A One Year Mark: Katie's Baptism

The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings happiness into peoples lives. A year ago today, my longtime friend, practically my fourth sister, Katie McGauley, became a Mormon. It's been a joy to look back at the night before her baptism -- a party at our favorite pizza spot, Barros --, the morning of the baptism, before and after, and then a small get together afterwards with her closest friends. It was one of the most memorable weekends that I can recall. Words cannot describe how proud I am of Katie of her decision and overcoming all of the adversity that is endlessly thrown her way. Her example has inspired me often. It still does.

A few shots from that glorious day... Look at the smile on Katie's face. I had never seen it that big.

The Peppermint Betrayal

A peppermint's life is usually a single act of service. The totality of a peppermint's existence is to provide all of us with fresh breath. They give up their lives so we can forget that we had garlic bread for dinner, so we can kiss our loved ones without complaint. So much of what they do quietly enriches our lives, until they dissolve humbly in our fiery furnaces. But when I was 9 years of age, I choked on one of these "selfless" red and white candies, rendering me breathless until my heroic mother performed the Heimlich maneuver on me. Obviously this particular mint was upset at his life calling and fought hard against self-melting. His death came later, after his flight across our kitchen table, and eventually landing next to our Christmas tree --he's lucky our curious poodle, Hershey, didn't eat him.

This event, and my parents will admit, maybe even laughingly so, caused me trauma. For months I was convinced something was wrong with my swallowing process, that my throat had been "damaged" during the peppermint choking. I couldn't swallow certain food --steak was impossible--, I kept bread next to my plate every night at dinner to help "push the food down" and a special need had to be met in snack time at my school, my mom had to phone my teacher and make the request that I get a snack and a drink so if I felt my food was stuck in my throat I'd have a drink to wash down such danger.

But eventually my mom sought a doctor, where I then drank a milky substance that tasted like melted sidewalk chalk, as part some of the tests they conducted on my throat. Of course the doctors told my poor Mom that it was all mental, and that nothing was in fact wrong with my throat. I was merely experiencing the mental after effects of a traumatizing event, caused by one selfish piece of candy. After the dust settled, and breath mints were banished from my house, I abstained from eating peppermint's for years, and even now when I'm offered them by a hostess at a fancy food place, I gladly decline. I usually opt for gum. Be warned: not all peppermints are friendly. Also, thanks for saving my life Mom.

From Student to Nurse: A Dinner For Bonnie

Super Mom, lunch pal, dear friend, and now registered nurse, miss Bonnie is going places. A few weeks ago one of those places was Texas Roadhouse, a dinner spot for blue collar america, and dudes who hang out at truck stops, but it was also a meeting point for a few of my friends and I where we celebrated Bonnie's murdering of the daunting NCLEX examination. And since that dinner she's landed a job at Banner Boswell in the Neuro department. Seriously, get out of this woman's way.


I spend maddening amounts of money eating out. One glance at my Quicken profile would have my Dad shaking his head. But it's events like these, where the day is concluded with friends, eating delicious food -- TR's give-away rolls are on the same level as my Mother's home made rolls --, and diving into lasting conversation makes eating Tyson chicken nuggets at home, in front of ESPN a laughable course.


Congrats Bonnie!


"Are you still taking pictures of me?"


A tiny smirk... Susan's a tough one to break.


Sam smelling my armpit, or, or, or ... laughing really hard. Naaaaah, she's smelling my pits.






She was totally aware that I was taking a picture.


You could paint an entire costco with Scott's multifold of faces.


Sam needs everyone to know that she took the image in the bottom right. #talent

-The 90's Party- Pics

My roommates and I hosted a pancake, pajama, and old-school video game party a few weekends ago. Scott introduced this party on Facebook so well that I couldn't do it any more justice.

Alright y'all... It's time to dig out that previously oversized family reunion t-shirt, don a pair of cut off sweats, and blow the dust off that "Emotions" cd you spent a weeks worth of allowance on in '91. 

For guys, it's probably gonna be that Soundgarden cd you hesitantly purchased the same year and soon realized every song on it SUCKED but the one they played on the radio! Only to outdo yourself half a decade later when you rebelliously rode your bike to the mall and went half-sies with your best friend on Sublime's self titled album.

Come on now... Don't you remember squeezing the cd into your back pocket on your front porch, and giving strict instructions to your buddy to not stop and talk to your mom when you walk inside. 10 seconds later and alas... you lock the door to your bedroom, hit the power button on your wal-mart 5-disc special, and hit play on track 2. You both sing along on low volume as one of you stands dangerously close to the volume knob so your mom doesn't hear the "mother f*@&#** riot" coming from your speakers!

The point is, we all wish we could go back in time. This saturday is your chance!! Bring your PJ's, (Oversized t-shirts optional), your favorite pillow (best believe we're brawlin), all your old school music, and bask in a night of ALL YOU CAN EAT PANCAKES, super mario-kart and duck hunt tournaments, and a $30 walmart gift card to the first person who beats the hover craft level on battletoads! I'm serious... it's yours for the taking! So make like Jay-Z & Amil and get up, get out, and get some... at our house... Saturday at 8!

 Here are the results of the hilariously described party:


Mario Kart 64, Dr. Mario, NBA Jam. Just some of the throwbacks in the video game department.




My sexy reaction to a warhead.


Christine & Pat coming dressed as the 90's.


Pancakes keeping warm after Scott whipped em up.


Sam remembered warheads being a lot tastier in the 4th grade.


Never has a group of friends had more fun with a bag of Dubble Bubble.


More really flattering pictures of people eating warheads.




The Skittle Game: A group of players take turns picking two skittles from the bowl, they then attempt to store the skittles in their mouth without spewing them out. Last man standing wins. The catch, if you draw two skittles of the same color, you are given permission to chew & swallow until it's your turn again.






Miss Perkins spitting skittles out her nose (maybe it just looks like that). And yes, that's a cactus cooler next to her.






Waldo giving me a good reason to question photographing this event.


I sorta feel like this is a face Scott makes often.


Down to Katie & Pat.


Pat attempting to psyche her out.


Katie folds.


Pat takes his victory vomit.




Woooooooo. Gift card to wally world. Let's buy more skittles. Woooooo.

Thanks to all those who came! We have an infinite amount of capri sun at our house still if anyone wants some. But if you take it you have to promise to put the straw in upside down.

Scabble with Grandma

Early last year I started up a fun tradition of having breakfast with my grandparents and playing the popular word game with my Grandma a few times a month. At the time I couldn't have predicted how much joy would be taken from these visits, but boy she makes a killer chocolate chip waffle, and is a hoot to compete against in scrabble. These mornings quickly developed into days I looked forward to. After a delicious breakfast, scrabble would follow, fully equipped with moments of unbelievability as she pulls words out of thin air and schools me as I suspiciously open up the dictionary. Of course she's almost always right, the latest one was "dearth". I will learn eventually. After a mid-game snack of something chocolatey & gooey, and a diet pepsi (no diet coke drinkers in this household), we finish our head to head battle. She needs to study her two letter word list. It's her achilles heel. It's almost an unfair advantage for me. To see her reaction to a two letter word play peep the last collage of her. I also was fortunate to capture my Grandpa tucked away in a quiet room, reading his scriptures. Love these moments. Oh, and if any of you play words with friends find me!

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