Day 2- Traditions

In my family we have some pretty sweet traditions. 

Probably the main one no one else ever has is that we open 1 present each every hour. Yes you heard that right. We open one present each by turn, clean up all the wrapping paper, and then set the timer for 60 min.

It is not as depressing as it sounds. Since we all still wake up wayy too early, the first couple hours go by quick because we all just go back to bed. Then throughout the day, as soon as the buzzer goes off we run upstairs for the next set of presents. It is fun this way because we all get to see everyone open their gifts and all that good stuff. I can only remember one Christmas where we didn't do it and it was way lame so since then we have stopped complaining about dad's crazy tradition and started appreciating it.

Around 4 or so we start to get antsy, which leads to the next tradition. When we are all ready to open the rest of our presents without waiting an hour in between by dad brings out books. My little brother then has to guess which book goes with which person. If he gets it right- we can open the rest of them. If he gets it wrong- we have to wait another hour.  It is a little better now that he is 14 and can actually read but when he was younger he would give me the backyard landscaping book and my dad the Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul (Or something along those lines).

Those are the main traditions I think of when I think about Christmas I am sure there are more, but for now I will leave it at that....

25 Days of Christmas

I am a little late starting out but I am wanting to do the 25 Days of Christmas blog list. (Except I'll only do 20 since I missed the first 5 days) Here is the list:

1. Your favorite Christmas carol
2. Christmas traditions
3. Tell the story of when you found out Santa isn't real
4. Favorite Christmas movie
5. Typical Christmas in the (Bainum) household when your family was younger
6. Typical Christmas in the (Bainum) household--all grown up
7. What reminds you most of Christmas
8. What you are looking forward to most this Christmas
9. Favorite Christmas book
10. Describe your stocking on Christmas morning
11. What the true meaning of Christmas is to you
12. What makes this Christmas different from the others
13. Explain the tradition of the Christmas tree and where it came from
14. Favorite Christmas decoration
15.  Describe your favorite ornament on the Christmas tree
16. What you dislike about Christmas (Scrooge for a day)
17. Red vs Green
18. Favorite Christmas meals/desserts
19. A Christmas service project you've done
20. Best part of Today (Christmas 2010)

foot print

So I have this assignment due on Tuesday but there is only one problem. The @&%$ website will not load. Please explain to me how I am supposed to do this assignment because I am getting ready to throw my computer against the wall except oh wait..its not my computer, its the website! I wish teachers would actually go to the website they are asking us to go to because then they would realize it doesn't work. I know what you are thinking...maybe it is just me right? well if is just me than I am magic because every computer I have tried, I think I am on my 5th one, has not worked.

Next reason why I am so pissed...my roommate is leaving (YAYAYAYAYAYAY) and I was planning on getting her big room but then my land lord called today and said he remembered my other roommate, (who I officially hate because of this now) had already laid claim to it. &$&%$ $%&@& &#&%^@ @%$&. I am seriously in the worst mood.

My whole day hasn't been like this though. I spent the afternoon after church singing along to Christmas music while doing the dishes and making cookies. unfortunately, I have apparently lost my touch because the cookies aren't that good (And if you have ever had my cookies you would know that that is saying something).

Maybe my day has sucked because last night sucked too. I went to bed exhausted but woke up every other hour for some reason. It was one of those nights that never seem to end. I thought it had to be at least 4am but when I looked it was only 230! And then in between waking up I was having the same dream and it was like I was in my own personal Hunger Games except we were on teams and it was like summer camp because we lived in dorm type things. (My room sucked in my dream too so I guess I am just doomed to have a shitty living arrangement forever)

So lets recap:
I maybe got 2 hours of sleep last night
My cookies turned out gross
My other roommate is moving into the bigger room, leaving me to live in a room that is no bigger than most people's closets
And the whole time I have been writing this blog post, THE WEBSITE STILL WILL NOT LOAD. Screw it, I will take the 5% deduction from my grade.


I need to snap out of this mood though because I will have crazy dreams tonight for sure if I dont.

Great news: I only have 2 more days of school left and then 2 finals and the semester from hell is over!!!! I am so relieved. It already feels like school is out though because I have finished all of my major things. (Except the finals but I hate tests and don't care what scores I get anymore so that keeps me pretty stress free).

This upcoming weekend is going to be so much fun so I will just look forward to that this week. Bart and I are going down to Salt Lake for a Laser Light Show, some Temple Square lights, and a Christmas play thingy. I love December.

High as a kite

I feel like I have Bipolar

and tonight I am on my high

I just busted out my 8 page paper in 45 min.... I crawled into bed, planning on going to sleep, when my mind wouldn't shut off. 


I randomly thought about a news story idea (which I got the OK for so get ready for that) and then I thought well hey, since I am clearly not going to sleep any time soon -I can just sense when my body doesn't plan on sleeping, regardless of how tired I am- I might as well start my interpersonal communications paper.


and 45 minutes later I am finished! Pretty sweet....

I am okay with all of this except for the fact that I really am tired so it is annoying I can't fall asleep. I did finally take a Simply Sleep pill though. Those things save me, and probably everyone around me because when I dont get sleep I am very mean, many many times. 


I am hoping once I have finished writing all of my thoughts down on this here blog I will be able to turn off the computer and sleep peacefully all night long (HA!)


Goodnight world. I love you.

Bye bye school

School is almost out! School is almost out! School is almost out! School is almost out! School is almost out! School is almost out! School is almost out! School is almost out!

I can't wait. All I want to do is play in the snow and listen to Christmas music and go shopping.

I would also love to be able to sleep in. I have almost forgotten how to sleep in but I am sure I will catch on quickly after a few days.

I have also started to read again and it is fabulous. I forgot how much I love to read and now that I have found a few good books I can't get enough! Like I said earlier, I officially know where I will be spending some of my money. 

Another reason why I am happy? My roommate is moving out which means....I get to move into her room which is three times the size of mine, I'll get my own bathroom AND get to park in the garage at all times. I can't wait... call me a picky/rude roommate but I can't wait to get rid of her... :)

Today I hate:

Slush. Slush that is in front of houses (sorority houses to be specific) that they won't shovel up. I know they walk through that slush every day in their high heels and tights and yet it continues to be slushy all over those sidewalks. Thank goodness, once again, for my rain boots! My feet have never been warmer...

Group projects. I just finished with one, which wasn't bad because I liked my group, but I started a new project with some other classmates and they are worthless and I don't plan on spending much time devoted to that project because it is for English class and lets be honest, I dominate in English so m grade can afford a bad assignment.

Going grocery shopping but not feeling like I have anything to eat....

Today I love:

Bart! He surprised me at the Statesman office and kept me company for a while...and he brought me some sour gummy worms so that is always a plus

The thought that SCHOOL IS ALMOST OUT! This semester has been ridiculously insane...it has almost kicked me in the butt but I think I handled it okay. I still have to write a 9 page paper but we won't think about that in this section...

Soup in the Skyroom. I ate there for the first time and it was delicious! Too bad I discovered it so late in the semester.

Music from high school, crazy dreams with people from high school, random memories from high school, the fact that I never have to deal with high school again...

I hate vacuums

I woke up at 6:49 a.m. this morning for a few reasons...

1. My roommate decided she needed to vacuum her bedroom which just happens to be located right next to mine. vacuum...at 6:30 in the morning...what is wrong with some people?

Actually I think I know what happened...my roommates are disgusting (surprise surprise) so yesterday when Bart and I got home after school getting canceled we just started cleaning. It wasn't planned or anything but one second I was doing the dishes and he was vacuuming and the next I am elbow deep in goop cleaning out my nasty shower that I have been avoiding because I am stubborn about cleaning up after people. The end result? A completely scrubbed bathroom, a vacuumed house, a clean bedroom and a deep cleaned kitchen. 

So anyway, I think this is maybe why she felt like she needed to vacuum? Because the whole house is probably cleaner than she has ever seen it so as soon as she walked into the black hole that is her bedroom she realized it was a little out of place.

2. My leg started cramping up randomly. It has happened before and it is some of the worst pain. My whole leg will get this really dull but strong throbbing pain all over and I just have to sit and wait it out except I can't because it hurts too much so I got up and walked around and that is how I ended up here...blogging about my feelings.

3. I woke up cold... no big deal except combine that with my crazy vacuuming roommate and my leg it couldn't be ignored. I have been trying to keep the heater off as much as possible so we didn't have to pay $479 in utilities every month and it seems to be working but it is officially winter and I think the heater will have to start coming on at night.

Speaking of Winter...the crazy snow storm that everyone was talking about was so weird. I have lived in Utah all my life and never has school been canceled because of snow. Sure maybe recess was canceled but school didn't get out early or anything. Yesterday however, Bart tells me the high schools are getting out at 1:30 and then I get to my group meeting and I am told that USU is getting shut down at 2! It seriously blew my mind. I'll be honest I am glad I didn't have to be up at campus when that thing hit (it sucked, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It was just another winter storm in my eyes). 

After a few hours Bart wanted a Pepsi, he said, "This is what an addict must feel like" referring to the fact that he was willing to go drive around this crazy snow storm just for a Pepsi. We went though, it was pretty non-eventful but then I realized this would be a perfect night to make sure I knew how to drive in the snow! (I have only had my car for one winter and last year it really didn't snow that much) So Bart and I piled in and our adventure began. 

We got to the first light and the guy in front of us just kept spinning his wheels and didn't go anywhere for the first 2 green lights. Finally, when it was clear this person had no idea how to drive in the snow, Bart got out and started pushing him. The only problem was this guy STILL didn't know how to drive so his wheels are spinning and Bart is pushing and eventually they end up facing the other road with oncoming traffic. The green light had switched at this point and there was a snow plow heading straight for them. Luckily drivers were paying attention or it could have gotten messy... Eventually the poor guy was able to drive off after Bart pushed him through the entire intersection. So here I was, officially nervous that I would be the next fool to get stuck, and my rescuer was across the street not able to help. Finally, after having about an 8 min. light, it turned green and I completely dominated. I didn't get stuck ONCE during our teaching lesson I was so proud. (Bart was starting to get frustrated by my driving though so we went home early, making sure I could handle everything in the morning.)

All in all it was a fun night. We made homemade hamburgers which always taste SO much better, and just hung out. I love winter! I realized I do need a new coat though, I have officially outgrown my one I have had since 9th grade...(is that a fat joke? I still haven't decided..) Luckily though Bart's mom gave me rain boots for my birthday so my feet were basically invincible. 

I am so excited for the next few days! I have to work this morning but once I am off around 3 we are heading down to see our families. I have to work Friday night too so it will kind of be a short visit. Compared to last year though when I didn't even get to eat Thanksgiving with my family I am pretty happy with my options this year.  I know I have already said this but I LOVE this time of year!