San Diego
We celebrated Chinese New Year in our hotel because Ruth is half chinese. I'm eating Thai food in this picture, though, but we decided that if we at least have Asian food, it could count. Ruth thought it was really funny that I was eating Pad Thai while lying down, so she took this picture. It is a perfect representation of why I love taking road trips with only girls-- I can look butt ugly and do really gross stuff and still not care what they think.

This is Jasmine and I at the beach when we went at night. This was shortly before Ruth's cell phone was eaten by a wave. Renae, Ruth and I also got hit by a huge wave that night, so we were fully clothed and soaking. It felt so nice to get back to the hotel after that.

The San Diego Zoo was the bomb. It was raining the entire time, hence the ponchos, but that just meant that it was much less crowded. In this picture I'm standing in front of some monkeys that were really cute.

In this picture Ruth was making fun of Renae for climbing the rocks and being such a little indian girl. I thought it was a cute picture, though.

This trip was also the first time I had been to a beach in a few years, so I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ruth and I were even crazy enough to go swimming. And if anyone has ever been to the Pacific in February, it's not exactly warm. I could barely feel my butt when I got out of the water.

I thought this picture was cute, too. I took this as Jasmine, me, and Renae went for a walk on the beach. We also saw a transvestite who was having fun walking on the beach. I think this picture was taken before we saw him, though, because we wouldn't have looked so cheerful and innocent if it had been taken afterwards.

It was really nice to get out of Provo and have an entire weekend to spend with girls, especially ones who are my age. There are certain things that you just can't do around either guys or older people, which include listening to the Lizzie McGuire soundtrack, playing Truth or Dare, and talking about High School. I can't wait for the next trip. Still, I was excited to get back mainly for one reason...

Shot through the heart

This cookie was our tribute to Bon Jovi, because it looked like it had been shot. Sean isn't the best cookie decorator, but this one turned out pretty cool.

Sunday was fun too mainly for five reasons:
1. I gave a talk and didn't trip or fart on the way up, which I am always scared of doing
2. I got a ton of compliments on my red and white dress, and people would even come up to me and ask if they could feel it
3. Sean got a note during church that said "I think you are a cool guy, and I also think your girlfriend is cute"
4. I got a note that said "cup of water does not equal rolling pin" (referring to when Sean and I made cookies and had to use cups as rolling pins)
5. I got a free dinner compliments of Mike and Sherri

ROAD TRIP!!!!

San Diego, President's Day weekend. Beach, zoo, the works. I am SO EXCITED!

My 2 favorite terms learned from Sean Graham

Crotch inserts are the technical term for the padding in biking shorts. Only someone like Sean who owns more biking outfits than normal clothes would know that. When I heard those two words put together for the first time, it took about 15 minutes for me to stop laughing. And he says I'm so mature for my age.

Butt connectors are little tube things that connect two wires. Sean taught me this while I was helping him connect the reverse lights on his truck to the rear defroster switch. Now anytime he wants to back up, he can simply press the rear defroster switch and his lights turn on. What I don't think he understands is that that is still more complicated than just having them turn on when he puts his car into reverse. He thinks it's a great idea, though, becase he can turn them on if someone is tailgating him on the highway. However, if he wants to defrost his rear window, it won't be that simple.

Mom,

This weekend I think I'm going to go trapse around Provo. Just thought you'd like to know that.

For Naomi

Who's rockin the peacock? Oh, right, that's me.

Rated: R

Alright, this post is for everyone who wanted to see what I did this weekend. So I posted the picture of me and Matt's old mission companion that we are going to send to him (we're also going to tell him we're dating), the picture of my friend and his Rated R cake, the picture of the dress I bought (so mom could see it) and the picture of my new swimsuit (so Ashley could see it). These are all the people and things that make living in Provo not so bad.

I'm moody

Why did I never realize this before? It really just occurred to me. Last night when I was going to see a movie, I looked like I wanted to kill someone on the way there and on the way back I was laughing hysterically. So I wanted to post this to say sorry to all those who have been with me when I was well... less than chipper. I'll try to do better.

P.S. Mom, my swimsuit came in the mail, so thanks. It's so cute I even modeled my blog colors after it. And if you want to know why I had to get a swimsuit in January, don't ask, because I don't know either.

I miss...

Yes, I'm back in Utah. I don't really know what to say about that because it has its advantages and disadvantages. I really miss Texas. There's something about the Guadalupe and warm weather that makes me want to stay outside forever. It's my home.

I got to see my best friend over the break, too. If I believed in soulmates, I would think she was mine, although her being a girl would make things a little complicated. She has the talent of making me giggle like a 12-year-old girl. I've never known anyone who understands me so well and who I can talk to about ANYTHING. She hasn't changed since we were eight years old, and it makes seeing her a ton of fun, and leaving her totally depressing.

So here I am in Provo, craving barbecue and fried catfish and all those southern comforts that I had to leave behind. I guess this is my homesick post, and an opportunity for me to vent about snow and cold and Provo in general. It's going to be a long four months.

Coop the Poop doggy dog

This morning my mom comes running up to me giggling and says, "Hey, did you see Cooper's poop?" So my response was, "No... was I supposed to?" and she told me that she wanted to show it to me, because it was just too funny. My dog has had an obsession with these cat slippers that my mom got from someone at her office. They were too ugly to really wear, but running around the house with Cooper chasing your feet was fun, so we got some good use out of them. Well, yesterday Cooper not only chased them, but ripped them open and ate the fluffy filling out of them. He also has a fascination with paper, which is funny because if you show him a napkin and say "treat," he WILL eat it. Mom was explaining that this morning Cooper left his usual surprise in the garage, but when she sprayed the garage out, everything washed away except the part she showed me. It was a big ball of white fluff.

Eye mull of mush sheen

Everyone do me a favor and say that quickly in a very loud voice. Today at church, my friend Naomi brought a card from Mad Gab. In case you've never played that game before, there are cards that have a bunch of words that sound like other words. You are supposed to say the words and guess what you're trying to say. The words above make "I'm a love machine." She succeeded in getting my dad, Poodle, and two missionaries to say it out loud over and over again. It was pretty funny. So we had my dad walking through the hall saying, "I'm a love machine. I'm a love machine. I don't get it." Hilarious.

What does my mom think of me?

(Christmas morning, I open a box with a red silky shirt in it.)
Ashley: That shirt looks like lingerie.
Mom: I know. Why do you think I gave it to Shady?

(Looking at a shoe advertisement)
Mom: Ballerina flats. Those look cute.
Me: Yeah, but I don't look good in them.
Mom: Oh, yeah. That's because you have cankles.

(This morning)
Me: Do I have a big butt?
(Mom looks up at me and starts to laugh)
Mom: Wow, yeah, you sure do.

I think I get it from my dad

And by "it" I mean my dancing and coordination skills.
Apparently, at my dad's company's Christmas party this weekend, he decided to steal the spotlight and perform his Russian dance in front of everyone. However, he lost his balance and did a somersault backwards into the crowd of spectators. Thankfully, he's Michael el Jefe and everyone still thought he was cool. And who wouldn't? He's 52 and can still Russian dance. That might be even more cool than riding into the party on a donkey. Way to go, Dad the Bad.

From What about Bob:


I'm FREE!!!!!


I'm done with ALL my assignments. No more Spanish paper, no more Anthropology anything! Now all I have to do is sit on my butt and feel it grow (and then work it off after New Years). Yay!

Some of my favotite foods

ice cream
shakes
yogurt
cereal
milk
cheese
cream cheese
sour cream

So I don't even have to say what an unpleasant surprise it was to find out this weekend that I'm lactose intolerant.

Mom is hilarious

(on the phone a couple weeks ago)
Me: Sean's roommates are funny. Yesterday they were talking about how they like cute girls more than hot girls.
Mom: Oh, really?
Me: Yeah, apparently, hot girls have no personality.
Mom: So you're just cute? Well, my daughters aren't just cute. My daughters are hot. I hope you tell them that some hot girls do have personality.

And Poodle, I am a good cook. I made enchiladas this week and Sean said they were so good I'm practically Mexican.

Things I'm thankful for

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I would like to pay tribute to each member of my family for doing such a bang-up job of entertaining me and making me weird. Here is what I'd like to thank them for:

Mom: Thanks to you, I know that winning (or at least finishing) really is everything. If it weren't for you, I'd still be 100 feet in front of the finish line at the Pioneer Day race. And you weren't even ashamed to have a daughter that didn't think she could finish a 5k. Maybe your athletic genes may not have been passed on to me, but that drive did transfer over to spelling and Spanish. Where would I be if I didn't know how to spell otorrinolaringologo?

Dad: I have you to thank for my impressive sense of fashion. You have more purses than I do, and nicer ones, too. You taught me that dark shirts look good on us because we have light hair. No one else can say that their dad wears Sean John suits with black shiny shirts and looks good in them.

Bethany: I'm thankful for you because you humble me. Anytime I think I'm pretty cool, all I have to do is look at you and I know I have a long way to go before I'll be perfect. I used to think that all married people were boring but you proved me wrong. You are the official source of advice in our family because everyone trusts your opinion. Even mom listens to you. And I copied your kayaking hobby-- that should show you how much I want to be you.

Brother: If it weren't for you, I'd be a girl. Well, at least a really girly one. You taught me to whistle to songs, burp really loudly, and make fun of mom. You are so fun to play Chinese Checkers with, especially when you won't let me go to bed until you've beat me at least once, because I'm just that good. You also taught me cool ways to jump off rope swings on the Guadalupe. Good times.

Poodle: We are kindred spirits. I'm so glad I'm not the only shady person in the family. Life would be no fun if people didn't think I had a twin. You introduced me to blogging and speed scrabble, although you're still the best at both of those. I can always turn to you for advice on how to be pretty, for which I am very grateful. You're the golden standard for the perfect career, because who doesn't want to spend all day getting hit on by teenage boys?

Fernash: You are my voice. Thanks to you, people actually know things about me, including at exactly what time I get home every night and what boy I was with is and what he looks like and how long I've known him. You even tell people things I don't know, like how long my relationship will last and why I'm being so shady today. I probably wouldn't get called if it weren't for you, either, because you've given out my number to more people than I have.

Bexar: I'm thankful for you because you went to high school with me and actually got along with me. While siblings in other families were having feuds, we went on drives, ate lunch together, and actually told each other things. We were friends even on my most hormonal days. Because of that, I still call you every time I meet a cute boy. You made my freshman year fun.

My halloween group. I love you guys.

My wish list... because I love looking at pretty things

My cute new hair