because it would be un-american to not do a thanksgiving post

i feel somewhat obligated to do a thanksgiving post,

but mainly i would also feel like a selfish turd if i didn't do a quick list of what i'm thankful for.

i apologize only slightly for the sappiness that is below.

1. experiencing a new culture

it has been such an eye-opening journey to live in a foreign country.

i've done my fair share of moving around throughout my life

but living in a foreign country is an entirely new experience.

2. introspection

i didn't come to russia expecting to do all sorts of self-reflection.

but being here is exactly what i've needed to figure out life, what i believe, and where i stand.

3. skype

because then i can still see people's faces even when they are 5,000+ miles away.

4. great friends

i know so many wonderful people that have influenced my life in so many positive ways.

5. family saved the best for last

i couldn't even think of a proper adjective to put in front of the word family that would adequately sum up how i feel about my family.

i'll break it down in order to try to explain things properly.

dad: one of the hardest workers i know.

i feel like he is always going to school to get more degrees.

and i can't even finish one.

he would seriously go anywhere and do anything to make sure that we are provided for.

he has taught me so much about communication and healthy relationships and all sorts of really important shiz like that.

mom: as cliche as this may sound, she is one of my best friends.

and sadly, i haven't always been able to say that. 

sorry about those devil years of mine mom. oops.

but living at home this past semester was a lot of fun.

she is one of the most kind and charitable people i know and doesn't have a mean bone in her body.

plus she is tiny and adorable.

kels, jord, and bost: sorry guys, i decided to clump you guys all together.

your little family is just the cutest.

i aspire to someday be just like you guys.

bost, you are the cutest little chubbers and you're still my number one.

you have no idea how happy it makes me when you blow me kisses on skype.

and i can't wait to kiss your chubby little face soon!

jord, thank you for treating my sister so well.

i seriously could not have asked for a better brother in law.

i'm glad that we are actual friends.

kels, i don't know what i'd do without you.

like f'reals. you are always there for me to talk to.

you are such a wonderful mom and wife.

someday i will be cute and domestic and all of that like you.

but maybe not quite as tiny. curse you woman. curse you.

thanks to both of you for supporting me in everything.

tanner: such a solid kid.

someday i will be as righteous as him. he is seriously good to his core.

he is one of the most positive and compassionate people i know.

people are drawn to him because of his positivity and also hilariousness.

he seriously cracks me up.

he is one of my greatest examples.

whitty bit: a really fly gurrrl.

and also super solid.

we finally became friends recently.

i mean, we've always been friends. but we became real friends this past little bit.

she is so much fun. i don't think she realizes how fly she is.

i sometimes forget that she is my little sister, i usually just treat her like one of my friends.

she is also hilarious.

actually, know that we mention it, the whole fam damily is pretty funny i think.

maybe more on the slightly special side, but we'll just go with funny.

and also.

i don't know how i ended up with so many solid siblings.

probably the solid parents. i guess that would equate properly.

anyways, i love you guys.

and i'll stop now.

and since i'm in a black and white mood, here you go folks, here you go.

holla.

we are family, get up everybody and sing

before they headed off to belgium, the mac fam came to play.
it was so much fun to play with them and love on that cute little boston boy.

i'll tell you what.

i love my family.

ps. only THREE days until i'm in st. petersburg!
ready or not, here i come.

holla.

rexburg weekend

whit and i decided to roadtrip it to rexburg for 

easter weekend to spend some time with the mac family.

and i'll tell you what, i sure do love this family.

they are just the best.

and plus this guy is my favorite little man ever.

i could smoosh on those cheeks all day long.

now you want to smoosh=smooch+squish him too.

holla.

ps. check this blog out if you haven't already. i happen to love it!

goodbye 2011

the last week of 2011 was filled with lots of reunions with my most very favorite people.

so here's a whole slew of pictures from some of my most very favorite times with said people.

#1 kailey taylor and i roadtripped it with some other friends for ellyses wedding,
and we had a happy reunion in the wal-mart parking lot.

#2 once we had arrived in st. george we had all sorts of fun.

ellyse looked absolutely beautiful and i am so excited for her and shane.  

rachel wade!

 i have some really great people in my life :)

#3 i was also reunionized (made that word up cause i'm sick of using the same one) with the mcmurtrey family.

i love them so much!

especially that cute little boston boy. 

i could squeeze his chubby thighs and kiss his squooshy cheeks all day long. 

i love this sister of mine. and jord too.
ps. boston is not eating here, it just looks like it a little.

#4 my good friend chris came home from his mission! 

its been so great to see him again and catch up.

in the picture on the right we're re-enacting high school days

#5 jordan bready, kelsey's best friend came home from her mission in taiwan!

she is like my other older sister and it was great seeing her as well.

goodbye 2011!

thank you for all of the fond memories and fun adventures.

i'm excited to see what 2012 will hold for me.

woot woot here we go 2012.

holla.


also you should check out this blog. i love it lots.
plus i would love to win a blog makeover, cause i've been attempting to work on a new one and i'm at a loss for what to do.

being an aunt is the best.

so here are some more pictures of the cutest little guy ever.

i love my little nephew.

it was so hard to decide on which pictures to put up.

he is so precious in all of them.

my poor children will have to get used to a camera being constantly shoved in their faces.

my favorite little snuggling face.

the proud parents.

aunt sydney (totally the favorite aunt)

favorite. i love his little feet.

 well goodnight boston. 

i love you little guy. i wish you didn't live so far away.

holla.

dear kels: i will put the other ones up just as soon as i find the patience to figure out photoshop.

love you girl.

loves and loathes.

here are some things i have been loving the past few days.

and then some things that i am not loving as much.

(i know that loathe is a strong word, and maybe not entirely accurate for most of the below items.

but it's all i can think of. 

plus it sounds catchy.)

love #1: boston emery mcmurtrey.

seriously, i love being an aunt already.

boston is perfect and the most precious little guy ever.

i seriously am surprised by how much i love him already.

i can't even imagine what being a mother must feel like.

plus i love the snuggle time i'd get with this little man every morning while his parents went back to bed.

he is the only man i need in my life. f'real.

some snuggle time in the early morning.

loathe #1: the fact that he lives in idaho, and i will soon live in hawaii.

i'll be much too far away!

ps. more boston pictures to come soon!

love #2: exactly one month from today i will be on an airplane. headed to hawaii.

headed towards new adventures!

loathe #2: i still have close to no money saved for said adventures.

i am the worst at saving money. 

(sorry future husband)

love #3: spending my evenings with the lil' sis and her friend.

and taking pictures in the photo booth at the mall.

loathe #3: the fact that i have no social life.

but that's probably cause i've made no effort to even have one.

i'm socially lazy these days.

love #4: amaretto and maraschino cherry custard from frozen fusion.

new favorite thing.

loathe #4: how the heck am i supposed to get a good beach bod with yummy things like this?

curse delicious and fattening treats.

and double curse no self control.

loathe #5: the biggest loathe of all.
(and there is no love to go with this one).
being nauseous and sick all the days long.
seriously, what is with this?

holla.