2010 is over....?!

I can't quite grasp the fact that 2010 is over. This year went SO fast. I feel like I've probably thought that about many years past, but I think I can honestly say this year went the quickest for me. It's been a jammed packed year full of so many things, most of which have been wonderful.

New Years Eve is just about my favorite holiday. There's just something about looking back on what has taken place in the last 365 days that I love. Here's a little recap...

Started off the year with possibly my biggest adventure yet (Toss up with China) by heading off to Europe. It was an amazing trip full of so many good memories. I fully intend on going back in the next couple years; there are still so many places I need to see!

Only a few weeks after returning, I got another job - church secretary! It's been a lot of fun.

Spring was dominated by prom planning and then the actual event. It was so much fun and an experience I'm so thankful for.

I went to Alaska in May, what an amazing trip that was! Such a beautiful place.

The summer consisted of working, hanging out with friends and family, and a roadtrip with friends. It was a good summer overall.

In the fall I started up online classes again, and the balance between work, school, and free time, has been somewhat of a struggle, but I've managed.

Winter has been basically the same as fall, very busy but also full of a lot of good happenings.

Overall, my year has been wonderful and busy! The first half of the year was more eventful in the bigger ways, but the second half was amazing as well! Can't believe it's all over with.

Last few pictures of 2010

Christmas break was really nice and relaxed for the most part. Good friends were home from college and I was able to spend more time with them than I was anticipating. North Dakota has been getting blizzards like crazy (at least weekly this month, or so it seems) so that's added to the coziness of being with friends and family indoors :)

I didn't take too many pictures, but here's some I did manage to get.

Kyle and I on Christmas Day.

Myself and Eloise on Christmas Day.

Poor Eloise ventured under the stairs and got herself stuck. I heard her whimpering but didn't think anything of it till it kept happening. I felt terrible when I saw her panicked face in the midst of all the barriers.

Kyle and I on New Years Eve :)

Tis the season...

My favorite time of year has arrived - Christmas season! So far it has been busy with work and school but after this week I'll be finished with classes till January and work will only take away 16 hrs a week. My friends from college get home at some point this week and my friends that are here in school get out next Thursday. I can't wait to have cozy Christmasy nights with friends and family. Hot chocolate, a christmas movie perhaps, and being cozy inside while winter rages on outside. Here are a few pictures from the last few weeks.

Eloise cracks me up on a daily basis.

Kyle and I had one of those Christmasy nights last week, except no movie and we freezed a bit outside to take these pictures. We cooked dinner together, started doing a panda (!!!) puzzle, then set out with a big thermos of hot chocolate, parked somewhere we could enjoy the winter scenery, and drank the hot chocolate. We talked and then took these pictures. It was a really fun night.

And now, I'm off to study for finals...

Fall=Fun!

I've been slacking in the picture department lately, but for the most part life has consisted of work, school, and friends and family squeezed in between. However, I did manage to get a few pictures of some of the fall events that have become somewhat of a tradition for me.

I went to youth convention October 21st - 23rd. It was my 7th year going, but my 2nd year going as a chaperone. I went every year 7th - 12th grade, except my 8th grade year. It is always a lot of fun, but being a chaperone has made it more of a responsibility. It is still an awesome and fun weekend, the experience is just different when you are in charge of people. I had intentions of taking all kinds of pictures, but basically all I ended up taking were 50+ pictures of me and Jessica.

Here we are posing with our new Dino friend :)

We entertained ourselves on the trip there (about 5.5 hrs) by taking all kinds of pictures. She's 4 years younger than me, but one of my closest friends and I am so so blessed to have her in my life. <3

Another event that has become somewhat of a tradition in the fall is the fall play, put on by the high school. I've felt almost every year for the past 5+ years or so, and it is a lot of fun. It was this past week, Thursday-Saturday night. Kyle was in it and since it's his last year, I went every night. I didn't get sick of seeing the same thing three times, in fact I was bummed out when the end of the performance came Saturday. I feel like I'm graduating all over again, dealing with all of these nostalgic 'lasts' with Kyle.

His part was a French woodsmen, and after the performance Friday, we took this picture. :)

Homecoming fun!

This past week was homecoming week. Even though I don't go to the high school, I still got in on the fun. Friday night, after coronation and a parade, there was a homecoming football game. I went with one of my closest friends, Jessica, and participated in the whole 'wearing a guys football jersey' tradition. Girls will ask guys for their away game jerseys (reverse colors) so they can wear them at the game, while the guys play in the opposite jerseys. I wore Kyle's jersey(didn't even have to ask! :), and it was a lot of fun!

Here are Jess and I after the game. She is 4 years younger than me but way taller than me, hence her bending down in the picture :) It's so odd for me to be staying the same size while all my friends surpass me.

Kyle and I were supposed to take a picture before the game in our matching jerseys but didn't get the chance till after. The number 54 on the side of his jersey is in honor of a classmate of mine (when I attended the public school in Jr. High) who tragically passed away a week after his high school graduation last year. He played football and last fall they retired his jersey and printed the number on all of the home game jerseys.

:)

This picture makes me laugh :)

Jumping picture!

Me and Jess (she's Kyle's sister) attempting a jumping picture.

Kyle's nearly a foot taller than me and his jersey, when untucked, was like a nightgown on me. We got a kick out of it and had to take a picture.

And that was my weekend! Thanks to Kyle I've gotten in on some fun high school experiences I've otherwise missed out on, such as prom and this whole homecoming tradition. It's been really fun!