I like to Move it Move it!

The Tin Man (with the world's BiGGEST heart, I might add) opened his call Thursday evening. He has been called to serve in the
Madagascar Antananarivo Mission

and will report to the Provo Missionary Training Center

January 20th, 2010.
He will be speaking Malagsy, but will also be putting some mad French skills to use. (I think Malagsy sounds a bit like Pig Latin, but you decide for yourself by clicking here)
Wow. Wow. WOW.
You can follow my little big brother's journey by clicking here:

Monday's Mailbag

Auzzi the Tin man's mission call is ON ITS WAY!!!!! We'll know where his new home will be on Thursday when the tin man gets home from his home in the Burg. As to where he's going... your guess is as good as mine. So far, the favor of votes is falling with South France. All I really know is that 1- it WON'T be Antartica and 2- he's so cool.

Welcome, Kyler!

Today, at 3:04pm, my little nephew Kyler Steven Smith entered the world. He weighs 6lbs 15 oz, is 19 inches long, and is simply adorable. I'd also like to mention that Steve and Anna picked my name suggestion. Wahoo. He's a perfect mix of StevAnna.

Life is beautiful.

How handsome is this little guy?

Fetish No. 5

I think it's safe to say I gave sunglasses the boot from my fetish list when dinner plates started screaming at me in every direction...This only just occurred to me the other day as I was loading the dishwasher and washing a few dishes by hand that I love plates. In the past 3 months or less, these are some of the plates I've "acquired"... they've all been adopted from my favorite store Target, and I find their prices to be reasonable at just $1.99 a plate (for the melamine). It only becomes a problem when they make them in the cute matching sets with the bowls AND the cups/tumblers that I always feel the sudden need for too that makes it add up pretty quickly...and to think that there's only the 3 of us (We don't let Daphnie eat off plates, don't worry but she does get a fabulously trendy food bowl)!

Back in June, we had some guests over for a BBQ, which left me feeling like we needed 4 MATCHING, lightweight, fabulous plates that we could use without breaking anything...This is what we started this new collection with (mind you, we ALREADY had some great plates, even cute ones from Target - my argument there was is that there were only 2 plates of each style design, and they were for Autumn, not summer): blue and orange themed, for the Smart Bronco fan.

More recently, with the turn of Summer into Fall, I thought it would be great to invest in these babies...The tumblers are just fabulous, and I can't think of better plates for this awkward season changing time of year when the weather (besides Boise's REGULAR changes) can't decide if it wants to be hot or cool down and be freezing. These plate sets endorse both:

It is quite a bit like love, actually. I eye other plates at other stores also, but usually they are more expensive, and I've actually run out of room/cupboard space in my kitchen. I'm coming up with a plan for that though. Where there is a fetish will, there is a way!

The two biggest downfalls with this fetish of mine: the melamine plates are not dishwasher or microwave safe...bummer I know, but, think about the days before either of those were invented! The second downfall with this fetish: I cannot allow myself to eat more food or more meals in one day JUST because I want to see my fun plates. Haha. That's something for another day...in October!

BYU-i'll MiSS YOU Austin!

Ahh, Birthday Cake. My MOM'S baking/cooking is divine and wonderful...That's the best dad in the whole world (that would be my dad) eyeing my mom's mad baking skills.

We took Austin to college, the day after he turned 19! I thought I would share a couple of photos from his birthday...in 10 days his missionary papers will be submitted! My little big brother is growing up so fast! I told him to enjoy his last day at home for forever. I don't mean to be so negative, but truly things will never be the same... ever. Before any of us realize it, he'll be home from his mission, back in college, and eventually get married (upon my approval, ahem) and begin a family of his own. There is a certain sadness and longing I have to just be 6 again, sleeping on the basement floor with my older brothers and sharing jokes with one another and telling each other scary Goosebumps stories. I miss those days.
I have what I believe to be one of the best childhoods, and thus, I have very fond memories. Those were among some of the best times, without any cares of the world - other than cleaning your bedroom or maybe a couple of chores. Memories from even 6-7 years ago of Steve and I going down into Austin's bedroom at 11:30 at night and waking him up to tell him it was time to get ready for school still make me chuckle to myself. Even the period of time where we would fight and my parents would tie us together with rope (seriously...and they weren't about to be fooled by us faking being nice to each other) are happy memories.
I also feel anticipation for him to go away on his mission and to enter into adulthood. Even though I sincerely hope this is quite some time away, I'm excited for him to meet an amazing girl and marry her. I'm excited because I know the true joy and happiness that comes from falling in love. I so hope I can somehow savor this autumn while he is "home" before everything changes...Oh, also, for those of you asking - I will NOT be experiencing the joys of motherhood until my children's uncle Austin is home from his mission. That's how this smart cookie is going to crumble, which means I have at least another two years to enjoy Pedro all to myself. Here's some photos from Austin's birthday party (Pedro & I, and Devyn & Daphnie), I will need to post more later, but I've found myself having too much fun with photo shop, which really does not come with much shock to me.

I do believe that's all for now, I have to put my serious game face on.

Speaking of lists, this is where mine currently sits. Maybe if I share it with someone, it'll get done faster (funny, eh?!).