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This – This + This = This January 29, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Birthday, Family, Friends, Trips , 6comments

Today is my birthday.  I’m turning 29!  (Again!)

These are my plans:  flying out of town with David – the kids + meeting up with some of our favorite people = AN AWESOME BIRTHDAY WEEKEND!

I love meeting up with good friends.  :)

Happy birthday to my twin too!  He could pass for 29 and I could pass for 21, right?  OK, maybe 25?

I’ll have lots of fun pictures from our fun weekend I’m sure.  :)

To jumpstart the fun, I recieved this fun little beauty in the mail:

My sister Jenn sent me white Lustregloss by M.A.C. and I LOVE IT!  Apply it over any lipstick to give it just the right umph.  Trust me.  After you get it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it!  (You see, I’m actually wondering how I survived.) I used to use a silver lipstick that I would apply over any shade of lip liner, lipstick, or gloss, but it has been discontinued.  (Dang you Trucco, Aveda, and Artistry!)

Jenn first heard about this make-up must have from reading an article on what Victoria Beckham MUST have and this was one of her top picks!

I can see why.

You should too!

Celebrate my birthday by getting yourselves one of these!  (Your treat of course.)  :)

Packer Pics January 28, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Family, Photography , 3comments

This is my sister Rachelle and her family.

Rachelle is wearing braces for the THIRD time.  (It was just so fun the first two times, she thought she’d try them again!)

This is Katie, and Hannah LOVES her to pieces.

This is Adam, and Dallin LOVES him to pieces.

And this is their new family picture on a  20×30 canvas float wrap, AND I LOVE IT TO PIECES!

Honestly, when it arrived, I was like, “WHY DON’T I ORDER ALL OF MY IMAGES IN THIS SIZE?”

Very cool I tell you.

Fake Knitter January 27, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Friends, Thoughts, Utah , 1 comment so far

Everyone in Kansas kits.  They knit everywhere.  At church, in the grocery store, at the park, in the shower, at the pool, at dinner, you know, ANYWHERE!  When I moved to Kansas last year, I became a knitter to see what all the fuss was about.  (I should probably clarify the “I knit” thing.  I knit on a loom, which isn’t like “real” knitting.  It’s like knit-cheating.  There.  I confessed.  David always asks me when I’m going to learn how to knit for real.  I’m a fraud!  What can I say?  I’m not nearly as crafty as I look!)

Obviously, I got hooked.  (No pun intended.)

I have made more hats and scarves than I care to admit, but I can’t quit.  Maybe this makes me a Kansan a heart?  No.  No.  I am a Texan at heart forever!

Last week, we visited Leslie and her Alpacas and I picked up some luxurious fleece to knit myself a scarf.

This is where the fleece starts:

(In the image, Leslie is pointing out the luster which separates this high-end Alpaca from others.)

Then it is spun into yarn . . .

(This particular fleece is from a baby Alpaca, which is called a Cria.  It is the softest, most luscious, yarn in the world.)

My bedding should me made out of this.  It is sooooooo soft.

And this is the final product:

I have given most of my handmade hats and scarves away, but this one is a keeper.

Honestly, David thinks he would like one of these too.

In black of course.  :)

 

Apparently, I’m Funny. January 26, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Family, Photography , 4comments

These are my in-laws.  A.K.A., David’s parents.

They needed an updated “couple” picture because the last picture they had taken of just them was a while ago.  And by a while, I mean like 10 light years ago.  (Or was it just 10 years ago?)  Anyway, they needed a new family picture.

Apparently, I’m funny.

I have no idea what I said, but Gloria could not keep it together.

Dennis on the other hand . . .

THE SHOW MUST GO ON!  DON’T LAUGH!  DON’T MOVE!  (Or maybe he just didn’t find me as funny?  Not possible.  I’m going with “THE SHOW MUST GO ON!” attitude.)

I managed to be un-funny for like one second and look!

What a great looking couple.

Happy 50th anniversary this year!

At the Bottom of the List January 25, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Little Man Dallin, Parenthood , 6comments

Dallin’s all-inclusive vocabualry at 18 months old:

Do you see something missing from this list?  Anything?  Does one particular word come to mind that should me on there?

Like the word, MOMMY? HELLO?

I guess there is no need to learn how to call out for me when he is always attached to my hip or within my sight.

However . . .

I’m very happy to report that he just learned to say “Mama.”

Big deal if “Daddy” was his first word and “Mama” was his 27th word.

It’s no big deal, right?  I shouldn’t be sore about this?  RIGHT?

It’s totally normal for a baby to say every member’s name in the family before they say “Mama!” right?

HELP ME OUT HERE!

We Visited the Land of Alpacas January 22, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Family, Friends, Utah , 5comments

Remember what I love about living in Utah?  Last weekend we went to visit one of my best friend’s mom, Leslie.  She really was like a second mom to me, and I try to make it out to her place every year when I’m in Utah.  Hannah and Dallin have seen her a few times in the last few years, but David hadn’t been out to her place in years.

She runs an Alpaca Ranch in Utah, and is pretty famous among Alpaca owners.

I think they’re pretty cute, AND .  . . they give great eye contact. ;)

Alpacas are bred just for their fleece.  It’s five times warmer than wool and finer than cashmere.  Basically, it’s amazing stuff.  (You know I picked up some fleece to make hats and scarves.)

Check out Dallin.  I don’t think all this chat about Alpacas is quite as invigorating  to him as it is to David.

We had a great time, the kids had fun, and Leslie 100% convinced David to buy some Alpacas.

 

Family Pics January 21, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Family, Photography , 2comments

My oldest brother’s family.

Three out of their five kids are adopted.  Can you tell which?

I can’t even remember.

That’s the great thing about adoption.  It doesn’t matter who births the baby; what matters is who raises the baby.

Favs January 20, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Parenthood , 4comments

I have three kid favs that I must share.

First, my kids and I love this book.  It doesn’t matter how many times I read it, I still cry at the end.

I'll Love You Forever

What can I say?  I’m a mess.

I also love this book.

I Promise I'll Find You

It also makes me cry every time I read it.  If you have kids, it will make you cry. PROMISE.  It’s such a great message.

Third, my kids LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the website www.starfall.com We call it “letters.”  Hannah will sit at the computer for as long as we will allow her, and navigate around this site.  That’s right my friends, this is a website you can let your kids experience on their own (or with you) and they’re learning!  Dallin loves this site so much to, that if he sees anyone at the computer, he will climb up into their lap and expect you to do letters with him.

You must visit this site.

With your kids on auto pilot, navigating around the site, you won’t know what to do with all your new free time!

Famous Neighbor January 19, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Friends, Medical School, Saba , 4comments

Our favorite next door neighbor (and fellow medical student) on Saba was a professional ballerina in her previous life.  (Previous life refers to any period of time BEFORE you started medical school.)

Now, she wasn’t just any professional ballerina.  Shannon danced with American Ballet Theater.  (Affectionately referred to as ABT.)  She has traveled all over the world dancing with ABT, and really is just amazing.

Her story is incredible.  She started dancing at the age of 14, and was hired by ABT when she was 18.  I’m just going to go ahead and do the math for you, THAT IS ONLY FOUR YEARS from the time she set foot in a ballet studio until she was dancing with the most prestigious ballet company in America. Dancing with the company at ABT with only four years experience is literally unheard of.  There is so much more to her inspiring story that I haven’t shared, that I would love to write about (because it is really, really amazing) but unfortunately, it’s not my story to tell. Her story is so inspirational, that after I saw the movie “The Blind Side” I thought of her.  Honestly, Hollywood needs to hear her life story and make a movie out of it.

I found this video clip of her practicing the Arabian Dance for the Nutcracker with The New Orleans Ballet Theater.  (Keep in mind that she no longer dances with ABT, and remember how she’s actually a doctor now?)

After watching this video, I’m sure you understand why I never attended any of the yoga classes she taught on Saba.  I’m pretty sure my lack of flexibility would have disqualified me from her class.  ;)

Go Shannon!

Happy Ballerina January 18, 2010

Posted by Emily in : Princess Hannah , 3comments

Hannah’s ballet class has quickly become the highlight of my week.  :)

She LOVES it so much, and she takes it so seriously, (she asks everyday when she can go on point shoes) it’s just adorable.

Wanna know what else she loves to do?

BUTT IN LINE.

That’s right, she takes more turns than she should, and ALWAYS jumps to the front of the line.

The funny thing is, the other kids don’t seem to mind.

I caught some footage of her at the back of the line (obviously just seconds away from butting in line again) waiting for her turn to dance.

All I have to say is, she one happy dancer.  (In this short video, Hannah is the one wiggling her arms, feeling the music.)