Conference Weekend

For Conference weekend, Kelsie and I planned a little tea party for the girls.  Everything had to be pretty from the decorations to the food and we made some of our sisters nervous about their presentation not being good enough.  We went over the top with everyone wearing a dress, flowers, banners, macaroons on each setting, a tablecloth, matching cups/plates for the adults and kids, a cake, and all the food but it was well worth it.  Super delicious and now I have the flowers in my room!

Piano Guys Christmas concert

#fifthwheel
I went to the Piano Guys Christmas concert this year with Paul, Ashlee, Tyler, and Lindsey.  We first went to Wild Zucchini and got Iceberg shakes at the concert to eat while listening to the piano and cello music.  This evening was as enjoyable as last year when I went and I look forward to going again.

Wicked

I've listened to the Wicked soundtrack most of my life but never truly knew the storyline.  So when Wicked was coming to Salt Lake I had to go, and I'm glad I did.  With dinner at Cheesecake Factory beforehand to eat lemon chicken and vanilla bean cheesecake, it was the perfect way to start the night out.  And the play was great.  Although it was freezing where we sat underneath the air vent, the music and acting was fantastic.  My favorite song is Defying Gravity and they did it justice.  Beautiful.

SLC

We made a weekend trip with just the girls and our dad to Salt Lake.  Such a fun time and surprisingly, we got along well.
Park City with the alpine slide and coaster
Swimming and reading by the hotel pool
Hikes up Cottonwood Canyon
Dinners at Ruth's Diner and Settebello
Bruges Waffles & Frites with the most delicious fries and dipping sauce
Leopold Museum for the Animal exhibit
Delicious hot breakfast at the hotel, seriously one of the best I've had
Playing card games til late in the evening
Tour of Mrs. Cavanaugh's, caramel is the best
Farmers' Market and Flea Market
Banbury Cross Donuts

Station 22

To give mom a break of thinking only about her back pain, Josh, Kelsie, and I took her to Station 22.  The food there was delicious.  I got their chicken and waffles, the fries with yummy dipping sauce, and we tried the fried cookie dough.  And they have an awesome soda wall with so many different kinds of sodas that made me want to grab one of each.  It was so good, I'd definitely go again.

Summerfest

I went to the Orem Summerfest last night for the first time ever.

We ate delicious hot dogs with scones for the buns and then we had funnel cakes.  

The grasshopper funnel cake is especially good.

After going on rides, eating, and looking at all the weird people who come together for this occasion, we left.  

It was fun and I'd probably go again next year, but I wouldn't get lemonade where they pour tons of cherry syrup into so it is thick and warm.

I would definitely skip that part.

Twenty One Pilots

I went to a Twenty One Pilots concert with Josh and Kelsie this past week.
\\ Dinner at Chubby's which I highly recommend.  Good burgers and yummy beer battered fries.
\\ Amazing music with two very entertaining guys.
\\ Girls in front of us had their hair down and kept getting closer and closer to us.  It was so hot and their hair kept brushing against us.  Very annoying.
\\ My personal favorites of theirs are Guns For Hands, The Run And Go, and Truce.  But really, I love all their songs.

Easter Sunday

This year for Easter we had our easter egg hung the day before at Josh and Kelsie's house.  Everyone brought their own lunch and we played a few games of ultimate frisbee in the park near there.  The kids loved hiding and finding the eggs, but also eating them.  They all sat around the pile of eggs and started taking the shell off to get to the yummy center.  Then on Sunday my sweet grandparents came over for dinner and it was fun to spend time together with my family.  And as a bonus, Josh decided to be his wonderful self and lick my face. Even though it's gross, it's something that I come to expect from him.

Phoebe

She is either the cutest little girl or a little monster.
She loves her milk and drinking it from a teacup.
She loves being a princess or sometimes just being Phoebe.
She loves to sing to 'Let it Go' or to Neil Diamond.
She jumps and twirls and takes her shoes off whenever she can.
She is incredibly stubborn when she wants to be.
She can be sweet to her siblings, following Conrad or making Morris laugh.
She loves to be read do, especially 'Miss Fannie's Hat'.

Just yesterday we were at the park.  I swear, that bathroom is closed until the middle of the summer and Phoebe had to go but refused to go in the grass.  Katie thought it would be a nice break for me to take her home and away from the other kids for a bit.  She screamed the entire way and would not go to the bathroom since her mom was not there.  Even grandma couldn't make her do anything.  We took her back to the park to mom where she finally calmed down. 

Hey there, Kels

 

I love Kelsie a lot.  We always knew which towel was ours even if they were the same color or if we were to switch spots.  She was the shades of gray girl and I was the bohemian princess.  Our idea of having fun on the weekend was sitting in mom and dad's room watching a movie.  We loved finding new music and if we fought, we knew we just needed time and we would be good again.  On her wedding day, I was very emotional with lack of sleep and a few other things.  But mostly it was because Kelsie was getting married and there was going to be a lot of change.  So embarrassing.  The videographer thought it would be cool if we did a shot where the sisters were comforting the crying one.   Naturally I started crying all over again and in the pictures, my splotchy red face is looking good.

"It's just going to be you, me, and dad now."

Unfortunately mom, that is not the case. 
Even though I have told you repeatedly that Paul, Ash, and Jack live downstairs. 
Therefore, it is just going to be "you, me, dad, Ashlee, Paul, and Jack now" since Kelsie is getting married.
I love you dearly mom.
But no matter how many times you say this, it will not become true.

Lucy Lou

I had the wonderful opportunity to watch this little girl while the rest of my fam went to the temple.
She was such a happy girl who gave me a lot of kisses.

We started off with eating breakfast and her trying to buckle herself into the high chair and saying she was stuck and I had to come running to unbuckle her.  We snacked on cheese and crackers while playing with Jack and watching How to Train Your Dragon.  She was eating a bite of egg when I pulled out the string cheese.  Most would finish chewing what is in their mouth before moving on, but most are not Lucy.  She spit out the chewed up egg and reached for the cheese.  I immediately realized my mistake but I was still too late.

She talks a lot, but I wish I knew what she was saying half the time because she is so dang cute.  Lucy has the cutest little face with big, blue eyes and I love her tons even if she doesn't always love me.
 

Jack

I have talked about which niece or nephew I would pick to live with amongst my sisters and I chose Jack.  This little boy is pretty fun and adorable.  He always comes into my room when he is supposed to be getting ready for bed, bringing in random things that I 'want' like a stool, boxes, pieces of wood.  He says "Abby, watch" until I look at him and he is so indecisive, telling you he wants something even though he doesn't.  Eating breakfast this morning he asked me what I was eating like twenty times although he knows what cereal is.  He has the cutest little face and I am so lucky to be his aunt, along with the rest of my nieces and nephews.

New Year's

Here's to making this year different than the last.  

2013 was good and I hope that 2014 will be even better.   

A Family Christmas

Kelsie, Josh, and I went to The Piano Guys concert last night and it was amazing!  They played a mix of Christmas songs (my favorite was Angels We Have Heard on High) and normal songs (my all-time favorite, Love Story Meets Viva la Vida).  It hasn't really felt like Christmas to me this season, which is totally my fault, but this concert definitely helped me get on the right track.  We ended with everyone singing Silent Night together and it was beautiful.  The piano has always been my favorite instrument, but Steven Sharp Nelson sure makes the cello come close to the top.    

A Night with the Girls + Dad

The boys had poker night so we got together and had some of our own fun.
We played games and had caesar salad and took fun pictures.
Pretty much I love my family.

Imagine Dragons

We all agreed that this was one of the best concerts ever.  Even the songs like Radioactive and Demons that are on the radio all the time were good live.  We drove up to Weber and ate at Jake's Over the Top before the concert and bought shirts afterwards.  It was a really fun night spent with my sisters and I would definitely go to their concert again.  They are so good!

Austin and I

Growing up with Austin has been so much fun.  

Playing dress up or barbies, making Ramen and putting ice cubes in it to cool it down.

Going to the blue park, playing Rush and Diddy Kong Racing on Nintendo 64.

Designing houses and playing with the people on Sims.  

Getting rides from him to school in ninth grade and almost always being late to Mr. Downs's class.

Pretending to play the prerecorded songs on the piano.

Swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's house playing divers, tube man, and running and jumping into the pool.

Eating twin popsicles (the ones with two sticks) and my dad getting mad at us for leaving the sticks outside.  Blue was always our favorite.

Having sleepovers and making Krusteaz pancakes in the morning shaped like Mickey.

I don't know why I remember this, but in third grade it was my turn to lead everyone in saying the pledge.

I stood up in the front and started with, "Repeat after me."  

When I sat down at my table a couple of kids starting making fun of me for saying "Repeat after me"

but Austin told them to leave me alone and made me feel better for saying that.

In high school, on the first day of my art class, my teacher asked me if I was related to Austin.  

(He was the student body president).  I, of course, said yes and then she replied, "Oh, then you must be popular!"

Why yes I am since he is my cousin.  Haha.  Good one Mrs. Wait. 

Now he's off on his mission in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and loving it.  And his letters sound just like him.

I cannot believe how fast we are growing up.

Girls' Night

What do five sisters do when they plan a girl night with no kids and no parents 

and no husbands?  Make pretty cool music videos, that's what.  

And of course we tried a new facial which includes spreading honey on your face first, followed by putting on cooked oatmeal.  

Yeah, I don't recommend this one--the oatmeal doesn't stick and is very difficult to handle.

The Piano Guys

Kels and I went to The Piano Guys concert with Jon Schmidt and Steven Sharp Nelson.  It was rainy and we didn't have a good view, but it was amazing to hear them live.  It was a lot of fun and we warmed up with hot chocolate when we got home. 

Here are two of my favorites that they played: