My Nativity Set

Go Mavericks!

On our way to the game!

Testing our vertical leaps - or lack of leaps in my case.
Jim actually hit the 108" even though even only the 93" would light up.

Our seats. We are in the first row of the box in the center.

Entertainment on our way back to the car after the game. Poor cow.

Peace,
MEA

Merry Christmas!

Bella, the food girl, and Gracie

I know, I feel weird about it, but I thought a Christmas picture with just me would be silly, so I broke down took one with the animals. Actually, I spent hours trying to get ONE with the animals. I tried self portraits, timers, everything. I even had to take a break because the animals were getting too stressed out (which you can see on their faces here), either from the flash or me rushing around trying to get them to look at the camera. So what you see above is the best of my hours of labor.

Travel has been a reoccurring theme this year. I spent Thanksgiving in Phoenix at my cousin's house. You may remember her as the pie baking cousin from previous posts. I know that is how all my friends in Hawaii remember her - thankfully - since they now eat lots my homemade pies.

Becky, mom, and the world traveler

The girls at Thanksgiving

Now that I think about it, this picture took about as long to get as the one of the animals and me. Hmmm, what could that mean? And boy howdy, there were some doozies before we finally got this one.

CB and me

Luckily my travels, even when they were for work, contained fantastic adventures. Like getting to see CB and attending my brother's breath taking wedding in Yosemite.

Yosemite was marvelous. I can't wait to go back. Anyone up for a week of camping and hiking this summer? Let me know. I have caught the hiking bug. So much that I joined a hiking group here. I have been posting all the hike pictures on my facebook, but here are just a smattering.

So there is probably much more to tell. But this is a busy time of year and you should probably be doing something besides reading my blog.

So while I can't say that I ever expected to muddling through Matt divorcing me in 2009, I have kept myself busy and experienced some beautiful moments.

This is your hiking, world traveling, food girl to Bella and Gracie, signing off.

Peace to you and your family.

Please be safe during the holiday season.

And get yourself to a church this Christmas!

Love,

MEA

P.S.

For those of you worried about Gracie and her box. The half eaten box was completely destroyed a few days later. Soon to be followed by a fantastic cat bed given to her by Dr. Sakai (one of the doctors I work with). No worries though, as you can see in the picture below, a new box has come into the picture and she is happy. (See, why couldn't I get that kind of happy in our Christmas picture?)