It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

 We drove around looking at Christmas lights so often that Azucena started asking us "go look at the lights?" every time we got into the car. She'd also use a few catch phrases over and over: "oh nice, very nice" and "look at the lights! They're beautiful!" :D In our ward boundaries, a whole row of houses gathered together to become "Santa Claus Lane" and those houses did such a great job!

 We also got a really good snowstorm (finally) which meant we had to try and re-create my baby picture from Utah. :D Unfortunately, Adelaide was much less cooperative than Azucena had been and we didn't get any decent shots. But here's a look at how I took the pictures (and proves how awesome Clark was, since Azucena kept trying to get outside). The snow looks gorgeous and really gets us in the Christmas spirit!

Snow!

I'm pretty sure this is Azucena's first snowfall. (At least, it's the first that she's been awake and alert for.) Here are a couple of pictures I got today after church:

I like this one. A lot. (That's why it's first!)


Walking around in her church outfit. I felt (a little) prideful. :)


This is the moment she discovered snow. She said, "oh!"




This picture is a recreation of one my parents have of me in the same poncho. If I ever get a copy of that one, I'll post it, too.

Dun, dun, DUN

Snow has come.

But it's not quite October!

Current temperature: 43°
Current outside conditions: overcast, gray clouds, light rain
Tomorrow's forecast: snow

Current mood: :(

Just in case . . .

My parents were going to try coming up in March. They said they had time, no work, and didn't mind only being down for a day and a half. Then, after a lot of discussion and trying to figure things out with my brothers, they decided the the trip wasn't feasible after all. A few days later, I got a text from my dad asking if he and my mom could be part of my birthday plans. I let him know that that was a definite possibility and have been completely stoked since.

Now the weather has decided to be ridiculously horrible. My parents and I are in the middle of frantic replanning--just in case. Just in case the snow out here doesn't stop on Thursday. Just in case the snowstorm that is supposed to hit Alamosa really does show up late Thursday/early Friday (right when they're leaving). Just in case the passes out of the San Luis Valley all close.

And, just in case, I might have to buy a tub of ice cream in which to drown my sorrows. :(

Motivation

I just think it's kind of humorous that every time I decide I really will start taking walks/going on hikes/jogging/something outdoorsy to get me in shape, it snows. Every. Time.

Does the world want me to stay the same shape I am?

Little tufts of. . .

Snow.

I'm always torn when it starts to snow. Every time it does, I think of how absolutely beautiful it is. I love that snowflakes (especially at night) look like stars melting from the sky. Then my mind crashes back to reality when I realize that my car just doesn't drive in snow. At all. If I try, I skid. And then I have to remember that, although I want to enjoy the snow while looking out my sliding glass door (conveniently decorated with paper snowflakes) with a cup of steaming hot chocolate in hand, the thought that I have to travel to work and church sort of kill the moment.

But at least I got a couple days of rain before I had to start worrying about little things like that. :D

Christmas Dragon

Once upon a time there was a girl who wanted a dragon for Christmas. Luckily, her good friends and neighbors were skilled in the dying art of snow sculpting. One day, as she came home from work, she saw them carrying tubs of snow to the corner in front of her house. A bit of hope fluttered inside her but she didn't let it express itself as she returned to her apartment. Hours went by and, in the shadows of the brick building, a creature slowly emerged from snow.

Mondays. . .

*groan*

It just started snowing. Shoot.

**edit**
I just whammed my hand into a wooden railing. My knuckles are currently red and purple.