Thanksgiving to share our former Christmas traditions. This includes: #1 family gathering, #2 The original Grinch movie, #3 Roast Beast and fixin's (creamed onions, Yorkshire pudding and my favorite pumpkin chiffon pie!!) #4 our amateur photo session.

We had a great time this year and shared this special holiday with our aunt, cousins, brother, sister-in-law, niece, nephew, maternal grandparents, Mom, Joe and the Hagler crew. We really missed Uncle Bob and Aunt Linda. Linda has been battling cancer and couldn't make the drive up from the Houston area--but we did get to have a nice chat with them after dinner.

The cooler weather is definitely welcome and helps me get into the holiday spirit! I even started digging out our Christmas decorations today. I know--I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving too!

We want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. Be careful in your travels and eat lots--Thanksgiving only happens once a year!!

I met Martha Stewart!!

So, guess what I did on Tuesday?? It's usually a study day, but not this time!
Sunday night I was reading through my Martha Stewart Living magazine and noticed that Martha's new book Cooking School hit the shelves on October 31, AND she was having a book signing in Dallas at Sur La Table! So, I had to go...




We arrived at the book signing an hour and a half before Martha was supposed to arrive and this is what we found. We weren't the only one's excited. As you can see, almost all women. Matt must love me...
I did bring my books to study and even sat down and opened my pharmacology for a while, but it didn't last long. I found it really interesting to listen to all of the conversations in line. One of the ladies in front of me owned a little speciality shop, another lady met Martha in the 80's and had the picture with her, many others had piles of books for her to sign to give to family and friends for Christmas. I only had one book for me, I don't think anyone else in my family admires Martha the way I do.





Our first glimpse! Martha is all smiles as she enters through the back alley (ten minutes before scheduled). I walked close after her SUV stopped so that I could get a good picture.


After a long wait in line, we finally made it inside.


I'm next in line!

While Martha was signing my book I told her that I enjoy reading her blog. She responded by saying that it is very personal and then asked me if I would like to be on it. Of course I would! So, she said, "Go stand by your friend and hold up the book," (Matt was behind the rope taking pictures) so I stood by him while Martha got out her camera and took a picture of US. I've been checking her blog daily, but haven't seen her post about the book signing yet.

Keep your eye out for us on:

http://blogs1.marthastewart.com/martha/

Overall, it was a fun experience. Martha was very nice, personable, and somehow kept smiling through the hundreds of people making small talk with her.

I have to admit, I haven't read one page of this book---but I plan to over Christmas break!