all things physical

this terd REFUSES to be held.

how is it that i, of ALL people, have a cat that staunchly protests ANY FORM of physical affection. ME! one who is all things physical!

...and yet i love him so dearly. (shaking head)

falling up

last night after work, i made my way to my sister’s house, as my routine has been for the last, oh... year and a HALF. it’s funny; i pay rent on a house that has lately become my personal (and very large) storage unit. i don’t mind. i enjoy every minute with my sisters, franklin, and eva. =)

natalie and i spent the entire evening reading shel silverstein's book "falling up" to eva. the WHOLE book. if you've never heard of mr. silverstein before you are certainly missing out on some very hilarious and very witty poems. his books are for EVERYONE to enjoy. and that’s just what we did.

one of my favorite poems from his book falling up:

Long-Leg Lou and Short-Leg Sue
Went for a walk down the avenue,
Laughin’ and jokin’ like good friends do,
Long-Leg Lou and Short-Leg Sue

Says Long-Leg Lou to Short-Leg Sue,
“Can’t you walk faster than you do?
It really drives me out of my mind
That I’m always in front, and you’re always behind.”

Says Short-Leg Sue to Long-Leg Lou,
“I walk as fast as I’m meant to do.”
“Then I’ll go walkin’ with someone new,”
Says Long-Leg Lou to Short-Leg Sue.

Now Long-Leg Lou, he walks alone,
Looking for someone with legs like his own,
And sometimes he thinks of those warm afternoons
Back when he went walkin’ with Short-Leg Sue.

And Short-Leg Sue strolls down the street
Hand in hand with Slow-Foot Pete,
And they take small steps and they do just fine,
And no one’s in front and no one’s behind.

never too young for chipotle

dear mr. chipotle,

i think i found my youngest best friend today. i took my three month old niece to chipotle and she LOVED it. well... she didn't exactly say those words but i knew how she felt. (whispering: i have unagi.) unfortunately, she wasn't able to eat or drink anything while there (pause for a moment of silence) BUT! once those teefers of hers start growing in, it'll be the FIRST thing she gets to eat.

love,

your biggest fan

its really simple

i think we've found ourselves a future subscriber to real simple magazine. she couldn't take her eyes off it!

happy birthday papa bear!

he can fix anything with just a rubber band and paperclip.
he doesn’t give high fives; only high sixes.
when people pay attention to him, he keeps the change.
the contents of his taco never fall out.
a bird in his hand is worth three in the bush.
mosquitoes don’t bite him.

who is he, you ask? he's the most amazingly wonderful papa

in the whole wide world. =)

happy birthday papa bear.

pennies & dimes

my very FIRST itunes purchase on my NEW MACBOOK (merry christmas to me!) is the album "pennies & dimes" by my bestest friend in the whole wide world, stacy lantz!

check her out! ...but don't be gross about it.

eva's first christmas

even though my whole family wasn't together for christmas this year, it was still pretty special because it was eva's FIRST! and while we all weren't in one room, we were all "together" on skype. i loved it. so many faces on so many screens. simply glorious.

eva certainly enjoyed herself too:

i love making her laugh and smile.
it's literally SUNSHINE for the soul.

a $300 secret

i have a secret. an amazingly, wonderful secret that is sure to make someone i hold near and dear to my heart squeal with delight and perhaps squeeze out a tear or two. psh! who am i kidding. this person's eyes are going to be swimming for days! (giddy with de!ight)

my little elf

i would like you to meet my niece, eva lynne fernandez, aka e.l.f. =) she was born in clearwater on october 19th at 10:38pm after 21 HOURS of (grueling) labor. so incredible. she was 8 lbs, 14 oz and all 20 inches of ADORABLE baby. i still can't believe she's real. sometimes, when i'm not with her, i open her photo on my phone and i just STARE at her. she's completely mesmerizing! i've seen and held TONS of babies, but her? she's.... REAL. i don't know how to explain it. it's just one of the COOLEST things ever.

whenever i get to hold her, i whisper in her ear that i'm her favorite aunt and the one (besides her parents) who loves her the most. how's THAT for subliminal messaging. =D

(she's not even a day old and she's already throwing up gang signs. she is SO the daughter of franklin. hahaha.)

...is it possible to love someone THIS much

even when that someone

has no clue you exist?

(i LOVE you eva!)

cherry red speakers

my little sister and i have an... understanding of sorts. we both LOVE getting stuff in the mail: letters from loved ones, just-because-cards, and now... GIFTS! it all started out small; i mailed her sweet little nothings scribbled onto pieces of paper, she bought me a hat. i bought her a sock coin purse and so on. we NEVER had any intention of making it a "big deal" until she decided to amp up on me. and boy was i GLAD! she mailed me a package and inside was a wicked-SWEET pair of bright red head phones! ...for me to wear at the GYM she says. (gulp.) since she was sweet enough to see them, think of me, AND purchase them, its the least i can do. so that's just what i'm gonna do. i'm gonna wear those FABULOUSLY vibrant red (and large) head phones with PRIDE. i even told her i'd even buy a pair of rainbow leg warmers to make the "look" complete. i think.... =)

going home

there's nothing quite like being home. walking into your parent's house after not living there for years and yet knowing you still belong; entering the kitchen, seeing your mama cooking like a maniac because her babies are home; the love, the excitement... its really something else. THAT'S what i get to experience EVERY time i come home. i pray that i never have to live without it. i love my home and i wouldn't trade it for the world. =)

this past weekend, my family went to my baby brother's COLLEGE graduation. he FINALLY did it! we are SO VERY PROUD of him! my mom, dad, and grandma pilled into one car (the BORING car) while jeffrey, allyson, and i went in our own car (the SUPER COOL car with LOUD music) and drove three hours to see jonathan.

after the graduation ceremony (which surprisingly WASN'T unbearable), we all headed to texas road house where we proceeded to stuff ourselves in a way only AMERICANS know how:

i got to spend time with galilee and jonna... i have missed them BOTH so dearly. jordan tries to act like an adult but don't let him fool you with his "serious menu-reading face". two seconds into eating, he NEVER FAILS to break out a fart machine and entertain the family for HOURS. yeah... we're like that. =D

while home, i got to visit with my girls, amy and ruth. as SOON as i got off the plane, we headed STRAIGHT for the pool. they know me SO WELL! hahaha. my girl ruth truly has a heart of gold. she’s such a great listener and has always been there for me. i'm so grateful to have BOTH of them in my life. =)

she's back!

my sister galilee is THEE MOST AWESOMEST stylist EVER. she does SUCH an AMAZING job every time. she's GENTLE and STEADY and COMPLETELY capable of fixing any blunder i create for myself.

and... being the LOVING sister that i am, i called up natalie and bethany, who have been SORELY missing galilee's skills, and proceeded to GLOAT over the fact that my hair was back in the hands of a TRUE beautician. muahahahaha... =D

boys will be boys

poor natty has to put up with THESE guys: i swear. boys NEVER grow up.

(but then again, i don't plan on it either. hahaha.)

to my jossy

happy
birthday
scrubbin'.

=)

twenty SIX!

i received this birthday card in the mail.

it made me smile.

because i already have those socks and shoes. =)

oh! and PROOF that i TRULY AM the favorite in my family... my dad wrote this note to me:

...OWNED. every SINGLE one of you. =D

my dearest booboo

happy birthday bethany!!!

i love you. =)

meet eva

meet my niece, eva lynne fernandez. she's the size of a PAPAYA! (mmm... sounds delicious) i am SO EXCITED and CANNOT wait for her to come. =)

i have been counting down the days and helping natalie get ready. i hope eva realizes JUST how MUCH she's loved ALREADY. =)

you WILL give me a hug

i have a scrubbin' of a brother who is not keen on physical affection like myself. i try and i TRY but unless its a special occasion (which for him it NEVER is) then he'd never consider it. so... to get around his stubbornness that seems to run so vibrantly through our family, i tried the back door for a hug from him. i mailed him MONEY and put this note on the outside:

"attention! by opening this card you are accepting FULL ownership of the hug and kiss that have been applied by your loving sister. refusal to do so will result in GRAVE consequences. love you!!! =D"

all i have to say is OWNED jeffrey. and i know you love me. even if you're not a hugger. but don't worry, one day you WILL be. i'm counting on it.

i love you. =)

UPDATE (07/01/10): he opened it. =D

happy birthday mama bear!

happy birthday to an i-don't-care-what-the-world-thinks-so-i'm-gonna-do-and-say-what-i-want kind of woman. i love you mama. =)

mugs galore

i have been collecting starbucks mugs for a while now and there has always been an "unwritten rule" stating that all mugs placed in a collection must be from places you have VISITED. well as you all know, i don't get to travel much; so instead of buying a mug from every city i visit and having a collection of what... 2 WHOLE mugs, i changed it up a bit and added an "unwritten clause" stating a mug purchased FOR me from someone i hold dear could count just the same.

enter my cousin gregory.

i haven't talked to him in over 22 years. that made me... 4 years old the last time i saw him. [LOTS has happened since then. hahaha.] while my uncle soctt was visiting, he told me greg was on a business trip in las vegas (LAS VEGAS!!). i thought i'd take the prime opportunity to open up lines of communication once again by BEGGING him (greg) to get me a las vegas STARBUCKS MUG. not only did he get me a VEGAS mug but he threw in a SAN ANTONIO mug JUST because he's that AWESOME!

so NOW... i have SEVENTEEN mugs. 18--if you count my forged "tallahassee mug", purchased for me by a dear friend who didn't have the heart to leave the city without one. =)

even though all my mugs weren't purchased BY me in cities i have VISITED, they all still hold wonderful memories for me. and that's what counts the most. =)