Blur

The month of December was a complete blur, full of visits (Annie and Dana), my birthday, praying the rosary with church ladies, walking around the neighborhood with Mary and Joseph, and crazy weather!

Some pictures to explain:

{getting to school on my bday with Annie and getting hugs from all the kinders - 

it was 85 degrees this weekend which made the best bday EVER!}

{Birthday sign Colleen, Dana, and Paula made for me!  and all the kids signed}

{80s themed Birthday party at our casa}

{4 am singing in Spanish outside of the church... on no sleep after the 80s party}

{then we went to mass and ate menudo, cow stomach soup - sick}

{Christmas tree lighting in Santa Monica with other LA JVs}

{Dolores Mission all decorated for Christmas}

 {DMS Christmas program - 5th graders singing "Hot Chocolate" from the Polar Express}

 {all 30 of the 2nd graders in angel costumes!}

{8th graders}

Tucson Thanksgiving

This year, I spent Thanksgiving in Tuscon, AZ with one of my best friends and fellow JV, Jen (check her blog here!).  We celebrated Thanksgiving with two other groups of volunteers - the YAVers (Young Adult Volunteers - a Presbyterian organization) and the Mennonite volunteers who are in Tucson this year and have become close friends with the Tucson JVs.  Some pictures from the extended weekend:

 {Jen and Emily (L.A. JV) with prickly pear cactus lemonade - a Tucson specialty}

 {random large head in downtown Tucson}

{St. Augustine Cathedral - palm trees outside of church?  yes please!}

{at a Brian Lopez concert (Jen and her housemates are addicted to this guy).  

where else can you wear dresses and sandals at night at Thanksgiving?!  I love the Southwest}

{driving back from Tuscon to Phoenix to pick up some other JVs and then back to LA - only a 7 1/2 drive... with no traffic... with traffic?  I was in the car from 9am until 8:30 pm...}

{which is why Jen, Dave, Colleen and I decided to end the weekend with some Yogurtland!}