Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Pig whisperer

So I went to go visit my friend this evening.  She has a pet guinea pig named Spider.  I have the honor of being Spider's aunt and get pig sitting duty when my friend goes out of town.  When I go to visit, I always get Spider out of her cage and play with her.  My friend says that Spider is a bit wild, but I don't believe it.  She does run a bit when you go to take her out of her cage, but once out she is calm as can be.  My friend says it is because I am the pig whisperer.  She told me tonight she was going to make me a t-shirt with my picture on the back, and the title pig whisperer.  I laughed.  My friend definitely knows how to make me smile.  So if any of you see t-shirts advertising pig whisperers......you know where they came from.  :)  See, I even got my kitty and Spider to play nice together. 

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas 2011

It was so nice to have the weekend free of work.  It was a great time to be able to visit with friends and family for the Christmas season.  Saturday morning I went and picked up my brothers and sister and we drove down to visit our Aunt and Uncle.  My cousin Stephanie and her family were up for a visit too, so it was really nice to get to visit with them too.  I got to hold baby Natalie while she napped.  She is soooooooooooo cute.  It was an enjoyable time to laugh, catch up on what's been happening in life, and just relax. 

After the visit, we headed back home, I dropped off my siblings, and then headed out to my cousin's house for more visiting and dinner.  Chicken sushi rolls are something I can enjoy. Yum.  We watched some classic Christmas shows, sang some Christmas songs, and I was treated to Chase's replay of Gold Rush or Bust.  (a play I missed recently).  I was greatly entertained.  While we visited we checked in with NORAD to track Santa's progress.  As he got closer and closer to the west coast the hour got later and later.  Soon it was time for family prayer and time for me to head home.

I was up early on Christmas morning.  No, it wasn't in anticipation of what Santa had dropped off at my house, but in preparation to drive out to Elk Grove for church.  I was going to be spending Christmas day with the Smith family, so I got ready and made the trek.  I got to the chapel where the Smith family was in last minute practice for musical numbers.  I found a spot on the front bench, had a nephew on either side of me, and was provided with the church bag which held the coloring books, toys, and goodies to help keep the boys occupied should they get a bit restless during the meeting.  Mom and Dad Smith were going to be busy playing piano, being chorister, and singing during the meeting so I got to sit with the boys.  I had a grand time, and the boys were really well behaved.  The music was beautiful, the messages shared were uplifting, and the spirit was strong.  After the meeting we headed back to the Smith home, where we got busy preparing some lunch.  I distracted the boys with races, playing with some of the Christmas toys, and then I made myself helpful by setting the table.  Lunch was great, roast, mashed potatoes, corn, salad, all so very yummy.  We cleaned up and the boys finished opening their gifts. 

After that fun was over it was nap time for some, and cookie making time for others.  We got out the cookie cutters, the cookie dough (gingerbread of course) and began to make cookies.  We had presents, santas, snowmen, snowflakes, candy canes, etc.  It was so much fun.  Then Carie made some icing so that we could decorate them too.  We decorated some of the cookies, and ate a good number of them.  :)  Then it was time for a Christmas movie.  We watched White Christmas.  It was a lot of fun.  The boys decided that I needed to practice my skills at watching the movie and entertaining them at the same time.  I became the Auntie jungle gym.  It made me laugh.  After the movie was over we had some root beer floats, then it was time to head home.  I had a very enjoyable Christmas. 

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Small gifts bring great joy

I arrived home and remembered that Sister Miller left a voicemail that there were some treats dropped off for me on the porch.  I walked to the front door and low and behold there was a box of yummy goodies on the door handle.  Then I looked down and what did I see.  It was a package of pop tarts with a note taped to it. I was curious so I read on.  "To Sister Hernandez: From Logan.  Merry Christmas hope you enjoy the pop tarts.  Also, why don't you have milk with it.  Love Logan"  What a sweet gesture of giving, from one of my future primary kids.  The Miller's goodies look equally enticing.  I felt so loved from both generous gifts.  You just have to love the Christmas season.  So many reminders of the joy of the season, and the service and love shared. 

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Hot Chocolate surprise

Hot chocolate is my favorite thing during the cold winter months, and I find that it is my "comfort" food when I'm feeling stressed, worn out, or just plain not feeling well.  A friend recently introduced me to European Cafe Style hot chocolate (available at Safeway) and it is some of the best hot cocoa I've had (beware milk chocolate lovers, it may not be to your liking, it is dark chocolate).  It comes in a nice little canister which I've put to good use. 

This evening when I opened the canister in order to scoop some cocoa powder into my mug I found a surprise.  No, it was not a mouse (good guess though).  It was a sandwich baggie with money in it.  I immediately got a huge smile on my face as I knew who the culprit was.  It was Nadia.  She had mentioned giving me some money for the month of December for letting her stay with me.  I told her that she didn't need to, and that I wouldn't take any money from her if she tried to give me any.  We bantered back and forth about it, and I told her that I'm pretty good at finding hidden things so not to even try hiding it.  I thought I'd won.

Nadia sure got me.  I would not have thought about checking the cocoa container before she left.  In fact it's been several days since I've had any cocoa.  Nadia enters the Missionary Training Center tomorrow to begin her 18 month adventure as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Now it's my turn to figure out a fun and creative way to send the money back her way.  :)

Let the creative process begin.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Long time no write

I don't think I quite realized how little time I'd have when I decided to go back to school.  It has been a very very very bus semester.  Homework has been keeping me busy in the evenings and on weekends.  Work has been busy with lots of overtime (not such a good thing when I still have homework that needs to be done).  The garden got neglected, the cat dislikes when I get the laptop out to do homework, though he eventually settles down and sleeps at my side while I do literature searches or type papers, and the yard needs some attention.  My last final of the term is tomorrow.  Then a short break during which I'll be trying to catch up on yard work, and trying to fit in a social life since I've been in hiding to complete homework. 

I'm glad I went back to school though.  I have learned so much this term, and am very excited for my future in public health.  It took a little while to get back in the groove of having homework assignments, and lots of reading assignments, but things are looking up as I think I've finally got it down. 

Besides work and homework, I haven't had too much time for much else.  My roommate and I have watched a few movies here and there.  We watched a very interesting documentary on the Russian ballet last week.  The good old times.  My roommate leaves for the MTC this week, and I'll miss having her around.  She is going to be a fantastic missionary though, and she will do great in Russia. 

I was present when my roommate got set apart this morning.  It brought back so many memories of my mission.  Today is 10 years since I left for the MTC.  I can't believe how fast time flies by.  Sometimes it feels like yesterday. 

Well, that's enough for now, I just wanted to get something into the blog since it has been such a long time since I wrote. 

Merry Christmas everyone.