Bakerella has a hold on me.

My attempt.

I already ate one--I wonder if she'd notice if I ate just one more...

It's truly true.

We have a pet.

A real, live, alive, real pet.

He is a hamster.

And his name is Gibson.

More affectionately, Gibby.

Or Gibs, Gib, Giblet, Gibster, Mr. Gibson...

You get the idea.

And, we're already attached.

Mama's got a new baby

Hello, Mr. Canon Rebel Xsi. I think I'm in love.

Man, I'm overwhelmed with the stuff there is to learn, but I am having fun trying!

finally--Halloween

A sleepwalking cowboy, Transformer, 50's car hop girl, and our little pirate with his Easter basket(?)

Trick or treating transport

Pirate, matador, or baseball player ???

On the way to a Halloween party...I turned around and just cracked up at Optimus back there.

I'm hit!

5 things I don't leave home without:

1. purse/diaper bag
2. hand sanitizer (it's attached to my keys)
3. a list
4. sunglasses
5. a bra

5 cartoons I used to watch when I was younger:

1. Smurfs
2. Muppet Babies
3. Strawberry Shortcake
4. Care Bears
5. Scooby Doo

5 things that terrify me:

1. Any tragic thing happening to my children. (It's a long list.)
2. Plane turbulance
3. Scorpions
4. Home invasion
5. The thought of ever becoming a widow

5 things that I hate/dislike that other people seem to like:

1. Facebook: Yes, I appreciated the reunions I had in the beginning and the venue it was for posting updates when my sis-in-law was in the hospital... But, I just don't understand the pull and I feel like it can be used as a major time-waster.

2. Video/computer games: Just a combination of lack of desire and patience for it. See, I can be found being idle with the best of them, but I just choose to spend it doing something that atleast entertains or teaches me something at the very least (ie good book, HGTV, inspiring blogs...)

3. Harry Potter: Now, listen. I do not actually dislike this series, but I simply haven't gotten into this pop culture phenomenon, though I do hear it's good.

4. Exercising: {sigh} I only do it because it is necessary, not because it is fun. At all.

{Disclaimer: I was stumped for a #5 until I asked my adoring husband for a suggestion --Honey, what do I detest? --he was happy to oblige with this little nugget from my less-than-endearing qualities. Thank you, darling.-->}

5. Road trips. Ughhhh. I despise driving in a car for longer than an hour. Oh, man! I really don't like it. Seriously. I am a first-class baby when it comes to traveling. Nausea, discomfort, complaining, irritability...Does this surprise anyone? Well, not my husband. This is one of his favorite things [he can't stand] about me. Have I spelled this out? Needless to say, this is why we generally only take one road trip a year (sometimes two--if it's been long enough that I forgot how much I hate it).

5 things I want to do before I die:

1. Kiss my kids too much.
2. Keep laughing through life with my hubs.
3. Excel at putting others before myself.
4. Sit in the temple and look around to see all of my family members.
5. And on the skill set of things: Learn to belt! All these years I've only caught onto classical, pop, and middle-gospel (for all you voice students out there!) If only I could get a good forward placement and square-mouth position....My ambition astounds, I know.

Love is in the air.

I'm so thrilled for my niece, Alissa, who just got engaged!

I bragged about Alissa last year HERE. She is a phenomenal dancer on the BYU Ballroom team (as is her fiance, Trevor Gibb). They are getting married on January 16th in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple in Utah. I am so excited to be there and help my sister and all her daughters (she has 7, yes SEVEN) get things ready for the reception. Oh, and to make this momentous occasion even more supreme--Alissa is going to wear my wedding dress! This thrills me for many reasons:

One, sentiment.
Two, this means my dress is timeless.
Three, good luck for her cuz we are still a stinkin' happy couple.
Four, she will have her "something borrowed" (and her "something old", depending on how you look at it...)

Congratulations to the painfully adorable couple and I'm so excited for you both!!

Red Toenails

Aunt Becca with Gavin at our pool in May

Before September 29th came, I found myself at the hospital in San Francisco, sitting by Rebecca's bedside. I watched her with her beautiful hair and perfect eyebrows, as she slept, imagining what I would say when she woke up. Oh, the things I wanted to say. I ached with the burden of words left unsaid...the burden of knowing I felt like I should have called her that week, but didn't.

I remember thinking how surprised she would be when she woke at the many people waiting for her in the waiting room, the many people praying for her, people who didn't even know her. As each day progressed, riddled with more bad news, the thought became "if" she wakes up.

I remember wishing I could talk to her. Wishing I could let her know I was there, right there praying for her and holding on to her husband, my little brother, trying my best to support him. It is a helpless occupation, that watching and waiting. And I just kept thinking,

I want to do something for her.

Rewind to the morning I got the call from my brother. I was numb and in a literal, clinical state of shock. I remember not being able to pack, let alone put a sentence together or put one foot in front of the other. But, with the help of my helpmeet, I remembered to pack underwear and clothing and a toothbrush...and as I stood in my bathroom, staring at well, nothing,

I thought of my red nailpolish.

I opened my medicine cabinet and there it was, Raven Red. I stuffed it in my purse and off I went into a week that I will never forget.

So, there I stood by my sister-in-law. I turned to the nurse, Sue, and said,

"Would it be okay if I painted Becca's toenails?"

"Um, sure. Yeah, I think that would be fine."

"'Cause I know it has a lot of fumes, I just wondered if that would be okay in the ICU...a lot of nailpolish fumes..."

"Oh. No, I think that would be okay. Go right ahead."

I pulled out the nailpolish and painted her toes a deep, vibrant Raven Red. And I talked to her. I told her that the spa treatment and pampering by hospital staff was now going to be highlighted by fresh toes. I described the color and told her "this color is sooo you." I apologized because I didn't have any nailpolish remover for the specks of remaining sparkly blue the she had there before. I teased her that I knew she would not have been happy with unkempt toes in the hospital and so she could thank me later...

As I held her feet, I thought about the Savior, and when he washed the feet of his apostles. Though not a perfect comparison, it strengthened me to feel like I was doing something for her that she could not do for herself. If anything, it strengthened me to feel like I was offering my favorite color, something, anything, to her when she was almost untouchable.

When I went in to the waiting room and told my brother, he smiled and chuckled. He knew she would like Raven Red, too.

The next week, when I found myself in their home preparing for her funeral, I sighed as I looked around and saw the red accents--the pillows, tablecloth, candles...Yes, she would've like it, I thought.

I feel so overwhelmed by gratitude for the knowledge that we will see her again. So thankful that her children will see their mother again and life will go on again someday. We will look back and remember our time here and hopefully embrace and laugh about the red toenails.