With a little help from my friends.

Who doesn't love rendezvous with their high school posse?

I can't believe this baby belongs to Hanna.  Look at that hair! I'm so in love with this cabbage patch doll baby!

Richelle and Aubrey

Kenzie, I'm so glad our high school crush on the quarterback of the GHS football team didn't get in the way of our friendship. haha

 

(yes, i just said that.)

2006 hang out (it's probably a good thing I can't find any pictures of myself in high school)!

Current happenings:

Hanna: graduates from ASU in May!

Kenzie: this girl was business-minded the day I met her and still is today. It's paid off--she got promoted :)

Richelle: 2nd grade teacher in Chandler.

Celeste: celebrating her anniversary today (hence the reason she wasn't able to come tonight). Happy anniversary! 

Birthday Season Continued.

Happy 4th Birthday, Brinley Ann Lowry!

A few things about Brinley:

She's my oldest niece.  I've never met a girl who loves the color blue and loves princesses more than she does (which is funny to me because most princess things are pink). If she were to be anything other than human, she would be a mermaid.  She loves to swim (but I think the real reason for her wanting to be a mermaid is so she could have a blue tail and a sea shell bra)! She's a chatter box like her dad.  Brinley has got the most beautiful curly golden hair I've ever seen. I don't know how her diet of mac and cheese results in beautifully shiny hair.  Her obsession with girly things may not last forever, but I'm loving this phase of magic wands, lip-gloss, and hearing stuff about "true love's kiss." haha this girl is adorable and I am so glad she only lives a few miles away so I can see her all the time!

  

This is the face she gives me when she's grumpy (which never happens).

 

Dressing up as Mary for the nativity this Christmas.

 

Brinley sporting a classic blue outfit.

I love this girl!

(And for her Mom's sake, I hope she never gets into mischief like this again!)

west coasters and southern belles.

Better late than never right? My roommates deserve to be on my blog since they became my family during the last three months.  The girls from the south taught me a lot about Hatian and African culture. I heard stories about alligators eating dogs, hurricanes and the importance of being prepared, being pick-pocketed in Brooklyn, how they came to know the church, wondering what the Elders meant by referring to each other as their "companion," and how white people can't dance.  I catch myself saying things that weren't a part of my vocab before, and y'all seems to roll off my tongue a lot more often than planned. We were strangers a couple of months ago, and we became good friends over our stay in apartment 307 together. No one makes me laugh (or puts on a dance party) quite like they do.

Rexburg Temple

Sophia (New Jersey) didn't make it into the picture, but here are the others:

Gina (Florida), me, Rachel (Oregon), Fedna (Florida), Mary (Nevada)

Love these girls!

Make-Your-Own Entertainment

When you're at your cabin in Pinetop for New Years Eve, you've got to get creative to have fun.

And entertain yourselves.

 I'm really embarrassed about this picture, but it's too funny not to post. Jayne titled this picture, "Elk on the run." I found it most fitting considering her hand positions.

We were going to wear these hats out on the town (to the movies), but we thought they'd get in the way.

So we just took repetitive pictures with them instead. Check out Jayne's faces.

My conclusion: This year beat all the previous years of overrated parties, thanks to my comical sisters and friends.

Jenna: birthday girl and bride-to-be

It's currently Jayne's birthday for about 35 more minutes, and then once the clock strikes 12, it's Jenna's birthday (at the Patterson house, we call it "birthday season"). Because their birthdays are so close to Christmas, they don't like it when "Christmasy" things are still going on once December 25th has come and gone (Christmas hymns aren't their first choice when Christmas was two whole days ago--nor do they like having their birthday presents wrapped in "left-over" Christmas paper.) Despite the length of the "Do not" list, we love birthday season!


A few things I love about Jenna...


Her creativity.  She's always got an idea or in the process of making something, and she's so good at it! She can sew just about anything from little girl's dresses to baby shoes.

Her style. Thank goodness Avril Lavigne left her life in her early teenage years, because Jenna is now one of the best dressed girls I know. Her outfit combos are amazing.

Her desire to learn new things.  She sees something she wants to do, and she learns how.  (Painting, cello, ballet moves ect.)

Her sense of humor. So what if the funny gene skipped me, and got passed on to her? At least I can admit that one of us is funny!  Read the girl's blog!

Her determination.  When Jenna wants something, she doesn't cease until she's obtained it.  I admire that about her.

Her love of traveling.  (No, I'm not envious she's visited more places than I have...)  If I had to pick a travel buddy, it would be her.  She's fearless and street smart.

The girl is beautiful. 'Nuf said.

Her balancing act.  I don't know how she does it...she took more classes than I did this semester, got a 4.0, worked part-time and had a boyfriend (now fiance).

(thanks for letting me steal this precious pic from your blog.)

 Which leads me to another point....my Jenna girl is engaged! 

 (they got engaged last week.)

I wouldn't pick any other boo for you than Young Stunna.

Congratulations to Jenna and Dustin!

And Happy 22nd birthday! I love you!

And to think this picture was only pretend a few months ago...

P.S. It's now 12PM and I can hear you singing happy birthday to yourself downstairs....

Christmas Day

The Nativity

by Liz Lemon Swindle 

I love this painting of the nativity.  Joseph appears to be more loving here than in other depictions of the nativity. Most of all, there's a feeling of peace and happiness in this picture, and that's exactly what Christ was sent to provide for us. I really have a lot to be thankful for this Christmas day. My life is full of ups and downs, but the constant love and guidance of Christ is always there for me no matter what. Spending today with my family has been so great, and I am so happy to be celebrating Christmas at home with them!

Patterbomb.com

Nephews and nieces really can't get any cuter than this.

5 faces I really miss...

Tyler. This boy soaks up information like a sponge, and is one of the smartest little kids I know. He can carry on a conversation about planes or diesel trucks with a professional (at least I think so).

Jacob. This boy is always excited and full of life. He's a good little artist too (he gets it from the Davis side), and especially good at drawing robots. Last Thanksgiving he drew me the cutest picture of Wall.E and I.

Brinley. This little girl is as girly as any girl I've met. She loves fairy tales, knows all of the Disney princesses--even the old school ones, including Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty. She loves anything blue.

Nathaniel. This little boy and I can relate a lot because we're both the middle children of our families. He's a fun little guy, and he's so sweet to his little sister, Caroline. He gives the best hugs and is always excited to see family.

Caroline. When I left for Idaho a whole six months ago, this little girl didn't say more than a few words. News from home says she talks now! I can't wait to have a little conversation with her (...it's not too late to teach her Spanish, either)! She's super easy going and lets her little brothers wrestle with her.