Home for Christmas

Christmas was great. I can't describe how great it was to just sit down and watch Christmas movies with Paul and have nothing in the world to think about, No homework, no events to sing at, no need to go to bed early.
We went shooting with James, and Paul's Dad. A day that should be documented considering it was the first time I actually shot and hit more clay than I didn't. We also did some snowman building, game playing, Christmas decorating, niece entertaining, and LIPS singing.

Now we have returned to our normal routine and although it can be stressful I am excited for this semester. I started an Opera Workshop class which has definitely been a new experience for me. I am not an actress, but I knew I needed to take this class to get over the many nerves that still continue to accompany me when I sing. Becoming a character sort of allows you to step out of yourself, which is a much needed process for me at this time. Now I just have to get over acting in front of people. I almost feel like I'm opening myself up for rejection by letting people see me not as myself, but I hope it helps me at a performance level. I'll also be learning how to better speaking the languages I sing in, and have a semester performance where I will be singing an Italian aria (Voi Che Sapete) while I act out the scene it's taken from.
Along with many other performances this semester my most important is my junior recital which will be at the end of the semester. I am a little nervous because it's first time that I will be the only one singing on the program, 45 min all alone...a little intimidating. I'm just grateful to have people who support me in everything, especially Paul who has to listen to me practice everyday. I can't be easy to do math while you wife is singing opera. I love you Babe!

Take A Healthy Big Bite

My Mom has always been the best cook around. I have been far and wide tasting food and most of it doesn't even seem to compare. I hope to never miss a Thanksgiving or Christmas without my Mom. I suppose I would survive because some of it rubbed off on me but It would truly be a sad day to have to miss my Moms coconut cream pie during the holidays. So I wish to thank her for caring enough to wake up and make me waffles before I went to school, and feed me soup when it was freezing. Also for being willing to teach me much of what she knows. Even though I live in the basement apartment, I still miss those times. Thank you Mom!!!

So now all of you know my secret, I love to cook. There is nothing like making something that even makes you proud. I'm sure Paul doesn't mind either. When I have a moment of spare time I truly enjoy watching the food network. This week I watched them cook Chicken Burgers. It looked so good I had to try it, plus I didn't feel bad for eating it because it's the healthy version of the real beef burger. It was definitely worth the time and the dollar. So I have decided to post the link. Let me know it you enjoy it too!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/chicken-patties-recipe/index.html

Derek and Jennifer

Last Saturday Paul and I had the priviledge of going to my oldest sisters wedding. I was so grateful to be there in the temple with her. It was a beautiful ceremony, I don't think there was a dry eye in the room....except Paul who I call the emotional stone. Someday I'll catch him in the act and it will go down in the history books. Until then I do most of the emotionalizing around here if any. I am proud to say that I was the one to set up the first blind date between Derek and Jenn I truly loved Derek from the moment I met him. I believe everything happens for a reason and as a result I am grateful for my job at the time and being able to meet Dereks nephew which ultimately led to my meeting Derek. A true testimony that the Lord knows who we are individually, because there could not be a more perfect match for Jenn. As for the day, it was freezing!!! Jenn promised that we would keep the pictures down to a minimum considering the 10 degree weather...yeah, that didn't happen. However, we did get some good pictures and amazing memories. We look forward to their reception at the end of this week. More pictures to come!!!

Sierra

School is finally over (for two weeks) and all I have to do is…nothing. It’s great. I can sleep in—wait a sec, no I can’t! Our niece is visiting for the holidays and as much as I love her and her three year old humor, sometimes I just wish she would let us sleep. She’s still suffering from a bit of jet lag and thinks that 5:30 am is really 7:30 am. We live in the basement apartment which has a locked door to separate us from the upstairs. When no one wants to play with her at 5:30 in the morning, she bangs on our door until we come out. “Unc Paul … At Emily! Unc Paul…At Emily! Wake up!) So when I do finally go to the door and ask, “Hey Sierra. What can I do for you?” Where At Emily? Where she at?” “She’s asleep.” “Go get her, she my friend. I need her.” “I can’t Sierra, she’s asleep.” “But…but she my friend, I need her.” As cute as it was, I don’t think that Emily would have appreciated it much. I finally just said, “I think your mom needs you, hurry up stairs. Hurry… Hurry!

Paul

Photography

Everyone knows how hard it is to come by a good photographer. My friend Brittany Andersen has just gotten her website up and running and her pictures are Fabulous!!! In honor of her website being lanuched she is giving away a full portrait session including all images (size 4x6) on a high-resolution cd (a $150 value), and a $25 gift card to California Pizza Kitchen. Please visit her blog for details
http://www.brittanyandersenphotography.blogspot.com/

Love You All!!!

I'm A Survivor

I feel like I am drowning...no I think I'm beyond that point. There's this little demon in my head that tells me everyday that I should just quit going to school if it causes me this much stress. Despite how appealing that might sound I keep willing myself to endure the end well. I truly enjoy what I do but not when I have deadlines, and so much pressure. Paul and I probably won't say so much as three words to each other aside from Thanksgiving day till the end of a semester. I'm at the piano and he is endlessly at our kitchen table doing something that I won't even try to understand. Not to mention the endless headache that accompanies such work. So I decided in my efforts to minimize my anxiety I would get everything down on paper so to speak. It's better there than in my head where it causes so much pain.

You may at this point wonder why I posted this picture. Probably because it makes me happy. It reminds me of a semester void of stress and having endless time with Paul. I embrace the thought of Christmas break!!!

On a happier note some of you may have heard about Paul's intership. After many interviews and resume work Paul was offered an internship in Texas. I am so proud of him and all the work he has done, and I couldn't be happier to take a semester or two off to enjoy the sun and the beautiful area of Houston.

Hero

On a daily basis my table looks like this. Paul is usually sitting intently over his homework with his hand on his head and saying something like....No, No, No, whoda sheeka mahda! I'm not even sure how to spell the things that come from his mouth. As time passes I'll usually ask him if he's ok to make sure the pile of books he's sitting over hasn't turned his mind into melting sludge.

So different from the way I do homework.... My philosophy has always been pleasure before pain. I truly should learn from my perfect husband, but I continue to procrastinate. I think the problem is that I do so much better under pressure. As a result I have developed hobbies that have continued to take up my time until the very last minute. Last week I was reading Breaking Dawn as I analyzed Bach's Concerto in A Major. I'm not sure the habit of multi-tasking I have developed is healthy at this point, but these are the things that keep me sane. Paul and I honestly don't have a ton in common, but while he's so different from me there could never be anyone more perfect for me. Love you Babe!