28 things I learned in 2008

You see what I did there? I just took the 0's out of 2008 and got 28...clever huh? Well in true Angie fashion, I give you 28 things that I've learned this past year...

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1. Cheeseburgers are exponentially better than hamburgers.

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2. My supportive husband is one of my greatest blessings.

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3. Wearing scrubs every day surely is easier than real clothes, but makes you look and feel really not pretty almost every day, if not EVERY single day.

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4. Five yummy nephews in three months is AWESOME. Five you ask? Yes, meet Chase Collins Jones, born yesterday evening in Iowa.

And go ahead and be jealous of Natalie, who looks perfect after giving birth two hours prior to this picture.

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5. Target's dollar spot makes me spend several extra dollars at every visit. Good business plan Target.

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6. 80's themed New Year's Eve parties DO NOT disappoint (Oh how I wish there was one going on tonight).

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7. Sending parents on missions is way funner and easier than sending brothers. But I think my sister-in-laws will argue that.

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8. Taking over 200 pictures during the Christmas season is a fantastic idea. Just you wait for my next post...you'll see.

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9. When someone says I'm really mature for my age I'm fairly certain that they mean I'm really boring for my age (hard to believe people have said that, eh?)

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10. Working/playing every day with insanely fun girls is a hard thing to give up.

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11. School sucks and is hard, but it's only 15 months, and not being financially secure for the rest of our lives would be even harder and suckier.

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12. My hardworking and smart husband is among my favorite blessings.

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13. I can't take people/blogs seriously when they are bad at spelling and/or the use of homophones.

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14. The Office was funnier when there was less drama.

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15. Romping around in a swimming pool is far more fun than just sitting on the side. And goggles are always a good idea.

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16. Taylor Swift rocks my country music world.

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17. Crazy comments on the blog kind of make you feel like garbage, even if you try to ignore them.

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18. Mexico is not California, and never will be. Sorry Court family, we still had fun.

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19. My sisters are my best friends. I already knew that, but it is quite often reinforced.

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20. Filling up a car for $17 rocks.

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21. Staring at a two pound baby with my perfect husband's arm around me will indeed make me wish that we had kids like yesterday.

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22. Pencil skirts were not made for girls with good birthing hips.

Aka, me+this skirt=barf.

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23. Halloween is way funner when you have an awesome costume.

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24. Mr. Macintosh, or whoever invented the ipod, is brilliant, and I want to give him a high five.

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25. Having three ridiculously cute girly Sunbeams is basically the best calling you can have.

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26. Exercising once a week is a nice thought, but not a reality for me at this point.

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27. Wearing a shirt that requires an undershirt to Disneyland when it is a million degrees will make you sweat like a fat man.

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28. Blogging is still a colossal waste of time, but one that I enjoy quite a bit.

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Happy New Years Friends! See you in 2009...which just happens to be the year that I will finally graduate! Halle-freaking-lujah!

A little letter to the babies...

Dear Future Baby Philissas,

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I am one step closer to being ready for you to join our family. You see my little darlings, I sewed.

It was a small project, just aprons for my Sunbeams, but I did it by myself (after your sweet Grandma Jones showed me how on the first one). And they turned out to be very adorable. I now feel confident that I could construct pajamas, or a very simple Halloween costume...er, maybe just your trick-or-treating bag, or at the very least, another apron. Isn't sewing a prerequisite for being a mom though? I thought so. Hooray for us and our little future family! See you in a couple years!

. Love, Your Future Mom

. P.S. Your sweetheart Dad made dinner tonight without being asked, without any help, and without any reason...just because he's perfect. I think that he too is one step closer to being ready to meet you guys.

A little letter to myself...

Dear Future Mel,

Please remember to take off your heels before taking pictures with friends, in order to avoid looking like an Amazon woman. Thanks.

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Love, Amazon Mel

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P.S. You have really awesome and adorable friends and the annual girls party was my favorite thus far. Make sure that these girls all know how much you (I...er, we? this is getting a tad confusing) love hanging out with them! Holla girls! You are seriously the best ever!

Terrific!

Just fyi, I took my mock anesthesia boards yesterday...

And I was terrific. Don't you want me to give you shots now?

The sticker on my paper kind of made my life today, and isn't it crazy that at age 24 I still thrive on stickers and words like "terrific"? Seriously, such a relief to have that done...now on to real boards come March!

Happy two weeks off starting on Saturday! And holy crap...just one week until Christmas!

Music Review/Report & A Stocking Stuffer...

We are music people. Our ipod dock or iTunes is playing constantly, and we are open to almost anything (with the exception of me hating all that sounds angry). So, with the combination of people burning themselves out on Christmas music, the fact that I consider us to be music gurus, and of course, because you all trust my opinion so much, I've decided to do you all the favor of reviewing some of our recent purchases, and a recent discovery.

First up...

Cary Brothers - Who You Are

I have no idea when this album came out, it's been on our iTunes for a while, and I recently stumbled across it. And to put it simply, love at first listen. Totally chill but not so much that you want to fall asleep. Seriously, I could listen to it for hours (and currently am and have been) and I have yet to get sick of it. Download it now, and then thank me profusely.

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Next: Ben Folds - Way to Normal

I was very much anticipating the release of this cd (and yes, we still buy cd's, because we like the artwork, and it's nice to just pop in a cd when you don't have a car with a built in adapter...aka, both of our cars). Sadly, it wasn't quite what I expected. Philip is more okay with it than I, but I just think that it sounds more rant-ish than lyrical... and quite honestly, wasn't a huge fan. (Sorry Abbie and Jake, can we still be friends?) But yes, kind of a let down in my mind.

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And lastly,

Taylor Swift - Fearless

I'll be the first to admit, I LOVE country music. And even if you don't, you need to go purchase this cd RIGHT NOW. Honestly, it is a perfect follow up to her last album, which I also loved, and I listened to it for two weeks straight after it came out. I like that she sings innocent and age appropriate songs (and HOLLA to her for being only 18!) and I think that she is absolutely darling. Totally a girly cd to sing really loudly to, and let's be honest girls, who doesn't love to do that? Seriously, a girly must have of the season.

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Alright, so this isn't music...obviously, but I'm throwing out a shameless plug for my school. We are selling these bad boys for 40 bones.

They are stronger than the ones that you can buy at the store, and it comes with three weeks worth, which is also more than the kits at the store. And I'm pretty sure that if one person used all of the kit for the entire time, their teeth would be fluorescent white/clear, so it's perfect to share! And who doesn't want crazy white teeth for all sorts of holiday pictures and whatnot? So anyways, perfect stocking stuffer, and if you really want, I'll even wrap them for you. So yes yes, get on this and let me know soon (via e-mail or comment) so that you can get them by Christmas!

Happy 17 days until Christmas!

End of November...

I'm not going to lie, I'm a little sad that November is over, since it is by far my favorite month. Such a romantic month, wouldn't you say? Not like cheesy romantic like February, just a lovely month. So anyways, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving is seriously my favorite night of the year. It is a night that me and my sisters get together to make pie. And this year, we had a few extra guests... Yes yes, Chris and Beth and Sophie came for Thanksgiving this year, and of course this is the only picture that I got of all three of them, because I'm awesome. And I was kind of obsessed with this tiny girl, because honestly, have you seen anything cuter in your life? You should answer no.

So back to pie night. Generally the following things happen: we laugh our pants off (which can get a little uncomfortable), burn or ruin or drop a couple of pies, don't think quite as clearly as we should, make a mess at my mom's house, make a QT run, don't finish up or go home until WAAAAY too late, and think that we are pretty much the most hilarious people ever. No wonder I love this night huh?

Then I asked Chris to take a picture for me, and he took like 12. It was awesome. Sometimes (as evidenced below) Sara likes to be gay and thinks she's really funny for being so gay.

And even if we weren't looking, she'll continue to do that gay thing until she gets noticed and gets a laugh. Hence this picture. Then we try to take normal/cute pictures...

and again with our mom...

and then all uggo breaks loose, which apparently comes a little too easily to us.

Seriously, laugh my pants off. I love those girls. I usually come home and tell Philip the stories from them, and can barely get through them because I'm laughing so hard, and then he says something like, "Was it kinda like you had to be there?"

Don't you hate it when people say that? I want to punch them (people in general, not Philip so much) and say, "No, it's funny even if you weren't there. Idiot." Because I'm a sweetheart.

Anyhoo, Thanksgiving is truly a blessed day, and everything about it makes me happy.

Except maybe when Philip does retarded faces when I want a good picture, and then I get mad and end up looking equally or more retarded than he does.

Seriously though, Lindblom girls do Thanksgiving, and all meals, right. Never will you find more delicious food than than in their kitchens.

And lucky for me, they like us enough to continually feed us. I seriously love all of these girls to death (as well as the other three that weren't there).

We seriously ate until we wanted to die, and it was delightful.

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out with family and friends, and trying to make Sophie love me the most. Unfortunately that wasn't the case, but I'm pretty sure that Philip is still her favorite uncle. Especially after he made Sophie's baby do a sweet hip hop dance. To put it mildly, Philip made a lifeless doll dance better than me (not hard to be better than me, but seriously...a doll?)

So I stuck to previously conquered territory, and hung out with Oakley. And no I didn't beat him, that is dirt on his head, though I'm not sure how much better that is. Whatev, the kid loves me regardless. And more because she's so so SO stinkin' cute...

...and I only see her a couple times a year. And she looks good in hats.

Other than family stuff, I've made some decent progress on my Christmas shopping, and loved getting to wrap presents again! And in case you're wondering, no present is too big for wrapping paper...

Oh! And Hobby Lobby has wrapping paper again which basically made my life on Saturday. And as I was standing contemplating which I should buy and how much I could get away with/justify buying, a girl came up rather close to me, which made me rather uncomfortable, and whispered, "Just so you know, you're zipper is down." I immediately thanked her and took care of business, and purchased three rolls of wrapping paper to boost my spirits. Kind of an awesome ending to an awesome weekend.

Happy December guys.

Happy Birthday Indeed...

It truly was a lovely day,

and here are four dozen pretty things that made it absolutely lovely.

Thanks friends for all the warm wishes today!

Taggy McTag Face & Birthday Nonsense

Alright kids, here's the 4th picture in the 4th folder.

4 things about it:

1. It was on 4th of July right after we got married

2. The shirt that Philip was wearing now permanently smells like sunscreen, even fresh out of the washer, because he wears it to the beach.

3. Those pants I was wearing were my all time favorites, and I split the butt on them...sad face.

4. We have our morning/just woke up faces, and that makes me smile.

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In other news, is everyone so excited for my birthday? It is on Wednesday, in case you forgot to mark your calendars. So I've updated my list, and I thought I would share it with you all...

1. Still a dremel.

2. A tool belt, because I'm still a man

Size small, I would hope.

3. Bosch ice cream maker attachment

How awesome would that be? Bosch kind of rocks my world.

4. An empty recipe book

5. Still a pullover hoodie

6. Still two annual passes to Disneyland

7. A new faucet for my kitchen sink

I wouldn't mind something like this, as long as it pulls out to be a hose. Ours right now has no hose, and washing/rinsing large dishes is ridiculously frustrating.

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8. Sunday clothes, a never ending need.

I recently bought this dress, but I apparently didn't realize that when they say 39 1/2 inches long, they are big fat liars.

Aka, it was too short, story of my life. And even if it wasn't, it didn't look right on me. I looked like I was wearing a giant baby dress or something. Needless to say, I returned it quite promptly.

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9. Any shoes.

Well, not any shoes, I decided against both pair that I put on my last list, the black ones were almost too tall/hookerish, and even though I tried to get over all the holes in the front of the white ones, they still bothered me, and when I tried them on, my feet looked monstrous, and one would assume that I borrowed them from Shaq.

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10. One of those giant glass measuring cup/bowls from Pampered chef that has a lid.

I borrowed my mom's the other day and fell in love.

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11. And still a pony. Duh.

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Have a happy happy birthday week!

BABIES!!!

Sara had her babies tonight! And I have seriously never seen anything so precious and tiny in my entire life! I saw Sara first, and she told me that they were so so cute and tiny, then said, "They are seriously the size of Chipotle burritos."

Don't you like my sister? She's funny even after birthing burrito babies. Then Jason took us up to the NICU to see them, and I melted. I mean, we're talking tiny TINY boys. Like, feet that are smaller than the pad of my thumb, and biceps smaller than my pinkie. T-I-N-Y.

So here's the official stuff...

Baby A: Reese Melvin, and he weighs 2 lbs, 7 oz

Baby B: Nate Jeffrey, and he weighs 2 lbs, 2 oz.

See? I told you tiny.

Sara and Jason are both doing well, and we are all SOOOO happy for their cute little family!

Hospitals

So my family has been no strangers to hospitals lately. First we had Julia who gave birth to her tiny baby Sam on the 15th. Then, not even two weeks later, Philip's sister Tammie had a little boy named Benjamin! How stinkin' fun is it to have BFF cousins? And Benjamin has two adorable adoring big brothers, and if this isn't the cutest picture I've seen in my life, I don't know what is.

Then earlier this week, Philip's sister, Wendi, was in her attic and took a wrong step and consequently fell through the ceiling in the garage and smashed her heel into dust. Not joking, her heel bone was powder. Therefore, she had two surgeries this week, and will get to have another in a couple weeks. Poor thing was in so much pain though that she was on some crazy pain meds, so I didn't take a picture of her when we went to visit, just her enormously bandaged foot.

And last but not least, my sister Sara, who has not one, but two tiny babies growing inside her, has been admitted into the hospital until the baby boys are born. She says she's fine, but she is bored out of her mind, so I go down to be bored with her as much as possible.

And of course the first night we went down there, I wanted to snuggle up with her on her bed, because I have closeness issues and always want to be close to my favorite people, and hadn't seen her in like 3 whole days.

And Philip was once again Oakley's favorite uncle, and kept him entertained for a very long while. Now aren't they cute?

So if you need me in the next week or so, I'll be at the hospital, or at school, or studying/sleeping. Pretty sweet huh?

In all of this though, I have seen both my family and my in-laws totally pull together and take care of the girls in the hospital as well as their boys that are left without wives and moms for the time being. It seriously makes me count each and every one of them as my blessings, and know that I have truly, TRULY been blessed with the best family I could ever imagine. How lucky am I? Answer: RIDICULOUSLY LUCKY. Thanks fam, Jones and Lindblom, for being rad.

Have a fun and happy week friends!