She's Baaack!

Well my feet are back on solid ground! (Which I am REALLY grateful for, due to the plane ride over the stormy Pacific!) I had such a great time and will just post some of the highlights! I may have to make this a 2 (or 3) parter so as not to overwhelm!

I had such a great time visiting with my wonderful friend, my girls, and Toby. It was so good to be able to talk face to face with her again! I have really missed her and the time we spent together and I think we both realized that even time apart doesn't change the people we are together.





I had such a great time and was able to experience a lot of different things. First I will start with the fruit, which was amazing! This first fruit is called a Rambutan. You open it up and on the inside it looks like a big peeled grape. There is a pit inside the grape that looks like an almond and actually gives the fruit a nutty flavor (I thought so anyway!)




This one is called a Lilokoi (which Sophie also gave me as my Hawaiian name, that's Lilokoi Smiley to you!) and it was my absolute favorite! I think it is also called Passionfruit to us lay people. You eat the seeds and it is sweet and also really tangy. Kind of like eating a sour patch kid but soooo much better!



I don't know the name of this one, nor did I try it, but I thought it was cool because it looks similar to a pineapple but apparently the inside is like custard!



Amy and I went snorkeling, which was sooo cool! I wish I had a waterproof camera to show how cool the fish were! They were so beautiful, colorful, and big! Amy saw a sea turtle, but I missed it :( The photo below is Toby. It is whale season as well and I was able to see a fin and a lot of splashes way off in the horizon, which was VERY cool!



We went to the hot ponds which are these super warm ponds which are right next to the ocean and heated by lava from underground. It was so nice and I had so much fun playing with the girls and seeing the little fish swimming at my feet!



Being the 2nd rainiest city in the U.S there were quite a few rainstorms (in between and even during the wonderful, warm sun!)




This little one was always happy, she didn't care what it was doing outside! To be honest, neither did I!

My trip is going to have to be posted over the course of the next few days because to be honest, I am feeling a little jet lagged and my brain isn't working right. More to come, but I leave with the gift I got myself the day I left.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

This will be my last blog for the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately I have to go to Hawaii. I know, it is going to be rough and probably not that much fun, but I am keeping a positive attitude. Ha-Ha suckas! I am so excited to feel the sun on my back and feel the warm ocean breeze on my face! I will think of all of you as I drink milk out of a coconut and work on my tan! Enjoy Utah! Don't worry, I will have plenty of pictures to blog about when I get back. I thought I would leave you with a new template to look at on those extra cold days! Love to all!

"No Photographs Please"

Last night I went to the annual "holiday extravanganza" at the place where I work (Mindy, I am taking your advice and not using the name) and received a very big surprise. I was voted Employee of the Year! It was very exciting for me and it really makes you feel like all your hard work paid off in some way! I received flowers, a lovely plaque, a giftcard for dinner and a movie, and $100 Visa gift card. Aren't I cheesy! Take that grad schools! Who needs you anyway!

Oh and just so you know, my song this morning was "I Feel Good" by James Brown. At least that one fits!

"Sing us a song"

I used to think that I was the only one that this happened to and then Steph and I were talking and I found out this happens to her as well. If it happens to anyone else, I won't feel so weird about it. Every morning I wake up to a song in my head. I do not wake up to a radio so there is no reason for it. A song is there and it is usually a weird song. It is usually a song I have not been listening to lately or even heard in years. This happens EVERY single morning, without fail. So I decided to write down my song every morning so that I could provide you with a playlist.

Monday-"It's a Hard Knock Life" the original from Annie, not the rap version

Tuesday-"Too Shy" by Kajagoogoo. I had to look up the name of the band because I had no idea. I have never even heard of that band! You all know the song though-"your too shy, shy-hush hush- eye to eye".

Wednesday-"Need You Tonight" by INXS (so slide over here, your moves are so raw, I got to let you know, you are my kind)

Thursday-"Everything" by Buckcherry

Friday- "You Needed Me" by Anne Murray

Now where in the heck are these coming from? All I can say is it's weird. Oh well, it gives me something to listen to while I get ready for work in the morning.

Live

I got this idea from somebody else but I really liked it so I am going to steal it! Here is a quote about what it is all about.

"Last year I began a tradition of choosing one word for myself each January - a word that I can focus on, mediate on, and reflect upon as I go about my daily life. Last year my word was something I wanted to bring into my life in a more tangible way. My word was play.I thought a lot about play and what it means to me. I tried to incorporate it more into my everyday and on my adventures out in the crazy world. For me, it was a lot about living without fear - about being more open to experiences with an attitude of playfulness."

So I have decided I am going to try this out and my word for 2008 is LIVE.





I am not calling it a New Years resolution because I hate those. It is simply something I am going to do. I am going to wake up every day and have that be my first thought in the morning. "Today I am going to live!" I am going to make the most of each day and not be afraid to try and do new things. There are so many things I want to do in this life and I am sick of just talking about them, I want to actually be able to say "I did that". So there you have it, my New Year's word.

I also wanted to add these pictures of my sweet little guy. He was blessed today and he is such a sweet angel. I love him to death!



Doesn't Steph look great! I wish I could hide my hips behind a baby! Baby got back is more like it!



Oh, I just want to moosh his face!



This picture does not do what Brian was doing justice, I caught it on the way down. He was throwing Belle up in the air and probably had her 3 or 4 feet above his head! She of course was loving it!