I think fall is my favorite

I tend to get really excited this time of year. The changing weather is exciting (as long as it's not too nasty), and I love the warm, rich colors of the changing leaves. I think fall brings out the domestic diva-wannabe in me, too. The rich, warm colors are my favorite for decorating, and the chilly weather gives me an excuse to make soups and breads to my heart's content.

Halloween, for me, is the perfect kick-off to all of this. I guess I'm just a kid at heart, but I get really into this holiday. I love to dress up -- mostly, I think, because I enjoy making cool costumes. I'm actually a little self-conscious to wear them in public, but I really love to be creative so I bear with the awkwardness. My costume this year is no exception to that -- in fact, I'm probably a little more apprehensive of peoples' reactions than usual, because it may seem a little out of character for me. Still, I'm pretty excited to be a little crazy for a day. I just finished my costume tonight; I won't tell you what it is, but here's a little clue:

Anywhere but here....please!

Well, I don't get sick often, but when I do -- ka-BLAM! I've been lying on the couch since Monday, just going crazy. Colby's been so sweet and attentive, but seriously....I've gotta get up or I'm gonna LOSE it! Hehe, I definitely have a hard time "wasting" time. But the doctor says until I've gone 24 hours without a fever, I'm stuck like this.

So here I am. I think I've now seen every ANTM episode ever shot, and have eaten a whole bag of menthol cough drops. Spurred by the delirium from my unrelenting 102-degree fever, I put on my makeup at 9:30 tonight....just to feel human. Tomorrow I may attempt to shave my legs....or at least bathe. I wish I was anywhere else, doing anything else.

Like maybe here, loving the incredible view and the most amazing lightning storms every night....


Or here, Latin dancing with the locals in the Pto. Vallarta town square....


Or enjoying a random pirate ship and sand sculpture of the Virgin Mary from the boardwalk...




Or playing with the most adorable orphans I've ever met....




It's sad that it's taken this long for me to write about my trip to Mexico; it was so long ago it hardly feels like I ever went. By looking at my already pasty-white skin you'd never guess I'd gotten the nastiest, blisteriest sunburn ever, and Colby's still got a beautiful golden tan. Ha. There's too much to write in just one post, though, so I guess there'll be more to come. I'll post some videos, too, when I can get them to work.

As for right now, my nighttime cold medicine is kicking in and I'm going cross-eyed. I'm going to cuddle up with my hubby and sleep some more.

Reconstructive Surgery

I have a confession: There is a box under my bed, full of clothes that no longer fit me. Old pairs of favorite jeans, the green argyle sweater I got for Christmas in 2006 -- why do I do this to myself? I pull them out occasionally, gaze longingly at the beautiful fabrics, and try to will myself to be ten pounds thinner. Still, with great agony I am gradually emptying the box; I'll let go of all the clothes soon enough, and some lucky bargain shopper will pick them up at the D.I.

Just let me keep these pants...puh-leeze!



I can't give them up. Never mind the fact that they're a smidge too short, and a leetle tight around my thighs. They've managed to avoid the thrift store fate on multiple occasions, and will likely remain in my tender care forever.

Of course, since I can't wear them anymore they will have to find another purpose in life. Too many episodes of Project Runway, and I'm suddenly an aspiring fashion designer....my favorite pants are chopped to pieces; what have I done?!



Ta-da!



That was fun; what else is in that box?

My Little Missionary Man

I missed Swiss Days this year, and I was really bummed. I've only been once since we moved to Utah, and I was really looking forward to it. Other than that, I hadn't planned to go during Labor Day weekend; I really just wanted to hunker down in my apartment and sew. I didn't end up doing that, either. What I did do was way more awesome....

Andi and I took the world's shortest road trip to Boise so I could hang out with this dude:



My awesome little brother Matt postponed his temple appointment so I could be there with him; it was an amazing experience. He's leaving in two weeks for his mission, and I think I might die -- I'm going to miss him so much! I guess that means I will have to send him a lot of packages -- anyone have any good ideas?

I Heart IHC

Today we got a 60-page print-out from the pharmacy, listing all 274 of the prescriptions we've filled there in the past 16 months. Time after time I've waited, dejected, in the Walgreen's drive-through for the little boxes and bottles I've come to loathe. Thus I was acutely aware that they'd cost us more than $5300 -- nearly as much as we pay for 16 months' rent. What astounded me, though, was this: Since May 2008, our insurance company has actually saved us $46,081.05.

Whaaaa--?

Wow, what was I complaining about? And how much does IHC hate us? Because I don't hate them, I love them. They are my new best friend.

How do people survive without health insurance?

Vacation Numero Uno

Summer passed so quickly, didn't it? Anyone feel just a little bit robbed. Of course, I shouldn't feel that way; I did plenty of loafing around, and even went on two family vacations. The first was a trip to Lake Tahoe, and thought it was over a month ago, I've been dying to share it with you:

On my Lake Tahoe trip I.....

....enjoyed driving most of the way so Mom would keep reading Beauty to Steph and me.

....celebrated Jared's 16th birthday with BTS cake and presents wrapped in socks.

....took some of the most beautiful and scenic hikes ever, and some halfway decent pictures to capture that beauty. You know, Colby and I went to Tahoe on our honeymoon five years ago, but somehow I don't remember the scenery that well...

....played in the lake with my big little bro's. The sandbar must have been nearly half a mile long; I could wade out that far before I was even up to my neck in water. Then Matt and Jared gave me piggy-back rides and had fun freaking me out, pretending they couldn't touch the bottom anymore.

....fished in the Carson River with Mom and Jared. No one else around us caught any fish, but we got a ton of them. Jared caught at least 10 of his own. I only caught three, but I had a lot of fun and also hooked a nasty sunburn...

....made cute jewelry with Mom and Steph. I even helped Jared make some earrings and a necklace for his little "friend" Kara. :)

....took the grand prize in a hilarious game of "Sardines," in which I squished myself into the cupboard beneath the bathroom sink and no one could find me until my leg started to cramp and my toes popped out of the cupboard door. In the end, I almost couldn't get out of the cupboard and nearly had to spend the night there.

....basked in the quiet of our secluded resort, and enjoyed every minute of my family's company. It's amazing how valuable that time becomes when it is available so infrequently.

In a Hurry

Here's a quick update, just so y'all know I didn't fall off the face of the earth....

I just got back from a fun little road trip to Lake Tahoe. It was the first time I'd been on vacation with my family, so even though some of us were missing it was wonderful. We caught lots of fish in the Carson River, and played a ton of games....who could ask for a better time? I'll have pictures to post a little later.

On Tuesday I had lunch with my dearies Teann and Lauryl. It was so fun to visit and catch up on each others' lives. I can't believe how amazing these girls are; I've missed our little barbershop quartet so much! It was a good time for all, little Jaron's toe-biting incident aside.



I also had a date with my dearest Vanessa last night. Ahh, I love that girl. So does Joshy; they're getting married on my anniversary (five years already?!?!)....I am so excited for her!



I'll have more time to share pictures and stuff in a couple of weeks, but right now I've got to jet. I'm on my way out the door....to go to MEXICO!

See ya.