Finals, Birthdays & Christmas Parties!

What a busy week! Mat and I had a brutal week of finals this past week! I had five and he had three. The craziness was partly my fault, I sweet talked a professor into letting me take a final early so that I didn't have any on my birthday, but that meant I had to take all five in three days. But it sure made for a good birthday full of doing nothing!

(as you can see in the picture... I clearly have not showered)

Mat got me an electronic dart board for my birthday! That may sound funny to you guys, but I actually told him thats what I wanted... and he listened! The thing is sweet! It has 28 different games you can play, and keeps score and even trash talks you... it's really really fun for us.

He also got me a keyless.. remote.. car starter thing. That made me sound dumb, but I don't know what they are really called. All I know is that I can start my car from inside my house this winter and if that doesn't bring every girl joy, I don't know what does.

The other gift he MADE for me... He went out and bought a black picture frame, roughed it up a bit and made it look antiqueish, then put solar screen in it... and wah lah! An earring holder! All three were perfect gifts! He does a good job...

The day was so great... Slept in late... opened presents... played darts for a few hours... went to dinner... watched a movie and went to bed. It was exactly what we both needed after a week of finals. Friday we had our department White Elephant party, which is always a good time. Our athletic department is full of fun and very funny people, so anytime we all get together its always fun, but especially when weird gifts are involved.

Saturday we spent cleaning.. yes, pretty much the entire day. We still weren't totally unpacked from moving and had stuff spread out everywhere. We moved in a couple days before the semester started and haven't had one second to get all situated. BUT... we are now (kinda).

It sure was nice to have a clean house for our family C hristmas party that we had last night. Everyone came over to our house for a big dinner and presents! We did a new thing this year that was really fun, mom bought six "As seen on TV" gifts and we played the right left game. Mom read a story that said the words right and left about a billion times and you have to pass it that way each time. It may sound a little juvenile, but we laughed our heads off.

The most entertaining part of the night, however, was Ainslie. She was so adorable the whole night! She was tickled pink about all the presents "Grandma Sue" gave her.... and everything else from the white bunny she named "Rabbit" to frosting cookies (or just eating frosting...)