I..can't..stop..LAUGHING.

Presents from Paris

Today we 5 (Taylor, Meigen, Alyssa, Rachel and I) all met to talk.

We got caught up on life.

One is getting over a boy.
One is planning a road trip to see a boy.
One is dating a elderly man.
One is on a Paris high.
One is getting married.

The funniest conversation happened on the way home. We were all in the car expect Alyssa. This is how it went down.

B: "So there are 4 BYU's. One in Jerusalem."
Tay: "Where is Jerusalem?"
B: "In Israel."
Tay: "OH JESUS!!!"
B: "Ummm, yeah. He was there too!"

We laughed until I couldn't breathe.

Terminal 4

After 21 days in Frenchy Land,

Alyssa graced us with her presence at Gate B.

Taylor, Meigen and I went to the airport to see her. We were so excited, when we saw her walking towards us, we freaked out. We ducked behind people, and then hid behind a wall. Haha, she was so surprised to see us. Although she was totally jet lagged, and a little grouchy, it was fun talking again. We left and picked up Rachel and met AJ at Freddy's. Welcome back to the states!

I love these girls. It is amazing that we NEVER run out of things to laugh about. Half the time we spend together is trying to STOP laughing so we can finish talking.
We love. A lot.

and then I kissed him...

Today, one of my closest friends is in Paris, on The Effiel Tower, having a first kiss with her best friend. It has me thinking of my first kiss. Not as big as Paris, but it was memorable in it's own way.

My first kiss was with a boy in 8th grade [I was in 7th grade] named Jourdain Wood. He was a little bit shorter than I was, but so cool. We were walking out of our last class, science, to the buses. Josh was teasing me in front of everyone for like the 3rd day in a row about not kissing Jourdain. So as we were walking, in front of the library, I kissed him. It was brief, but memorable. After I ran to my bus.

When I got home I called my best friend. We had grown up together and she knew EVERYTHING about me. I told her I kissed a boy and she cried. Ha, how I miss the days when kissing a boy meant you were so experienced.

When all my girlfriends get together somehow the kissing stories always come up.... no matter who it is in the group, we all get really excited and giggly.


So today might not be Valentines Day, but for a few girls, we will be thinking about Paris and first kisses.

[Ashli, I feel like I should be laying in bed talking to you, with an empty pizza box & ice cream bowls on our night stands. I miss our room....]

early to rise...

Long day. Great girls. Lots of laughing.

Weekend Getaways...

ENCHANTED ENCINITAS

This past weekend we spent on Moonlight Beach. Encinitas is a small family town, but so beautiful. Our hotel was about a half mile from the beach, if that much, and we could just walk anywhere and everywhere. I love walking to all the shops, and how it is always perfect weather there. We aren't sure if we will be going back to the beach this summer, so it was Rocky's last chance to surf... for 2 whole years. Saturday, which happened to be National Surfer's Day it was cold! We went to the Potato Cafe (a classic) and had some hot chocolate and the BIGGEST pancakes in the world. It wasn't freezing, but when the sand gets cold, you know it isn't your average beach day. So after being rained on for a bit, we decided to head down to Temecula. I love these small little towns. My dad bought more of his olive oil, it was a big deal to have more. And that night we went and saw The Proposal, Rocky's idea. I about fell out of my chair laughing. The next day we went to Mission Beach, where Rocky got his first Tat. I originally wanted a Hena (Rocky called it Hanna), but after my dad gave me 100 reasons why I shouldn't, I forgot about it. Rocky on the other hand pouted until he had "THE ROCK" [my idea] on his arm. There is a picture where he is standing next to my mom, so angry he wasn't getting one, then the next picture is when we went back, hello happy Rocky. It was a good trip. 3 days worth of fun. I miss the breezes and cloudy weather.
It always has me asking, "Now why do I live in Phoenix???"

To the WORLDS greatest Daddy

[dad cooking on the beach '07]

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads and grandpas. I happen to have the best grandpa AND dad. Let me tell you about it!

My grandpa is such a caring person. If there is any service project going on, he will be the first to volunteer. When the missionaries break there bikes, they know just to see my grandpa's shop, and he will set them up for life. He just loves to entertain people in his home. He spends all day working and improving the house, so that when people come they can just relax. My grandpa is always the life of the party. My friends all ask me about my grandpa, and when they come over, sometimes they see him before me! He has so many stories about football, marathons, the military, living in the depression, going to school without parents! Grandpa definitely can talk for a long time without having to repeat himself. I love my grandpa so very much. I only got one grandpa, and I was truly blessed with Grandpa Black.

I love coming home and talking to my dad. Although he is always busy with either church or work, he seems to make some time just for me. I can talk to him forever, telling him all my upcoming plans and ideas. He just listens, giving advice here and there, encouraging me to continue. He always made sure we had everything we needed, and much more. In school it was my dad that drew out blue prints, and brought home building materials to help make our projects. Some of the best included Sis. Black's replica of the Globe Theater and Rocky's fully working guillotine. I love love LOVE that he designed my room. I love how he made it just for me and Sis. Black. I love my dad so much. We are spending Father's Day at the beach, in sunny California. His presents were wrapped in tool ads, created by yours truly.

I am so thankful to have a dad and grandpa that care so much about me.

I am truly a very lucky girl.

"I need my baby soup!"

I got a call today informing me that the Johnson's were at the doctors and leaving to take Sophie to the hospital. So they dropped Chloe off with me, and we had quite a day. First we visited the grandparents. Then we played in the little pool, without a baby soup! [bathing suit] But due to us BOTH being scared to death of bugs, we had to come inside quickly. It was then nap time. Nap time is fun with just Chloe, I don't have to be so strict with what we do. While she was sleeping I was in the kitchen cleaning up. After about an hour, I opened the door so she wouldn't sleep to long, it was kinda a late nap. I turned around and she was standing there staring at me. I about jumped out of my skin! I was like, "Chloe!! You scared me!!" She said, "I did NOT scare you!" Together we made koolaid. She drank a full cup. Then later, threw it up on the couch. After impromptu showers, we played with barbies. She was so focused. She stayed there and just played by herself so well. I went in, to see her kneeling and trying to put shoes on. I said, "Chloe the pizza is here, do you want some?" And like a teenaged boy, she threw her toys to the side and yelled, "Dinner's ready!" and ran out of the room. Her daddy came to pick her up and let us know that Sophie will be staying in the hospital. Poor little sick girls. Get well soon!!!

Simple Sunday.

What I love about my Sunday.....

Listening to church music on the way to church. 3 hours of peaceful thoughts. Coming home, when my favorite Mindy Gledhill song plays. Family talks about our lessons and different members. My mom sick on the couch, giving instructions to Rocky on how to make dinner. Doing a fast clean-up when the Home Teachers call to say they are on their way. Mom and Dad talking about Sister Black for 30 minutes straight. Watching the 8 hour long Pride and Prejudice. My dad asking questions every 5 seconds, me yelling "just watch!" Making cookies because my stomach hurts. Mostly just laying next to my mom, and falling asleep.

I am thankful for Sunday.

Night VBall

Volleyball is better when....

the lights are turned off!

My day today, lets see.... I went to lunch with my mom and had an awful discovery on life. We went to Paradise Bakery. And I ordered a Roast Beef sandwich with a Cesar salad. So when I took a bite of my sandwich, I was shocked that my entire mouth was burning. I grabbed a napkin, and SERIOUSLY considered to spit it out, but instead I swallowed it and wiped my tongue clean of the nastiness. My mom, watching me pick apart my sandwich, smelling each part, told me "it is horse radish". I decided I hate horse radish, a lot. For dinner I went to the Cobfather to get my family fish, gross. In result I had a massive headache and the car sinks of fish.

Then vball, which was totally fun and totally worth inviting everyone. Dingman had what Meigen called "the Jesus hand". He is like huge and just would stick his hand up and the ball would go hurling to the other side. Ben just yelled at me every time the ball was missed, even when it wasn't close to me. Gabe kept hitting it with his head, and Megien just yelled "my life" when the ball came close to her. The lights finally just all turned off and we ended up in the dark playing boys against girls.

Lazy DEATH river

Beware,

it only looks calm.

Salt River Tubing. So much fun in 4 hours of just floating down stream. We laughed, I screamed and death was almost upon us. Live action. I was in the bushes more than I would have liked. Luckily Gabe was next to me to help. He pulled the icky leaves off me and had a death grip with me as we went through the rocky parts. What a pal he is. I am pretty tired. Lots of sun today, and I think to little of drinking water. It was a great day activity. I am not pure white anymore. I am white with a shade of red. I love those Sanchez boys. Ben has such an attitude and Gabe is so easy and goes with the flow. Happy 18th boys!