it's almost here!

Once a month, Kristie, Nanette and I try to go to the temple. We've been really good about it and I know we've all really benefited from it. Each year the Mesa Temple puts up holiday lights around the Visitors Center and temple grounds. They also have different performing groups each night. So many people come from all around to see the lights, both LDS and non-LDS alike. I was excited when we came out of the temple to see the lights. Unfortunately, the girls are freeze babies and didn't want to stay outside for very long. Also, it was quite difficult to photograph the lights because a) it's hard to take pictures of lights and b) I was using the night setting on my camera which requires complete and total balance and stability, which I was NOT doing.

I've finally finished grading all of my Seniors research papers. I'm going to be really honest and say that if I was teaching in any other school/district/state, I don't think I would have been so easy on these kids. There were a few that were quite good, but overall they were stinking up the joint. (Incidentally, as I write this I'm cringing every time I write a contraction because I just got done correcting them all...).

It's so incredibly weired to me that I'm finishing up my first semester of teaching. I am in no way the same person, teacher, etc, that I was a mere 6 months ago. I'd like to think I'm a better everything now, but I'm not so sure! I'm looking forward to a much needed break. (I can tell I need the break because I'm starting to get sick and this weekend all I wanted to do was sleep!)

I'll be home from December 21st (at night) until January 5th. During this time I will do the following:

• Read (at the very least I will read):
• William Shakespeare by Bill Bryson
• Hamlet by William Shakespeare
• Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Macguire
• Eat (at the very least I will dine at the following):
• Melt
• Danny Boy's
• Chipotle
• La Bodega
• Mitchell's Ice Cream
• Aladdin's
• Visit (at the very least I will see the following people):
• Steph & James
• Terry
• Mike & Catherine
• Family
• Maggie
• Emily
• Watch (at the very least I will watch the following):
• catch up on Bravo shows (they're bound to have several marathons)
• National Treasure
• Beowulf (yes, I'm a nerd)
• August Rush
• Dan in Real Life
• Enchanted

It's a tall order to fill, I realize this. But I'm darn excited to just relax. Also, I had this epiphany while I was swimming the other day, that I want to get a family photo when I'm home. We had one last year at my sister's wedding, but we're all in stuffy clothes and not looking like ourselves. I'm thinking we'll all be in chocolate brown and cream and jeans and we'll take it down by the lake (yes, I realize it's probably frozen). I can't tell my sister because she's in Mexico on vacation right now, so I have to wait until Wednesday when she calls me to get an update on my dad.

It's a mere 5 days until I'm home!!!