disney characters.

A while back my sister did a blog on how everybody has an animal depending on their looks and overall personality (i.e. I'm a hamster).  My friends and I have started another phenomenon.  This one includes that everyone has a Disney character in which they inhibit similar physical and personality traits.  Here are the rules:

1. Your Disney character must be from an animated movie.

2. It must be Disney.  So as much as Brooke wants to be Anastasia, it's just not gonna happen.  

and 3. You cannot be offended by the character which the group chooses you to be.  So if your Jafar.......well.....ouch!

Over some time now my social group(s) have been combining forces to decide on final Disney character analyses.  Some you can see the resemblances plainly from just the photographs and pictures.  Others you have to know the person to fully understand why they are who was chosen for them.  Here they are! (at least what we have)! :

Me/Flounder

Mike/Russell from UP

Monkey/Remy

Mamie/Esmerelda

Stevie/Penny

Matt/Sebastian

Meghan/Meg

Jon/Robin Hood

Rory/Baby or Toddler Tarzan

Robyn/Wendy

Nate/Gaston

Kaylie/Dot

Laura/The White Rabbit

Katie/The Cheshire Cat

Josh/Timon

Hannah/Alice

Jessica/This dog from Lady and the Tramp

Brooke/Mrs. Potts

Bergen/Bimbette from Beauty and the Beast

Joey/Flik

Cate/Boo

Courtney/Lady

David/Toddler Simba

conversation.

A segment of conversation while talking to my 8 year old niece, Brooklyn, on the phone for my birthday:

Brooklyn: It was your birthday yesterday!
Me: I know!! I'm twenty-four! How old are you again?
Brooklyn: I'm eight.
Me: So then how old was I when you were born?
Brooklyn: Ok let me think about this. Hmm...so it would be...let me see....twenty-four take away eight would be....hmmm....I can't do this right now because I can't use my fingers because I'm holding the phone and some money.
Me: Oh ok. Well I was almost sixteen when you were born.
Brooklyn: Really? And how old are you now again?
Me: Twenty-four.
Brooklyn: (pause) Wow! You're really old up there. You must be in, like, middle school or something.

24 things.

In honor of my 24th birthday here are 24 things I am grateful for:

1.  The gospel of Jesus Christ.

2. My grandparents: Nana, Papa, and Neice (that's what we called my dad's mom).

3. My Mom and Dad.

4. My 3 brothers...Jamie, Scott, and Josh.

5. My 3 sisters...Robin, Anita, and Kiana.

6. My 6 nieces...Brooklyn, Abby, Parker, Lori, Macy, and Gracie

7. My 2 nephews...Ollie and The Don

8. All my best friends in the world (too many to list and fear I'll forget someone so if you're reading this know that you're included).

9. The scriptures.

10. Opportunity to have an education and gain knowledge.

11. Andi Fischer's cinnamon rolls.

12. The house I grew up in.

13. Piano.

14. The USA.

15. Pillows and blankets.

16. Roller-coasters and theme parks. Disneyland!!

17. Rain (but not snow). 

18. My friend Mike's impersonation of Celine Dion.

19. Eva Loo's laugh.

22. Movie theater popcorn. 

21. Being home alone every once in a while.

22. My two year mission in Phoenix and all the people there. 

23. That I lived in the Rigby Hall Dorms my freshman year of college and have the best friends possible from there: Matt, Mike, Jon, Josh, Rory, David, and Monkey.

24. Guacamole!!!

belle.

In December of 2007, two of my best friends (Monkey and Mamie) got married.

Then the next November they had this:

This is Belle. Belle is one of my best friends up here. Despite my own nieces (of course), she is the cutest little girl ever. I have been begging her parents that when the time was finally right and they felt comfortable, to let me babysit while they go out and do something without having to pack her up. FINALLY! FINALLY THEY AGREED! This recent Saturday morning they went to the Temple and lunch and I got to watch Belle. She is the best little girl ever. She didn't cry from missing mommy or daddy. She didn't mind me feeding her. And she didn't poop!! Thank goodness. We went on lots of adventures together (but Shhh...don't tell her parents):

First we went to visit Tom Hanks on that lonely island. Belle thought he needed some friends.

Then we hit up Jurassic Park...despite the scariness of the situation, Belle thought it was fun!

Then we tried the Black Pearl and the Pirates weren't too amused by our visit.

So we ended up with Nemo and friends, and Belle felt right at home!

guacamole.

I have discovered guacamole! My mom will probably be the first to admit this, even before me, but I am a very picky eater. If i don't like...then I DON'T like it. I'm stubborn when it comes to gross food (at least what's gross to me). Of course, there are those times when you have to be polite and eat whats given to you (i.e. mission...), but other than that, I am very stubborn when it comes to food.

But every so often, my taste bud barriers collapse, and I discover that maybe I have been missing out on something big. Something HUGE! In the past there have been many food obstacles I have overcome: pineapples, corndogs, moms taco soup, spaghetti, cornbread, the ends of bananas, moving from happy meals to the adult menu, angel food cake, and even bread crust. But no more talking about that. I'm talking about guacamole!

IT IS SO GOOD!

I let my stubbornness stand aside the other day and tried it. My whole life I thought guacamole looked disgusting. The green mixed with chunky stuff and the sound of gooey avocado's just made me cringe. But my friend April Theis made her very special home made guacamole so I HAD to try it...and man, what have I been missing! The taste: sublime. The texture: splendidness. The after-thought of what I had just witnessed: pure joy! I couldn't believe it. It was so good in fact, that my roommate and I bought more avocado's to create our own brand of guacamole. Of course, anything I make homemade is bound to be ruined, so actually he ended up doing most of it. But I got to enjoy the rest. I love it.

So what's next? V8 Juice? Meatloaf? Raisins? Peanut-Butter Cookies? Bleu Cheese? Spinach? Yogurt? Gingerbread? Super Taqueria? Tomatoes (NEVER!)? What could possibly be my next step toward normal food liking? Can't wait to find out.