Spammy

Happy Birthday, Sammy!

You're officially a teenager!

And although I'm still a bit uncomfortable with your new, deep voice on the phone, I am excited that you're growing up.

13 is going to be fun.

I promise.

And even though I'm too poor to send you a birthday present, I am singing birthday songs under my breath for you.

So if you hear some creepy singing, it's probably me.

I lurve you.

I luff you.

I loaf you.

Because love is not enough.

ps This is still my favorite picture of you, taking care of your gross bunny :)

Some Good Links

1. I must have these books.

2. There are a lot of strange places in the world... I must see them all!

3. Guess what? You can make your own handwriting a font. Thank goodness. I've been waiting for that one.

4. My uncle wrote a book. And my mom helped edit it. (Seriously, crazy amounts of time spent with that book.) And now it's finally available on Barnes and Noble. Check it out!

5. Speaking of books, I ordered this one last week. Stunning.

6. I've been listening to a lot of Bach lately. Particularly this song.

7. I desperately want this lipstick.

8. General Conference is this weekend. I really recommend it.

That's all.

A Little Break Here and There

I'm sorry I'm a bad blogger.

And that sometimes I disappear off the face of the planet

(to those of you who are wondering).

But we've been having a bit of a family crisis.

And when it rains, it pours.

I'm currently hiding under my mom, just like that little elephant.

So I'll be here and there.

Around a little bit.

Ya know.

Happy Birthday, Moose Man!

(His silly happy face is so like my own)

So I have this little brother.

And yesterday was his birthday.

18!!!!

So exciting!

And I love him a lot.
And I don't know if he even reads this, but I'm going to post it on his Facebook so he has to.

He's the one I call when I hear a ridiculously stupid joke that I can't tell to anyone else without getting socially rejected forever.
And he even laughs at them.

He's the one who is politically savvy and passionate.
Look out, America. He might run for president one day.

He's got this mop of curly hair that is adorable, but he won't let me touch it.
One day I'll wear him down with pomade.

He's sarcastic.
But oh so nice.

And he has this little silly voice that he uses when talking to the pet guinea pig that is sappy and so ridiculous that you could puke with the sugary sweetness of it.
He got that from me.

He hates vaccuming, but he does it anyways because mom always asks him.

And he's really good at guitar.
Like, really good.
He's going to teach me some songs this summer.
He has really big muscles. Watch him whup Dennis at stick pull with no problems.

And great musical taste.

He embraces all his quirks.
And so do I.

Because he's awesome.
And he has more courage in life than I ever will.

Which is nice.

I love you, Moose/MongATongTongHongEWong

Happy Birfday.

Families Can Be Together Forever

Yesterday I found out that my grandfather died.

This isn't ever easy news to take, but there are certainly things that make it easier. Like how I thought about him frequently for the past few weeks and felt the need to call him. Our conversations were full of fun stuff, like how he followed BYU basketball because that's where I go to school. And how he and his friends in the FFA used to have a folk/bluegrass band. He was the last one of his band that was still alive. He told me that the FFA (Future Farmers of America) didn't have any girls back then. The girls had a group called the Future Homemakers of America. He told me about the beautiful dresses that girls wore in the 1950s, full skirts with layers of crinolines underneath. He loved how ladylike that was. We talked about all the places that he wanted to visit before he died. He told me about how wonderful his wife was and that I reminded him of her (she passed away a few years ago now). Our last conversation was lovely and I'll always remember it.

Knowing that we can be an eternal family makes it easier. I'm so grateful for that knowledge. (learn more here)

Having great friends who will come and give me a blessing of peace makes it easier (thanks, Matt and Blake! You're my favorite!)
(learn more here)

Easter coming up reminds me of the resurrection, that my grandfather will live again. And I'll see him again. I know this. It makes it easier. And it makes it all worth it.

Blind Date

Last night, I had my first blind date.

And it was good.

I've heard a lot of people complain about an awful blind date, so my advice to them would be to only let someone who knows you really well set you up. Not because I'm an expert or anything. But my brother set me up, and I really don't think that there is anyone who knows me better. Anyways, he wasn't going to set me up with a loser, and he certainly knows what I like. So the night was a success.

Fanks, brother. You're awesome. And maybe your girlfriend isn't too bad either. Not that I would ever tell you. Because, let's face it, no one is gonna be good enough.

Memories

You know how somethings just take you back?

This morning as I smelled my bagel in the toaster and poured a glass of coconut/pineapple juice, I was 15 years old again, sitting on the balcony at the beach, looking out as the sun began to light up the water. If you've ever been on the beach in the early morning, you'll understand that perfectly peaceful feeling. Everything is perfect. The early light, the damp feeling in the air, the tide as it comes in. This morning, I would give just about anything to be there again with my family. School? What school? I don't even care.



ps I took that picture in the evening, so it doesn't have quite the same feeling, but that's still our beach.

16 Amazing Things

Because, thanks to my dad, my mom will forever be 16 on her birthdays, here is a list of things I love about her.

1. passion

My mother has a lot of passion that she is willing to share for important causes.

Whether it be Cub Scouts or homeschooling, she goes at it with all the love in her heart.

2. willingness to sacrifice

It's no secret that we're kind of a little bit poor.

But my mom has always made the material sacrifices to make sure that we had a mother around to nurture us every step of the way.

Would it have been easier to go to work?

Absolutely.

Would it have been worth it?

Not in a million years.

3. devotion to all things gospel-like

My mother taught us the basics of the gospel from the time we were very little.

She sang us primary songs, took us to seminary every morning, and encouraged us to build testimonies of our own.

I am forever grateful.

4. homeschooling

Even when it was unpopular and sending us to school would have been a million times easier, she stuck to her guns and her personal beliefs that this was what our family needed.

Thank goodness for that!

5. healthy stuff

From massive amounts of produce to gardening to whole wheat pancakes, I'm so glad my mom taught me to eat healthy.

Without all that processed food.

6. an affinity for all things cute and fuzzy

This has resulted in allowing us to get guinea pigs and hamsters, even when dad was not so keen on the idea.

The bunnies and me appreciate it.

7. willingness to forgive

When I come up from a bad situation hating people, my mom set the perfect example of how to keep on loving.

Even when it's tough.

Because you might not know what the other person is going through.

8. hand gestures

My mom can't talk if you tie her hands behind her back.

Neither can I.

9. adventure

From turtle eggs to large holes in the backyard, my mom is always willing to try with us.

10. music

Like I've said, loud, big music is in the blood.

11. rocking chairs

My best memories are of being rocked and sang to before bed.

It's where I learned all the primary songs.

And even when we were way too big to all fit in her lap, Momma rocked us anyways.

12. books

My momma has collected books for years, enough to cover our whole house from top to bottom, and I am so grateful for the love that she instilled in me for books.

13. letting me go

My momma held us close and taught us all we need to know.

Then she let me go.

And she still takes care of me when I need it, but she lets me be my own person and make my own decisions

(even if they are stupid and she has to bail me out later *cough* insurance papers *cough*)

14. encouraging me

15. being my friend

16. loving me

Happy Birthday, Michee!

Needle Point and Tiny Animals

Check it out:

We call them piggy pockets.

Sam and I have been busy at work today. I taught him how to crochet. And while I could be making something like a scarf or a hat, Mr. Snuggles is old and in love with his new guinea pig hide-a-way. So that is what Sam and I are doing today.

Happy New Year!

We've had a great celebration over here, full of wonderful things.
Joining us was Sean and Tiff,

He-Man,


alien conspiracies,
crepes,and catchphrase, which brought about awesome quotes about strippers and diners.

Hope yours was just as good!

Obnoxious

Fact: I'M HOH-OHM!!!! (Pretend I just said that in my obnoxious voice. I know you know what I'm talking about.)

And it is humid. So humid. I think I am going to die. But my family is nice. And those Packer people sure are awesome. That's about it. More to come.

Growing Up

I can't wait for these days. I tell myself that they're coming, and I shouldn't get ahead of myself. I should enjoy where I am. But sometimes I remember being that little kid and how wonderful it was. And that is when I can't wait to be a momma and give some little ones all the great things my momma gave to me. Naked kids, clothesline forts, and muddy floors. They're coming. And I know I'm only 20, but I can't even wait.

T: Turtles

I just realized that I need to hurry up and finish my A-Z series before 2010 gets here! So I'll knock off a couple today.



This summer, I was out in our backyard when I found a little pit that had some eggs poking out. So of course I ran inside to get everybody. Momma and Sam came out, inspected the little pit, went back inside to do some research, and that was how we wound up with 20 little turtle eggs.

After lots of care, the baby turtles were removed from the pit (where something had obviously been bothering them--there were broken shells all over) and moved into little containers with moist dirt and put into a safe place on our back porch.

Samuel and Mom faithfully kept the dirt moist and cool for the little eggs, and the day after I left to drive back to Utah for school, they hatched! I am very sad I missed it, but they are still there (19 eggs hatched) and they are still tiny, waiting until they're big enough to survive on their own. I'm not sure what kind they are, but I have heard from a few good sources that they are quarter-sized and cute.The pit


Samuel moving the eggs to their new home
(we had to mark the top of the egg before we moved them because they attach their shell to the top of the egg, and if they get flipped over, they'll detach and die.)

Happy Birthday Brother!

Once there was a baby born on Halloween.
Creepy? Yes.
But don't worry, this was a Nice Baby who grew to be a Charming Boy.
He was the oldest, so that gave him certain privileges, but he never exercised unrighteous dominion. If anyone did, it was the Magnificent Madam Mim ( or Younger Sister).
Instead, he was goofy and nice and if somewhat lazy, no one could grudge him that.
After all, Mother Dearest always did call his name first when there was work to be done.
So he grew up to be a Jolly Fellow who did Great Things.
Well, the Great Things were few, but he has plenty of time to work on those.
This only being his 22nd birthday and all, he has plenty of time to do Stuff.

Happy Birthday, Brother!
Love,
Madam Mim

In fact, we all love you.

F: Family

I do so love my family. Isn't Samuel cute? I love that Momma loves to do Scouts with him. How cool is that? That she goes fishing and camping with him? I love it.
The other two are pretty great, too.

I like to ruin pictures. Like, a lot.

Remember that road trip? Well, we went to Tennessee. And maybe I just now looked at some of the pictures. Here are two.

I was tired of pictures at this point.

And this is just the best picture that has ever been taken. My absolute favorite. It sums up me and Aunt Alison quite well, I think.

The end.

Hour Long Phone Calls

Dear Momma,

Thank you for talking to me for hours on end each week. Because I miss you. And I enjoy our conversations about birth and breastfeeding and why I need to take Spanish and my American Heritage class. I love how you worry about your children and how you love your calling. I love getting to hear the latest about your little scouts. I love that you have to go because you need to set Tavi on the potty, and how I can hear the noises of our house in the background, and how you never leave any news out. I love you.

Love,
Sister

Young Love

Yesterday, my brother and I had a wonderful opportunity to visit with our grandfather in Georgia. I haven't seen him in years, so I was quite enjoying myself listening to his stories, and then he began to tell us about the time that he and my grandmother ran away to get married. And it was cute and romantic. They drove through 12 states, stopping in each, to try to get a marriage license because my grandmother was only 16 or 17. And her grandmother had the police looking everywhere for them. But they didn't stop until they found someone to marry them. To me, it sounded like a movie. And I loved it. Never mind that they were later divorced. Or that they both later married two wonderful and amazing people that have loved and cherished them for years. For a moment, I was caught up in their young romance that brought about the most wonderful man who married my mother. And it was good.

Road Trip: Days One and Two

Number of

miles driven: 667

skunk smells: 7 {mostly in Tennessee. Of course.}

skunk stories shared: 8

relatives seen: 6

pictures taken: at least 50

hours spent on the back porch: 5

fruit snacks eaten: 7

fruit snacks that I sang to: 3

weird looks that I got from Dennis: 124,503,490,368

romantic stories told: 1

incredible pictures found of my dad when he was my age: 1

video chats with Kenzie: 1

phone calls to/from Momma: 11

times we listened to the {500} Days of Summer soundtrack: 3

stops for gas: 2

stops for the bathroom: 3

wrong turns: 1

Oh silly, you won't be going anywhere without us.

I have been dancing a lot lately. Fun dancing. Really silly and obnoxious and embarrassing dancing. And then my brothers keep singing a song about a Weekee Wachee Washer Woman who is washing her clothes and picking her nose and doing that sort of thing. So I dance. And, apparently, my dancing isn't appreciated. Because Samuel announced that he hopes his wife doesn't dance and sing as weird as I do.

Just wait, Little Brother. Your wifey will be just as obnoxious. Or else she simply won't fit into this crazy family. You know, the one with the singing shark. And the Spongebob and Hannah Montana marathons. The ones that have picnics on the living room floor and sleepovers in the family room. The ones that crawl into mom and dad's bed late at night. And the ones who are constantly, constantly talking.


You silly goose.

Here are some pictures from our last beach trip.
Sorry, Tiff. I couldn't help but share just one.