cup-Kate is here

Mom and baby are finally home after a couple extra days at the hospital. Kate was born Wednesday afternoon and her family is so excited to have her here finally.

Most of you know Jenny as my 'little friend from across the circle' We grew up together and she is just like a sista to me. She is my one friend who has always talked about having babies, has had names picked out for forever (Elizabeth but foiled when Steven married an Elizabeth) While I get a little squeamish about the idea she has always been so ready to be a mom.

Holding Kate was such a joy. I guess I can thank my mom once again for the fun, but embarrassing urge to cry when I'm too happy or see something beautiful straight from heaven.

I am totally loving the fact that Kate is the 4th of 5 babies to be born to close friends in the last month and month to come. There will hopefully be a high demand for babysitting. (hint hint friends.)

In other news, I have been reunited with my records. Just like that. I cornered the Bishop after the first meeting and he told me how hard it had been to locate them but they are here, he took me right up to his office and in about 3 minutes I had his signature on a little piece of paper that also made me want to cry. Instead I shocked the very shy ward clerk by coming around a corner and seeing him first caught him by surprise with the something like a running hug. A couple of my friends were there and guessed why I was scaring the poor guy and we had a mini party in the hallway before I found my way to class.

After church I usually take a wandering path home and found myself near the cemetery in the avenues. Vickers, do you remember giving me the books by R.P.E. The Christmas Box series? I read them just about every year around Christmas and I've always wanted to go see the statue from the book. Today was the day. It was easy to find and very pretty. Thank you for those books. They always set the best mood for the holidays for me.

s.a.t.u.r.d.a.y - WHITE!

That's right. It is snowing! Yipee. Said like a true transplanted southerner who has yet to feel the doom of months of smog, bad driving conditions and freezing cold weather. It's a novelty I hope won't wear off any time soon because I'm already worried I'll be majorly depressed not being able to enjoy a sunny, tempid winter in my dessert. I was out every morning last winter with the dogs and it was never too cold for us to play. What will come of my sanity when I'm snowed in and its too cold to be outside? Oh no!

OK. So I'm really not that worried. Just a tangent. One thing that really has me excited about this upcoming season is a very strong posibility of working for SkiNSee again (worked there all through high school) This time as a manager (cross your fingers and pray with me) and so with that position comes lots of free skiing and other seriously great insentives, something I can get excited about for sure, knees allowing.

I'm at Grandmas house in the back room (home of the brown chair) looking outside at the fig trees that are now laying on the ground (sissy's like me in the snow) Gma and pa are in watching the U game make comments about the idiots sitting out there in the snow (ha!) and Gma just came in to tell me that should I run into trouble with this computer machine she will be happy to show me what to do! Good to have her here for me.

Sarah is here making wedding decisions and shopping for a dress so I bailed on plans for the night so I can see her, oogle the rock on her finger and go to the General RS meeting with her. How am I so incredibly blessed with such great friends? I get overly excited about being with them, they are the gems in my life. (As is my family of course, but I am always telling you guys this, you should know it by now!)

Seriously

Season premier of Greys tonight!! (!!!) What season premier are you guys most excited about? You guys always seem to be onto the funnest shows. If I'm not careful I could become a serious couch potato this time of year with all the great shows starting up again.

And the funny thing, I made a hard decision to miss Grey's tonight!

Seriously.

I told myself it will be just as good on abc.com later tonight when I get home. I almost believe it but I'm still bummed. It just isn't the same watching a tape or online. This will come as a shock to my parents that I could even make plans on a thursday. Last season I turned down all kinds of fun to stay home glued to the tube. Real life is put on hold for an hour every thursday night while I get sucked into my show.

But this season I decided real life is better than watching someone else's life on TV so I will catch up with my friends at Seattle Grace when I get home. I have been on abc.com for the last little bit reading up and playing Grey's related games to get myself even more so syked. All the while listening to Postal Service on my blog (a Greys Season Two Soundtrack selection) I watched the season finale yesterday to remind myself of all the drama. "Mama took my eyebrows..." Cristina rocked in this episode. She had me so wound up that night I practically sprinted 3 miles to the golf course and back to calm down. OH I CAN NOT WAIT!!

the power of change

Every morning when I wake up,
I wake up looking forward to what I can accomplish.
Developing positive goals,
Realizing the power of ambition
The power of change,
Life consists of positive transformation.
Nothing is final unless you let it be
Open you eyes to a broad pathway
A journey that will lead you to a fulfilling future.
You choose the path you take
You prepare the draft of your life
You have control
You have the ability to plan your destiny,
Not everything is your life is planned
Everyday is a new day
You are capable and worthy of becoming who you want to be
Never give up
Have determination
Follow your heart and all your dreams will come true

Stacey Chillemi

I am constantly looking for motivation right now and I reminded myself last night as I was running with a friend that I chose to stop mid stride and dare to think I could have a different life than the one I had.

My posts seem to have a reoccurring theme to them about this awkward place I find myself. Where I have to find new ways to fill my days with importance, but it is just such a surreal place to be. It's strange how much I feel I have to be grateful for, when in terms of the world I have very little. Life lesson learned is I don't need what I thought I needed to feel important.

My days are a slower pace than I'm used to. I fill my mornings with study and indulgent reading of every subject that catches my attention at the library.

The books I have been reading seem to be finding me rather than the other way around. Talk about motivation and making it apparent how much I needed this down time to readjust and make my life bigger to fill it with so much more to appreciate.

Meet Laurie

I've mentioned Laurie bunches in previous posts and she now has the address to check in here so I thought I'd give you the low down on this cool girl.

I met her in 2003 when I had had enough of living alone after a year in my tiny apartment on the river. I thought it'd be fun trying out roommates again. Understatement of the year! I got way lucky finding these girls because as most of you know, finding good roommates is not the easiest thing in the world to do.
















When we lived together we rode our bikes on the trails near our house in Moon River a lot. I brought home lizards as house pets and she introduced me to a snack I now crave all the time: Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory's Apple Pie on a stick. To quote Heather, YUMMY!
We spent a lot of weekends in Mesquite dancing or goofing off at home when we happened to be home at the same time. I mentioned this before but it still baffles me how much flowers this girl got when I lived with her. One night I remember specifically her hiding one bouquet in the bath tub because one of the givers was coming over and she didn't want him to see that she had gotten other flowers too.
Laurie is from Circleville, Small town USA and is one of those drop dead gorgeous girls that is good at everything, great sense of humor, the best kind of friend you could ask for and has a thing for pretty cars. Her mustang is the coolest one I've seen in forever. Her cute husband is a on St. George SWAT and a bike cop.

I always tell her moving in with them was one of the best things I ever did and I'm not exagerating when I say this. I missed her terribly when I moved out and so I am so glad that our friendship lasted with out the easiness of living under the same roof.

What can I say Laur, I miss you!!! Welcome to my blog :)

Oh, and I included these pics for her, she wanted to see our latest adventure. She looks awesome, I look like a sweaty nasty hippy. I love those shorts but man they are ugly. Good thing I'm not vain right? :)

why ask why

I've tried and failed for the last twenty minutes to put into words how I am these days and I can't do it properly with out sounding annoyingly chipper or overly contemplative. I don't know why I'm so happy. 'Why ask why?' That is a total Ben-ism. Fitting since his news has much to do with this mood of mine. Any time I think about those guys I have a hard time not giggling with nothing less than joy. Good grief. I'll stop already.

Tony gave us tickets to the AST Dew Tour this weekend so we went and had fun watching the events. Well, Casey didn't so much, he caught a ride home with the family and then Coree and I hung out for hours watching the events. The BMX stuff was awesome. It gives me ideas... but mostly things like IF I were a BMX chic (which we didn't see any of btw, why?) I would have a red bike, white walled tires and a zebra helmet....

Afterwards we had plans to go to this 'wacky tee shirt' party. Kind of like a 'bad sweater' party but not as... fuzzy.
Coree bailed on me (it's ok cuz) and went to work instead but I wasn't going to stay home.

The house was actually just a few houses down from grandma's and I was wearing one of her shirts. How many times will I get to say that at a party?

Sample conversation:

someone - 'Hey, your shirt is really cool.'
me - 'Thanks, borrowed it from my Grandma.'
And it was indeed awesome. 3D popcorn motif and my jacket I chose to leave in the car last minute was hot pink and had an assortment of embroidered fruit on it.
My silly sunflower pictures were sad attempts at catching the pretty light this afternoon. Didn't achieve what I was after, but had fun trying.

Scoot over guys

Is there room for one more? Doesn't have to be too big of a space really....

That's right, expect a new addition to our family!!! Let me clarify for all of you who are thinking scandal, Ben and Kwona are expecting in May!!! YEA!!! If I were fully able to express my mood right this minute there would be a whole lot more !'s involved mixed with this strange desire to cry and laugh and pack my bags and move to Korea to wait for the little person to get here.

We have all been on them to have more babies because they have the stinkin cutest kids I've ever seen but they assured us that they were so done. Done in fact enough to give me all the baby stuff! I'll pack it up and bring it all to you guys.

I love surprises!!!!

back track

Since I couldn't post pictures while I was in St. George with out fighting the urge to rip my hair out I thought I'd live in the past a little bit and share some pictures. Especially since life here is going really good, but no stories for today since I'm feeling a little under the weather.

My favorite thing to do in St. George is being outside and so I really took advantage of my great schedule at the studio (12 - 5).
Another favorite thing about St. George is that everyone likes to come visit since it's close and fun.

Jackie and Jeff came down Labor Day weekend and we had a ball! I went hiking saturday morning for a few hours while they took it easy at my parents place (thanx mom n dad!) then we met up at the condo and spent the afternoon at the pool. We watched the BYU game, well they did. I tried. I can't explain it, but as soon as the commentators start up, the whistles, the crowd...a mix of all things sports and next thing I know I'm in lala land completely checked out. (I do like live games tho, way more exciting, but even then I'm watching people more than the game.) I do perk up for the commercials though and since we were all very susceptible to the advertising during the game, we headed off to Red Lobster for a fantastic meal.

They came over again on Sunday and we had fun hanging out and cooking together. Jackie is a regular chef and came up with a really fantastic meal using all the crazy stuff I had in the kitchen. I was way impressed.

I'm happy to be living closer to there two, I have missed Jackie over the years like a missing limb and Jeff is the bomb. Yeah, I just said bomb. I like the guy. I couldn't help myself!

thoughtful litter

This is a classic example of why I love Grandma.

We were hanging out today and our conversation turned to the mail. Today was a late delivery day. Instead of an early delivery, it all depends on the mail carrier, and believe me this is a daily topic of interest.

She told me about the heaps of mail Grandpa gets and recently he received a letter from The Pope. Of course Grandpa gets letters from The Pope, why wouldn't he? Included in this particular letter there was also a rosary in a cute little white bag.

Grandma didn't want it to go to waste so today when they went to Hill Field she deliberately took the leather bag with her to drop outside the commissary where she hoped some lucky Catholic person would find it and use it.

Grandpa even pointed out a garbage can to her and told her she could just as easily toss it in there (you can probably imagine him saying this right?) But Grandma being her sweet giving self, dropped the bag as planned outside the commissary and I can only imagine the delight someone felt when they found her thoughtful litter.

Bonus question for the day: Name the movie I quote in my label for this post.

crazy lady

For all of you following, on the edge of your seats I'm sure, the status of my lost records.....

They are still lost.

Seriously.

Two weeks before I left for St. George (and the first week in my new ward) I met with the first counselor and filled him in on the search thus far. Which goes as follows: When I went back to the singles ward post married bliss (haha) I presumed my records had made it there and I had missed being read in since I was constantly out of town. One such weekend while I was out traveling my bishop and long time buddy was released and in this event the new bishop realized that I wasn't even in the ward. Records weren't there, and I wasn't really supposed to be in the ward anyway. My friend in the ward (also the ward clerk) tried finding them and couldn't, so I dropped it since I was moving anyway.

I tried to find them again when I was attending the LDSBC ward. The Bishop there swiftly kicked me out (in a really nice, loving way) and told me to go to the U ward (more my age bracket) and thus the hunt continued once again. I returned the following sunday hoping the counselor had worked wonders and found me. No such luck. My request form had been lost. I filled out a new one with the ward clerk supervising.

I told him, and the Bishop as well, that it was really important to me to find my records as soon as possible because my temple rec. expired first of August and so it's not just the membership I'm after since with out it, I can't renew. This need to have them be found has been hanging over my head and I feel a very large void.

You can imagine that I was pretty excited to talk to the clerk today, he would tell me he found them in the 'black hole'. It would be this amazing rescue story and we'd have a good laugh at it and I would be on my merry way.

Not even close. My request form had been lost. Again. Seriously. WHY? There has to a be a lesson here for me to learn but I'm not seeing it yet. Patience has got to be part of it but I ALREADY AM PATIENT! LOOK AT ME BEING PATIENT RIGHT NOW!!!

The clerk told me 'maybe next week, these things take time' and at this point I was starting to get a little desperate. And hot. I took off my sweater and as I did I started in on this speech. "I will be your worst nightmare. I will start to stalk you, I will call you daily. What do I need to do to get this to happen?"

I'm thinking to myself as what I'm saying is registering on his face (I think he thought I was joking, losing my mind, or possibly the worst thing a girl could do: gearing up for a good cry.) I wasn't, but how do I get my point across? Obviously I haven't stressed the importance enough yet. Do I offer blood? Cookies? Do I promise my first born child? Instead, I finish off with the grand, "Do you know what is in the balance here? I am recommend-less. I am after eternal salvation here, and you are standing in my way!!!!"

I didn't mean to be scary (ok, maybe I did just a little) I think my desperation was apparent. It surprised even me. It has been a nag in the back of my mind and I've wanted it taken care of but to hear it in my voice was kind of a shock to me. He sat down and we filled out my request form yet again and I sincerely hope this week yields results.

As he does too I'm so sure! I left the office cracking up because the guys in there all seemed to take a collective big breath as the crazy lady took her show somewhere else. We were laughing about all of this of course (when am I not joking?) but under the jokes they knew I was not in the mood to be disappointed and I like that I made a stand. I am so often too easy going and never show how much anything means to me. If I'm going to make a stand on anything, this is definatly one thing that is important enough to me to show a little emotion and get things going.

Quiz Time

HGTV has a fun quiz to figure out what your style is and since I never have an exact answer for that question (it changes with my mood) I thought I'd give it a whirl.

My style is HIP.
If it's new, it's you. No overstuffed chairs or anything that could be described as froufrou! You are drawn to clean lines and a minimalist palette (think black, white, neutrals and a few bold colors that 'pop' against that background - like orange, red and turquoise). You like your patterns graphic and your buildings industrial. The older furnishings you enjoy are mid-century modern or stark Asian or African pieces with out any embellishments.

I can almost agree completely except I really like all things cozy so the idea of industrial and mid-century modern makes me think cold/impersonal (tho I do love both) when what I love to come home to is more of a crazy transitional/eclectic mix of just about everything. The quiz generated three styles I could call my own and I could add at least four more I don't want to ignore. Um... I think I failed the quiz.

Try it out, I'm curious what you guys come up with. Play here.

Escape From Ithuria

My cousin Quinn is the bomb.

the usual

"Where are we going for dinner?" The Usual. (Pasta Factory)
"What are you eating?" "The Usual." (Guys, I honestly don't know what your usual is, something to do with alfredo and angel hair?)
My two friends are so predictable and I love it. Me on the other hand? I'm all over the place. "What are you having?" "Surprise me." (And I was. I now know of an off the menu dish that I will ask for again.)
I have known these girls since I was at least eleven. Sarah (left) and I didn't become close friends until I moved to St. George at the end of 2000. Over the years we have made so many memories, some that live on in infamy, and some we don't talk about anymore..
I can think of a hundred thousand times when these girls made my day, saved the day when they helped me find a job, a place to live, or my sanity. We've been together for celebrating or holding each other through heartbreak. Sarah gave us both cards (to go with a book we are going to read together, can you guess which one? We're behind the rest of the world on this one.) The inside says (and I couldn't agree more):

I'm glad we're still the kind of friends we always promised to be.

Sarah is having a birthday on monday (are we to the age where we politely leave out a number?) 26!!! and quite possibly getting engaged as well. (YEA YEA YEA!!!) Amy is also having a big day too monday, she will be having Kylee, or starting to at least! I'm so excited for them both. It is so great to see the different paths we've taken to lead us to this point in our lives and see my two friends so happy. And me? Monday is just a monday in my planner but I could not be more excited about it. C'est la vie.

Kershisnik

It was a weekend for making friends with the snowbirds. While I was running errands after work Friday I met a couple who were having a print framed and I asked who the artist was since it was a really fun piece and I wanted to see more of his work. They both immediately started raving about him and told me about an exhibit at the college starting that night.
I met up with them there again and they told me about following his career and collecting his work. It's hard not to catch their enthusiasm so I checked out his website and I really like his work too. He has that ability I totally covet where he can make his paintings come to life somehow.
Check out more of Brian Kershishnik's work here.
I picked this image to borrow because the title made me laugh. 'Would you just walk' made me think of Devin since his favorite way to get somewhere is more like an acrobatic wall climbing venture than walking a straight line like the rest of us. I'm guessing he is probably outgrown this? I hope not.

Fire Drill

My stay at the condo seemed like it was going to end a couple of days sooner than planned. I woke up very early this morning to the fire alarm going off and before you all start scrolling down to find out how I burned the place down, I didn't.

The alarm stopped its blaring after a couple of minutes so I decided it needed new batteries and went back to sleep. It went off again a few minutes later. Fabulous, I love being up at 6 am fighting with things I don't know anything about. I got up to take the battery out of the offending alarm since it seemed to be the one triggering the other three to go off. (I did check the bedroom door before I opened it, I've seen Back Draft) Battery removed and now it just beeped at me every 5 minutes to let me know the battery was missing. Yes, I know. Thank you.

I bought a battery and put it in thinking I'd solved the problem then went running. When I got home it was going off again so I removed the remaining batteries and went back to the store for replacements. New batteries in, problem solved.

Not so fast. It is still going off! I talked to Nick about it (they are in Rome today) and he suggests taking the batteries out and if that doesn't stop it to unplug the things completely. Here's to really living on the edge. Hope pretty kitty doesn't play with matches when I'm not around.

Singles vs Seniors

Two Sundays ago I picked a 9 o'clock singles ward at random so I would be home early to spend the rest of the day Jackie and Jeff. It was F & T meeting and everyone who spoke talked how weird they felt being out in the world for the first time on their own, having just moving out of mom and dads minutes ago. I was having a hard time relating.

Not wanting a repeat of that I decided to go to the church closest to the condo and have fun being the visitor in a family ward. I love being the visitor. It is fun to see who approaches me and everyone is always so friendly. I found a seat and an older couple sat down next to me. It wasn't long before she asked if I was visiting and then added that of course I was, I didn't have gray hair. Haha, cute. Then the meeting begins and the man conducting welcomes any visitors and mentions that this is a senior branch. Of course it is! I have done this once before, St. George is riddled with them and I hadn't noticed many kids. Actually, I could only see two a couple benches in front of me, sitting with their grandparents. I stopped fidgeting and decided to suck it up.

So what right? I figured I could leave after the first hour and go find another ward if I still felt like I was sticking out like the young blood I am. The meeting was exceptional. The woman who spoke absolutely blew my socks off. Before I could escape I had a few invites to the next meeting. I knew G.D. would rock in this ward because, lets face, these people have been around forever so they know lots of great things!

Visitors were welcomed and everyone was turning in their seats to get a good look at me. 'One of these things is not like the others' came to mind. When I introduced myself I told them I was visiting Pretty Kitty and had picked the church building nearest and they all had a good chuckle with me and the fact that I had been so misplaced and not doing anything about it. (I'm the first to laugh at myself, my dad taught me well.) The meeting was as great as I thought it would be so when the ladies ushered me to RS I didn't even think about trying to get out of it. I took a seat in front of a whole row of women in lavender who immediately started shooting off a gamut of questions.

Again they welcomed visitors and again everyone had a chuckle with me and told me to come back whenever I wanted. One lady turned around and asked if I had been introduced yet to any of the eligible men in the ward and this really got them going!

You will never guess the subject of the lesson either. Chastity. I am laughing again now as I think about how I nearly died when the woman teaching started in on her subject. Can you imagine having a chastity lesson with a room full of 65+ women??

Never a dull moment. Ever.

ELEVEN

Happy, happy birthday Cari dear, if I had one wish, then it would be, a happy happy birthday to your from me. (Be so glad you couldn't hear me singing that to you!)

September is a big month for celebrations in this family and Cari turning 11 is HUGE news!! I know it is something of a cliche to say, but where did the time go???
Maybe seeing Ben's kids only once a year - twice, if I'm lucky - is to blame for my lack of being able to comprehend that Cari is already 11! She should still be the 8 year old I lived with in Seoul only yesterday... at the most 9 since I've seen her an accumulated month or two since then so I'll give her a year, but ELEVEN?! Wow, Cari, I am impressed with you. I only wish I knew what you were in to these days. If I know you at all you are being the creative super genius girl you always have been, drawing, writing and growing up faster than any of us thought you would. Slow down!
I wish I could see you more Cari! I owe you a few Girls Only days. Write your aunt an email once in awhile huh?

more to your legacy than peanut butter alone

Dear Momsy and Popsicle, (Wicked reference, SEE IT!)

Happy 38th! Since you already celebrated your anniversary over the weekend I didn't think you'd mind if I threw together a little themed party for you this year? Who doesn't love a party with a theme right? Right. This is how it would go:

Of course this party would be in a central location for all who love you to be there.
This place will work.

You will be chauffeured in this sweet ride.

Superman will stop in to hang at the kids table with Devin, Dillon and Cari (The boys have obviously started to resemble their dad's side more and more.)

There will be Captain Crunch for Ben.

Mom, getting into the spirit of things, will bring some of her fabulous cookies to her own party.


And I would invite this guy along to keep you guessing and make you wonder if I had really lost it completely. But hey, he does seem to like his peanut butter so what is there to lose right?

I love you both!!!!

"A nation will rise no higher than the strength of it's families." Pres. Hinckley.

PS I really need access to my pictures, this combing of the internet for visual aid is really starting to get tough! What I wouldn't give for my photos of the two of you for a good old montage. But then we wouldn't have had that awesome party huh? Man! You two are party animals!

PPS Thank you Heather for the great pic I stole from your site. How do you have a picture from that trip? I am impressed! Happy Anniversary to you and Miles too!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

I LOVE YOU MOM!!!

You are an extraordinary woman who I am lucky to call my mom and my friend. I won't even try to tell you here what you mean to me. I know it wasn't just luck how I ended up in this family. I would not be the person I am today without your example.
I love how upbeat and happy you are and your strength and wisdom. I love how you've made home a place where I want to be. I love all the fun times we have had, all the trips to the ocean and beyond. Exploring with you is always fun and you back me up when I want dad to toss the map and get lost somewhere so we can stumble on the really fun adventures. I love how you let me drag you around for hours shopping, you are the only person I can shop with properly! I love how you love dad and the examples you two have been to me of what I hope to find someday. I love your cookies and pies and cinnamon roles. I love that you celebrated your birthday in a tent watching for lions and impalas and cheetahs. You really know how to live to the fullest!
Love you forever.

surprise delivery

I went by Signe's on the way to the studio this morning to feed the kitties, grabbing the mail and this guy on the way inside. Really. I grabbed him and held him in my hand for a good long while as I checked out a magazine before realizing he was grabbing me back! I 'calmly' put the the mail and him back in the box, did a little shake off dance in the road ridding myself of any lasting spiderness, then grabbed my camera.
He was in no hurry to vacate his luxury condo in the sky (aka mail box) so I wasn't too skittish about getting a close up. Maybe he was actually a she and wanted a peak at what was in the envelope from Tiffany's? I don't blame her!

I thought it was fitting that there were a few ads in the mail for exterminators. If they only knew! Had there been a bug man handy I would have easily bought the mongo package saying 'Gas the place!'

Spiders really only freak me out with their element of surprise and amount of legs... I could easily coexist with them if they weren't always showing up unexpectedly and showing off their unfair advantage of speed with 6 more legs than me.