I miss home.

My home has always been Camas, Washington. Home of the Papermakers. I think it's nuts that our school mascot is a Papermaker machine monster.

If you're familiar with Washington, it rains, it's green, and there are lots and lots of trees. Therefore, in order to make paper, you'd need trees. Camas is known for it's stinky Paper Mill. I wonder why they decided to make our mascot the Papermaker machine? Hmm? Beats me. Anywho, I honestly loved where I grew up. We lived in a residential neighborhood, that produced good people. My closest friends lived in that neighborhood with me. I remember our late (late being, 9:00pm for a 13 year old) summer evenings playing "kick the can" with my fellow neighbors.

I don't miss having to wake up at 4 am every morning just so I could enjoy a hot shower before my siblings toook over and used up all the hot water. Plus, seminary was at 6 am every morning...SIX O' CLOCK in the MORNING, I've forgotten what 6am looks like. I miss my old house, it was a great house.

Definitely could have used my own room during my adolescent stage, though. Sharing a room with my twin sister was not ideal in my mind. I was clean, she was messy...is messy. Picture living with someone that is the complete opposite of your entire existence. That is exactly how it was living with my twin. But, the funny thing about that is...I miss it. I miss sleeping in my twin bed, next to my twin sister's bed. We had matching quilts and pillows. So, twinnish. I miss our beanie babies basket catching game that we only played when we were supposed to be asleep, (Kelli, you know exactly what I'm talking about), ohh and I miss playing hang man!

The day I got my driver's license, I had never felt so cool in my life. I could do anything, I was free. Well, almost. I still had a curfew and enough change to buy me a Taco Bell bean burrito and double decker. I was finally able to drive to my Best Friend, Chelsey's house almost all the time. My girls, Chels, Emily, and I would get all cute for the Stake dances and we were be able to drive ourselves. Never felt so good. We were party animals at those church dances.

 

It's not what you think. 

Sparkling cider is the only way to go.

Excuse my sweaty pit. We danced the night away.

Everything about Washington is grand. Yes, it rains buckets a day, and you'd think you'd get tired of the rain and the cloudy weather. I never did. When I graduated and moved out to Utah,  I loved it. But, Utah will never be Washington. I think it's beautiful out here in it's own special way. I just don't want to end up here. Although, I don't know where Will and I will end up in the future. I do know that Will would love to move back to his home in the South. North Carolina, if it were his choice. I would love to be in Washington, if at all possible. Who knows. It's just exciting that we get to create our future together. I've decided that my home is where Will is. Whether it's in Utah, Alaska, or  Maupiti (now wouldn't that be a peach) or even Canada, eh?  I know that we will be okay because we're in this together.

Grateful

I'm grateful for my life. I'm a pretty lucky girl. I've got parents that raised me right. At least I think so, and I'm pretty sure Will agrees with me. Or else, he'd be sleeping on the couch every night. Nah nah, just playing. I've got wonderful parent in-laws that are great examples and raised such a great man, that I love. I love my siblings, all of them. We are all so very different in our own ways. It makes life that much more interesting. Like I mentioned, I was blessed with a husband that makes me smile every day. He is thoughtful, sweet, Hi-LAR-EEEE-US (makes me laugh every time I'm with him), always wants to be happy and make everyone around him happy, and he wants nothing more than to do what is right. I'm getting all cheesy, but I feel the need, the need for speeed, ok ok, not speed, but the need to express how happy I am. I swear I'm not on any drugs or anything. I'm just getting enough sleep, eating right, and exercising...so that could possibly be the reason for all the happiness-talk in this post. As ya'll know my brother got hitched this weekend. It was a beautiful day. I love Jeremy and Sarah together. They are the best of friends, thats a good start to their journey together.

Let me tell ya, for each of my siblings weddings Ive had bad luck. Chris's wedding, I was 9 years old...I was too young to do anything or remember anything. Therefore, not a grand ole time. I mean, it was an awesome wedding, but you know...as a kid, weddings aren't your cup of tea. Mike's wedding, I was 12 years old...I started my p-dawg. That's the day I became a woman. Bad timing womanhood. Sheesh. Jordan's wedding, I was 12 years old (My bro's weddings were a week apart---my poor poor mother) Our dresses were made from scratch and yes, my dress did rip at the reception in front of everyone. The attention suddenly shifted from Jordan and Marie, to my little nudie of a body. And last but not least, Lindsay's wedding, I was maybe 14 or 15...the night before her big day, I had been attacked my mosquitos. I don't just get a little itchy when theses bugs bite. I explode. I turn into a marshmallow. Get this, I had just gotten over pneumonia and I had about 30 massive infected mosquito bites all over my body...PLUS I mayor may not have been overdosing on Benedryl. This was the worst experience of my life. I don't even remember being at Lindsay's wedding, it's all a blur. I saw pictures for each of these weddings, they were all amazing. I just don't remember them too well because I was preoccupied each time. It will be cool when we're in heaven to re-play the video for each wedding.

I'm grateful my wedding and Jeremy's wedding was such a blast. It's always a good time seeing family and friends. This weekend just gave me a burst of appreciation for my life and the future that awaits us. I hope you all are having a great Monday and every day this week gets better!

Jewemy Bwyce LeBawon

My big brudder is getting married! Oh, happy day. I grew up idolizing everything Jeremy did. He thought I was some pest, following him around, and just wouldn't leave him alone. I actually thought that he thought I was cool. Kinda, sad. So, basically I was a loser. Don't worry, I didn't think I was a loser, my braced-face-self thought I was pretty freaking awesome.

I admired my bro for his sense of humor, testimony, he is such a peace maker--(its almost annoying how peace-makerish he is.) For instance, Kell and I would be fighting over something legit, like who gets to use the only straightener in the house first. See, I told you it was legit. But, Jer would find some way to spoil our fighting fun and we'd kiss and make-up (ok ok, we didn't kiss, but there was hugging) things turned back to being hunky dory. He thinks I hated those moments when he was right, but I just just he was cooler. There is something to be said for trying to be a better person.

When he went on his mission, I thought I would die. I missed him A LOT. I got over it and just waited the two years just like any normal person. When he came home, it was surprising to hear what he thought of me before his mission. Yep, he said it...a PEST! Definitely helps my self-esteem decline every time I hear I was a pest. We became such good buddies when he arrived to the states from his long journey in Bulgaria. I showed him the ropes, how college works, how dating works, and just how to have a good ol' time. I'd like to think I brought Sarah and Jeremy together because I lived at Raintree, (Dating Willy-boy at the time), Jer thought he was pretty cool so he moved in to Will's apartment. Sarah lived at Raintree too and that's where they met. Raintree is just full of matchmaking. There is a lot of love going around in that complex. Maybe a little tooo much love. Ok, I'm just kidding. Kinda.

 Commercial break. 

If you are looking to find your soul mate or you just want a little romance in your life, well then Raintree Apartments is the place for you. You will be married in less than 2 months. If this sounds like the romance you're looking for, please call us now: 1-800-Raintree.

Where was I?

Oh right!

What I'm trying to say is, he is the best brother a girl could ask for. He never EVER picked on us, even though he did consider me a pest. I'm grateful he's met a girl like Sarah, that makes him so happy and I know she's going to make his eternity a blast. She is an awesome addition to our fam. I don't think I've ever been so excited for a wedding that's not mine. I can't wait to see my brother get married. He got to see me, therefore,  it's only fair that I get to see him. I love you Jer Bear! You're one of a kind.

Big Day: Saturday August 21, 2010.

Ps. Look at those dimples. They're going to have some good looking babies.