Hmmm, well, perhaps this painting doesn't describe it accurately. (I'm not overly fond of the mustache...) But it must be admitted that this final's week/1st weekend of break was the best ever! :) What can I say? I'm a total girl. (and I LIKE it!)
Stupid anestethic. I felt woozy for 24 hours. My family is still laughing at the things I said. Did you know that I have a phobia of hospitals? I do. And yet I want to work in one... 
We made TONS of cookies, and candy, and biscotti, etc. My poor brothers (who wrestle and have to make certain weight classes) starved themselves for several days before their match because both were over their weight limit. The rest of us, not being so hampered, continue to eat. :)
And here's the family!!! Actually, I have no clue who these people are, but it was the one picture I could find that seemed to have the right amount of people in it to represent my father's family. They all came to our house on Christmas Eve. When they come things inevitably.... (well, how should I say this?)... things get a little out of hand. Okay, you all know me- in my father's family I'm classified as a "quiet person." Yup. No joke, and compared to them- I am. We all eat enormous quantities, talk really loudly, and my father finds unique things to do with his Christmas presents. (This year he "stuffed" himself) We punctuate the unwrapping of gifts with wrapping paper wars. These become very violent, and even though it's December we turn on the ceiling fan and hurl paper into it "just to see what will happen." The great trick in these battles is to catch someone unawares and nail them in the head with a wad of paper and bows. This has gotten harder as we have all grown and become much more wiley.
And then it was Christmas. Every now and then God gives something that will make Christmas all the more real. This year we are all waiting for our little China babies, the idea of Jesus coming as a little child was all the more intriguing. I like this picture....
And then the entire Blake crew went to see this movie. We loved it. I liked it so much that I went and watched it again in Monticello, although it must be admitted that "Peter" himself provided ample enough reason to view it again. ;) Amanda, Jenni, Danielle and I drooled appropriately and it was great fun to sit with all of them because at every surprisingly scary part they jumped and gasped in such a way as to shake the whole row. On the way back the three "imature" girls sang at the top of our lungs to chick-flicky music and created microphones out of McDonalds trash. Amanda disowned us all (but she secretely enjoyed it and joined in.)
Then I went shopping. In Michigan City. I drove up with Rachel Tolbert and Sylvia (thank you!) and we met Debi and her mom at the outlet stores there in Michigan City. I was in heaven. B
ut I only spent $18.00- I was so good. Then Debi and Rachel introduced me to their little old friend- Grace. I can call her "little" and "old" because she really, honestly was. She's about 4' 7" and 82 years old. She drives herself, vaccums her house daily, gets up every morning at 5:15 to go on a walk with some younger ladies, and she has gentlemen admirers scattered all over the United States. She's got one of the sharpest wits and senses of humor I have ever seen. I want to be just like her when I grow up.
Of course there are other numerous pictures that you will soon be privy to- I threw a wonderful New Year's bash that I was very happy to have so many (girl) friends at. I met a bunch of friends from elementary school, highschool, and took other such walks down memory lane. All these journeys convinced me that I'm very, very happy where I am. :) I could keep going, however, I feel myself becoming distinctly boring, so I shall stop writing.
Happy 2006!
