For Melissa and Amanda

This is what I was wrapping ... the gigantic whale tub.


There's nothing more interesting to say, except that your swimsuit is coming as of today! Love you!

I spent way too much time finding the perfect Valentines Day blog background. It doesn't exist, in case you're wondering. This will just have to do!

I Used to Hate January ...

But this has been an amazing month!

You know how it always gets kind of dull and boring and maybe even slightly depressing after Christmas? At least it does for me. The excitement of the Christmas season is over, time visiting family is finished, and it's still way too cold to cheer up outside, the list goes on.

But 2010 is different. :-)
Things I am thankful for that happened in January:

1) Charlie started his last semester
2) I started my last semester
3) Charlie passed boards!
4) Charlie got a fabulous job offer!!

That last one just happened a couple of days ago and it really lifted our spirits, especially when it comes to buying a house. When everything with the job is official then I will post it, so you know where to find Dr. Salemi this summer.

Exciting News!!

Charlie passed boards!!!!!!

(For veterinary school of course.)

At long last the wait for results is over. All the studying paid off and he is good to go. He just has to take the tiny little Arizona board exam and bide his time until May 14!!

New Semester ... Last Semester!

In case you didn't know, I am super excited to finally say that this is mine and Charlie's last semester of school!! Of course it's only January and I still have to pass Neuroanatomy ... but I'm hoping it will turn out well.

In addition, Charlie is completely done with all overnight shifts - hooray for that! He had to tack a blanket over our window blinds so he could sleep during the day. Since our bed is against the window it kind of looked like a giant headboard.

This weekend I went to Amarillo again (I love Southwest Airlines) because I got a great deal on tickets, so I got to see some of my cousins and aunt and uncle again. I love spending time with them, especially my toddler and baby cousins. I didn't get too many pictures, mostly because I was playing with the babies alot. It's amazing how much work my cousin does every day raising her two girls!! I hope I have as much energy and dedication as she does when I'm a mommy someday.

Art Museum

On Saturday we went to the Loveland Art Museum with our friends Nicola and Jeremy. We saw a Salvador Dali exhibit upstairs, and then we went downstairs to play around in the "living history" of Colorado part. It had a doctor's office, hotel, blacksmith, jail, and more, with real things from back in the day. I love museums like that more than anything. And the best part is that it was all free! Here are some funny pictures of us dressing up and sitting in an old carriage. I think Charlie and I look kind of Amish like in the first one. Ok, maybe it's really just Charlie's hat.





But from now on Charlie can't have any more fun. He's on overnights for a whole week - boo!

Amarillo Christmas

Warning: Extreme Picture Overload!

We drove to Amarillo with my mom to see my grandma, aunt, uncle, and cousins and here are some of the pictures . . .

My grandma with baby Lila



The 4 girl cousins on the park swings



Hannah and Ava



Cousins plus Ava



Mom and Mary Jane



Ava loves the slide! She is just 2 and she can count to 13 and sing the alphabet!



me and Charlie



New Year's Eve we drove my grandma back to Abilene. It was frreeezing in her house!



me and Charlie New Year's Day



us with sweet baby Lila



cowgirl Ava



The next day Uncle Jim drove us to Cadillac Ranch because we wanted a picture. The wind was blowing so hard and it was, again, freeeezing cold.
Lora and Drake



People can spray paint the cars as much as they want. This says it all.






We loved staying with and seeing our family! We don't get to see them enough.
Mary Jane aka "Nana" and Lila

White Christmas

My mom was the first to arrive for our family Christmas in Fort Collins. It snowed the day before Christmas Eve and I made her wear these boots when she went outside. Doesn't she look cute?



We went to Wild Boar coffee shop the day that it snowed buckets and I hit Charlie's car after sliding in the snow. My worst nightmare came true: hitting one car with the other car. But fortunately I was going so slow that there was no damage. Did I mention I am completely done with the snow? At least Christpher got to see a white Christmas. He's never seen it snow before.





My mom's dogs (Lily and Luke) wore these boots from Canada when they went on long walks. They were pretty tricky to get on but they were useful.



Charie and I before the late Christmas Eve service. I love Christmas Eve and I love Christmas music, so it was no burden that I had to attend all 3 services that night. The kids sang "I Saw Three Ships" and the adult choir sang "Ding Dong Merrily on High" with handbells (played by Charlie!) and "Sussex Carol." It was so fun to organize and prepare.



We had a good time with Charlie's family and my mom but we really missed my dad. It seemed like every hour or so there was something that reminded us he was not there. We got to talk to him several times during the week which was great. He sent us beautiful gifts from Afghanistan! Hopefully next year we will all be together - in a bigger space than 800 square feet!

Christmas Cookies

The day after my last final (physiology - by the way - I was shocked to find out I made an A on it!) I had a little get together for the girls in my music therapy program. It was a nice relaxing way to have fun after all the stress that the end of the semester brings.



Sujung had never made cookies before!!