All because of finals

....my hair has not been done

....my head is constantly pounding

....my house is in shambles

....my dreams consist of freedom

....my heart aches for the smell of my sewing maching (see ya Jan 2011!)

....my eyes crave to read things that aren't school related

....I haven't been able to make my neighborhood gifts (I will have do a New Years one instead)

....I never got around to doing a Christmas card this year

....Mae sometimes won't come to me when it is time to come home from the babysitters. (I am hoping it is just cause she has two little friends to play with and a dog)

....I feel constantly stressed and near tears.

....CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST HERE, which means a week+ in CA

....I almost done with this semester and school in general

TWO MORE TEST! I think I can do it. I know I can do it.

Brett and I did not take a single picture this last week. We spent Thanksgiving with Brett's mom in Elkridge and ate way to much good food. We played lots of rockband and Mae absolutely loved dancing to it. The rest of the week we were relaxing, hanging out with my family, making a quick trip to Boise to be with Brett's dad and grandparents. As of now, we are staying put until Christmas. Only 3 more days of school!

Dad

My Dad came to speak at BYU, so that meant Daddy-daughter time, SUNDANCE and yummy food. Mae, Jaclyn and I went to go hear my dad speak. Mae did not last long, so we wandered around the Tanner building. Afterwards we spent time at our house and then went to Sundance for dinner. We consumed tortilla soup, red pepper soup, salmon, swordfish, meatloaf, broccolini, and apple pie with carmel ice cream. Let's just say we could have been full for days. Thanks dad for coming and visiting. Love ya

Mae looking cold.

Mae and I shoveled the walk this weekend while Brett was out of town. Mae had her first experience of playing in the snow. She fell face first into the snow, so she avoided it the rest of the time!

Road trip to Louisville

Mae let us know that after 8+ hours in the car she was ready to be out and running around. We drove through parts of 5 states on this wonderful day. Which means that in Mae's 14 months of life she has been in 14 states. For some reason I want to someday be able to say I have been to all 50 states. I did have the goal for visiting all the temples when I was younger, which now seems pretty much impossible.




So while we were in Louisville, Kentucky we went Churchill Downs and even got to see the horses getting ready for a race. Afterwards Rich and Carlie took us to a beautiful park right off of the Ohio River. Mae even tried to jump in. Thank goodness Daddy was there to prevent such a thing from happening.

Over the next couple days we hung out, shopped, ate great food and we loved spending time with Rich and Carlie again. It has been too long since we have seen you two, now three. Thanks for letting us come and hang out with you. Brynlie is a adorable.

Okay, so as I am typing pictures have disappeared. Mae loved talking, patting and hugging Brynlie, but was less than pleased when either Mom or Dad were holding her.

Note to self:

Never go on vacation/trips again during school if you don't want to experience:

a disaster zone/house

falling behind in school/extreme stress

an unhappy daughter

or excessive amounts of work

Okay other than getting ready for our trip, being there was wonderful. I loved Nauvoo and seeing the Bird family. Only 2 more semesters after this one! Thoughts of grad school were on my mind before preparing for this trip. That statement makes me laugh.

P.S. Life is good and I am so excited for Christmas.

Beautiful

Brett, Mae and I went to Nauvoo a week and a half ago and had a great time. Since we went in the off season we did not have to deal with hundreds of people as we visited the church sites.

We went to Carthage, the Temple and then a few more places. I loved being in a place were Joseph and other inspiring people have walked. I am truly grateful for what the early pioneers have done for us.

Minnie Mouse Mae