Autumn

Hello, perfect leaves and crisp air

 fall lovin with the bestie and cousin!

we wouldn't be mad if you stuck around longer then 2 weeks this year.

bring on everything cliche and fall related-all of it.

welcome to the Arctic, traveling sweater

IT CAME, IT CAME, IT FINALLY CAME!  The traveling sweater is in Logan, I repeat it is in Logan.

Girls with best friends going on missions- I highly advise you to get a traveling something. Best decision we have ever made. I'm pretty sure i'm not the only one who loves getting mail, right? It's the best thing in the whole world. Plus it's from your friends and it's clothing. My wardrobe increased by one sweater just in time for sweater weather. (and they might even send you a pamphlet on chastity...thanks cookie!)  I couldn't be more pleased.

Guys, in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Carmen, Lena, Bridget, and Tibby are all on their own having individual experiences at very different places in their lives.  Think of all the things that will happen in this sweater.  Gilly and Cookie are improving lives and bringing people true happiness. So it has to be full of good vibes. I mean...I could fall in love in this beaut! I can't wait to see what's in store.

Also it fits like a glove

creating a legacy

A legacy of wisdom, creation, and love. 

Today marks yet again, the birthday of my beautiful and inspiring Mama. It has now been 11 years since her passing.  It's weird to think she has been out of my life now longer then she was in it. How incredibly grateful I am for the legacy that she did leave.  I'm still able to learn from her life and her example.

My sweet sister-in-law Chelsey took it upon herself to compile photos and memories into a book.  She had been working on the book for a long time.  Being sure to have stories, personal journal entries, memories from her twin Karen, other siblings, and an account from each of her kids making it very personal and meaningful. This past Saturday we were able to see the finished product. And boy is it pretty! There were so many photographs I had never seen before and I honestly don't think there is anything better then some old pictures. 

It was fun to read about all of the personal stories.  In elementary school my mom and Karen were split up and put into different classes. By the time 4th grade came one of them had complained enough that they finally put them in the same class.

When Karen was dating my uncle Bob they would often switch outfits and then places and see if he would notice. They would wait until he was at their house and then after a little bit they would excuse themselves and make the change. (you've got to make sure any potential lover doesn't just tell them apart by outfits right?)  I love hearing stories about my mom being silly.  Maybe that's why i'm so funny! (maybe i'm the only one who thinks that...oh well) 

I was thinking a lot about her upcoming birthday and told my sibs last week that we should start some sort of tradition every year to celebrate her birthday and have a moment when we can reflect and laugh together about our most cherished moments. This past Saturday we were all together and without really having anything planned other then being together I realized that we have always been really good at keeping her apart of lives. We don't need say a milkshake tradition (although I still think that should happen) to keep her very much alive. 

It just took Kit's curiosity and the opening of the cedar chest to rediscover so many childhood gems which of course have associated with them many memories of our dear, sweet mom.  What happier memory then pulling out our old baby blankets? Each homemade and full of so many stories and most of all snuggles from Mom. 

 I love the picture below because we're all so intrigued with what Ryan had to say about his blanket!! 

Just last night Maggie (I'm telling you my sister-in-laws seriously are the best!) related to me a story of my Mom and how applicable it was to my life currently.  It seems there will always be things to learn from her.

How grateful I am for siblings who are an example to me of continuing on so gracefully yet keeping her apart of them.

I am so incredibly blessed. And of course thankful always for eternal families.

These boys though....hunks right? 

Happy Birthday Mama dear. Your legacy will always live on.

middle school and mirror selfies

Guys, it's fine the mirror selfies are totally justifiable now that I spend 21 hours a week in middle school.  On my first day of observing I was asked by an 11-year old boy if I was on the student council. Sooo take your pick on whether I look more like a 6th grader or an 8th grader. Solid 7th? That's what I was thinking too.    

Nothing has changed honestly. I'm still late to school. There is still no time in the day to pack a home lunch. I Still get lost in the hallways and literally retrace my steps 6 times before I end up at the right spot. The hallways still smell like axe.  Annnd I'm still harboring crushes on the cute boys. 

I'm not a pubescent teen anymore... well i'm not 12.  This week I have been STRESSED!  You could say I have had an identity crisis of sorts.  I'm just trying to figure out this whole grown up thing ya know? Every time I do something hard I think "this has got to be the hardest/ scariest it gets"  Three weeks ago I signed up for utilities through Logan City and would have told you I finally reached adulthood. That was it, nothing else could or would ever trump that task.  I"ll tell you it seems to have been trumped every single day since.  I still feel like that girl with braces and glasses who wore a training bra. (can someone please tell me why it's even called that??)  Also this whole adulthood thing isn't as fun as it looks. There is no way I'm old enough to be a teacher figure to these kids....I mean a month ago exactly I was still a teen myself. 

I'm trying to take this adult thing in stride but forgive me if I just wanna crawl into my bed and pull the sheets over my head for a couple of days.  

stay tuned...maybe in my next selfie I'll try the old duck face out.  JOKES guys, jokes.

a clothing malfunction sort of day

It has been one of those days where I wake up with high hopes of conquering Monday-when in reality I think it has already conquered me.

The clothing malfunction is a thing...some skirts don't work very well with backpacks causing them to hike up in the back.  And that's not something you realize until you are more then half way to campus and already late to class.  I think, "I'm fine I've got this, this skirt is not going to get in my way of Monday" and then suddenly you realize you have to walk ALL the way to the other side of campus to get to work.  (It's happened to me before where I have worn this skirt to school and experienced the hassle of tugging on it every 3 steps.) I felt like everywhere I walked though that I was in the way, like I was an unwelcome new comer.  

Oh no, did I look like a Freshman??

but it's fine because I just came across this and now I can't stop laughing.  One day I looked at this with Mike and Chels and laughed for hours. 

run in's with large objects [cow edition]

Sometimes black cows like to mosey around on highways where these things called cars travel upwards of 60 mph. I don't know whether it is me or my car that attracts large animals? Perhaps it was the stench of wet dog seeping from the interior that drew these beastly things near. Most cows meet death at the slaughter house but the exception turn cars into their slaughter house. (see what I did there) it's a tragic way to go I'll tell you because I lived to tell about it, unfortunately the cow did not.  For myself, the sister and the brother-in-law we were unharmed.  Seriously a blessing considering that there should have been fatalities, no doubt.

I really hesitate to post pictures I hate seeing pictures of accidents, they're terrible. But you can't tell a story like this and not show pictures.  And maybe to prove i'm not just being dramatic... yeah probably the latter.

How many people can say they literally scared the poop out of a cow and were covered in it. I even have stained clothes to show for it. Did you know cows have four stomachs?  Because i'll tell ya they absolutely do.  Can we just talk about how my steering wheel is bent from said cow? The cow was in my car!! Inches away from my brother-in-laws face.

It's experiences like this where you really think about and realize what is truly important. I don't ever want to take life for granted.  In just a matter of seconds everything can change.  I know that we were incredibly blessed and it's comforting to know that the lord is in charge, always.  Sometimes I forget that and need the reminder.

On a much lighter, prettier, and less stinky note I got this babe today!

I start my classroom practicum next Tues. and I have a badge to show for it.  Ms. Hewlett, pretty cute aint it?