Simple Christmastime

Not everything we wanted to happen worked out this Christmas. Unfortunately, our whole family didn't get to be together on Christmas because of the impending snow doom. And the power and cable and internet took turns not working.

But at least I got to be home with my parents and my doggie this break, and I got to visit Caleb the weekend right before Christmas.

Here's a small peek into what we did in our down time this Christmas. (Did I mention it finally snowed, for my first White Christmas ever?!)


My mom and I had a photoshoot.

 

 

Dottie wanted me to come back inside...or to go outside.

 

 

I just want to brag a little bit...

I used to say I'm not one for mushy stuff, but that was before I started dating Caleb. I'm still not a fan of gross amounts of PDA, or of people calling each other baby all the time, but my goodness, I don't mind telling people about Caleb.

Last week was pretty bad. Just a few days, a few problems here and there, and the whole week went pretty sour. I woke up late - as in 20 minutes before class started, and I live 10 minutes away from campus. Many thanks for the campus minister who kindly drove me to class in my desperate moments.

Then, the speech I was to do that day got postponed, etc., etc., and then it was Wednesday. This day was better in the fact that I did not have a class to go to. That night the paper I work for had a Christmas party, which was fun! I ended up with two amazing-smelling candles.

As I walked to meet Caleb in a nearby parking lot to go to church, I noticed my arms getting unusually tired. And then suddenly, my notebooks, folders, food, and candles all spilled out of my hands onto the concrete. A few yards away stood five guys, just standing and staring at me, not offering to help, just watching me as I tried to scoop up my belongings and the broken glass that once surrounded one of my candles.

About that time, Caleb's truck came swooping in and he ran out to help me pick up everything. Doesn't sound like much, but after the mortification I had just suffered, it was enough.

Saturday night, Caleb gave me a pedicure. And it was the most beautiful pedicure I've ever received. He washed and massaged my feet, took off my nail polish, had me file my own nails because he didn't know how, and then proceeded to apply base, main, and top coat to my toes. It was the cutest thing to watch him carefully paint about 6 layers of black glitter polish to my nails, and then apologize when my toes got stuck together due to the fact that my nails weren't dry.

It was actually a really good job!

That's all it took to give me a better week, and I just wanted to share it.

P.S. If you are one of Caleb's brothers and are reading this...it was the manliest pedicure ever. Blood, guts, and gore.

Here are some scenes from the RFC Christmas party we had the other day. Kelsy and I nearly won this game.

My Job

It interests me, so maybe it will interest you. I want to tell you about my job, and the amazing (to me) things I get to do.

First, you need to know what I do - I write and copy edit for the sports section of the school paper. I'm a journalism major, not focusing on print, but I got a job there anyway, because A) my favorite G.A. told me to, B) I love sports, and C) I love to write.

This has already been a really amazing year. I'll go ahead and lay out the "downsides": (although they really aren't too bad unless it's football against Alabama). You can't wear any Hog gear or cheer for the Hogs when covering a story.

One of my first stories involved me getting to interview a swimmer at the university who competed in - get this - the Olympic Trials. And she didn't do too bad either. I like to think that everyone I get to interview could potentially be in the Olympics now.

A highlight of the year, although a loss, was getting to cover the Alabama game. I got to go to the press box on our home field...and it was fantastic. I sat near the likes of Mark Edwards, a tv sports anchor that I have watched since I was a child.

The press box had a plethora of food. Pastas, salad, drinks, cookies and cakes. And I had a press pass. A legit press pass, with my name, spelled correctly, printed on it.

The press conference after the game was scary. Our coach was quiet and our quarterback was angry, and I got to witness it.

A majority of my stories this semester covered soccer, my sport from high school. I watched the No. 1 team in the country play us, and I watched as we started over with a brand new coach. After the games I had opportunities to talk to the coach and players.

I covered a volleyball game in the middle of the season and sat on the press bench, four seats away from three-time Olympic gold medal winner Kerri Walsh Jennings, a woman I had admired ever since I decided at the age of 12 that I wanted to grow up to be a spiker on an Olympic volleyball team.

(My dream of being 6 foot 4 also was crushed by genetics, as I haven't grown an inch over 5'2 since the same year I decided to become a spiker.)

Our kicker, who visited during a night of camping out

The quarterback, a super nice and patient guy

Press conference

There are many other wonderful things I get to do in my job, and these are just a few of them. A very tiny few of them.

Fall Break and Exciting News!

This past weekend was fall break for me, and I took that opportunity to go home. The 4-hour+ trip was long and tedious, but it was all worth it when I got home to a happy puppy who was way too excited to see me.

Saturday, on the trip down, Caleb and I went to Wendy's halfway through to see some of my church camp friends. The meeting was too short, but still very nice, especially since I only see these people once every year.
Sunday was a nice day of relaxation and seeing friends at church, one of which recently had an iron infusion, so keep her in your prayers! After church that night, I had dessert at classic Cracker Barrel with one of my best friends from high school. The conversation drifted to The Hobbit, and naturally, I also had to throw in my plug for Doctor Who (my favorite show).

Monday was mother-daughter shopping day. Ma and I found some good deals for some good clothes and crafting items (leather strips for $5-the possibilities!) When we got home, I made a guitar strap for dear Caleb, which turned out to fit him perfectly!

Tuesday was the sad day of departure.

I headed up to college and made a pitstop on the way to see my most recently engaged close friend. She surprised me with a box containing a ring pop asking me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding! It was very cute, and of course, I said yes.

The next day came the super exciting news...
I'm going to be an aunt to a sweet little girl! My siblings found out that come March, they are going to have a daughter. And I am going to spoil her rotten thanks to pinterest's plentiful ideas.

More pictures to come from the gender reveal photoshoot in its own blog. Here's a candid shot of me trying to fix the blocks.

Burning Out/Highlights

My first few weeks of my junior year of college have been anything but calming. I've stayed busy, barely have time to eat lunch most days, and unfortunately...I've been writing so much that blogging and journaling just haven't come very easy. I'll be lucky to blog once every semester.

I thought I'd share the cool highlights of the past three weeks.

1. Started my job with The Arkansas Traveler. I've been writing and copy editing for the sports section. This means I attend games, interview people, and the like. It definitely keeps me busy. But I love it. If you haven't checked the paper out, here's its website: uatrav.com.

 2. My puppy is adorable. We took her to be with my parents this weekend, since I can't keep a dog where I am living. Besides, I couldn't give her the attention she needs while I am in college. In a few years, though, hopefully I can have her with me again! The trip down to and back from home was fun, with four people and four dogs in tow. Lots of fur on my clothes. Oh, and doggy vomit.

3. I ran into Tyler Wilson, the quarterback for the Razorbacks, at Walmart the other day. My boyfriend knows how much I want pictures with all of my favorite athletes, so he was bold enough to ask for one. That was exciting.

4. I've grown quite fond of Doctor Who. Didn't think I would, even though I know I like sci-fi. (Not the channel, the genre.) I am fairly partial to the ninth doctor (Chris Eccleston) but the tenth doctor (David Tennant) is catching up. I've resolved to not give ninth doctor up.

5. Finally, and probably most importantly....one of my dearest friends, Cori, got engaged this past week. I've never met her fiance (crazy, right?) but I've only heard wonderful things about him. So I'm very excited for their future together, and interested to see their wedding! Lord willing, they will have a long and happy life together.

(I didn't take that picture, nor was I there...so I stole this from her facebook. Sorry! :) )

There is my month in a really small nutshell. Enjoy!