Happy Halloween!

I’m so glad Halloween fell on a Friday this year - we felt justified in partying rather than succumbing to the siren call of homework. Last year our celebration subsisted of screwing in the “black” light bulb I bought on sale the year before at a seasonal Halloween store and dancing to Thriller before we got back to homework. Not much of a celebration if you ask me!
Earlier in the week I suggested to Holly & Stephen that we should have a party and we enjoyed planning the food and activities.

After a few frantic hours of decorating and preparation on Friday, we really had a fun night.

This was after the party and after some clean up, but I realized I didn’t take any pictures of the décor! This picture doesn't do it justice. And by this point all the ghost suckers had fallen down. We draped orange tissue paper loosely over the lights so the whole room had an orange cast. It was fun. Black construction paper bats hung from the ceiling and we listened to spooky scary sounds, Grim Grinning Ghosts, The Monster Mash and Bing Crosby reading/singing the tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman.

Spooky luminaries lining the steps

Our goals were to have fun and spend very little money. We decided to have SPOOKghetti for dinner {what’s as cheap and as filling as spaghetti?} with witch’s warts {corn} and slices of a giant’s finger {toasted/buttered french bread}. We tried to come up with Halloween-y names that weren’t too gross…. The rest of our cheap munchies were Goblin Guts {guacamole-yum!} and Petrified Ghost Skins {white tortilla chips}; Centaur Spit {veggie dip} with Brain Stems {broccoli}, Troll Eyes {cucumber slices}, Witch Fingers {celery}, and Pumpkin Flesh {carrots}. A bubbling cauldron of dry ice added to the fun.

We played Pin the Tail on the Halloween Cat,

and for dessert, we made Halloween sugar cookies, whipped up some butter cream frosting and busted out the sprinkles. We were going to go "caroling" and deliver them, but it was pretty late by the time we got to this part, so we kept them to ourselves. :) Yum!

Tylan and I didn’t spend much time on our costumes—we were busy decorating, cooking and creating a Halloween-y atmosphere in our apartment. Ty was a typical tourist, but apparently I didn’t get any good pictures of him. He wore his Australian hat, a bright windbreaker, shorts and these atrocious long white soccer socks that had big RAINBOW TROUT printed on them. I had just discovered them that day in an old box. The things you find out after 2 years of marriage… I just used my old standby, a karate gi I got in my self defense class. I couldn’t find my white belt, so I was upgraded to Tylan’s brown belt. I thought about dressing up as the typical 50's hostess, but I didn't have the right dress and there was NOTHING at DI. Maybe next year.

Holly was a princess.

Stephen was Mr. Rogers (before he puts on his tennis shoes). :) Jenn was a modern, wearied traveler (she and her sister in law had just driven in from Cali moments before).

Mr. Rogers handing out candy to the few trick or treaters who didn't mind climbing a lot of stairs.

Playing Mario Kart on the Wii. Woo hoo!

Till next year....

{Twenty-Five}

Happy Birthday to me. :)

Change - A brief commentary

About an hour ago, I became an Obama supporter. And so should you.

Why, you ask?

Because like it or not, Barack Obama is the next President of the United States of America. As an American citizen, I support the president of my country. It is my duty! I may not always agree with him or his policies but I will stand up for him in the name of unity and solidarity. If we remain divided...we will never get anything done and we will continue to spiral downward.

I must admit, I'm a bit leery about what the next 4 years will bring. There are some things that I do not like about Obama and what exactly he wants to include in his "change". But I do think that Barack Obama is a charismatic leader who may surprise us into being proud of him. He wasn't my pick, but I am going to give him the chance that I feel he has earned.

I wish I didn't have to qualify my comments. I don't know what is going to happen. NO one does. I don't know how supportive or unified I will feel if he decides to push an agenda that I feel encroaches on my rights or attacks my beliefs. Campaign promises and platforms don't always play out how you think they will. For now, congratulations Mr. President-Elect. You fought hard and you fought smart. And good luck with the new puppy.


I have read enough political commentary on the blogs of friends and family to know what may happen in my comments. If you can't say something nice, DON'T say anything at all.

What????

Have you SEEN this show?

We're Baaaaaaaaack

We're hustling to move in and get situated before the big weekend activities. Wish us luck! Be back to blog about fun happenings soon.

PS. Happy SECOND Anniversary to me! I'm happier than ever and looking forward with excited anticipation to year #3. Happy August 25th!

Getting Ready to Make our Biannual Trek

Well, it's been a lovely summer, and it's crazy that it's already over! We're in the midst of packing up and cleaning up and heading back to P-town. But I must admit I can't wait to get back to school because:

These happy people are my next-door neighbors:

Yay!

This is what I will be seeing from my living room window:

I'll be making some of these with said next-door neighbor:

with this fabric:

and playing this:

Who wouldn't be excited????

This is for you, Momma

This is the current state of my living room. Yards and yards of pre-shrunk fabric hot from the dryer hanging out to cool -- cuz' there ain't no way I'm going to iron all of that on my mini "college" ironing board before I start sewing. I had to laugh as I was rounding up all the chairs in my apartment to hang the fabric over. I feel like ghosts of my younger self and my little siblings will suddenly appear running around and popping out from under the "fort" I've built.

Here's a close-up of the pattern. Isn't it nice?


I think it would look beautiful if turned into this:

But I'm not sure if it is destined to end up as the wrap dress. I have a LOT of patterns to choose from.

I wish there HAD been 20 yards of it like the bolt so misleadingly led me to believe. It would be so adorable as a little girl's dress. Or as a few throw pillows to dress up the living room, bedroom, or guest room. Or a frilly, ruffly skirt. Or a light-weight tailored jacket.

I'm planning on turning this:

Into this:

(View A, upper right, with 2 big yellow buttons)

It makes me happy just thinking about it! It will look adorable with dark jeans and red flats. (Note to self-- reward for sewing this: red flats). Ahh, autumn time in Utah. How I look forward to crunching leaves in this jacket.

Speaking of looking adorable, THANK YOU to Sarah for trekking out to my apartment last week to play with me !!! Pedicures just aren't the same without your best friend.

Braxton was such a good baby! I am totally impressed and jealous. And grateful that he warmed up so quickly to his "aunt" who hasn't seen him or his mama since he was a month old. His giggles and smiles sure made someone baby hungry....

If you are in need of giggles and smiles, go read this. And this. And to keep the smiles rolling, make these.

Moving On, Moving In

So, explanation of my lovely shadow picture? Yup, I graduated from college! And only...six years from high school graduation. Sheesh. I was on the defer a semester here and there for a surgery and a honeymoon and change your major a few times plan. Totally worth it.
Technically, I have 3 classes left and I officially graduate in December. I decided to walk a semester early because all of my immediate family could come this April, but not in August or next April (when December graduates are slated to walk).


I didn't know if I would feel like I was just pretending or if it would be a truly meaningful event. Leading up to commencement, I wasn't really feeling the excitement. It snowed on and off the day of commencement (still not a fan of snow), I was stressed with moving, tired from finals, I was almost late for processional, etc. I wasn't able to fully concentrate on the celebration at hand. But once I slipped into the line with some of my friends and started marching toward the Marriott Center...I felt delightfully exhilarated. It was so much fun!

For those of you who haven't graduated yet, if you have the chance to walk in processional...DO IT!!

Just before my college convocation with one of my sewing friends who is adorably plump and pregnant with her first baby.

(Side note to those that might care....I wore the mortarboard correctly at University Commencement - approx. 1 inch above my eyebrow and flat on top. Not so cute.)

Lots of family and friends.

I happened to snap a picture right as this girl was waving on the jumbo-tron. Anybody know her? If you do, tell her I have a cute picture for her.

That is a LOT of graduates!

Commencement speaker was Elder Bednar. His stated goal was to be short. He mostly succeeded. His speech/talk was good. And he was right. I don't remember any of it. (Except for the part where he said I wouldn't remember anything).

My graduation present was a trip to Disneyland! Tylan and I still had a few months left on our annual passes and we really wanted to go one more time since we wouldn't be able to go again before they expired.

Tylan and I walked around imitating the statues one night when I didn't want to leave the park yet. :) He's a cute puppy, eh?

Pictoral evidence. YES, this is me on California Screamin'. ME, the roller coaster aphobe. Who didn't go on SPACE MOUNTAIN until I was 18. I loved Screamin'! It is the most fun in the very front row. You know the highest part where you climb up and then pause? In the very front you get to stop and see the insanity ahead (well, below) of you. It looks a LOT steeper from up there. Like, straight down steeper. We went on it 4 times in a row. Did I mention I loved it?


The first time I went on it last summer....I was so terrified I was going to die. Seriously. I think we had just gotten off of Splash Mountain and we had about 20-30 minutes until California Adventure closed. Nobody had gone on Screamin yet, I think, during the trip and the plan was for the brave ones to go that day. Well, we were pretty much as far away as you can get from Screamin' and everyone except Tylan decided they didn't want to go anymore. There was NO way I was going to go on it, but I couldn't let Tylan go by himself! I ran to the back of CA with him and then somehow....I kept walking with him in line...I felt bad that he had to go alone and that he had been bailed on. But seriously, my mom and dad had a horrible time on it months before--shouldn't I believe that we had the same genes for roller coasters and not go on it? But we kept going and kept going and there I was waiting to board the very front. Then I was in the car....and moving. No going back now!

The SCARIEST part (which is now my favorite part) was the ridiculous acceleration at the beginning. I don't think I have ever screamed so loud in my life! I was trying to calm down and trying not to hyperventilate and I kept saying to myself, over and over (out loud), "I am safe. I am safe. I am safe!!" I kept waiting for the pain and horror to truly hit me. When we got to the high point pause and there I was looking straight down at my doom, I do believe I screamed Tylan's name, and not too lovingly. I *may* have been thinking hateful thoughts.

But guess what....it didn't hurt. I was shocked, but still scared since there was an upside down loop coming up and I knew I was going to die right there. I closed my eyes when we got to it, and I couldn't even tell we were upside down. After that I thought to myself, "well, heck, if THAT didn't hurt, then nothing will!" I started to let out some woo hoos! and I even loosened my death grip on the restraints and put my hands in the air! (Well, as much as you can put your hands in the air with an over the shoulder restraint). Tylan was relieved to hear the change in my screams and probably was really, really glad I wouldn't hate him forever (especially since we hadn't even been married a whole year, yet). It was exhilarating and I decided it was fun, and yes, I would go on it with him again. Next year.

Stephen and Holly braved it with us 4 times in a row.

On our way back from riding California Screamin', we happened to be walking behind a worker pulling boxes of churros into A Bug's Land...we oh so stealthily (or...not so stealthily) walked behind him trying to get a clear picture of the boxes. If you want the experience of Disneyland without paying admission...now you know where to get them!

Awesome picture.

We decided our big splurge was to eat in the Blue Bayou. So fun! It was delish and the ambience was the best. We'll definitely go back. (Anybody a member of Club 33?)

We got to Disneyland around noon on Monday, and Tylan and I were starving. We went straight in ahead of everyone else and headed to the Carnation Cafe for some delicious vittles. (The Cobb salad is so yummy and huge enough to feed two). Right after we got our food, we started to get calls on our cell phones and frantic paging through the walkie talkies. The family ran into some Dream Cast member's who were handing out SOMETHING and we had to come back to Main Street RIGHT NOW to get them! So we left our food sitting at the table (you had to be there in person so we couldn't just send one of us) and we ran to get the passes and then ran back hoping our food was still there! Luckily it was and we then had a moment to check out the prize. Apparently, they had only done this once before and we were the lucky recipients of an extra hour in the park after it closed. :) Woo hoo!!! That night we headed to the little theater by the petting zoo/Thunder Mountain ranch (on the trail behind Thunder Mountain heading into Fantasy Land) and they basically held us (and a few hundred other people) there for 3o minutes while they shooed everyone else out of the park. We danced and did the Macarena and the electric slide and some other Disney dance until Mickey and Minnie popped out to tell us it was time! Mom and Dad and those of us without children ran to Splash Mountain. We rode 2 or 3 times in a row (didn't even have to get out of the logs!) After that, we split up. Some went to Fantasyland to be with the grandkids (VERY smart to do Fantasyland without the miles of lines!) while Tylan, Jake and I ran to Space Mountain. It. wasn't. working. No!!! They said they were trying to get it back up, but we didn't have much hope. We decided to slip onto Star Tours and then come back. Luckily it was up and running again and we mananged to squeeze in 2 trips through space. Fun way to end our first night!

A quick picture snapped while we were in the holding pen.

The Parade of Dreams. It was stopped for a LOOOONG time and lucky us, we got the big giant Ursula evilly laughing and threatening us for 20 minutes until it started moving again. Noah couldn't tear his eyes away. Apparently, this camera angle didn't capture how huge his eyes were, and the look of confusion/slight horror on his little face. I'm sorry, Noah, but it was pretty funny. Hopefully, he won't be traumatized for life.

Mmmm! This is a delightful tradition that Tylan and I hope to continue for a long time. There is a sidewalk vendor in Downtown Disney that sells Kettle Corn and it is so delicious. You can buy a huge bag for $6 and munch on it all day long. (Last summer it was $5, so hopefully it won't be $7 next summer. I'll still buy it though.) It is a fantastic deal. I'd say the bag goes from my fingertips to my elbow. Maybe someday I'll remember to ask the vendor how much is really in it.

The Princess Faire is adorable. The free stuff is fun and the goods are a lot of money. I enjoyed the 15 minutes we spent there, and we were impressed with what was available. But I do hope another musical production will come back soon. I've seen Snow White and Beauty and the Beast in this outdoor theater. AMAZING.

3 Disney princesses teaching us a simple dance and how to wave.

Is it okay that I want this in my bedroom?

After we bid adieu to the happiest place on earth we attended the last LIGHT performance and watched little bro be a *star*, Buble style.

And then he graduated from high school!! Are you seriously that old? Am I seriously that old??
The early monsoon prevented us from seeing the dude graduate (grrrrr), but I was able to get the lei I made to him in time. Remember the color of your MHS robes, you alumni out there? They weren't this dark! He was soaking wet when he came home.

The rain through my office window. I love rain, but not on the day of graduation!

Congratulating the graduate. Since we ended up not being able to go to graduation, the boys went and saw Indiana Jones.

And last of all for this post, a couple of fun pictures from Memorial Day.

Little nephew Josheph enjoying the fun part of making brownies. When I first came in he was licking it up off the counter. Pretty cute.

Playing with the dried ice we used to make homemade rootbeer.

Trying on Daddy's shoes!

So, that is a little bit of what has been happening in my life lately. I would add the rest of what I was going to post, like the "moving in" part, but then I'll have to spend the next 20 minutes fixing the spacing AGAIN. Seriously Blogger....fix it. For the sanity of all Bloggers! Well, at least the sanity of this one.