Feliz Navidad!

It was our first "White Christmas".

Just it wasn't white.  We haven't had snow since my last post on Tuesday.  Then we had two days of rain and the snow was completely gone.

We went up to Temple Square last night to see the lights.  It's a new tradition mom wants to start.  It was freezing, but beautiful.  We then ate at Olive Garden (the OG according to our waiter) and came home to watch movies.

So Christmas morning starts later and later as we get older and older, but for some reason this year, I was jumped on at 7:00 in the morning!  It was an early morning filled with joy and quickly followed by long naps, Pride and Prejudice, a poorly played Laker's game, tons of family, and lots and lots of food.

OH MY SNOW!

Ok, for real...this snow has not let up one bit and it has been going since last night.

Mel's car this morning...

Melanie got stuck in our driveway this morning.  Woke me up so I could help, but I didn't do much.  So we called Phil and he came to the rescue.  It's now noon and I still haven't left the house.  I had planned to spend the day in Springville with my old class, but Nebo got a snow day...crazy.  I have been afraid to drive but I am thinking that maybe I will try a trip to the gym.  Wish me luck!

My Cousin's Baptism

Josers and Mike are here visiting and they decided to have little Sabrina baptized while they were here so that the family could be there.  So cute.  It was a wonderful experience.  And I brought Drew.  He saw Joser and said, "Hey, I know her."  Turns out, he had been in their ward right before he finished his mission.  Pretty amazing.

Las hermanas y la prima

Dancing

Cutest 8 year old in the world with her favorite cousin

You know, us Latinas can't go very long without dancing.  Though, the holding hands and dancing in circles was all Sabri's idea.  Made it hard to shake our hips though.

La familia

Even the tio was there!

I loved this day.  I loved watching Sabrina choose to be baptized.  I loved the spirit that was felt.  I loved watching her receive the Holy Ghost.  I loved being surrounded by my wonderful and quite unique family.

Christmas at the Conference Center

Tonight, I got to go watch the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's Christmas Concert, with guest star David Archuleta.

Syd wouldn't pose for the picture...too bad.

It was amazing.  Not even just that, it was phenomenal!

Ok, so I know I am a little old to be loving on 19 (almost 20) year old David Archuleta, but I can't help it.  His voice is one of the most pure and beautiful that I have ever heard.  He was so genuine and just a wonderful performer.  I might (definitely) have cried through a few of his songs.  He brought with him a strong spirit and everyone was in awe at his talent.

It made for a fantastic way to end my Saturday night.

White Christmas

Today, I came home from a long day of work and a whole list of things to do.

I ran some errands and then came home to wrap presents for my students, put together gifts for teachers, make cookies for a lunch, and figure out a hairpiece that I have been stressing about for a friend of a friends wedding (Mom helped out sooo much on that one the other night).  I decided to do all of these things while watching my favorite Christmas movie, White Christmas.  Then after I finished a good amount of this over two hours of working, I went to the gym.  At the gym, I found White Christmas on TV...  I watched the first half while working out and I am now back at home with it on TV as I finish the unfinished work.

Yes,  I have watched White Christmas twice in a row.  AND I LOVE IT.

Snow, snow, snow, snow!  It won't be long before we'll all be there with snow...

another classic Thork Christmas card!

Check it out!

Make sure you take a look at our old cards as well (they can be found with the first post).  Hilarious.

Merry Christmas!!!

the break up

Yesterday, one of my students got frustrated with me because I was making him work (I know, I am such a mean teacher...making them do work at school!).  I wasn't going to let him go to recess until he finished one math problem.  His response to me:

"Miss Thorkelson.  I am breaking up with you."

mi familia en guadalajara

When I started this blog in the spring of 2008, I was a sophomore at BYU doing a study abroad in Guadalajara.  It has been over two years since then and I have come a long way, but I will forever cherish the time that I spent there.

Last night I had a dream that has left me thinking about them, especially about my "Mexican dad", Guillermo.  Guillermo was wonderful to me and Nat and we instantly grew attached to him.  He loved that I was Argentine and often spoke to me using lots of hand motions and in perfect castellano.

In my dream, I was in Guadalajara with my family.  We were at some type of meeting and when we left the building, I walked down to the end of the street.  I looked around and recognized it to be the street that Yolanda and Guillermo lived on.  I turned around and started to run back to their house.  I could see Guillermo walking out to the curb, taking the trash out.  He saw me and I could hear him say "Tati!"  I ran into his arms and we cried.  It was a happy cry, a dream cry that has left me emotional all day.''

So, I have contacted my director and gotten their address.  I cannot wait to write to them and see how they are doing.  I have thought about them all day.

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

1.  We had our first snow fall earlier this week.  As much as I dislike the snow, the way my kids are so excited to play in it, makes me happy.  It actually sort of makes me want to run around, make snow angels, and snowmen, and ice forts. Even though it is freezing out there, they always want to go outside for recess.  I don't know what it is, but it's helped me enjoy it a little more.  Yes, I still really hate driving in it, but maybe I can learn to play in it this winter.

2. O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree.  Alex and I went and picked up our Christmas tree at Smith's on Thursday night.  Such a good buy!  It looks beautiful in our apartment and it has made the whole place smell wonderful.  Picking it up was some adventure.  We had the little boy from Smith's help us get it to the car.  We went out to pick it and of course the beautiful, big, thick one I wanted was right in the middle of all the other trees.  He was a good sport about it and even showed off a little for Alex and I by picking it up and throwing it over his head.  I so wish we had had a camera to get a picture of it.  I asked Kendrick to come help us move it from the car into our apartment.  We had a few light dilemmas but finally fixed them and today it was decorated.  I love coming home to it.

3.  Christmas Music.  I cannot stop listening to it.  Nothing beats Bing Crosby, Carpenters, and Harry Connick Jr.  I love it.

4. Christmas Movies!  The old classics.  White Christmas, Holiday Inn, It's a Wonderful Life.  I could watch these everyday of the month of December.

But, can you believe it is already this time of year?  With the talk of Christmas comes talk of New Years.  2010 has just flown by.