Ok. Back again? Great. Tis the season to celebrate cold weather, final exams, and Christmas! These past two weeks we have been hit with a sharp cold front and the temperature has dropped a lot. It finally snowed a couple times. Hurray for first snow! However, the snow isn't the bad part about Illinois weather. It's the wind and ice that come later. Despite my bitter resentment for the hated Illinois winter, I was put in awe this afternoon after church. I pulled into the neighborhood, on the way home, and was delighted by the leafy trees welcoming me home. Leafy trees? Wait a second...they all fell off weeks ago! Check it out. The prettiest leaves of the season:
Well, aside from the freakish weather, I only have one week left of the term: Finals week! Luckily I only have one test to worry about. Too bad it's a big one. :( That's ok. It isn't until the very last day of finals week, Sat. 15. It sounds revolting, I know, but I'm actually glad. I have to proctor a final and then grade it and that will consume a lot of the early part of the week. So I have plenty of time left to study, study, study. And besides, I'm not going anywhere. Or am I?
Yes we're leaving town! We're totally excited about our Christmas travel plans this year. We are spending about 9 days in TX for Christmas, and then spending 3 or so days in Colorado for New Years, then it's off to Costa Rica for a week! So it'll be a blast. We get some time alone with the Baillio Grandparents, and we get to meet a new McDonald, and live it up with lots of Barrands. We will soak up the experiences because we won't get another opportunity like it for a while. Not only because it's not every day you go to Costa Rica, but also because I can't take off so much time for Christmas break anymore. Technically I'm overdoing it this season, but that was a major oversight on my part. Grad students are like regular working stiffs, with only 2-3 weeks vacation for a whole year. Silly me. I booked 3 weeks for Christmas alone! I'll make it up somehow.
Well the next two weeks can't come fast enough for us. It's been a long 6 months away from family and loved ones. And we can't wait to show off Brooklyn!
10 comments:
that's funny. we just took pictures of the trees for our blog too. ours are not so good. we did, however, manage to cram in Zoe wearing a fat suit.
nice pics brad. i'm jealous of your trip to costa rica!
I remember those icy storms from when we lived in Kansas. It was so beautiful to look outside to see it, until you stepped outside to get a closer view and then fall on your butt on the ice.
i wish I could be there to see Brooklyn show off. Such cute Baillio kids ;)
I am looking forward to the break....it'll be nice to get home and see Mom and Dad again. I wish something would have worked out during Thanksgiving so I could have seen the rest of you, but oh well.
Love you lots! Good luck with finals!
It just looks REALLY cold to me. It has gotten cold up here in Iceberg. I'm ready to go snorkling in warm Costa Rica with you guys.
how fun!!! i wish we were going to SA for Christmas, but alas, we are not. have a great time and tell your family I say "HI!!!"
Church? Our church got canceled. I bet you REALLY wish you were still in the 3rd ward now! Get a tan for me please.
Brad, you and Kuh-les-tay need to stop posting pictures of Brooklyn. I'm pretty sure it is illegal to post that many cute pictures in a row.
How much cuter can Brookie get? If she gets any cuter she will explode the page!
The ice IS beautiful. Sorry, I was having too much fun in CA to appreciate your ice.
love moxoxoxm
Such a cutie pie...I can't wait to see you guys. BTW...it's sunny and 70 here in Texas.
Post a Comment