Gotta Love Snow Days!!!

I woke up on January 16th to the entire Portland area covered in SNOW!!! Yep, snow. It was awesome. After only 1 week of school, and a 3 day weekend (MLK day), they closed school due to snow... how cool is that.

My neighbor’s Chris, Caitlyn, and I went down to campus on the first evening... had snow ball fights, made a snowman and just had a great time!!! Let’s see.... some keywords that describe our night:

Hearing Aids, Snow Boobs, Tennis, 1-legged snowman,
yellow snow, Toyota Jumps, shiny snowballs, sliding on ice...

It lasted most of the week... and we had Tuesday AND Wednesday off of school. It was fantastic.. but I’m ready to get back into the swing of life!

Winter 2007

My life in school gets underway again tomorrow! Last term I learned lots of things that I have adjusted for this term, so I’m really looking forward to this term!!!! Things I’ve learned for this term are: NO MORE MORNING CLASSES, no more classes that focus on gender (at least in Portland), and at least 1 day a week off of classes to get some things done without cramming them in around classes. So, with those being said, here’s my schedule:

Monday:
12:45-3:10 -- Fundamentals of Elementary School Math (aka: How to teach Math to elementary school students)
4:30-6:10 -- Music Fundamentals (aka. How to teach music to elementary school students) HOT TEACHER!!!

Tuesday:
12:00 - 12:50 -- New Testament: Part 2 (took Part 1 last term)
1:00 - 1:50 -- Library Resources (aka: how to use the library for research OR an upper division 2 credit NAP)
4:00 - 6:30 -- Young Adult Literature

Wednesday:
12:45-3:10 -- Fundamentals of Elementary School Math (aka: How to teach Math to elementary school students)
4:30-6:10 -- Music Fundamentals (aka. How to teach music to elementary school students) HOT TEACHER!!!

Thursday:
12:00 - 12:50 -- New Testament: Part 2 (took Part 1 last term)
1:00 - 1:50 -- Library Resources (aka: how to use the library for research OR an upper division 2 credit NAP)
4:00 - 6:30 -- Marriage and Intimacy (sociological perspective of relationships): Primarily online, only meets in person weeks 1, 4, 7 & 10. HOT DOG!!!

Friday:
JENN’S DAY OFF OF SCHOOL (aka. potential to work at my old office, do homework, shopping, etc!)


Pretty nice schedule, huh!!!!!!!!! I’ll write more once I’ve been to my classes at least once! Love ya’ll!

Vacation Round Two - Utah

Again, I’m writing this after the fact, so you’re getting the condensed version of my trip to Utah, but feel free to ask if you want to know more about anything!

On December 28, I flew from Oakland to Salt Lake City and got to spend the next week in Highland, Utah with my “Utah Parents”. This week was much different than my time in Antioch! I spent this week doing a lot more thinking, praying, studying, and reading than I did in California. I had a lot of things that I needed to think about, and really welcomed this time to think about the choices that I have been making and which ones need to be readjusted and which ones needed to be completely eliminated!

I did have a chance to spend some time each day visiting with my friends in the area too. I went to lunch with my former roommates, visited with my former youth leader, and did some “catch up” with some friends that I don’t get to spend nearly enough time with. I got to spend some quality time with my friend and her family, and really feel like I was part of the family again. Did some of my “computer coaching” (Love you Karen!!) At my Utah parents house, we had a pizza party with a group from my former Young Women’s group in Antioch, and had a great time reminiscing about all the fun times we had in our old ward. I got to see my childhood friends two kids, including her 5 month old baby girl. On New Years Eve, I beat my Utah parents 3 out of 4 rounds in Rummikub. Held a snake. Candle shopped (bless the Candle outlet!) Had a great lunch visit with a friend that I hadn’t seen in almost 10 years (and 18 total moves between us).

The whole week I was there, there was very little snow. I started to get a little bummed that there wasn’t much snow, even on the mountains. My friend told me that a “storm” was due in on Friday... which would be great if I wasn’t heading back to Portland on Thursday. But, no fear!!!! I woke up Thursday morning to SNOW!!! Not only was there snow... but we were having a partial blizzard on my way back up to the airport We’re talking fishtailing, slow moving, winds, iced roads, etc. Hey, I’m just siked that I got to see snow!!!

I can’t wait to get back up there. I can’t believe it had been 3 years since my last visit. I also can’t believe how much I missed my friends and family up there!!! I’m determined to not let that much time go by before I get back up there!

Vacation Round One - California

I’m actually writing this after the fact, and considering I got to spend time with most of you during my 3 weeks away... I spare the minute details. I’ll just give a brief overview of what kinds of things I did, and where I went. If you want to know more about anything... just ask...

From December 16-28, I spent time in Antioch, California (which for those who didn’t know... is where I was born and raised). I spent time with my three sisters, my dad, and my nephew.. not to mention the countless friends that I consider my family!!! I had a chance to go to my ward in Antioch (actually both A2, and H2), and even played volleyball with some of my friends. I had a fantastic time “power shopping” for stocking stuffers with my psuedo-mom, and having my first taste of sushi for my cousin’s birthday. I realized how much I missed having cats sleeping with me at night, and how much I missed 3 1/2 year old little nephew hugs. I spent time getting chocolate samples from Sees Candies, taking my former youth group girls out to lunch, watching movies with my friends, and keeping kids happy at church. On Christmas Eve, I got to help with a children’s nativity program (complete with costumes), attended a family mexican dinner with some fantastic family friends, and trying to cram all the “goodies” I bought into stockings that were MUCH too small. Looking back, I had a great time with everyone! I loved visiting with everyone and getting reacquainted with all of my friends and family. I can’t believe how much I’ve missed everyone, but I know that I’m doing the right thing with school right now.