everything

mom, finally!

thanksgiving was fun this year, but also weird. i went to chicago with peter to visit his family. we had fun, but i obviously missed mine. it was nice to have cold weather too; i definitely miss it when its always sunny. the day after we left it snowed. in the airport on the way there we saw danny from NKOTB and the girl from the mentalist.

between thanksgiving and christmas i worked a lot and did christmas shopping.

for christmas, i went back home to maryland for the first time since i moved. it was great being back. i cried a lot when i saw my family. mom waited for me to help me decorate the tree! i had a blast hanging with my parents, brothers, nieces, extended family, and friends. eventually peter came and we hung out a lot too. i will post pictures soon, i promise! i was home for two weeks and it was great. i can't wait until spring break when i get to go back for a week again. its weird going home because a lot has happened since i left, but its almost like i've never gone. i already miss everyone, the smells, my room, my house. it is nice being back though where i have my life, work, friends here, and all of my things. when i came back to la, it was weird b/c i was coming back "home." it was different then when i moved her for the first time or when i have come to visit. this time, i was coming back to a life that already existed, not one that i was just beginning. really strange.

now its 2009 the inauguration is tomorrow and i have to go back to work after a 3 day weekend. it has been really hot in la and this weekend i was able to spend a lot of time outside: the park and the beach. i'm glad i had my taste of winter, but i'm happy that it is sunny and warm. this weekend i also celebrated my roommate, jess' 26th bday by seeing Annie at the Kodak theatre which was awesome. it is beautiful there. i kept thinking about all of the celebrities that have been there before for all of the oscars. cool. in 2 weeks, peter's parents are coming to visit and i'm excited to see them. i like spending time with family as much as i can and i definitely consider them family.

big news, i start grad school on wednesday. i've been thinking about it and i applied last week and classes start this week. i sent in the paperwork last minute b/c i was worrying about how i was going to be able to pay, etc etc, but nows the time to do it. i'm taking classes at CSUN california state university northridge. its between work and my apt but farther north. it will take me 6 semesters (3 years) to get my MA, but i will clear my credential at the same time. i'll be taking 2 classes a week and they are both wednesday after school. i'm going to be very busy, but after i complete classes, it will help me bump up on the pay scale. this semester i'm taking a class about lesson planning which will be like every other class i've ever taken, and one about english language learners, which i'm excited b/c i will be learning new stuff.

so things are going well for me. i really enjoy living here; its new and exciting and there is always a lot to do. the weather is great and i'm doing exactly what i always planned to do with my life.

love you mom