Let's Play Catch-Up!

Alright everyone!  You asked for it!  I know I've been a huge slacker on the blog thing.  It's so funny...I get so bugged when no one updates their blogs...yet I've been the worst one! Ha!  Anyway...in an attempt to redeem myself I have created all these slide shows to catch everyone up on my life!

The top slide is a little random.  It has a bunch of stuff that when on at the first of the year.  I went to Florida to watch the BCS Championship game with some friends which was a blast!  Also, my wonderful friend Kim came into town from Kansas so I got to see her!  I think the other pics are just from New Years and such...kind of old & boring.

The next slide is of my birthday!  Can you believe I turned 23 this year?!  I feel like I'm getting so old...at least in Mormon years! :)  But it was still way fun!  We all went to dinner & bowling to celebrate!  I think there's another random picture in there of the Jazz game too with Brady.  And who's Brady you may ask?  No, he's not some random guy that just happens to be in all my pictures!  We started dating in January & he's awesome!  So for those of you that I don't get to talk to much...now you're no longer in the dark! :)

The last slide is of St. George!  Brady took us there last weekend, since he had to go visit some clients.  We had so much fun!  It was great to get away & have a little sun in our lives!  The boys got to go golfing at Sand Hollow while the girls shopped & got pedicures!  And of course we hit up Fiesta Fun, swam, and shopped some more! We also got to stop in on our way there & visit our great grandma in Scipio.  She's 98!  Can you believe it?!  And on our way home...the fun continued when we stopped in Beaver to hit up the gas station with the Big White Chair...then on to the historic Cove Fort!  It doesn't get much better than that! ;)  Thanks Brady for whisking us all away for a fun-filled weekend!!!

So there you go!  A quick update on what has been going on with me!  And I promise I'll start being much better!  After all...I don't want to become a disgrace in the land of blogging! :0)

10 Honest Things About Me

So...I was tagged by my wonderful friend, Kimi. I've never done one of these things before, but considering I've turned into the lamest blogger ever...I figured it would give me a good reason to start back up again. And not to worry...there really are more exciting posts to come! :)

#10 I'm afraid of the dark. More so of being alone in the dark. Yes...I still turn off my lights, run at sonic speed to my bed, and throw the covers over my head. I then shake like a leaf until I can get my tv turned on in order to fall asleep to something happy! I'm not sure how all that is going to save me from the scary monsters in my closet or under my bed...in fact...it probably puts me in a more vulnerable position! But it makes me feel better...and that's all that matters!

#9 Contention gives my anxiety. I guess that's why they've always called me the "peace maker" in my family...and why I usually get walked on a lot. I hate arguing & tension between people, so I panic & try to solve problems as quickly as possible...even if that means taking one for the team & not sticking up for myself. Pansy...I know.

#8 I have a weird quark...I hate it when cupboards and drawers are left open. I don't know what it is. It just makes me feel icky! There have even been times when I've walked by an open cupboard on my way to bed, crawled under the covers, and laid there for 10 minutes until dragging myself back out to close the cupboard! I'm so weird! I wonder if there are medications for my cupboard/drawer disease!

#7 My family is my life. There is nothing I wouldn't do for them. Even when we drive each other crazy, they are always my best friends and "go to" people. I've loved always being so close to them, and they've never let me down! They're always there no matter what. I love you guys!

#6 I'm a hopeless romantic! I've been hurt a lot, but every time I come out of it hopeful and ready for the real thing to happen! I'm like that girl in "He's Just Not That Into You" who just can't help but be so excited about love all the time! I eat up sappy chick flicks, I stare at happy couples, and flip through bridal magazines while waiting in line at the grocery store. What can I say?! I love love! :)

#5 I love to shop! I don't always spend tons of money...but dreaming is half the fun! I love finding good deals...sometimes the sale is more exciting to me than the purchase! Nordstrom is definitely my happy place! When I'm stressed, all I have to do is walk around Nordies for a little bit, and I feel much better!

#4 I'm a sucker for dogs! My mom always teases me that I'm going to become the "crazy cat lady" but with dogs! They just look at me with their huge, innocent eyes and I melt! But my favorite of all of them is my precious baby, Gizmo! Even though he's one of the brattiest dogs alive, I just love him!

#3 I have a hard time letting go. Relationships of any kind mean a lot to me, and care strongly about everyone in my life. That's why I try my best to at least stay on good terms with everyone I know, including exes. When I care about someone, the thought of them being gone out of my life forever gives me a pit in my stomach, and if they just disappear, I feel and grieve like they died. So...anyone considering becoming my friend, beware! I may latch on and you'll never be rid of me! ;)

#2 I've always been the child with weird things. I was born with a skin tag, which is a disgusting extra chunk of skin protruding from the side of my ear. They were able to cut it off, but now I'm left with a nubbin that looks like a zit...awesome. I have one hitchhiker thumb and one straight thumb, I have a "tumor" on my eye that's really just a disgusting lump of tissue, I pass out if I get overheated...the list goes on and on! Let's face it...I'm kind of a mess!

#1 I am what I say I am...for better or for worse. I'm a total nerd at heart...always have been. I'm not athletic or outdoorsy...in fact, I'm very girly! I'm a deep thinker. My mind is constantly running, pondering, considering, weighing, and analyzing. I'm really shy and get intimidated easily...until you get to know me, and then you won't be able to get me to shut up! I love traveling & experiencing new places! I can be patient and understanding of a lot of things for a long time...unless you push just the right buttons (don't worry...I only have a couple! :) ). I'm a sucker for a good musical...Phantom makes me cry every time! I love to help others anyway I can. I'm perfectly content just hanging out, eating yummy food, watching a movie, and pretty much just doing nothing. I am overly organized in some ways and totally cluttered & scatterbrained in others. I am easy going and passive...but if there is something I feel strongly about or if someone I care about is crossed-I'm not to be underestimated. I get happy and excited over the little, stupid things in life-a note from a friend, the first warm day I get to put my flip flops on, sparkly or fluffy things, hugs, a good song that I can sing at the top of my lungs, the smell outside when it's about to rain, a long drive somewhere with a special someone...let's just say I'm easily entertained! ;) I love hard, my heart and feelings are worn on my sleeve, I try my best to always do what's right, I love to give, and what I want most out of life is to find someone I can love with every part of me that I have, raise and adore our beautiful kids, and get us all back to live with our loving Heavenly Father. So there it is...take me or leave me!

I tag Rachael, Hillary, and Dani!

Festival of Trees!

Well, I have officially participated in my first Christmas activity! My mom and I went to the Festival of Trees on Wednesday. I have to say, I wasn't as impressed this year as I have been in the past. But of course it was still fun! It breaks my heart every year to see all of the people the trees are dedicated to, and I felt extra bad this year, because there were quite a few that didn't sale! This horrible economy is even putting a downer on the Festival! :( But here were a few of my favorites! The one made of blown glass was awesome! They started the bidding at $25,000 and it sold for so much that they wouldn't tell us! My goal one day is going to be donating one of these trees! I just think it would be so fun! Let the Christmas festivities begin!

Happy Turkey Day!

Thanksgiving was a little different this year!  We decided to go to Little America with the Hennigars, Grandma, and Uncle Brad. It was so fun! I feel a tradition in the making! Everything was so festive, the food was delicious, and best of all? No maintenance! Rather than spending hours cleaning up, we went straight to the movie! We saw 4 Christmases which, needless to say, was a little awkward! Not a good movie. I wouldn't recommend it. After the movie, we went to visit Chad, Jill, and baby Kenzy, and guess what?! She can finally be held by people other than her parents! I can't believe how big she's getting! Although, I guess if you think about it she is now the size of most babies when they're first born! It was really fun being with everyone! Happy Holidays!

Flying South for the Winter!

Last weekend, my dad and I took a trip to Jacksonville to visit our Florida friends...as well as officially meet a few new ones! ;) We stayed at the Wainrights' Lake House which was so gorgeous! I can't believe people actually get to live in such beautiful places! I know I should've taken more pictures of the things that happened, but I was a little preoccupied. So let me at least give you all the play-by-play:

Day 1: Dad & I went to drop off a package at Riley's apartment. Of course I had to make a ginormous poster for he & his companion! We waited until we knew they would be gone, and drove over to drop the stuff off. As we pulled up, low and behold who comes flying around the corner?! Riley and his comp on their bikes! We got so scared we threw the car in reverse & drove off! So, we obeyed the rules & didn't stop to talk to him...but at least we caught a glimpse! :)
Later that night, we got settled in & Kendall took us for a drive around Live Oak...very exciting! ;) Then we met up with Wes & his business partner, Brad, for our first Southern dinner! Needless to say...most of it was fried. :)

Day 2: After much build up and anxiety, I met Adam at the Suwanee Airport (which is more of a parking lot with a little house/building in the middle) in the morning to go flying in his little plane! I know many of you were concerned for my safety, but not to worry! He is an excellent pilot & brought us back to earth safely!
That night, Adam & I went to Gainesville where he proudly introduced me to his blessed UF stadium. It's been an ongoing battle between Adam & I as to who's team has the best stadium...and while I bleed blue, I have to admit the Gators' house is pretty awesome! I only wish it had been lighter so I could've taken a picture you could actually see! Then, we walked across the street to watch the UF girl's basketball team, and what an event! I think we were 2 of maybe 100 people in the entire place, including the teams and coaches. Aren't we just awesome?! To conclude the evening, we met up with Adam's parents for dinner (who are AWESOME by the way!), and then made the hour journey back to Live Oak to hang out with my dad & the Wainrights. Fun, Fun, FUN!!!

Day 3: Saturday pretty much everyone was either hunting or at the Orlando temple for Jared & Briana's wedding ceremony. So dad & I took a journey to St. Augustine to visit the Golf Hall of Fame. It was actually pretty cool, and they had an 18 hole putting course that...well...was a little embarrassing for me...but fun nonetheless!
That night was the big wedding reception in Lake City! Since the groom was Adam's cousin, I met a lot of his extended family...what great people! It is very true what they say about Southern hospitality! They all act like they're your best friends! It's the best!

Day 4: Sunday was a day of MUCH worship. We went to sacrament meeting in the family ward in Lake City, and then went to all 3 meetings of the singles ward. Why you ask? Lake City was my brother's first area, so we were able to meet a lot of people that he knew & taught. And in the singles ward, we got to listen to Kendall give her first talk! (For those of you who don't remember who Kendall is, she was Riley's first baptism.)
After church, my dad wanted to go visit some people with the missionaries, so Wes let me tag along with he and some of his friends for dinner. We went to eat at Wes's dad's house...which I was very nervous about! You see...Wes's dad is a very affluent judge in Lake City, so I figured he's be kind of scary & intimidating! But he was the nicest guy ever! I'm telling you...the Southern hospitality thing never failed to disappoint!

Day 5 was just a sad day of leaving our Florida bliss to come back to the frozen tundra in which we reside. The trip was so fun though!!! I've never met so many enjoyable people! We really appreciate the Wainrights' for letting us stay with them, and we hope to see all of our Southern friends again very soon!!!