Reading "Eat Pray Love"

I wanted to share my favorite paragraph so far from the book I am reading. I've really enjoyed it....and have definitely learned some things in regards to controlling your thoughts. When something upsets me or makes me mad, I tend to let myself get worked up over it repeatedly. So, I'm trying a new trick......no dwelling. :)

"There is so much about my fate that I cannot control, but other things do fall under my jurisdiction. There are certain lottery tickets I can buy, thereby increasing my odds of finding contentment. I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I eat and read and study. I can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life-whether I will see them as curses or opportunities (and on occasions when I can't rise to the most optimistic viewpoint, because I'm feeling too sorry for myself, I can choose to keep trying to change my outlook). I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts."

My Niece!

My brother and Elizabeth are having a baby! The ultrasound to determine the sex was friday afternoon. They invited my mom and Elizabeth's mom to go along to the ultrasound, but my Mom wasn't able to get off work......I gladly stepped up to take her place (they did ask me, I didn't just invite myself along!). They are so sweet to let me feel so included and involved, I'm pretty excited.

So, Friday afternoon I went with Joe, Liz, and her mom to St. Edward's in Fort Smith. I had never seen an ultrasound, so I was excited but didn't really know what to expect. The second I saw a baby on the screen, I almost burst into tears....crazy to think about my baby brother...having a baby....anyway, I won't go there.

Everyone was pretty nervous/excited to find out the sex of the baby, and the sonographer let us sit through 40 minutes of measurments before she determined the sex.....the whole time I am thinking, I can never do this...it's just too stressful. I don't mean that, but I was really stressed the whole time. Anyway, SHE is a GIRL. I had a girl vibe, and think it will be hilarious to see my brother stressing the next 18 years...over a daughter (scratch 18 years, the rest of his life).

Anyway, she looks perfect, all 10 ounces of her. She seems to have big feet, check out Joe and Liz and you will know why, she didn't have a choice.

I am on the prowl for dresses and hairbows. Elizabeth is nervous about the size of hairbows I am going to buy, but I told her I would ease her into them. My niece must be accessorized! I have lots of fun aunts that I love, so I'm so excited that it's my turn to spoil! I love you Baby Girl Love!

A few more pictures!

Mariellen and her Daddy!
Mike discovering a "reef" flip flop under the dress! :)

Mariellen's Married!

Putting the veil on
Beautiful!
Bryan and I after the wedding!!!
Mariellen and I...with a shoe! :) Haha
Team Bridesmaid! :)
I have to show off how beautiful Mariellen was on her wedding day! We had a great time in Nashville and she had perfect weather for her outdoor wedding. Congratulation Mike and Mariellen! I couldn't be happier for you!!!!

Classic.

As most of you probably know, I spent the weekend in Nashville, TN for Mariellen's wedding. I just have to share my embarrassing story. Friday night was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner and a last minute "lingerie shower" for Mariellen afterwards. Well, Bryan decided to sit out the rehearal portion at the hotel...so I had to run and get him before the dinner. My friend Ashley that was hosting the lingerie shower, asked me if I minded to chill a couple of bottles of wine in my hotel room fridge while we ate dinner so they would be ready for the shower. I said "sure, no problem." So I park my car, jump out (in my new dress and gold wedges) and set off for the door of the hotel. I had to step over a small strip of grass to get to the sidewalk, and when I stepped in the grass there was a HUGE hole. The next thing I know I am falling, and I am sprawled flat out on the side walk....still holding bottles of wine in my arms. I look up, and the sweetest looking little family is standing in the doorway of the door I was heading for just staring at me....I think they made an "assumption" regarding me laying on the ground with 3 bottles of wine in my arms. I felt completely ridiculous! So I am trying to get up and my ankle just isn't cooperating....and I realize my knee and elbow are bleeding. So I "scoot" up to the door, and they never said a word to me.....just kept looking at me in bewilderment. To make matters worse, it's a door you have to put a hotel key in to get inside. My hotel key keeps blinking "red." So, I'm just standing there.....looking pathetic. I am sure they are thinking the worst and that I'm "really confused" and at the wrong place or something. The "dad" of the family walks up, swipes his card for me...I said "Thank you so much!" in what I hoped was my most "serious sounding" voice....and again...he never says a word. So limp down the lonnngest hall way ever, knock on the door, walk in and burst into tears! Bryan, is like "good grief" what happened to you!?!?!?!? So, this bridemaid was beat by Saturday. I did manage to walk down the aisle in my 3" heeled bridesmaid shoes from Target...that were super cute and SUPER uncomfortable. My ankle is fine...just swollen...and I my elbow and knee are beautiful with their scabs. Which really makes for an attractive look, in a knee length bridesmaid dress. Pictures to follow! Happy Monday, and watch out for those holes!

Kids....say funny things.

I got this on email...I thought it was pretty cute. Kids really say funny things. I thought they were all cute, with the exception of #26...which is just scary. If first graders really did these, do they even know what that means? Maybe I'm not as in touch with what elementary school children know about these days. A 1st grade school teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the 1st half of a well-known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb.

1. Don't change horses /until they stop running.
2. Strike while the/ bug is close.
3. It's always darkest before /Daylight Saving Time .
4. Never underestimate the power of/ termites.
5. You can lead a horse to water but /How?
6. Don't bite the hand that/ looks dirty.
7. No news is/ impossible
8. A miss is as good as a /Mr.
9. You can't teach an old dog/ new Math
10. If you lie down with dogs/ you'll stink in the morning.
11. Love all, trust /Me.
12. The pen is mightier than the/ pigs.
13. An idle mind is /the best way to relax .
14. Where there's smoke there's /pollution.
15. Happy the bride who/ gets all the presents.
16. A penny saved is /not much.
17. Two's company, three's /the Musketeers.
18. Don't put off till tomorrow what /you put on to go to bed.
19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and/
You have to blow your nose.
20. There are none so blind as /Stevie Wonder .
21. Children should be seen and not/spanked or grounded.
22. If at first you don't succeed /get new batteries.
23. You get out of something only what you /See in the picture on the box
24. When the blind lead the blind/get out of the way.
25. A bird in the hand/is going to poop on you.
26. Better late than /Pregnant

Fun stuff I got from Kristy...

Kristy filled this out on her blog....I thought it looked like fun!

10 years ago: I was 14 years old, and a freshman at Alma High School. I was in band (so was Kati, so make fun of her too).....I spent alot of time on the phone. I had a pager (so did Kati, so make fun of her too)...hee hee.

Things on my to-do-list:
Work out, organize, buy a car, do some shopping, save money (shopping and saving don't really go together...we'll see how that works out), slice the strawberries in the fridge, etc....


What I would do if I suddenly became a billionaire: Build a dream house, buy a condo in New York City with a view of the park, spoil my family, invest, take care of small children and animals, TRAVEL!

My bad habits: I don't wash my face before I go to bed (no gasping, it's not THAT bad), if something really makes me mad....I have trouble "dropping it," I rarely mop my bathroom, I tend to leave trash in my car

Five jobs I have had:
1. SLP
2. Grad Assistant
3. Retail
4. Barista! :)
5. Medical Records

Things people might not know about me:
1. I love books on CD
2. I hate birds...they freak me out. I have thrown myself into the floor board of a car (not while driving) over a huge flock of them. My worst nightmare....being trapped in a room with birds flying around.
3. I watch the Young and the Restless every single day....well almost everyday.
4. I love to people watch. Places with lots of strange people are the best....bring on the crazies.
5. One of my favorite songs is "Who's gonna fill their shoes" by George Jones