The holidays are OVER!

Well, except for new years anyway. I am SO glad that christmas is over...although I have to admit that I hate how it feels like all that work, and its over, just like that??

I got all of the goodie packages out to michaels family back east...but I am a little ticked. We sent 23 packages...and got TWO thank yous. TWO stinkin thank yous! I cried earlier today thinking about how much time I put into those, and for no one to even say thanks! ugh. Maybe everyone is just busy with the holidays, but still, a phone call with a thank you would have been nice, even just an e mail or something. grrr.

Aside from that, my christmas was FANTASTIC!! I had to work on christmas eve, which was kinda sucky, but afterwards me and michael loaded up the jeep with all the gifts and of course the PUMPKIN GOOEY CAKE (Thanks to Michelle), and drove over to my aunts. There was a good 50 people there, we just ate a FABULOUS dinner, prime rib, turkey, ham, mashed potatos, veggies, corn, rolls, the whole nine yards! We always have TONS of presents to open between all the little cousins and we also do a name drawing between the adults. It was so much fun and such a nice night. I got my FAVORITE perfume, romance by ralph lauren, and this yummy oatmeal cookie candle from my cousin in Texas. Michael got some nice button up shirts from my cousin. Michael slept over that night and we read the night before christmas together, it was so cute. Christmas morning I made a huge breakfast, and we did the stocking/present deal with my parents and sister. I made out big time, Santa (mom and dad) got me a lap top and some cute stocking stuff, my sister got me some scrap stuff, some bath and body works vanilla lotion and body wash, and michael got me a new epson photo printer, a new cell phone on verizon so we can talk free as much as we want, a subscription to scrapbook answers, some tanning lotion, a CUTE pink scarf with hearts stiched into it, and another favorite perfum, brittney spears, curious. He out did him self big time, but i love every single gift!

Now that the holidays are over, its time to get serious. Nursing school starts in less than TWO weeks. TWO weeks?!?! omg, its so unreal. I have been working on getting into nursing school for 5 years. I spent 3 years doing my undergraduate classes (biology, chemistry, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, math, etc), and then the waiting list was two years because there is such a shortage of teachers. so anyway...its just un real to finally be starting something that I have worked SO hard for. I am thrilled of course, but I am also a little nervous, and a little bit dreading all of the hard work that is going to go into it, the studying, the lectures, the clinicals, the labs, the long hours, the TESTS, etc...I plan on putting 100% into it, but I know its going to be a struggle. In the end, it will all be worth it, but for now, its just going to be a big change in my life.

The next couple weeks is going to be hectic, trying to get ready for school, organize all my stuff, clean my scrap space, michaels parents are coming to town for new years and we have really been missing them and wanting to spend time with them, I am working a lot, and trying to spend some time with Michael just the two of us before school starts. Bless his heart, I know he will be so patient and understanding when so much of my time goes to studying, but I do feel bad because I love being with him so much. Hopefully in the next couple of months he will be getting his own place and not renting a room from hsi friend anymore and we will move in together, he has his name on the list for low income rent, and its only $720 a month for a one bedroom in a gated community, which is CHEAP compared to other places here. The waiting list is long, but thats ok. We really want to live together before we get married, and since I just KNOW an engagment is coming in the next few months, this is a perfect time.

Thats all for now!

Baby its cold outside

Ok, so its really not THAT cold, but cold enough to curl up with a warm blankie and drink hot chocolate. I guess I cant complain, Christmas in California is pretty darn nice compared to other places.

So I created this blog THREE months ago and am just barely making my second post, how PATHETIC am I?? I am vowing to myself to start blogging more regularly, for my own sanity. Sometimes there are just times that I need to get things off my chest, so what a perfect place. My blog is nothing fancy or special like everyone elses (especially SHANNAS! www.mynextthirtyyears.com) but thats ok, maybe I can learn as I go.

I have been so busy lately, and its only going to get worse! I am starting nursing school in January (the 9th to be exact), and even though I am MORE than thrilled to finally be starting after 2 years of undergrad classes and a year and a half on the waiting list, I just know that its going to be pretty stressful. I am enjoying my free time now, even though it doesnt feel very "free." Me and Michael decided to make goodie packages for his family back east since we dont see them very often (ok so it was my decision to make the packages, but he went along with it). So this sunday, we have to make everything to go inside of them, heres the list so far (I'm sure it will change between now and then, lol):

Banana nut bread
Pumpkin bread
Chocolate chip cookies
pumpkin cookies
snickerdoodles
holiday chip shortbread cookies
peppermint bark
toffee
spiced walnuts
gingerbread men

Not too bad, especially since three of the doughs I made ahead of time and froze, so hopefully those come out ok and that saves us some time.

Thats all for now

Oh yea, thats the picture me and Michael chose for our cards, dorky, but cute