Groundhogs Day= Birthday

Today is Groundhogs day, and my moms birthday!

HaPpY bIrThDaY mOm!!!

(We will leave out how old you are, because I am that nice, ha!)

Despite the initial rocky road of having her presents stolen out of my car

(which I know I said didn't happen, but if my mom happened to read my blog I didn't want her to see that before her birthday)

I think this morning was a success, dinner tonight and hopefully a relaxing day for the mama while we are all away at work and school

This is a random picture, but its corregated cardboard, and that is what the presents were wrapped in, for the second time, with lots of fun red ribbon!!

Instead of a cake she wanted a cherry pie, so that's what we are having tonight

Here is to a wonderful birthday day!!!

I love you mom

All Nighters

Here I am sitting at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Its 2:30 in the morning and I am dead tired. I don't know how people do this! I can stay up this late at home and be totally fine, but for some reason, this is really hard. I took lots of advice: I brought crunchy snacks, drinking lots of water, I even went and bought a Dr. Pepper for some caffine (I never have soda). My hat is off to all nurses who work night shifts, or anyone who stays up all night for their job.

Really??

Today started out awesome! I got up, did some homework, went to church, came home made some yummy food for dinner, played a game of speed scrabble, then back to the books. As I was reading for a test this week, one of the topics was on how if you have a better attitude about something, you will actually have a better time doing whatever it is. I thought okay sir, I will give that idea a try. I was feeling pretty stressed about this week with school, so I thought right then and there inside to myself, I am going to have a great week. It was time for me to go home from Braden's house, and so I walk up to my car whose name is Phil (yes I have named all of my cars), I open the door to get in and BAM!!! Everything inside of my car is turned upside down, thrown around, and ripped open. Someone broke into my car. These things inside my car were my moms birthday presents. *newsflash* to whoever broke into my car, it probably wasn't your birthday, and those presents definitely weren't yours to open!! I instantly turned around and started to cry to Braden. Nothing was stolen but some darling ribbon but that didn't stop me from feeling all shaken up about it. The whole time driving home I felt totally sick that someone else was in my car going through all of my papers, packages, and compartments. I was also thinking that I almost don't feel like giving any of those presents to my mom, someones grubby hands have been all over them. Gross.
So a big thank you to whoever that was that squashed any thoughts I had of starting out my week with a great attitude.
Nevermind, I just ate a homemade oatmeal cookie while writing this, and I think my week is looking better already. That's what they call stickin it to the man!

Dinner Conversation

It goes something like this…
*Mom to Jake: Why did you draw all over your hands today?
*Jake: I don’t know, I’m not going to say it was because I was bored, that is what everyone else would say
*Mom: Did you do it during class?
*Jake: ummm, I don’t know…
*Tara: You did it at lunch right? (wink, wink, trying to help the boy out)
*Jake: yeah!...I did it at lunch
*Mom: Did you do it to make someone laugh?
*Jake: No, but I did THIS to make someone laugh
**At this point he held up his pointer finger with a mustache drawn on it. You know the kind, one of those French-like curly ones**
*Mom: (trying hard not to laugh)
*Tara: Burst out laughing
*Jake: Joins in.
*Mom: Follows suit.
**Maybe this is one of those have to be there moments, but it was a highlight to my day**

Cat

This is my cat
She is obsessed with string
Particularly string that I am working with when I am sewing
She knows she isn't supposed to jump up on the table
Look at her, peering over, ready to pounce any minute
Naughty

MAACO Bowl

My Utah Utes football team is playing in Las Vegas today
Here is hoping that they don't get stomped on, like some think they will
Don't let us down...pretty please
GO UTES!!!

Date Night With the Jazz

For an early Christmas I thought it would be fun to get Braden tickets to the Utah Jazz vs Miami Heat game. This was a while in the making, I think I had everyone in on it (including Braden without him knowing it... sneaky). Hours of stress went in to the planning because Braden had a final that night at the same time the game started. Was it going to work out?? I was worrying. I worry. So, I had one of his friends meet me at the Energy Solutions Arena to meet with a guy about tickets (I know things about sports, but not enough to go do this alone!), the cheapest he could offer was around...oh... $900...YEAH RIGHT! I came home and got online to see what I could find. Thank you eBAY, thank you mom for helping me e-mail some lady, thank you computer for accompanying me to class one day so I could buy the tickets for a much needed break, and last but not least thank you credit card.

Dear Jazz:
You let me down that night. It was a roller coaster of an evening, up and down, catching up, falling behind. You tried, I give you that. I was giving high fives to a guy next to me, I had no clue who he was. Miami Heat, you weren't just the heat, you were on fire. Next time Jazz, bring your fire extinguishers. Thank you.

Printed Socks

Braden teases me about my printed socks

I have...

polka dots...snowflakes...anchors with hearts on them and many more

The newest ones to the list, gingerbread men with candy canes

How festive!

he couldn't go another day without a pair for himself

He no longer has to be jealous of my sweet feet attire

It's begining to look a lot like Christmas

Bing Cosby sure got it right when he sang "It's beggining to look a lot like Christmas" (except do the people who play the song on the radio know what the weather outside is like??)

Halloween and Thanksgiving have come and gone, and my favorite time of year has crept up fast

My mom has decorated the house with new decorations, and some old ones that she has had for years. We've got 3 beautiful poinsettias, paperwhites, our tree is up and decorated, presents are already wrapped (just waiting under the tree to be opened, but the question is can I wait??), and it sure feels cozy in here.

Here are a few of the decorations we have floating around the house, my camera simply doesn't do them justice!

Oh, and P.S. if you are looking for something to help you get in the Christmas spirit, boy have I got an idea for you!! Do a sub for santa or take part in an angel tree. My little brother came home from school one day, and decided that's what he wanted to do. We know a family that lacks things most people have. They have 4 kids, and so, they all had an early Christmas this year. My mom and step dad are awesome, baby brother is too! He chipped in his savings from mowing the lawn this summer, and I think he is just as happy as can be about it. What-a-stud!!

A bowl of super old, tiny ornaments!

(This is David the Gnome (please tell me I am not the only one who knows who this cute little guy is?!)

Confessions

I secretly have been listening to Christmas music

I know, it's not even Thanksgiving... I don't care

*

I have started my Christmas shopping

Something very exciting is in the mail

I can't wait to get it in my hot little hands

*

I have been to anthropologie 3 times within a week

horrible I know, but... again... I don't care

Love that store

*

I could do without grumpy people

They seem to be everywhere these days

If you are going to be rude, I would rather you not

please and thank you

*

I took a break from school and I went to a movie last night

Morning Glory

I recommend it, if you like the sappy cheesy cutsie movies

I sure do

Tell your boyfriend or husband they can take you to it

Rachel McAdams is in it and she is adorable, they will like her too

I don't feel guilty for going either

*

I started a non school book today

I'm almost finished with it

(School? What's school?? Who has time for that? ha!)

*

I have loved not working the past 2 days

I could get used to this life

*

I wish I could tell school to take it easy

tests every week, presentations stacking up, journals to write

we are all starting to check out

May is around the corner

party!!!!!

*

I'm going to go to bed EARLY tonight

I am going to let the old woman in me come out and shine

No guilty feelings over here

My One Ounce of Creativity

This weekend was the kick off to fall break
I decided to get crafty...with the one thing I am able to do
Yo-Yo's
Not your old school toy, up and down on a string type
...fabric.

A few of my friends are moving into a house
They needed a cute pillow
So here it is

(Isn't it cute from the back?? I think so.)

Say Cheese

This boy cracks me up

I was getting ready to leave for a wedding and I wanted to snag a few pictures before I left

At first he said he would smile with me....

He's tricky....

He made me laugh, and it was all over from there...

So, I had to join in... Don't judge

26.2

This is Chicago.

There is going to be a marathon there tomorrow

7:00 a.m.

I know people running in that marathon

My fingers are crossed that they will do well

I will be sleeping.

Can't wait to hear how you do, B!

GOOD LUCK

How Do You Get To School?

This semester I have driven with these lovely ladies every single day!

Not in a car...but wait for it... we ride the scooters every day.

Yes, the weather is getting colder but we are brave women!

Even in the rain, we ride these hogs.

One day when we didn't drive the scooters, we got to ride in the Jeep.

We only had to fill up the gas tank once at the stop light...

We are pretty impressive right?

Study Break

It is a Tuesday night, and I feel like all I have been doing for the past 3 weeks is studying. So in the middle of my studying tonight, I have decided to "study" something else.
I am studying the Anthropologie website

I just created a wishlist...

That's right people, I have given up on homework for the night

Here is to happy shopping, and taking the night off

Fall

Fall has officially arrived today. at 9:02 P.M.

These are what I am excited to see coming in the next few weeks

Does it get any better than that? Maybe it does, but I would be okay with going to see these beauties again.

I promise I have not fallen off the face of the earth. When fall comes, it also brings a lovely thing called school with it. It has officially sucked me in, and I am running as fast as I can to keep up. What a busy semester, but it's been a great one already.

A little update on life:

-Got a pedicure in lieu of the Utes... New York City Big Apple Red

-Went to a few football games, and we've won 'em all..... GO UTES!!

-Went on a few mini bike rides.... and when I say mini..not even a full block

-Studied...lots.

-Bought a tasty treat to make at Williams-Sonoma, but I haven't yet

-Drove out to Magna for the first time

- Went to a family party

-Made a promise that I wouldn't buy anymore clothes until October 27.

-Went on a short 2 mile run, felt great after (though I know that is just a few baby steps to you marathoners)

- Scooted to school almost every day (pictures to come!!) with 3 darling ladies

-Spent a weekend in Park City with Braden

-Decided where I want to do my capstone in my final semester of nursing school

-Decided that I love feta cheese on a salad

-I want to see my Grandma who lives in Tennessee more than anything

-Went on an afternoon walk with baby brother, loved every second of it

-I want to go to Chicago with Braden to cheer him on in his marathon

-I have a fun project to work on when I am on fall break

-I am dying to buy a new pair of earrings
-I have had my eye on a few things at Anthropologie... I think a mid semester reward might be coming soon... but shhh don't tell

-My friend Hailey is getting married in December, and she is taking wedding pictures this weekend, can't wait to see them

-I adore quails, and Braden took me to a park where there are statues of quails and I love it

etc.

etc.

etc.

School hasn't consumed my whole life.

Just most of it.

I have a test tomorrow and I probably should get to sleep.

I will try to be more active on the blog, I just have to tell school to take it easy on me!!

Pizza and Boats

If you are looking for a fun date idea for the summer or fall... try this one out.
Build your own boat, and race them down a river.
Sounds crazy, but it's actually pretty fun.

We went to dinner at Salt Lake Pizza & Pasta, then hit up the store to let our creative juices flow! We each had $5 dollars, and 30 minutes to shop around and come up with items to build our boats. There were some laughs, some doubts, some rocks in the river that were more in the way than anything else, and some major competition (at least in my head).

The Little Guy Again

Baby brother aka Jake is no longer the oldest one at his school.

He started his first year as a Clayton Cougar.

He has a locker, oh the days of lockers... coats getting stuck and sticking out of them, love notes being passed through the slots at the tops, thinking the boy next to your locker was cute... ha!

He has 7 classes... I thought keeping track of 3 these days was hard

He is heading into teenage years... buckle up... it will be an adventure!
(Gearing up for the first day... not quite ready for the flash of a camera at 7 in the morning)

A Perfect Day

Today was a perfect day.

Driving to grab lunch on your lunch break when there is not a cloud in the sky, the weather is warm enough to crack open the sun roof and let the wind dance through my hair, knowing that I had a date with my man tonight.

Love days like this.

E-Bay wars

Have you ever seen anything like this?

Have you ever heard a little boy squeal "WE WON!!! WE WON!!!" over and over again?

As I sit here I hear Jake say, "I've never felt like I have won stuff, but we are winning!"

My stepdad and little brother are currently.... obsessed.

Can't stop bidding. Love the competition.

I think mom is just along for the ride.

When my mom was little she started a U.S. Postage Stamp collection, and today, they are working on making that collection bigger. From the sounds of it, A LOT bigger.

(Sorry for the poor picture quality, I had to hurry and snap a picture of all of them staring at the computer)