ReALly?!! It's already over?

Last night I was playing games with my brother and a couple friends; I was packing; I couldn't wait for tomorrow. This morning I was watching a movie with Mel to try and stay awake; I was sitting in the Spokane airport with my alarm set so I wouldn't miss my flight; I was a few hours from home. At least it feels like it. Actually it has been 3 weeks since I finished my 2nd term at NSA. And my days here in NM have been chalk full since I have been home. It really is so nice to have 6 dear, loving people--family--to welcome me and Curtis home and make my time off school so wonderful. "The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family." (Thomas Jefferson) Long talks with Mama, cousins, dear friends, and Risse have probably been the highlight so far...if only they could last longer...My only consolation is that I am going to take Marissa back up to Moscow with me for several weeks. =)

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Well, here's what I've done over break:

I'm sure none of you are surprised, but a lot of what I have done has to do with food. Imagine that. I have thoroughly enjoy every moment of it =)

chocolate ganache truffles

Fancy Mac and Cheese

Coconut Pecan Banana Bread, hot and buttered, of course!

spinach salad with mandarin oranges, swiss cheese, pomegranate seeds, and pecans

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The three of us olders and Daddy drove down to Ruidoso to see my Grandma Jayne and Cousins and Aunt from Oklahoma. We just went down for the day, but we had a lovely time...and I came home with a new-to-me car =)

Me and Taylor:

the cousins

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Marissa and I also took a trip up to Aztec to visit our dear Skeens. We did much--mostly talking and working in the kitchen--but we went ice skating and did a photo shoot, so that's what we have pictures of:

if only the photographer were a little more stable on her skates ;)

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just some pictures

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My favorite games of this Christmas/New Year's break:

Imaginiff

Settlers of Catan

Catch Phrase

Pictograph

the notebook paper-storywriting-one minute-game challenge

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And here are some of my recent drawing and doodles. Really, I don't have enough time to accomplish all that I want to. No, not even a month with nothing else to do.

this hat was super fun to work on

this girl is my favorite!

and just the beginnings of one that I hope to finish soon (many of you have asked as I work "who is that?" so I have included the picture I'm drawing from, however most of what I draw is just from my imagination):

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Tomorrow I plan to make a french meal for my family. Yes, real french cuisine! I was blessed this last term to be able to sit under the instruction of a master french Chef Francis Foucachon and learned how to cook a couple recipes. Hopefully the foods will turn out well enough for pictures and I can post about that later.

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I only have two days left--let's savor them together.