Yikes

So, I never mentioned this last time, but for Christmas I had got a lot of gift cards to Barnes and Noble. I had been working and saving them so I could buy a Nook for myself. Well...I was finally able to do that. I ended up getting the Nook Color and now I am totally book obsessed. I think the best part is that I can go to the Sioux Falls library website and check books out for it and that way I'm not spending a ton of money on books. Jason keeps calling me his little bookwork or his little nerd, but I don't care I love it!!

In addition to my obsessive reading Jason and I have been getting back into the swing of things from the holidays. He was a little less than thrilled to be starting school again, but he's making it through (I think it's because he had a bunch of tests and stuff right when he got back). Now he is also starting to study for his boards that he has to take in June. I have to say I am so proud of him. He formed a little study group with two of his classmates and they have a schedule that they are following to ensure they are ready by June. It's completely something I would do not Jason. I think I'm finally starting to rub off on him.

Although we are always on the go we are still finding time to hang out with our friends down here. It's been kinda nice the past couple weeks we have all been taking turns having Friday night dinners. It's almost to be expected now. Over New Years our friend Joe and Jessica Kim had a Korean cook out that we missed, but they promise they will do again. Last weekend Jason and I hosted a fish fry which is always a hit! Then last night we went to Karl and Erin Boehm's for German food...it was soooo good! I was kind of joking with Erin that the Kim's are our Asian sensation cuisine, Boehm's are International cuisine (we usually have all sorts of things there) and Jason and I are the caught or shot for you meal. We always make something that Jason killed it seems like. Oh well, getting everyone some experience with Mid-west life I guess. As always though we are thankful that we have made such great friends down here. It makes the time away from family and friends back home a lot less painful!

There really is no place like home for the holidays!!

Well as you could have guessed Jason and I were able to make it home for Christmas. We were able to spend loads of time with our friends and family while we were there. I get so excited this time of year because it's the one time you know that everyone will be back in Sioux Falls. We were able to see friends that live as far away as Washington D.C. and as close to living in Sioux Falls itself. Jason and I were also able to spend a lot of time with family. When we first came we were able to stay with my Mom and Dad and then part way through the trip we switched to staying with my sister and brother in-law. Which was great because that also meant we would spend a lot of time with my nephew Caiden.

As always getting together with family brought with it many lessons for Jason and I. Ones that we will of course apply in the future. For example Lesson one: When a child's toy says some assembly required, they really mean a lot of small parts will need to be put on these large plastic pieces and it may even require power tools, rubber malets and a little elbow grease.

Lesson Two: When you give a 1 year old a battery operated ATV and expect him to use it properly...you are really asking for that black wheel stain in your carpet. (Caiden ran into the couch and didn't know he had to take his finger off the go button...wheels were spinning and well you know the rest.)

All in all it was a fantastic trip. As always though it is hard to leave. Hopefully we will be able to make it back home in February, and then I will be back in March after we go to Ohio to find a place to live. Hope everyone had a Happy Holidays!!