I'm back in Grand Rapids. I had an awesome Christmas break with family and friends. BC was beautiful, I loved the different climates. The lower mainland was very mild, but then you drive a little and you hit winter and a foot of snow. It was great. So I got a green and a white Christmas...the best of both worlds. I have tons of pictures to share, 200+ not to mention the pictures that my mom is going to send me. We both had our digital cameras along and were having fun playing around with them. So stay tuned for pictures, I'll post a handful. If you want the full treatment, I have them on my laptop :) Got to see a bunch of my aunts, uncles, and cousins, some of my friends, and had some good times with my immediate family. But now I'm back and need to get back into day to day life again, bleh. Hope everyone had a great Christmas :)

This morning when I woke up I looked out the window and saw that the world had been blanketed in snow while we were sleeping. So beautiful. The cars looked all snug and warm in their blankets. And you can't beat the drive to work, the trees looked so pretty. It's beginning to feel like Christmas, three more days till I head for home!

It is far too quiet here this afternoon. Everyone else has gone home for the day and I'm left here all on my own....Yikes, I don't like being here on my own...this creepy looking guy was just at the window so I locked the door. He's gone now, and I hope he doesn't come back. We're in the basement, so it's easy to see in our windows. Anyhow, that's not what I going to write about...hmm...I was thinking about the snow that is currently falling outside and I was thinking about Christmas, which will be here before we know it.

Ah yes, last night was our last GEMs night until after Christmas. We took the girls to Metropolitan hospital to go caroling. We asked the girls to bring some of their beanie babies and stuffed animals with them to give to patients, so as we caroled up and down the halls, the girls took turns giving the toys to people. It was a lot of fun, and I think the girls enjoyed it. I was amazed at how well-behaved they can be. But once we got back to the church they were back to racing around again. We had hot chocolate and I gave my girls cards and candycane reindeer. For those of you who aren't familiar with them, a candycane reindeer is a candycane with a brown pipecleaner for antlers and googly-eyes and a red nose. I also got to meet one of my girls' mothers, which is always nice.

Going back in time, Tuesday I did most of my Christmas shopping. Guam I think I did what you would classify as power shopping. Just some loose ends to tie up and my shopping will be done.

Further back, Sunday I decided to make the house more Christmas-y so I put up some lights and decorated my little pine tree. A rather small Christmas tree, but I think its kinda cute. Saturday I went to a Christmas party with Pat (for his work). And that brings us back to Friday which was Sinterklaas.

Thinking about Sinterklaas makes me hope that the Koogers have some fun Sinterklaas-like celebration in mind for when we're in Vancouver...that would be fun :) I can't wait till December 20th...only eight more days!

Happy Sinterklaas everyone!

*sigh* I wish I had my headphones with me... I bought the Return of the King soundtrack last night and was listening to it in my car. I popped it in as soon as I got out of Best Buy. Now I'm itching to drive home so I can listen to the rest of it...if only I had remembered to bring my headphones along today...

Wow, December 1st already...only 25 days till Christmas...how did that sneak up so fast?

I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving weekend. I for one really needed that four day break. Too bad it couldn't have been a little longer :) Good company, good food, fun times. But DC is right, the house will seem very quiet. I like having lots of people around. And I like playing the part of the hostess, feeding people, arranging beds, etc, etc. It felt as though no one had left, like we all lived in Grand Rapids again. Its sad that everyone lives so far apart...

By the way, the reviews are in, and Thanksgiving dinner was a success. Though we were a little behind schedule...but good things come to those who wait, right?