shower the people you love with love.

So...

My best friend is having a baby.

This month. And have you ever in your life seen a more gorgeous pregnant woman?! I am so excited for her, and I still just can't even believe it. My best friend is having a baby. This woman has been my partner-in-crime, advice giver, favorite person and best friend for the past 14 years and now she is going to be a mother. I can't even believe how lucky that little man is to have her for a Mom. Holls, you are going to be incredible.

Here are a few pics from the shower I threw for her last week. It went off without a hitch, thanks to all my ladies who brought food & helped plan the games (thank you!) And I was too busy hosting to remember my camera, so I stole these pics from Boo's facebook page. Alas, facebook does serve a purpose.

I love your face, Holley McCail.

little changes this week. big changes next week.

These past few weeks, I have been amazed at how much better my days are when I make time for the important things. You know, the really important things like scriptures + prayer + temple visits. I've been going to the temple weekly with my little brother since he got his mission call, and it has changed everything. Sure, I visited the temple before, but never this often & I can just feel the change it has made in me already. I love it.

Speaking of that little brother, his farewell is this Sunday. And I still don't think I can talk about it. Last night, Scotty, Jon & Meg all came over for a little Glee viewing party. They kept me company while G was in class & we laughed our heads off in my living room (seriously, are you watching?) Not a day goes by that I don't think about how lucky I am to have brothers that are also best friends.

This weekend will be spent doing lots of baking for K's farewell (I think I might be in the kitchen literally all day tomorrow). I plan to wear one of my Mom's beautiful aprons and listen to the new Ingrid album as I go. Happy Friday

Pictures taken with my phone (obviously) as Meg & I drove around yesterday listening to said album and trying to mimic that first picture of Mr. J Bub. Yes, we are very silly.

and it went a little something like this...

family pictures on friday

a borrowed necklace to complete my look

pizza & salad afterwords

time travelers wife with jon & megs

up early on saturday

made a baby garland with diapers and socks

celebrated holley's little belly

screamed & lauged through pictionary

cpk with great friends

rode the horses at the arcade

movie & a fro yo

non-stop laughter

sweet kiddos at church

g got a big hug from our shy friend

tacos with the moffitts

home to cuddle & veg

miniature golf the next morning

the batting cages next

up to snowbird on a whim

rode the tram & the chair lift down

ended the evening in my kitchen

baking tollhouse pie and watching little women

friends upstairs late to share the treats

went to bed exhausted & happy

you're never too old

for a ring pop.

thanks holls!

it's official!

After countless PCMLS searches, hours of driving, weekends of scouting out locations and many family pow-wows and discussions, an Olsen family cabin has finally been chosen! We are so excited & can't wait for lots of four-wheeling, snow-mobiling, fishing, smores, hikes, starry nights, campfires and Heber shakes! Congrats to Margaret & Geir!

ps. that's not the actual cabin location...just a pic of me & my love in the mountains

making lemonade.

my day so far:

• got pulled over for expired plates on my way to work. thought he would cut me some slack for only being one month late & give me a warning. instead, he gave me a ticket.
• late for work because the officer stared at my license for at least 12 minutes in his car. seriously, what are you doing back there?!
• tried to get a new pack of diet coke out of the top cupboard in our kitchen at lunch and while standing on my tip toes trying to reach, i managed to knock the whole pack off the shelf and onto my tile floor. coke cans exploded, everything got sprayed, pups ran for their lives, you get the picture.
• speaking of the pups, one of them pooped in my house today for the first time in over a year.
• and the only reason i discovered it is because i stepped in it.

still barely scraping by in a good mood. mostly, because i think rebecca is darling, even if she is just 12!

ps. found a ghostbuster, going to see if the renters will do it!

the wedge.

rode our bikes across newport
through incredible neighborhoods
pointed out favorite homes as we went
and joked above living there someday

made it to the wedge
where the waves are the biggest
they were only 12 ft that day
even though they looked twice the size

eventually made it back
sore as can be

but, it's always worth the long ride
to sit on the sand and watch the waves crash

black + white & sometimes blue.

I'll get around to posting my Newport pictures soon,
in the meantime, here is a favorite one that Jon took of me & my Mo.

And just in case you need it like I did, this quote is taped to my mirror right now:

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning, 'It all works out in the end.' Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. If we put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy if His blessings, He will hear our prayers."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

spotted.

out & about in my hood:

1. deer in people's front yards (and also walking casually down the street or on the sidewalk)-very common.

2. man carrying his belongings in grocery cart with hair down to the ground.
for real.

3. neighbors smoking weed in their yard.

this man.

Is coming home tonight.

This man hasn't been able to do that once this entire week.
Because preparing for Law School has become his second full-time job
and his first full-time job was already a doosy.

This man is my best friend.
I always knew that, but now I feel it more than ever.

This man calls me during study breaks to tell me he misses me
And I try to be positive, but I miss him, too.

This man has been my hobby for the past 3 years.
And now that he is embarking on a new adventure...
I think I might have to find a few new ones.