4 reasons I am finally in the Christmas mood

Yesterday, I finally started to get in the holiday mood. I haven't felt very festive lately, probably because it has been pretty warm here, and I can't believe that it is already December!
1. Yesterday it snowed all day long! It was cloudy, and snowy, and WONDERFUL! I like the sunshine, but they were not lying when they say it is sunny in Colorado 300 days out of the year.
2. I got my first Christmas card in the mail. It was from Sue and Charlotte and made my day. It actually got me motivated to start my Christmas cards. I haven't been stamping in awhile, but started on some Christmas presents a couple of weeks ago and now my Christmas cards are already half done.
3. Tyler surprised me by showing up at my house with food, hot chocolate, peppermint schnapps, and wine. We spent all day watching season 2 of The Office and eating and drinking. Then we got bundled up and went to the Denver Zoo for the light show. The light show was awesome because as you walk around and look at lights you can also look at the animals. Not too many were out, but the Mountain Goats were running up and down their "mountain" chasing eachother. I am pretty sure they were more excited about the snow then I was. It was a very nice surprise and we had a really good time, even though it was 20 degrees out and we were frozen when we got home.

Tyler and I trying to stay warm, which is hard when you are caked with snow!


Some of the lights


The hippo is going to eat Tyler!!!!

4. I only have 9 more days of work before I get 2 weeks off! I love being a teacher! Plus, I have lots of fun Hanukkah, La Posada, Christmas, and Kwanzaa activities prepared for the kiddos for the next two weeks.

Happy Holidays!

Update - last week

Well, this week I was sick. It was not fun; however, Tyler took care of me like a champ. He cooked me soup both nights, and grilled cheese sandwiches. Plus, kept me company while I was laying on the couch suffering. What a sweetie! Trickie and Porter are bonding! Well, not really I put Trickie on Porter's back because I want them to be friends. They really dislike eachother, but I am determined that they become friends.


On Friday, I met Tyler's parents for the first time. I guess he decided to throw me to the sharks because not only did I meet his parents but I also met about 12 other family members. We had a really nice dinner minus his mom's test - a practical joke played on none other than me and his uncle's very loud announcement that I was a vegetarian beware. The good news is I passed his mom's test, and we really did have a good time.

Update - Thanksgiving

Sorry I haven't posted in soooooo long, but I have no clue where the time goes. Let's see....Thanksgiving was great. Kristin and I made it to Montana in one day. The roads were really bad in Colorado but only bad in spots throughout Wyoming.

Kristin - white knuckling it on the way home.

I spent lots of time hugging and kissing my nieces, nephew, and cousins. Porter enjoyed getting Thanksgiving treats from my family members who think that they can sneak him food. My sister made my mom and I leave the house at 4:30 AM to go shopping with her the day after Thanksgiving. She has 3 kids so she is the best bargain shopper. We actually didn't have anything in particular we needed to get on sale, so we didn't stress about getting places. We took our time and had fun. Going home for Thanksgiving helped reassure me that I made the right decision leaving all of my friends in PA to be closer to my family.



the kids table - Morgan, Megan, Mashaela, and MaKenna



I am thankful for my family and friends


MaKenna and Cyrus playing after dinner


Girls will have fun!


Cyrus thinking he needs an after dinner drink - apparently we need to put the beer up higher. What a stinker!

Of course it snows now!

Today it snowed, of course the day I want to drive to Montana. It has been snowing along the highway I need to drive from my destination to my starting point. So, this should be fun. Kristin and I wanted to leave early because it is a nine hour drive, but we are waiting hoping some of the ice will melt. Hopefully, it doesn't take us 16 hours to get there. At least I have someone to drive with. I haven't been home for Thanksgiving in 8 years so I am super excited, although I am missing the annual group Thanksgiving, which makes me very sad. Wish me luck as I travel through the wonderful state of Wyoming.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Suzie Homemaker, what????

Ya that is right, I was called Suzie homemaker. I made dinner, and Tyler called me Suzie homemaker. Now, that may not seem like a big deal unless you know the real Anna. The very undomesticated Anna. I am undomesticated in pretty much every sense of the word. I don't clean, cook, shop, sew, etc.....the only thing domesticated that I do partake in is taking care of kids, and I get paid for that. Last year, I used the oven twice. I microwave EVERYTHING! The only time I use the stove is to heat tortillas or spaghettios. The kids I teach (with severe/profound disabilities are better at cooking than I am! Alright enough. Apparently, I am changing. I have been cooking dinner lately (more than grilled cheese). I made this very yummy General Tao's Tofu (recipe from Vegweb.com) and Tyler thinks he is dating someone domestic. Ha! I have him fooled. There is no way I am cleaning though!

P.S. If you look close enough you can see the pile of dirty socks under my coffee table. And yes, we are eating on a coffee table. Who needs a real table when you have a coffee table and a couch. No one can convert me!!!!

The news

So, I never watch the news mainly because I am a MTV addict (according to Tyler). Hey, I can't help it if I am in love with Cohutta and can't get enough of the weirdness of Jessie Bobby. Well, for whatever reason I had the news on tonight, and I learned a lot of important things.

1. There is some hope for kids with the antibodies or kids at risk for Type 1 diabetes. Apparently, they are testing a new insulin pill, that would delay or prevent the onset of diabetes. They say that it has delayed the onset up to five years in humans. It is never a good time to have the onset occur, but I would have been very grateful if my 4 year old niece could have been a kid for a little longer before her world was turned upside down. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=health&id=5657058

This could also help my other niece and nephew who are at high risk for developing diabetes. MaKenna was just tested for the antibodies and she does not have them, which means there is a good chance she won't have diabetes. Yea!!!!!! Cyrus has to be at least a year old to test, so we don't know yet if he has the antibodies.

2. There is a test to see what kind of mutt you have. That is very exciting to me because I have no clue what Porter is. Every one has their own opinion, and they are so different. I have heard Great Dane, Grey Hound, Ridgeback, German Shepard...the list could go on. I just say he is Porter, but this test will tell you what breeds make up your dog. It sounds crazy, but I would spend the $150.00 just to know. Hmmm...maybe that should be Porter's x-mas present. Although, I am pretty sure he would be happy with just a bone. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/family/14562676/detail.html

I was really watching the news today to see if it was ever going to snow here. Don't I live in Colorado now? It was like 75 degrees yesterday! Don't get me wrong, I love the warm weather, but I can't get into the x-mas mood when it is that warm, and I am ready for the holidays!

Go Eagles!!!!

Okay, so I know this hasn't been our best season, but I haven't given up. Today, I went to Gov's and watched the game with some old friends. Actually, some old friends' brothers. I have been friends with Kenny since highschool, and his older bro lives in Denver so he entertains me on days when I am feeling lonely and bored. It really stinks being an Eagles fan in Colorado because I can't watch the game at home unless it is a night game or Monday game. I have to go to the bar and beg them to turn it on even the smallest TV. The good news is they usually do put it on for me. I am happy I can go through the week with a win. GO EAGLES!!!!!

Our first post

Well, I guess I finally gave in and decided to journal the exciting or not so exciting adventures that Porter and I share each day. In reality, I thought this would be a good way to keep everyone in PA updated on our lives. I read other blogs and it helps me stay connected to those I miss on a daily basis. So, no promises this will be exciting, but I will give it a try. Bear with me as I figure this blogging world out.