loves

I love when Branson says "Hey you! Come here..."- I love sushi - I love sleeping in - I love hanging out with my brothers - I love my blue piano - I love making other people happy - I love writing - I love watching Veronica Mars - I love cuddling with my husband - I love the smell of Japanese cherry blossoms - I love going to the temple - I love minimalistic jazz - I love medical dramas - I love watching The Big Bang Theory - I love wearing hoodies - I love fresh flowers - I love modern medicine - I love paying tithing - I love playing the organ - I love Branson's family - I love polka dots - I love playing games - I love Disneyland - I love cooking - I love the mountain view from my window - I love art - I love watching movies - I love making our bed - I love musicals - I love baking - I love apothecary jars - I love having great friends - I love fireplaces - I love pants that fit just right - I love reading - I love going to bed early - I love pearls - I love old photographs - I love Neil Patrick Harris in How I Met Your Mother - I love when Branson hugs me while I do the dishes - I love making recipes from scratch - I love college football - I love snow globes - I love being creative - I love the color green - I love lemons - I love fresh laundry - I love 3-day weekends - I love making snowflakes out of paper - I love Sandra Bullock chick flicks - I love how alike the girls in my family are - I love being married - I love music boxes - I love comfortable clothes - I love the example my parents set for me - I love a lot of things.

a great start

I've been in kind of a funk lately...
Nothing blog worthy has happened.
And I haven't been very good at my goals for 2010 so far...

I've been frustrated at work.
I have completely had it with Creepy McCreeperson(s).
(yes, there has been more than one McCreeperson)
I've opted to sleep in rather than get up and work out.
I fallen behind on laundry... again.
And I haven't even made an attempt
at keeping our house in order.

Pretty great start to the new year, wouldn't you say?

But in other news, I've played the piano and organ more in the past week than I have in a long time. And I finally got a chance to read Dan Brown's new book. I also haven't worked late a single day this year. And I've been pretty dang good at diligently reading my scriptures. I've made our bed almost every day this year. And I have made a serious effort to be more outwardly grateful and gracious.

As for the rest of my goals, I'm... working on them. Promise.

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's bedtime.

baby avery

I am happy to announce that I now have a niece!

Avery Mariewas born a week ago.
She is absolutely adorable.
And I'm super excited that she is here.

(Thanks Kendyll, for the super cute photo...
and for making such perfectly darling kids.)

a new year

2009 flew by way too fast. But I am welcoming 2010 with open arms.

2009 was a good year - there were hard times and happy times (as with most years, I'm finding). But some great things happened: Branson started a new job. My job got really crazy and stressful... several times. We spent a lot of time with family and friends. Brans and I celebrated one year of marriage. Our nephew Jack was born. Branson's brother Dane married Jenee. We remodeled our bathroom. We grew closer to each other.

So many experiences, some too special to share.

But 2010... Gosh. I remember December 31, 1999 - It was surreal to think that in just a few hours it would be 2000. No more Nineteen-Nineties. Two Thousand was here. 2005 came quickly thereafter. And in 2008 I was planning a wedding, thinking 2010 still seemed so far away.

And now it's here. And I've decided to make it a fantastic year.

I'm going to handle stress better.
I'm going to be more faithfully diligent.
I'm going to serve more.
I'm going to make time for myself.
I'm going to be a better wife.
I'm going to get in shape.
I'm going to keep a journal.
I'm going to be a better friend.
I'm going to laugh.
I'm going to learn to sew well.
I'm going to keep a house of order.
I'm going to be happy.
I'm going to have lots of fun.

Happy New Year.