I try to be like Grace Kelly....

Ok. So I've been to my fair share of bridal showers. And I've teased the bride and rolled my eyes every time she blushed. Get over it. We all know what's going on, what's there to be embarrassed about?

But then today rolled around.

Tonight is my night.

To blush.

To want to hide under a rock and die.

Why?

Because it's MY bridal shower tonight, and I am the recipient of the embarrassing presents.

Even worse, it's the "family" shower. Which means I have my sisters, who will get me something to wear that probably isn't even ok in the bonds of marriage.... and my mother-in-law-to-be.... who will probably get me a card with a picture of the temple on it and... a hymn book?

A GRACEful bride-to-be would handle it all with poise and the right amount of humor and gratitude.... I'm afraid I'm going to choke, literally, and asphyxiate.... people will come up to me... poke me with a stick... and say it's a shame I never got to you-know-what.

I've been waiting for this year to come!!!

I just wanted to put a post up cause I think it's cool to have a post on the first day of the new year.

Also. I had my bridal pictures taken today, here's a shot of the bouquet (well, it isn't a great shot of the bouquet, but that blob by my face? That's it). It's so pretty (trust me, it is) and kind of expensive and now, it's like, what do I do with this thing?

Times and Seasons

Life changes fast.

High school.

Freshman year. AKA Snow Hall

Brent leaves.

Sophomore year. AKA The Colony

Moab.

Junior year. AKA 1/2 Year at Stadium Terrace AKA Prison

Spain.

Summer from "Dating H-E- double hockey sticks"

Dating, Engagement.

Christmas.

Each of these seasons in my life had highs and lows. Regrettably, I succumbed to the lows more than I should have. If I could have kept my head up, and endured it well, I would've realized that whatever situation I was in, it wouldn't last long, it would somehow shift, and soon, and I should just make the best of it. Some things went according to plan and some didn't. But I love where it's taken me. Lesson learned.

This is the foreseeable plan. The times and seasons coming up in the near to immediate future. Let's see if I REALLY learned my lesson.

New Year.

Marriage.

California.

Back to Utah.

p.s.

Ha ha ha ha, I'm totally not eavesdropping but let me tell you a funny sentence I just heard, "I'd rather be married as many times as I've been married, than be single as long as you've been single." Funny though it is, I'm inclined to disagree with the sentiment.

Santa Run, '09

Ok. So I hate to post something recent when there are so many cool stories from the in-between that I have yet to post, but I actually have this pic on my computer, whereas I am still waiting for some other ones.

Brent James had to work, poor fellow.

Charley finished her first ever 5k, and thus is the jolliest winner of the day.

You may observe Mark's leg in the left portion of the photo.

And I, I hoisted my belly as a bowl full of jelly around downtown Provo for 58 minutes last Saturday morning. Don't tell ME there's no Santa. I saw 200 of 'em!

3rd post of the day, this one by popular request ;)

Click on pictures to enlarge

We're here!

The CALIFORNIA letters were all peppermint-striped for Christmas,

way cute.

'Ze boyz

We were all glad Brent brought his Camelbak,

except for when he drank it so much he had to go potty all the time!

Here's the story:

Mark - Jen, I PROMISE, the front is the driest spot you can be.

Jen - You swear?

Mark - Would I lie? (he he he)

Rockin' the 3D glasses

Major red eye.

A sign that we should definitely NOT be going on this ride.

They don't call it Tower of Terror for nothin!

Space Mountain, I believe. Always a crowd-pleaser.

Tradition:

On the last day in the parks,

when it's dark and cold and no one is in line,

ride Splash Mountain over and over and over again just before you leave.

As Brent would say, "This is an incredible photo."

Universal Studios, Hollywood!

Click on the pictures to enlarge

The lovable Homer J Simpson (one of the best moments of my life here...)

You may be able to tell from my face, I'm a little confused as to why a picture is being taken at this moment in time. However, when Jen showed us the amazing, blue, purple, AND bright orange background, this instantly became my favorite picture of the trip.

Whispering sweet little nothings into his ear in Spanish. Actually, when he said, "Hablas Espanol?" She actually looked confused. I don't know how it's possible for a costume to look confused, but it was clear the character inside the suit did NOT habla.

Muah!

Something to be grateful for

Charley...

If only there were more of her to go around.

Born in 1963

A true California girl

Married and sealed to Tim Dawson on December 19, 1981

Bachelor's from UVU, Master's from BYU

Mother of Wendy, Shauna, Sandra, and Mark

Hobbies include:

Social working it up in Pleasant Grove, Utah

Spending time with loved ones

Traveling whenever possible

Being awesome

She's an excellent maker of Nanaimo bars,

each year she recruits her daughters to help

because she has so many requests

she ends up making over twenty batches,

and if you don't know what they are,

go discover them and make your life a happier place.

A mother to more than her own children,

Charley is willing to expend comfort, advice, and food to almost anyone.

She has a distinguished laugh that makes you smile,

and she loves riding in her convertible with the top down.

Now I just realized,

I don't know if this sounds more like a eulogy, personal ad, or mini-bio,

but the point is, this Thanksgiving, among my many other blessings,

I'm grateful for Charley.