hmm.

I have a headband problem. Obsession really. Kaylee asked to borrow one when we went to drop off Nick, so I brought them all for her to choose from. On the way home I turned back to look at Austin and this is what I found. He looks way too pleased with himself.

He has every single one on his head.
Mom... should we worry??

he's gone. so gone.

Welp. So long brother.

Monday Nick turned 19. We had a nice little shin dig for the kid, opened presents, pretended he wasn't leaving for a second, and hung out. Tuesday Nick got set apart. Whoa. Never been to one of those. It was intense as I listened to Nick bear his testimony about his relationship with Christ. That kid is way better than I could ever even hope to be. That night we hung out at my parents' for a while, and Dewy gave Nick an African coin from his own mission. He told Nick to carry it with him and it would remind him of home and give him strength when he felt all alone because we were here cheering him on. They shared a moment. I couldn't have been happier. The next morning we got up and met at mom and dads. Its tradition that when we have family things (such as memorial day, or the day my sister died, etc) we got eat at Dylan's for breakfast. Best place in town. We hit up Dylans on our way to the MTC.

After eating breakfast, we put THE BEST TWO YEARS soundtrack in and hit the road. Nick fell asleep on the way down. So did I. When we pulled off the freeway, my heart began to pound, and immediately tears threatened. I fought them. Hard. We decided to pull up to the temple to say our goodbyes since it was curbside drop off and we didn't know how long we would get to spend saying goodbye.

Talk about torture. Nick was leaving. Right when we got to be such good friends. Nick spent a lot of time up at our house, and we loved having him around. No one has a sense of humor like he does. I was a complete wreck. Ater we took some pictures and said bye we jumped back in the van and went down the road to the MTC. We pulled up and immediately about 6 missionaries surrounded our van. They helped us out, helped unload, let us give him a hug, and he was on his way. I'm threatening tears right now by the way. Good grief. Nick held it right together and even gathered them all in for a picture before he left.

Nick's first letter however told the real story about how he missed us, and he cried for a few days because he missed his family. I felt his pain. Nick was made district leader of his district in the MTC, and he will be there until February 15 where he will ship out to Columbia South Carolina. Good luck Brother! Keep us posted.

graduation.

Like whoa. I'm graduated. Weird.
These pictures blow, but its all mom could get with my camera.


Anyhoo... the day started off at 6am (YES INDEED 6am) when I went and got my hair done. I got home about 8, kissed dewy goodbye as he left for work, and fell back asleep on the couch. My phone rang about an hour later, and it was Dewy informing me that Claudia (our landlady) was trying to get a hold of me (I had slept through her phone calls) involving someone thing about forzen pipes... Called her up and she asked me to turn our facets on to a tiny trickle of hot water and leave them on all day. Her other rental property had pipes freeze. I mentioned the fact that our heater and things should be fine since everything was right in our basement, but did it anyway. Five minutes later she called to tell me to turn them off. The frozen pipe thing was a false alarm. Oh good because the tap tap tapping in the kitchen was driving me bonkers. Fell back asleep for another hour until mom called.

Doesn't anyone love me!? Doesn't anyone care about my sleep!? I had to be to moms in an hour if I wanted a ride to graduation (so dewy and i didn't have two cars there) so I got up and got ready, sported my purple dress and black leggins--weber state, weber state, great great great--got tons of weird looks as I drove over, cause I had my cap pinned in place already, and got to graduation lickety split. During graduation all us graduates were sitting in the stands texting, facebooking, and talking. Don't ask me who the speaker was. Sure glad I cared. Truthfully I tried to run after they handed me my diploma, but I couldn't escape. After graduation we went to Pizzeria--yum. The night was fun, and I'm glad its over. Now to find a job...

friend festivities.

Time for friend night again. This time we were the hosts, and as such had to plan out dinner and an activity. I wish I had a picture of dinner.

Dewy's work gave us a big turkey for Thanksgiving, and since there was no way in heaven we would be able to finish it ourselves, I decided to cook 'er up for friend night. Thanks to everyone for helping me clear out my freezer. Anyway, I pulled it out to thaw a few days before I needed to have it ready. Called up mom (duh) to find out how to cook the sucker, and she proceeded to tell me I needed to "clean out the bird by pulling the baggies out of his neck and butt." I'm sorry what!? Why did no one warn me about this? I was basically gagging the second I tore off the wrapping. I COULD SEE THE BIRD'S NAILS!!!! His (is any one else grossed out by me calling it a he instead of it???) feet were boud tight, as is normal I'm told, and right there ready to be painted cranberry red were his freaking talon/nail/things. Sick sick sick. Then came the search for the baggies. Am I seriously supposed to stick my head up his rear? Cue phone call to mom. ME: "MOM COME DO THIS FOR ME!"
MOM: Ha, No.
ME: Please mom?? Its disgusting!
MOM: You can do it. Be a big girl. Don't forget to rub it down with butter. Bye
ME: Curse.

You should all be proud to know that I conquered that bird--nails and all--and I will NEVER cook one again unless someone does all that crap for me. Sick. Now to the fun stuff.

Friends showed up and dinner turned out great--thanks for bringing stuff friends. After dinner we proceeded to make gingerbread houses. Oh boy. The only reason I picked this activity is because my mom has wood pieces that we use to make gingerbread houses every year, so I wouldn't have to buy anything except candy. Too bad we couldn't find the dumb things... Nikki and Anthony, and Haulee and Shane made legit gingerbread houses while Dewy and I fumbled to use the frosting I made that wasn't working to hold together pieces of gram crackers.

Wow Amber. Wow. It was hilarious. Friend night was fun, and I can't wait to see what Nikki and Anthony have in store for us next month!

friday.

I graduate. Sweet sauce.
I accept

large monetary gifts
gift cards
expensive items.

etc

'preciate it.

my hero.

Today I saw an ELDERLY lady who had on a hot pink sweater that had
{lips}
embroidered across the middle of her right breast with the phrase
"Back by popular demand"
written above said lips.
So inappropriate.
So funny.

poem.

Remember when I said I wrote a funny poem? And then I forgot to post it? Here it is. Keep in mind I AM NO POET.

Twas the day before Christmas When Billie told Mom
“I want to meet Rudolph. Maybe sing him a song.
We could play for a time, be friends, have some fun
Jump hopscotch, and rope, throw a ball, maybe run. ”

“My dearest, small child” Said Mom back to him,
“Rudolph cannot be seen for his spare time is slim,
Son, his schedule is packed, he’s not a moment to spare
He’s full time up north, and you can’t go up there.”

“But no,” Cried out Billie back to his mom.
“I just want to say Hi, I won’t sing him a song”
I’ll give a high five, and walk right on my way
I swear it won’t take long, I swear I won’t stay.”

“Now Billie my dear”, Mother replied
“Rudolph barely has time to potty
I’m sure that he squats, without places to hide
As he lists off whose nice and whose naughty.”

“You mean dear old mom,” Billie asked in surprise
“That Rudolph goes poop on the ground?
He can’t even leave to go be by himself
And has to go with elves all around?”

“Could be, dear old Billie,” Mom tried to sound bright
“That Rudolph is flying, delivering toys
All over the world, in one single night
Without making the smallest of noise.”

“I see,” said small Billie
“So how do I know if Rudolph is real or fake?
If I cannot say hi, sing him a song,
Or give him a simple handshake?”

“How about, my dear boy,” Mother said with a grin
We look for his remnants instead of for him?
I’ll hang from the roof some small little stockings
In hopes of catching a few of his droppings.”

“Oh but mom,” Billie gasped
“You hate things like poop!
Things dirty, and grody send you for a loop
I guess in that way, you’re a lot like Aunt Nan
\Are you sure you can do it? Are you sure that you can?”

“Only for you son,” Mom said with a shiver
Would I do such a thing without even a quiver
I’ll hang up some stockings to get Reindeer poop caught
I even hope that we get us a lot.”

So Mom hung up stockings from the rooftop with joy
In hopes that come morning Billie would find
Them filled to the brim, fresh poop for her boy
The droppings from Rudolph’s behind.

I AM SO FUNNY.

he's cute. she's cute.

Um I love this. I love them. He better be careful. If he screws up she'll sing about him.

Oh how I love this. Taylor and Taylor. So cute.

eavesdropping.

Right now I am sitting in the student union playing solitare waiting for my class to start. A group of girls diverse in nationality just walked by and sat down about three feet from me. At first as I listened to their conversation I found it comical. Typical girl talk--clothes,shoes,hair,boys,blah blah blah. Then all of a sudden girl #1 (we'll call her sue) said that she wasn't allowed to wear the color blue. Weird. girl #2 (we'll call her mom--cause she acts like one) took that chance to tell Sue that gangs were a bad idea. How naive am I that the mention of a color doesn't trigger a gang in my brain? Mom proceeded to tell Sue that gang members may be the nicest people you have met in a while, but they will turn on you in a second. She explained that its so much better to be around people who make you work for their friendship and prove your loyalty rather than run with that croud. Girl #3 (lets call her Alice) just got a text message. "Find out what you are doing for Young Womens" she reads. Immediately I'm taken back. Young Womens??? This chick? I then immediately felt irrevokably guilty for judging her as a non YW going gal. They conversation between Sue, Mom, and Alice continued on about Mormonism and missionaries. From what I gathered, all of them had been contacted by missionaries, all of them were either adopted or in foster care, and none of them had accepted the message of the missionaries. Mom however deserved a hug or at least a high five for her comments. Alice asked the group if it was true that the Mormons were trying to make her mormon. Mom proceeded to explain that from what she knew about the Mormons, being mormon wasn't a bad thing. That Mormons were nice people who did nice things. Mom said to Sue it would do her a world of good to run with the mormons. The girls asked mom if she was Mormon to which she replied, "No I consider myself Christian." I was so sure she was Mormon! I am trying my best right now not to fall out of my chair as I strain to hear every single word. All the while arguing with myself whether to jump in and give them all a Mormon perspective or simply let Mom have the reigns... Ugh. They look scary, and one runs with gangs. I'll let mom take the reigns for now and see if I need to interject here soon...


Oh the convos you'll hear if only you try.