finally, some progress!

For my 8th grade Senior Project, I'm learning how to oil paint (it is a very fun and very patience-requiring process). Over Winter Break, I finished my first painting, the one of Mount Hood. It turned out so great! Here's some pics:

 

Looks pretty close to the original, I'd say! :) I took this a way long time ago (actually it was just this last summer) on our family took a trip to Mount Hood all together for the first time.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

What a generic post name. Oh, well. I realized that I haven't done my Christmas or my New Year's post yet, so I'll start with the highlights of the holiday season . . . .

First off, was our HUGE early Christmas surprise: our new bunk-beds. Take a look at these pictures and I won't need to go on and on about their awesomeness.

Made out of logs. Woah.

On Christmas Eve we got to spend time learning about the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus Christ. Something I realized this past season is that Christmas should be celebrated all year long. In order to do that we need to not just focus on the baby Christ, but the adult Christ. It was the adult Christ who performed miracles, atoned for the sins of the world, and was ressurected. The adult Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas at all, and we should keep him in our hearts always.

Acting out the nativity while Dad read the story . . . Derek and I decided to switch places. I was the shepherd and he was the angel this year (he said he wanted to play the angel after he heard his name was Gabriel). Besides, I love all the little stuffed animal lambs . . . :)

Christmas morning, we also had to get ready for church and go at 8:30, so we bent the rules a little bit this year. Instead of starting opening presents at 6:30, we opened them at 5. As a family. Which means Mom and Dad as well. Sometimes I wonder if parenting is difficult.

All I wanted for Christmas was books, and all Lauren wanted was her little Bitty Twins. Nathan, Derek, and Kurt, however . . . I guess all they wanted for Christmas was YOU. I wish I could post a video, but Blogger is taking hours to upload it, and I have stuff to do today. In short, all three of them were rocking out to Mariah Carey on the way to Grandma's house. It was . . . quite a show.

After church our grandpa came over and helped us make a Norwegian food called bakkels. My mom and I both agreed these taste exactly like lembas bread would from Lord of the Rings. Take a look for yourself, we even wrapped them in leaves.

 

Second off, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Bring on 2012!!! *throws confetti* I've got a few goals for this year that I'm determined to keep (not that I haven't kept all my goals in past years *clears throat uncomfortably*). Well, may 2012 bring you wonderful memories, and may you forget all this end-of-the-world business that I can't stand to listen to. Happy New Year!

Kronk out.