Cookie Break

I was fortunate enough to get to bake with Madison one day this week!  We had a good time making a TRIPLE batch of chocolate chip cookies.  While some cookies were baking we snapped a picture on my computer.  With us is Jennika, my little neighbor girl, who happened to be over for piano lessons.  She is also a friend of Madison's.  They're pretty sweet girls.

Care-Free and Friendly Days (Part 2)

Here is the second part, our insideness (I made that word up).  Sorry, I kind of was lazy in my picture taking most of the time and therefore only documented one inside game...Catch Phrase! It was pretty fun.  Please keep in mind when looking at the pictures that this game took place after sledding for approximately 2 hours.  We were enervated (that means tired).  I am most certain that everyone has experienced overly tiredness and the humor that comes with it.  Alright, now go ahead and enjoy.
Kady had had quite the day with travels from Virginia to Duluth to Bluewater...time for bed.
Carolyn is the funniest person in this game.  She gets VERY excited and involved.  It's good to have her on your team.

Care-Free and Friendly Days (Part 1)

My "Christmas Vacation" has been quite pleasant, I must say.  I don't have classes until the 22nd of January...crazy, I know.  I am enjoying every bit of it though.  Obviously the first week consisted of Christmas gatherings with family.  Great time.  After Christmas it has been pretty "care-free" and filled with "friendly" visits, etc.  Also great.  The following documents my New Year's activities.  

Over New Year's I was at Bluewater!  (One of my favorite places...along with anyone else who's ever been there.)  The staff from this past summer had a little reunion from Sunday to Tuesday.  We had a good time sledding, playing card/board games, blind man's bluff, and broom ball, and just catching up.    

Camp looked beautiful with its healthy dose of snow.  Quite different from summertime!  We took great advantage of this with all our outdoor activities.

The first night we went sledding on one of the neighbor's long, steep driveways.  Above:  me, Seth-ready for some solid sleddin'....and waitin' for miss pokey, below, Leah.This is the large section Chad cleared for us to play broomball.  We actually played late at night, so we brought out a big light.  It was quite an intense game.  Ultra fun.

Jingle Bells

To my faithful readers: thanks for your patience! After about an hour and a half of picture uploading, I have a new post for you! There were a couple more pics I wanted to put on, but they didn't want to come, so, another time. As you will notice, these are all pics. taken from the Christmas weekend/week of events.

It was such a delight to be able to see some fellow Bluewater staffers at Aaron and Mitch's Christmas concert. Amy, Pam, and Carolyn were all able to make it! We tightly squeezed into the very back row in a couple of wooden benches...it was a pretty hilarious sight.
Christmas Eve morning mom and dad made us a Christmas brunch. We had blueberry pancakes, egg bake, and delicious pineapple juice! So good. You can see us enjoying it below.

Christmas Eve night we got together with the Larson side at my aunt Gwen and uncle DeWayne's house in Park River, North Dakota. It was good to see ALL my Larson cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

Here are my grandparents: Neil and Doris. My grandpa is 86 and still farms sugar beets and potatoes. My grandma, 83, has had heart surgery but still does as much as she can. They are some of the hardest workin' people I know...great examples.

We are quite a large group when altogether! There are 11 grandchildren and 12 parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles. As always, there was plenty of food and treats.

Christmas day my sisters, Erica and Ingrid, parents, and I went out to our cabin. We had a grand time having some old fashioned board game fun along with roasting brats over the outside campfire. Because the drive way was so snowy, dad gave us a ride in the back of his truck so the van wouldn't get stuck. (that's where this pic. is taken...back of the pick-up. i was sitting in front of a nice deer hide, mmm.)

Paciencia, Por Favor

Greetings!  Just letting you know that I am trying very hard to get Christmas pictures on the blog.  The internet is a tad bit slower here, compared to school that is, and it has a tough time trying to upload pictures.  They're coming!  Later.

Zapatos

"By looking at a pair of shoes one can see that they reflect the personality of the wearer. The shape in which the shoe is in can help tell how the wearer stands and walks (it gives us a strong indication of personality) (Colin Dowell). Shoes also show character by showing how the individual reacts to fashion. In addition, one can tell whether the wearer of the shoes and the shoes themselves are in style by looking at the quality of the materials that the shoes are made from. Furthermore, by looking at the monetary value, brand name of the shoes, and the condition of the shoes (whether they are old or new) can help tell about the owners' fashion styles.(http://www.otal.umd.edu)"

Shoes are by far my favorite article of clothing.  I strongly agree with Dowell that the shoes a person wears also reflects their personality.  That's what's so great about them!  I have all sorts of shoes, boots, sandals.  The photograph is of my favorite pair of shoes.  They were a gift from my sweet friend Amy.  They are so incredibly comfortable.  If you were to try them on you would start sprinting to find your own pair.  (and good luck with that) The other part I love about them is how much character they have.  Some may call them ugly, that's fine with me.  I am not offended.  That's the beauty of personality and the fact that not one of us is the same as another!  Praise the Lord.  As for what these shoes say about my 'style', I don't know.  I don't consider myself being 'in style'. Whatever.  I am going to stop now.  

This is the end of my shoe story.   

Ahh...Dorm Life

Yes, as you now know by the title of today's blurb, or blog, I live in a dorm.  Although there have been "dormitory horror stories," my experience has been less than horrific.  It has been a blessing if anything.  I have met many fabulous ladies and have some friendships in the making.  I was also blessed with a double room as a single, meaning I live by myself in a room that was meant for two people.  Thank you Lord.  Now, as you know, dorms are not usually spacious.  This also means there isn't a whole lot of options for arrangement.  I have tried.  My current set-up is about to take a twist as well.  One of many things I have inherited from my mother is the love for rearranging.  (Thanks Mom....really.)  It is fun to experiment with arrangements and switch things up.  Change can be good.  (*The above picture is of my bed nook.  I know it looks a bit odd with shelving above it, but I love it.  It has become a comfy cozy spot for reading and, of course, sleeping.)

(*This is my computer/printer set-up.  Thanks to this space I can communicate with ya'll!)

ANYWAY, I will end this tangent and simply say, check out the photos to see how it's set up right now.  (A few have been confused when I attempt to explain where my bed is and what not, so now you can see it for yourself.)  

(*This is what you when first entering.  The right side bed is my daybed/homemade couch...thanks mother.  Hiding behind the couch is a little refrigerator, microwave, small cabinet for my dishes, etc.  It's amazing what you can do with small spaces!)

Also, I would LOVE to have your opinions on any new arrangement ideas!  

Everything is able to moved except the counter top, which is a fairly large portion of the room!  Thanks.  I hope you are all figuring this blog deal out and how to leave comments, etc.  I didn't mean for it to cause stress in your life.

(*This is what you see when standing back by the window....my "closet," door, bed nook, etc.)