Christmas Traditions


Every year I look forward to Christmas, not necessarily for the presents (although that is a plus) but for the traditions we have. My mom is big on traditions (I think she got that from Nannie). Every morning my dad wakes up really early (like before the sun is up early) so that he can go downstairs and start the fire and make sure everything is ready. When Matt and I were younger, we would wait on the stairs until we heard the Chipmunk music, which meant we could go downstairs. Now that we are older though, my dad usually makes sure we are up and ready for present time. My mom would always shower and get dressed before hand because my dad would tape christmas morning, but now that we don't do that anymore I think she does it just to be funny. I remember begging her to hurry up when I was little because we weren't allowed downstairs until she was done. When the music started my dad would be at the bottom of the stairs, probably more excited than we were, and so we raced down. We always open stockings first in the family room. We have to force my mom to open hers because she's always too busy watching us. After thats over my dad leads the way into the music room. He opens the door and we see that once again, they have outdone themselves. We aren't one of those families that open presents one a time because we get too excited. But we do have to wait until mom and dad hand us our presents. They always have some little plan of what order we have to open them in. For example. One year I think I got to open American Girl doll accessories so that I knew I was getting the real thing! They are so tricky. Anyway after presents my mom has us eat breakfast in the dining room. We always eat breakfast casserole and it's always great. As soon as thats over we have to clean up our presents and trash right away and bring everything up to our rooms. Presents, breakfast, and cleaning is all over by 12 noon. Crazy huh? But then we have the rest of the day to enjoy and celebrate!

Why is it that professors try to cram as much work in as possible before finals??? I'm sure all the other college students know what I'm talking about.

I still have about a week left here. I'm ready to be done. I'm overstressed, overworked, overwhelmed and OVER SCHOOL! haha

I can't wait to be home and curled up around the fireplace with my family and kitties. I usually feel as though I miss out of the Christmas season because there is too much work to do at school. I am excited to be home, even if it is only for a short time. I kind of even miss the banjo....wow did I just say that? Mom, don't let dad read this :) hahah

Anyway, Chipmunk music, cookie baking, and Christmas shopping all awaits me when I get home. I can't wait! I will see many of you on the 23rd in church! (I get back the 22nd from NYC and then Christmas dinner at my Pop Pop)

Merry Christmas!

We took Christmas pictures in our apartment the other day. We probably took over 50 pictures! I feel bad for the girls we got to do it for us :) Anyway... I'm counting down the days til I can actually say I DON'T HAVE HOMEWORK! Well I guess I still have to read a textbook for my Costa Rica trip... but I mean I get to go to Costa Rica so who cares! It's kind of sad though because by the time I get home (after our usual early Christmas dinner at Pop Pops) I will only have like ten days to be home. Even less than that if I go to visit Alex at all! Oh the price we pay for fun! Haha I leave January 3rd for my trip but I'm going back to school the 2nd so I can wake up early the next day. The bus leaves school at 9:30 am. BUT a girl I met that's going on the trip is going to come stay with me for the night! So that's fun!

Only about 2 weeks left! My last exam is Wednesday night, the 19th, 6-8 pm.

This picture pretty much sums us up!


Thanksgiving was fun :) My Uncle Peter and my cousins came this year. (They are in the picture above: Nicole, Peter, and Brittany) It was nice because we usually only see each other once a year, AND we don't usually eat Thanksgiving dinner with family (weird huh?). The Biggs and the Badgers came over too. After dinner we had our usual dessert night. This year the theme was: Wii! It was very entertaining watching people of ALL ages get on that thing and play. My favorite was probably when Jared and Matt "boxed" each other....just try to visualize it. hahaha

Anyway it was a lot o fun, but we definately missed Ben and Linnea! But it sounds like you guys had a great time too. (5 pies Linnea? you go girl!!!)


Now back to school...and counting down the days til Christmas break :)

Censorship in Children's Literature

I am currently enrolled in a Children's Literature class (don't let the name fool you, it's not easy), and we have recently been discussing the issue of censorship in children's literature. We've discussed everything from violence, language, abuse, divorce, homosexuality and probably any other controversial topic you can think of.

I am curious as to your views on this topic. Especially in the category of realistic fiction, how real is too real???

Just for fun: One of the articles I read on this issue discussed how Beatrix Potter's classic Tale of Peter Rabbit was banned in England due to its portrayal of only middle class rabbits..... where is the line to be drawn?

I'm sorry for not keeping up with my blogs. this semester is completely insane. about 2 weeks ago my prof said "If you plan on breaking up with a boyfriend anytime soon... do it now.... you won't be able to handle it if it happens later in the semester" this means we will have so much work to do that we can't let emotions get in our way haha. nice huh? But i have bad news. my good friend heather, and roommate, just broke up with her boyfriend, they have been dating 3 years and it came out of no where. she's making through it but its been really hard because we have had so much due lately. please pray for her!

Everyone says that your junior year as an Elementary Education major is the hardest. People talk about the juniors "nervous smile" because they don't know whether to laugh or cry." I am happy to inform you all that I have been taking the laughing route! When a teacher adds yet another assignment I have come to find it funny. I feel like yelling "BRING IT ON!!!!" haha God always brings me through.

One thing that I never thought I would say though.... I'm glad Alex doesn't go here this year! I would have no time for him! hahaha jk

I will make a real post sometime.... this will have to do til then.

Thursday night my friends and I invited some of Alex's friends over to cook them dinner. It was soooo fun! After we had come cake left over and no one wanted to eat it.... instead of saving it we decided to play a game. We all drew cards and whoever got the highest card hit the person with the lowest card in the face with the cake. Mature right? I got the highest and Alex's best friend Doug got the lowest hahaha.




And Friday....... Alex came to visit!!!

He brought his brother Ryan and his sister Shannan too. He could only come for one night though because Salisbury's lax practices got moved up on Sunday and he needed to be well rested beforehand. Boo. It was still a fun weekend though!

Let me ask you....


What's your favorite food???


Mine is Chicken Fajitas! Chicken strips, green peppers, and onions over top of Spanish rice wrapped up in a big flour tortilla!! MMMhmmmm.

So today I went to get my passport photo....I'm really doing it. I'm going to fly for the first time in my life this coming January. Yes, I'm scared out of my mind. But I know my Jesus is watching over me and my life is in His hands. I'm flying with Continental Airlines on a direct flight from Newark NJ to Costa Rica..... Soooo if you all will please pray for me to be calm and trust God I would really appreciate it. The prof for the trip has been soooo nice though telling me he will talk to me about any anxieties I have. How much of a baby am I huh? I'll be 20 during the time of the trip haha. Anyway are there any fun flying stories anyone wants to share??? SHARE AWAY!!!!


Tonight a bunch of us girls got together to have a cookout. There were probably around 15 of us in all. we grilled chicken and hot dogs. I made my moms famous pasta salad that everyone loved... who knew Italian dressing and noodles would be so popular??? But it was just a fun night to take a break away from studies and have fun with the girls. WE even roasted marshmallows :) Here are some pictures! I have more but it takes so long to put them on the blog haha.

SOOO my apartment is almost complete. its pretty cute for what we were given.. i'll put pictures up sometime soon when i get a chance.

As for my classes......... hard. I seriously don't know how I'm going to make it. It's not a good sign when a teacher for 2 of my classes says shes used to having students cry in her office bc they are overstressed, and its going to be a tough year. But at the same time shes the coolest teacher i've ever had... .so maybe it won't be that bad? I'm excited and nervous. I think I might tutor in Harrisburg this year. SO that will be a fun experience

In case you all don't know... Alex transfered to Salisbury University....how am I supposed to have my heart in school when he left? Well, after the first initial shock of not having him hear, i realized its not that bad. His friends still always come up to me and visit my apartment which makes me happy. He can't come up for my birthday though bc of SU lax practices. :( But oh well! We will see what happens!

I'll get pictures up eventually. I am just so busy right now. My fall break is Oct 13 or something so hopefully ill see everyone then. I dont know if I can make it there before that.

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

I looooooove you and missssss you!

I'm sorrrrry its been so long. A lots been going on. I was really sick with EBV (Epstein Barr Virus or something) my boyfriend moved into his apartment in Salisbury and I had to get ready to come back up to school.

Anyway my apartment looks really good :) my friend Heather and I brought basically everything to decorate but oh well at least its cute :) I'll include photos once we get settled in.

But now... I know you have all been waiting for this.....


Top Ten Moments At Camp

10. The first time I heard the little kids call me Miss Krissy
9. When I had to hold 3 girls in my lap in the same chair at the movies because the movie "Monster House" was too scary for them
8. Our field trip to Jolly Rogers when I convinced a girl to go on a water slide with me when usually she'd be too scared to do anything.
7. Having all the kids in the class think that I was the reason they won tug of war and screaming "Thank you miss Krissy you are sooo strong you made us win" when in reality the camp director grabbed hold of the rope.
6. 5 year old Carly Bell dancing in front of the mirror in the bathroom while changing into her bathingsuit singing "I'm soooooo sexy I'm soooo prettty"
5. Watching as my kids walked in the hallway with bubbles and tails (in order to get them to walk quietly without hitting eachother they would fill their mouths with air and put their hands behind their back to make a 'tail) It was very amusing to watch.
4. Having a couple of the boys ask me to be their girlfriend... I didn't have the heart to tell them I was already taken... is that bad?
3. Keagan transforming from a boy that would run around the bathroom naked looking under the stalls and leaving our class (even on fieldtrips) without asking so that I'd have a panic attack...into an adorable funny boy that would breakdance for you on command and sing songs that he "found in his head" and always had a new trick to show.
2. During carnival day I was in charge of the prize box with Erin Morris and even though they already earned a prize from playing a game...we'd make them go tackle a counselor before they could get it. One time we made them go through Mr Matthews legs and then jump on him... it was soooo funny watching the kids creep up behind their unsuspecting victim.
1. When my class (which was the YOUNGEST PARTICIPATING) won the fear factor challenge against all the other grades. I mean they had to eat and do the grossest things ever. We won all but one challenge which made us the winners. Christian (the 5 yr old ladies man) finished his challenge and everyone was so shocked that everyone was screaming.. I picked him up and ran around even though he smelt like a mixture of chocolate, pickles, ketchup, olives, wasabi, salsa....and anything else you could think of. It proved that my class ruled the camp :)


Man this makes me miss them :(

Well there are many things I feel that I can take away from my job as a camp counselor this summer.....

There are the "cool" new bad words to call my friends: such as terd nugget, butt muncher, and my personal favorite- diaper licker.

There are also the numerous new "handgames" ....that ive been told are much cooler than miss mary mac....the most popular one now is called tic tac toe and involves punching the loser... very interesting.

There are also the little kid sicknesses such as pink eye. thats right, I currently have pink eye. I was sent home from camp so that I don't get others infected. I feel like im in elementary school again. Hahaha

But its been a great experience! I'm thankful that I worked here this summer. I met a lot of adorable kids...and ive also come up with a short list of names i probally won't name my future children because it brings back memories of those not so adorable ones...No I'm just kidding but I definately had a few characters in my class. I"ll explain later :)

Coming up soon: Top Ten Moments at Camp

This is not goodbye!!! It's see you soon!

I can't wait to hear of your adventures as a "sexy little married couple" ... I think I should make Ben a sweatshirt to match yours Linnea :) I miss you already but remember I speak for everyone when I say you both are in our thoughts and prayers. I loveeeee you!

I realized that I didn't include any pictures of my family! SO here we are! And some guy that followed me around all night (just kidding) I barely recognized him though.... I'm used to sweatpants and bandannas on this guy hahah (as Linnea has pointed out on facebook pictures) I must say, he didn't look half bad :)

I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!!

Mrs. Peipon convinced me that I needed to start blogging again to keep her posted! So here I am :) This is just a test because I don't know if this will work... i forgot my password and had to go through all this other stuff in order to get into here haha. Hopefully i'll be back soon!