Still No Voice

People at work ask me if I have taken up smoking...
Customer Service reps think I may be on my deathbed...
and I have to have kyle translate to my grandma what I am trying to say.
Not having a voice totally stinks.
It's been about 6 weeks since I could talk normally.
I can totally relate to Ariel, except for I didn't trade my voice in for a boy.

From One Genius to Another

It's official.  Kyle is a college graduate.
I spanked him for good luck

 and then on saturday we threw him a big party
it was so wonderful to be surrounded by people we love.
here are some highlights:

 My mother decided to cause some controversy and make him a blanket

 we used up 12 lbs of chocolate dipped strawberries

 My U ice didn't last too long

 the master griller, my dad

 decor (that I almost killed myself getting up)

 the people who brought kyle up (and make great baked beans)

 the games

 and the end!

(By the way, the hat indicates my true loyalty...for the true story of what happened ask Kyle)

Thanks to everyone who came!

Best Dinner Ever

Lets be honest.
I'm not the best cook.
I was spoiled, and didn't learn from my mother
(she is a culinary wizard)

But Monday night, I surprised myself and Kyle!

I made this:

The recipe is from the Little America Hotel, and man is it fancy.
It tasted even better than it looks.

We had guests, and they had something against bacon (the meat of the Gods) but I'm sure it was still awesome.

(at this point I am bragging)
I also made a Spinach Salad with Strawberrys and a Vinaigrette and mashed potates with home made gravy!

I had a great time making it, but haven't really cooked since... oops!

Got to get runnin

It was snowing outside my work just a few minutes ago.
This is no good, considering bff I and I are suppoed to be running a 1/2 marathon in 1 month-- and we haven't trained at all.

We are in big trouble!

Zions National Park

We were stoked for our much needed vacation and quickly packed our bags with shorts, swimsuits and sunglasses and drove South.  Much to my surprise I didn't wear my shorts even once, and although we did use our swimsuits, we only got them wet in the hot tub while surrounded by snow.

But being snowed in a cute little cabin with some fun friends and the man I love isn't bad.

Here are a few photos from our vacay... Love no makeup days

St Pattys!

Kyle is my lucky charm.... Cheesy gift but really a little thought goes a long way!

Kyle knows I love LOVE LETTERS.  On Monday he left me one.  On tuesday he left me 2 roses (because you can say i love you with just one flower) and a little note saying he was taking me on a date later that night!

My cute visiting teachers came over and everyone knows I can talk.... so we didn't get out of the house on time.  He planned dinner and a movie.  Since we were short on time we hit the DQ (what a spender;))  but we had a great time.  It is so funny how when you call it a date it makes it so much more special.


Speaking of special I am trying to be better about holidays. Last night we got together with some friends.  We all wore green and ate a delicious green dinner (if I was really prepared I would have done something Irish)  We'll see what I can come up with for Easter!

So much for being good at blogging...  Oh well...

Here is a little eye candy for all you ladies out there:

 This handsome guy is my husband.  I love candid pictures of just about anyone, I feel like candid pictures have a way of taking to to the location and the moment that other pictures don't.

Also, if your life feels upside down right now, try standing on your head.  It really hurts but its something Joni (lil sis) and her whole drill team has been practicing for a while.  They even spun on their heads.  Wow

Maybe thats why at state drill they all hit their heads in unison...

  And then put on these superwoman space suits???

I can't leave Amy out

 She is headed to Cali this week to compete!  Good luck mamy!

I think I have a crush on Amy's Prom Date, maybe Joni's too...

If only they had Prom for 20 somethings like me. I would go and dance the night away.... but since they don't, I get to live through my little sisters.

They don't think so but I bet they are some of the coolest girls in school.  Twins (always a cool factor), beautiful, and talented.  Joni is the Jr Drill Mistress (or something like that) and Amy is a jumping and flipping cheerleader. They are way cool.

Saturday was an extremely busy day.  We had my Opa's funeral, which was lovely, and then the Murray High Prom.

PS they literally PROMENADE.  Who knew?

Anywho they asked me to do their hair and makeup. Little Laura and cousin Hailey helped.  But just as Joni put on her dress, Amy pulls out the acetone to fix her nails and.... you can guess the rest of the story.  Joni about to cry, mom freaking out, and me not knowing what to do.  Not to mention Jonis date shows up 5 minutes after the big spill.

Amy was so sad, she didn't even want to go anymore, but after a little talking and a spoonful of sugar, everything was better.

The girls looked beautiful and I am proud to call them my sisters (but really Amy, quit slouching in pictures!)

Also here we are at Opa's funeral (which he strickly ordered no crying, he wanted a party and had Oma take us all out to dinner).  

I think I have an addiction. 

I can't stop thinking about it

and I  want more right now
and it's only 11am

I think I need a better breakfast

Good Bye Little Red

About a year ago, when my sisters Mammy and I were ridding around in cute Little Red (who my mother calls the Tomato)  a car almost ran into us.  Adorable Lar blurts out "We almost became Tomato Sauce"!  Which is now a running family joke.  But sad to say we won't joke about little red very much longer.

She is all banged up... and going to a new home (wherever the insurance decides to take her)

It happened when I was oh so close to work.  I was driving West on 1700 S. Just minding my own when a car jumped out at me and we collided.  The girl was sitting at a stop sign South bound and didn't see me when she tried to gun it and turn East Bound.  Here is a diagram

So looks like we are a one car family for now!

Male Escort... Male Model

So last year my sister Emily and I were asked to be models for the bridal show.
This year they asked me to do it again... but Em just had a baby and wasn't up for changing in and out of over a dozen dresses in a hour and walking on a run way in them... but I got Ky to do it!

I hooked him with the promise of big money and no pictures (but I swear I didn't take any of these)  so here are a few pics for your viewing pleasure.

My cute friends Aubrey, Kat and Alyssa all joined me in bridal bliss!

Check us out!

Christmas

I got what I wanted for Christmas!  Was it because I was a good girl and Santa had me on his list?  Or because I spent the last 2 months telling him to tell his mom that is what I wanted.

Some people think they are odd... but I think they are so cool and I am hoping they can help me with my knee problems.  I can't wait until it is warmer outside so I can test these babies out around town... for now I will have to hit the treadmill with them.

p.s. kyle was good too.. but he didn't get the 72 in flat screen he asked Santa for (probably because he never cleaned the bathroom toilet, but there is always next year!)

My Productive week

A whole week off of work.
I will get the whole house deep cleaned and organized, everything will have a place and a plastic tub.
I will exercise and cook a lot of healthy food for our freezer.

That is what I thought would happen.  Really I did. I also had some cute decor projects that would make "grandma's house"  a little more chic... but the time old cliche still rings true... "the road to hell is paved with good intentions".

Right now as I am relishing in my last few hours of freedom I look around our apartment and I can tell you:
I do have a  few projects started, but nothing finished.
I need a million more plastic tubs to organize all of the junk I have
and my freezer has a ton of free space.

This weekend Kyle and I watched Eat, Pray, Love (I wouldn't suggest it) it really was a slow paced, small plot film.  But watching it wasn't a total waste of time, this is what I gleaned:  we need to enjoy our time here on earth, i don't always have to be cleaning something, helping someone or planning my next big adventure.  It's okay to take a moment to meditate, to do nothing, (but really only a moment).  Also I don't have to have  a full explanation of who I am and my cause right now, I can spend a lifetime defining myself, not to prove to someone else, but to discover what I am about.

Also I will say this.  I might not have been productive in my home, but I did spend time with the lonely, help clean other peoples houses, kiss a child's cheek, go thrift store shopping with my grandpa, watch my sisters dance and play sports and held hands with my sweet husband.

Anywho, Kyle and I and the Parentals went to the MoTab Christmas Concert today. It was phenomenal.  David Archuletta sang like an Angel, Mike and Kristen were delightful (and becoming more Wouden-ish, we had a great after concert debate) and Michael York brought a few stories to life!

So this week my plans are to be more productive that last week!

Potato Soup

Remember how I am learning to cook?  Which is fine and all but yesterday was an almost disaster!

I got asked to stay late at work... which I couldn't turn down. 

I stopped at the Grocery store to pick up a few more things to add.

I decided to hurry and put on some makeup so I didn't look so tired.

and i got started really late!

Potato soup isn't hard.  But really it takes longer than 20 minutes.  I forget how long chopping up a ton of stuff takes.   I ended up calling like a dozen girls that live by me to come help.  Liybbie came and she brought her mom.  My kitchen was a war zone.  Onion peels scattered over the counter top, soup sliding down the stove front and bacon grease clinging to the cupboards. 

Those two saved to soup and got me to the party on time... Well almost.  10 minutes late isn't bad is it?  A girl has to be fashionably late!

But I am still working on the cooking thing.  Potato soup didn't get the best of me yesterday.

“See What Happens When I am Romantic”

That’s what Kyle said to me last Saturday.

After a long day of Super Saturday and meetings I come home to the man I love and naturally we kiss.  He dips me and as I swing a little he lifts me up.  My forehead and the edge of our table meet,  they don’t like eachother, Kyle lays me on the ground a vows to get rid of the table.  I now have a love scar on my head.