Happy Holidays Everyone. Peace. Make love, not war in 2006.

Generation2 Come for a Visit

Geseende Kersfees!

Merry Christmas! Dad holding the massager that gave him severe neck pain the next day....

 

Random Carly Cuteness

My Thanksgiving: A Documentary

I had a new adventure this Thanksgiving...I rode the train! It was such fun to wind through the mountains of Colorado, sometimes at a snail's pace, to view scenary I had never seen before. We followed the mighty Colorado River for much of our journey. Travelling to Utah, I spent much of my first morning in the "Lounge Car" which provided seating facing full-view windows of the passing landscape below. 

About half the train got off in Winter Park, CO - a popular ski resort.

 

We travelled from the snowy mountains back down to the sunny plains of Grand Junction, CO (as pictured above) and eventually across the darkness into Utah

Thanksgiving was bliss. I am infinitely glad I chose to go home this Thanksgiving! I got to see my dear cousins Jesse and Katie, and Aunt Shirley and Uncle Tom. Unfortunately, these are the only pictures I took of my time there! I wish I had carried my camera with me everywhere! We had a delicious meal and great time with the Jones Fam, too, which I have no documentation of!

On the way home: the one thing about riding trains which I did not realize previously is that, unlike airplanes, trains can be detained a few hours very easily. My train back home was supposed to come at 4:50 a.m. Yikes! My sweet family all wanted to come to see me off, so we all woke up at 2:30 a.m. and piled in the car before 3, arriving in plenty of time to meet the trian. Here we are at the train station waiting...

and waiting...

 

and waiting.

Finally, after six or seven conflicting reports :), the train came at 8:10 am! Long enought for us to enjoy breakfast at Denny's and seriously question if we would ever ride the train again! :) Good memories, even if very early!

 

Ahh...safe back on the train. So, that was my Thanksgiving. Enjoyed a snowy/sunny mix back home...and that was it!

FHE Photo Scavenger Hunt

An FHE Photo Scavenger Hunt....Gotta Love those! We're searching for lawn mowers, trains, and airplanes. Little People come in handy. Shane, Arianne, and Eric

Group picture with a Thanksgiving turkey. Yum. L-R, F-B
Arianne, Shane, Me, Eric

 

Me helping people put away a Hispanic family's groceries...yup, carrying their groceries was on the list too...Eric had to practice his Spanish to ask them. I'm sure they thought we were crazy fools.

The missionaries greeted us after we completed the hunt. We were the first one's back and WON!! 

My Experience Being a Fashion Disaster

All Hallow's Eve...a night for fun and parties! Basically I just wore what I normally wear - just added a little extra "Taiwan." Note the Pippy Longstocking-esque pig tails, star earrings, funky shirt...ahh the memories. I was "Fashion Don't #2" while my good friend Jen was "Fashion Don't #1." We had a blast. In Taiwan, however, I would be a definite "Fashion Do"...I think.

Trying to give the full-body affect so my costume can be fully appreciated, but it's really not working. 

My shoes from Taiwan make a proud, pointy statement...interesting that the norm there should be such a spectacle here!

Halloween Fun at School!

My most joy-evoking student of all time...being amazingly, wonderfully silly! She makes me laugh like mad.

Me and my dear little student! She is such a ham!! She smashed her face in whipped cream just for this picture. :)

Jen and a steaming cauldron of apple cider! I love my job. 

Reinforcing Education

My wonderful co-workers...we were vowels for Halloween! Can't get much better than that.