But I am le tired! Well, take a nap...and then fire the missiles!

Celebrating Christmas twice this year; YAY! Em and Dan will be down on Friday night, so we'll do our Christmas Eve gifts that night. Then it's Christmas morning on Saturday! Then we get to move right into New Year's. It's like a 4-day celebration. That's the way to do it.

All I want before I go back to Rose is just a lil bit of SNOW. Please? I snow-danced and everything. Even flushed the ice cubes. So if it snows in the NW of IN, you can all thank me. ONE day of sledding, that's all I ask!

Later taters. I'm out.

I'm official!

There she is. No more red letters! :) ( :

Chicago Trip

Betsey giving me a lift...still not tall enough to kiss the lips.


















Outside of Macy's/Marshall Fields and the window story!












Giant tree(s) beside the German shopping place. Thingie. Sooo fun!












What happens when you let Mom hold the drink. I come by it honestly, you see.












Sisters. Sooo purty.













Merry Christmas, everybody!! Hope your holidays are as amazing as mine are going to be.

One Week

Break's almost here! I'm looking forward to it, if only because it means I get to forget for a while. I've learned to really appreciate the moments when you don't have to think.

This past weekend was amazing. I got to see my ex-roomie, sleep for ten hours straight, and go to Indy for an evening, among other things. And currently my toes are very toasty, thanks to the perfect gift from The Tobe (haha, that's for you, Buzz)! Alright, I really can't help that I have zero circulation to my hands and feet. At some point I had promised to invent electric socks someday...who knew they already existed?!! Tobin found me a battery-powered pair, which is much more efficient than my idea of plugging myself into a wall. They're pretty hard-core socks, haha, I look like an elf right now, and they jingle too!

Sooo...three tests this week, then I get to head HOME on Friday!! When I get back...I will be sporting a new license!! Who's excited? This kid is.














Kinda stole this picture, but it's worth reposting: Caleb Aaron being super cute! Isn't he adoooorable? He's so....bald. Love him! It must be that middle name, he takes after the pretty aunt. This is one of four babies I get to see over break! Em, hurry up, I want a partially Korean niece or nephew!

Back to studying. Nutrition...who needs it?

Why Giving Birth Is Not a Good Idea

Number 1 Reason: Being pregnant. Um, your waistline grows by many inches even if you eat the SAME AMOUNT as you did before being knocked up. You can't move nearly as well as you could before...forget running once you pass the 8-month mark. Tying shoes...ha! Velcro straps and spandex pants, mmm.

Number 2 Reason: The little hellion you must raise for the next several years. More, if you don't want to be accused of neglect.

Number 3 Reason: Pain. Accompanied by inordinate amounts of blood. I like to be conscious.

Number 4 Reason: The after-effects...stretch marks, recovery time, postpartum depression, etc.

In short, I think, besides not shaving your legs, giving birth is God's all-natural sex deterrent.
The end.

Altos!!

After our first performance. It's not really fair, being short. You get stuck with all the slightly awkward poses. Not fun when taking multiple pictures. Anyways, aren't we gorgeous?? ;)














Zaiss is joining me tomorrow for choir! :):)

Blood Drive

First: blood is the grossest thing ever....it should stay inside the body where it belongs. BUT, since people insist on putting holes in themselves and keep needing bags of the stuff from college kids, I figured I should do my part and try to keep these vampires alive.

Buzz, we are both failures at this blood thing, apparently. You weren't actually given a chance to try to give, however, since the lady couldn't seem to find your vein. I did not have that problem. Nope, the first thing the chick said when I turned my arm over was "There's a beaut." I've never heard that in reference to my veins before. Apparently they show well. It made me sick to my stomach, at any rate.

Sooo...I made it through the registration, pin prick (the WORST part...she kept pushing at the finger to get the blood to ooze out...uuuuugghh), and insertion of the needle. Not bad, it didn't hurt, I can take that kinda thing. I wasn't even looking at my arm, but a couple of seconds after my blood started exiting my body...I passed out. They had me sitting up originally...next thing I knew, I was lying on my back and they were calling "Erin, Erin, stay with me! Cough!" I didn't quite understand the whole cough thing. But I tried it. Can't quite describe the feeling, but it was weird and I was too tired to talk. There was plenty I wanted to say, though. I didn't even feel them take the needle out.

Anyways, I felt fine after a bit; poor Brandi didn't do so well. She had a new lady who couldn't get the needle in (now THAT would knock me out for sure). Brandi's face was green when she came up to me after she finally quit trying to fill the bag. Neither of us gave enough for the blood suckers to keep it. I wonder what blood type I am? I will probably try this again next time. I'm determined now.

Rambling

I don't appreciate being bipolar at times. My mood is so capricious. The tiniest thing can make my day or send me into that melancholy that, while so comforting and protective, is also the most damaging attitude I could have. It not only affects me and my mood, but also anyone who is around me.

Contentment is something I am working on. It's so exhausting to be around someone who is constantly dissatisfied. I am where I am, and I can't change that. I can, however, make the best of it. This is my life, it's happening right now. Enjoying the breath-taking moments is easy for anyone, but it takes someone of true character to find the joy or the value in the rest.

FYI: Nose strips are amusing. If you enjoy inflicting pain on yourself, that is. Try not to put them too close to your eyes.

Merry Christmas!!