PAST bdays of nems

It's March. The air is getting ever warmer and blowier. Things are all coming to life. I feel motivated and moved and like ordering fish and chips and shamrock shakes and as if I'm getting older. I grow so nostalgic this time of year. I don't long for days past in anyway besides how skinny I was (and not really even that, but REALLY?!!!) but I love looking back on those days. I was so awkward and inexperienced and invincible!!! I found myself looking at photos and blog/livejournal/facebook posts from Marches past and wanted to post some of them here. Haha!! So funny...and sometimes not so! The furthest back I've been documenting myself online is about 2003, but I found photos from since about 2005. It's strange to think of a world without instagram, facebook, or even cell phones...but it's true....you robot children and grandchildren, you.

Well here it starts...and mind you, these are random and out of context...but a photo of me on my birthday that year!!!! And those....these(!!!) bangs!!!

2005. 10 years ago. I was 21 that day.

Visit teach

Today, in church there was a lesson about visiting teaching (visits to other women in the congregation.) The teacher asked us to think about our own experiences and how our lives have been blessed through this service. I thought on my 12 years as a visiting teacher. There have been times I've been very diligent and times I haven't, as well as times I have been regularity visited or not. During times when I've faithfully visited my sisters, I've been very blessed with their friendship. Some of my best friends ever have been either someone I've been assigned to vt or one of my companions---people I am still in contact with!! (Plus people I've met through them and through callings.) wow, what blessings. 

And then I think about Joycelyn Mcllquham. She visit taught me in DC and never missed once!!!!!! Most of the time she came alone without a partner. She had to bring her kid(s). She shared personal experiences and made me muffins and invited us to dinner and gave us rides to church. And the most incredible thing: I had a small baby cat, Montgomery, you know, and I had to get his shots and neutered and things. We were living in Rockville, md and I couldn't afford the normal vet so I needed to go to the humane society downtown in DC. it was like $16-18 for a shot (no joke- $200 at the vet!!!) But I had no car and it was an hour by car and you had to be there super early to get in so I couldn't take buses....i don't even know how I got the nerve to ask her but she took me at least 3-4 times!!! With her kids!!! And just waited in the car for me I think!!!! Now that is some selfless service. Wow I can't believe it when I think back on it and I just had to document it. 

out with the old and in with the new

Remember this two years ago? Well that phone soon became MY phone (as I lost mine weeks later and Collin got a work phone). For the past two years, I've had it. But today, my friends, everything changes. 

We've finally decided that it's time to upgrade to Smart phones. CS got a Droid X 2 and I'm getting my iPhone today. But we won't forgot our roots. We've had these "junky" (can you imagine them being junky in 2006?) phones for years, and they've been good to us. I will NEVER claim to be any sort of photographer. But I am a documenter and journaler and I take a lot of pictures. I've taken tons on my junky orange phone, to tell stories and preserve memories, and they've done their job, no matter how grainy. It's seen moves, adventures, added family members, and the beautiful outdoors.

Here are a few of my favorite memories as told by my old phone. Thanks, guy. R.I.P.

goodbyes, hellos, and firsts, you cool kid

My dear friend, Anne Marion C, moved to DC this past week. To DC!!!! My old home! Well, she moved there to get some adventure, get some livin, get some independence, see some lovely stuff. and I'm so happy for that gal, let me tell you. We had a little dinner for her to say, Happy Birthday, and Goodbye, and We love you and'll miss your guts. She's a wonderful lady, she certainly is. 

 Oh, how I love friends. I love them. I love spending time with people, getting to know them, speaking bluntly, and finding out what they think and why, and their real personalities. People are interesting, aren't they. I just love Amanda, Chelsea, Preston, and Dallen. Good friends here in Phoenix. They are young and hot and wonderful and good-hearted. 

This is NOT what it looks like. Frederick would never pull Dot's tail. She was laying next to him and her tail was just kind of in his hand. It was so cute and I tried to grab the camera, but, of course, they moved. This is me trying to reinact it. ha!

FRED's FIRST birthday party!!! Sweet baby, Violet, turned 1.

This is what Freddie got her: a pink teddy bear. She seemed to love it. Fred's a heart breaker already.

I love this boy.

Dad and Mom (that's Collin and me) wanted to have a party and got all this party food...but no one could come over last minute...soo......we just had a party by ourselves. Freddie, Monte and Dot came.

Uncle Joe playing bball

Rolling around like a mad man!!

Frederick, you laugh so much, so easily. You're a happy baby. You're laid-back, easy-going. You much life exciting. You're growing out of all your clothes.

Love, Mom

PS. I finally got a smart phone. FINALLY. It is cute and white and gets here Monday. Stay tuned for a reminiscent post of pictures from my old phone....then retirement.

really quickly

The film Another Earth is incredible. The story, acting, cinematography, music, and even font. beautiful. please watch it.

I'm going to read Le Leche League International's The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. I just can't get enough.

I just ordered Jillian Michael's 30 day shred from Amazon. Let's DO THIS. Everyone: hold me accountable. I want to feel good again.

Montgomery is an insomniac like me.

You know how I won a big giveaway last month, with 9 different prizes? I only ever got 4. Oh well, but weird, huh!! Oh well.

Jayna Hedges cut my hair and I LOVE IT. Best cut I've ever had. Liked it immediately, (no awkward stage right after), lighter, texture, side fringe (that means side bangs in Ireland), and I just let it dry and it does just what I want it to!!!! Dream!!!!

I've lived in Utah, California, Nevada, Arizona, Athlone Ireland, Prague Czech Republic, Ouelessebougou Mali, and Maryland.

Did you know that Yeah Samake is running for President of Mali and he is the only Mormon in the country? While we were living in Mali, he had just been elected Major of Ouelessebougou, and invited us to his home where we ate with his posse, used his FLUSHING toilet, and road with him through the middle of a football field and sat with him where he was the honorary guest. Very cool, indeed. He is an incredible man for real, though.


I really want an HTC Radar 4G phone. It is SO cool (and also $400, so THAT'S not happening).

I'm going to do this next month:

I would like to have an adventure soon. Very soon. Time to go feed my baby and then sleep. night.

last week in rockville

Just got our computer back and some pictures from right before we left good ole Rockville. I miss that place. I get jealous of everyone that still lives in DC and jealous of everyone from here who went to visit this summer. I love life here and would go anywhere with Collin, but man, I really miss that place. I don't have photos of everyone, of course, but I do have a few good ones.

Awesome surprise going away party. 

Then we went to a delicious restaurant...Matchbox something (forgot the name, but go there because it's really really good.)

Sweet sweet Monte. My Montgomery.

Hanging out and flying the kite in our backyard one last time. Our beautiful gorgeous wonderful green glorious backyard.

A hunter in his element:

Last meal at Tanoor. Collin looks quite middle-eastern.

Washington DC temple. Beautiful!

As we were packing everything up, Monte kept going into his carrier. 

I think he didn't want us to leave him. 

Super cute guy

I miss our walls!