christmas past

So much for posting more frequently... I apologize; I got sick Christmas evening and have been wiped out since. I am still sick, but I am finally free of Christmas crafts and obligations. For once, I may finally have some time for my self (as the baby wakes up from his nap and starts crying)... So maybe not.
For me, the holidays were stressful; I took on too many projects. Luckily, I was able to finish all my crafts in time. My projects included decorating wood letters, scrap booking calendars, and baking Christmas goodies. With one exception, all turned out great! Christmas was good to us this year.
On Christmas Eve, we went to Robert's parents' house for dinner (delicious) and caroling. We also opened gifts from Robert's sister, Sarah, and her family. She made me a gorgeous jewelry set. Her husband made Robert a nice wooden pen. Afterward, we went to my parents' house to open our gifts. The best gift, a 32" HDTV. It is amazing! We had previously been watching TV on an old 17" pathetic TV (seriously, it had no outlets for DVD or VCR players. lame). I got some more nice jewelry and Robert some little tools. Baby got a lot of books and toys.
Robert and I woke up at 6:15 Christmas morning to share our gifts. Robert gave me a gift card to Scrapbooks ETC (and later an ASU sweater at his parents' house). He also "gave me" the chance for professional family photos (which I will post when we received the cd). I gave him a new watch, a nice shirt, and "The Dark Knight". We gave baby some rattle/teething toys, a plush blanket, Wall-E, and a floor play mat (which he loves).
Christmas morning was spent eating omelets and opening more gifts at Robert's parents' house. My FAVORITE Christmas gift came from Robert's parents; we received the book "Christmas Jars" and a jar with $50 in quarters (no, the quarters were not my favorite part of the gift). We were given a couple more books (one was for Joel) and some food storage cans. Baby got a cute hoodie towel, as well. Our gift to Robert's parents was a calendar with each of their grandchildren representing a different month. Unfortunately, in my last-minute, crazed state of mind, I placed a wrong name on one of the pages. Mom didn't even catch it; one of my sis-in-laws caught the "typo". Luckily, the misspell was fixed by the next day.
When we got home mid-morning, I continued working on family Christmas gifts while baking a red velvet cake. Um, yes. I take on too much. We left for my grandma's house at about 2:30 (during the ridiculous storm). Dinner was delicious and enjoyed by all. Well, all except for my cousin who spent the entire time on the phone with her missionary. Baby got a bunch of great gifts including some much needed clothes (he is almost 3 months, but fitting into size 6 mo). We got a vacuum (sorta random), small knick knacks, and money. We gave my grandma, grandpa, and parents calendars with month-specific pictures of Joel (my parents' calendar had the most detail).
Christmas evening was spent with my best friend Jodi, whom I love. I am so excited; she is expecting in August. I am going to have to find some way to fly out to Texas and be with her when the time comes...
I hope all of you had a great holiday! I look forward to a new year.

The tree I decorated for my parentsThe wood letter craft I did for Jodi's giftA photo I took and Photo shopped for JodiMy red velvet cake!Yummy!Baby's First ChristmasWall-E, Baby's new favorite movieTowel head!GorgeousThe best giftI love you Jodi!Mom Root's calendarMy mom's calendar

freedom

This past week has been crazy! I thought being out of school meant more time for me; I was wrong. I have been busy preparing for graduation and the holidays.
Yesterday I received quite a pleasant surprise. Robert was on ASU's website all day, checking grades. I got a call at about 10am from him, telling me that two of my four grades were A's (I already knew that the other two grades were A's). Curious, I asked what my GPA was. The two A's (which I thought would be B's) were enough to bump me from Magna Cum Laude to Summa Cum Laude! I had played the GPA game during the summer to see what I would need to reach Summa. I thought it was just out of reach, but apparently not! My final cumulative GPA upon graduation was a 3.82, this semester's GPA was a 4.08. Um... holy cow.
I didn't go to ASU's HUGE graduation ceremony... asking my family to go twice (with an often-screaming baby) was too much to ask. Instead, I elected for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Convocation ceremony (Convocation is where they actually call your name individually). Graduates had to meet at 7:15am outside of the Wells Fargo Arena... FREEZING! I found my little group of Geography graduates (there were 13 of us in all) and waited for the ceremony to begin. It was crazy hearing Pomp and Circumstance, knowing that I was graduating from Arizona State University. My friends Cody, Krysten, and I all had nervous jitters. The speakers were well-versed; we even had a guest appearance by someone famous (see the graduation pictures). Hearing my name read has to be one of the greatest feelings I have ever felt; I accomplished something of magnitude (not that giving birth was not of magnitude, this was just a little less physically painful). Unfortunately, the Dean of the college asked us not to throw our mortarboards (lame).
After the ceremony was over, I ran into my uncle and birth-mother on my way to find my family. I had NO idea that they were planning to attend the ceremony; I was pleasantly surprised (yet again... Summa Cum Laude was the first pleasant surprise). We found my family and did the picture-taking thing. After my family had congradulated me, Robert and I (with Baby, of course) headed to the Geography Graduates Party.
Now that the day is coming to a close, I am contemplating what to do next. I am really interested in the Masters program, but we need to get Robert through his Bachelors degree first. For now I am content with being a mommy.
Since it has been a while, I have a bunch of photos. I have a lot of random photos. Enjoy! I will post again soon (hopefully)!

Krysten, me, and Cody.
I graduated!
Thanks for everything Dad, especially believing in me.
I couldn't have done it without your support either, Babes.
We did it!
Baby rocking the ASU onesie.
Celebrating my birthday (Dec. 16th)
Lifting my head.My new favorite thing to do!Such a sad face!Doesn't look so bad from above......Doesn't look so GOOD from the side...Huh?!
Baby talking to one of his bears...

done!

I just had to post that I am DONE with school! Well, I still have a final, but even if I flunk that I will still graduate! I can't believe I am finished with college; I never thought I would graduate.
Joel is two months old today. I would say that I can't believe it, but I can. He is two months old, 25 inches long, and 15 pounds. Yes, my child is gigantic (I am the one who has to carry the little hippo around). He has been in size 3 diapers for over 2 weeks; he just hit size 6-9 months in clothes. It is a bit ridiculous. Thank you to everyone who gave me cute little clothes. Unfortunately he can no longer wear them, which makes me extremely sad.
I will post pictures and such later... I have a sleeping (snoring) baby on my lap at the moment.