Cari in Cali!

Here I am....  My first Christmas in my new home of Huntington Beach, California!

I have been in California now for a month and love love love the weather and the people.  It is truly easy to be happy here.   I have found myself again on the job hunt but am positive something will come my way...  It has to - otherwise I might have splurge on a tent and move to the beach...  and i don't mean beach front property.

I spent my holidays with the Thompson Family!!!!  I missed being with my family dearly but was thankful for the touch of home the Thompson fam brought to my holiday.  We all had a blast.  We stayed in a beautiful home in Newport Beach with an amazing kitchen that we now all dream of one day having.  Nita, Tenley and Reier each took turns teaching me cooking tricks -- From brussell sprouts to garlic I am a bit more confident in the kitchen.  After the festivities, they taught me how to play Boulderdash - - WHAT FUN!!!!!!  One person reads a word and everyone writes down a definition and then you vote to see who wins...  

The game literally hurts your stomach from laughing so hard...

And.....  it hurt my head...  some of the words are tough.  

So a holiday cheer from this family to yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

GI Janes

No Kidding...  I haven't had this much fun ever!  Kort came into town and the boys took us out shooting.  From little bitty guns that fit in your sock holster to ones that have no holster.

One of our good friends is a police officer and has access to some pretty cool guns and the others are just basically gun collectors.. Not only did we get to shoot but we also had to load em up..  It was quite the learning experience.  Some were antiques used in wars and some were brand new purchased by those who live on the "west side."  

I don't know that the scope really helped much....  i wasn't the best aimer... 

 or an aimer at all really...  

More than enough guns to go around.

Those included in the gun gang.....  Deiter, Kortney, Tyler, 

Darrel, Curt, me, DJ and Dave...  

Guns are fun!

Home Sweet Home

Alone again at last....... Or maybe the first time - For the first time, I am on my own. I have recently moved into a place by myself. I find it comforting and cozy, and sometimes lonely and cold - but only because I don't want to turn up the heat...
The living room and its' brand new christmas tree.



And..... the kitchen - which the fridge is particularly lonely, as are the cupboards. Not a ton of food to go around. So if you are hungry and plan on stopping by - please call in advance - or just bring chinese - Utensils, I have.

Up to Level 2 - yes i do - I have two (levels)!

My bedroom.....

my closet - huge and perfect....... it is very organized - hence the curtains..... jk - Mom and Dad would be surprised - it actually is.... No television means I actually get things done and organizing the closet is one of my favorites.
The bathroom -
And last but not least - the office... Not pictured - My favorite - My very own laundry room -


All in all, I love my new home. And it feels like home..
I have gone through quite the transistion phase this year. I lost my boyfriend and my home, changed jobs and most of my oldest and dearest friends moved away. But what I
found instead has made me believe I am a better person overall, a stronger person, a nicer person, a more rational person, a whole lot of new persons.
Most of all, I am finally, again, a happy person.
And actually, being on my own, makes me feel not alone.

In Utah Jesus was born in January

Which is why Kortney and I drove 45 miles to the nearest tree farmer (Jolly Old Fat Man) to cut down my Christmas tree. We trudged through knee deep snow, armed with a shovel and saw. Picked out the perfect one, cut it down and dragged it back to the car all in about 5.5 minutes. It is said to be a world record. Now Kortney and I securing it to the car might not have gone as smoothly.....


but we did make it.........
and into its new home!