Mike's graduation

So I cajoled my husband into walking for graduation at the last minute, with photos here to prove it. Michael finished school in August, so it was a bit of a belated celebration. However, since our good friends Lexy and Jared were here graduating as well, we just had ourselves a whole bunch of commencement fun. They said their work phones, respectively, were the real markers of their "graduation" -- which is good considering Mike's ringtone is of an angry Irish man reciting a death-prayer.




Ok...fun might be a bit of a misstatement, because apparently the Marriott School is letting EVERYONE in these days and the convocation was bit long. However, Lex and I survived by playing on free rice and winning grains for the hungry with words like vallecula...don't get too excited...it means groove.

My end of the year was not as exciting (no cap and gown, or sweet-looking Jedi hood that I will be wearing next year), but instead included scary looking outlines like this:

And some super psyched study-group members. I tell myself we will laugh about these days later on, when the pain of finals and the 2-week hell of pre-final studying/stressing wears off...but I 'm not so sure....

Our inner tube water polo team did come quite close to winning the intramural championship, which at BYU is akin to the Superbowl. You don't understand how desperate zoobies are here for physical exertion and a chance to flirt in wholesome c0-ed recreation. Go Torts Illustrated!

St. Patrick's Day

We had a fun time celebrating over at our cousins' house with the Cooneys. And as you can see, little Lily had a fun time using Mike as a human jungle gym. While he wasn't as jazzed by the new birthday dress (thought it was a bit busty on him) - they do make a cute pair.

We finished off the night watching Gnome Mobile - a movie you would know only if you grew up in the Cooney family, where Shirley Temple and and the like were worshiped with an almost cult-like love. The boys weren't too happy about stopping their very traditional and celebratory-Call-of-Duty-death-game, but interest piqued up after the climax of the movie involved gnome wives in colored nightgowns chasing after eligible bachelors.

Happy Paddy's Day.

And that's why you always leave a note...

Some winter randomness. Our dryer has been broken for months (since Christmas and was finally replaced this week.) My handy husband successfully installed it, miner's lamp and all.

However there was considerable swearing involved with the procedure.

I went to Kansas City with my Mom to visit my oh-so-talented ballerina cousin perform in two different ballets. This is me at a considerable less elegant but delightful locale- Gates BBQ. This place was amazing, which was good considering we almost missed our flight home while basking in burnt ends and brisket. This picture is likely blurry because of the high speed at which I was devouring my meal.

Amidst our shopping and eating we also visited Liberty Jail, a church historic site with a rebuilt version of hte original jail that held Joseph Smith and friends for four cold months. (the sun was shining and that town still felt freezing, can't imagine chilling in a literal "ice house" for weeks on end).
Stopped by the house I was born in. That was my nursery through those bay windows. Mom had a great time reminiscing about the town and the memories of being a first-time mom in a new city. As a bonus, some old friends did a rendition of a Baptist tune I used to sing quite exuberantly to anyone who would listen, and maybe not even requiring that - gotta' love preschool.


Cousin Sophie and I. She was a hit in Kansas City -- its amazing how babies are appreciated outside of Utah.
The Cooney family at Mallory's dress rehearsal.
Mike and his brother Matt at Tucano's on his birthday.


Us at Snowbird.

I told her the cha-chang was the funnest part of a shotgun. You just can't help yourself. Let it be known that my husband has engaged in a general arms buildup akin to a military operation and likely has more firepower than some European countries.

More skiing/riding. As a friend pointed out - we should have cute kids because we both have "baby faces." Good to know our cheek fat will be useful for something...

Snow-heidi.

Valentines Day

This picture was posted on my new iphone..the sneaky present that my hubby surprised after enduring weeks of whining from his wife that she was the only female member of her family without one. (its true...through disappointing my persuasive tactics had to be so juvenile) He sabotaged my day by stealing my phone (have you ever tried to coordinate rides at a out-of-town conference without a phone..yeah..its no bueno), but I was more than happy when he put it into my hands. I have now gotten completely synched and updated and am pretty sure my phone could run our country better than some of the eejits in Washington (snow included...I have a weather app...). I am darn sure it could balance the budget...don't be fooled by the bubble wrap popping or ball physics games, this baby can p-r-o-c-e-s-s.

On Valentine's Day itself, we enjoyed a nice steak dinner. Although because of the lateness of Mike's meetings on Sunday he had to get a little creative with his grill-game (e.g. headlamp). The steaks were great, if not blasphemously-rare for any vegetarian, and we had a relaxing meal on our freshly cleaned table. (this is indeed a momentous occasion, we are more ottoman folk, and I don't mean we like the Turkish Empire).

I decided in lieu of the WWII movie we watched the night before to go all out with my dress for church. What-- you don't like to incorporate vintage-costume style wardrobing for church? Missing out.

And I gave Michael his present, a collection of Marine aviation books and a pistol-shaped egg fryer. Love you honey (despite the fact that he once again preempted my gifting by buying himself something, in this case a new weapon that rhymes with basalt trifle.)

When is that Ba--by due?! The one at the zoo...I hear the pandas are having one or something...

Now I really can't take credit for any of the hereafter cuteness since I dropped into the shower preparations later than Brett Favre in a NFL spring training season, but I loved how everything turned out. Cecily is due in about a week and her shower was centered around a wildflower theme invitation designed by my very talented cousin Mallory (sister to the mama-to-be). You can see it below on the table with the fresh flowers.






I love this shot of my Aunt Cheryl with baby Sophie because really, isn't this what babies are about! Cute fatness and smiles?!


Lots of poofs. And not the kind that would get you a discrimination lawsuit in Arrested Development.

The cousins.

I don't understand the question...and I won't respond to it.

Random stuff since I had a fight with my camera last night and it won, thereby preventing me from uploading the truly fabulous pictures that would not doubt convince you of my charming outfits, bubbling personality, exciting twitter-worthy life, blah, blah, blah.

I want to make some of these...



See how generous I am? I could be all secretive about my crafts and pretend this all emerged from my brain like Al Gore and the internet, but no, I am committed to transparency, just like the healthcare delegati--I mean, athletes and their drug us----I mean, well -- how about Dog the Bounty hunter and his white-trashiness - that is all out there to see. No one could deny that.

Other things I am looking at while bored in class...

Interesting article about the rise of carseat brigades - parents toting their babes in carseats all day without ever taking them out. Don't mean to judge (but naturally by disclaiming that, I am) since I don't have offspring myself to transport, but it does seem that they are used in settings where baby, and probably everyone else, wouldn't mind being out in the open. (Swine flue-epidemic-like church settings excluded, naturally).

Great thoughts about how not go Brangelina/Madonna/susie homemaker in your efforts to help in Haiti and only cause more trouble or stress. (link thanks to my nonprofit UNICEF friend Jooj)

Beautiful and clever maternity series (I still look at this, even though the baby has already arrived). You're on notice that the dad/photographer is young and edgy, with the language to match it. But, I love their style and modern energy and enthusiasm for raising a family.

Some thoughts about the State of the Union address last night - one of my favorite moments (undeniably because I am a dorky law student), was when Obama openly criticized the Supreme Court as they are akwardly sitting on the front row. Alito of course, can't help himself and starts muttering under his breath. Hilarious! Seriously, if you are going to insult the court while they are forced to sit there under the scrutiny of cameras, at least get your facts straight. I know Ginsburg looked rather frail and sad (and rather like the vultures from Jungle Book), but I am pretty sure Alito and Roberts have spring in their step, enough to rush the podium if they were incited enough.

Obviously this store would not do well with the midnight Provo grocery crowd (you will literally run into 5 people you know if you go to the Provo Smith's late at night). No pajamas at the supermarket-- the gall!!


I am love with this vintage, ruched, starlet-style swimsuit from Anthropologie (of course).


I loved it so much I emailed it to my hubby with a not so-subtle message that I would in fact, greatly appreciate having full ownership of such a suit. I also described the praise of one Anthro reviewer,

"I want to give my measurements to explain how wonderful this suit is. I'm 5'4" with a 32DD chest, a 27 inch waist, and 37 inch hips. I really ought to be painted on the side of a WWII bomber jet. For this reason, I haven't owned a proper bathing suit (without wearing a tee shirt over it for modesty) since I was 14. I've tried the bra-sized bathing suits, but, quite frankly, I don't want to put myself on display, which is how they fit me. What an amazing suit this is! ... it doesn't make me look like I'm putting my goods on display-- in fact, it simply makes me look like I really should be painted on the side of a WWII bomber jet! I absolutely love it and recommend it those girls out there who rock the hourglass figure with me!"

Here is my husband's response:

Most alarming... what the h*%& is a WWII bomber jet?... what do they teach in schools now days... the only jet in WWII was made by the Nazis and was the Messerschmitt 262 fighter/bomber...basically a Messerschmitt 109 and a Junkers Ju87 put together with twin jet engines. It's painting scheme was usually a white underbelly with green or blue on top depending on if it was flying over sea or land... It most assuredly did not have nose art... and if it did why would she associate with them... unless she's an underground hobbit slut fascist... and why would an esteemed law student such as yourself want to associate with that crowd????
(with attached pictures)



Love you honey. What was I thinking?

mele kalikimaka

okay, so that song might only apply to christmas vacations in Hawaii, but I figured with some liberal artistic license you could slap it onto a tropical vac-aye in Belize as well...

I also wanted to commemorate my last Sunday with my pal Lex, who moved over the break to North Carolina. I might also have wanted to show off my Christmas outfit.