Its February already?

I am finding that the older I get, the faster time goes. Unfortunately, the less productive I am as well. I don't think its as much to do with simply time, responsibilities, or even personal fatigue from stress or added weight (although I haven't gained in recent years). I think its everything that comes with being older. I used to wonder why it took older people so long to get things done. And now I know why.

I have also been ignoring my blogging responsibilities. Facebook is so much easier to post my thoughts on. The problem is, people read my thoughts there. And sometimes I just post as therapy to my self or to clear my mind of the senseless clutter. But then people "like" it and comment. So that is why I like keeping this blog around, because I am not sure who still reads it, and that part is kind of nice. And it helps me keep account of the bigger picture of whats been going on lately...and not just the pieces here and there as I am chugging along in the daily grind.

So...after the events of December, I spent early January catching up on aforementioned much needed rest, and taking down the holidays.

We celebrated Mom's birthday by a dinner here and then dinner out to Sweet Tomatos. Bryan found out he will need a tonsilectomy and nasal surgery. That will be fun. He and his business partner are also in talks to split ways and Bryan is looking into becoming solo owner of his small mechanic shop. School has been busy- I planned and threw a baby shower for a co-worker, ended our second quarter/first half of the year, and my co-teacher and I planned a field trip to the Children's Theater that we got to preview with our husbands as a fun double date. At the end of the month, we had a family game night and then I came down with the stomach flu. :-(

So this weekend I was still catching up on rest and feeling slightly overwhelmed by what just a few days of being down can do to my daily do list. Its Sunday night and I still feel behind...so, off now to clean up the house and prepare for the week! One of these days I will be more productive!

Texas! Post-Christmas to New Years!

In 2011, I was gifted two sets of plane tickets to use by a very good friend :-). We spent our first set visiting the East Coast over the summer, and my cousin David. We spent the last set going to Texas to visit my sister and her family. It was a much warmer and drier retreat then current temps post-Christmas in Oregon, and we had a great time! Here is what we did:

1. Stopped in Grapevine for lunch at a renowned chilli place after landing. Grapevine is where the massacre happened on national news the day before...cute little tourist town.
2. We had like our 4th christmas, opening gifts
3. We went to Rudy's Ribs, also famous for down home BBQ
4. Went bowling, to the park, around their ginormous neighborhood (turns out lots of people have huge houses there...)
5. We went to the 6th Floor Museum, in downtown Dallas, from which out of this building the sniper killed JFK. We also saw the x's on the road where the bullets hit and the infamous "grassy knoll"
6. We went to a HUGE aquarium in downtown (three floors of exotic animals)
7. Alex (my brother in law) makes the best dinners and drinks
8. We went to the American Doll Store...omg....Bryan nearly pooped his pants. Did you know there was a two hour wait for kids to get facials for their dolls at $15 a pop? Just google it.
9. Went to In n Out, then a family fun center type place with really fast go-kart tracks (Bryan's idea)
10. Chilled in the hot tub and spent lots of time in front of the fire and the tv.

Thanks Naomi and family for the best vacation!