One Week to Go...

So it has finally begun to feel like the holidays are here! Despite the abundance of Christmas lights/decorations in dirt covered lawns across the Valley of the Sun, I just wasn't feeling it this year. Once again, Keeper and I are tree-less because a) we are going to be gone for 2 whole weeks and b) we are moving (starting tonight!). But I am finally getting REALLY excited about the trip back east and finishing up my first semester of teaching for the school year.

I will not say the semester has "flown" by, but it has picked up a little in the past few weeks. I am finished with my final exam preparations. The review packets have been handed out and the exams themselves are photocopied and ready to go. Grades are almost done. My letters of recommendation for my seniors are finished. I am *even* planning ahead to the first week back and would love to get my classroom cleaned up a bit before I leave for vacation.

We have two tough games next week for soccer. I somehow got suckered into the "Secret Santa" this year with the girls but the gift has been bought. Thanks to a not-so-great job by the athletic director of rearranging our schedule, my team had two whole weeks of no games (only to be followed by 2+ games a week for the whole month of January). I have a great group of girls this season and they are learning a lot and are a ton of fun to be around. Next Thursday's game is basically in Mexico (right next to it), so we are taking a charter bus for the 5+ hour drive down there as soon as finals are over on Thursday morning. We won't get back until after 1am and then I have to be back at school Friday morning for teacher checkout. Nice. I am even going to squeeze in a much-needed haircut and doctor's appointment before heading to the east coast next Friday.

We are so excited to spend time with family! Our godson is getting baptized next Sunday in PA and we can't wait to head up to Boston to meet the newest little Yimoyines after Christmas! I swear I won't even complain about the cold weather (much) when I get there. On a side note, I would like to say that winter in Phoenix is absolutely lovely. It's the perfect running weather. The sky is just amazing in the mornings and evenings (bright pink, purple, blue, orange). It's cool enough to wear a sweater or light jacket in the mornings/evenings, but you're still good to go with shorts and T-shirt in the afternoon. Love it!

Holiday Visit

Posts are scarce because soccer started a month ago... but we had family visitor last week so I wanted to post an update and some pics.

Joy made her first visit out to Phoenix just in time for .... 2 days of rainy weather. It never rains here! She flew in last Tuesday afternoon (the 25th) and made it in time to see my team win the first game of the season! She came to school with me Wednesday for a half day and then we had the afternoon off to go for a run and hit up Pita Jungle for lunch. We ran a 10 mile race on Thanksgiving out in Peoria. The weather was weird for Phoenix, really muggy and humid. Afterwards , Keeper treated us to a delicious wild boar leg for Thanksgiving dinner. It sounds kind of weird but it was DELICIOUS! I made the veggies and mashed potatoes and we opted for wine for dessert instead of pumpkin pie ( I couldn't top my Grandma's if I tried, anyway). Friday morning we all headed out to the Superstition Mountains and did some hiking in Lost Dutchman State Park. The hike wasn't too strenuous but we got some awesome views and Chloe was very well behaved around the other hikers and dogs. In the evening Joy and I went to Barnes and Noble for a few hours because the club I advise at school (NHS) was doing some gift wrapping as a fundraiser so we supervised that for awhile. We had a pretty low key weekend. I was happy to have some company on my runs and we both spent the better part of Sunday (after church) being lazy. Monday was back to school and Joy ran my practice for me. The girls weren't used to a tough practice but they learned a lot and we need more practices like that because are next game is against a really tough team. I am so glad she came out for a week to see us!
In other news, Keeper is in the midst of midterms, I am in the last push before finals, and we are gearing up for a tough soccer game on the 15th. We are also signing a new lease next week for a new apartment. It's a nicer, newer, larger place in a better neighborhood. Let the packing begin!