I just can't hide it

I am so excited for this week for two reasons.

Reason numero uno:

Lover boy will be here in approximately 4 days and 16 1/2 hours (enter ecstatic dance)

Reason numero dos:

Gina B (soon to be P) will be sealed for time and all eternity on Saturday. It is going to be glorious. I am very happy for Gina and I will post all about it after the wedding.

I just really needed to share my excitement on both of these topics.

Megnic

It's my best sister's birthday today. She is freakin old. 24 years ago she graced this earth with her presence and ever since, the world has been nothing but a party.

Yes, we did spend the first 16 years of my life (so years 4-20 for her), trying to destroy the others very essence. But somehow, we ended up where we are now....living together by choice. My sis is my best friend. She knows me upside down and inside out. I'm sure she spends a lot of her time rolling her eyes at me and my life's random/so weird dramas (it's quite the infamous eye roll too...). But she sure listens to what I have to say and she is always there to back me up.

There is no other person on this planet that I connect with more than Meg. We are 100% total and complete opposites in every aspect of our lives. But you put us in a room together and it is sheer chaos. Megan is absolutely hilarious and when it comes to the two of us we share a sense of humor that no other human being can even begin to grasp.

Megan and I go way back so the memories are endless. I remember the day I was born and she told me that on my 21st birthday she would give me a million dollars.....can't wait Meg! But really, we share a bond that is stronger and more deep than I ever thought possible. She is my best friend before she is my sister.

I love my sis so much and I would not be able to survive this life without her.

Happy birthday Meggie!!!

Go shorty, it's your birthday.

Tomorrow is my mothers 17th, 30th birthday.

There is one word to describe my mother and that is FABULOUS. I love my mom so much. I know I can call her and talk to her about anything and she pays attention to what I have to say. I always hated it when I was a teenager and she would say things like "I've been there too". It drove me absolutely crazy. But now I have come to realize that she really has been there, and back, and there again, and back again...and she knows exactly what she's talking about (except for the whole "eating the crust on bread makes your teeth stronger" thing...I doubt it).My mom has raised each and every one of her six kids to be strong in the gospel and to set good examples to those around us. And she has done it succesfully! I hope she realizes what an accomplishment that is. It seems like she knew what she was doing from day one and she always knew the right punishment for each kid. I cannot wait for the day when I can use the phrase "peace or force"...that means you can do what she asks peacefully or she can force you to do it :).

I love my mother. She has been such an example to me and is someone I can tell everything to and she gets it. Even when it's something like "Hey mom...I'm flying across the country...to meet a boy". I hope that I can be half of the mother that she has been for me. She always knows what to say and she can remain calm under any situation. I am sure she questioned her sanity at times...like when she pulls into the driveway to see snowmen on the roof...holes in the wall from rollerblades being thrown...a stray cat in the closet... There were days when I thought our family wouldn't make it but somehow she got us through each and every one of lifes HUGE and small trials. I don't know how she did it.



I look up to my mom more than she will ever know. I hope that I can be a mom just like her. She has such a strong testimony of the gospel and in all of my 20 years I have never had to question the church because I could see it's truthfulness through my mom and her example. I hope I can have 1/8th of her patience and love, for my kids, that she has had for each one of us.

Mom, I'm sorry I wasn't an easy kid to raise and that I spent more of my childhood throwing tantrums and screaming at my brothers than anything. Thank you so much for always being there with a warm chocolate chip cookie and words of wisdom. I love you so much.

Happy Birthday!

Almost Fine

I just need to get this out and then I will be able to go on my merry way. And I'm sorry for how vague this is going to be. It's all part of the fun.

I had somebody beat my game. I have been playing a particular game for quite some time now. Some people make it as far as level three but nobody ever passes that. They lose for various reasons, typically reasons dealing with being over bearing, having no life, or desperation. But this person wasn't any of those. This person made it to level one right off the bat...they had my interest...then they made it to level two...they kept my interest. Level three is the hard one but they made it, they not only kept me interested but now I was just intrigued. Nobody has ever, ever made it this far into the game. And I have never wanted more than one person to get there.They had everything that a person trying to beat my game needs to have.

There was one thing they were lacking but with their response to the topic, they won. I had no plan on anyone ever truly beating my game. I had a few people that I would say..yeah if this and this change, they could maybe win. I had no intention of letting this person win. They were not supposed to win, and with their job, they couldn't win. But then something happened...a change in their life that meant that winning was a possibility. So, I did what I thought was the thing to do and I just freakin let them win. I got rid of the majority of my pride, let my guard down, and let this person beat every level of my stupid game. I started making plans and being optimistic about future both short term and long term. The realistic part of my brain toppled out the window.

Then that thing in their life that changed, suddenly switched back to how it was in the beginning. The thing that would prevent anyone from ever winning my game. I never thought it would be me. I was unbeatable...my game could not be won! I was indestructable and had a heart of steal. But now the plans I started thinking about need to be put on hold.

This is why I don't EVER make a plan, it's pointless. This is why I call myself a realist, because anything more positive than that can and will let me down. There are still options for the both of us, so I'm not calling it quits. I'm not giving up and I'll still hold on to hope. I'm not accepting defeat, but I can't stand the feeling that I might be losing.

Shananagan

Today is the third birthday of this sweet little girl.

I recall late summer of 2006, my mother and I frequented the pet store. It was to fill a void in my life after dear sammy had been, misplaced. I never really liked that yappy rat looking thing, she was much better as the neighbors dog than as our dog. Nonetheless, some things can and must be used to my full advantage.

My mom and I had fallen in love with a great dane. We named her Dorothy and she was to die for. But a great dane was slightly bigger than the type of dog my parents would appreciate living in our home. I then spotted a schnauzer, this is one of the breeds my dad loves, and seeing that his birthday was a week away I thought that having him come to the pet store he would fall in love with it and everything in the world would be good again. *Note: I have not forgotten about Maxwell, I was only thinking of him and the benefits of bringing home a friend to him.

After a lot of convincing and a secret converstion my parents had of "take her to the pet store, turn her down, and shut her up!" My father and I were on our way to (hopefully) come home with a schnauzer. The anticipation had me overwhelmed with excitment beyond the thrill of a child entering disneyland for the first time (Not that I know what that's like). We walked in and I went straight to the cage with little schnuaz. To my dismay my father rejected him in about .3 seconds but he curiously walked around scoping out all the other schnoodle-shi's and pomer-ador-tzu's that petland had.

I asked the khaki'd out employee if I could hold the schnauzer..since we both had been rejected and should spend time together in the play area. After I had managed to dry my eyes and accept defeat, I was not getting a puppy today, I stood up and said "where's my dad?" To which the employee replied "he's in there". I look over the edge, into play area #2, and there he is, playing with a yellow lab puppy. I stood in shock, do I laugh? Do I cry? Do I take the dog and run home before he changes his mind? I simply stepped into the pen and sat down and said "I love the name Annie" and his response "Yes, I was thinking Annabelle".

The drive home was a blast, we didn't tell my mother. We went home and she asked how it was and my dad said "fine, it's a pet store". She then walked into the kitchen, shut the basement door, to see me standing there holding Annabelle...her new best enemy.

Happy birthday Annabelle, Shanterbelle, Annerbelle, Bella, Shanana-banana, Belles, Annie! You've lasted second longest in the Christensen home! I will shred one of every pair of my shoes in your honor.

am I....aging?

I've been noticing the weirdest thing ever lately. I feel like a grown up. Maybe it's that I watch Luke so all of the sudden I feel like a mother..I don't know but it's freaky. When I went home to Wisconsin my friend Rachel even told me I looked older. K, like how much older? Because I feel 45.

So I was kind of forced against my will to buy a car last week, I knew I needed a new one at some point but not right this minute. But whatever, so I buy this car. Forcefully became adult in about two hours. I had no IDEA I had so much OCD in me. I get these tendencies to be the person that parks away from all the other cars, so that no one can scratch it. Seriously? And that thing is spotless and to remain spotless forever. There is not one thing out of place and if there is I almost hyperventilate. I am slowly becoming OCD about more than just my car. As of late, all I want to do is clean, organize, work, walk, sleep, and repeat. It's so weird. I have this itch to constantly be doing something worthwhile and I feel empty and lost if I'm just sitting around. I have got to be losing my mind entirely.

So, Kait and I have been house sitting for some friends of their family (I guess I have been sleeping in their bed for two weeks so I might be close to being a friend of theirs, as well). Anyway, this is what I did this morning (besides dishes, laundry, and clean) and I must say I am proud.

Before:

And After...

This is really is the life.

surprise.....not

This morning I wrote this blog. I was going to post pictures underneath every paragraph and have it be all pretty and fun. I was going to do that when I got home from work.....

I am sooo out of ideas on what to blog about. Nothing eventful is going on at all.

Like I could talk about Walter the great dane that Kaitlyn and I have been watching this last week and my undying love for him and how great of a dog he is. And how cute he is when he sees his little friends next door and how I am pretty sure they are only friends with him because together the three of them might be able to take out the mastiff across the street. Dogs are capable of that kind of conformity, but talking about Walter might make those (imagine me cringing).....non dog lovers....a little uncomfortable.

Or I could talk about the amazing nights rest I get every night staying at the Stotts. Their bed is actually heaven. I have better dreams because of this bed and I am pretty sure I wake up prettier than when I went to bed. But, I can't go into too much detail about this because everyone will suddenly want to come sleep in the bed. And hi, we aren't married people so...yeah nope.

I also could discuss my adorable nephews and how much fun they are. Seriously, these three little boys are the cutest little guys ever. And I cannot believe how big they are getting! Like Caden is already three. That's like a small man, no longer a baby. But, if I discuss them then nobody else will have kids because they know that their offspring won't be near as cute. Maybe I could just talk about my whole family in general...but that would cause serious problems if people are already doubting starting a family because there is no comparison to mine.

Talking about the church is another idea. I could seriously ramble on and on about the church. Kaitlyn, Heather, and I went to temple square about two weeks ago and it was so great. I would say the garden on top of the conference center (I sadly didn't know existed) was close to the coolest part. Or the tear jerking walk-through-the-house family video. I actually learned a lot when we went there, it was so cool! However, I would hate to make people envious of my knowledge of church history...so scratch that idea.

(this part is funny)
I could discuss the new car I would like to buy. But that raises millions of questions about can I afford one/people telling me which car is better than which. And I would hate for people to think that me wanting the exact same car I have only a newer version...makes me boring and predictable. And then people might throw in names and then tears will be shed when I tell them no, no, I have a name for him already.

Another topic of discussion could be how sad my life is now that my army text bff that my brother introduced me to is training til the tenth and I feel like my social life is now 1/4 of what it was. I don't know which is more sad...he is the only person that talks to me or that I have to use my brother for friends or that I call our text conversations my social life.

I could go on and on about the massive amounts of people getting engaged and how hot tamales have been my main source of nutrition as of late or Brittan teaching me about pandora radio or how badly I want to go volunteer abroad. Or I guess I could talk about my five year plan that I recently thought up. But, until I think of just the perfect thing you guys will have to sit in anticipation while I remain mute.

I hope you paid close attention. I never did get to go home and finish my cute blog. I never did get to go home. period.

I happily was driving and noticed that Lewis started making an unusual, yet familiar, sound. I called up Ken Garff Nissan and said I just need to bring by my car to have him looked at. One minute later I hear....
pdpdpdpdpdpdpdpdpdpdpd PDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPDPD!!!!!!!!!! brrrrrruckprrrrrrrrrrrrrPRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPPPPPRRRRRRRRRRRfjadskhlfaswkjl.
uhehem. uheeeeehem.

Megan to the rescue, as usual.
It wasn't that he was out of gas, his spirit had left him. He breathed his last breath. Well, I was at a loss. I had to buy Lewey II. He is a decade younger and a nice shade of gold. I'll let you know more about him later because my brain is mush and tired and super stoked for another day beginning at 4am.