Cancun 25/365-30/365

On the Beach 27/365, originally uploaded by laurasjoquist.

We spent Christmas in Cancun Mexico this year. It was a short trip, just 5 days. The first day it rained, but we had perfect weather for the rest of the trip. Most of the days we just hung out on the beach at the hotel sipping fruity drinks and making sand castles.

One day we did go for a drive down the coast and inland to see the Coba Mayan ruins. I had read it was the only close ruins that we could climb to the top. A little scary, but very cool. We also stopped at Grand Cenote to do a some easy snorkeling. A cenote is a limestone sink hole, so it’s freshwater. Grand Cenote had some small fish and some bats.

We spent Christmas day snorkeling at Yal-Ku Lagoon in Akumal. There we saw a lot more fish. Jack did really well without any flotation device help. It was probably the highlight of our trip.

The rest of the pictures are on Flickr for days 25-30.

Air Cannon 24/365

Air Cannon 24/365, originally uploaded by laurasjoquist.

Today Jack had his first hockey tournament. His “team” was completely trounced during both games. But he himself did quite well and picked up a lot of new moves. It looks like he will be moving up to the world of league hockey when practice resumes in January.

His first game was at 9:30 am and his second was at 4:30 pm so we had some time to kill. We hung out with grandma and grandpa for a while for lunch and then wasted some time at the Rockford Discovery Center Museum. It was pretty empty for a Saturday, so we got to play with all the exhibits. Which is always nice.

Wii 23/365

Wii 23/365, originally uploaded by laurasjoquist.

We spent a nice night with John’s parents playing Wii and eating snacks on Friday. A little pre-tournament down time with the grandparents for Jack. Which was nice because the hockey tournament didn’t go that well for his team.

cardinal painting 22/365

DSC07640, originally uploaded by laurasjoquist.

Anytime I don’t take a photograph of anything interesting for the day, I’m just going to take a photo of something I made. Maybe cookies, maybe a painting. Most likely a scribble on a napkin I made while waiting on hold.

bread 21/365

bread 21/365, originally uploaded by laurasjoquist.

I used to think that making bread was the hardest thing to do in the kitchen. The directions are always so intense, like trying to replace a car engine or put together an Ikea dresser.

But baking bread, even really good bread, is surprisingly easy if you ignore all the extra advice and just put flour, yeast and a little salt and water together. Oh, and use a stand mixer. You’d have to be crazy to knead it by hand.

Hot Chocolate and Uno 20/365

Hot Chocolate and Uno 20/365, originally uploaded by laurasjoquist.

I try not to complain on the internet. Everyone has bad days, but not everyone has to know about them. But it was nice to come home and have some hot chocolate and a good game of Uno with the spouse and child.

thread 19/365

thread 19/365, originally uploaded by laurasjoquist.

I finished up my last recycled wool sweater christmas present today. Jack gets a hat with Jack Skelington on it. Lucky boy.

Hockey Game 18/365

Hockey Game 18/365, originally uploaded by laurasjoquist.

Maybe it’s because Minnesota shares a border with Canada, eh? Or maybe it’s because I grew up in the mullet haircut, big truck, hockey lovin’ town of Blaine. But I was totally stoked when Jack took to hockey like a duck to water. Or maybe that would be a duck on skates to a frozen pond.

Today he played his first hockey “game”. His team lost, but at least he scored a goal.

Snowy Day Drive 17/365

Snowy Day Drive 17/365, originally uploaded by laurasjoquist.

In a moment of temporary insanity John, Jack and I made a trip into the Chicago suburbs to go shopping. What were we thinking? It’s almost Christmas.

We went to check out used CC skis and hockey equipment at Play It Again Sports. Which was kind of silly because the skis wouldn’t have fit in the car we drove there anyway.

On the other hand they did still have a World Market there and I was able to pick up a new kitchen counter compost bin. I know it will come as a shock to everyone that I broke the last one.

photo number 16

Let me start off by saying I know it’s wrong to profess love for a material thing. Love is one of those strong words that should be reserved for important things like profound ideas, family members, exotic locales and the taste of really good imported chocolate.  But here it is, the truth is I love my Jaguar.  L.O.V.E-love it.

I don’t get to drive it much anymore since it takes John to work most days.  But every time I get in it, it still smells so good.  And the feel of the leather steering wheel?  Absolutely Divine.   Dagmar, because that’s what we named her, still purrs like a kitten, runs like a top and shifts like butter (of course the warranty hasn’t run out yet, so all that will probably change soon).

Since I was 16 and could drive, I had always wanted a Jaguar.  They are beautiful cars.  When we decided to buy this one, on clearance and quite a deal I might add, I said we’d be keeping it for a long, long time.  I meant it then and still do now.

Today’s errand was running Dag in for an oil change.  She deserves it.

Shifter 15/365