I'm too ashamed to give this post a title...

"Yo Adriane! Like where have you been for the last 6 months?!"

Yeah, you've been asking yourself this, right? Or, perhaps you're too busy with your own life that you haven't noticed I've been blogger AWOL for like enough time to journey to Mars and back...twice. Yeah, it's been that long.

Someone spoke in our church meeting today about how he doesn't make new year's resolutions because he inevitably won't meet them. I tend to agree...wholeheartedly. So instead of recapturing EVERYTHING that I've missed since my last post, I intend to highlight only those things where a) my life has significantly changed, b) I can remember, and c) I look spanking good in the pictures.

And, of course, I'm doing it 'Top 10' style. Of course.

Top 10 YoAdriane Events in the Last 6 Months

#10 - Sister/Sister Extravaganza

(My older and much wiser sis and her baby boy)

Probably the highlight of the past 6 months was having my sister and her four C-R-A-Z-Y (but in a good way) kids spend a week with Auntie Adri. The downside? It was August, in the desert, in my old retro "house," with no AC. Yeah, that's some REAL family loyalty there.

Anyways, I took the crew to the usual tourista spots in the Verde Valley: Jerome, Sedona, Oak Creek, Verde River, old town Cottonwood, and Clarkdale to name a few. We also went to Prescott and bought a Costco cheesecake which we ate in one night...you know, to like get our minds off the fact that the trailer was a blazing 85 degrees while we ate it.

(The family at Dad and Julie's in St. Johns)

#9 - Abel's Homecoming



The trip to MO to see Abel's homecoming made me realize one thing - I'M OLD!!! While it was great to see family, I was slightly depressed to realize that the generation of kids younger than myself is now driving, dating, going on missions, possibly getting married, and being called "Brother" and "Sister" at church. Too weird.



Weird as it is. It's nice to see those kids grow up when they turn out good. Abel was one of them. I'm pretty proud of him. He was an awesome misssionary (and I don't use that adjective casually). And I'm so proud of the great and incredibly good man he has grown to be. I have to say though, I'm a little jealous of his Spanish-speaking abilities...

(Abel and Mom with her "I can't believe this MAN is my son" look)

(The Family at the airport)

(Walking with RM PRIDE...Hoot! Hoot!)

(My cuz and me at the RM party at Uncle Oliver's)

(Some of the 'da women folk at the RM Party...caution, I'm wearing that green shirt alot in the following photos)

#8 - 'Calling' me Crazy

I don't think I could make a top 10 list and not include my YW Pres duties.

Most of the time I'm doing my calling, I feel like a crazy person...juggling meetings, figuring out what we're gonna do for mutual, making hand-outs, figuring out the best way to motivate the YW to do Personal Progress goals, spending bookoo time on the cell phone talking to everybody, and a hundred other things. And yet, I've had such a BLAST with these group of girls and leaders...I wouldn't have it any other way. We've had the best time in the last few months: making pizzas, raking mountains of leaves, eating the messiest caramel apples EVER, dancing our feet off at the stake dances, driving through Phoenix traffic to see the Mesa Temple Christmas lights, singing Broadway tunes, and the list goes on....

(The Gang on the concrete pink chair in downtown Mesa)

#7 - Holidays with the Ragans

About two months ago, Justin and I prayed that we could visit our family more often. And, incredibly, we got to do just that. Thanksgiving was spent in Tucson with J's mom and family, and on the way home we spent a little time with his dad and step-mom. Then, for Christmas, I got to go to MO and see my mom (and Justin was supposed to but a stikin elk hunt and overpriced train tickets got in the way...but that's a whole 'nuther story), and then J and I both got to spend a little time with my dad and step-mom. Can you believe that? All four parents in 2 months? Incredible!

(The Ragan Yule tree - a lovely blue spruce from Green's Peak, AZ - hand cut)

Anyway, because of all the traveling (which really all occured in a 2-week time frame), we decided to spend Christmas and New Year's at home, just the two of us. And it was really nice to spend the holidays watching movies, eating junk food, playing with our little porker of a cat, and getting some good 'ole R&R.

(Taking advantage of the "self-portrait" feature on the camera)

#6 - A Picture's worth a Thousand Self-Esteem Points

So another highlight of Bucky's visit was that I got to take some saweet glamour shots....you know because only sisters (as opposed to husbands) are patient enough to indulge in their sister's vain wishes to have at least ONE respectable self portrait of themselves. I like these ones that Bucky took because they're kinda artsy, and hence, make the pictures seem less narcissistic.

#5 - O, Mie Amici!!

My friends! My friends! Let's just say that the last 6 months would have been near complete drudgery had I not had some good friends to laugh with, eat food with, talk about woes with, and just be girls with. Since I was a LAME friend and didn't send out cards this holiday season, I hope you will all accept my letter of gratitude below...

"To my friends: in my town, in my old towns, in cyberspace, and beyond,

Thanks for bringing sunshine to my day. For caring about me and my oftentimes trivial problems. For giving me hugs at church. Beatiful necklaces in little red velvet pouches. Watching my cat like your own child. Text messaging me when I'm visiting your home state, but forgot to ask what you were doing. Driving me to the shuttle station at 5:30 in the cold morning. Sending me "We miss you!" notes on Harry Potter memo pad paper with your kid's lovely crayon drawings on the back. You are the cherry on my Sonic limeade. And I only hope to be that kind of friend in return.

Merry (very late) Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Adriane"

#4 - Food!

Do you remember the commercial for Meow Mix?...."Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow....Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow..." Remember? Yeah, well I think my theme song for the last 6 months could be "Food, food, food, food...food, food, food, food.."

I've had so much GOOD food in the last 6 months. I can hardly believe it. Potlucks at work (and good ones too!). Ward socials. Christmas parties. Mommy's home cooking. And I've even suprised myself a time or two with my own concoctions.

(I admit I staged this photo just so I could blog about it.)

For Christmas, I did an italiano meal - Roasted lamb with anchiove sauce (don't let the anchioves fool you...this was magnifico!), braised peas with prosciutto, sliced potatoes with butter and swiss cheese, lovely baby green salad with vinegar and olive oil...and for dessert a layered Sicilian cake with ricotta cheese, chocolate, and butter....divine!

#3 - There's some perks with that job...

Work has kept me B-U-S-Y, but I think I'm finally getting the hang of my new job so I can't complain. Some days, I even get to go out to the "field" and see some cool things. Like the day above, I got to ride the ski lift to the top of the San Francisco peaks and take notes for the scientists' in the Forest Service. Yeah, that was a good day!

#2 - The REAL Herminone Granger please stand up, please stand up, please stand up!

(Harry Potter Jr. and buddy)

So this year I thought I'd honor one of my favorite literary characters by being her for Halloween. I even found myself a little Crookshanks too.

For those who know me well, you'll probably admit that I AM the real Hermione Granger. Puffy hair, smarty-pants-teachers-pet mentality, borderline nerd, the whole nine yards. Sadly, though, I was kinda of disappointed by the new HP movie...why on earth does Hollywood always have to add that "one scene" of trash to every decent movie?!! I'm sick of it. If they do it again, I'm quitting the movies and sticking with the books.

#1 - La Mia Bella Casa

(La cucina - before the move in)

(La famiglia room - also before the move in)

So the big news for Justin and me is that we bought our first house this last year. Woohoo! I can't begin to tell you what that felt like. It was like Christmas, our wedding, my birthday, and the lottery all wrapped in one lovely gift. I feel soooo blessed to have this special little (and yes it is little!) home for ourselves. So blessed, that I hope each of you come and visit me sometime! Though you may have to sleep on the couch or the porch or the shed...nah...if you RSVP in time, I'll make sure there's a nice comfy air mattress in the spare bedroom JUST FOR YOU.

So come and see me, and we can talk all night about cool stuff, take pictures of whatever we fancy, eat like there's no tomorrow, and stick it all on my next blogging post. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea!

--A