Yup...I'm "That" Girl

I was getting ready to head out to St. George for the weekend and had just finished packing up my car. I had half a tank of gas, so I decided to stop at the Speedee Mart down the street to top off before I left. So, I got out, started the pump, and headed inside to get water and snacks. After selecting my favorite water I was parusing the aisles deciding what I wanted. The guy behind the counter asked if I needed help (clearly I didn't), but he headed over to chat it up anyway. After chatting and paying for my purchases, I headed outside, got in my car, and fired it up. I love road trips! As I was pulling away from the pump I heard a "POP!" So I looked in my rearview mirror and saw...the gas hose, detached, lying in the middle of the pump area. Ah, crap. That was me, wasn't it? I'm that girl.

I got out of the car, assessed the damage to my car (which was none), and put my gas cap back on. I hesitated for a split second on what I was supposed to do next, then parked my car and headed into the store. I walked up to the guy who had been chatting with me earlier and said, "I'm that girl." He looked back, puzzled for a moment, so I repeated myself, "I'm that girl. I forgot I was still pumping gas." So we walked outside and I led him to the sad, detached hose, lying rejected on the pavement. As I stood apologizing, he jokingly asked for my insurance card, which I would have given him! Apparently they make those hoses detachable - clearly for women! So he tried to reconnect the hose and we made jokes. It kept leaking gas onto his little towel, so I told him he probably shouldn't light a match anytime soon. Then he wiped his hands off on his gas towel, stretched forth his hand to me, shook my hand with his gas hand, asked me my name, I told him, and he said "I thought I'd at least get your name out of this." To which I replied, "Sorry about your hose." Ohhh....awkward.

The Boys are Back in Town!

No the boys don't come home every weekend! Who told you that? Oh, she did? Ok then, yes the boys come home quite often but we loooove when they're here! They decided to venture down Valentine's weekend bc it was a long weekend for them. They brought their friends Susie and Laci, whom we just adore and have so much fun with. It was a fun weekend, even if I didn't get to go dirt biking because I had to take care of some wedding business stuff. It's all good. Sometimes it's nice to have those weekends where you just get stuff done.

So, we might have gotten a little carried away with our new cameras and started playing with the settings. Soooo funny! Well, it was to us anyway. I love how Mark looks c-razy in this picture and Laci looks like she's secretly plotting to kill him.

Put those tentacles in! haha - if only Mom had gotten the phrase right.

The hulk - in the flesh. I'm actually really sad Susie was at her brother's when we were doing all of this because I'm pretty sure she would have had some great pics!

I know right? We're super GQ and in thought in this picture. Sorry we cropped you out Laci! It adds an artistic touch though, n'est pas?

So hot!!! Easy with the breathing there Mark.

I have no idea what Michael and I were doing, but we're freezing in this one.

Anyway, enough of the pictures. So, I'll tell you what's been going on lately. I've actually had a lot of great referrals from friends for the floral business and it's really picking up. Wedding season is going to be a lot of fun this year, and I've been getting some really great brides.

I'm loving my calling and getting to know the girls in the ward a lot better. Of course I have the guilt that I could be doing more, and I really could be. I've got a great presidency though, and we're trying our best. It's a hard calling! I'm grateful I'm doing it right now though, and not in a family ward. They have sooo much more to deal with. Anyway, so the calling has been going well and my main goal is that I can sacrifice more of my time for the girls.

Mitchel has been on his mission since December and I miss him soo much! He's doing great out there and they've already got a baptism, but man I miss the kid! I guess I didn't realize how many inside jokes the 2 of us had until he was gone. Oh well, he'll be back soon enough! In the meantime I guess Mark and Mike will have to do. ;) Just kidding. I love all of my brothers equally.

Ok, Dad and I have been riding dirt bikes a little bit more and I have to be honest...I rock! I've been trying to do little jumps, though my timing is a little off, I looove to speed over the flat lake beds in 5th gear, and Dad has even taken me on some trails. We went in this really loose, sandy stuff and we didn't have enough speed, so I fell. It was so funny to me though bc as I was laying the bike down I straight ostriched it into the sand. Good thing I had that helmet on! It stopped me from really faceplanting. After that Dad took me up into the hills and I rocked it climbing up there, but then on the way down I somehow went of the trail and into some rocks, so I tried getting back down onto the trail, knowing I had to face a little 2 ft cliff, and totally ate it over the cliff. Ooops! I only had a few little bruises, and in my fit of adrenaline totally hoisted up the 250lb bike, which I normally can never lift. OooOOOh! I'm so strong!

Anywho, life is good and things are fantastic. I'm just busy, busy, busy!

Birthdays!

So...even though my life is pretty fun-filled and crazy lately, I'm trying desperately to maintain my blog so as not to lose even more of my faithful readers! We had a lot of fun the past few months. Jonas and Renee were in town, so we celebrated his 2nd birthday a little early (he'll never know), and Dad's birthday a little late (he's used to it).

We also surprised our new Ruth and had a little party for her birthday. It was a blasty blast getting together with the fam and celebrating good times.

Just Helping a Brother Out

So, we all know that I'm the best sister anyone could ask for, right? Right. Well, just to prove that, I told Mitchel I'd take care of his dirt bike while he was gone on his mission. I'm pretty sure I'm doing a darn good job of it too! The boys were home for the long weekend...or a regular weekend...we lost count. So we all headed out to go dirt biking for my dad's birthday. I have realized over the past few weeks that my dad is officially 51 going on 15. I don't know how I never really accepted this before. I swear the older he gets, the younger he stays! He was poppin wheelies, taking jumps, and showing the boys up every chance he could get. I'm such a lucky girl to have such a cool dad, and such a cool mom for letting him have his toys! Seriously. He cracks me up. He LOVES to go dirt biking on the weekends, and I'm so sad that Mitchel isn't here to go with him anymore, especially because of my crazy schedule. Don't worry though, I've stepped up and am having a blast!

I "let" the boys show me how to ride again, since it's been ages since I was even on a dirt bike. I guess Mark did ok. I think it was his magic bike boots over the jeans and the pushed out belly that did it. So hot, right? Don't worry, he's single....ladies.

I mostly just watched the boys all ride the first day so I could get the hang of it again. I didn't want to embarrass them with my skills, so I only went up to 3rd gear, and stayed on all the smooth stuff. I mean, we know guys and their egos, right?

Well, never fear. Once the boys went home, Dad and I went out again a couple of weekends later with just the two of us and I tore it up! I was in 5th gear practically all day, I took some little baby jumps, and Dad took me on a little trail with whoop-di-do things on it. My turning radius is still a little rusty, but I'm not gonna lie...I'm pretty good. I'm getting more and more comfortable on the bike, and I don't know what's the matter with me, but I have this lifelong competition with myself to be able to keep up with the boys, so I really wanted to try the jumps and the harder stuff. I'm so retarded! Knock on wood, but I haven't fallen yet. I also haven't tried anything really intense yet either, so I'm sure I'll have injury pics to show soon. Anyway, besides the fact that the bones in my butt felt like they had come through my skin for the rest of the week, I had sooo much fun and I'm really excited to get out there more and be able to keep up with the boys.

"Bret-ni" Favero

My beautiful cousin, Britni, and her fantastic fiance Bret got married on Jan. 10th, and it was the most perfect day! The weather was great, the sealing was beautiful, the reception was classy, and the company was loads of fun! It was seriously such a great day, and I'm so happy for the cute new couple.


My cousin Christopher came all the way down from Vancouver, BC for the wedding and it was great seeing him after a few years. Here's the Meyer fam, apparently slightly distracted, but all there nonetheless. They were, of course, minus Greg and Tasha physically, but not in their hearts. It was Tasha's birthday the day before the wedding so she was definitely present in all of our hearts and minds and we know she was so happily watching over her little sister.

Brit's little sister, and my sassy cousin, Stephanie showcasing her wonderful bouquet so beautifully! Oh...she wasn't? Ok...just showing us her lovely face while we waited for the new couple to come outside.

Aunt Wendy, waiting patiently. We try to keep the redheads together so that we can bond in strength and unity. With our powers combined....what? Oh, sorry. Wendy is "The Best Aunt in the Whole Wide World"...just ask her!

Ok, so Michael had my camera while I was bustling around touching up and pinning on flowers, and he snapped this one of me. Can we say creepy? Where are my eyes?? I guess now is as good a time to tell you as any...I'm a ghost. We've all been predicting it for years, what with the pale skin and all. Well, now the secrets out. Thanks a lot Mikey!

Oh, and yes I did do the flowers for her wedding. It was a lot of fun and a lot of work because I got to use stephanotis for the first time in a wedding. They're the cute little white ones. They're so fragrant and dainty. I just love them! Ok, sorry for the nerd-out. I'm done now. You should go check out more pics of her wedding through the "Sassy Stems" link though.

Teaser

I bet you all thought I was going to do a real post, huh? Got ya! I'm hoping to do one this weekend, but for now I just had to let you all know that I have moved my Sassy Stems website to a new location, and added the post for my beautiful cousin Britni's wedding. I'm pretty sure you all need to go and check it out!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Alright, I'm jumping on the bandwagon of long, picture-loaded Christmas posts! I'm trying to catch up on my blogging here people! Come on, give me a break. This season is always so full of shenanigans that a long post is necessary!


Ok, first and foremost my beautiful little cousin Britni is getting married to her missionary and Prince Charming, Bret. They are soooo cute together and I'm so excited for them!


Brit with the aunts at the Bridal Shower in a sea of roses. (Wendy, Sonya, Brit, Tonya (the proud mommy), and Tammy (my mommy)


Don't worry that it totally snowed in Vegas! Twice in one week and it was awesome! I loved every second of it. It really did stick, it caused a mess at the airports and they CLOSED the airport! They called a SNOW DAY for the schools and there was literally only like an inch or so on the ground. Everyone's front yards had at least one leafy snowman and absolutely no more snow on the ground. Oh Vegas, you're so crazy. There were so many car accidents bc people here are MORONS when it comes to any sort of weather on the roads. It kills me. Oh well, I still love any sort of snow here.


My favorite part of when it snows here are the piles of snow on the palm trees. So ironic and so beautiful. Sigh. I love Winter. I wish it would have stayed for Christmas, but it's stay was short.

One of the many traditions we have Christmas Eve night is the Tommy Wright game. Dad reads a story and we pass wrapped, dollar store presents around the circle. It's pretty amazing, and we actually found an extended version of the story online this year, so we didn't all chime in for the whole thing. We actually didn't know every left and right!

So, after we open all the inexpensive and hugely entertaining presents, we get to play with and model them before we get on to the rest of the festivities. Mom got a streamer thingy like in the olympics, so she was demonstrating her floor routine. Such grace!

Mandy, Ruth, and Jessica modeling their fantastic new face accessories. So hot!

Mark just trying to catch some fish. No, Melinda was not anchoring them for him!

Renee's rockin' hat and Jonas borrowing Jessica's new specs. Doesn't he looks so smart? He takes after his dad.
The next tradition is our famous leg wrestling tournament. Jonas was so anxious to get in on the action that he tried to wrestle everyone. He's starting young!

Once again, Dad took home the belt for the Heavy Weight Division, and Stephanie conquered over the boys in the Junior Division. I'm not even going to tell you how much it bruises all of their egos to lose to a girl. What can we say? She's good! And it's sooo entertaining watching them get frustrated and lose and try over and over. haha!

The Brandley Fam in our new Christmas jammies. Finally all together...except for our last Missionary. Renee thinks that if she stays pregnant every year they have Christmas with us that she won't have to participate, and get beat, in leg wrestling. Wuss.

The Wilcox Fam minus one missionary and plus one Mandy. Good work Tye!

The Meyer Fam minus Christopher and Tasha, but plus one new pupply, Gonchie, and one fiance, Bret. We're excited for him to join our crazy family.

And my New Year's, you ask? Pretty low key. Just the way I like it. I spent the first few hours playing Bunko with my best friend and her fam, and lit giant sparklers to celebrate East Coast New Year at 9. Then on to my friends Missy and Megan's house for a little Texas Hold 'Em, which I clearly lost at, and then a mad dash truck race to the Suncoast to watch the fireworks from the roof of the garage. We barely made it, the fireworks were too low to really see this year, and it was a teensy bit freezing, but sooo fun! I love these crazy kids!