Ski Santa Fe!

2 days after Christmas John and I packed up and drove across Texas and half-way across New Mexico to Santa Fe. Santa Fe is one of our favorite places to go. The first time we went together was the summer of 2006 so to see it covered in snow was so beautiful. While we were there we did lots of sightseeing, shopping, eating, spending time with family, and some skiing. We were there for 3 full days and the first day and last day were spent shopping and sight seeing. The second day was full of skiing. This was John's first time skiing. He did great! For me, it had been 10 years since I had put on a pair of skis but it was just like riding a bike..as they say. The weather was perfect and we had such a wonderful time.


Our first day down at the Plaza. It was very cold, very sunny, and very fun!


First, this is a horrible picture of me but we took it very fast because as you can see, I'm standing in the middle of the street! One of our favorite places in Santa Fe is the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. Unfortunately while we were there it was in this giant plastic bag. I understand old buildings need work done on them, but it doesn't make tourists very happy.


Sadly, this is the only picture we took together when we went skiing. See the huge piles of snow behind us?!? How fun!


Funny story. So for Christmas my dad gave my mom a GPS. She graciously let us take it with us on our trip and it never failed us. It actually saved our marriage. No arguing over which exit to take or if you are reading the map wrong. It was glorious and it will be our next purchase to have one of our own. Well, it actually did fail us. Once. And it seems like GPS and Google Maps have failed a few more people. Enough for them to put this sign up. We were downtown, put in an address for a restaurant and it took is 10 miles outside of town, down a scary road and to a dead end. We were with John's cousin and her husband that night and we were all laughing. Well, I was a little nervous. John went back the next day to snap a few pictures because the sign is priceless!


Please please please excuse our messy windshield. Like I said, we drove across Texas, half of New Mexico and endured slushy, dirty street snow. I'm surprised it looks this good!

There was another fantastic place we visited while we were there but it will have to be a post in itself. It was incredible. So stay tuned!

Weekend with Ash and Izzy

Back in December (wow, over a month ago) I went to visit my one of my oldest and best friends, Ashley and meet her precious new baby, Isabelle. Isabelle was six weeks old when I got to meet her and so sweet. Ashley is such an incredible mom!

We had such a fun weekend. Most of our time was centered around staring at Miss Izzy! We did venture out and do a little shopping and found this precious bow for her.



It was so amazing to see Ashley as a mom. So amazing and still so surreal. Sometimes it feels like we are still in high school where we spent the summer driving around in her Explorer listening to Dave Matthews in our bathing suits. Good times.

I can't wait to see Isabelle again and love on her more!

119 Degrees

Baylor has a tendency to crank up the heat in the colder winter months. It's sort of a joke in our office to see who has the hottest office. Well today, everyone won. You know it's bad when you have to open your windows to let in the 37 degree chill from outside. Our office manager called the physical plant who controls our building (why can't we control our own building?) and they said, "Yes, it is a little warm over there. It's blowing 119 degree heat!"

Ridiculous. I'm glad I didn't dress super warm today.

say goodbye..

to Christmas! Unfortunately, with Thanksgiving coming so late this year and our 2+ week vacation we didn't get to spend a lot of time at home with our beautiful Christmas decorations and now they must come down. Here are a few pictures of our home at Christmas. I probably should have done this a while ago but let's stretch Christmas out a little more. These are a few of my favorites.



This is a nativity we got when we went to Kenya in May of 2007.



My snowman candle on the coffee table. I love him.



We got this nativity in Santa Fe the summer of 2006.



And this nativity is hand carved out of an old wooden spool of thread. Amazing. The man who carved it is Tom Blunt.



This is my new super spikey garland that cut my finger a couple times while I was putting it up.



And last, my Willow Tree nativity. Notice a trend here..I collect nativities. There are more that we didn't put out this year b/c we don't have the space where we live.

Usually the Christmas decoration tear down comes on New Years Day, but this year with all of our travel it came down yesterday. We got home yesterday and I immediately started tackling the decorations. Then came the cleaning. Next, it's the organizing. I'm about to implement Organization Party 2009. And I'm starting with my closet. John will be SO happy to read this. I may even be vulnerable enough to share before and after pictures.

Last night we had a nice relaxing evening. It was our first evening home in 2+ weeks (if you don't count New Years Eve which I do not because we got home at midnight from driving all day, crashed in bed, did laundry and left again. I don't count it.) But I'm getting distracted. Anyway, last night after all the decorations were put away, the house was clean, John watched Star Wars Episodes 1 and 2 on tv and I started reading Ana's Story and it is compelling. I have a feeling I will finish it before Wednesday.

Tonight John and I went to go see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. If you have not seen it yet..GO. It is probably the weirdest, yet the greatest movie I have ever seen. It was just fabulous. It was the perfect way to top off our Christmas vacation.

Back to work tomorrow. Maybe I'll get snowed in..

maybe not.

Black Eye Pea Dip

Lady has been making this dip on New Year's Day for years now. Black eye peas have never been something I've loved but I do make sure to eat some every year on January 1st. This dip makes it so easy to eat your black eye peas and even a little hard to stop!

PS: I made this at my mother-in-law's house this year so no pictures. I'm sorry, I'm not perfect.

Black Eye Pea Dip

2 cans black eye peas with jalapenos, drained and rinsed
1 can Rotel, drained
1/2 red onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 avocados, diced
1 Tablespoon lime juice
3/4 cup Italian dressing

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and serve with lots of tortilla chips.

resolutions.

Setting New Years resolutions is about as traditional as eating black eye peas in the south. We all set them and usually fall behind. But in the spirit of the New Year, here are my resolutions for 2009..


1. Lose weight. Duh. Everyone says this but it's true. It's my #1 goal this year.
2. Read at least 1 book a month. I have the time and I should be doing this easy. I've already got 3 books lined up. Ana's Story by Jenna Bush, The Shack by William P. Young, and Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger. (The same author as The Devil Wears Prada.)

What good books have you read that you recommend? I need at least 12! :)

Happy New Year!

First things first..

HAPPY NEW YEAR from these crazy two!

Wow..the past 2 weeks have been nuts..we've only been home 1 night! We got back from our ski trip in Santa Fe last night right at midnight after driving all day. It was a new way to ring in the new year. We were unloading the car and John looked at his watch and said, "Oh..Happy New Year!" and then we kissed right there outside, it was cold and we were tired. But sweet nonetheless and at least I spent it with my sweetie and got a kiss at midnight.

I've got a ton of pictures to go through from the past month and lots of blog posts to catch up on so hopefully I'll be more faithful soon. In the meantime..eat your Black Eye Peas (we eat ours in the form of a dip. I'll share the recipe later) and Happy New Year from the Woods Fam!

(ps..does that little cube of "bacon" gross anyone else out like it does me? There is only 1 cube in the whole can and I always pick it out!)