Murder Mystery

So the picture below is from a murder mystery dinner that we did about a month ago. It was a chinese theme and was called Hoo Hung Woo. It was hysterical. There were 8 of us and we had it at my house. We made chinese food, decorated our house with Asian paraphanelia that we borrowed from our awesome friend Jamie and my amazing old roommate Stephanie. We watched a video on how to apply Geisha makeup and used Amanda's theater makeup to paint our faces. It was a ton of fun and we can't wait to do another one!

And no, I was not the murderer...

Do I look Chinese?

Year of Impulsiveness

So this year has been designated The Year Of Impulsiveness. Each of the last 3 years we have had themes for the year. (2006 - Year of Boldness, 2007 - Year of Sassyness) My friends Amanda, Becca, and Joy have all been a part of these years. It was after much thoughtful searching of the dictionary and thesaurus that Clark (Becca's husband) helped us determine that this year is IMPULSIVENESS! I am so excited about it! Amanda and I did a couple impulsive things to start of the year when we went to California for New Year's, but nothing too impulsive has occurred since then. Until yesterday...

What impulsive thing did I do yesterday, you ask. Well, my friend Jessie and I booked a cruise. Yup, we got online, found a great deal and had it all booked within about 30 minutes. It was great!!!! I am so excited and can't wait for April 26th when I can get out of here and head to Mexico! We also got our friend Melissa and her sister to decide that they want to come with us and they booked it for them this afternoon. It is going to be amazing!! I can't wait!

So, here is to the Year Of Impulsiveness!! And maybe something impulsive will happen on the cruise.... ;)

Best Valentine's EVER!

Normally I don't look forward to Valentine's Day. It's not as much fun when you aren't dating someone seriously, but last night was the greatest Valentine's Day EVER! At least, the greatest Valentine's Day of my 26 year existence. And I had been looking forward to it for over a month! Not normal.

Anywho, my good friend Sara H Bohe texted me about a month ago and told me something wonderful and amazing that we both had somehow overlooked. The soon-to-be greatest movie of all time (maybe a bit exaggerated) was coming out on Valentine's Day. What incredible movie am I talking about? Yup, you guessed it....

STEP UP 2 THE STREETS!!!!!!!!!

How we both had not been aware of this glorious moment is beyond me, but greatfully we found out in enough time to purchase our tickets way in advance and plan an incredible girls night out with almost every other single gal in provo.

And it surely did not disappoint!!!!!! The movie is very different from the first one in the storyline, but just as amazing and had absolutely incredible dancing. And the best part...a little cameo by the one and only Tyler Gage! (real name: Channing Tatum. YUM!) Also, the main guy is this movie is just as yummy!! I didn't even want to leave the theater when it was over, it was that good!

After the movie, all us singles went to Red Robin and enjoyed stuffing ourselves on bottom-less fries and chocolate milkshakes. It was amazing. It's going to be a tough Valentine's Day to beat.

In fact, I DARE any guy to beat it next year! ;)

A Couple Things...

First of all, I can't believe that it is February!!! Seriously, where does time go?!? January was a good month though and I kept basically all of my new years resolutions. I met the monthly goals I set for myself and I'm excited about that. Now onto another month and more goals!

Second, I want today to be done! I have a love/hate relationship with fridays. I love fridays because it's the end of the work week, but I hate fridays because I just want it to be saturday already!!! But K-Dub, J and I made it a good friday by taking a long lunch break to go to Cracker Barrel. Yummy!

Third, I can't find my wallet!! The only problem when we went to Cracker Barrel was when I grabbed my purse to pay for my lunch and my wallet was no where to be found. What?!? I had it this morning when I went to the gas station, but it is no longer there. I searched all through my purse (it's not that big) and even through my car and J's car, but to no avail. I called the gas station to see if I maybe left it there and they had it, but no. My wallet is lost and I am freaking out! (Just ask my dad, I called him crying. I'm such a baby...) I think what may have happened is that I put my purse down to get my keys out and I think I may have set my wallet down too, instead of putting it in my purse. I've called the gas station and even gone in to make sure it wasn't still sitting there, but they say they don't have my wallet. It actually wouldn't even surprise me if I accidentally left it and someone came and took it. It is kind of a shady gas station. I even asked the owner if they could look on surveillance tapes to see what I did with it, but they say that they don't have cameras showing the area where I had set my purse down. Did I mention that I'm freaking out?!?!?! I've called Cracker Barrel to see if maybe it fell out under the table. Twice. Nothing.

The worst part is that my temple recommend is in my wallet. Now it wouldn't be so bad because I could get a new one on sunday with my bishop, except that my aunt is getting married tomorrow. In the temple, which makes having a recommend pretty important! Again, have I mentioned that I am FREAKING OUT!!!!! I guess I need to call the bank and my credit card company and the drivers license division and the library and all those places that I have cards/memberships at and have them do what they do when this kind of stuff happens. I've never lost my wallet before, I have no idea what the protocol is.

I think the first thing I need to do is call my Bishop to try and get a new recommend tonight! Hopefully he'll give me a new one, even though I've said some not very nice words today...

Wish me luck!!!

Home Improvment

So we got this email from my sister-in-law the other day and I just wanted to share it with you all. I am so excited about it!!

I know we’ve only been in our home for 6 months, but we couldn’t wait to shake things up around our house. I love home improvement projects. One of my favorite channels to watch (when I’m at someone’s house that has cable) is HGTV. It’s nothing but remodeling and redecorating.
This change is kind of crazy, but we think it will work. It's going to add something totally different to the plan of our home. The estimated completion date is around the end of July. I guess that’s how we’ll celebrate our one year mark in our home. So we have a preview picture to show everyone, to see what you think, although, we are going to go ahead with it regardless cuz we’re so excited, so click away.....

Enjoy!
Haley

Pretty exciting, hu?!?! I am so excited for them to have another little one, although I'm not sure how any child could be cuter than Easton. She is due July 27th, which is the same day as my friend Becca and a week after my aunt Liz. It's going to be a baby tsunami the end of July! I love being an aunt though and can't wait to have 3 more little rascals to spoil.

According to Easton, he is having a baby sister. I bet my mom is relieved. According to her, the reason my sister and I are not married is because of the way we do things in our family. Meaning, everything goes girl, boy, girl, boy... You get the idea. Well, since Easton was the last addition to our family, we can't add another boy (ie: a husband for me or my sister) until we have another girl. Nice theory mom. (I love you mom, I'm not making fun of you!) So, I guess I won't know if I can get married until we find out the gender of the next grandchild.

I'm with Easton and hoping for a girl!! ;)

Happy 27th!!!!!...

...anniversary. My parent's anniversary to be exact. Today they have been married for 27 years! My parents were married December 20, 1980 in the Salt Lake Temple and have been happily married since. They are such amazing examples to me of what a marriage should be! I love that they are best friends and that they still love to be together. They are empty nesters now, but they love travelling all over the world (they've been to the Philippines, Hong Kong, the Carribbean all this year and are going to Hawaii in a few weeks) and spoiling the grandchild!

Thank you mom and dad for all you do for me and for our whole family! We love you!! Happy 27th anniversary! Here's to 27 more!!!

And I just have to share this picture of my cute dad and nephew! What studs!!! ;)

Judge-isms

I work for a great Judge. He is awesome. He is also a small-town boy who is normally pretty quiet and reserved, but every once in a while will say something that shocks us all. You also have to know that he was a JAG for the Marines and just retired from the Marines this summer. He still has to go to Germany on assignments that he can't tell me about, so I know he has probably killed somone with his bare hands.

Yesterday we had our office Christmas party and the Judge was sitting at my table along with a couple friends and another Judge. It was actually quite hysterical. We were playing Court Bingo and some of the words on the cards were names of attorneys. And unless you work at the court, you probably won't understand why this was so funny, so sorry! But they called out O - Sheldon. (Sheldon Carter is an attorney here in Utah County) The Judge casually announces, oh look, he's right next to continuance. Ha!! (seriously, I'm sorry, it's such a court joke!) The whole room started laughing and I think most people were thinking, was that the Judge that just said that? (most people have never heard my Judge even speak...)

Now here is the part that everyone can appreciate. Yesterday afternoon I got a call from the front desk saying that there was a couple there that wanted to get married immediately and they were wondering if the Judge was available. I asked if he would be willing to perform a marriage and he agreed. I went downstairs and brought the couple up to our courtroom while the Judge filled out the necessary paperwork. He came into the courtroom and performed the simple ceremony for this couple. The couple was older (and was dressed in jeans and t-shirts, just in case you were wondering) and they had the same last name. As they were signing their marriage certificate the Judge casually says, "I noticed that you have the same last name. Is this a re-marriage?" To which the couple responds, "yes, we finally grew up." And then the kicker, the Judge says, "well, let's hope it sticks this time."

Who says that?!? Sure, we may have all been thinking it, but to actually say it! I had to control the laughter that was trying to escape my mouth! And he said it so non-chalantly, which made it even funnier. I think the couple was a little shocked. At least he did follow it up with a "congratulations."

I love my job!

Aunt Jen

On Tuesday night I got to babysit Easton. I hardly ever get to just hang out me and him, and we had a blast! Landon and Haley were going to the temple and to dinner with her family and my mom was busy with Christmas stuff, so I was the lucky babysitter! Easton is so much fun right now and he is such a cute little boy. I can't believe how big he is getting! He talks constantly and loves to sing. He knows so many songs and right now loves to sing Christmas songs. We sang Frosty the Snowman about 20 times and Rudolph at least 10. So much fun! I'm also going to brag a little that Easton knows the first and second Articles of Faith and he can recite the Pledge of Allegience. He's pretty brilliant, if I do say so myself. I just love being an aunt and especially Easton's aunt!!! I'm pretty sure I'm his favorite! ;) I didn't take any pictures from when I was babysitting on tuesday, but here are some recent pictures of the adorable Easton! Enjoy!!

Easton with Grandpa's work goggles...

Grandma, Easton and Aunt Jen...
just being adorable...
Easton rolling out cookie dough. Look at his little hands! I love this kid!!!
Easton riding his bike at Grandma's. He wanted a helmet, but Grandma didn't have one, so he went and got a bowl...
Easton as an elephant for Halloween...

Easton and daddy's deer antlers...

You can't deny that this is the cutest kid in the world!!! :)

Lights and Music

The day after Thanksgiving, Michelle and I went to Salt Lake to hang out with our friend Heidi and her little girl KayLynn and to see the lights on Temple Square. Heidi was our roommate in Guatemala and we haven't all hung out together in about 2 years. We had a blast together...catching up, laughing and trying to stay warm! We had dinner at Crown Burger since Shell hadn't been there since she's been home from her mission and then saw the lights come on at Temple Square. It was beautiful!

We even walked up and down the rows of luminaries looking for one in Cebuano. We finally found it! We also found one in Caquikel which is the Mayan dialect they speak in the part of Guatemala where we lived.

Later in the evening, Michelle and I went to the Gateway to see John Schmit perform. He is an amazing pianist and I love seeing him play. It was a lot of fun to hang out with Shell and kick of the Christmas season!!