Day 19

Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.

What can I say...I was just that cute ;)

Day 18

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.

I really try not to have insecurities, once in awhile I worry about my weight---but I figure if I try as hard as I can and love myself if others have issue with it that is their problem not mine. But if I had to say that I had an insecurity it would be that I'm never going to find someone to love and love me...I know that I'm not that old and that most of my siblings got married a little later than most (and they are extremely happy now!), but I am getting older and it does scare/worry me sometimes.

Day 17

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.

Many of my friends that are doing this have a new child that had an impact on their lives, I too have children (close to 90 in fact) that have an impact on my life. When I first signed up to go to Taiwan I did not expect what a huge influence it would have on me, I gained a stronger love for children and an even stronger desire to teach them. I love these kids and their families so much, they were all so kind and loving...I miss Taiwan, the food, the culture, and it's people everyday and I'm so grateful that I had that learning experience and opportunity to go there.

Day 16

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.

There are many things about my sister that impress me...her willingness when I was little to let me crawl into her bed every night after I had a nightmare, her constant smile, the way she reaches out to all around her, the small thoughtful things that she does, her love for her children, her balancing of work and family, the way she is constantly looking for jobs or solutions for me (as I'm sure she does for others). There is so much more that I could say of what impresses me about my sister...she has always been someone that I have looked up to!

Day 15

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.

Before I die I want to have traveled to the major continents (South America-check, North America-check (except I would like to still go to Canada and maybe Greenland/Iceland), Asia- check, Africa, Europe, Australia)

Day 14

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.

???????????

This one is a little hard for me...I don't currently have the "love of my life/eternal companion to conveniently put in this place (conveniently seems maybe a little harsh but I think that if I did have a "love of my life" he would go into this spot without thought). Next on the list would obviously come my family and friends...I think that having these people makes my life more full than it is, happier even, but I also don't think that my life would end if these people were to die (case in point my Dad). My life becomes a little sadder and I miss them like crazy but I think that if they left I could still continue living (how depressing is this?)

Newest Member

With all that's been going on (aka being sick and not being home) I forgot to tell about the newest member of the family! It's my new phone...Droid X! It is so pretty and clear and I LOVE IT! Right now it feels like a fun toy with all the new things that I can do, but I also love it's capabilities. It has already "saved my life"...last Thursday Addy (work Addy not Brea Addie) was having a really hard time with her Mom being gone, I luckily had downloaded a couple of preschool games onto my phone before coming to work and I showed them to her. She loved them and they distracted her pretty much until her Mom got home.

22 Years!

It's amazing how fast a year goes by, and another birthday comes speeding past. Yesterday my best friend Brea joined the ranks of being 22! I'm so happy that I got to join in on the celebrating of the wondrous day...a day filled with Mexican food and Tangled (the movie) can never go wrong. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BREA!!!! I'm so glad that I can call you my best friend and that I have been around for so many of the birthdays :)

Day 13

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.

Despite country being my favorite style of music and liking many other musicians and their songs this is probably my favorite artist. Since I own 6 of her CD's that should be signal enough to me. I love Selena and sad that she was killed way too young (of course being killed at any age is way too young), she cared for others and was beautiful on the inside and out.

If you don't know who Selena is or her story, check out Dreaming of You (probably her most well known song) or watch Selena (as portrayed by Jennifer Lopez).

Day 12

Day 12 - A picture of something you love.

I love seeing other people smile...it's amazing how much difference a smile can make in someone's face. I love seeing people happy and enjoying life--I strive to do whatever I can to help increase their happiness and smiles.

I love, love, love Gerber Daisies...they are absolutely my favorite and make me happy every time I see their bright colors.

Day 11

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.

If you asked me this question at different time periods of my life it may have been filled with a picture of fish, mushrooms, broccoli, gravy, and many other foods...but that has changed, because I'm EATING them! They may never be my favorite food items but I won't say that I hate them anymore either.

One thing that I would have to say that I strongly dislike (hate is such a strong word) is magazines and all that comes with it. So many magazines are filled with JUNK--dirty, disgusting junk. And many of them are what cause teenager girls (and older girls) to question their self-worth and beauty. There are good magazines but so many are just trash.

Day 10

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the silliest things with.

There have been many people that I have done silly things with (because that's just me :D) but I would have to say that Elise and Nancy are probably pretty close to the top. There are so many memories of doing things with them and I'm so happy that I have each and every single one.

Day 9

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

I've been through lots in my life---up, down, happy, sad, frustrating, depressing, you name it. I'm so grateful that I have the Mom I do. I listen to stories that some people tell or look back at the relationship that I used to have with my Mom and am not sure how I would have made it through the end of high school and the years since without the constant support of my Mom. I love her so much and am glad that she puts up with my daily plus phone calls :)

Adventures As a Child-Napper

With all of my time spent with kids (young to old) there is something that I've learned...there is good, bad, funny, not-so-funny, happy, irritating moments. And you have to learn to smile and laugh through the good and take deep breaths (and remember the good) during the bad. As I watch Allisyn 3 days a weeks and Emily/Addy 2 days a week I have many opportunities for funny things to happen. I'm sure that there are many more but these are some of the ones that I can remember at the moment...

...several weeks ago Allisyn started making a new noise, it sounded like she was choking (which of course greatly concerned me). Every time I would look over at her she would stop making the noise and act like everything was ok, I picked her up to make sure that everything was ok. I told her that she shouldn't make that noise, it made me concerned that something was wrong and that she couldn't breathe. Her response...sticking out her tongue at me :)

Yesterday I discovered while playing hide and go seek it's probably best not to play right after it has snowed outside (unless playing with a 2 year old like I was), the snow is a dead give away to what direction you have gone for your hiding. But because I was playing with a 2 year old it was probably good because it made it a little easier for her.

With little girls your purse is free game. A couple of weeks ago I was sitting on the couch minding my own business when Elle (friend of Emily) took my purse and every item somehow became a gift for Emily on her birthday (each item was taken out one at a time and given to her and they would talk about each thing).

I forget the things that are said while little girls play dress-up...(heard from Elle while she and Emily were playing pretend several weeks ago---Elle had a pillow under her shirt so that she looked pregnant), "Pretend that I heard the baby crying in my stomach and I started bouncing up and down because I knew she liked it."
While on campus with Allisyn we stopped in the bathroom and as we were walking out there were two girls sitting by the couch's talking, as I passed them one randomly turned to me and complimented me on my stroller. I kindly said thank you and as soon as I was out of the bathroom started laughing (*no offense to Erin and J.J.'s stroller, it is cute but it just made me laugh).

Potty Training

I babysit a two year old...she is mostly potty trained but she is still a two year old and has problems sometimes. Last week we had an episode where she had wet panties. Later that day we were getting ready to go outside and play but I explained that I needed to go potty before we left, she didn't understand why I needed to do that and so I explained to her that I didn't want to have wet panties (the ways of explaining to a two year old :D), after I went to the bathroom she was very concerned about whether or not my underwear was wet and even offered me a pair of hers to wear (very sweet and rather funny at the same time).

Yesterday we were in the middle of playing a game when I told her that I needed to run to the bathroom really quick, as I was shutting the door I hear "is your underwear ok?" That's the last time that I try explaining something to a two year old! ;)

Day 8

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.

I love this picture, it embodies me so well :D And how you help but not laugh?

Day 7

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item.

This kind of makes me a little sad because I know what my most treasured item should be, it's important to me but I don't think that I appreciate it as much as I should...the gospel and scriptures.

Besides my family this is probably my prized possession, I would go absolutely crazy without it or at least someone elses to use, it keeps me connected to my friends (via facebook), my blog (journal), e-mail, and other blogs that make me smile, laugh, and think of other creative ideas to do.

Day 6

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

If I were to trade places with someone for a day I think that I would choose a child...sometimes I think that it would be wonderful to be able to go back and be a child, before you had the worries and pressures of life on your shoulders. To have have the faith of a child, forgiving easily and loving unconditionally. We are often told in Church that we should be like a child, I wish that I were better at that---there is so much that we can learn from children and their innocence.

Cookie-Gram

I don't know about others but in high school the week before Valentines day you could send out candy-grams, for $.25 each someone would deliver a lollipop to the person of your choice in their class at the end of the day. As a Freshman we would always look forward to that time in class, to see who "loved (or liked as in our case as it was generally our friends that sent them)" us enough to send us a candy-gram and who would have the most.

If you haven't figured out yet I have some pretty awesome roommates (and apparently pretty awesome roommate's parents)! Saturday afternoon when I came home I found this on the counter in the kitchen. The note says, "Hey guys, My Mom made us each a cookie with our names on it. Feel free to look through and find yours and eat it! -Janet"

How cool is that? Not only was that super sweet (hehe) of her Mom, but it was delicious! So soft and yummy!

Growing Up

This Saturday we had another Newport gang breakfast...this time we invited all of those that were in our general age-group and their spouses/significant others. I wish that I had more pictures of our group growing up on my computer, but it is really amazing to look/think back about how lucky I am to have grown up with this awesome group of girls. Most of us have been together since we were little and still continue to be rather close. I love getting together with all of them and just having time to talk. It's amazing that even as we get older, our lives change (marriage, graduation, children, etc.) we still are able to connect and be as if we were still young.

Day 5

Day 05 - A picture of one of your favorite memories.

I know that some have thought it was a little weird that I was in the room when Brea gave birth to Addilyn but I feel like it was an extremely special moment to be there and I'm grateful that we are close enough friends that she allowed me to be. It is a moment that I will never forget...what a beautiful thing to watch a new child of Heavenly Father enter this world. I know that it will always remain special in my mind and I cannot wait for the time of the birth of my own children.

Day 4

Day 04 - A picture of your favorite night.

This is a picture from Prom my Junior Year. It's not my favorite night because it was a dance, it was a favorite because of all the work that went into the evening. The many hours just the week before that I and many others put into it but also all the fundraising that was put into it the many months leading up to it. It was a huge accomplishment and I think that everyone enjoyed themselves, it was a beautiful dance and I was proud to say that I had a huge part in it being done.

Day 3

A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

I watch way more TV than I should but if I were forced to pick my favorite it would be a toss up between Castle and Bones. I like both of these shows because all the characters work great together, both off chances to think and learn. And I really appreciate that though there is chemistry between two main characters and it is obvious that they like each other (at least to me...they're a little slow :D) the writers haven't had the first thing that happened between them be sex.

Day 2

A picture of you and someone you used to be close with.

I'm sure that I have a picture with this person somewhere in my collection but it's at my Mom's house and not on a computer. I used to be friends with ___, she lived two doors away and we played together almost everyday from when she moved-in in Kindergarten. In middle school her parents got a divorce and both parents got re-married, things started going downhill for her from there. She brought a knife to school and threatened someone and so was suspended from Toledo. Her Dad got a transfer to a different store and they thought it came at a perfect time. I saw her once in high school but we never talked. We're "friends" on myspace but it makes me sad to see what has become of her life.

Baby Cuteness

I keep on meaning to write-up a quite funny post about the many different adventures I have with babysitting every day, but while you wait for that to happen you should check out these super cute videos and pictures that I took yesterday while Allisyn and Addilyn had a fun "play-date" on The Despain families blog HERE

Day 1

A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

1. I grew up in a little town in Oregon on the coast...most people have never heard of it and when they hear the name they think it's in Ohio, Washington, or Spain.

2. Despite what it may seem like sometimes I am not a huge fan of being the center of attention.

3. I try not to live with regret and to have a smile on my face.

4. My blog is my journal and scrapbook, I am more constant at it than I have ever been with the other two (and many other things).

5. I have been to 3 of the 7 continents and hope to some day go to at least the main 6.

6. I would much rather it be raining than sunshiny or snowing.

7. I'm a softy for romance books.

8. I wish that I could just be done with school and be teaching in some other country.

9. My favorite words/sayings probably are "Hi" or "Merry Christmas" (need not be Christmastime).

10. Besides wanting to be a teacher my other dream jobs have always been to own a bakery, bed and breakfast or be a party/wedding planner.

11. I love that my Mom has moved to Utah but sometimes feel like I am in limbo and don't have a "home" anymore

12. With so many of my friends and siblings married I have much of my wedding already planned.

13. Sometimes I have days where I just feel like crying, no reason why...I hate those days.

14. My names comes from Little Women (and connections to family via Elizabeth). When I was younger I was disappointed that my parents had given me the character who died and I wished that they would have named me Elizabeth so that I had the choice of what to be called (I'm a big fan of Beth now...I like to be unique :D).

15. I strongly dislike talking on the phone, it's just so awkward to me.

A Challenge

If you read enough blogs or spend enough time on facebook you probably have heard about the 30 Day Photo Challenge that is going around, I have decided to give in and do it. Mine probably won't be consistent or complete but I will try.

For those that might be interested in doing it themselves here is the complete list...

30 day Photo Challenge

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

Day 02 - A picture of you and someone you used to be close with.

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

Day 04 - A picture of your favorite night.

Day 05 - A picture of one of your favorite memories.

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item.

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the silliest things with.

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.

Day 12 - A picture of something you love.

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.

Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.

Day 25 - A picture of your favorite day.

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile.

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.

新年快乐

Happy (Chinese) New Year!!

Before going to Taiwan Chinese New Year was just something that I heard in passing, but since being there and celebrating in person it is something that I will celebrate for now on. My roommates were just as excited to get involved with it so we went all out :)

It was Anna's night to make dinner and she went with chicken fried rice...

The rice had to be completely cool according to her recipe so we rigged up a good way to get the rice cooling while we went grocery shopping :)

The finished DELICIOUS fried rice!

All the food...not only did we have fried rice but we added dumplings (potstickers) and egg rolls.

We even took our hand at chopsticks (Candace and I may or may not have ran to Panda Express and asked for several sets of chopsticks while the car was parked illegally so that I could run in :D). I was so impressed with how long Candace was willing to try the chopsticks...she had said that she was going to last all of 5 minutes trying them and she almost went the whole meal!

Anna had a creative way of using her chopsticks

Janet had a little more experience using chopsticks and looked like an old pro!

Ciara was the first to dig into the yummy fortune cookies!

This cracked me...I'm taking suggestions

Our "Asian-y" picture

We ended our night with a good ole classic from Disney... got to love Mulan :D