I want summer--everyone was tricked for a minute when the weather got so balmy, but not me.  I even told Christopher that I wasn't buying it this year.  I knew the cold would be back, and here it is.  Seriously though, I checked the mail in nothing but a t-shirt and lived to tell about it. I did my Latin homework at the kitchen table instead of in front of the fire.  It really was a convincing thaw. And then I heard someone in my class say that winter was finally over!  The fool.   

Personal Vacation Day

On top of a lion in Trafalgar Square.  Where I wouldn't mind being right now.

My little sister is headed to Hawaii in the fall, and the other is talking about going to New Zealand.  My big sister is packing for Italy, and I'm wondering how everyone got so exotic all the sudden. Sure, I'm going to live somewhere else in the fall, but I guarantee it won't be out of the continental US. 

So that is why I decided that today will be my vacation.  Christopher is out of town, so I will shop as long as I want with birthday gift-cards, take myself out to dinner, bake, and maybe even watch Three Men and a Little Lady.  Kind of a pathetic vacation, but it will have to do.  Bon Voyage!  

My family is back in town for the week which has made me incredibly happy.  Suddenly our house isn't so quiet.  We have Dad doing any chore he can get his hands on, Mom making great food, and Taylor begging people to throw him catches. Callie worked forever on an art project yesterday themed off my favorite things--trees, flowers, and books. She is such a funny kid!

More Good Tunes

I downloaded the Dan In Real Life soundtrack on my shiny new green iPod (see post below), and am absolutely loving it. I liked the music in the movie okay, but it wasn't until I heard it wafting over the speakers at Pizzeria Seven Twelve, while eating fresh mozzarella, real sun-dried tomatoes, and the best dressing I've ever had over crisp arugula, that I decided to give it a try. Truthfully, that salad put me in such a good mood, they could have been playing a Miley Cyrus/Kenny G duet and I would have bought it. But I promise, this soundtrack featuring Sondra Lerche is better than that. Songs like "Hell No" and "To Be Surprised" have been playing constantly as I've commuted to school and back, made dinner, and even cleaned the laundry room. Whether you liked the movie or not--this is a good one.

Many Happy Returns!

Happy Birthday to me! Some highlights-

1-  Christopher woke up early on January 27 and told me he was going to shovel the driveway.  After all, he still had to work, wife's b-day and all.  I believed him in my sleepy state, and woke up to a tray of sweet rolls, fruit, hot chocolate, 

and a sausage biscuit from my favorite bakery.  And yes, I do rate bakeries.  Breakfast in bed! The start of a wonderful birthday tradition.  

2-As if breakfast with my down comforter wasn't enough, Christopher brought himself to do my Latin homework the night before, freeing me to celebrate my birthday however I wanted.  Also, my Latin has never been done so thoroughly and correctly.  Sad, but true.

3-Tickets to Throughly Modern Millie at BYU!  The seats were great, voices fantastic, and costumes sparkly.  I loved every minute. 

4-Getting tired? I was too.  But when we got home, before falling asleep in my crumb-covered sheets, Christopher surprised me with a gorgeous apple green 8 GB iPod and converter for my car!  

5- I'm bragging. But the iPod is a real beauty.  And it hasn't left my side since January 27.     

6-My sisters and husband threw me an AMAZING party on Saturday. It was a murder mystery set in the 20's, complete with dozens of bottles of sparkling cider, (it was prohibition, after all), blackjack and craps, and a lovely dinner. They spent all day making it a fun night for everyone, who in turn, did a great job with costumes, and that tricky New York accent.  I've never felt so loved.   Thanks guys!

7-Finally, on Sunday afternoon, my sisters made another great dinner and we opened presents.  My family and friends were more than generous this year, and I have so much to be grateful for.  I'm happy I was born, and even more happy that other people seem to be happy about it too. 

PS. As soon as I have them, I'll post some awesome birthday pictures from the big murder mystery event. 

Merry Christmas

Sorry everyone--this greeting is a little late, but sometimes the best things in life are.  Like this morning, for instance. Christopher woke up early in order to get ready for the first day at his new office.  I kept sleeping of course, but woke up when Christopher threw a black dress sock on my face and said "Merry Christmas."  I pushed it away, muttering something about how next year he'll have to settle on a lump of coal, when I felt something heavy inside. Inside the sock was a pretty vintage necklace I showed him  over a month ago, along with a few hair-pins I wanted as well.  Christopher placed them in my lovely black dress sock stocking that was (hopefully) clean and gave me a great late Christmas morning surprise. It made me so happy that I decided to tell everyone about it, even if I'm sitting here with jet-lag, no food in the fridge, a 2-foot stack of mail to sort through, and four stuffed suitcases full of dirty laundry. I hope everyone had a great holiday--we certainly did!  Merry Christmas!

Good Stuff

So I wrote my last post at school so my husband read it while he was at his office. He must have known I wasn't in the best of spirits, so on his way home he picked up the new Death Cab CD. It was waiting on the kitchen counter when I walked in. Yay!  This CD is good.  I mean, it is really really good. So good that after I put it on my iPod, I walked up the hills by my house instead of running so I could listen to it longer. (He he. I obviously didn't need much incentive). So if you guys are in need of some musical spicing-up, check it out. 

Oh, and thanks Chris--you're the best.