Tonight

Days come and go. Some things change. Some things stay the same. Everyday since I can remember, I have hated three things. I have hated cancer, snakes, and onions--in that order. Those things have never changed.

Lets talk about today.
Today was a good day in Biology.
Today I found out that I got a 95% on a difficult test.
Today the career counselor gave me excellent guidance.
Today I finished my homework.
Today I ate some chocolate covered cinnamon bears.
Today I ran four miles and ten sets of stairs.
Today I had a good hair/clothes day.
Today I got my homework done.
Today I helped make dinner for our second counselor and his family.
Today I smiled.

Lets talk about this evening.
This evening everything ran smoothly at work.
This evening I got to hold a baby.
This evening I had two friends come and visit me at work.
This evening I received an unexpected bonus check.
This evening I found the perfect pair of jeans.
This evening I had lots of energy.
This evening I smiled.

Lets talk about tonight.
Tonight we finished with work earlier than expected.
Tonight I helped a guy jump his car.
Tonight the guy's car didn't want to be jumped.
Tonight I drove a guy to his girlfriend's house.
Tonight I had a great phone call.
Tonight my next-door neighbors seem to live too close.
Tonight I learned that my next-door neighbor had a pet snake.
Tonight I learned that the snake was a boa constrictor.
Tonight I thought my next-door neighbor was sick.
Tonight I learned that the snake is not in its cage.
Tonight I learned that next-door neighbor doesn't know where her repulsive pet is.
Tonight I am not smiling, amused, laughing or getting out of bed to use the bathroom.
Tonight I hate snakes, cancer and onions--in that order.

Next week I hate cancer, snakes and onions--in that order.

Thank Heavens For Moms!

My mother came to Provo for almost three weeks. I forget how much easier life is when your mom is around. Meals taste so much better, stress levels are down, babies' cries are softer and less frequent, stains come out of clothes instantly, kinder words are spoken and shopping is more fun when mom is around.



I wasn't the reason she came to Provo. Koby was the reason, I was a perk. I got to spend time on the tredmill next to hers bonding as we watched the Bachelor, run around the track too many times to count, but giving her booty random smacks as I passed her, shop with her, learn all I need to know about babies, nursing and all the other extra details you don't want to hear about, eat her amazing meals, visit family, and travel to and from the airport with her a couple of times.



My mom can sew anything, cook anything, shoot anything, clean anything and love anything/anyone. I love my mom and I am so glad she came to stay for three weeks! Thanks mom for all you do and did!

Pink Icing, Flowers, Chocolates, Poetry And More!

I have had wonderful valentine experiences. I remember growing up and having my place at the breakfast table decorated every February 14th. My parents were great valentines. Since I have lived away from home with other single ladies, it has been fun to collect the various items left on our doorstep throughout the day/night. Last year my family was going through a difficult time, and it was the year I received my favorite valentine.

Before I share the poem, I need to give some background. My grandpa had lost his struggle with Lymphoma just a couple of days before and I was heading home the day after Valentine's Day for the funeral....not the best situation. My ward did some creative name exchange for the guys to be our valentines. Later I found out that my friend Kyle Petersen had my name. This is only a small part of the gift I received, but it was my favorite!

February 13, 2008-this was on my door.

I've heard a little rumor,
that you're leaving town.....
On Valentine's Day.
It caused me to frown.

Sunday night at ward prayer,
I spotted Annie's shoe.
Stuck my hand in one next to it.
Your name, from which, I drew.

So I made the executive decision,
to give you time to travel and pack.
Valentine's Day will be delayed,
till the day that you come back.

This next one was left with a basket of goodies on Valentine's Day after he realized that I was still going to be around.

Well....
My first poem was in vain,
very much to my dismay.
My "inside" sources were slightly wrong.
So Valentine's will STILL be today.

Nothing that I could buy
would be good enough for you.
So please accept these treats.....
And don't forget to chew.

Everyone says that you're AMAZING!
And I whole-heartedly agree.
Hope you have a lot of pillow-talk.
Your friend, K.P.

That definitely lifted my spirits last year. Thanks K.P.!

This year I had a secret admirer. Monday night I got this note and some flowers. So sweet.

Hey Hot Bowl of Oatmeal,
Hope you have a good week.
~Secret Admirer

Thank you Saint Valentine and Quaker for another fun Valentine's Day!

Nephew #4

He came! Koby James Huntington was born this morning at 4:52. He weighed in at 7 pounds and 9 ounces and is 20 inches long. He seems to have James' squinty eyes (due to swelling) and Megan's pouty lips. She loves his little nose and hopes he grows into his ears.

Megan started pushing at 4:05 and was doing so well she could barely wait for the doctor to come in at 4:50. She felt like the doctor only came to play catch and clean up. She had such a great experience, thanks to her very caring and patient nurse.

I am so lucky to have been able to witness the birth (from up at her head)! Thanks Megan and James for sharing something so special with me and mom. I was never able to visit my other siblings in the hospital during or after labor, so it was such a treat.

Finally a nephew that lives a couple of minutes away!





There are more pictures to come!

Watch Out Crystal

Meet Ty. I get to watch him every week. I love it! Crystal better be careful, cause one day I am going to take him home with me...... Watch out girl

Quirky Rachel

As I was sitting in my other night class, Psychology 1100-Human Development, my mind was wandering all over the place. Since there wasn't a Susie to distract me, I had to come up with something else. I started thinking of my quirks. At no surprise to me, the list started to grow. Here I am in all my glory.

-I put ketchup on lots of random items including: eggs, macaroni, ham, chicken, roast, turkey, steak, tacos, burritos, etc...
-If I like a movie I can watch it again and again. (I've lost track of how many times I have seen Anne of Green Gables, Nacho Libre, or Pride and Predjudice)
-If I come home to an empty house at night I look in every possible hiding place for a bad guy to be hiding....seriously
-I put pajamas on to get ready after I shower so that I don't sweat on my clothes.
-I am bad at staying in touch over the phone with friends. Thank heavens for blogs.
-I procrastinate, but end up doing my best work when under pressure.
-My arms have to be tucked in or wrapped around something for me to fall asleep.
-Thick, dark, cloudy skies make me happy, and I am even more ecstatic when lightning begins
-I love doing my laundry. (I do at least 2 loads per week, and for being single I think that is a lot)
-I love ice cream and would replace a meal for a shake.
-I make a weird face while applying makeup
-I look at people and want to fix their eyebrows, hair, and sometimes I go as far as wanting to dress them.
-I stress when my savings account drops below a certain point
-My toes are disgusting from running
-I am a night owl
-I get sidetracked easily (hence writing this list in Psych)
-I love 80s rock
-If I am around someone with an accent, I start talking like them
-I don't like listening to voicemails, but get frustrated when an unknown number calls and doesn't leave a message
-I need chapstick,my phone, and gum at all times. If I leave the house without one of these items it throws me off for the rest of the day.
-I have to be doing something with my hands to engage my mind. During conference I like to do a puzzle and during class I doodle and make lists all over my margins
-my left foot is a half of a size smaller than my right foot.
-I don't like to wear my hair down.
-I can't do anything in the morning unless my teeth are brushed.

I know there are more, but that is just what I came up with in 2 hours of class Tuesday night. Don't worry, Susie is developing into quite the gal. I will put a post up at the end of the semester and hopefully a picture too.

Oh Susie

I'll admit that I had back-to-school jitters today as I drove to school. With a full load of classes, a full-time job, and recent hobbies I've picked up, I feel I am going to have to do quite a bit of adjusting to this new schedule. I decided that in each of my classes I am going to have to pick a focal point, so that when I get distracted, I will have someone to focus my ADHD thoughts on.

My Nutrition class is every Wednesday from 6-8:40pm. It's going to be rough, but thankfully there is a Susie in there to keep my thoughts distracted. When I say Susie, I mean Susie Talks A Lot (the doll)! This girl has her hand raised every five minutes. Do the math, and with that amount of time spent in class, we are hearing from her a ton. Her comments usually don't really tie into the lecture, but they are entertaining. During the beginning of class I was irritated, but by the end I was so excited to hear what she had to say because everything that came out made her sound drunk. I decided to scribble notes down about her so that by the end of the semester I would see all that I learned about her through her abstract comments.

After two and a half hours, this is what I learned about her:
-Her dad has a bad coffee addiction
-She moved from AZ and has very dry lips and skin and needs to drink more water
-Her grandpa is from Denmark
-Her boyfriend's mother was born in the fifties, so she has some crazy eating habits?
-She and her mother watch the Biggest Loser each week and eat popcorn while watching
-She loves Del Taco
-Her stepdad is from Guam and is an American Indian with high cholesterol
-She doesn't take notes
-She plays solitaire on her computer throughout class (I think she also has ADHD)
-She cuts the fingers off of her gloves

Even though everyone rolls their eyes when they see her hand up, I am excited to see what character she develops into. More notes are taken on Susie than on the course material.

Oh Susie, thanks for the entertainment!
-