Well on New Years Eve, Matt and I were so exhausted from the previous days activities, we didn’t even make it to 9:30pm.  I can’t believe it is 2012 already!  In the last year, I have traveled to several different places, moved into a new residence, started my Master’s Degree in Accounting, and got engaged!  This year I will be getting married, traveling to many more places, graduating with my Master’s in Accounting from Kaplan University in December (with a 4.0 I hope), and working to start a position in the Accounting world.  It will be a year full of many new doors for me and I can’t wait.  More news to come….

Matt and I went to Florida to join his Dad, Nelson, and sister for a fabulous Christmas.  It was great seeing everyone together and being able to relax for a few days without work.  I have to admit it was a little weird for me on Christmas Day because it was so warm outside!  We also headed to Busch Gardens for a day full of roller coaster riding.  Just a few fun pictures below:

Frances, Matt, Laura, Tom, Nelson

Christmas

Matt & I

Matt and I at Busch Gardens

Matt and I Busch Gardens

Raaarrrrrr!

Matt and I went to Austin, TX to spend Thanksgiving with my family.  We had a fantastic time with everyone and I must say, man can my sister cook!!!  I miss them dearly.

Matt, Steve Pearson’s family, and I drove out to Filmore, CA to ride the Train and cut down our Christmas tree.  This train had a Steam Engine from 1913 and train cars from the 1920s and 1930s.  I loved it!  The water fountains on the train were really neat too.  We had a 45 minute train ride to the Christmas tree farm.  Then we roamed the farm and found our perfect tree to cut down.  I felt like Clark Griswald in Christmas vacation.  All of us had such a great time.  Here are some pictures below:

The train!

Our Christmas tree being cut down…

And off to load onto the train!

And the final result!!!

Matt and I took Jack on the Hike to the Bridge to NoWhere.  We only hiked about 3 miles in and 3 miles back because the trail is rough on his paws.  We had a great time and loved the hike.  The weather was perfect and Jack loved swimming in the water.  We had a lot of laughs and good moments on this hike.  I can’t wait to do it again.

water crossing!

I went to Disneyland California Adventure with the Caudill Family.  It was my first time to go to this park.  I had a great time, but I like the other park much better because there is more to do.  They had my favorite Disney show there called It’s a bug’s life.  I absolutely love this show!  I went on the Ferris Wheel with swinging carts and did not like it very much.  I loved the view, but not the so much the swing.

I went to my first tatting class today!  I was very excited to complete a snowflake that inquired many of the different techniques needed to tat. I don’t have a picture of what I made, but I did learn how to do these as well.  I am really enjoying learning this lost art that is slowly being reborn.  The teachers website is http://www.snapdragonlace.com/   Also, if you knit or sew or do anything that requires a pattern you can find free .pdf books at http://www.antiquepatternlibrary.org/  it is an awesome website.

During my time off, I was able to make it out to Disneyland again.  I have one more day pass to use before October so hopefully I will make it out before it expires.  I went with my friend Amber and we actually went to a few rides neither of us had done or done in a really long time.  We enjoyed climbing through the tight spaces to the top of Tom Sawyer’s island and the fun adventure Roger Rabbit ride in Toon Town.  We took pictures with Minnie Mouse last time and this time we actually got to take pictures with Mickey Mouse.  This place always puts a smile on my face.  We enjoyed an extremely delicious lunch at the French Quarter, New Orleans Restaurant.  We had an amazing salad and a Monte Cristo that melted in your mouth.  Then we ended the afternoon with a delicious cup of ice cream while watching the parade.  There were some very different costume that I just loved.  I am thinking about making one up for Halloween.  Across from where we were sitting there was this adorable little girl dressed up as Minnie Mouse.  She had a huge red lollipop and then her mom showed up with a pickle.  She went straight for the pickle and said forget the lollipop.  She was very entertaining to watch as the parade went on.

I have been so busy since my last post with school and work and making decisions about the the wedding with Matt.  We have almost everything done for the wedding, just need to figure out what we are going to eat at the reception.  I am really excited about wearing my mothers dress.  We are having it altered to fit me and a few minor changes.  It is going to be perfect.  I have picked out my shoes and my wedding bands have been made and I am working on getting my bouquet finished.  We are not doing flowers at all at the wedding, we have some other ideas in mind for a surprise.

School has been busy.  Every week they give us more problems for our assignment and increase the work load.  It is frustrating at times.  The class I am in now is over in a week and a half.  Glad this one is almost over, I do not like this auditing class very much.  It is not fun.

Work is the same, I am enjoying my job, I just wish I lived closer to it so the commute wasn’t so far in the afternoons.

I have not worked out much in the last two months because of my school work, but I plan on getting back into it very soon.  www.bodyrock.tv is the best workout I have yet to find.  You should check it out.  It is very accommodating to a busy schedule.

Matt and I went over too San Gabriel Mountains to hike to the Bridge to NoWhere.  It was 5 miles to the bridge and 5 miles back of sand, rock, and water crossings to hike.  It was really beautiful and the weather was perfect.  It wasn’t too hot and the breeze was just right.  This was a well needed hiking trip for the both of us.  We had a picnic a little bit passed the bridge while listening to the wind, water, and the birds.  We also watched a few people bungee jump off the bridge.  I love taking pictures of different bridges and this one was pretty neat.  I will going hiking here again, this place is fantastic!!!  Here are some pictures below.

Matt making some drinking water

The Bridge to NoWhere

The Sign

Our feet off the bridge

Me climbing up and up on the trail

Us having a great time!

So I finished ready Bonk.  I absolutely loved it.  Very interesting book and well written.  If you want to know some random history about sex, orgasms, and science, then this is the book to read.  A few things I read, I am still completely shocked people do that or even tried it.  You will have to read it if you want to know what I am talking about.  It is a fast and easy read.  I promise you will learn a thing or two.

Now, I am reading  Reckless Endangerment: How Outsized Ambition, Greed, and Corruption Led to Economic Armageddon.  So far it is quite eye opening.  We will see…