ANDREW'S UNDERSTUDY

Andrew really appreciates the fact that Becca has moved in here. 

You see, usually, he's the only one around to bare the brunt of my photo taking fanaticism. He's my only model. 

Now he has a buffer, or as he calls her: his understudy. 

I like it too. Andrew's a great-looking guy and all--but I can't imagine him ever looking this pretty standing at the kitchen window. 

I just happened to walk by, as Becca sat staring at the yard. Something about the soft lighting, the feminine, flowered shirt, and her posture in the country kitchen left only one thought resonating in my mind: 

MUST. TAKE. PICTURES.

I snapped three frames before Becca realized I was yet again, photographing her. She dryly stated a snide something that isn't worth repeating. 

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To which, I proceeded to threaten her physical safety if she moved a muscle. 

She was kind enough to remain in place for a few more frames before rolling her eyes and walking away. Apparently, she doesn't fear me. 

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Punk.

SNAPSHOT SATURDAY {speed bumps}

Speed bumps 'round these parts are removed during winter months for easier snow removal, and then returned to the roads for summer.

This means, that for the majority of the year, that posted sign in our neighborhood is lying. No speed bump.

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That is, until today.

Thanks Becca and Andrew, for being willing to take one for the team.

OF LATE

1.)

My sister who just moved in is very talented. She can read her novel, watch a movie, text, work on homework, and Facebook all at the same time. 

2.)

I love lists. I think I've mentioned this twenty separate times on the blog before. To help organize them all, I bought this board from a thrift store, painted it, and hung it in the kitchen.

We are already very happy together.

3.)

The sight of rain clouds is so refreshing. Especially, after a winter of suffocatingly low, foggy, cottony, snow clouds. But not much white left 'round these parts! 

4.)

I think Becca's presence in the house has made us reckless and irresponsible. Saturday night, we made a cookie monster like this. 

For each of us. 

Cookie Monster:  Chocolate chip cookie dough baked at the bottom of a pan. Then, straight out of the oven, vanilla ice cream is dropped on top before whipped cream, chocolate, and caramel. 

Ooey, gooey, delightful dessert. 

Let me suggest, however, making one to share. The three of us got about a quarter of the way through our individual dishes before we were sick and wondering what possessed us to attempt it in the first place. 

WE TOSS 'EM, THEY'RE AWESOME

This weekend, I enlisted the help of my bread maker to prepare pizza dough. Then we each created our very own, personal pan pizza. 

I thought it was only appropriate to display Andrew's pizza tossin' skills in this way...to give you the full effect. Don't you love his satisfied smirk at the end?

And I must give credit where credit is due for the *ahem* cheesy title at the top. It's what Andrew chanted to himself as he worked. 

Never a dull moment with my love. 

And the tasty end result. 

Next time, we want to try fun styles like chicken and ranch, Philly cheese steak, Pesto, white sauce with spinach and chicken, or BBQ wing.

Any other suggestions of yummy, unique kinds of pizza?

MY LITTLE FAMILY

Becca moved into our spare room. She didn't want to pay for a full semester contract when she'll be leaving in a few months for her New Jersey internship.

Look! There is Becca now...wondering why the heck I'm taking pictures when I could be helping her carry her stuff in.

After her internship, she'll takes off to grad school somewhere...or take a job in a big time publishing company on the opposite side of the country...
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It's all very vexing.

But in the meantime, she's content to hang with me...staying up entirely too late watching Jane Austen movies.
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I haven't been to bed on time once since her arrival.

We were cleaning house on Saturday when I came across this image of Andrew in his manly work clothes, unaware of being watched, and mopping the kitchen floor.
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It makes my heart very happy.

Once he realized I was pointing a camera in his direction, he couldn't pass up the opportunity to strike this dramatic pose...with an exclamation of: "See how you make me slave away?!"

He's the most adorable kitchen slave I've ever seen.

BECCA'S BIRTHDAY

She came over to celebrate, and we gave her that hat. I hope she enjoys it, because I'm going to steal it the first chance I get.

Unconventional as always, she asked for peanut butter cookies instead of cake. We made it work.
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By the way, she turned 21...or 23...or 12...
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Heck, I can't even remember how old I am anymore. (But that's what I have Andrew for. He keeps track of stuff like that.) Happy mnphth birthday, Becca. Last month...

Memory Monday--Christmas past

December 1997. Seventh Grade. Gilbert, Arizona.

What happy times. My biggest problem of the day was the angst of Junior high life. A Josh something-or-other had had just "broken up with me." Ha!

I wish I had been able to look past this tragedy long enough to realize how happy life really was. I love the pure joy on little Becca's face. =)

LITTLE TURKEYS

Our second Thanksgiving  celebration began with a family turkey bowl game at the high school stadium. This was Aurora's first year as a participant, and she sacked our quarterback! Not bad, eh?

We enjoyed our feast back at Grandma's house, before Utah's incredibly warm weather beckoned me outside. 

Colorful Becca and I herded the little ones outside for a snowball fight...with what little snow was left.

Utah still looked appropriately autumn-ish, while the Idaho we left behind looked like it was ready for Christmas. 

 My baby sisters. 
Aurora, look at me. 
Aria, scoot over so your face is in the sunlight. 
Belle, smile pretty, please. 
Aurora, hold still. 
Aria, stop talking for just a second. please. 
Say cheese!
Aurora, look at the camera!
Belle, will you please open your eyes?
Okay, ready?1...2...3!!!


That's basically how it went down. 

We all played with our beautiful, little cousins until the last of the snow had been scraped for Grandma's back lawn. 

I mean really. Aren't they the sweetest?

Little turkey...

MEMORY MONDAY--our funny

July 1997? Camping in Arizona.

That's me in the trunk and Becca in the backseat. We thought we were so funny. 
(Get it?)
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OUR FIRST

We have never hosted a Thanksgiving meal before, that the preparations weren't carefully supervised by a more experienced mother figure. This time we were on our own. There was no one to ask how to roll out a pie crust, to share the best fruit salad recipe, or provide reassurance that the turkey is in fact, cooked through.

Okay. I got it into the pan. Now what?

We tag teamed the pie. Andrew handled the filling while I conquered the crust. Ready to bake!

Our makeshift place settings. We took our tiny kitchen table built for two, pushed it up against our skinny hall table, and covered it with a spare window curtain. We didn't have enough matching place mats for our three guests, so I just went with the mismatched look. Not only the place mats were different, but so were the chairs, and all of the dishes. Apparently, we're not set up very well to entertain.
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And I'm still wondering why I took a picture of the table...and not the people.
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But we enjoyed a lovely meal with belching Becca, her Canadian roommate, and Andrew's crippled Canadian business partner (ha!). Then we played card games, ate pie, and kicked our friends out, so we could hit the icy road. We were off to Utah for the next day's Thanksgiving dinner!

(The camera doesn't capture it, but imagine a whirling blizzard out that window.)

FOCAL POINT FRIDAY--bleh

Here are this week's focal points.

Only one more Friday before Thanksgiving break.

WORST:

I feel like crap. My throat burneth, my nose runneth, and my head hurteth like the dickens (if anyone knows what "the dickens" are exactly, please share. 'Cause I haven't the foggiest). 

In a netshell...I am sick. And managing a classroom this way is miserable.




BEST:
Becca left this week for New York City.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not happy to get rid of her...I'm just happy she's so happy. It was a highly competitive internship expedition, and her acceptance is something to be proud of.

She's becoming quite the traveling lady. She was back from Europe only a couple of months ago, and now she is off to the The Big Apple.

Plus, she modeled and made me analyze every outfit she packed...for New-York-City-fashion-appropriateness. Like I would know.
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But it made me feel involved. And I expect a dang good souvenir gift as payment for my input when she returns.

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I realize this isn't the best thing to happen to me this week. But this news just beats out all of my languishing on the couch surrounded by used Kleenex.

Near death, I might add.

THANKFUL THURSDAY--Home Girl

My Beckster. There's nothing quite like having a sister--a girlfriend to talk and sing and joke with that I am 100% comfortable around. And I ADORE the fact that she is currently living in Rexburg to go to school.

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We both lead very busy lives, but when we do find time to get together, it's the best. For example, one night, she was kind enough to come with me to my classroom to help get some stuff done. We worked hard for about ten minutes...before getting distracted...and just sitting there...talking and laughing ...for the next two hours. We got nothing accomplished, but it was a night to remember. I am thankful for Becca.

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P.S. That is my tough gangsta' face. Fer shizzle.

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This has been another installment of...

SNOWMOBILE

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We had never been on one before this weekend. It's an experience all Idahoans need to have to truly experience the extent of an Idaho winter. Quite honestly, it felt exactly like riding four-wheelers or wave runners (sports we Arizonians, are a bit more familiar with)--just a whole heck of a lot colder. And from the other side of my goggles, our red, sporty snow machine, and my new red coat, were spoiled by a horrible orange tint from my perspective for the extent of the afternoon.

{What? I really hate orange, okay?}

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Also, we were on a double date with my little sister. Weird is the only word to describe it. Last I looked, she was 12-years old. How did she get to be twenty-two?And why do we feel the inexplicable urge to set everyone up on blind dates? From past dating experience, I am very much aware of how horrible they tend to be.

Luckily, it wasn't nearly as awkward as I expected. And our friend Jesse, showed us all a good time.

{That's Becca and him below}

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And that's Andrew and me looking like we

just escaped from a science fiction film.

{...Luke, I am your father!...}

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But I have to say, the setting was sure incredible. As we climbed higher in elevation, it began to snow softly. It was simply magical...

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Some of the magic must have rubbed off on Andrew,

because he was flying over all sorts of crazy jumps.

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{Jesse, Becca, and I}

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Check out those beautiful mountains behind me!

{and the windburn on my cheeks! brrr...}

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Hooray for outdoor adventures!

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