Drawing II Homework

This was my first art homework. I think it's done, but we'll see what my teacher says on Monday. It is kind of a self-portrait done in pastels. Not the greatest photo, but you get the idea anyway. It was so much fun!

Christmas and More

Aurora came to visit us this Christmas. She's finally old enough to fly on a plane by herself, so for the first time we were able to have her stay with us in our own house-- which was absolutely wonderful, I thought.

We didn't have a lot of money to spend this year, so we spent a lot of time at the house. Aurora and I did a alot of fun little projects together-- we made beaded necklaces, paintings, and play-dough ornaments for the tree. She seemed to enjoy it a lot, and was always trying to get me to take her back to the "art room" to make some more stuff.

She and I got along very well this year. In the past, our relationship was a bit more complicated. This year, there was none of that. She seemed happy to be with us and happy to accept me as her "fun step mom", which is how I always hoped she would see me. I really liked having her here, and I hope we can get her back for a bit this summer.

This Christmas we also got to go visit Curtis's dad and his Aunt Jackie. They were very nice; they bought us all gifts, and Curtis's dad cooked a Christmas dinner, with an absolutely delicious ham.

Curtis's brother and sister in law were supposed to come as well, but their little baby boy was born premature and had to spend christmas in the hospital, so of course they stayed at home to be with him. (He is doing just fine from what I last heard.)

Now for the new year. I have high hopes for 2011, I think. When we first moved here, I thought I would not be able to go to school immediately because I thought I would not qualify for in-state tuition rates. Then I found out that the local university here participated in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which is where the VA and the school split the extra tuition costs to help out of state students using the GI Bill. While I was in the process of applying for the program, the school approved me for resident tuition rates after all.

So, put simply, I can go to school. I'm starting in just a few days, and I will be studying for a Bachelors Degree in fine arts, with a concentration in graphic design. I have a drawing class this semester, and had to buy all these cool pastel sets, which are very fun to look at, but sort of have me terrified, because I have never been all that good at pastels. Curtis says I will get better, and that's the whole point of going to school, and hopefully he's right.

But yeah, so here I am, happily married, having spent a great Christmas with Curtis's side of the family, looking foward to art school, my tuition fully paid for, and I'm thinking-- could life get any better?

Well yes of course it could-- I could live closer to my family in PA, Curtis and I could have more money and I could make some friends, and maybe we could buy a house, have a baby or at least get a dog. All in good time though, for now, my New Years resolution is to live more in the present, and I have to say, the present is looking pretty darn good.