Day 127 (12/30 - Wed)

Most of us spent the night at Laura's place (epic Starcraft games about 3am...but I digress), in order to have a nice, quiet morning with some final farewells. It was a good day for lazing around, and Dante seems to be an expert at finding good spots.



Good boy.

Day 126 (12/29 - Tues)

There is nothing like old friends who get together again. My great great great great friend from Southwest Missouri State undergrad days (it's still a privilege to be a bear, I guess) Laura hosted some of the old posse for a Christmas party. Partay!!!



Josh and Laura, I think that no matter how many years pass by, or how long we go without talking, we will still be friends. Thanks for being who you are!

Day 125 (12/28 - Mon)

Today we returned from Kansas to our home in St. Louis, still aglow with the warmth of Christmas cheer.

And Christmas Loot. Here's my haul this year (for which I'm very grateful, lest you think otherwise):



It's fun to make your gifts all get together for a group photo.
I'm particularly looking forward to using the new bicycle panniers (thanks bro and sis-in-law!) and my brand new fancy pants (but oh so practical) tea set from Aaron. And I got books, and candles, and Harry Potter in Latin (mehercule! mirabile lectu!), and a fun mug, some new jeans (not pictured...might be wearing them), and various and sundry. Like Fallout 3 which I can't wait to play but unfortunately don't have a computer anywhere new enough to run it.

Thanks everyone for the great gifts!

Day 124 (12/27 - Sun)

Today was the big day for our extended family Christmas celebration. (In my family, doing things with "extended family" pretty much means my mom's side of the family, as my dad's side is scattered all over) I missed the last three for a variety of reasons, but I was happy to be here this year -- one side affect of missing for a few years is that my cousins' various children suddenly jumped to be 4 years older, which was quite a surprise. Oh, and I got to chat with my fun relatives and catch up, giving college advice to my second cousin who is attending Creighton now or learning about creating homebrew vanilla extract from my cousin Diana.



She's excited about vanilla! A good time of family being together.

Day 123 (12/26 - Sat)

It's traditional for our family to head to the Kansas City area right after Christmas to celebrate with my mom's side of the family, so today we packed up the car and hit the road.

Looks like somebody really wanted to drive.



(more like: "Do you have food? Where's the food?)

Day 122 (12/25 - Fri)

It's Christmas!

That means Dad reading the Christmas story (from Luke this year)!
And Sam doing silly things on the floor with wrapping paper!
And mom cooking up an awesome breakfast complete with cinnamon rolls!
And Christmas presents!

Day 121 (12/24 - Thurs)

Christmas Eve, near midnight.



Quiet expectancy.

Day 120 (12/23 - Wed)

Being home for the holidays often means the opportunity to reconnect with friends as well as family. Today, my long-time friends Josh and Jen came over (since he is also originally from St. Louis and thus in town for Christmas) to hand out and play some games. Little (cutie) Robert's game was to pull dad's lip as hard as he could!



It's a privilege to get to watch friends--whom you once knew as a freshmen in college just trying to figure out where they are going in life--now getting families of their own. Time marches on. And makes all things new.

Day 119 (12/22 - Tues)

Hooray! Guess what I say today?



St. Louis! Home sweet home. (Okay, my folks moved to Arnold a few years ago, but that's still metro area)
There's nothing like home during the holidays, is there?

Day 118 (12/21 - Mon)

I was supposed to go home today. Alas, I did not. The way I feel right now, a 5+ hour drive in the dark is the last thing I need. Thus, no exciting picture of my day, but I give you instead something even better: the message of Christmas.

Day 117 (12/20 - Sun)

My front window: a beacon of Christmas cheer to all who pass by.



But since I live close to the end of a long row of condos, only two neighbors and their families see it.

And the postman. Who brought me all of these lovely cards. Thanks everyone!

Day 116 (12/19 - Sat)

The first semester of this 2009-2010 school year is officially in the books. Quiet and peace have descended upon the campus, and that Christmas expectancy is in the air.



I love the snow. Home in a few days! Thanks to all of you for following along with my school year! Let's see what next semester will bring, eh?