It's A Charmed Life.

A life full of romance.

2012-02-12T21:39:00.000-08:00

I've decided February is going to be hermit month. I really paid attention this week. I went out to dinner or dessert/tea with friends and family 5 times this week. Don't get me wrong...I LOVE doing those things. They make me oh so happy. Unfortunately my wallet is feeling a little light and my butt is feeling a little heavy. I liken it to this, just because you want a big piece of chocolate cake every day doesn't mean you should have it. And let's be honest, it's more special when it's not an every day thing. So I've decided to take it easy for the rest of the month. I really need to start saving money for when I go to Paris in the spring. I kicked off hermit month this weekend by barely leaving the house. I did a little cleaning but mostly I just relaxed and watched t.v., spent a lot of time on Pinterest and catching up on my favorite blogs. The only time I left the house was to do a little grocery shopping for me and Jonny's romantic St. Valentines feast coming up on Tuesday. I plan to make it a yearly tradition. The scene is set. I'm going to start preparing tomorrow so everything will be perfect for February 14. Even if it isn't perfect, it will be. I'll be with Jonny

Valentines comes to the kitchen.

Hearts, flowers and pink. What's not to love about Valentines day?

My Valentines banner. It says Be My Valenline....it was made in China and in their defense I couldn't spell Be My Valentine in Chinese, so we'll call it square.

A night of terror. And pee. And poop.

2012-02-08T22:42:00.000-08:00

Lucy and Amelia, in what they call "Pillow Paradise."

The night started out innocently enough. A little sushi. A little girl talk. A lot of fun. It wasn't too long, though, until we got a frantic call from Natasha's girls. Something about a flood. A clogged toilet. Morgan making an emergency trip to Rite Aid. I could hear the baby crying on the other end of the phone and the poor girls were trying to comfort her alone. I'd like to say that we rushed home but...we didn't. Amanda was too cheap to go with us, and thank goodness, because she came to the rescue. Tending the girls and Benny so Morgan could deal with the fiasco until we came home. I interviewed "the girls" when we got back. According to them, this is what went down.

Lucy: Well earlier today we were eating chocolate covered pomegranates. (I'm guessing she meant seeds.) And I didn't want all the ones I had so.............are you going to show this to my mom?
Me: Nah.
Lucy: Okay well I took more than I wanted to eat so I flushed 4 of them down the toilet.
Amelia: IT WAS FIVE!
Lucy: No it was just four!! My mom went in to use the bathroom and she said it wouldn't flush.
Amelia: After you guys left we heard this drip, drop, drip, drop coming from the basement. Dad went to the basement and there was water coming from the ceiling.
Lucy: Actually that was pee.
Amelia: Ya, it was. Pee AND poop! Dad took the kitty litter box and dumped it on the ground so he could put it under the leak. There was cat poop everywhere. That's when we called you guys and Amanda came over. She was stressed.
Lucy: Dad came back from Rite Aid and he put the thing down the toilet. When he pulled it out there was toilet paper with poop on it. We weren't supposed to use the sink or anything and Amanda put soap on her hands and started to use the water in the sink. I was like, you probably shouldn't be doing that......
Me: You should have just told her to rinse them off in the toilet.
Lucy and Amelia in unison:GRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Lucy: You don't understand. The water in the toilet was all poopy and brown!!!
Me. Ohhhhhhhhhhh. I see. If you had to describe what happened tonight in a word or a sentence or two what would it be.
Lucy: My dad put his hand in the toilet. He pulled the thing out and there was tissue and poop on it. (I think this image is haunting Lucy.)
Ameila: Clogged toilets and poop are disgusting.

The plumber, who may as well have been superman, tries to get to the bottom of all this pee and poop.

Fussing

2012-02-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

It feels like I am always fussing these days. Fussing over Jonny, Cody (big time), my chores, my friends. I told myself last night that I was going to have a quiet Tuesday evening. No cleaning. Dinner at home. Early bedtime. It just feels like I'm always going. Always tired. I've been stuffing the weekends so full. Fun with friends and Jonny. Eating out with friends and Jonny. Keeping the house up. I feel like I need a weekend from the weekend. Well, my quiet Tuesday went really well. I caught up on "Tori and Dean Home Sweet Hollywood" my favorite show. Snuggled with Jonny. Snuggled with Cody. I do have to confess that I vacuumed, but our place is tiny. It took like 2 seconds. I decided to have a hermit weekend too. So if you need me I'll be here. In my little love nest. Snuggling with a dog, or a husband. Relaxing. Speaking of the weekend. I had a fun one!

Oh, I baked

Watched an adorable little girl do yoga. This is tree pose.

A little refreshment.

Did a little Valentines day crafting.

Sweet Benny got blessed by her papa. She cried the whole time. We cried because it was a sweet blessing. We giggled because she screamed.

I snuck this pic. Inappropriate? Probably.

Looking for a good read?

2012-02-01T22:53:00.000-08:00

Finished a really good book today.

Seriously really good. A mother wrote it about her two oldest daughters. Beautiful, seriously I looked them up online, talented and from the way their mom described them sweethearts....until things go south big time. They end up running away from home. Away, away. Not to a friends house down the block. They hop trains and travel to all these different states. All while barely being old enough for high school. Put it on your "to read" list now.

Also the way I discovered this gem was I heard this family's story on my beloved "This American Life." Which is a program on National Public Radio. Hopefully this link works. You should be able to listen to it here:

The Weekend Roundup.

2012-01-31T00:09:00.000-08:00

This little girl is my heart. I love her so much.

This weekend was a doozy! I don't think we could have fit more in!! We kicked things off by watching P-Love cheer at the Taylorsville High basketball game. It was so adorable. It made me miss high school : (

P-Love with Keshi, Jaycee and Tyler. Cute little munchkins.

I NEED to have a little girl of my own. I just don't feel like my life would be complete without this......

Presley has become camera shy. It breaks my heart because she's such a little beauty.

After the game we headed to The Westerner for Kristal's birthday bash. TOO FUN!

Me and Drew about two seconds after he and his cute wife told me their having A BOY!!!

The music selection that night SUCKED. I was really annoyed!

Kristal turns a year older gracefully; ) She's more beautiful than ever. Seriously love this pic.

Jonny, oh he just makes my heart melt. He's just the best. My heart feels like it will burst with love for him sometimes.

The boys left for Wendover on Saturday night and when they returned on Sunday afternoon they crashed in my living room. I had boys draped everywhere. I really don't mind. I kind of like it. Maybe it's because I know it makes Jonny happy. Which makes me happy too. P.S. How funny is this picture!!?

Last but not least. Made a cake for my Kristal's actual birthday, which is today. Couldn't love her any more.

Makin Plans.

2012-01-25T22:27:00.000-08:00

I'm already making plans for a romantic Valentines Day Celebration for me and Jonny.

Sweet Relief.

2012-01-24T19:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got pretty down about Cody's progress since his surgery. I told Amanda I thought maybe the surgery was a mistake, he's seemed so sluggish and slow. We had to pull him on his walks, usually he pulls us! We would put food in his bowl and he would just stare at it and slowly pick at it throughout the day. He'd lost the little puppy quality that he's held onto for all these years. Jonny and I just told each other last night that we just need to give him more time to recover...he would be his old self again soon.

This morning we did the normal routine. I put Cody's vitamins and medicine in his food bowl, patted his little head and plunked breakfast down on his mat. He just stared at it. I let out a long worried sigh. Let him outside to do his business.When he came back into the house he went to a dimly lit corner of the living room and was sniffing at this dark pile of something. I SHRIEKED! Cody looked at me like I was nuts and meandered into the kitchen. It took me some time to get the courage to go over to investigate what it was. My first thought, it's his intestines. They have come out of his body and are on my living room floor! Second thought, really bad diarrhea?? Nope. It was an ace bandage. An entire ace bandage surrounded by doggy vomit. **Sorry for the graphic nature of my description.** I ran to the laundry room where I had just laundered his bandages. All were accounted for. Best I can figure, he ate that bandage while he was still living with my mom and recovering from his surgery. You could tell his body had tried to digest it. I can't imagine how it didn't kill him. How he was still able to eat, albeit less enthusiastically, and still go to the bathroom. When I came home from work this evening he jumped up to greet me. He drooled while I prepared his dinner and gobbled it up. He even tried to fight another dog on his walk!! I never thought I'd be so happy about that kind of behavior. Jonny and I both are practically giddy! There's this hearty quality about Cody that I've always loved. He's back. Thank God.

Our Magical Trip to Disney

2012-01-24T00:22:00.000-08:00

Jonny and I decided on a rather last minute trip to Disneyland this weekend. It was so nice to get away and spend time with Jonny. I cried, oh, just about 8 times while reminiscing about the week we got engaged. It was very romantic.

Mickey and Minnie welcome us to the Disneyland hotel. We will never stay at another hotel again. WE LOVED IT.

There are two schools of thought regarding adults in Minnie/Mickey ears. First one, you look like an overgrown child and a moron. Second, you look awesome, I love how into Disney you get. I obviously subscribe to the second school of thought, and yet I understand the first. I scared myself several times while walking past mirrors and other shiny surfaces.

Mickey Ferris Wheel.

Not the best pic. but that's a service dog in Micky ears. Too cute!!

We try not to smile on the teacups.

I always crack first. It's harder than you think!

Even the elevators in Disneyland are magical! They pay attention to even the smallest detail.

This was our headboard with the light on, turn the light off and...........

.......This is what you got, while the lamp by the bed played "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes" It's these little things, and a bunch of big things, that make it my very very favorite place on earth.

The Lonely Doll.

2012-01-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

Edith and little Bear.

When I was little I wanted gold hoop earrings and bangs so i could look just like Edith.

When I was just a tiny lil' thing my mom had a book that she kept from her childhood called, "The Lonely Doll." I loved it so much. I remember spending hours cozy on the couch looking at the pictures. It always felt like a treat because my mom kept it on the top shelf of her closet so I had to ask her permission to get it down so I could look at it. I thought the doll, Edith, was so pretty. I remember wishing I looked just like her. I was listening to the radio the other day and heard about a book that came out years ago about the author, Dare Wright. I'm dying to get my hands on it. Apparently she had a fascinating life. She was separated at birth from her brother whom she later met and fell in love with. She looked just like Edith the doll and spent most of her time with her mom who liked to dress her up like a princess and take her picture, among other things! I really can't wait. And I can't wait for they day when I have a little girl so I can read her every single "Lonely Doll" book I can get my hands on.

Road Trip!

2012-01-17T23:35:00.000-08:00

I'm totally obsessed with this motel I stumbled across. It's called "The Shady Dell" and it's nestled in the heart of historic Bisbee, Arizona. It's made up of vintage 1950's trailers that have been restored, each with a different theme. Their tag line is, "Experience the 1950's in Full Technicolor." Are they marketing directly to me?? I HAVE to go! Only drawback; Bisbee is a 14 hour drive from Salt Lake City. Can I justify that?

Peggy's Diner. Could you just die. Look at the picket fence.

Oh, I can just see me and Jonny sipping some mint tea and chatting for hours at that kitschy little table!

Today was pretty good. They opened a Kathmandu A BLOCK from my house. Really delish Indian food. I sang "That's All I Ask Of You" at the top of my lungs on the way home from work and cried the whole time thinking of Jonny. Two things that were kind of a downer; I got locked in the bathroom at work. It was funny until it wasn't. I got really bad heartburn. If that ever happens to you drink a tall glass of warm water with a tablespoon of baking soda dissolved in it. Works fast and works well!

Scenes From A Lovely Weekend.....

2012-01-16T21:14:00.000-08:00

On Saturday Jonny had a smudge of dirt on his car window that looked just like a seahorse. It was uncanny! I tried so hard to take a picture but it was so tiny I couldn't. I think of it an omen that I should get a seahorse as a pet. As soon as I have a spare grand or two lying around, I will! I didn't think seahorses were real until I was 10. I thought they were the unicorns of the sea, they still seem so otherworldly and magical to me.
Besides gazing at the seahorse smudge on Jonny's window all weekend we...................................

Ate some delicious takeout from Pat's Barbeque. Go. There. YUM!!

Didn't tip the art students that work there. I might as well just throw some pot in there. Am I right, or am I right?

Coveted this............

And this.

And especially this!

Made a delish coconut cake as a goodbye to my mommy. She loves coconut.

Bought some pretty adorable porcelain Russian Nesting Dolls!

Who's house am I at??

2012-01-12T21:50:00.000-08:00

Huge clue. What language is this?

Love this....it came from a different house that happens to be pink!

I love a colorful home.

Exposed Brick

Scary Exorcist Barbie!

A baby's blessing gown, it came all the way from France.

Sweet napping babe.

LOVE IT!

Antique Grandfather Clock.

P.S. The home belongs to Morgan and Natasha Galbraith!

Things Making Me Happy Today....

2012-01-12T00:14:00.000-08:00

My sunny, cozy kitchen.

Filling my cookie jar with freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

Cody, home where he belongs......

One Last Holdiay Recap.

2012-01-10T22:43:00.000-08:00

I really tried to make myself like New Years Eve this year. It kind of worked. It's still not my favorite, but I have fun with my family no matter what!

We had a New Years Eve themed feast.

Martenellis Sparkling Cider for everyone! My Grandma let us use the fancy china and silver! So pretty.

I really love balloons.

We each made a New Years party hat.

My hat, I was very proud.

Everyone kept watching "Jaws" instead of sticking to the party agenda.

Taylor cuttin a rug.

We wrote our troubles and worries from 2011 on pieces of paper, put them in balloons, and let them go at midnight. It felt pretty good.

After Midnight we had dessert and CRASHED. We're all getting old.

Till Next Year..........

2012-01-09T19:22:00.000-08:00

My traditional tree.

The White Tree.

This year was honestly the best Christmas yet. I decided to go all out! I have to admit I'm STILL going through Christmas withdrawal. I love the safe toasty feeling Christmas gives me. Already can't wait till next year. Here are a few pictures of our love nest all decked our for Christmas and some pictures of our cozy Christmas morning.

Vintage Ornaments! I was obsessed !

Little cathedral...an Etsy find.

More vintage ornaments, all from Etsy.

Baking Night.

Amanda in my Grandma's Christmas apron.

Visions of Tiffanys danced in her head.

My Christmas stocking that my Grandma made me when I was a baby.

Christmas Morning.

Scones. So delicious.

Perfume

My Antrhopologie Quilt! YAY!

From my daddy : )

Folks, meet the newest member of the Gordon Family.

2012-01-07T01:07:00.000-08:00

Buckle Up Little Guy!

YUM! 5 Guys after the BYU Hockey game.

I've been wanting this little guy forever so today when my sister and I stopped in to Tai Pan I snatched him up!

And his final spot. I think this was a match made in heaven!

A Teeny Teepee.

2012-01-05T22:51:00.000-08:00

Ain't she a beaut??

I made Eponine a teeny teepee and she loves it! She loves it so much we had to keep her in our bedroom while we finished it up because she kept trying to get in it...no joke!!

We could probably be doing something better with our time.....

2012-01-04T22:56:00.000-08:00

Who knew Jonny could sew.

Jonny and I worked hard all night on this little project for my cat Eponine. It's not finished just yet. Hopefully she'll make her debut tomorrow.

My Little Street Urchin.

2012-01-03T21:16:00.000-08:00

Aww gee mom!

Poor Eponine. When Cody comes back to our lil' love nest next week she's not going to be an only child anymore. I'm working on a treat that will make her feel special. On a different note my new years resolution is to blog more. We'll see. I like readin em a whole lot more than writin em. It is fun to go back and read them but at the same time I get so sick of myself! I need something else to blog about....like a baby!

You know what you have to do....

2011-04-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

My family should know by now what they have to do when I pick them up at the airport!! It's kind of like paying the toll.

Coke Stands at the Galbraiths

2011-04-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Pretty funny!

Thank You For Being A Friend............

2011-02-24T19:24:00.000-08:00

L*O*V*E These girls!

Forever Family

2011-02-17T20:44:00.000-08:00

I am 18 years old. The Oregon sun is warm but mild and I'm content. I'm carrying my cousin Nick. He's so tiny. I've been told I need to brush all the sand off of him before he can get into my grandpa's car. I lift him onto the gate of the car. While I brush the sand off his tiny little arms and legs he's saying funny things in his squeaky little voice and we're laughing. Something tugs on my heart that I've never in my 18 years felt before. Someday I want to be a mom. I have NEVER felt that way before this moment. It stands out so clear in my mind as one of those golden summer moments. Just sweet and simple, purely about the joy of family.

A few years later Nick's little brother Josh is born. He is a self proclaimed "mini-Nick." He's the first baby I've seen that tiny since my little sister was born when I was 9. I hold back tears the whole time I'm meeting him. The presence of our Heavenly Father is so unbelievably strong with him. It's a sacred moment I won't ever forget.

I love my little cousins. No matter how old they get they will always be little to me and when they move onto new adventures this weekend they will leave a little hole in my heart.

I'll miss Tyler. He's the sweetest of all the brothers. Born with a sweet smile and a mild nature that he still has to this day. He was such a happy baby. He's going to be a Senior in High School next year and I'm proud of him....I'm really proud of him. I'll miss Ethan. When he thinks Nick and Tyler aren't looking, he's the BEST big brother to Josh, sweet and attentive. Patient and helpful.

I just can't keep my fingers crossed enough for these precious guys. The little seaside town they're heading to will NEVER be the same again...mostly in a good way!!

Jonny's Birthday

2011-01-23T13:15:00.000-08:00

Jonny turned 30 yesterday. His biggest birthday request; to go to Wendover with his buddies! I'm sure they had fun, I'm not even going to ask and even if I did I wouldn't get the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and that's just fine with me. Jonny works hard, he is incredibly patient with me, my sister, his sister, my dog... most of all my cat! That man deserves some fun! Anyway, while he was in Wendover I decorated for his birthday and made him a cake. I have a limited budget, due to our impending wedding, but it still looked festive. The cake was kind of a disaster but you live and learn and I guess it's the first birthday cake I've ever made....next year will be better and it tastes good and that's really all Jonny cares about anyway!

New Years Feast

2011-01-01T10:44:00.000-08:00

I really hate New Years, which is weird because I'm a girl who loves her holidays. This year to soothe the yucks I decided to make my family a New Years Feast. We had pumpkin curry soup, Salmon marinated in soy sauce and brown sugar, brie cheese with raspberry sauce wrapped in pastry, and a delicious green salad with the best veggies that can be found in Saudi! My dad even let me buy some fresh flowers from the commissary. I chose pink and white lilys and they smelled like heaven. It turned out really fun and my Uncle Greg even came and brought this really yummy ice cream. I'd never tried it before but it was a mixture of vanilla, chocolate, strawberries, caramel and peanut butter! YUM!

The Ugly Cry

2010-12-15T01:26:00.000-08:00

Today I tried on my last and very favorite wedding dress. Okay, I know I said earlier that I thought I'd found "the dress" but I really did find it this time. I put it on and I just knew. It was SO ME! I still had a dressing room full of dresses left so I tried them on too. I was trying on all my dresses and my friend Kristal reminded me that I needed a veil. Now, I don't know what it is about veils that gets me so emotional but when I saw my friend Erica in her wedding dress for the first time and I was just fine but when the lady put her veil on HERE CAME THE WATERWORKS! It was pretty much the same thing today. At first I thought it was a controllable cry and nobody would notice but it got so bad the nice lady helping me had to get me a tissue! MY OH MY! It was a great day! Love to everyone..I'm just bursting with it!

Support Sluts

2010-12-13T21:21:00.000-08:00

I saw this magnetized sticker on the back of a truck that often parks in front of our house. I was "in a funny mood" the other night and put it on my neighbors Morgan and Natasha's car. It somehow made it's way back to my car and I ended up spreading the love by putting on my friend Andrew's car. Don't worry he's paying it forward by putting it on someones car at work!!! Happy Holidays everyone and don't forget to support sluts!!!!

Coolest Thing Ever

2010-11-09T04:52:00.000-08:00

Last summer while going through some old clothes in the laundry room of Jonny's house I found some dresses that looked to me like antique flapper dresses from the 20's. Jonny told me that he thought his aunts probably sewed them but I was convinced that they were the real deal. WELL, today I was in the basement doing nothing special and an old hat box caught my eye. Three hours later I was covered in dust but knee deep in treasures! Here's the best part, in an old trunk I found a stack of black and white pictures. I brought them upstairs to look at them in the light and guess what, I found a picture of a young women wearing the exact dress I found last summer. I was so excited my hands were shaking! How amazing is that??! More on other treasures I found later!!

Things I'm Thinking Lately.........

2010-11-07T05:10:00.000-08:00

Lemons make me happy. I'm like Martha Stewart that way I guess. Unfortunatly the similarities end there. I just love that they're yellow and smell so good and make your water taste really good. A lemon slice reminds me of a little ray of sunshine. People always tell me, "You know, drinking water in lemons will eat the enamel off your teeth!" Thanks for the info. I don't care.

I love fresh ground pepper. Love the smell, the taste and the word pepper! Sounds peppy!

I wish we had a Trader Joe's in Salt Lake City!

I just saw "Julie and Julia" and it was SO CHARMING! I wanted to buy the book and made my way over to Amazon where I read readers reviews on the book, the news was not good. Apparently she talks about wanting to beat her husband with sharp rocks. I don't know...is that normal? I'm hoping no! She bashes Republicans, swears constantly and is a horrific housekeeper...something about maggots growing in her kitchen and cat hair sticking to everything. THAT IS BEYOND GROSS. Anyway almost everyone hated the book and said the real Julie is whiny and self indulgent (can't stand whiny!) So glad I didn't buy it. I wouldn't want anything to taint my new favorite movie.

Some other good movies that I've seen lately are as follows,
"The Secret Life of Bees"
Really sweet movie. I've been thinking about keeping bees lately and this movie made up my mind for me! After I get married I'm definatly going to try it.

"Orphan"
Okay I know this movie came out a long time ago but I just recently saw it and it was suspensful and creepy and I loved it.I love Peter Sarsgaard. He's sexy. I try to ignore the fact that he's married to Maggie Ghyllenhall(sp?.....not her biggest fan.

"Far and Away"
Tell me you remember this movie! Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. It's funny, touching, romantic and charming. Makes me want to go to Ireland. Definately worth pulling out the VCR and throwing in your old VHS copy of this movie!

"Parenthood"
The first time I saw this movie I was probably 9 and I didn't understand half of it and found the other half a little disturbing, I was beyond sheltered, but I recently watched it again and it's SO FUNNY. SO REAL.

I am ACHING to decorate our place but I'm waiting until after the wedding. Did you know we have maple floors under our carpet?? While we're on the subject Jonny and I clean the carpets all the time and they're still FILTHY. It's so frustrating. How can your home look clean and well taken care of if your carpet looks like something out of 101 dalmations? IT CAN'T. Anyway Jonny's Aunt Jenae thinks I can re-finish the floors myself and she'll show me how. I don't care how hard it is I'm doing it!!

If we ever live in a house where the exterior needs to be painted again we are hiring a professional. It was so much work and we have to wait until next spring to finish it. I hate not finishing things. Like no joke as I type about this my face is turning red in frustration.

Didn't I write earlier that I hate whiny. I do hate it, especially when I do it!

I turn 28 today. Weird. It should be an AMAZING year! It's the year I'm going to marry the most amazing person I've ever met!

OMG Jonny Hit Me!

2010-10-15T02:53:00.000-07:00

Once I came home from ballet to find my brother and sister with fake black eyes my mom put on them with makeup. Apparently they had a photo shoot where they pretended that my mom was crazy and abusive. When we got back the pictures they were HI*LARIOUS! That was when my dad was commuting every weekend from his job in Ohio and all disipline kind of went out the window. Every night was like a party (Mormon style of course but still!) I remember blasting WHO LET THE DOGS OUT and dancing around with our dog Cody....we're a strange family. So anyway the other night Jonny was working late and I was bored so I applied my own fake black eye and when he came home from work I pretended to be unconcious on the floor. I ruined it by laughing. I think I might be going a little crazy! I'm soooo bored. I did do a little Halloween decorating though...I LOVE the way the bats look and no Halloween is complete without mini pumpkins. I learned from my cute little neighbor Lucy that they're called sugar pumpkins and they are the kind of pumpkins you make pumpkin pie with! I didn't know that!

My Little Snuggle Bunny

2010-09-24T22:09:00.000-07:00

I have the worlds most annoying cat. She sits outside my door at night and puts her meow on automatic. MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW....she'll do it for hours. She doesn't understand personal space and usually tries to sleep on my neck but today was a rather trying day and she snuggled up to me and put her little head on my chest like she knew just what she needed. I love you Eponine thanks for being my little snuggle bunny all day it soothed my blues and kindled my heart.(That's from A Little Princess)
XOXO
-Brooke

So Stinkin Cute!

2010-09-13T23:31:00.000-07:00

Do you know what show Jonny loves? Dharma and Greg. He gets all excited to watch it and just thinks it's hilarious. Between laughing he says things like, "It's like a clash!" and "How can you not think this is funny!" And most often, "Don't judge me babe!" He's so cute ahhhhh!!! Don't tell his friend Adam about this little guilty pleasure of his! Apparently Adam gives him a pretty hard time about his passion for such a girlie show!

Britney Spears Oops I Did It Again/Satisfaction Live MTV VMA 2000

2010-09-08T05:31:00.000-07:00

Today whilst watching my favorite show, "Teen Mom" I saw that the Video Music Awards are coming up. I don't know half the people preforming anymore (nor do I care to) but the VMA'S always take me back to a simpler time and AlWAYS makes me think of my beloved Britney. Ya, you heard me right, and how can you think of the VMA'S and NOT think about Britney Spears. Remember her performance in that sparkly nude number? SO AWESOME.

It's weird, at the height of her popularity I had rejected (or was rejected haha) by most aspects of teen life. I didn't listen to popular music, didn't want to get my drivers licence and when I graduated high school I had never even seen an episode of "Friends." But I just always loved Britney. Her album was the first (non-classical ballet) album I ever bought. I WAS SIXTEEN. I used to get up two hours before school to do my hair like her. You know like crimped in small sections and straight in some. Once while visiting my dad in Ohio I became hysterical over a life size cut-out of Britney in the McDonald's. I think I embarrassed him by screaming, TAKE BY PICTURE NEXT TO BRITNEY DAD, TAKE MY PICTURE NEXT TO BRITNEY! Everyone in the McDonald's stared. One night in high school I went to go see "Charlies Angels" and I had to crawl over some gay guy to get to my seat and he said, "Well excuse me, little Ms. Britney Spears" I went ballistic and then I beamed through the entire movie. I used to run home from ballet on Friday nights and blast her music while I got ready for football and basketball games. Those memories, as cheesy as it may sound, still warm my heart.

To this day I get happy when I listen to her music. When her song "3" came out last fall I danced around to it eating pumpkin seeds and drinking diet coke. I probably blasted it over my speakers about 10 times...that's what happens when your fiance works long hours. Anyway I'll always love Brit. MMMMMM.............maybe she'll do a surprise performance at the VMA'S this year! I just hope it's like an older one...not like the one she did a few years ago. That was just heartbreaking/embarrassing for everyone.....she looked like crap, I never thought I'd see the day when I looked better than Britney.

Eponinie Gets Spayed

2010-09-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

Today Eponine is getting fixed I expected a lot more drama from her but besides wanting breakfast or a drink of water she was pretty good. People keep saying that getting her spayed will make her less annoying but....I doubt it. That's just her personality. I think it's cute that when you're sleeping she has to sleep on your neck with her face touching your face. Or that she'll beg you to pet her and then when you do she attacks your hand. You have to love your pets for who they are. It has to be the same when you have kids. If I have a child and his/her personality sucks, I'll still love em!

Thoughts and fun with photobucket!

2010-09-02T03:33:00.001-07:00

I try to always be happy and in a good mood no matter what but today was just one of those days I couldn't get there. I'm not complaining about my life because it really is wonderful and I know people who are actually dealing with some tough stuff so it makes me feel stupid to complain, but by the time Jonny got home from work I was a puddle of tears on the couch. He can always make me feel better even if I've been a NIGHTMARE for over a week. Don't know what I'd do without him.................

We had a nice night talking and relaxing..oh and Drew dropped by which is always fun! I like to sit between Jonny and Drew on the front porch cause they're so funny to listen to. They're so mean to eachother, if I was that mean to one of my friends they would hate me!

Rise and Shine

2010-08-24T20:38:00.000-07:00

I am the furthest thing from a morning person there is. Jonny has a new rather annoying habit of torturing me every morning before he leaves for work. He jumps on the bed, asks me a million questions, moves my arms around like I'm a life sized doll, and this morning he added taking my picture to the mix. I try to ignore him but it's hard. On the flip side he gives me like a million kisses too, so if I have to put up with one to get the other I guess I can stand it..... but if Jonny ever has a black eye you'll know why.

Pride and Prejudice

2010-08-24T05:38:00.000-07:00

The other day "Pride and Prejudice" was on t.v. but I didn't catch it until it was more than half over. I still recorded it. I was sitting on my couch sadly watching the incomplete version for the 3rd time when I sighed deeply and thought to myself, I wish I had this ENTIRE movie on dvd. In that moment I literally looked over at our movie shelf and there it was still wrapped, never even been watched. I must have bought it and then totally forgotten about it. I love that movie. I've pretty much been watching it over and over again. I get really sad whenever it ends so I just start it over again.

**Prediction** My mom will read this and tell me that I need to get a job. But I have a job. I'm a stay at home girlfriend. DUH!

A Windy Sunday

2010-08-22T19:47:00.000-07:00

From left to right
Josh, my cousin, ring bearer and the cutest little guy this side of the Mississippi! He loves Lady Gaga and can already read like a 2nd grader even though he's still just in first.

Mo, my cousin and future football star. When he was two he lifted up this HUGE picnic table and threw it across the porch like it was nothing. Like he's the incredible hulk.

Reagan and Chloe. They live across the street from my Grandparents. Reagan (the little boy) is obsessed with this porch swing and this very morning we found him curled up fast asleep on it. Several times a week I'll be busy making lunch or in the kitchen talking to my mom and I look out the window and there he is. Just peacfully swinging. He really doesn't say much but I think he likes us. Apparently Reagan and Chloe have a beautiful mother. I've never seen her. My Grandpa sat next to her in church last week and asked my Grandma "have you ever looked into her eyes!?" hahahahaha.

It is with a very heavy heart..........

2010-07-27T17:46:00.000-07:00

That I say goodbye to my blonde hair.**big sigh**
It's been good to me and I love it oh so much. Unfortunatly my natural hair color is about as FAR from blonde as one can get. The problem that this presents is that having naturally long AND blonde hair is pretty much out of the question. It breaks off almost as fast as it can grow. Extensions are great and literally make me feel instantly 10 times prettier but there's nothing like the real thing. So I have today made a very serious decision, that I want naturally long hair more than I want blonde hair. A decision I think must be akin to a child forced to pick which parent to live with. (that's a joke) Rest In Peace blonde we've been through some great times together.

**afterthought**
I used to have black hair..like jet black with a blue intensifier then brown and then blonde. My grandma makes no bones about the fact that she hated my hair black and choses to bring it up often. "just don't ever go black again whatever you do" or "i just really didn't like your hair that dark" etc etc...I FREAKIN GET IT, GEEZ! Rude! hahahahahahhaha..I would never go back to that color, it was good for that time and that place and I really loved it, old ladies would always tell me I looked like Pricsilla Presley, but I feel lighter now that I'm a little more mature and I'm not in a "punk' phase anymore. By punk I mean I work tiny gages and a black sabbath shirt to beauty school...BAD A I know!!

Thoughts...........

2010-07-16T21:18:00.000-07:00

This is the worst picture of my sister Amanda that has ever been taken. But it always makes me laugh. Speaking of Amanda......sometimes SOME people are really really cranky. Somtimes some people sit around with their cranky crank faces and are big old poop heads.

Cody is the cutest dog in the whole world.

I really really hate people that are inconsiderate slobs. If you know me you know that I am no "neat freak" but enough is enough. Stop leaving a trail of garbage wherever you go.

I LOVE the Kia commericial with the hamsters.

I knew which wedding dress I wanted the minute I put it on and I never changed my mind about it for one second.

I had so much fun with my mom's friends Bonnie and Susan this week. Good moms must just hang out with other good moms. Bonnie's kids and Susan's kids and my mom's kids are some lucky little (and big) rugrats. They love us so much. *Sidenote I hope I'm as pretty as they are when I'm a mom, and no Susan I am not just "being kind"*

If you want to watch something good you should go to MTV.com and watch MTV True Life "Resist the Power, Saudi Arabia" It will make you appreciate your life in ways you've never even thought about.

Being kind is so important, but sometimes it's so fun to make fun of people.

I need to go back to school...but for what??! I don't know. BLUGH.

There is someone I kinda know who thinks she's better than everyone and was excluded a lot in high school and now has a really weird thing about being exclusive, as in excluding other people...how whack is that??

Susan and Bonnie said they really really liked Jonny and they can tell he's going to be a really good husband. I know that already but it was great to hear them say it!

This might be really really innapropriate but I've lost about 15 plbs since last July but my boobs have just gotten bigger. Some days they are bigger than other days. Right now they are GINORMOUS. It's uncomfortable..soon I won't be able to see my belly button.

Broadway Baby

2010-07-14T01:52:00.000-07:00

Today whilst driving in my car belting out Lady Gaga's "Speechless" I noticed that some gentlemen in the car next to me where having a good chuckle at my expense. Now, not only am I used to it, but I can't say that I blame them. When I'm in my car I don't just demurely sing along to the songs, I belt those babies out with all the emotion I can muster. Ever since I can remember I have loved to sing. When I was little (like 4) instead of introducing me to Raffie or normal kid stuff my mom had my sister and I listen to musicals. My love of Broadway was born. Amanda and I spent HOURS in our room with our taped recording of Broadway classics. My barbies and Playomobile people were Maria and Tony from West side Story or Tzeitel from Fiddler on the Roof. This might seem cute and funny...but my mom was setting me up for a life of dorkedom and furthermore when I was about 10 she decided to feed into my dreams of a future singing career by telling me that I had a nice voice and even that she would pay for voice lessons. Like any delusional idiot would, I believed her because I wanted to.

Around that same time I started having "trouble" in school. YEARS later I realized there was nothing wrong with me except I always had my head in the clouds and years of academic indifference had merely caught up with me. Anywho, on days when I really didn't want to go to school I would hide in this tiny cupboard in the kitchen until I knew the bus had come and gone. I would wait for my mom to leave for her morning jog and then I would blast Les Miserables in our living room. Sometimes I was Jean Val Jean other times I was Eponine and I thought I sounded really good, I would get really into it doing the acting along with the singing....then I would run upstairs and hide under the table in my moms bedroom before she got back from running.

One day I thought it might be fun to record myself singing...like I said I thought I had a beautiful voice. So I locked myself in my little brothers nursery with a tape recorder and with all my might sang "Hold On" from Secret Garden (the musical) once I was done I eagerly rewound the tape dreaming of my Tony Award. I pressed play and was shocked at what I heard..it sounded like two cats fighting over a squeaky toy. It really took the wind out of my sails but I reasoned with myself that I still had ballet.

I could go on and on but lucky for my family my bathroom/living room Broadway performances ended at about 15. Mostly because I got bored with it and got too busy for that sort of thing but also because the final musical I loved was Ragtime and while I'm sure the bathroom mirror was very convinced by my performances as Coalhouse Walker (an African American man in the ragtime era whose dreams are crushed by racism) I myself no longer believed it. And so the curtains closed on my Broadway Dreams forever.

My Dad and the "F" word

2010-07-01T23:53:00.000-07:00

Me: "Dad what do you do when you want to have some fun?"
Dad: "FUN?!"
Me: "Ya, like what do you do when you just want to let loose and have a good time?"
Dad: "UMMMMMMMM......well I like to run and ride my bike??"(This is stated more as a question than an answer)
Me: (growing rather impatient) "I mean those things are ejoyable but they're not really like FUN! They're not a good time".....(i give up)
Dad: "Well your mom and I like to go to the beach sometimes."

AWESOME!!!!!

Jonny

2010-06-26T19:20:00.000-07:00

"I'm not easy to understand but you know me like the back of your hand. I'm your girl and you're my man and we're making plans."

At Least My Mother Loves Me!

2010-05-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

I took this months ago but forgot about them. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE!

Nothing Gold Can Stay

2010-05-23T22:37:00.001-07:00

Aren't lilacs the prettiest. My mom used to pull over at the side of the road and steal them every year and now I'm carrying on the tradition. The lilac season is sadly way too short and always makes me think of the Robert Frost poem, "Nothing Gold Can Stay."

Natures first green is gold.
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leafs a flower.
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief.
So dawn goes to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Isn't it the truest thing ever?? There are so many times when the phrase echos in my ears. It makes me sad but grateful. I wish I could just hold on to some days and never let them go........

The last Saturday I spent with my sister making whole wheat pizza's and salmon, crying together while we watched Oprah and enjoying the beautiful sunshine.

The last year I lived at home. Getting to spend hours with my brother and sisters. Laughing in the kitchen with my mom.

The week Jonny and I spent together in Disneyland after we got engaged.

Laghing harder than I have ever laghed with Amanda, Joe, Emily and Pat while we sat in our regular booth at Dennys eating fries and drinking gallons of diet coke (coffe for Pat!!)

The hours I spent in the ballet studio, what a privlage it was to study ballet and what a privlage it was to give up everything just to wear a tutu and stand up on stage with The Salt Creek Ballet. We were like the band of brothers, except we were girls and there was no war, just The Nutcracker : )

I know that next year I will miss this year and so on and so forth and that's what I love about that poem, it reminds you to soak in those beautiful moments while you're in them and that's what I'm all about : )

Dear Lacie, Cody and Utah,

2010-05-12T18:39:00.000-07:00

Lacie,
Thank you for coming out to South Jordan with me and Amanda on Mother's Day. Thank you for walking really slow so that you could talk to my sweet Grandpa....A Lot!Thank you for asking him lots of questions about DayBreak, he loved every minute of it! Thank you for ALWAYS making me laugh, thank you for being a great friend to my dear sister and last but not least thank you for always doing a great job on my hair : )
Cody,
Thank you for dragging me for our entire 2 hour Mothers Day walk, even though you are 11 years old!! It makes me happy you're still so spry. It gives me comfort and makes me think...he really hasn't slowed down that much!
Utah,
Thank you for your majestic beauty, the temples, the mountains and that beautiful sky. I love you!

Brooke

Easter Egg Trees and Whole Wheat Pizza

2010-03-28T13:50:00.000-07:00

So this is what I've been up to lateley! I'm semi obsessed with Easter. I love birds, eggs, nests, flowers and most of all choclate so, what's not to love! I am also trying to cook more for Jonny and I. So I decided to make us a whole wheat pizza. I can't believe how nervous I was! It turned out really really delicious! I cooked the pizza crust from scratch and topped it with creamy marinara sauce, fresh mozzerella, peppers, mushrooms and of course pepperoni : )I was so proud I took a picture. I will for sure be cooking more from now on!

Poetry Time!

2010-02-20T17:18:00.001-08:00

I always think about this poem around this time of year! It's by Judith Viorst.

The birds are still out of town,
The branches still bare.
The earth is still colored brown.
I don’t care!
I don’t care!
I can smell the green smell in the air-it comes
Just before springtime.

The wind still bends my head low.
Slush sloshes my boots.
Everyone’s talking more snow.
I hear flutes!
I hear flutes!
It’s the music that says, World wake up-it comes
Just before springtime.

The ground hog’s shadow was long.
Bad winter in store.
That ground hog legend is wrong.
I know more!
I know more!
There’s a sweetness that licks at my mouth,
And it tastes not of North, but of south.
There’s a vision that fills up my eyes
With wings making waves in warm skies.
There’s a softness that writes on my skin
The announcement that spring’s coming in.
Earth-bird-tree
I am you.
You are me.
We are one!
We are one!
In that gentle moment that comes
Just before springtime.

2010-02-16T00:04:00.000-08:00

It is sooo late but because I slept in today till....I'm not even gonna say, I can not get to sleep. So here's a little something to pass the time. One of the reasons I love blogging is because it's like a journal. My friend Erica told me that some people even print the pages out and put them in an actual journal which is a great idea but I'm getting sidetracked so anyway something kind of important happened to me and I've been very hesitant to blog about it and I finally realized why. Have you ever had something really special happen to you and you tried to put it in words and it just cheapened it? That's how I feel about getting engaged to the most amazing person I've ever met. I know most people say that about the person they love but most people say that about Jonny too! People love him so much. I've had big burly co-workers of his tear up when they start telling me how great he is! My mom even loves him and she is picky...that's how she ended up with a great guy like my dad : ) So I'll just leave it at that. I don't deserve him, but I need him and I'm so grateful that I met his friend Andrew and that his friend Andrew knew I'd make a good designated driver (and wanted the pleasure of my company of course....NOT) and invited me to the horse races in Wyoming! I'm glad Jonny picked me up from my house that day in his moms white mini-van. I'm glad that I thought Jonny was a cutie and that my sister eventually told him, he never would have asked me to hang out on his own! Oh and I'm glad that Karma came back to haunt the boys that day at the Wyoming Downs. They used me as a designated driver, I was later told by Andrew that was the only reason I was invited up there...well that and he was in love with my sister, anyway I totally crashed the car into a runaway tire and I'm glad too. JERKS!

Top Reasons I Love This Lovely Lady

2010-02-15T16:28:00.001-08:00

She is so fun. As her boyfriend would say she can have fun with a cardboard box.

Everything she has she has gotten herself. She is hardworking, disciplined and takes her responsibilities seriously.

She is a great mom! Her daughter loves her so much.

She is fiercely independent. If you want to go to the Marilyn Manson concert with her than that's great, but if you don't she'll just go by herself!

A great friend pushes you to be better and she does that for me!

She really loves her boyfriend Scooter and they're so sweet together.

She's a head turner! Much to Scooters dismay hahahahaha! Deep down though I think it makes him proud.

She's a really good cook. Her salsa or pico de whatever it's called is really yummy!

Just call her and she'd be there it doesn't matter what time of day or if she's busy, she's a really great friend!

Top Reasons I Love this Chica!

2010-02-10T21:29:00.001-08:00

Life hasn't been easy for this beauty but she's handled it all with grace.

There was a very sad time in my life when she was the only person who could make me feel better. Just being around her soothed my broken heart :)

When she was pregnant she looked beautiful everyday. High heels, curled hair, cute outfits.....I wanted to slap her.

She is HILARIOUS!

We used to drive around in the summer with the windows down singing country songs as loud as we could! I will never forget that as long as I live. On that note she has really good taste in music and has introduced me to some amazing songs that I had never heard.

She's such a good mommy. Her devotion to Presley is inspiring to me. I hope I love my kids that much!

MYSPACE SHANANAGINS HAHAHAHA She'll know what I mean but not many other people will!

We used to spend quite a few late nights at WalMart buying random DVDS. I'd wake up the next morning and be like, why did I buy "Harriet the Spy?"

She'll tell you the truth NO MATTER WHAT. Gotta love it! : )

My New Most Prized Possesion

2010-01-06T21:35:00.000-08:00

My grandma gave me her GOP pin! I've always coveted it and tonight she gave it to me! My grandpa gave it to her in 1956 when they were both still just in high school. Eisenhower was running for President. I don't know if I dare wear it......I think I'll rock it when Jonny and I go meet Mitt Romney in March.....ya definitely then!!

My Favorite Flower

2010-01-04T19:34:00.000-08:00

My mom gives me a hard time about this but pink and white carnations are my favorite! I love all flowers, roses, peonies, you name it, I love it, but nothing puts me in a better mood than a nice bouquet of pink and white carnations.

Reasons I Love This Crazy

2010-01-03T20:51:00.000-08:00

From the time we could talk till the time we graduated from high school we would stay up late talking and laughing when we were supposed to be doing our homework. Especially in high school when we had about three hours of homework a night after getting home from ballet at around 9.30. My mom would say I could hear you guys cackling at 1 o'clock in the morning!

She is sweet. She doesn't judge people. She was always friendly to the underdog.

When we were seniors in high school we were the "Spanish dancers" together in The Nutcracker. I'm not being conceited when I say this but, we rocked it : )

She is the only one who I know will always get my sense of humor. Sometimes we will be dying laughing and everyone else just stares at us like we're stupid and crazy.

She loves animals. When we were little and I was scared I would go downstairs two floors to her all yellow room and she was always reading a book about some different kind animal. I remember her saying, "I just love animals," and then continue to tell me about North African Elephants or something like that.

This sounds mean but when she makes fun of people it's hilarious.

She recently realized she was in a situation that was horrible for her and she turned around and walked away from it. It took strength that I don't think she knew she had.

She loves those leggings!!! I don't think I've seen her in pants for like 2 years.

When she's down she goes on you tube and types in "'People Falling."

BLUSH!

2010-01-03T11:55:00.000-08:00

I consider myself a blush connoisseur! I think it's one of the most important makeup items in my makeup bag. My first love is NARS blush in Orgasm. It's really pretty, it's peach with a hint of gold, it looks good on everyone. It is a tad bit pricey but it's worth it and it last a long time. While I was on vacation I was going through my little sisters makeup and I found this really pretty pink blush. It was the perfect shade of light pink and it had an iridescent glow. It's cheap too, I love finding makeup that's fabulous but inexpensive cause it doesn't happen often! Well I slyly put it in my makeup bag thinking she'll never miss this. It broke all over my makeup bag and I never really got to use it. I know it's Maybelline Expert wear blush in Pinch O Pink but I couldn't find it at the Smiths or the Rite Aid. I may have to buy it online which seems silly since it should be in the drugstore down the street. ARRRRGHHH...updates coming soon!!

Top Reasons I Love This Lady (aka my mommy)

2009-12-31T12:13:00.000-08:00

When I was little she would drive me 30 minutes both ways to my ballet classes, which were every single day.

She is almost always happy and cheerful.

Every Halloween we would go to the fabric store and look through patterns, I would pick what I wanted and then she would sew it from scratch.

She loves Christmas and every year our house looks like a Christmas Shop.

She used to get up early every morning before school to do my fancy hair-dos. I was very picky and it caused a ton of fights but she always did it!

Even though I'm sure it was hard sometimes she stayed home with me and my brother and sisters. I'm sure there were times she wanted to be something other than a mom but you would have never known it.

She runs fast and she runs FAR!!!

She's a really great cook, and she cooks healthy too.

We always had a beautiful home. We moved into a house that was 100 years old when I was 12. My mom did nothing for over a year except work and work and work to whip that house into shape.

We always had a beautiful garden.

We moved 9 times by the time I was 12 and my mom never complained. She always told me you have to bloom where you're planted. Even though it was always hard to leave behind great friends and the life we had known I learned to make the best of it thanks to her.

She is beautiful! She just gets better with age: )

Reasons I Love This Girl

2009-12-30T12:24:00.000-08:00

She was the president of the French Club in high school and can sing the entire French National Anthem.

She convinced her husband, as a joke, that she was going to sing a solo at their wedding. He totally bought it and the cute part was the he was totally supportive.

Before he passed away she used to call her Grandpa Vance every night before she went to bed.

She introduced me to Litzas Pizza.....yum!!!

She's one of the few people besides posh herself who could pull of the Victoria Beckham haircut and on that note she's never afraid to try crazy things with her hair...but she always looks great!

She went through a phase where even when it was a Sunday afternoon at Nancy and Heinz's place she would always look like a 1950's pinup/Marilyn Monroe. Curled blonde hair, red lipstick the whole nine yards!

She's great to her pets, Minnie and Lady!

All her kitchen appliances are pink....even her Kitchen aid.

She wears like 8 inch heels to work....crazy!!!

She's generous to everyone she loves.

She's been with me through the hardest times of my life and the happiest.

She has a huge heart. I've seen her chase after dogs in the traffic, stand up for abandoned family members, and try to save an injured pigeon for goodness sake!

Chicago Weather

2009-12-25T11:39:00.000-08:00

I forgot how GOD-AWFUL the weather in Chicago is. It's only when I come home that it all comes back to me. I remember getting out of the car in my high school parking lot and thinking I wasn't going to make it to the school doors! I remember coming out of ballet and steam would rise from my head!!! When our plane landed in Chicago the pilot said "I'm not going to lie to you the weather in Chicago could really not be worse, there are severe winds and freezing ice pellets!" It was then that I knew that I was really home : )

2009-12-24T20:43:00.001-08:00

After two years of waiting, missing, crying etc. My little brother is finally home! It's weird, we got used to him not being around but as soon as he was back our family felt whole again. I'm so proud of him. My biggest worry was that he would be really really different and he has changed but he's still the funny, sarcastic sweet kid that he always was! Here are a few of the moments from the day that Elder Billingsley finally came home.

2009-12-20T10:02:00.000-08:00

Today this little beauty is 18! WOW! I still remember the day she was born. It was the last day of school before Christmas break. My mom was going to be induced and she still made me go to school arrgh! I was so excited I couldn't concentrate on making my sled ornament out of popsicle sticks and glitter (a project that I normally would have been thrilled about!!) Well I remember literally pacing the classroom when my dad finally came to pick me up. I grabbed my backpack and me and my sister and dad were off to the hospital! We talked and waited in the hospital room with my mom for what seemed like two weeks. We didn't know if Taylor was a boy or a girl so we made bets on what we thought she was going to be. I wanted a baby sister SO BAD! When the big moment finally arrived we were asked to leave the room (my mom is not one of THOSE moms who is cool with her kids seeing her give birth and thank goodness!!) When we came back into the room we had a brand new baby sister! I was thrilled! She was so cute and tiny. She had these perfect little fingernails. She made the cutest little noises! She kept trying to touch her face. So in honor of this special day here are my favorite Taylor moments!

One Thanksgiving when she was just a baby we were all playing in the living room having just finished our delicious meal! Taylor had just learned to walk and was still getting her sea legs but she came walking into the room FAST and started projectile vomiting (like 2 feet) all over my moms white carpet. The funniest part was she just kept walking!! My mom was soooo mad at me and Amanda because we were laughing but she didn't see it!!

When she used to poop in her diaper she would walk like she was doing a plie' in second position and when we would try and catch her and she would run and hide under my moms bed!

The time Cody dragged her down the driveway by her underwear. She was about 10 when that happened and she was sooo mad at me because I could not stop laughing! But she was so skinny and looked like Mowgli from the Jungle Book. She was no match for our 100 plb. dog.

She use to lay in a laundry basket with a baby blanket and pretend to be the baby Jesus. Now that is cheap fun!

She used to wear her Belle costume to preschool and my mom would let her! My mom never would have let us do that but I think by then she had learned to pick her battles.

She used to have a Ken doll that didn't have any pants. This apparently did not sit well with her because she put a little pink sock around him. That sock was on that Ken doll for years!

Above all she has always been a good sport. We loved her but we made her life hard with our teasing! I guess that's what happens when you're the youngest!

Well thank goodness this little human came into the world! Our family would be incomplete without her!

The best boyfriend in the world!

2009-12-15T21:48:00.000-08:00

So my mom and dad gave me a set pearl earrings from Saudi Arabia for my 24th birthday and they are one of my favorite things that I own. I wear them all the time. But the other day I noticed that one of them was missing. My heart was broken. I assumed that one of them had fallen on the floor and then been vacuumed up. We have one of those central vacuums but we also have two pets that shed a ton so I assumed they were gone forever. Well I came home from my moms house today and found Jonny in his work clothes in the basement going through all the gross dog hair and dust looking for my earring. I don't know what I did to deserve this man but it must have been something good!

P.S. I looked under the bed and found my other earring about 5 minutes after Jonny gave up! OOPS!!

A Lovely Weekend

2009-11-22T21:31:00.000-08:00

We had a very nice weekend, if not a little busy : ) We had a great time with erica and adam at the ranch! On friday Erica and I headed up early to make dinner for the boys. She made love birds, spinach ravioli with pumpkin alfredo sauce and rosmary garlic flat bread. I attempted to make Yam fries which were supposed to be sweet potato fries. I now know the difference between the two. I wish I could say this was the first time I've expeirienced drama in the sweet potato yam department but hopefully it wont happen again! I'm still learning about this cooking stuff, LUCKILY erica made a great dipping sauce for them so they were still edible. On saturday my mom and little sister came into town for thanksgiving! YAY! I love thanksgiving and i'm really looking foward to it this year. i have so much to be thankful for. Today Jonny and I went out to my moms for a quick visit and then to our friends paul and amys house for a little football. as always they had delicious food and we had a great time. football always makes me fall asleep so i took a little nap and when i woke up we were in a "winter wonderland" i love the snow unitl february.

Winter Cleaning

2009-11-18T14:54:00.001-08:00

They say an unwritten goal is only a wish! So I decided to make a list of my cleaning goals for this week. RIVETING I KNOW! It will probaby spill over into next week though because it is QUITE ambitious.

1. Clean out what Jonny and I lovingly call the "Cat Room" I got that from Erica. It's basically a storage room but I'm hoping since Jonnys little sis is moving to Florida on Saturday that she won't mind me taking her magazines, books, clothes (basically the things you leave at home when you move out) out to the garage. Neatly boxed and labeled of course.

2. Clean out the laundry room. So if you know me you know I already spent quite a bit of time doing this already, but then we remodeled the kitchen and all the tools, extra wood, and other things got stored in the space that I cleaned out. So I will be taking it all out to the garage too! I really want to start decorating our place and adding my own personal touch so....I hope Jonny will let me! But I can't do that until this place is de-cluttered!

3. Here comes the fun part, Wash the walls!

4. Wash the baseboards!

5. Scrub the kitchen and bathroom floor really really well.

6. Clean the blinds. Thats kind of fun actually, I do it with oxi-clean in the bathtub!

7. Vacum really really well!

So I will keep everyone posted because I know you'll all be hanging on the edge of your seat! : )

Christmas Came Early This Year

2009-11-17T21:56:00.000-08:00

I promised Jonny that I wouldn't decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving but I couldn't resist! Jonny was working late and I was bored so I gave into temptation! Cody wasn't into at first but afer a little coaxing he got into the holiday spirit! Eponine was so sweet and read the tree directions to me. We listened to Martina McBrides' Christmas Album and basically had a great night and got that warm fuzzy christmas feeling early! Jonny wasn't as suprised as we hoped but he wasn't mad either so....that's good : )

My Proud List

2009-11-15T09:14:00.000-08:00

So Erica and I are avid readers of Nie Nie's blog. She did a proud list on her blog and Erica copied Nie Nie and now I am copying Erica! Here goes........

1. I'm proud that my family is Mormon. I'm proud that my ancestors left their beautiful home in Switzerland and travled all the way to Utah because of their faith. I'm proud that when I see my great great grandmothers headstone it has a "Faith in Every Footstep" plaque on it, and I'm proud that they use her journal entries in documentaries about the Latter Day Saint Pioneers and their struggles as they traveled across the United States.

2. I'm Proud that my parents are still married! They have worked so hard to keep their marriage together, NO MATTER WHAT! They've taught me so much about what it takes. My dad gave me the best advice I think. He said marriage is really not that romantic most of the time. Most of the time it's really stressful and it's really hard work.

3. I'm proud that I was only one of three people in the room when Presley was born. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. The minute she came out, she looked just as beautiful as her mommy!

4.I'm proud that I'm finally going to the gym and losing my happy fat! Happy fat is the weight you gain when you're in love :) I'm proud that I can now run farther than I ever thought I'd be able to! I'm proud that I love it!

5. I'm proud that I was a huge nerd in high school. While most people were partying and hanging out with friends, I was spending hours in the ballet studio working my heart out! I listened to Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Saint Sans. My idea of a great Friday night was watching Swan Lake or Giselle on DVD : ) Not that I didn't have some of the best times of my life, hanging out with my best friends Amanda Emily Beth and Joe! We laughed so much! I don't think I've ever laughed as hard as I did back in those days.

6. I'm proud that my little brother is on a mission. I'm proud to say he's my brother and I'm proud that he hasn't just gone through the motions, he's worked really hard and is a great Missionary.

7. I'm proud that I'm politically conservative, even though most people my age are liberal. I'm proud that even though my parents are conservative too they NEVER tried to push their political beliefs on me. I had to ask my mom in high school if she was republican or democrat! I'm proud of George Bush and I think he did the best job that anyone could do (i kind of copied that last part from Nie Nie)

8. I'm proud that I love country music. I know some people think they're too cool for country music but I prefer uplifting songs that make you cry to songs about "blunts, 40s, and bitches." Country music embodies all the things that are important to me; God, America, Love and Family.

9. I'm proud of America. I'm not ashamed to say that I think it's the best country in the world. I think there is nothing wrong with questioning the things this country does and I think it's great to keep those in power on their toes! They work for us after all. But the people who think America is evil, oh I wish we could cart them all off to Saudi Arabia and make them work in the 120 degree weather, away from their families, with very little pay like the Filipino workers that live in Saudi, because that is the reality for MOST OF THE PEOPLE ON THIS EARTH! They aren't looking for happiness they are merely trying to survive. We are so lucky, I've seen it in a way that most people have not had the opportunity to!

10.I'm proud that I'm kind of a Pollyanna! There was a time in my life when I was very negative, but I realized that wasn't working for me and I changed. Now I'm GLAD : )

HEAVEN

2009-11-14T22:52:00.000-08:00

So my car broke down earlier in the week which is stressfull enough to begin with. YUCKY! Even worse I took it to the mechanic (TWICE) and he can't find anything wrong with it! So Jonny has been taking my car to work even though it breaks down about 4 times on his way there! He's been letting me drive his car so I'm not stressed out about getting to work on time. And on friday instead of making me get up early to give him a ride in his car, he arranged to get a ride from his dad. I've never met someone who is so sweet and considerate. I don't thank him enough for the amazing and considerate things that he does for me everyday. These are the top five reasons I love this man !

Hardworking-(the hardest working person I know, well he ties with my dad!)

Sweet- Kind and thoughtful. Always looking out for the feelings of others. He would never say something mean or hurtful to someone. Even if he hates them.

Funny- He cracks me up all the time. Especially when he tries on a new pair of jeans and does the bowling and skiing poses to show them off! It's HILARIOUS but you'll probably never see it : ) LUCKY ME!

He's so sweet to my dog- He let Cody ride in his car when it was like 4 days old. He loves to take Cody on walks (without his leash, it drives me nuts!!) And once at 4 o'clock in the morning Cody started barking really loud and it woke us both up and terrified me. I wanted to yell SHUT UP CODY! But Jonny sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed Codys ears and talked to him unitl he calmed down.

Fair-As much as it drives me crazy he won't automatically take my side if I'm having some kind of fight or dissagrement with friends/family/co-workers he always makes sure that I'm being fair and at the end of the day I actually prefer it. My parents are the same way and I think it has made me a much more fair and less judgemental person.

This Girl Sure Is a Dancing Fool

2009-11-14T11:05:00.000-08:00

Look at those sexy moves!

Animals Have A Sixth Sense Part Deux

2009-11-14T10:15:00.000-08:00

Here is the second video. Maybe Eponine just hates Amandas "Valley Girl" accent!

They Say Some Animals Have A Sixth Sense

2009-11-14T10:03:00.000-08:00

Eponine doesn't act this way toward everyone. Just Amanda and cats/dogs that she doesn't know. MMMMMMM......maybe she's trying to tell us something!

2009-11-14T08:48:00.000-08:00

Even when I'm mad at Jonny I still think he's cute! What the hell kind of gd outfit is this?! P.S. you can tell he's mad at me too, he's shooting daggers at me out of his eyes!