Friday!

High Five for Friday everyone!!! It's Friday again and time to celebrate!!!

1. Mike and I went to a church last weekend that one of Mike's teachers suggested we try out. We really enjoyed it and will be going back again this Sunday. I believe we will become regulars there and we are both happy about that!

2. Both Mike and I finished another semester at Trinidad State Junior College. I'm pleased to announce we both got straight A's again!!! I've completed my time at school and now have an Associate of Arts in Business Administration to go along with my Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Policy...quite the combo! Mike is doing amazingly well in the gunsmithing program and has two more semesters to go. Time is flying by!

3. Last week a job offer sort of just landed in our laps. We weren't looking for a job, but one of Mike's teachers said he knew someone who was looking for a couple to do some cleaning work. We called her and got the job! Monday was our first day and we worked every night this week. The job is cleaning a bank nightly. It's nothing glamorous, but Mike and I can walk there from our house! The job is in the evenings, so it fits our schedule nicely and we'll be making some money!

4. Tuesday night Mike and I met up with some of his gunsmithing buddies for dinner. Two of them I already knew, but David I hadn't met before. David also brought his wife along too! It was a really nice relaxing evening and I always enjoy meeting other gunsmithing students and their families.

5. Only THREE days until Shane and Lindsey arrive in Colorado! Mike and I are getting REALLY excited to see our friends!!

Shane and Lindsey will be here for a week and then Mike and I will be flying home to Florida for two weeks, so this possibly might be my last post of the year. Don't worry though, I'll be back in the new year with lots of pictures from our adventures!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

DIY Clay Garland

 During Thanksgiving break I decided to try a little DIY project I saw on Delighted Momma's blog. She did a clay garland along her mantel that turned out really cute! It's a simple project with only a few tools and doesn't take too long either.

 I got a variety pack of clay because I knew I wanted a colorful garland. I used yarn to string the clay onto, but you could use pretty much anything you have on hand (waxed cotton cording, fishing line, string, etc.). You also need something to puncture your clay to create a hole going all the way through. I had a jewelry making tool, but there are also specialized clay tools that are pretty cheap too. I haven't tried it, but I'm also willing to bet a toothpick would work also. You just might have to wiggle it a bit to make a big enough hole to fit your yarn through.

 Start by breaking off a piece of clay and working it with your hands for a few minutes to soften it up, then roll it out into a ball shape. Mine are about quarter sized, but you can make yours to any size you like.

 Next, just pierce the ball with your tool to create a smooth hole going all the way through the clay.

 Lay your clay balls on a cookie sheet and bake per the directions on your clay package. Mine baked at 275 degrees for half an hour.

 After they cool, string your clay onto your yarn and hang it up!!

High Five for Friday

Hello! How has your week been? This was the last week of regular classes for Mike and I so we were both kind of busy finishing up end of the semester projects. This week's High Five for Friday is going to be a little countdown edition...

1. One day until Mike and I try our hand at CANNING! I got a bunch of canning stuff for my birthday so I'm excited to try it out!

2. Three days until Mike and I start our new JOB! We sort of stumbled upon a job. We start Monday, so we'll see how it goes. I'll give you more details later. If it works out it will be really good for us!

3. Five days left until this semester is officially OVER!

4. TEN days until Shane and Lindsey arrive in Colorado! Can't wait to see them!

5. Only 18 days until we fly home for CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

Have a great weekend!

Life Lately

Hola! Life lately has been really good! Mike and I had about a week and a half off of school and it was wonderful!

 As you know from my previous post, Mike's mom came and visited us for about four days. We are still talking about how much fun we had together!

After she left it was time for Mike and I to get ready to celebrate our first Thanksgiving on our own. Wow! We never realized how much time goes into making a Thanksgiving meal. We opted not to do a turkey just for the two of us and chose instead to do a pork loin, which turned out great.

It was a little weird not going Black Friday shopping this year, but don't worry...I still managed to do a little online shopping with some birthday money I still had left. We got the house all decorated and ready for Christmas!!! The cats are loving laying under the Christmas tree!

Saturday, I talked Mike into going to see the newest Hunger Games movie with me!!! It was really good! On the way home we noticed a LOT of people out and about along Main Street. It was almost like there was about to be a parade or something...apparently they shut down the roads about 0.2 seconds before the parade starts around here! So we were driving along the parade route right as it was about to start!! We hurried home and quickly walked back to Main St. to see the Christmas Parade. It was about 20 minutes long and the most non eventful parade I've ever been to, but it was still exciting to see and put me in the Christmas spirit!

This is our last week of regular classes and next week is exam week. Mike and I are ready for this semester to be over with and are impatiently awaiting a visit from Shane and Lindsey who will be arriving the 15th of this month!! We can't wait!

P.S. I realize there is an abundance of explanation marks in this post, but I just can't help myself!

A Visitor!

Mike's mom, Sherry, came and visited us for four days earlier this week. We had SO. MUCH. FUN! We stayed busy and really saw a lot in only four days, plus had some relaxing down time to just enjoy each others company.

Sherry arrived on Friday and we showed her all around campus. She got to see our classrooms, the bookstore, and meet some of Mike's teachers. We went to a super cute little place for lunch and relaxed most of the afternoon. For dinner, we had to show her Bella Luna, our favorite Trinidad restaurant. We ate the BEST pizza and did a lot of catching up.

Saturday was our busy day. We left in the morning and didn't get back until after dark. We took Sherry on a tour of Trinidad Lake State Park, where Mike and I worked over the summer. We then went on the scenic Highway of Legends drive up Highway 12, with a stop in Cuchara to eat lunch at the Dog Bar. This is also where we ran into a cattle drive! We finished the Highway 12 drive and then kept right on going until we got to the Great Sand Dunes National Park! It was beautiful!!!! I really love it there. After that, we decided it was time to head home.

We woke up Sunday to snow!! Our plans were to go visit Bishop's Castle, but it's pretty high in elevation so we were a little apprehensive to head up there and encounter icy roads. However, we decided to go for it, and I'm sure glad we did. The castle is a really cool experience and was gorgeous covered in snow. The roads had been plowed so the driving wasn't too bad. We stopped for lunch at a great little BBQ place called Obie's. Overall, a very awesome day.

Monday we had a relaxing morning and then walked around downtown Trinidad during the afternoon. It still amazes me that we can actually walk to numerous shops and restaurants here. I don't think I'll ever get tired of that! We enjoyed one last meal out together at a place Mike and I have been wanting to try called Cafe What a Grind. It was really good and we will definitely go back again.

Sherry left really early Tuesday morning and Mike and I were both sad to see her go. It was really good to have family around. Lucky for us, we will be home one month!!!