Birthday Celebrations

Yesterday was my 22nd birthday and sadly as of today the celebrations are over. All the time that I got to spend with friends and family was so amazing. I am so happy that I have so many people who love me so close by. The celebratory dinner with the fam was the first night of fun. We went to Lucille's and I had amazing fried green tomatoes and a bbq chicken sandwich. SooooOoo yummy! And Kim and Morgan got me a really cute/funky tea pot with matching cups. It is kind of asian-eske and I love the color!





Then on Monday night I got together with my girl friends Lauren and Jessica. Jessica was down from San Fran and was leaving the next day so we celebrated early. They made me yummy pizza made from ingredients from Trader Joe's (so much better than any pizza you could buy) and an amazing salad. Then for dessert they surprised me with a Lauren cookie ice cream sandwich (Lauren makes the best chocolate chip cookies ever!) and I downed it. Lauren also got me super cute polk a dot bowls (one red and one black) and my favorite lip stuff from bath and body.



Then I came home to a big box wrapped up with a card from Tyler. He let me open it before we went to bed! He got me a bread maker! I had been wanting one for a while and I am so excited to use it! Who doesn't LOVE home made bread! Yum!

Then on my Birthday day I arrived to work with a card and a cake on my desk. My co-worker Pat had bought me a cake and a $25 mastercard! SO Sweet! Then we went to lunch with all the people from work at Red Robin. So good. (I just realized that pretty much all the things I do revolve around good food. No wonder I have to work out so hard to stay fit! lol.) Then Tyler and I headed to Disneyland to meet up with Lauren and Christina and her cute little girls Yara and Ava. Disneyland is doing a new birthday celebration promotion and because I have an annual pass instead of getting a free admission to disneyland I get a gift card with the value of an admission which is $69! I used part of it yesterday to buy myself a sweet mickey t-shirt and a monsters inc mug. We just went on Pirates because we had to head off to El Torito Grill for dinner with some more family and friends!




El Torito Shots...
(Notice a couple pics down how Shira can hold a glass with her belly... no hands!)





Thanks to everyone who made it such a great day! I Love you all! :)

The Graduate

Last night we celebrated my baby brother's graduation from 8th grade! It was a fun night filled with back aches from standing throughout the entire ceremony in heels, not hearing a word of the speeches because the speakers were pointed toward the stage, and a little bit of drama. But what would a night out with the fam be without some craziness. But it was a good night and I am very proud of my brother. I can't believe how fast he is becoming a young man... I still remember him in his cute teddy bear footsie pjs. I Love you Jack!

Hiking!

Alas I can exercise without feeling as though I may die! Yesterday I went on a hike with my dad, but this time we were joined by my lovely sisters Kimberly and Danielle. It was nice having them there because usually it is just my dad and I, but it was also very entertaining. I think it was hard for my dad to handle all three of us girls. It made me think about when we were little and my mom left us home with him. It must have been a handful because it still is today with all of our chatter and laughter. A few highlights: Kimberly saying she didn't feel "exercised" while going down the hill and then hating life when we came back up and me of course rubbing it in her face :), Kimberly "wiggling" (she called it running) down the hills because she thought it was easier than walking carefully--watching that nearly brought me to peeing my pants and it had the same affect on Danielle, seeing some turtles at the old dam we found and just being with some pretty amazing people for a couple hours and enjoying the beauty of the area we live in.

The After Party

After the baby shower I helped Shira go through all her presents and put them away and while we did that our husbands watched the basketball game. It is always a party when we hang out with the Dicksons. In one of the pics I am holding a warm wash cloth on my face. . . one of the few things that made my face feel a little bit better.

It's a Baby Shower!

Last Saturday we had Shira's baby shower over at my mom's house and it was a really nice party. Everything went really well and she got a lot of really cute stuff. It is so crazy that the baby is coming so soon!

Fashion Show

Last week friday my mom asked me to be the photographer at a Mary kay Fashion Show hosted by Chico's at the Garden Walk. I was still in some pain, but it was a good night. It was nice to get out and away from the tv. Here are some of my favorites from the night. Oh and the cute little girl is Shelby... my mom's friends daughter. So Cute.

Healing

Hello all! I am alive and just about well again! I am recovering from a very invasive wisdom teeth surgery (apparently I was packed full of wisdom... my teeth were over an inch long). So needless to say my recovery has been longer than I expected, but the Doctor said that I am healing well and so far free from any infections and most of the swelling has gone down.
There were definitely some really rough nights, but with a lot of prayers and Tyler helping me I made it through with a little more appreciation for my Savior and for my husband who never left my side. There were times when it hurt too much to talk and I could only tell Tyler that I loved him by using my version of sign language. It was at the lowest of the low that I depended most on my faith that I would eventually heal and be able to speak and eat again. I felt such peace each time I prayed and as I remembered that adversity brings about strength. And without my wonderful Tyler by my side I would have been lost. What an amazing person to put up with waking up every 4 hours to get me my medication and food and also just my pickiness in general. I am surely a lucky woman.
Everyday I get a little better and I can talk and eat a little more like normal. I am excited for the day when I can sink my teeth into a Chipotle Burrito or a huge bacon burger!
Thank you to everyone who helped, encouraged, or prayed in my behalf. I apprecaite the wonderful people who brighten up my life! I love you all!

Tomorrow...

I will be looking like this. My dear sweet wisdom teeth are being surgically removed- I get to go under anesthesia and everything. They even told me to wear a loose fitting shirt because they're putting me on heart monitors and giving me an iv. It is my first surgery. Oh happy day. I am not sure how fast my body with bounce back, but I know I am not supposed to talk tomorrow so if anyone wants to contact me just text me and I will text you back when I regain consciousness (most people have said that the first day you pretty much sleep). I was kind of nervous about it, but tonight Tyler and my Dad gave me a blessing and the spirit was there. I know everything will be fine. I love the good men that I have in my life.