Topsy Turvy

“I must learn to love the fool in me the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries”

My Happy Place

“Ask yourself whether the dream of heaven and greatness should be waiting for us in our graves - or whether it should be ours here and now and on this earth.”



This post is dedicated to my cousin who inspired this little thought process with a list she made. AS I think about it I realize that I have had a pretty good life. I have been extremely lucky to have so many good people and things in my life. My friends and my family and our time together are really what make me the happiest. So right now there are things that I look forward to. Here is a list of moments or just things that i cherish,that I want to keep with me, and that I never want to lose.

~Laughing at stupid jokes with Jordan (especially nerdy jokes involving snow flakes and Plessy Vs. Ferguson)

~My munchkins birthdays. Especially talking to Tristan on his birthday when he asks me if I want to come to his house to play again. Of course my answer is yes.

~okay I had to steal this one from Mandy. Warm Cinnamon Rolls anytime but especially on rainy days. It just sounds heavenly.

~Music Period (whether it be Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Carrie Underwood, Yo Yo Ma or listening to show tunes). I love that I can rock out in my car, on my way to work, singing at the top of my lungs. It makes me feel energized and its great that noone else can hear me.

~On that note. I miss being in an orchestra. I miss being with a big group of friends, having a great time, working hard, and making something beautiful. Playing in a pit orchestra is even better. Its such a rush and some much fun, and one of my favorite memories of high school.

~Christmas Caroling after a fresh snow fall when its dark and peaceful, and quiet, and just completely still outside. And Also Sitting by the twinkling lights on the Christmas tree in the dark on Christmas Eve, just enjoying the calm. I love driving around looking at Christmas lights, and listening to Christmas music. Everyone seems happier at Christmas time. People are more giving, and pleasant and cheerful. I love the celebrating, the parties, the focus on Christ and on families. I love Christmas Eve Dinner with your family where you laugh, and play games, and just enjoy life.

~Watching my neice performing in her dance recitals. Probably the most adorable thing ever.

~Reviewing movies or books and having an intelligent conversation with my dad.

~Watching an old couple that you know have been married for probably 60 years holding hands and dancing together and smiling.

~Surprise notes or messages. When your roomate leaves you a note full of nice things and that says Hope You Have a Good Day. When your dad sends you a text message that says you are wonderful and that he misses you. Just when somebody asks how you're doing or says that they were thinking about you.

~Discussing with Erin, for almost an hour I might add, the different ways that common people misuse the English Language

~MOst of the time shopping is fun. When you find cute jeans or a shirt that looks good on you and is decently priced. Its also fun to find DVDs for only $5.

~Watching Bianca (the 8 month old) trying to steal food off of Daddy's plate. ha ha

~Making video/slideshows is my new obsession. I love finding the best pictures and pairing them with the perfect song or set of songs. It is a great way to preserve memories, and it makes a special and sincere gift that anybody would love.

~Challenging Jake (my nephew). He'll quiz me on trivia like WHAT IS THE CAPITOL OF ICELAND or WHAT DOES THE FLAG OF SWITZERLAND LOOK LIKE? We'll play Horse or kickball together. He likes to try and beat me at chess and Clue also.

~That rushing feeling you get when you go on an really intense rollercoaster or down FREEFALL at 7 peaks. You know that feeling where you feel the butterflies fluttering, you're almost nauseous, and your stomach ends crammed up where your throat should be.

~Blasting ABBA in the kitchen and baking some chocolate chip cookies.

Inspired by the Piano Man. . .

THEY'RE SHARING A DRINK THEY CALL LONELINESS,

BUT ITS BETTER THAN DRINKING ALONE

She can kill with a smile She can wound with her

eyes She can ruin your faith with her casual lies

And she only reveals what she wants you to see

She hides like a child But she's always a woman to me

She will promise you more Than the Garden

of Eden Then she'll carelessly cut you And laugh

while you're bleedin' But she'll bring out the best

And the worst you can be Blame it all on yourself

Cause she's always a woman to me

She is frequently kind And she's suddenly cruel

She can do as she pleases She's nobody's fool

But she can't be convicted She's earned her degree

And the most she will do Is throw shadows at you

But she's always a woman to me

The Ride-Life has Moments that are Hard to Describe

“Live life fully while you're here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You're going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes. “Of course life is bizarre, the more bizarre it gets, the more interesting it is. The only way to approach it is to make yourself some popcorn and enjoy the show.”

Sometimes I sits and think, and sometimes I just sits.

Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important.



If I had my life to live over I'd like to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual trouble, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.

And All That Jazz in Idaho

So I had quite a weekend.







I went with my sisters family (these are her adorable kids) and my parents to Swan Valley to visit Miss Faye



We had a great time. We stayed in Sleepy J Cabins down the street from Frank and Jamie and Faye and Gracelynn.
WE got up early and my fabulous brother-in-law made some dutch oven breakfast. WE had pancakes and bacon and sausage and strawberries. The kids had a blast hunting Faye's kitties down. Poor cats. Piper, faye's dog, even gave one of the cats a piggy back. yikes!!
Then we drove to Jackson. Jake rode with Mom and DAd and I. He talked about tanks the entire car ride. He's the funniest kid. We went down the Alpine Slide. I rode up the ski lift with Jake. He is kind of scared of heights. He went down on his own little cart but Olivia refused to. It was a blast. Then we went out to lunch to Bajio and I saw Jared, one of the officer's from work. It was insane.
Then we went shopping. We went into some really cute shops. There were some really funny shirts like the Irish Yoga one. I took Jake into a shop called Hero's. It had sports cards, books, comic books, stuffed animals, and jake's favorite, decorated chess sets.
My mom asked the kids about cowboy terminology like saddle bags, chaps, spurs. We would show them something on this statue of a horse and if they got it right they won a dolalr. It was a great trip. I'm so glad we went. I'm only sad I didn't get to stop in Logan when we drove through.

The only drawback happened after we got home from Idaho. My dad had me back my car up in the driveway so we could put oil in my car. So i moved it and turned the car off. We put a quart and half into the engine. Then when i got loaded up and was ready to head to Provo my car wouldn't turn over. So it got towed today! Yay! I hope its fixed soon.

My one little stroke of creativity!!

Its long but its enjoyable!!

Thank You Andrew Lloyd Webber

SO FOR EDUCATION WEEK AT BYU THEY PUT ON A PRODUCTION OF JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. I REALLY ENJOY THIS PLAY BECAUSE OF THE BRILLIANCE OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER. HIS MUSIC IS CATCHY AND MELODIC AND INTRICATE AND PRETTY MUCH PERFECT. THIS SHOW HAS ALMOST EVERY SINGLE STYLE OF MUSIC. FURTHERMORE, I DID REALLY ENJOY THIS PRODUCTION. WELL LET ME SAY THERE WERE SOME NEW IDEAS AND MORE THINGS THAT I DID ENJOY THAN THINGS THAT I DIDN'T.

WHY I LIKED THIS PRODUCTION
1) THERE WAS A MODERN COLORFUL TWIST PUT INTO THE SHOW. (THIS INCLUDES COSTUMES, SETTING ETC. WHICH I WILL EXPLAIN)

2) THIS SHOW USED 3 NARRATORS INSTEAD OF ONE. wHILE I WAS ALWAYS PARTIAL TO THE BLACK SUIT THAT I'VE SEEN THE NARRATOR WEAR BEFORE, THESE GIRLS HAD SHNAZZY GLITZY COSTUMES. ASIDE FROM THE VERY FIRST DRESS WHICH WAS A BIT FLOWY AND UNFLATTERING FOR MY TASTE I THOUGHT THE COSTUMES WERE GREAT. EACH ONE OF THE GIRLS COULD SING AND THEY SOUNDED SOLID WHEN THEY HARMONIZED TOGETHER.

3)POTIPHAR WAS PIMPED OUT!! HE HAD A NEAT ZOOT SUIT ON. IT WAS COLORFUL AND PINSTRIPED. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A MOB BOSS AND HE HAD GANGSTER HENCHMAN.

4) JACOB AND HIS SONS WERE SUPPOSED TO OWN AND OPERATE THEIR OWN LITTLE ESTABLISHMENT WHICH WAS A KIN TO SOME SORT OF FRENCH BISTRO. JACOB AND HIS SONS WERE GLAMOURED UP A BIT.

5) THIS PRODUCTION INCLUDED THE SISTER DINAH. SHE DIDN'T ACTUALLY HAVE LINES OR SING OR ANYTHING BUT SHE SPENT TIME AROUND HER BROTHERS AND THE REST OF THE FAMILY. SOMEHOW EVERYBODY SEEMS TO FORGET ABOUT HER.

6) EGYPT WAS BEDAZZLED AND TURNED INTO ANCIENT LAS VEGAS.

7) PHARAOH'S SONG TURNED OUT SO WELL. PHARAOH HIMSELF PULLED OFF THE ELVIS GIG RATHER WELL. BUT THE WHOLE SONG WAS GREAT BECAUSE OF THE CHOREOGRAPHY AND THE COSTUMES. COSTUMES WERE GLITTERY, RETRO, COLORFUL. ALL OF THESE DANCER'S/TOURISTS WERE DOING WHAT I THINK IS A STYLIZED DANCE. IT WAS A THROWBACK TO THE HAND JIVE AND IT CONNECTED THE MUSIC AND THE TIME PERIOD REALLY WELL.

8) THERE WAS A FULL ON TANGO WITH ALL 11 SONS DURING THOSE CANAAN DAYS.

9) THE COLORED COAT CAME OUT OF A GAP BAG. THE FOOD JOSEPH GIVES TO HIS BROTHERS CAME IN CHILIS TO GO BAGS.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE.
PHARAOH'S WIFE WAS FRUMPY AND NOT NEARLY SEDUCTIVE ENOUGH.
THE CHEESY BIBLE JOKES DURING GO GO GO JOSEPH

THINGS I'M NOT SURE ABOUT.
THE BAKER HAD A PUPPET PLAYING THE BUTLER. IT WAS A LITTLE FUNNY AT FIRST BUT IT GOT KIND OF OLD

IT WAS COOL SEEING ALL 4 OF JACOB'S WIVES

THE ISHMAELITE WERE CIRCUS PEOPLE. SIDESHOW CARNI FOLK.

PHARAOH'S SOLDIERS LOOKED LIKE ROMAN SOLDIERS AND I DON'T THINK THAT WAS VERY ACCURATE AT ALL.

NEXT ON MY LIST THE SCARLETT PIMPERNEL AND THE DROWSY CHAPERONE

"The art of living does not consist in preserving and clinging to a particular mood of happiness, but in allowing happiness to change its form without being disappointed by the change, for happiness, like a child, must be allowed to grow up”

Someday

SOMEDAY EVERYTHING WILL MAKE PERFECT SENSE. SO FOR NOW, LAUGH AT THE AT THE CONFUSION, SMILE THROUGH THE TEARS, AND KEEP REMINDING YOURSELF THAT EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON

Let them Eat Cake

So my friends and I decided that we'd have a cake decorating contest.


The theme was probably the hardest one ever. Famous architecture. Wayne and i were partners in crime and decided to be really ambitious. We decided to try and build the Disney Concert Hall.


Needless to say. It turned into a fun but undeniable disaster. The frosting we were using was way to sticky and the cake completely fell apart and crumbled. We tried to save it and turn the cake into a meso American pyramid/temple. It just crumbled some more, and looked even more pitiful. So we decided that the cake was the White House after a huge explosion. It looked very pitiful and it was not worthy of picture or any sort of documentation. Although we finished 4th place out of 4 groups we placed first in the taste caetgory. That means our cake tasted the best. That's all that really matters, right?

Jocelyn and Steve's second attempt at the Eiffel Tower. We all couldn't believe how well it turned out.


Sam and Samantha's Golden Gate Bridge. Of course they won. Look at the freaking sugar work!


Luke and Sara's Stone Henge

One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats.

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough
One Day I will. . .

GET MARRIED IN A DRESS LIKE THIS




HAVE A CAKE AT MY WEDDING LIKE THIS


LIVE IN A HOUSE LIKE THIS WITH MY FAMILY


Buy a puppy like this


Have a Kitchen like this. .


Sit in a Living Room like this


I'll sleep in a room like this. . .


and I'll have a yard with a patio like this