Gotta catch up!!

So....here's what I've been up to the last couple of months:

New Slippers. Finally. 

As you can see, this was a much needed wardrobe update. I wore the old ones every single day in Ecuador on the way to shift. It's funny how you don't realize how terrible something looks until you see a brand new version.
Dang. Those were BEAT UP. 

Books books books books BOOKS

I needed 10 children's book titles to read for my Children's Literature class. My Mama got really excited when I told her, and we ended up with this pile of about 30 titles. I have been checking out books from her every week. When I'm done, we discuss the plots, characters, and lessons over the phone. Nerdy? Maybe. 

Like Mother, Like Daughter.
Turns out I'm passionate about Children's Literature too. Who knew?

Happy Birthday Llama!

We did a great wrapping job. Crafty. 

Kind of blurry...but it was cute. I promise. 

Elizabeth joined us for the opening of presents. 

Bessie's adorable home-made gift for Mama. Someday I hope to be as clever as her.
This was an adorable decoration for our family room. 

Mama's new yoga gear, compliments of Olivia and Natalie. It's ALL pink. 

Mama actually turned 20. 

Moving Day...again, with the books.

I figured out in the moving process that I have a ridiculous amount of books.
I don't even have time to read them.  :(

More books....I have a problem. But like I said, I'm becoming my Mother, so I guess it's not that surprising. 

Fro-Yo Trips

What we see here is one of the many Fro-Yo trips we've made. We may or may not be addicted. 

 Shopping at DI

Peri found quite a little treasure...

You can only find something like this at DI. 

 Natty Danced

On the way to Natty's State Drill Competition, I spilled cashews all over my purse and Dad's car.
Unfortunately I couldn't laugh because he was on a work phone call. That proved to be quite difficult.

Natalie and her drill teamers danced wonderfully, and the Chevaliers took 5th place at State!

Hitting the Books

Peri and I found that Borders is a wonderful place to study, mostly because of this hot chocolate.
Seriously though, I got SO much done. Studying at Border's has become a weekly tradition.

Tangled & Floating Lanterns

Peri has been set on making her very own floating lantern (inspired by Tangled...GREAT movie) since she saw the movie about a month ago. She even made blueprints.

This is the face I made the entire time she was trying.
I was slightly concerned about the outcome. 

I'm super funny...

Yesterday I said something funny. The great thing...I didn't realize I was funny until after I said it. It came naturally. That never happens to me! "Accidentally" may be a better word choice than "naturally", but I'd like to think it was the latter, so we'll just stick with that. 

Though I enjoy writing, I'm not that fabulous at utilizing those lovely literary devices we learned about in AP Literature back in high school. I can't ever think of puns, and usually I don't understand them when others use them. Stupid metaphors come really easily to me. I can't rhyme, my alliteration sounds like I have a speech impediment, and my hyperboles never turn out to be that hyperbolic. On top of all of that, I always mess up those phrases that everyone else seems to know. One time, I said "the cat's out of the hat." Oh boy.

I should also say that I have always been jealous of those people who can jump into a conversation, and nonchalantly respond in the most perfectly humorous fashion. They don't try at all. I try too hard. I mean, I think I'm funny, but I usually keep my mouth shut because no one else really cares.

And now ladies and gentlemen...the funny comment:

Yesterday at church, I was talking to a friend who had been up all night with an earache.  She said it was better, but it was constantly ringing and actually driving her nuts-o. So, in my attempt to be a good sister in the Relief Society, I told her that if she needed it I'd, "lend her an ear." Kidding, but serious.

And also PUNNY. I used a pun!!!!

I didn't even realize how clever it was until a minute or two later. Granted, it really isn't that funny. And she may or may not have already heard it 7 times that morning. But please take a moment to consider my history and it's sad lack of humor, and you might agree that it's kind of a big deal. I laughed for a while. Quite a while.

Happy Birthday to my favorite little girl!

Yesterday was my little girl's birthday. I miss her so much.

I miss when she'd walk around mumbling my name under her breath..."Dippi...dippi...dippi..."

I miss when she'd find a kleenex and pretend to blow her nose.

I miss when she'd take my headband off my head and put it on hers, and then walk around telling the workers she looked like me. 

I miss when she'd say "apology." She is so good at english words. Money, apology, tickle.

I miss when we'd come into the nursery in the morning and she'd be hiding in the fort she'd made with her mattress. 

I miss when I'd look over and she'd be standing in her cuna with no diaper on. And with quite a guilty look on her face. 

I miss when she'd take off her shoes and socks just to spite me. And then so she could come sit in my lap when I put them back on. 

I miss when I'd ask her where her arms were, and she'd give herself a hug. 

I miss when I'd tickle her and she'd curl up in a little ball in my lap, giggling away. 

I miss when she sit on my lap and try to put her fingers in my nose. 

I miss when we'd go on walks and she'd hold tight onto my finger.

I miss when she'd give me a kiss or a hug whenever I asked.
I miss when you'd call her name, and she'd do a gangster head nod in reply. 

I just miss her. I wish I could give her a big hug and kiss those squishy little cheeks of hers. I hope she knows I love her....because I really truly do. 

Cute-ifying the Apartment

So this is what our kitchen looked like when we moved in. Empty shelves...not so cute. It was bugging me that they weren't being used, so I set off on a mission to fill them. Peri and I went to DI where we looked for old, vintage looking cookbooks, sewing books, gardening books....anything to do with making a home a more beautiful place. We were surprised with the plethora we found of such literature. DI really is full of treasures. We found Campbell's Soup cookbooks from the fifties and the old Betty Crocker baking recipes. After narrowing down our selection from about 20 books to 10 books, we made our purchases and headed home to use our books to spice up our kitchen a bit. 

A file we found full of old recipes and photos. 

I don't know why anyone would have gotten rid of this. 

Beautifully Crocheted Sweaters

So terrible, but so worth the purchase.

Peri. Is. Cute.

The finished product. You like?

Some of the titles we found, our favorite being Crime Brulee.

#32 Dye My Hair

My hair lost its virginity today.

Inappropriate? Maybe. I'm just repeating what the hair stylist herself said. Apparently I had "virgin hair" since I'd never dyed it before. I originally wanted to dye a chunk of my hair red. A very subtle red. And just one streak. With the help and advice of my lovely Katie Orme, I decided to stick some blonde in there and save red for another time. As we tossed ideas around, some blonde, turned into a lot of blonde. It was drastic for me, although it probably doesn't look that drastic to the rest of the world. I can't lie...it was kind of scary. That's a big step to take in a girl's life.

Good news: I LOVE IT.