Another Note

Dear Summer,

Remember that time you started to go away and let your friend Fall take over? Yeah, it was really nice for a couple of days...I got out the pants and long sleeves, unshelved the tea pot and even ran the heater (once.) Then you thought it would be funny to butt back in line and make a little comeback, and here I am using the air again. Only, I'm not laughing. Just sweating and sad.

So...could you go away again? Don't worry, I'll be waiting here for you in 6 months with my bathing suit and sunscreen handy. Thanks a bunch.

Kind Regards,

Hot Pregnant Lady

Just a Note

Dear Neighbor's Dog,

Hi, it's me, the lady next door...you know, the one who you like to bark at while she empties the trash, or closes a window, or opens the back door, or breathes?

You may not know this, but your incessant barking is driving me crazy. There is often enough going on in my head in a given moment that any constant, outward noise is just about enough to put me over the edge. Especially when it echoes against the brick wall five feet from my home.

So...could you put a lid on it for a while? Thanks.

Kind Regards,

Neighbor Lady

Photography by Julia

Lately Julia has shown quite a talent for picture taking, so we are thinking of helping her open her own studio. Here is just a sneak peek of her impressive portfolio...if you are interested in making an appointment for a photography session with her, please contact me immediately as space is limited.

Happy Half-Birthday to Me!

That's right, folks, today's the day I turn 354 months old. (Sounds like a lot, huh? I am sure you are duly impressed. In human time that's 29 1/2 years.) You may not think a half birthday is a big deal, but since these are the last 6 months before I turn 20-10, I think I shoould live it up a little bit. Today we celebrated by going to see Toy Story 1 & 2 in 3-D. Tomorrow I am going to write myself a song, and on Wednesday I was thinking about climbing Mt. Everest.

Honestly the thought of turning 30 isn't terribly disconcerting. The weirdest part about it is that I still don't quite feel like a grown-up, even though as a youngster, I was pretty convinced that I'd feel totally ancient by now. Truth be told, though, I still don't feel like I really know anything. Maybe by the time 6 more months roll around, I will have figured more out about life.

I'll be sure to share all my pearls of wisdom at the surprise party that you guys throw for me in April.

Conference Weekend

Ah, General Conference...that blessed time twice a year when we listen to much-needed counsel from the leaders of the Church from the comfort of our own homes (preferably while eating cinnamon rolls and wearing our favorite pajamas.) I feel like I got a lot out of Conference this time around, specifically in the form of resolving to seek for better things in my life and to stretch myself to do more and be better in my every-day endeavors.

Conference is a trade-off of sorts. While it provides a kind of spiritual cleansing for the individual, I admit that it ironically simultaneously serves as a mini-disaster for the house. Since it requires 4 hours of adult attention to a television broadcast both Saturday and Sunday, munchkins tend to get away with much more than they otherwise might under normal circumstances. So while our spirits were refreshed, sensory experiences and adventure-mongering for the little ones were had in abundance, leaving our once-clean home looking like this:

That's okay, though, because I've come to realize that this is what Conference is all about: ignoring the children for hours at a time in an effort to become better parents...and that's okay.