Update!

I realize that it is WELL past due for an update on what is going on in the Alvarez household. (Hopefully, you can see from the update how busy we are and will forgive us for not blogging sooner!)

Since the new year, I have started back at my internship 5 days a week instead of 3 days. I have also started my last few classes of my program, along with applying for jobs, preparing for my 6 week takeover (starts in one and a half weeks!!!), outlining my research that needs to start, and starting to think about the online portfolio that I need to complete for the program. So, not too much to do.

P.S. Most of this is due by the end of April!

Ben has also started his second class for his Master's degree. Other then that, he has been working hard at APL, doing whatever it is that he does (he can't divulge the secrets and they would go over my head even if he did tell me) and keeping Riley entertained when she isn't snuggled up next to me while I do work.

Sorry it's so brief but back to work I go! Hopefully it won't be as long between posts as last time.

P.S. Was anyone else disappointed by Puxatawney Phil's prediction? Six more weeks of winter, no thank you!

Welcome 2012!

Okay, so I know I'm a week late with this post but you'll forgive me, right?

Welcome 2012!!!

Ben and I spent New Years Eve with some great friends on the Eastern Shore.  We enjoyed pool, corn hole, yummy food, a bonfire, toasted marshmallows, Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve, and of course, champagne to ring in the new year!  We were having such a good time toasting the mallows that we almost missed midnight!  And a special shout out to my parents for dog sitting!  Thanks Mom and Dad!

Here are some pictures from our fun evening!

 Two of our friends were dog sitting this adorable Chihuahua!  His name is Diego.

 The toasty campfire!

 Just before midnight!

 Happy New Year!!

The next day, more great friends joined us for some football!  We played football and watched some games before heading home!

Dog Park

Since Ben and I have been home all week, we decided to take Riley to the local dog park today.  She had a blast and came back super muddy!  Just wanted to share some pics of her at the park with new doggy friends.

 (Okay, this isn't from the dog park but I thought it was a really funny picture so I wanted to share)

Christmas Cheer

It's always so sad when Christmas is over...I spend months looking forward to it, decorate a month in advance, and its all over in 24 hours.  But it's a great 24 hours!  I was going to be good and take down the Christmas decorations today before school starts up again...I only got as far as the stockings before I decided they could stay up a little longer : D

So I'll blog instead!

Christmas was great in the Alvarez household.  We spent Christmas Eve day with my parents where we exchanged gifts and got some really great things (an ice cream maker, clothes, cable!, and other great gifts), then we went to my grandparents' house for Christmas Eve dinner and some more presents (more clothes, my TOMS shoes!, china (yay for me!), and other great gifts).  As always, it was a loud, chaotic time but it was great.  We opened some gifts, ate lots of yummy yummy food, took silly pictures, and frequently checked the NORAD Santa tracker to see what part of the world Old Saint Nick was in.  Finally, we headed back to my parents house to collect Riley and head home!

Christmas Day was just as wonderful.  Ben and I made a compromise to get up at 6:30am and I must say that Ben did well and got out of bed within five minutes of me waking him up!  (It's a compromise because I am used to a 5am wake up on Christmas Day while Ben is used to 10am).  We opened our presents while Riley chewed on a peanut butter rawhide and nosed around in her stocking.  Ben spoiled me so much!  My favorite present was a pair of seat warmers that he will install in my car!  I never knew such a thing existed!  I am so excited to have a toasty bum and back on the way to work now!  I think Ben's favorite gift was this cable that transforms his iPad into an amp for his guitar...pretty cool!

After presents, we made a big breakfast of french toast, flapjacks (not pancakes, something TOTALLY different...I can explain if you really want to know), and bacon.  Then we laid around being lazy and enjoying our Christmas goodies.  My parents and brother came up in the afternoon to hang out and see how our Christmas morning was.  We tried out the ice cream maker and it was awesome!  Yummy vanilla ice cream in 20 minutes!

That night, we went over to Ben's parents house for Christmas dinner.  His Aunt Judy flew in from Texas and it was great being able to see her and spend time with the family.  Christmas dinner was soooo good and again, we were spoiled by the Alvarezes!  (clothes, a heated throw blanket (LOVE IT!), snow tracks for our shoes (so I don't fall on the ice again!), and other fabulous gifts).

 Riley is modeling her new Redskins scarf

All in all, Ben and I had a wonderful Christmas filled with family, love, and great times!  We hope that you had a wonderful Christmas as well and remember the reason for the season!

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.


 ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.


 ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”


 ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,


 ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”


 ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
~Luke 2:1-15

Merry Christmas!

Look at how stinking cute my dog is!  She reminds me of Max from the Grinch!