Happy Birthday Willie

Willie is 11 years old today. Holy cow! I can remember the day he was born (can you hear me wiping away my tears?) We had a great day today with bowling and parties and french fries, pizza and all the cousins at the par-ta.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLEMINA!

A few more pics from philly

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Temple, Penn, and downtown Philly

Today was our final full day in Philadelphia. We fly out tomorrow morning and Ross and I took the opportunity this morning to finally sleep in after days of being exhausted from getting up waaaay to early every day.

We spent the afternoon with a tour of Philadelphia and all it has to offer. It is a very interesting city and a very dirty one as well. It was very intersting to see so much decay and new growth in the same place. A building could be completely deteriorated, but have a beautiful mural painted on the side of it.

Craig took us on quite the tour. We saw Temple's dental school, where he spends almost every waking minute of every day for the next three and a half years as well as a police man walk into a Dunkin Dounuts right across the street. Ross thought that was pretty funny.

Downtown Philly is very pretty with some great old buildings. We drove from row houses and scary land to metropolitan land to china town and through little Italy. It is pretty impressive the amount of holiday decorations one can strap to the front stoop of a row house.

We ate steak sandwhiches at Lee's, close to the Penn campus and took a tour of the campus itself which is as beautiful as any ivy league school I've seen and I've seen a couple. Philly is a city full of very nice people, excellent food, and the saying that

Philly is the City of Brotherly Love really does fit.

We wraped up the evening and the trip with a jaunt over to Wilmington, Delaware to eat Italian food....very good Italian food. Who knew that such a place exsisted in Delaware.

Merry Christmas

After spending a long 6 hours at church doing our best to entertain 6 children from Liberia while they waited to meet with the bishop and for Craig to drive them home, we finally got around to opening gifts and eating.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

Not such a harsh winter at Valley Forge

Today we spent some time at Valley Forge. The historic site is only about 30 min. from Craig and Christina's home and I was happy to go. The visitor center was pretty cool and the 18 minute film strip-esque movie provided me with some interesting information and a great nap. When the movie was over it was time to tour the park. There was, like when Haley and I visited Gettysburg years ago, an auto tour. The auto tour was billed as about 20 minutes and three hours later we were finished exploring Valley Forge.

Before we could begin the tour, we had another adventure to experience first, finding sodas for those individuals who need Mt. Dew and Diet Coke iv's. The thing I learned about Pennsylvania is that nothing is easy to get to. In order to get the necessary soad's, we had to take a very windy road to get to a street where we were in the wrong lane, do some creative manuevers and have oh so much fun in the van that no one would admit was a van, that was so lovingly named the aardvark. Once we got the drinks and everyone started chowing down on the cookies we brought with us, things were looking up.

Valley Forge was very cool. It was fun to see the old cabins that the troops built during the winter of 1777-78. There were great monuments and statues at the site as well as a very beautiful church that was apparently used by Washington and the troops to pray and worship during the winter.

When the tour was over, we had all been fed and watered, we headed back towards Philly with a quick stop at the local IKEA...who can pass up an IKEA when one is close.

For dinner this evening, Ross and I fixed quite the feast. Beef Bourgoine, green beans with carmelized onions, sourdough bread and red potatoes with parsley. Dinner was fabulous and we all ate everything in site. Since it is Christmas Eve today, I wish everyone a happy Christmas and a safe evening.

Declaring Independence

Today we visited the birthplace of the United States; the liberty bell and Independence hall. I had been previously to these historic sites with Haley years before, but it was fun to go again and actually get into the buildings instead of getting there when everything was closed and seeing a man steal a horse carriage. To get close to these sites today, one must go through a circus of security and just my luck, I beeped through the metal detector. The poor soul who had to wand me didn't seem to find my joke about having a "magnetic personality" very amusing. I thought it was quite clever. While at the Liberty Bell, we not only took pictures but saw someone dumb enough to ignore all the DO NOT TOUCH signs and touch the bell for a photo opp. Watching the park ranger yell at the man who didn't understand a word she was saying was particularly entertaining.
After the Liberty Bell we continued to walk through security to get to Independence Hall. Ross and I were excited to see the building where the Declaration of Independence was written and signed but our tour guide, Ranger J. "Like I said, I'm a moron", was a mild deterrent to our enjoyment. It was almost as if he were at the signing and invented his own story and facts. Good thing Ross and I are the history nerds we are and could fill in the holes ourselves.

Independence Hall was very cool and provided some great photo oppourtunities as well. It was fun to play the tourist with my camera around my neck, but very strange to be playing the tourist at Christmas time.

Christmas in Philadelphia

This year, Ross and I jumped on an airplane and headed towards Philadelphia, Penn. to celebrate Christmas with the family. Our travels had us at the Philly airport at close to midnight on December 22/23 and we headed towards Craig and Christina's house for four days of food and holiday fun.

We were very grateful for their hospitality and happy to be guests in their very cute home in the suburbs of a big city. Our days were full of "tourism", trolley rides and lots of cheese steaks that were to die for.

Re: Here's a humidifier for you

...do you ever get nervous about anything? would you be nervous if you got on jeopardy?

sometimes I get nervous, but it is usually just for a second or two. I am excited to make flash cards...

when are you making flashcards?

Good question. Maybe on the plane. I need to slice the cards in half before I get started....
Want to help?


i don't know how involved i want to be in the whole flash card thing. I'll quiz you w/ existing flashcards but I'm not so sure I want to make them. people will stare at you if you make flashcards on the airplane. do you really want to be stared at?


like they don't stare already....
hey, look at the guy listening to headphones fidgeting and laughing out
loud and stuffing his face with peanuts...


true! hadn't thought of it that way.
i didn't realize that I was sitting next to the circus act.


a little window into my world of poopy pee.

Happy Holly-Daze

The family progressive party was saturday night. It was fun. Lots of good food and entertainment. I don't think that the Huber family knows anyone quite as funny as the Huber family. This year, like last, we cut the par-ta to four houses instead of eight. This makes for a much more relaxed evening and a lot less laying around on the floor at the last house.

The food, as always, was very good. Eddie had pork and rice bowls; Geneil had finger foods and BACON (I love bacon) complemented with divine sugar cookies; Cindy filled us up with Philly cheese steak and french dip sandwhiches along with tasty almond punch; and Johnny overloaded us at the very end with ham, turkey, and cheesecake. A delectable menu enjoyed by all.

Ross and Annie, being the party poopers that we are, left the party at 9:00. We'd already enjoyed 4 and 1/2 hours of fun, food, and Christmas carols and after working a full day and whining about it to all who would listen, I was ready to bail. Unfortunatelly, or fortunately, depending on how you want to look at it, we missed the dancing and excitement. Jackie was doing her Curves moves when we left, but I guess that was just getting the party started. Even Preston danced! Talk about exciting.

All I know is that it is a good thing we don't drink. The Huber clan is so high on life, I can hardly imagine how we would act if we were high on anything else.

(Pictures provided by Haley. Thanks, Haley.)

When in Logan with nothing to do....

Take pictures of the silk plant in your hotel room. What else?

A spastic says what?

WHAT? I just spent the last couple of days up in Logan for work. I did a couple of little classes for some very nice teachers. I taught them how to use their digital cameras and what to do with all those pictures once they are loaded on the computer. It was fun.

I stayed at a new Hampton Inn while staying in Logan and had quite a "trip" when I first arrived. You see, I parked the lovely work van, locked the doors and headed towards the reception area inside the hotel. Here's where things get interesting. Somehow, I failed to register that there was a slight curb from the parking lot to the hotel sidewalk. My failure to register an extra step saved me that step, and landed me flat on the concrete. Yes, I fell down and I fell hard.

Luckily, I was in Logan and there was no one around to laugh or make fun of me...that I was aware of. I managed to check in, get to my room and then took a moment to view the damage. A scrape on my knee deep enough to have the fabric of my pants embedded into my skin and have some skin stuck on the inside of my pants.

My shoes were ruined, my pants stained with a little blood and I have some great bruises developing to prove how hard I fell. Luckily, I didn't really hurt myself, or more importantly rip my pants or my coat. I love my coat. Ripping it would have been really sad.

Just to prove how goofy I am...yes, I had a nice trip and I will see you next fall.

A glimpse into the life of a jr. high math teacher

My sister teaches in a junior high. I hope everyday that she makes it out sane and alive. The alive part is going well, but we're not so sure about the sane. The following is an e-mail she sent me this morning. Names have been changed to protect the innocent.

AAAaaaaaaaahahhhhhhhhhh. Help!!!!!!!!!

I'm trapped in my classroom and I can't get out. They are all psycho today. Michael Booger has Bronchitis. He's not on any medication. he hasn't been to a doctor. He doesn't like them. His Nanna diagnosed his bronchitis. He is coughing hysterically and then he wheezes like he's coughing up a hairball. His coughts sound totally fake, too. It's so loud, I can't even hear what the people on the front row are saying. I finally gave up and gave them their assignment and sat down. There are about 4 of them wh are acutally doing it. The rest think we are having a free day because they are stupid. Plus, Michael Booger keeps aksing to go wash his hands after he coughs in them.

It's only 10, but I think I need a coke!

HQ

The Work Party and Gift Fight

Today was the first time I have ever had a work party. As a teacher in a high school, no one wanted to socialize outside of work time...maybe because most of us didn't even know each other's names. We did have a luncheon in the principal's office each year, but I would usually take food back to my classroom and sit and eat smashed croissant ham sandwhiches in solitude.

This year I don't work in a school and got to particpate in a real office party. There was no booze at this party, it was during the day time, so I wasn't lucky enough to see anyone embarass themselves with lampshades or impromptu make-out sessions like the movies have always told me happens at work parties. Instead we ate a good lunch, and I shared a chocolate mousse torte with Vickie.

We did have a small gift exchange in which I was able to wrangle and secure (even though a lot of people wanted it...shazbut!) a magic 8 ball. My mom has one on the island in her kitchen and, once i take mine home, it can sit in my kitchen too. You never know when you will need a magic 8 ball to make those ever important life decisions.

R-R-R-Rock me Amadeus

Last night was the night of the Winter Piano Recital for the students of Haley. The recital was good, but my particular favorite was Wille. He did a good job and I am not just saying that because he is my brother. Travis did a good job, too. Here are some pictures from the big event. Willie and Haley played a chopsticks duet, Haley played Silent Night and another christmas song I don't know the name of, and Willie played Joy to the World and Midnight Blues. His best number was chopsticks though...maybe he needs to practice a little bit more.

Yesterday, I had a funny experience with my little brother as well. I was at home to meet him at the end of the school day and wasn't feeling so hot. I think that I might have an ear infections (though I am doing much better today, incase you were concerned). Anywhoo, because young Will is an expert in acquiring and suffering from ear infections I thought that I would seek his advice on the matter. So, Willie sat me down on his bed, pulled out his head lamp and pushed my hair aside so that he could get a better look into my ear. After several minutes of examination and careful consideration, Willie pronounced, "Annie, I'm just not a doctor, there really isn't anything I can do for you." I really appreciated his honesty, and humor on that one.

How long did it take you to get home in the snow?

2 HOURS! 2 bloody (almost literally because I was biting all the hang nails off my fingers) hours on the freeway driving under 20 miles an hour the entire way home.

I love winter!

Jr. Jazz opener for the Wolverines

The wolverines won the first game, beating the Pirates 35 to 12. Good job Wolverines!

The Holiday Season is Officially Upon Us

Yeah, the holidays are here. To be completely honest and sarcastic, I can't wait! Over the weekend, I put up my tree (it's the little Charlie Brown tree to your left) and even wrapped a few presents for Alex in West Virginia, Willie and Ross. There is still so much more to do for the holidays, but I'll get it done in time.

We also had our first official Christmas party this weekend with the Petersen Clan. It was good times. We went to see the lights at Temple Square and freeze our butts off, then went back to Paul's for warm food...chili and soup. Everyone had a good time, I think, and the party was a success.

Nickel Creek and a Bottle of Rum

Last night Haley and I went to a great concert. We went to see one of our favorite bands, Nickel Creek . The show was in Park City at the Eccles Center for performing arts, aka PC High School.

We had a great time, Haley and I. I think the drunk woman next to Haley during the show and the woman throwing up in the bathroom right before we left had a great time too.

The NC played a lot of old and new material and even did a few covers, none of which was as good as their cover of Britney Spears Toxic. The BSF (Britney Spears Federline) could learn a lot from the NC. They finished the show with a roaring encore and an everybody on stage who wants to come Christmas Carol sing-in.

The show has sort of become a mild tradition between Haley and myself and it was great to go and see Nickel Creek again.

Be-a-utiful Clouds

Look, It's Mildred!

About 6 years ago, my family moved out of our little house in Magna to a bigger and nicer house in the WVC. My siblings and I were sad to be leaving such a good house and wanted to pay her tribute. The best way, we decided, was to give her a name that we could always remeber her by, thus we named our old house Mildred. Now, Mildred is a fairly uncommon name and it holds a special place in our hearts and we think lovingly of our dear, sweet, house, Mildred and all the good times we shared.

Well, yesterday while driving home from work, as I sat stopped at a light a van pulled up along side of me and then moved into the right hand turn lane. The van was for a company called, Mildred's flowers. This isn't going to mean anything to anyone but Haley and me, BUT, it was cool enough that I took a picture through my very dirty car window.

The best part of the Mildred's flowers van picture experience was the old man in the Ford tough truck next to me. He watched me take a picture and gave me dirty looks as I put my camera away.