To sum up pretty much the whole month of February, I only need three words: Olympics, slides, and family. The first two things had a lot of overlap, too. I have always enjoyed watching the Olympics. I grew up watching Nancy Kerrigan figure skate and adored her, so I thought of her a lot when I saw the figure skating. I enjoyed watching Apolo Ohno in 2002. I missed out on the winter Olympics in 2006 since I was on a mission in Romania. We missed the summer Olympics completely since they began on August 8, 2008, which was the day we got married. So it's good to be back, watching the games! I am quite touched by the performance of Joannie Rochette, skating after her mother passed away on Sunday. I cannot imagine what she's going through, or worse, what awaits her after all the fanfare has calmed down and she returns home. What a beautiful tribute to her mother that she not only skated so well, but that she took home the bronze medal. Life is so fragile.
The highlight of my month was getting these two cuties for an overnight stay at my house!
Jesse didn't want to be in the picture. But at least Kylee is happy!
I had planned and planned for my niece and nephew to come and was thinking about what fun things we could do. They got to my house around noon and by 3:00 pm, we had done everything! So I had to improvise, hence the grocery cart ride. What an ingenious idea to make riding in the cart fun for kids. Kylee was upset when I went to the checkout after picking up two things. I asked if they still wanted to ride around--the question that turned into us staying at the store for another 20 minutes, scouring for empty aisles so that I could run down them. They laughed and laughed. These two were quite easy to please. Sunday evening after they left was quite dreary and dreadfully quiet. Monday was even more quiet and lonely. I am so glad they got to come and can't wait to have them back! Just for fun, here's a video of Jesse back at Thanksgiving. The best is Ollie Octopus.
And last but certainly not least, I crocheted this little hat for my darling niece Alexa. I had a lot of fun doing it and can't wait to make more!
The other day while in the car, this song came on . . .
and not only did I not change the station, I turned it up.
Kevin was shocked.
I knew it was inevitable that I would start liking her when my nieces were singing her songs and idolizing her. Heck, one of them even told me that I look like her. Yes, she said that I have "tangly hair, like Taylor Swift." (I'm sure she was remembering the first half of that video where it's crazy and unkempt, not the normal well-coiffed Taylor Swift that we're all familiar with.)
I'm still not ok with pretty girls being put in glasses for their "ugly" phase, and then suddenly no glasses = pretty. Whatever.
For the last seven months (June - December), I've been sitting here as the receptionist:
As of the first of the year, I got promoted and now I sit here:
Of course this isn't my dream job or anything, but it's a nice change of pace. I cannot even believe the difference in my job now compared to a year ago. One thing's for certain, I didn't have a window! I also have made some very dear friends since working here. My dad had a job in insurance over 30 years ago . . . never thought I'd be following in his footsteps like this! He also decided to go back to school to get his Master's degree, and subsequently met my mom.
In other random news, basketball season is back in swing and I'm really enjoying it! I'm not very good, but I sure love to play. Sadly my left ring finger got scratched pretty deep just below the middle knuckle. It bled a bit when it happened and has been raw ever since. I can't put my wedding ring back on, so I'm wearing it on my right hand. Kinda throwing me off! Oh, and for all the avid watchers out there, the ping pong ball has been securely back on the other side of the picture frame for the past week.
I cannot imagine what she's going through, or worse, what awaits her after all the fanfare has calmed down and she returns home. What a beautiful tribute to her mother that she not only skated so well, but that she took home the bronze medal. Life is so fragile.
Jesse didn't want to be in the picture. But at least Kylee is happy!
