i love my sister

this recent email from my 15 year old sister was just TOO good not to share...

"Today, I saw a commercial for the Snuggie. I thought it was stupid idea, but I couldn’t change the channel because I was under a blanket and I didn’t want my arms to get cold…"

no one can make me laugh quite like this girl can...even if sometimes i am definitely laughing AT her. but thats what sisters are for right?


also, 


the above mentioned is PRECISELY why i own a snuggie. 

its gonna change the world...

embrace it.

How can you give Kris Kringle a parking ticket on Christmas Eve? What's next, rabies shots for the Easter Bunny?

a boise christmas never ceases to bring a smile to my face.
never a white christmas, 
but happy and charming none-the-less.
this christmas i pulled a 'dad' and saved all shopping till christmas eve.
awesome.
samuel and i went out that morning
and gretchen and i went out that afternoon,
it was great fun!
and i was done and wrapped by 4 o'clock.
just in time to watch some cheesy movies on the hallmark channel.
everyone was asleep by 11,
and we slept in till 9 am.
WHAT?
ya i know. first in ward family history...thats what happens when there aren't any little kids
(don't look at me!)
but it was still great!
we opened stockings, went to church,
(where samuel played child #2 in the program...crack me up)
and then we had more christmas afterwards.
it was quiet and happy and wonderful.
(and i smell really nice with my new perfume.)
after which we watched more cheesy movies
ate ham and cheesy potatoes

(potatoes with actual cheese...not cheesy as in reference to hallmark channel)

and even got dad and ethan to play loaded questions.
i say that was the best christmas present ever!
what a hoot!
we topped the night off by falling asleep watching home alone.

christmas 2011 was definitely a success

how about yours?

Source: potterybarn.com via Lorenza on Pinterest

a movie and a memory

'Do you think we are dreaming?'

'If we are, I hope we never wake up.'

Lets be honest real quick.

Everyone knows that they should have made this movie about 5 years earlier, and cast me to play Samantha, 

but regardless...its still one of my favorites. 

I cry every time I watch it,

and I just love that Uncle Gard.

He's basically perfect, nasty mustache and all.

I distinctly remember that Christmas morning my Samantha doll sitting waiting for me under the tree.

I don't think I let go of her for months.

In fact, I kind of think I cried that morning...maybe not...but I wouldn't be suprised if I did,

I have always been a big blubbering baby.

I do remember a few weeks later when her head fell off and I burst into tears.

I was terrified I would have to send her to the American Girl Hospital and wait for weeks to get her back.

But father just tied it back on, and she was as good as new.

Oh childhood memories. 

So happy. 

Boy do I love Christmas time

And yet it makes me so homesick....

only 11 days to go!

it's the holiday season, oh woop dee doo!

remember this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day?
well i do.
very clearly in fact.
it's weird to think that was already an entire YEAR ago!
so crazy!

but I am happy to report that this thanksgiving drive was MUCH better
and much quicker...
the 5 1/2 hour drive, went just as planned,
(although I did almost run out of gas...how is it that I got to Boise on a full tank with some to spare, and this time had to stop in snowville? thats over 100 miles difference?) whatever
it all worked out!

And it was a lovely Turkey weekend indeed!
I had to work the Mon, Tues, Wed before Thanksgiving (one of the perks of year round school) so my Boise visit was short and sweet, but it was definitely much needed.

Highlights include but are not limited to:

• gretchen watching Lion King and thinking "Mafoose" (muh-foo-s) is a good name for her first born
• A. thats a horrible name
• B. its MUFASA!!! seriously? just about died laughing.
• favorite quote of the weekend "Is there a difference between lesbians and homosapiens?" 
• a DVR full of lifetime/hallmark/abc family christmas movies just for me to watch
• turkey day at grandmas
• seeing family
• the tradition of black friday ads spread all over the floor after the turkey has been consumed
• this year actually GOING black friday shopping
• standing outside target for an hour
• standing inside the checkout line for 1.5 hours to buy my happy christmas tree
• trying to flirt with the guy standing in front of me, fail
• mall shopping at 2 am
• getting decked in the face by some IDIOT girl in the mall at 3 am
• literally yelling at above mentioned idiot girl, causing her to flee in sheer terror 
• feeling rather drowsy and delirious driving home
• more christmas movies friday morning
• christmas light hanging with father and samuel
• experiencing a real like clark griswold moment...blasted lights
• annual family christmas extravaganza till 1 am
• more decorating and light hanging
• more shopping
• chats with my ma
• another turkey dinner
• a beautiful drive home with glee christmas and bieber christmas music :)
• flirting with the starbucks man...thank you for making my day
• another turkey dinner, yummmm
• decking the halls at my apartment

oh how i LOVE the holiday season... dont you?

this week

this week i...

• went back on track...yay! i missed my kiddos.
• had to write my first real set of sub plans for an all day workshop. barf
• was observed twice. ick
• legitimately cheese grated my thumb. ouch
• painted my finger nails twice. awesome
• was asked if i could be set up 4 times. wha?
• cleared up my hulu queue. legit.
• cleaned my room several times. nice
• set the smoke alarm off. oops
• organized my bathroom drawers. sparkly.
• watched the hunger games trailer 7 times. teehee.
• did NOT go see breaking dawn...yet. hum.
• had several strange dreams. yup.
• made delicious pasta. mmmm.
• created several spotify playlists...including happy christmas ones. love.
• got way super excited for christmas. eek!
• graded lots of papers. oof.
• and probably some other things...yes.

what an exciting week right?
the most entertaining thing was definitely when i told samuel i cheese grated my thumb. he asked if i got some epidermis in my nachos...unfortunately i probably did....

well, only 3 1/2 days until HOME! yay! and that means my FAVORITE day of the year! thanksgiving? well im looking forward to that but nope. the day AFTER thanksgiving. its THE BEST!!!

peace out folks!

"are you coming home on thursday? it is the greatest day of *YOUR* life after all..."

ya, thats what samuel said to me the other day. 

sadly no i won't be there, but actually he pretty much hit that right on, 

i think its pretty safe to say it was one of the greatest days of my life.

(awww shucks, look at me being all cheesy and what not)

 so.....ANYWAYS!!!!!!

happy birthday to the COOLEST twins i know.

seriously people. these are 2 wayyy cool kids...

they are now 15 years young. and still my best buddies.

i remember the day they were born,

(and now excuse me while i go and feel old for a minute)

and it was pretty flippin awesome.

i sure hope the day is magical you two...just not TOO magical

you kids are only 15, alright?!

ok. thanks.

awww probably one of my favorite pictures of them

gretch and damian/rory. and samuel getting his eagle. classy

oh....maybe this one IS my favorite.

you might think that I was the one turning 15...shoot dang.

Anywho. Hope you both have a most triumphant day! Don't miss me too much!!!!!!!!

Love, Your favorite big sis

it's the dad life. it's the dad life.

i miss my dad today.
he's pretty stellar. take a look for yourself...

 

i think he's a pretty cool dad. but i think its pretty crappy that i didnt get to see him today.

oh well. hope he had a happy dad's day. 

and just because this is ridiculously ridiculous...

click here :)

cheese pie

the pile of books i have beside my bed that i will be reading while off track is exciting and overwhelming. i seriously can't wait to dive in and read for pleasure again without zonking out after two minutes.

went and saw 'tale of two cities' the musical at hale center theater this week. seriously amazing. had me in serious tears by the end. and the man who played sydney? ahhh swoon. also, add that to the top of the above mentioned list of books to read again.

seriously obsessed with this song from the show.

taking a roadtrip vacation in a few weeks and FINALLY crossing off one of my bucketlist items...stay tuned...

when a boy calls me 'whit' theres no turning back. *swoon* blast it all....

i cant honestly say 2011 is so far the best year of my life. so happy!

im becoming a nail polish addict. i buy too many new colors, and i paint my nails at least twice a week. do i need to call a number and get help, or am i ok?

mom, gretch, grandma and aunt e were in town this weekend. boy do i love family :) hate to see them go...

conference was amazing this weekend...need to catch up on a few talks that i missed, but i love how specific and applicable the talks were this session. definitely things i needed to hear and be reminded about. love it!

went and say jane eyre with mom, gretch, dott and tess. can you say amazing? wow. so well done. add that to the books to read while im off

lots of snow today. what the? why? i just want spring! i packed away my winter boots already! this is ridiculous!

also went to the carl bloch exhibit this weekend. (yes i willingly went to provo) and it was well worth it. what a beautiful exhibit...so glad i had the chance to see it!

cheese pie has become a staple term in our apartment...it takes too long to explain...but just know thats its awesome. and now...im off for a bit of cheese pie. happy sunday!

the day starts, the day ends...

just crossed off 'go to a jazz game' on my bucketlist. the game was awesome, but the circumstances were semi crappy at times...also, totally bummed i didnt take a picture whilst at the the jazz game. better go back for round 2 sometime soon.

i have another stupid crush and it needs to go away. abra cadabra....somebody help.

totally went to st george last week and had a blast. we werent even their 24  hours, so it was semi ridiculous, but it was so fun. and the temple there is gorgeous.

this weekend included: noodles and co. target pit stop. karaoke. fake tattoos. peaces. justin beiber. a failed zoo trip. red butte cafe. south town mall. stellar forever 21 finds. gasoline spewing out of my car. my attempt at yelling at the texaco people. images in my head of my car blowing up. jamming to my ipod on random (oh the selection...) dinner with kym. and seeing one of my most favorite shows again. i love the weekends...and next week JUST MAY top it off. can. not. WAIT! yay brendan!

i think i need to confess something.
im just going to put it out there.
get it off my chest.
i.
have.
beiber.
fever.
there i said it.
now this is not in the sense that i love him and think he's ooo ahhhh oh, so cute, because thats gross...he's only 17.
but in the sense, that i may or may not have his album, love all the songs, and really want to go see the beiber movie.
i don't really care what you think.
and yes, i realize my little sister has disowned me,
but im working through that and trying to find a solution.

today i got a voicemail from my little bro that said
"how dare you not answer when i call. if you dont call me back, i swear i will slice you with my light saber" boy i love my family.

BEST. PURCHASE. EVER!!!!! i have a feeling i will be buying several pairs...in fact, these are my next ones...

i have thought a lot about happiness lately. and what it is that brings true joy. im reevaluating somethings, and boy is it grand...

can i just say...OBSESSED? totally planning a trip to see this when it comes to NYC. this song is what got me hooked. *drool*

i go off track in 3 weeks! crazy! that means i have a 4 month long 'spring break.' best job ever? i think yes. also, im being rehired to teach next year. who would have thought this semester-long move to SLC would be so long term! love it!

i can't even begin to explain how much i love my friend em, and this particular post she wrote. can you see why we get along so well?

BFABB. kym, you totally know what im talking about. yes!!!

i unpacked all my flip flops and organized them in their little spots. i smiled the whole time.

this is a dumb video, but i had this done today. trippy! doesn't hurt, and im definitely a new fan.

okay. now im going to bed, because its way past my bed time.
peace and love folks!

p.s. this is my computer background. i love it a lot...

forget rose

a dozen red tulips.

now thats perfection.

so this is love

here's my cliche valentines day post. because im awesome, and just cliche like that....which you already knew...
you know, i have always loved valentines day, and have never really understood all the whining and booing that girls take part in for like a week and a half prior, and following. (and then some)
valentines was always special at my house, and at school.
my mom would buy flowers, make a yummy dinner, and have a box of chocolates on our dinner plate. she would help me make cute valentines for school, and always bought me a silly valentines shirt with glittery hearts on it to wear to school.
as i got older, ya "having a boyfriend" would have been nice but it never gets me down.
i find ways to celebrate with friends and family that i love, and by doing things that i love and i can find joy in.
this year is no different.
i think the whole "SAD" (single awareness day) part of valentines is depressing and i dont want any part in it.
valentines is about LOVE! even single people have LOVE!
im going to celebrate valentines day by partying all day with my 4th graders, going to the gym, and going to FHE. then i will keep my yearly tradition of watching 'return to me' because i think its one of the sweetest love stories.
sounds like an ideal day to me!
someday, valentines will hopefully be shared with a man, but im not worrying about it now. why? because its not my time. im living a pretty good life right now, and im happy. people always say love finds you when you least expect it, so im not expecting it anymore. im done with stupid crushes, and feeling insecure. im not complaining about it, and im not listening to people complain about it anymore. im done, finished, boda-bing boda-boom, and am focusing on embracing the life i have, surrounded with people i love.
and thats my two cents on the topic. :)
i hope everyone has a glorious and wonderful valentines full of love and laughter! you rock!

one last hoo-rah

well folks, the time has come.

the day i have been looking forward for one heck of a long time.

the day i become a real teacher.

i am so excited, a little freaked out, and very anxious about tomorrow.

this week i celebrated lots,

because i felt it was very important to have a last hoo-rah before i say goodbye to a social life

and hello to utah history, and long division.

not that you really care what i did all weekend, but here ya go:

monday: slept in, attended a fabulous ward fhe talent show, and watched the bachelor 

tuesday: went into my school for the majority of the day, cleaning, organizing, and throwing out lots of random papers and such. then went to a concert with miss emily m. which was pretty grand, just uber long :)

wednesday: slept in...again, went to lunch with liz, went to some darling little shops in sugarhouse, went to liz's parents house for groundhog dinner, (get it, ground hog-pulled pork haha) and to watch groundhog day of course

thursday: movie marathon and ultimate 4th grade planning. it was epic. i watched a few movies, and got almost 2 full weeks of school planned out. thats pretty legit. also went to a chinese new year party, and had AMAZING chinese food. awesome

friday: spent the entire day at my school. met with a parent, got all my papers copied, organized some more, met MOM and BROTHER for lunch and then they helped me move in and make my classroom look glamourous! 

saturday: ran errands, went to the teacher store :) out to lunch, visited more cute shops, walked around gateway, ate dinner, and chatted the night away with family and friends.

sunday: had a much needed talk with my mom. had to say goodbye :( went to church with liz, drove to kyms watch the pre-glee show (aka the superbowl) and THEN glee finally came back! oh thank you thank you!

it was grand.

and now i sit her in my bed. wishing sleep would come,

but alas, it doesnt.

heres to hoping i dont fall asleep teaching my students tomorrow!

ahhhh MY students!

glorious.

farewell and goodnight folks. 

fourteen is the magic number

shout out to my two favorite FOURTEEN year olds on the planet.

wha? 14? for reals?

sheesh. that means stake dances and drivers ed in a few months.

crazy!

im beginning to feel old.

well happy birthday Samuel and Gretchen!

i love you and missssssss you

and am bummed i couldnt be there to eat home-made icecream with you.

hope your day is terrifical and fantabulous!

 

 happy 14th Twin A and Twin B.

<3

updates...for lack of a better title

went to thriller AND drowsy chaperone with kym a couple weekends ago.

it was magical and happy and i enjoyed every moment.

it seriously is one of the most creative productions ever.

its a must see for all.

got to go home home HOME this past weekend

it was just swell.

i hadnt been home since i moved to SLC in august,

so it was a much need trip.

AND my mom always goes out for halloween

so i was excited just to be there.

kym and i recently decided to both start watching our movies in abc order

haha it sounds so funny, and so ridiculous

but im quite enjoying myself.

im almost through with the 'A's

and some of them i haven't watched in years probably.

i sure love movies. and i sure do have a sweet collection

going to park city tomorrow for the first time!

sooooo excited

yesterday was my last day in my combo class of 4th/5th grade

it was absolutly tragic

and i was borderline on the verge of tears a few times

pathetic maybe, but these kids are incredible.

i have loved every minute of this expereince

and i just pray that my time in 3rd grade goes half as great as this did

and then i pray that i can find a job soon after :)

some of my goodbye cards were just too great!

1. "Dear Miss Ward. Im really gong to miss you. I think that you are the best student teacher in the hole univers. i beg of you don't live please. your student, amelia"

(haha dont live? ha i hope she meant dont leave)

2. "Dear miss ward. i think its rude that you are leaving. but its ok. dont leave! math will not be the same without you. well, nothing will be the same with out you!"

(believe me, i could stay i would!)

3. "Dear mrs. ward. why in the world do you have to go? i know, but I'll miss you tons. You are a wonderful student teacher. Trust me there were some i never talked to. Go and be a great teacher! I'll miss you"

(i think thats my new life motto :) go and be a great teacher!)

4. one girls card that she drew had 'happy birthday' scribbled out and then underneath said goodbye. when she gave it to me she said, i dont know why i started writing happy birthday, but i fixed it so its ok.

(serious, it is the funniest thing ever)

voting for this closed on monday.

im such a nerd, but my fingers will be crossed until Dec 1st when they announce the winners.

spiced orange harvest.....spiced orange harvest......spiced orange harvest.

i LOVED the movie Valentines Day. except that patrick played the bad guy...grrrr.

but now they are in talks for a New Years Eve movie...featuring Lea Michelle

and possibly Zac Efron...

best news ever? i think yes.

just in case you were wondering, my computer crashed

that why i have been MIA this week.

luckily its back to working properly

and i just pray that it continues to do so. 

the new josh groban cd comes out in less that a MONTH

can. not. wait.

he is my soul mate im pretty sure.

my mom sent me this commercial the other day

i laughed so hard there were tears.

rocky horror glee show?

heck yes.

im nervous but excited.

maybe i will sing a song called, nervous but excited. 

going to the 3rd grade on monday.

wish me luck!

coulda had a turkey leg today...

wish i could have been there bro.

you are awesome!

 

boy. im kinda getting homesick...

p.s. last year after the awesome boise highland games, 

i was here...

*sigh*

i wore my shirt in celebration. 

love.

courtesy of the red white and blue

(the post is entitled as such, because i thought i should make it publicly known that there is in fact ONE country song that i love. just one...sorry. so dont get your hopes up... this one song won't lead to loving other country songs, its just this one. and thats only because its a really great song.)

 

but any-who, i hope everyone had a swell 4th of july!

i sure did! 

i love when the 4th is on a sunday, and then we get to celebrate ALL weekend long!

my weekend was full of fun and family!!!

definitely one of the best yet...

oh. and please enjoy the following video.

dust off the sun and moon and sing a song of cheer

i love summer.

i really do.

my favorite month is july.

why you ask?

well...i give you 3 reasons:

1. independence day which means fireworks and picnics

2. birthdays galore. grandpa. dad. mom. and me. woot woot

3. perfect watermelon is always consumed during the month of july. june always brings sad bitter watermelons, and august always has squishy mushy ones. july...yum

so as you can see, im quite excited to welcome in the month of july.

it is quite a happy month, with all its red white and blue happiness :)

this only sad part, is that it means summer is half way gone.

wha? how?

who knows.

lucky my pal Lindsay wrote this post the other day 

which brought all sorts of happiness to my face.

i mean a list of 53 summer musts is pure brilliant.

and all 53 are indeed summer musts.

luckily i still have half a summer to get all these things checked off.

who's with me?!

happy summer!

...june. twenty fifth. two thousand ten

today was one of those days that i will always remember and never forget.

i felt every kind of happiness today

and it sure felt good.

happy birthday grannie <3

the search is on

my sister just caught me singing along to glee with an absurdly large smile on my face.

(nothing out of the ordinary)

she made a weird face. laughed. and said...

"you and mister shuester sure are perfect for each other."

i couldnt agree more.

now, if any one could find the real life version of this man for me, who maybe was a little less scandalous, but still had that wonderfully curly hair,  i would be forever indebted

stupid plate tectonics

this absolute obsession for tyler ward is getting a little out of control

but i just cant help it when he does awesome things like this and this

last week,

i was blogging during the earthquake.

yes there was an earthquake here in little old logan

and it caused me to feel a strange sea sick feeling for a good 2 hours

when i told my mom about it she at first didnt belive me,

then she said "well dont die, you have to come home tomorrow"

thanks ma

then i tol my little bro samuel

he said "gosh! stupid plate tectonics are ruining our lives"

going home 3 weeks before the semester ends in NOT a good idea

it was not easy to leave

not easy at all

my i-pod of life has been found
sooo glad.
soooooooooo glad.

where is my school-related motivation?

where did it all go?

i have motivation to do other things

like sleep, blog, waste time on facebook,

watch movies, and sleep some more

but school motivation is very much gone

in my mind im planning summer camp activities

which is not good cause i still have a good

5 or so lesson plans to write in the next 2 weeks

but all i want to do is think about fairmont pool days,

samoa ball, battle ball, and field trips to the discovery center

kym brought me a subway sandwhich today at work.

love her.

pretty sure its a good thing i am moving to salt lake

because i sure have been traveling that way a lot lately

and will continue to do so this weekend

and next weekend

and one weekend in may

and one weekened in june

and probably one weekend in july

i want to do something stellar for birthday number twenty two this summer

ideas?

the fact that glee was on tonight

and i was STUCK at work

was torture.

this one time i went tanning a lot in one week becuase it was spring break

i got really dark.

then real life started over again

im no longer dark

my boss (for my summer job)

called me a facebook junkie.

awesome

sara really explained our friendship best when she said

"its like hanging out with myself, only theres 2 of me!"

gosh sara. get your own personality ;)

BFF.

love it!

alright. thats enough of my really pointless ramblings.

enjoy this picture

and have a superb evening.

i gotta go watch glee