Birthday Bash!

Yesterday was my golden birthday! and it was full of loveliness!

mark and i ready to have a great birthday day

We had lunch at yummy Carrabba's. I LOVED the fried zucchini and my delicious pina colada smoothie!

Then later Mark and I went to see Alice in Wonderland. I absolutely loved it! I think all Tim Burton movies are so fun to watch.

this is also when the surprises started coming. I made Mark take me early to the movie because i needed to have good seats for my birthday. while we were waiting, our friends/neighbors walked in. i was so excited! "what are the chances?!!" i think i said. Yeah, mark invited them without telling me. little sneaker. THEN later my friend Kat showed up! i was so thrilled! i had invited her earlier but she had said she had to work. turns out she was in cahoots with Mark. Those little sneakers!

Then after the movie we invited them to come over for the cake mark had made for me. when i walked in the door i discovered a full fledged surprise party! complete with wonderful decorations! (thanks wendy!)

All of us! This is the only picture i have with Wendy and Syd :(

Mark's mom and dad!

Camille and Briant!

Sherry and John!

I know i look creepy in this picture, but the cake looks so good! mark made me this wonderful ice cream cake all by himself! Wendy helped with the frosting, my favorite color!

I was very lucky this year! Wendy and Melinda got me all the fixins for a fantastic pedicure. complete with pedegg, not shown here.

Mark got me a variety of bathroom goodness (i'm sensing a theme here....)

a fun shower cap to replace my old nasty one. he also got me some princess body wash and some yummy Reese's.

and John and Sherry gave me these awesome earrings all the way from China. (well, i guess everything i got today probably came from China... but these are more authentic!)

After everyone left Mark and i got a little camara happy.

he was so proud of himself for throwing such a successful surprise filled birthday for me

we tried to see how many hats we could put on Mark.

Thanks for such a fun day sweet!

Callie, There's Something I Have to Tell You

You're a redneck.

Love, Mark.

I Love This Time of Year

For just this very reason

In fact, Mark just called me as i was writing this post saying that he just had a Reese's egg and we need to stock up. I couldn't agree more babe!

English??

As many of you know, i have graduated. People keep asking me what i am doing now that i'm done with school and my response is "I'm taking more classes." I just can't seem to be able to let go! So, i am taking classes at SLCC (salt lake community college for my non-UTard family). I have joined the ASL fast track program to get my interpreting skills up to par... and I LOVE it! The only downside to this, is that i have to drive to Salt Lake twice a week, which for me is quite a bit of driving considering i used to take the bus everywhere.

But, Mark and I have found a way to turn my boring drive time into my productive time! I am learning Mandarin! We got a CD set from the library and I'm getting pretty good if i do say so myself!I can already say "I am an American," "I speak English," "I speak a little Mandarin," "Do you speak English?," "Excuse me, can i ask?," I know how to make a phrase a question, say two different types of "yes" and "no," and all kinds of variations and mix-and-match's of all those! Considering I've only done it for about a day and a half i'm feeling pretty good. So good in fact that I had my first dream in Mandarin! It was SOO weird. In my dream i kept trying to talk to Chinese people saying all of my new phrases, but towards the end i just kept running around shouting English?!!! English?!!! I felt like i was stuck saying just my few phrases and i was desperate to find someone who I could really talk to! I thought it was pretty funny!

My Dear, Sweet, Sugar Plum, Love Bug Graduate Girl!

Done, Finished, Complete, All Inclusive, Total. . .Callie is a college graduate. Lucky! Callie, you are so cool, and I am pretty jealous. I am so proud of you! This is big, real big! Why so big? First off, it is just awesome. Second, your textbook buy back money gets to go towards my books. Third, you now have more free time to ski. Fourth, you worked so hard. I have been so impressed how passionate you are about what you are studying. Your papers were amazing, and I have learned a lot from you. The greatest thing I have learned is the importance of seeking the things you are most passionate about. I am excited for our future and for all of the many wonderful things we will do, see, and probably eat together. You are my buddy, my pal, and my love bug. I love you to the fullest!

Here she is off to school for the last time. She doesn't even have to register for classes next semester. So Jealous!

Dinner Catastrophe

So yesterday Mark and I were in a hurry! We were doing laundry, had to go to mutual, trying to arrange for our carpets to be cleaned (we have lived in our apartment for almost 2 years!!!),and trying to set up interviews for church. And in the middle of all of that, we had to have dinner. We decided on sloppy joes. because honestly, who doesn't love slopppppy joes? (and not to mention they are fast.) So i set out to make dinner while Mark was making calls. I finished cooking the meat and both Mark and I went to get the laundry (have i mentioned how much i HATE not having my own washer and dryer?? HATE HATE HATE!!!!).

When we were walking back into the apartment i was so excited to walk in the door and smell glorious sloppy joe meat! I walked in and was immediately very confused. I didn't smell sloppy joes at all! it was very very different. So i walked over to my meat and realized what i had done. I made taco meat. I dont know how that happened! so after some serious laughing and me being a bit heart broken and disappointed ( i believe my exact words were "i don't want no stinkin' tacos!") we had nachos instead!

And, i earned the award for the dorkiest cook of all time. Apparently i should not be allowed in the kitchen while under pressure.

My Heaven

In my opinion, it doesn't get much better than Reese's. They can brighten even the crappiest of days.

Yesterday was one such day for me. And my wonderful brilliant husband knew just how to fix it for me. When i walked in the door after work i was greeted by a beautiful bouquet of flowers and 2 packs of Reese's. It's Love!!

My addiction for Reese's is deeply rooted. It is just the perfect blend of chocolate and peanut butter. I actually used to keep these on stock. At one point i was buying them in bulk. I would honestly go to walmart and take the entire box from the checkout line.

Now i am sad to say i grew up and no longer spend my money on such frivolous things as a year supply of Reese's (they actually lasted me about a month), but that's not to say i dont miss them.

And in case anyone was wondering. If you have a Coke and a Reese's at the same time...
Pure Heaven!

Those of you who know me well know that this is the way to my heart!

(p.s. don't those little water droplets on the can just make you thirsty??!!!)

My Life Right Now

I had to change my background to something more fitting to how i feel. All day, everyday I spend every spare moment trying to catch up on my school work. I have A TON of reading to do for every class. And skimming and pretending to read are not options because I also have to write 1-2 page summaries for everything i read. AND, my teachers keep giving me more articles to read ON TOP of the regular assigned reading.

Last week i thought i was the coolest person ever because i was actually a whole week AHEAD on my reading assignments. Enter the group presentation. I kissed my buffer goodbye! I don't understand how a week can go by so quickly. Now i am prepared for my presentation, but i am seriously struggling to finish the "regular" work. Mark and I keep trying to figure out when we can invite friends over, practice my golf skills, and hang out, and every single night seems to be booked with "catch-up" work (not to be confused with ketchup).

I just have to keep reminding myself that i just have to get through the next few months.... and i am FINISHED!!!!!

Worst Last Weekend Ever!!!

This is the last weekend before school starts, as well as the only weekend available for my dentist to take my wisdom teeth out. It was not my favorite. Luckily Mark got to go with me and observe/hold my hand.

I went to work for a couple hours in the morning and when i got home before the appointment, Mark had this cute little station all set up for me!

and a treat in the fridge!

I got two taken out; one on each side. The first one was already "there" like a regular tooth so he just stuck a wedge in there and pried it out. The second one was impacted so took some more "maneuvering" to get it out.

When they were doing the second one Mark decided he didn't like looking at me all painful and bloody and actually had to leave the room. such a softy!

I was awake the whole time, but they did give me the laughing gas. As i'm sure most of you know they put it over your nose, so when you want more you breathe through your nose, when you don't want anymore you breathe through your mouth. When they first started i got kinda dizzy so i stopped and forgot to start again after that. So i wasnt even a little bit loopy. sorry to disappoint.

Mark has been real good about making me put ice on my cheek so i won't swell up, but i do have a little. Here are some pictures of me looking quite ridiculous.

i don't know if you can tell in these pictures, but my right side (left in the picture) is a little swollen despite our icing efforts.

So on this last glorious weekend before school starts, i will be trying to be brave and heal so i can be all ready for my last semester!!!

Summer Update

So i found some pictures that Wendy sent us from a while ago, so i thought i would update the world (or the 5 people who read my blog) about the goings on of my summer. Here we go!

I went to summer school!
I finished summer school!
I finished summer school with a 4.0!

I conquered my intense fear for about 5 seconds while i took this picture!

We got some Jamba 2 for 1 coupons and have been taking advantage. who knew Jamba tastes even better frozen?!

Went for walks down the Provo River walkway

we also went on a new hike and i dont have any pics with me now, plus i look AWFUL in them. trust me, you dont want to see me tired, sweaty, and with absolutely zero makeup on. Plus i was terrified the whole time becasue we ran into two snakes! OK, OK, they were baby gardeners, but they are still snakes. that wiggle. and slither. on the ground. by my feet. and up my leg. and in my hair. You get the picture.

Now onto my daily routine:

I go to work.
I come home.
I eat a yogurt parfait.
I watch this:Specifically this:

Then this:

Then this:

but don't get the wrong idea here. I really dont just sit on my butt all day. I am doing things while i watch/listen to these shows. Here is a list of things i do while i indulge in these shows:

plan Sunday lessons
eat lunch
clean my apartment
make lists like this

laundry

plan dinner
grocery shop (obviously not a do-and-watch kind of thing)
make dinner
read
sleep

Also, i started a new thing last week that worked pretty well. I go to the gym during Ellen and run while i watch. That my friends is called multi-tasking!

I figured out how to take cereal with me to work

Yes, that is a icing thing for cake decorating.

And the best part!!! I get to hang out with this kid!

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

The MOST AMAZING thing happened to me today. I was bored at work as usual, so i checked my email. And there it was. Just a little email that completely made my day. I WON a contest! Yesterday and the day before i entered a contest on ABC4.com that Ellen was doing and I WON!!! and what did i win you might ask??? Oh just 2 little tickets. To see the new Harry Potter movie. On JULY 13!!! two days before it officially comes out!!

I didn't even know what to do. I just started jumping up and down back here in my little office. I was completely stunned!!! I WON!!!! I don't even have to wait up all night for a midnight showing! I immediately started calling everyone that would appreciate this news. But nobody answered, so I just had to blog about it!

I am beside myself!

Mark get ready for your wife to be a giddy little girl for the next couple days. And get ready for the best date you've ever had!

Hair History

So i thought i would put a little "history of my hair" in pictures on here for your pleasure and enjoyment!

Disclaimer: some of these hair styles are pretty scary. continue looking at your own risk!

No history of my hair can be complete without including this little beauty. This was the first 8-10 years of my life: "the side pony"

skip to my 17th birthday

Later that year:

and later that same year:

Corny High School graduation picture:

the "brown" phase:

Back to blond:

Ha Ha!!! I just noticed i was wearing the same shirt in those pictures!! I must have really liked that one.

engagement hair:

just married hair:

Long hair:

another awful "brown" phase:

March "back to being me" hair:

May grown out hair:

And are you ready for it???





are you excited yet??




the NEW hair: