Sunday, January 23, 2011

"Getting Ready, Almost Ready, Now I'm Ready"

Because I've been absent from blogging for the past month or so, I thought I'd update you on what has happened.

Christmas Eve
{It's too bad that you can't make this picture bigger. Shea and I are pulling pretty genius faces. It's quite reminiscent of Alexia Wheaten when she is posing for the winter royalty dance photos. If you understand that reference, we are now new best friends.}

We got Christmas pajamas and Snuggies. Even Grandma B joined in.

Malinda got a blanket that can become a pope cloak. Sweet.

My gran gave us "Oh the Places You Will Go" and a stuffed animal to go along.

Shea Whitney!

Gun Bun

Christmas!!!
I gave Gunnar a shirt. He's just so cute!

I gave Shea a lace skirt. Such a model showing it off.

Fath got a tie and some snowshoes

Moim got a purse {here she is trying out the same pose as Shea. Nailed it.}

Oh Fath.
Moim! You are too cute!

Car Accident
This picture was taken just before we hit the ice. Oh, it started out as such a lovely day.

We celebrated my favorite brother's birthday!

He got a music cake because he is amazing at the viola and piano.

15! 15! 15!

So much love



Swim Meet!
Gunnar had a swim meet and took 2nd and 3rd in his races!!


We really aren't mean. These girls kept doing this over and over again so we had to take a video of it. PS don't mind my commentary. "Getting Ready, Almost Ready, Now I'm Ready" is just too much to explain. Only Jacqueline and Jenna can appreciate it fully.

-M

Friday, January 21, 2011

Do you want to know a secret?

I was actually getting a bit excited and ready to go back to France. I know, right? But now it looks like I won't make my flight tomorrow and Sunday and Monday are overbooked too. Bad news for me. I hope I have a job to come back to after I tell Florence. Wish me luck!

What was supposed to be a 2 week visit has turned into a 5+ week stay. Yeah. I know this sounds a little excessive, but looking back on the past month I've seen that it was exactly what I needed. I had a lot to deal with over the past few weeks between a car accident, losing some important people in my life and making some big decisions but now I feel better about everything and can move on. Finally.

Last night I said goodbye to my Aunt Becky and cousin Meg and a family that I absolutely adore and are in some ways a bit of a second family. As happy and grateful as it made me to realize that I have people like them in my life, it has made it that much harder to leave. I hate thinking that I wont see my friends and family for the next 3-5 months. I know that doesn't sound like a long time, but to me it is. I've learned how important people are and even more importantly that you must express those feelings otherwise people may not know. I love my family more than I could ever say. I love my best friends with all of my heart. I love the Gibsons regardless of how things have changed. Hannah and Hunter are my sisters and I see Ann as second mother. I miss them terribly! I love Dev, Jenna and Jacqueline for being there and being supportive of all that has happened, even though I've been kind of crazy. I love the emails and messages I get from my Grandma B and Aunt Kathy. They are such wonderful women. I love my cousins so much. I'm quite close with Katie and Meg {mainly because they are in Provo} and I don't know what I would do without them. They mean the world to me. I love my aunt Becky. She is just Becky. Whenever I'm sad I head to Becky's because she makes me feel like everything will be okay. Plus she always has something delicious just coming out of the oven. I love Jenna. She has been there for me for so many, many things. I look up to her more than most people I know. She's a big reason why I went to France. She is has such a large heart and I know she would do anything for me. I love Jacqueline. She is my soul sister. I don't know another person who can make me laugh like she does. She is crazy {the good kind}, funny and always up for anything. I love my sister and I admire how much she loves and wish I had a heart as big as she does. She is the least judgmental person and is always there when I need her. Plus she is always up for a guitar sing along based on the music stylings of Dashboard Confessional. I love my brother. He just knows things. He is so smart and funny and kind. Everyday he says something that makes me smile. I love my dad and all of the pep talks he gives me. Pretty sure he's talked me down about 20 different times. He always knows what to say. And how to make you laugh. My mom. How I love her. She is the most lovely and enchanting woman I know. She is my best friend and is always there for me. These are only a few of the people in my life that mean a great deal. I would go on and on but this post would be entirely too long {I'm sure I've lost a few readers by this point}. I have such love for the people in my life and I hope they know this. I will miss them too much while I'm away.

-M

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Happy 2011

This year started off less than satisfactory. My heart hurts a bit, I'm a touch mad, I'm stressing/freaking out about returning to France and my sister and I were in a car accident which resulted in a lovely case of whiplash, soreness and some bruising. Unawesome.

Luckily I have Grey's, Dashboard and plenty of chocolate to make it all better.

Happy New Year.

-M

Monday, December 27, 2010

Sledding!!

Maggie, Jenna and I went sledding on the most perfect snowy day.



Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas Holiday

Here are a few photos from a family outing. I love these people.






More to come soon...

-M

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Things I've learned about travel:

1. Bad idea to bring Les Mis as your reading book. Duh.
2. 8 hour layovers are kind of terrible
3. Travel makes me emotional. Too emotional for anyone to ever see. Or receive telephone calls from.
4. First class is the only way to fly {more on that later}. Seriously.
5. I hate the actual travel part, I only like the arriving part.
6. Handi-wipes. I can't handle germs. Germs germs germs. Ughhh
7. Stand-by is full of stress. Stress. Full.
8. Chocolate. It's the answer to all of life's problems. Always.