A sigh from the dust...

As my sister kindly informed me today, my lack of blogging over the past six weeks is the equivalent of decades in real time. I guess I haven't felt the need to express myself, or well simply didn't feel there was much to report.

All the same, here is a simple update as to what has happened over the past six weeks:



The end of January I was suppose to run a 10K... ha I chickened out and just ran the 2 mile race. But all the same it was a fun atmosphere, and inspiring to someday actually run a 10k. (By the way the lovely ladies in the picture are Amber, myself, Michelle, and Jackie) Amber ran the 10k, major props to her. Someday....


Over President's day weekend/Valentine's day I made a quick trip up to Vegas to visit my sister. It was a very calm visit, but very much needed and enjoyable none the less. I enjoyed watching little miss Isis play at the park. I ended up leaving a little bit later than I should have on Monday afternoon/evening, and ended up driving through the worst rain of my life for 5 straight hours. I don't think I have ever gripped my steering wheel so hard. I also sang at the top of my lungs to avoid thinking about the insane rain beating down on me and being kicked up by the trucks in front of me.

The end of February my parents treated us to an amazing trip to Disneyland. They picked me up on the way, and it was fantastic. I love Disneyland, after all it is the happiest place on earth. I think our faces express this adequately.

Last week I made a quick trip down to Tucson to see my brother in the play Footloose, he played the principal. It was quite entertaining, but yes the best part was seeing my brother dance at the end. :) Who knew he had it in him? (Although if you ask him, he would kindly bring up the fact that I would force him to dance to hawaiian music in the living room all growing up. )

This is not much of a post, but hey better than nothing right?
I can hardly believe that I have already been in Mesa for 6 months. It has been crazy, but I am grateful for the opportunities that have come. This time 5 days from now I will be contemplating my future on the beaches of Australia and perhaps will have more to report when I return.

Gotta love the weekends...

Some highlights

Friday night - Dinner at the Euro Cafe in Gilbert. Mmm Mmm Mmm. Then friends over for games.

Saturday- Running errands. I bought a ticket to Australia. Yes. I will be going to the land down under. :). Elder Bednar's fireside.

Sunday- Great eat and greet dinner with the Relief Society. Trip to Snowflake to visit my grandpa Willis.

Grandma's Kitchen. Good memories. :)I love my family. Of course since there wasn't a way to get across the icy creek my dad had to make a bridge.


PetroglyphsMy parents... Can you tell I come from a happy family? :)



My little brother Thomas

Overall it was a fantastic weekend.

Some pictures...

After feeling a little bit of success with my pillow I decided to try a baby's quilt. I was pleasantly surprised with the result. I had imagined the lady bug in my head, and it was nice that it turned out like I had imagined it.

4-4-4-4

4 random things about me
1. I normally skim a magazine from the back to the front
2. I have always wanted a Magic Bullet (and I got one for my birthday he he he :) )
3. I like to brush my teeth slightly intense (just ask my sister)
4. I love chocolate chips

4 Movies I could watch more than once
1. Clue
2. While you were sleeping
3. You've Got Mail
4. Remember the Titans

4 T.V. shows I watch
1. The Office
2. Biggest Loser
3. Family Feud
4. Friends reruns

4 Places I've been
1. Venice
2. London
3. Paris
4. Machu Picchu

4 People who email me regularly
1. My missionary brother
2. Kohl's
3. NY Times.com
4. Southwest Airlines

4 Favorite Foods
1. Almonds
2. Broccoli
3. Hawaiian Haystacks
4. Quesadillas

4 Places I would like to visit
1. Australia
2. Hawaii
3. Japan (Anywhere in Asia really)
4. Egypt

4 Things I am looking forward to this year
1. Grad School
2. Discovering new things
3. New Friends/Old Friends
4. Sticking to New Year's Resolutions... :)

4 People to TAG!
1. Amanda
2. Rachel
3. Spencer
4. Candra

A small project...

I never feel very crafty, but I wanted a sewing machine for Christmas anyway. So today I made my first little project. I am quite proud. :)

And the back...

And the corners which I am really proud of, after the first try. :)

This has been very encouraging for the possibility of future projects! :)

THANKSGIVING!

The best re cap of my Thanksgiving can be made through the pictures that will follow. :)

Family Pictures - My Sister Rachel, her husband Jeremy, and baby Isis.

My Dad and his only grandbaby. :)
Gingerbread houses! YAY for traditions.
FAMILY PICTURE :) Missing David... :(
My sister and I gained a whole new appreciation for making gingerbread.
I had the privilege of taking the christmas tree on my car. :)
Isis was the center of attention for the weekend, for obvious reasons. :) She is so stinkin cute! :)
My mom and her only grandbaby. SOO cute.
Shooting the day after Thanksgiving. I was a DANG good shot if I do say so myself.
The WILLIS Family. :) After Thanksgiving dinner.
After the Turkey Bowl Thanksgiving morning. :)
My first motorcycle ride with my cousin Scott. Yes it scared the crap out of me.

Overall it was a wonderful Thanksgiving! :)

21 things you may not know about me...

The picture is explained in #20. :)

1. I took my 1st college class when I was 13. I took a computer programming class at a community college.

2. I have a really hard time cutting people out of my life.

3. Family traditions mean everything to me. I especially love the traditions around Thanksgiving/Christmas. We always get the our tree the day after Thanksgiving. The kids decorate it while my parents go out on a date. We make gingerbread houses the first Monday in December. We make mudballs. We go Christmas Caroling on Christmas eve. We have a scavenger hunt for the big family christmas present.

4. Things like the Tree man really freak me out. REALLY freak me out. Or things that are in strange masses. It makes my skin crawl.

5. I have to set the table with the fork on the left side of the plate, the knife on the right with the blade facing the plate, and the spoon on the right side of the knife.

6. I enjoy a good bubble bath, with candles. Also for some reason washing my feet before I got to bed is really relaxing.

7. I grew up going to historical sites. One of our family outings included going to cemeteries where my parents would send us kids looking for one of our ancestors names on the headstones.

8. When I was in 5th grade I use to brag at the dinner table how many boys I had punched that day. I had issues. :)

9. I love having colorful bras, I missed them on my mission. :) I only own one white bra.

10. I enjoy decorating cakes. Someday I would like to be good at it.

11. I LOVE ROLLERCOASTERS!!! LOVE THEM!

12. I love black and white photography, I'm currently obsessed with framing my own photos.

13. When my sister and I were growing up I always got in trouble because I laughed louder. Well, I still laugh louder but I don't necessarily get in trouble for it. One night we got sent to the garage for laughing too loud too late at night. We laughed so hard we we peed our pants.

14. I love the color Teal.

15. I always wanted to be a doctor, and sometimes I use to think I gave up. But then I realized that what I really wanted was to make a difference, which I know I have the potential to do.

16. I have a goal of never being in the US more than 18 months at a time without leaving to another country for a while.

17. I was on a swim team.

18. I was diagnosed with Asthma when I was 7. I had my most severe attack when I was 11, and was in the hospital for 4 days.

19. When I was 4 or 5 I use to make trips to the mailbox pretending that I was going on exciting trips. :) I would pack up my lego/duplo bucket as if it were a suitcase.

20. I was the biggest nerd in middle school, well maybe I still am. :) I played the clarinet, I did Future Problem Solving, I had a 4.0, and I was on Student Council. Also I got the history award for the year in 8th grade. I have the best picture to prove my nerdiness, if you want to see it, just let me know.

21. I want somebody who will dance with me in the kitchen, preferably to Nat King Cole. :)

Well there you go. :) I guess a small insight to my life.