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.

It's been real.

I don't mean to this to be a cheesy post, but it might turn out as such.

This last week I have been in Wisconsin, visiting my family. I don't want to leave! It has been so much fun and I got to see some old friends and my brother got home from the Army so I got to hang out with him too. I also went to my brothers baseball games, which took place at my old high school. It just all took me back. It took me back to the days of skipping school to go get frosty's...or really anything at all, with Gina and hanging out in david and david's basements..while they drank and I sat there strictly for the company. I miss the life here so much. It was so nice to go out on a walk and not hear a single car on the road because the roads aren't busy, it's so calm and I miss the big yards and the green trees and green grass all over the place. I miss being surrounded by people that are so genuine. There is nothing better than going somewhere where people want to see you. Where when people find out you're in town, you feel kinda popular and well liked. I miss being the innocent mormon girl that people watch their language around, I miss being an example to people and not being the same as everyone else. Oh and when you're here, you don't even bother doing your hair after you shower, cuz the humidity will do what it wants with it anyway and you can hang out in a t-shirt and people have no idea if you're pants cost $20 or $100 because it simply doesn't matter. It feels so good to be here, living this oddly quiet life and I am so sad to have to step back into the fast pace life I live. Where I have a routine and eat the same foods and have to go to the gym because I can't just take my dogs on walks 3 times a day. But even though my life isn't the simple one and it exhausts me sometimes, I have to say it's a dang good one and I am very grateful for that.

word to my mother

Hey Mom. Happy Mother's Day. I love you. Your present is on it's way....with me next Tuesday!!!

In other news-

Kaitlyn and I made our first music video debut. Check it out, tell us the cold hard truth of what you think (positive comments only).

Meet Mason

In recent years I have had countless pets. I blame my attachment issues on the amount of pets that have come in and out of my life, since I was just a mere child. Let me remind you that none of my pets have died, they just have been simply and sadly aborted out of my life.

We had Willy, Cosmo, Zorro, Duke, Sammy, and Amelia....just to name a few. I think Teddy is the only one that has left my life not by someone saying they simply no longer wanted him in their life. Oh the sacrifices I have made and the tears I have shed. I blame my tear ducts being dried up on the amount of pets that have left my life as well.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I am here to announce the arrival of Mason Clydesdale I.

Recently a dear friend was taken from mine and Kaitlyn's lives alike. So we decided that we wouldn't replace that good little fella but we would simply fill in the gaps that have been left emptier than the inside of a turkey on Thanksgiving. We began with a venture to Petsmart, we paced the store trying to find the perfect little critter. I fell madly in love with the Golden Retriever but I had a feeling that maybe I will save that surprise for my husband in the years to come. Something was telling me that Petsmart was not the place for us to be. I suggested one of my personal favorites, Animal Ark. I had such extreme luck with the former rodent that I thought we should give it another shot. We walked in and I saw that light. On the ground, inside a cage, ready to go, were two little guys. With a sign saying "two male guinea pigs and cage $59.99". It was no coincidence. Kaitlyn and I took no time to get them out of their cages and call them our own. Without hesitating for a second, I picked up that sweet, mohawked, red-eyed, thing and cuddled him in my arms. I will call him Mason.

So, there is only one thing left to say...Welcome home Mason and Sylvester! Welcome home!

Really

is it weird to be dating someone, break it off, not talk once after it is over, then two weeks later open your facebook inbox to them sending you this:

Reason, Season, and Lifetime..

People always come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do...
When someone is in your life for a REASON,
it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.
They have come to assist you through a difficulty,or to provide you with guidance and support,to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be....
Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time,this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end....
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they just walk away.
Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on....
When people come into your life for a SEASON,it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall, the season eventually ends....
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway);and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.
Thank you for being part of my life.

Boys. I can't get them to just forget about me.