Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas here at the Cortes House. Kaylie was at just the right age to not quite understand Christmas and Santa but love the presents and fun stuff the little spoiled miss got! She just loves her kitchen set which we spent all month finding and choosing. She also loves her drum, purse, and every other thing she got. Did I mention she was a bit spoiled by all this Christmas? Erick and I enjoyed watching the sheer joy on her face as she saw more and more of her toys and it brought back memories for me of being a child and having santa come. It truly is so much more fun to see things through the eyes of a child.
I think for me though the best part was Christmas Eve. We had our parents over and surprised them with a super yummy dinner of steak and shrimp which was enjoyed by all. We then sang tons of Christmas Carols and opened a few presents. The next day we went to my in laws house for a nice enjoyable dinner with family. Overall it was a wonderful Christmas with plenty of good memories.

Graduation and winter break

I did it. I finally got my Master's Degree. It felt so nice to be able to walk and have that moment where I could really say Wow! My goal is accomplished. I did it. I will admit now I don't quite know what to do but I haven't had too much trouble finding things to fill the time. I am really enjoying being primary chorister and coming up with ideas and games to teach the kids the songs. I also am finally on Winter Break which is good because I was really tired and not quite enjoying my job because of this. I have been scrapbooking this afternoon which is always one of my favorite activities. I am also enjoying spending time with Kaylie and look forward to when Erick gets Christmas Eve and Day off. I hope Christmas is good for all of you. Here are some pictures of my graduation and other things that have been going on with us.

Just thought you would like to know I passed my COMPS!!!!

An update because I feel like it

I figured I was grumpy today and maybe looking at some cute and happy pictures and thinking about fun stuff like Disneyland would make me happier. It seems to be working a bit. I had a rough day at work. Students were challenging and aides too. It probably doesn't help that I was out late last night at my favorite place (Disneyland). So I came home checked my Facebook and found out Grandma Jenson was in the hospital. Not much to make me happy. I called my mom to get an update and proceeded to vent to her about my day. (Thank goodness for Mom's!!!!) From there my day did start to get better. I found a frozen Lasagne in the fridge and decided to get vegetables for a salad so we are going to have a super yummy dinner tonight. I threw a load of laundry in. I then took Kaylie to the park where she really enjoyed sliding down the slide and figured out how to climb up to it on her own. Now I'm going to call Meghan as soon as she's off I hope I don't interrupt the basketball game because I always have uncanny timing and I don't think she has DVR. So here are some of the pictures that made me happier today.

A sampling of my life the past few weeks!

I have had a very busy few weeks. I had my Grandma Barnes pass away unexpectedly on Oct. 30th. So I took an unplanned trip to WA to have an unplanned but wonderful family reunion with all my cousins and aunts and uncles plus all my Grandma's siblings. I think it was exactly as she would have liked it to be. It was a loving tribute to her.
When I got back from my quick trip to WA we had my sister and her family come to visit. It was so fun! We were so busy and really enjoyed getting to spend some time with them. Amanda and I worked on quite a few adorable hair bows for our girls.
We did a quick day at Disneyland and the kids loved it! Sam was so cool with wanting to go on Space Mountain. She definitely takes after her dad and not her mom in her fearlessness!
I forgot to mention that during this entire time I was busy prepping for my COMPS. It seems like when it rains it pours.
I took my COMPS about a week ago and I feel that they went well. I haven't thought much about them since then so hopefully that is a good sign.
I was called as the primary chorister in the middle of all this. It is going to be good. I really had fun conducting on Sunday. I think it is fun to be able to use my teaching ability on General Ed kids as something different. I also really enjoy coming up with ideas to teach songs. Did I mention I have never known how to lead music. We are very lucky to have a nice pianist who is understanding of this. Thank Goodness! I don't know what I would do otherwise.

COMPS

I take my comps today. Wish me luck! Lindsey

The Incredible Grandma Barnes

My Grandma Barnes was an incredible lady. She lived an incredible life and was an incredible example. I could spend hours going on and on about her wonderful example and what I learned from her but instead I am just going to say a few key things.

Grandma made the best cinnamon rolls one of my favorite memories of her was when they lived in Cheney and we went out to visit. Her cinnamon rolls were not ready yet and it was time to go home. I didn't like this at all. I devised a plan to stay the night at grandma's house just so I could have some! (I didn't admit to my mom till the next day the real reason I wanted to stay was the cinnamon rolls)

Grandma always had candy and olives. I think all the grand kids were shocked when grandma and grandpa admitted that neither of them liked olives but they had cases in their basement just to please the grand kids. Grandma always had smarties and red licorice in a "hiding" place which every grand kid pretended not to know but would go sneak it before dinner.

Grandma was always there to cheer me on. I can't imagine it was fun to sit through my plays in high school or 2 graduations on the same day (My mom and I graduated High School and College the same day) but she was always there with her camera to take pictures of those things. She was at my college graduation and cheered me on so much in getting my Master's Degree. She always told me how proud she was of me for sticking to it and getting my education. I actually would usually send my grandma important papers to look over and comment on. She was a great editor.

Grandma and grandpa were able to come for Kaylie's baby blessing. She loved to see Kaylie so much and loved holding her. It was so neat. The last time we saw her was at the Barnes Family Reunion this past summer. She made sure to cook some of our favorites, her baked beans, cottage cheese with green onions and radishes, and of course her world famous buttermilk dressing. (Mine just isn't as good as her's was)

She was a good woman who loved her family, loved her genalogy and loved serving the Lord. She will be greatly missed and I am a better person because I had her in my life. Thanks Grandma. You will be missed.