Busyness and Justin have become the last four weeks.

I use him being here as an excuse to deny all things boring and tedious (you know like grading papers) and look forward to having fun and hang out time daily. Shouldn't life be like that at all times? It is really though with Casey and dogs, yet with a guest it is magnified and there's no way I want to waste time on mundane ...work.

Regardless I do have to put in time, and the time is bball as we all know the broken record. That is fun though, and has turned some really positive - FUN corners as far as the varsity coach not being so weird, and thoughts on next year etc. Good things from the Lord. WOO!

So Justin heads out Monday evening sadly, but surely onto commencement of Cali life! That is exciting!

Please excuse the lack of blog and communication, it's not for lack of care and thinking of you all!

Off to clean up and enjoy the rest of the evening! Side bar: anyone chime in on the new Shins album? I like it - more depth melodically and rhythm/length changes to some songs within songs in the latter part of the album.

2-2 is the JV record of the most time consuming season ever. It only feels like that b/c Justin and Casey have to maneuver around the schedule too and I can't be with them...but still. We have mostly away games, so get used to it is the reality.

Justin's Pepperdine news is great to experience with him! Another one of us in Cali! YES! Great excuse for Casey and I to get back there. I miss it! I don't miss millions of people all in one spot, traffic, taxes, and other small annoyances of "living" there, but I miss being there! Now, I can visit there and have all the good things but not the rest of Chow type standstills.

So, today we all slept in and are up getting ready for the Colts! Casey made wings and I pre-spoiled it with Eggo Waffle cereal compliments of Justin purchasing via Fred Meyer run last night.

Hmmm...I'm just thinking there's more...oh that's what I'm secretly so, so pumped about! COOKIES! I'm making cookies to add onto the festivities. HA!

Tonight I finish my first aid class to officially be nationally registered as a coach and more importantly to receive my pay check this season. It's an easy online course that has been nagging. :)

Good times and good weeks have been flowing with Justin here and we really enjoy having him up here! Now we would love to see Mike, Matt and Tracey, and Gramps make the trek sometime. Maybe not in the dead of winter.....without a snowmachine....so our colleagues appall to us. Ha, ha!

Off to mini-party! bye bye now - p.s. Mike hope you're feeling better asap

Today Casey and I got up really early to take our PT Cruiser rental car back to the dealer. We rented it b/c the truck's getting fixed till this Thursday. And we wanted to take it back and just use the Jeep to save money on the rental. Turns out our truck warranty covers a rental car until we get the truck back! NICE! Wish the lady had a clue on Saturday, so today's second trip wouldn't have been made! Argh! But fun!

We found Old Navy to have 2.50 cent type deals and we found tons of stuff! Excellent! We also took advantage of a bakery gift certificate from our friends. Very good bread and cookies redeemed!

So Justin slept in and hung out at home till we got back around 2 p.m. and saw that Mt. McKinley was out and clearly visible with the sunlight. So we kidnapped Justin from the house and showed the array of picture taking opportunities. We've seen it better and more magnificent but Justin may not have had any other opportunity to see it again with winter clouds, etc.

Off to workout, eat dinner, get ready for school, and play catan! WOO!

This is my admittedly "need a tan" picture :( boohoo, dead of winter scene! Good thing no one else has a tan up here! HA! HA!

To get a report out here....





Those were some random pics of Justin setting up PS2, Casey hanging out with the dogs, and then Casey with his GPS. P.S. check out willowwonderland blog for more pics and info.

We've been hanging out all weekend watching football, playing Family Feud PS2 (thanks Mike!), and we made a gross trek to Anchorage due to some truck (power steering) problems.

The dealer rented us a PT cruiser to take home b/c they won't have a part till Thursday. We think we're going to go get the truck tomorrow though, it's a bit ridiculous that only the dealer can fix things?

Otherwise, bball took over my life (and affected Casey, J, and the dogs life) real late last Wed., Thurs., and Friday. More busyness this week too....this month...2 months really. Lots of away games too.

We didn't end up going snowboarding this weekend mostly due to the truck, so that stinks. But one Sunday coming up we will, and maybe 2 Sundays if it's sweet!

Off to play Family Feud, Catan (?), and watch Little Miss Sunshine! (thanks Mike too!)

real tired, and real enjoying of brother being here! yahoo Justin!

lots of basketball, here we gooooooooooooo.........games started today and yup

Justin and I are watching the first season of Extras and it's hilarious!

It was enjoyable catching some new blogs! have a great almost weekend! I know I'm feelin' the weekend already! Snowboarding oh yah! No school Monday too! bye bye now

I won catan and we have napkins in the house! Both unheard of greats!

After a few practices this week, it's time for a nice long weekend before that hovering Monday deal. Back to school.

2 weeks off is just what we needed, and we are feeling quite refreshed and ready to get the school moving and over. Half way done? Don't blink is what my mind tried to advise me just a few short months ago. WHOA!

It always goes blurryingly for me if I don't write during life. I looked back on the journal yesterday and saw that September and October were non-existent in writing reflection form. Oh well! December writing has been a jumpstart of quality there, currently accounting for half of my 4 month old journal.

Here's me all bundled up and maneuvering 2 dogs through 3 feet + of snow in our front yard.


We have been getting a good 6-8 inches dumping at least once a week. It's winter then? Seriously, after living in California, the weather just flat out doesn't phase (faze?) me at all. Weird, but good. Not good when it's -24 though like yesterday :
So to record properly (more for me sorry), this break I accomplished the following:

-organized many paper pushing house piles
-organized a few closets
-wrote and read lots
-ate great Casey food
-watched about 20 movies
-slept
-sat with black and white dogs
-embraced the fun Christmas deliveries for several days
-moose meat pizza - hands down one of the best pizzas ever, better than Mombasa? better than Italy's or Joan's? it's close

have a good weekend - peace!

Soundtrack of the night: "Whatever You Want" by Vienna Teng. Dad this song is on the Paste cd sampler you sent me.

Good piano-ey and lyrically connectable for my life's perspective tonight. Might not make it past tonight though in enjoyment?

We watched The New World tonight on DVD. Really good cinematography, silence of characters, and soundtrack. The story was sleepy for me, but that is a direct result of a full day starting at 7 am when I'm used to noon awakence-ing.

Great to catch your 06 reflections Justin and Dad! Sorry I'm out now, midnight sleeptime for pratice-o tomorrow!