Mothers Day

I'm going to join the droves of other people and post about Mothers Day.  And you know what?  You can't do anything about it because this is my blog and you're not my real mom.  Also, as a side note, I keep switching between Mother's Day and Mothers Day because I like both.

People I want to thank this Mother's Day.

Misti O'Neal Carbone for being a real life Loreli Gilmore.

Erma O'Neal for being the sweetest grandmother in the world.

Alice Budd for letting me share a birthday (and a name), for giving me good advice, and for hours and hours of card playing.

Katie Facemire Snead for showing me a different way when I was in high school.

Robin Stokes for giving me a hug every time you saw me even when I didn't want anyone to speak to me.

Sister Thatcher for being an inspiration and a guide in my growing up years.  Ditto to Joyce Wilson.

Christina Stommel for asking me if my oil was changed, for driving me places when I needed a ride, for being a beautiful example, for seeking out adventure, and for being a mother figure when I missed mine so badly.

Margaret Wright for giving me the biggest hug in the world before you even knew me freshman year because I missed my own mom so badly.

Heather Wooten for taking care of me when Mom couldn't and devoting every single ounce of herself to her children.

Laurel Budd for telling me that everything is gonna be alright, be strong, believe.  And for crying with me when everything was the worst.

And finally to my own wonderful mother.  She is an inspiration and an amazing human.  I love my momma more than anyone else in the world at this point.  I'm not exaggerating or being silly when I tell you she is my best friend.  She wasn't when I was a kid (because I don't think that's how good parenting works) but now I'd rather talk to her than anyone else most days.  I tell her about boys and friends and we love to shop together (grocery shop or idea shop at Ikea for the most part).  For my birthday she surprised me in my classroom.  It was a beautiful thing and that week was awesome.  When I fought with my friends that week and sobbed for hours she cuddled me and bought me a birthday cake anyway, which we ate almost alone.  For the past several months she's listened to me cry almost every day when my life was SO hard (stop judging me right now, it's been a really bad several months).  She loves my students and lets them call her Momma Budd.  When I was in high school she wrote me a letter and told me how much she loved being a mother and the one greatest regrets of her life was that she wasn't able to stay home with us all the time.  I have no resentment toward her for that because she was/is an amazing mother despite sacrificing her own sleep and time to work overnight shifts picking rocks out of jeans. I could go on for pages about my mother and how wonderful she is, but I won't.  I'll just end by saying, I love you Mom.

Valentine's Day

This post was prompted by a friend's status update this morning.

"I hate the fact that Valentine's Day is coming up. Have I mentioned how much I hate Valentine's Day? I don't think I have. I hate Valentine's Day."

I don't get it. No, I'm not one of those people that loves Valentine's Day and is excited to send someone a giant teddy bear holding a heart that says something stupid like "Love Muffin" or something else equally as idiotic. I did always enjoy it as a kid. The cookies, the valentines (sometimes with some candy attached), and another excuse for a class party. I've never had a "valentine" as far as a man goes, but I don't hate Valentine's Day. What's the point? If people who are in a relationship want to use the day to celebrate their relationship I say, why not? Doesn't make me feel any more or less single than the awkward couple from the Sword and Quill club licking each other's tonsils on a bench in front of the WILK

Annoying in-a-relationship people are going to get on my nerves no matter what day of the year it is. Like the tonsil-lickers and the must-touchers (you know what I'm talking about, those couples that can't seem to NOT touch each other in a social setting) the mushy-valentiners are completely obnoxious and I'll admit it, but it's not because of the day. It's because their personalities just suck.

Look, a cute Valentine's Day puppy; what's not to love.

A note: This post is not meant as an attack on the friend who posted that update, just a general commentary. I know lots of people that loathe Valentine's Day, she is not an anomaly.

Goings On

-Tori does not have cystic fibrosis.

-I'm addicted to kitchen gadgets.

-I spent New Year's Eve on my couch alone and didn't mind.

-It gave me great joy to pick up the Alvey children from the airport today. Maybe I missed Sarah, nbd.

-Time to stop being attracted to Jackson Rathbone in Beautiful People. He's kind of a privileged pretentious jerk with a heart that I love anyway. So what if I've watched 8 episodes in the last two days. Stop judging me IMMEDIATELY.

-I saw Tron today. There were issues, there was a bangin' soundtrack, and there was this guy. Attractive.

- Gabe cried when he found out I had to go back to school. He said why did I have to go back to my school and offered to let me go to his instead. Heather took this picture.

-Student teaching starts tomorrow and I'm FREAKING out.

-Finally took some time to do DC a little while I was home. At the National Gallery of Art I saw this picture and it was my favorite for several reasons. It's called Mountaineers by Arthur Bowen Davies.

-When I got back to the Metro station in Springfield I realized that I hadn't paid attention to where I parked and spent at least 30 solid minutes wandering the parking garage looking for my car. When my mom called she told me to be careful because bad things happen in parking garages on Criminal Mind. That was comforting.

-It's freaking cold here in Provo. It shocked me a little when I got back, if I'm being honest.

Christmas Cheer

Aunt Chris posted this on her Facebook. I normally have a 1 minute limit for watching YouTube videos, but I loved this one. I hope you enjoy.

Thanksgiving and Etc.

Caroline and I are watching The Derby Stallion right now. It's awful. I'm not just saying that. It seems like a Lifetime movie that was made in 1993, not something that was made in 2005. Confession: Zac Efron is still attractive in this movie.

I wish I had a header for my blog. Maybe with some pictures or something with me and my friends or who knows, but I wish I had one.

I was lucky enough to have a great friend (Britt) offer me a place to go for Thanksgiving. At first I thought that maybe I would just stay home by myself and chill and possibly grab some Denny's for dinner. Then I realized that that would be supremely depressing and went to Britt's Mom's house with her and Kyle and her old roommate Nadia. Turned out to be such a fun time. It's so kind that there are people who will let other people invade on their family time for the holidays.

Caroline (she's been staying with me for the past couple days) went Black Friday shopping with me at midnight. It was crazy and she was such a good sport and I bought a tv online and some movies and a crockpot and a little food processor and it was awesome. I've also been doing some online shopping with the amazon.com deals and stuff.

I miss my family right now. They're crazy and obnoxious and irritating as all get out, but they're my family and I love and miss them.

Tomorrow is the Holy War. I'm SO pumped. I made two dozen chocolate peanut butter cupcakes (even though one dozen got eaten tonight) and two crockpots full of taco soup. Good football needs good food. Also, BYU basketball almost gave me a heart attack today, but we won and then I just had palpitations.

Fantastic Times

Good things that have happened:

• BYU vs. USU basketball game. Despite the fact that their fans were kind of rude there, we pulled out the win and it was a fun, intense game.
• Waiting in line for an watching Harry Potter with Sarah, Britt, Kyle, and Caroline. Freaking great. Want to watch again (Sarah? Britt? anyone else in?). I think I secretly love waiting in line for long periods of time. It's kind of fun (when you have other people to be with you).
• Opening of graduation present: SARAH AND I ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD AND THE WIZARDING WORLD OF HARRY POTTER! Five nights and six days between the two parks and we get to pick the dates. I'm so stoked. Thanks to all who made this possible (I'm not positive who all is involved but I think Laurel came up with the idea and both sets of parents contributed).
  
• Craft night with Britt and Sarah (we made candle holders and ornaments. They are lovely and crafting is so soothing).
• BYU vs. New Mexico football game. We basically trashed them and somehow ended up with front row seats for most of the last quarter which was awesome and I loved it and next is the Utah game. I'll admit that I was complaining for awhile because I was freezing to death.
  
• SDSU nearly beat Utah. We killed SDSU. WE HAVE A CHANCE! I just need the Cougars to play well next weekend.
• Right after the football game was a basketball game against the Chicago State Cougars. Our seats weren't great, but we completely destroyed them. I was impressed when some of our fans started clapping for the other team's good plays. Way to be classy.
• I started decorating for Christmas today! So far I have my tree up and a bell mural thing on my wall and some tinsel garland and one of the twins put up a nativity. We'll see what else I can pull out in the next couple days. Love it.
• Soon is Thanksgiving. I haven't decided what I'm doing yet, but I get a break. Yes!

Halloween

I have a confession to make. Halloween freaks me out a little bit. I don't think that devils or witches or ghosts wander free. It's nothing like that. Really it's all about the masks and not knowing who people are just by glancing. That really stresses me out! Don't get me wrong, I think dressing up is fun and I love the unique and bizarre costumes and all. I guess it's just me being a baby or something. My strange fear was especially heightened at the Alpine Village Halloween dance party (yeah...). There were plenty of people (guys, I'm guessing) in their creepy masks, but it wasn't just the creepy ones that got me. There was this short little awkward guy in an Iron Man mask that stressed me out like nobody's business. Throw in the crazy Halloween lighting and oy, creepy. Pretty much any full face mask gets my pulse racing a little bit, but definitely the ones like this picture are the worst.

Back in Provo

I have now been back in Provo for one week, almost exactly (I'm a few hours off). Let me tell you something, it is so good and I've done about a zillion things (and not that much at the same time). Here's what's I've been up to.

-Watching Chopped and Cupcake Wars at Sarah's since my cable doesn't work

-Watching Stadium of Fire fireworks from the side of the mountain

-Almost kicking the annoying kid down the mountain

-Helping Ashley move

-Realizing my brakes were shot and spending 300 bucks to get them fixed

-Learning to play euchre at Robbie's apartment

-Taking over Sarah's hand in euchre

-Having some strange agenda to beat Robbie at euchre for no reason

-Going to Salt Lake to see Ashley and T

-Making jokes about little chocolate tears (after going to Hatch Family Chocolates)

-Going to lunch with Caroline and Robbie at Zupa's

-Having a barbecue at Britt and Kyle's

-Kyle and Britt not being awkward

-Going to the freedom festival and buying stuff for the kids

-Watching "So I Married an Axe Murderer" for the first time ever

-Doing my very best to get the ants out of my apartment (including coating my cabinets and dishwasher in salt and cinnamon)

-Reading another book

-Trying to make plans with Steph and her being flaky (but I still like her)

-Hearing her hilarious story

-Seeing my ward friends again

-Realizing the ward has changed a lot

-Purchasing more Disney VHS at DI

I really could make a much longer list, but I won't (partially because Sarah listed many of the things that I too have been up to recently on her blog and I don't want her to feel like I'm copying her). I do love being back in Provo, though. There are more fantastic plans to come.

As much fun as Provo is, I still miss things like this:

Destiny being a model

And this:

Gabe and Tori cuddling in their mom's bed one morning.

The Weekend in Review

This extended weekend was absolutely fabulous.  I got a lot of chill time and a lot of play time.  Here's how it went.

Friday and Saturday I did a lot of relaxing and reading.  I read the rest of the required chapter books for children's lit (a biography of Lincoln, Tiger Tiger, Corner of the Universe, The Devil's Arithmetic, and finished Heir apparent).  I went to the library and checked out all 34 picture books I needed for my project in children's lit and read those.  I watched "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" on Saturday night and all around had a good amount of chill time. 

Sunday I of course went to church and between church and home I wrote six missionary letters (Brady, Cody, Sean Ryan Layton, Brock, Tyler, and the Schlerf).  I tried a new recipe that turned out delicious and had dinner with Sean and Jaimie (mile high enchilada pie).  After ward prayer I played games with the 77 boys and Randi and Alex for awhile then went to play hearts with Travis and his friends Seth and Abe (who are fairly hysterical).  I actually finished Tiger, Tiger late that night and then slept in a bit the next morning.

Memorial Day is a great thing, right?  I went to Abe and Seth's ward picnic and hung out with a girl from my class and a girl from my ward.  We played ultimate frisbee in the pool that's over there and had an all around great time.  My skin got a lot of color which may be my favorite part of the weekend.  I took a quick nap when I got home then pulled myself together for the ward party.  We went to the Bishop's and had some great food, played Bocci ball, chatted, and played Wii.  Also majorly successful.  As soon as I got home I went to Ashley's and hung out with Ashley, Tresa, and Randi.  We watched Jon and Kate plus 8 so that we could see the major drama (I won't take the time to explain it here, just pick up a tabloid next time you're at the grocery counter).  

I know my life might sound a little too boring, but I am absolutely loving it right now.  

Right before I left for school (actually the last weekend before) I dragged the whole family (with metaphorical kicking and literal screaming) for family pictures.  It was painful and challenging, but we got some that turned out alright.  Back row is my oldest sister Heather, me, my other older sister Laurel, and my younger sister Donna.  My dad is holding my nephew Gabe (now age 4) and Mom is holding my niece Destiny (now age 5) and my baby brother Glenn.  Most of the family looks a lot different now.

My Mother

It's mother's day, so I'm gonna go ahead and blog about my Mom.  Don't pretend you weren't expecting it.  

1.  My mom and I are really good friends.  

2. I tell her everything (and I mean everything).

3. We generally get irritated by the other members of my family at the same time. 

4. During Christmas break my freshman year at BYU we watched the whole VH1 ANTM marathon.  For about 7 days straight.

5. We really like to watch reality TV together including almost anything on Bravo, HGTV, and Food Network.  Our favorite by far is survivor.

6. We go grocery shopping together.  This is usually an all day event. 

7. Sometimes we play with the boys (my dad and Glenn).

8. She talks to me on the phone several times a day.

9. Sometimes when I'm rambling she just full on stops paying attention.  It is annoying.

10. We're a good match for driving.  I hate riding and she hates driving.  She doesn't care if I listen to music or books on tape so long as she can sleep.

11. We are great nappers.

12. She lets me sit in her nest even though I'm a grown up adult.

13. Sometimes she lets me be pathetic and just cry when I'm being a girl.

14. She'll let me tell her my secrets and she doesn't tell dad.

15. My mom's always cold and I'm always warm so she'll put her cold hands on my neck etc which is beneficial to both of us.

16. We get crazy redecorating ideas together that don't happen because Dad finds out.

My mom is pretty fantastic.  And Happy Mother's Day to all the other Mom's out there.

This picture is when I dropped Mom off at the airport after our roadtrip to Provo the summer before sophomore year. 

April Fool's Day

So, it's April Fool's Day. When I was a kid or in high school or anything we never really did anything for celebrating. I don't know if it's because we have so many people that are strange and goofy at BYU, but it seems that a LOT of people get super into it. So, I'm watching and waiting...

Jaimie and Sean like to be tricky on a normal day, so I'm really expecting something crazy. Or, rather, I'm watching out carefully. You never know with those two...

If I was clever like google or something, I would try to play a trick. But I'm not, so enjoy the cartoons and have a fun April Fool's Day.

P.S. Worst joke? The fact that it is snowing today. Seriously.

Thanksgiving

I am lacking inspiration in things to write about lately. I thought I'd follow the trend it seems like everyone is taking and write about Thanksgiving. The day before and Thanksgiving day I was able to spend several hours at Aunt Cris's (she's Sarah's aunt) house. It was so much fun. Sarah, Caroline, and I played around a little, but were also able to spend time with the rest of her family. I really enjoyed it. There were games and piano playing and fun conversation and food and movie watching. There is no way for me to show or express how greatful I am that I had that family to be with during Thanksgiving.

As most of you know, my dad is a hunter. when he was out the morning before Thanksgiving he shot a turkey just for fun. At home they were planning on just eating lasagne and pie, but then Destiny drew a picture of herself with tears and counted them out. When they asked why she had drawn the sad picture she said it was because they were not getting to eat turkey for Thanksgiving. Needless to say, that turkey dad shot was cooked up before you could say gobble gobble. I miss Destiny and Gabriel. They are so cute.

Happy news for me, the situation with my sister's boyfriend has blown over. They broke up again (it probably won't last) so he didn't get to draw names with us and I'm very glad that the tradition can be kept within the family. I'm sad to not have a real tree in my apartment for Christmas. I want that smell very bad. Enough rambling about the holidays. For now, I just want snow!