Where to begin....

I can't believe how long it has been since we last blogged. It is crazy how busy things get after a holiday is over and you bet back in the routine! Let me give you a quick wrap-up of our holiday, new year, and the happenings of the past few weeks....

CHIRSTMAS: Dave and I enjoyed such a wonderful and full Christmas with so many of our family near by. We had the pleasure of Dave's parents coming down from Arkansas to spend a week with us and the other Norvells in Fort Worth. We shopped, went to great movies, enjoyed wonderful food, and of course, much needed catching up and visiting. We spent Christmas day in Fort Worth with the Norvells, and then the day after Christmas in Grapevine with the Vendsel/Bardes side of the family. Our festivities even included a joint Norvell/Vendsel family dinner. It was exciting to me to have each side of my family together for a evening, and I hope it is something we can do again. I tried my hand at a few new recipes, including my mom's famous Cranberry Yam Bake. For my first attempt, I didn't do too bad. I wanted everyone to know the greatness of this dish and to love it as much as I do, so I was nervous about how they were going to turn out. I did pretty good.....only two mistakes. I didn't let it warm enough all the way through, so the strussel and cranberries didn't melt very much and seep into the Yams, and then I burnt the marshmallows. My mom warned me to keep a close eye on them while they broiled, but I didn't keep a close enough one I guess. Oh well....next Christmas they will be perfect!!!
NEW YEARS:....was quiet and peaceful. After so much celebrating, we wanted a quiet evening to ourselves. I made a fun dinner (can't remember exactly what it was, but it was something new) and sipped some sparkling cider in our living room while watching movies and the specials on TV. It was wonderful.

Since then......
Dave has gone back to school and is having a great semester. He is concentrating on doing more creative things in his classroom with his students. The first week back, the students were learning about the mining industry and different types of rocks, so they "mined"chocolate chip cookies with toothpicks for a fun activity. Multiplication tables started this week, so Dave came up with a game using playing cards for the students to practice his facts. I continue to be impressed and awed each day by his devotion to his profession and those kids.
My job kept me busy busy busy toward the end of last year. With my boss on extended jury duty, I had many opportunities to cover for her when she couldn't get out of court. I also had a chance to go on my first official business trip a couple of weeks ago. I traveled to Beeville, TX, about 2 hours south of San Antonio, to cover a hearing for the middle and high school teachers. It was fun, but a very long day. Flew out at 7 am, waited 2 hours in the airport, drove 2 hours, waited 1.5 hours for us to get into the room, did my presentation for about 1 hour, drove back 2 hours, waited 2 hours, flew out at 9 pm, got lost getting back to Grapevine for 1 hour, finally home at about 11:30. Business travel isn't always what it is cracked up to be.
I started classes again as well. I am taking Quantitative Research Methods and Gender and Communication. It is going to be another hard semester, but I am ready to get going with it. Sometimes a Masters Degree seems so far away and such a unreachable goal, but I have to remember, just one class....or in this case paper (and I usually have about 4 per class per semester) at a time. Only 30 more hours to go!!!

We have some things to look forward to also! Our 1 year anniversary is coming up, and we are spending a few nights in San Antonio to celebrate. Thanks to Grandad Norvell, who has continued to bless us from heaven with money that he left behind for his grandchildren, we are spending two nights right on the river walk, and as a treat to me, Dave is letting me spend a whole day in Sea World! I know...I am such a little kid sometimes!!!

Pictures to come.....have a wonderful week!