One of Those Days

Today has been one of those days. You know, those days that starts out rough and then you decide to change your attitude for the benefit of your own health, otherwise you'd be a grump all day? Yep. One of those days.

First, I can't seem to fall asleep before 1:00am anymore. And then my body decides on how much sleep I need to get without consulting my schedule. Silly.

Second, to go along with the first point, somehow I managed to continuously press the snooze button on my alarm which resulted in me waking up an hour later than I had planned. Gotta love alarm clocks.

Third, I may have a new job opportunity. We will see.

Fourth, I was told I have "deep blue eyes" today. Why yes, yes I do have blue eyes. I have had them since birth, thank you for noticing. And that they are "mesmerizing." I had to chuckle at that compliment.

Fifth, life is busy, but it's good.

Oh Really?

The other day I got an interesting compliment. 

I was told I have beautiful ears that don't stick out (even though they kind of do). I would have found this weird, but I have been complimented on my ears before. 

I have also been complimented on my feet and hands. I guess I have good looking appendages. Who knew? I guess I should thank my parents for the great DNA.

Busy Saturday

Today has been pretty good so far. I am just finishing up homework that's due tonight. I went to the Museum of Anthropology today and helped out. It was pretty fun. My sister and brother-in-law are visiting today which is always a great time. Then we had an early dinner and now I am working on more homework and finishing up some laundry. It's a never ending cycle. I am exhausted but life is good. I am very thankful for everything that I have, especially my family. I am glad we love each other so much. This is a photo on my immediate family, but I love my extended family too! Have a great rest of the weekend everybody!

Strange Weather

How ironic is it that it's RAINING in Utah and SNOWING in Washington? I find that quite funny. I actually fell asleep last night to rain hitting the roof. Utah is having a strange winter. Thanks for the photos of the snow, Dad.

Logan, UT

 University Place, WA

I've always wanted a skating rink in the backyard! Yep. That's freezing rain over snow. Ice ice baby!

Christmas Break

Here are some of the things I did over the break, in no particular order. It's a long post.

• Drove to Kaysville and then went to the airport to go to Washington.
• Finally got to eat Evelyn's Favorite Pasta at The Cheesecake Factory.
• Went shopping. (My mom and I did  a lot of this.)
• Slept!
• Ate yummy food.
• Went running a couple of times around Chambers Bay.

• Listened to the rain at night. 
• Had a great Christmas. 
• Spoke in church.
• Helped paint the tile backsplash of the kitchen.

• Set-up a wireless printer.
• Worked from home.
• Cleaned the office.
• Watched movies. 17 Miracles is a tear jerker, but it is a good one.
• Read books (The Hunger Games series again, The Power of Six {I Am Number Four sequel}, City of Bones, and some other random books I found at the house).
• Pretended that the forest near the house was where the first Hunger Games took place. (NERD ALERT!)
• Did laundry.
• Skyped with family.
• Enjoyed the New Year.
• Helped my mom with various projects.
• Took naps.
• Broke the same piñata for Christmas and for New Year's in the backyard instead of the garage. It took Tony and I three rounds on Christmas Eve to break it and it took Tony three swings to break it on New Year's Eve. I will post a video when I have a chance.

• Had interesting dreams.
• Enjoyed being away from real life for a while.
• Took Photo Booth pictures.

I hope everyone had a great Holiday season! Have a great 2012!

Procrastination

 This is what happens when I don't want to work on my last paper for the semester...

 Too much fun with Photo Booth on my computer. Those are only a few of the photos I took.

Gotta love the Pop Art.

I'm Getting Old

Man, I am getting old. I have a hard time staying up past midnight now! And if I do stay up past midnight, I get sick or am grumpy. I spent the weekend hanging out with my younger cousins and brother. They have much more energy than I do. They are only a few years younger, and I did keep up with them, but I am utterly exhausted and I can't shake this cold I came down with. 


Let's start with Friday afternoon (11-11-11). I got done with my reading guide group thingy and met up with Emily and Caitlin to get bracelets for the BYU vs. USU basketball game that night. After we got our bracelets, we bought shirts that say "Y don't U kiss my A." 

Then we went to Rumbi for lunch. And following lunch we went to the mall. Caitlin, Emily, and I went in the Hurricane simulator, and came out feeling dizzy and sick to our stomachs. Such a weird feeling. Then we went back to Grandma Pat's for a little bit before heading to the Spectrum to wait in line for the game! We waited for a little less than two hours in line, but it got cold and we started playing all sorts of games. The game was loud and crazy and Utah State came away with a win! WOO HOO! Below are some photos of the cemetery we walked through to get to the Spectrum.

We went to Fredrico's for an after game snack and just had a grand ol' time. Finally, I couldn't take staying awake any longer so Tony and I went home. 


Saturday (11-12-11) was Tony's birthday! It was a fun day. It snowed (not so fun) and Tony went to the football game in it. He sported a garbage bag poncho. 


Later on, we went shopping so Caitlin could buy the shoes she found at the mall on Friday. After the mall, we headed over to Texas Roadhouse for a cousin party for Tony's birthday! It was fun and we made Tony get on the saddle. (I stole the photo from Caitlin since my camera died right when he saddled up).

After dinner, we went over to Grandma Pat's for cake. Then Emily decided she really wanted to go to the Fun Park to play laser tag. Me, being old and exhausted, didn't want to go, but luckily I did and I had a great time! Laser tag is really fun when you are play with people you know. I spent a lot of time laughing and screaming. We played boys versus girls. The guy told us not to run, but once you get in there, you can't help but run. Tony ran into the wall pretty hard. After we played for ten minutes (in boots I might add), we were all tired and sweaty. (Again, I stole the photo from Caitlin).

It was a fun night. Oh yeah, Caitlin won 40 tickets playing Deal or No Deal and used them to get those neon friendship bracelets. We went to Snow Hall and talked for a while and then Tony and I went home. It was so fun to hang out with my cousins, but I am just getting old because I am always exhausted.

On Sunday (11-13-11) we went to church and then ate a great Sunday dinner. Tony and I headed down to Kaysville for a sibling birthday party. I am so grateful for having my siblings in Utah and it's a good thing we just love each other. Overall, last weekend was busy, fun, and insane. And now it's almost Thanksgiving! I cannot believe it. Crazy!

Happy Birthday Tony!

Today is my brother's birthday. 


Here are ten reasons why I love him (although there are MANY other reasons besides the ones listed below)...

• He is witty.
• He is funny and reminds me of Jim Halpert from The Office.
• He comes and picks me up from campus almost every day.
• He sleeps over on campus to get a good seat for Aggie basketball games. (Well, he did for the USU vs. BYU game).
• He looks after me.
• He loves his family (even if we bug him all the time).
• He is a great uncle.
• He has great one-liners and is very skilled with sport-type activities (see photo below).
• He puts up with my endless questioning.
• He is my little brother and will always be my little brother, even if he towers over me and looks like he's my older brother. I will always love him no matter what.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER! I hope your day is great, and it should be since Utah State beat BYU last night in the Spectrum! GO AGGIES!

Eleventh Hour. Eleventh Day. Eleventh Month.

"On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as "the Great War." Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars." 

(via here)

I remember going to Arlington Cemetery in high school and seeing the Changing of the Guard in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. What a sight. I also remember the feeling I had when I saw the rows upon rows of headstones. It takes your breath away. Freedom is not free. War is not pretty. I am grateful for the sacrifice of all the men and women in the military. 

Thank you to all those who have served, are serving, and will serve the United States. God Bless America.


P.S. It's 11-11-11 today. Pretty neat.

Have a Nice Trip? See ya Next Fall!

I couldn't help myself with that post title. It's punny. This is one of my favorite times of the year.

I've made pumpkin bars and apple crisp. And I only have a photo of the apple crisp.

I went to a football game with Grandma Pat, Tyler, and Leslie. We lost. But it was still so fun to go with them. And say "It's another Aggie... FIRST DOWN!"

We actually had a fall this year! Amazing. I got to go hang out with my seesters (and nephews) for Fall Break and it was fun! I bought some boots and we went to Gardner Village and looked at all the "tare me witches" and cute little shops. 

Dewey (not my nephew's real name but it's a funny nickname) didn't come with us, but this was his church outfit on Sunday. He was a happy boy! And he looks a lot like his older brother when he was a baby. Isn't he a doll?

It didn't snow until November and I got to see all the leaves change colors and drop. I got to help rake leaves and took some fun photos. This is the carpet of leaves in the backyard. It was a pretty cool sight to see!

I love these colors! And it's so fun to step on all the crunchy leaves. Fall is great.

 Oh, and Tony did a cool trick... watch below.

Leaf Jumping from Alli Brown on Vimeo.

Congrats Nielsons!

I'm an aunt again! Emmett Thomas Nielson was born on Monday September 19, 2011. He has big feet and a perfect round head. He has less hair than his brother had when he was born, but it's darker. He is just precious and we all love him. (Thanks Les for the photos!)

 He looks like Dewey from Malcolm in the Middle. I'm allowed to say that because his Mom says it all the time.

What a precious family.

His big brother is slowly warming up to him.

Northwest Trip

Between the ending of my internship and the beginning of school, I got to go home for a few days. I didn't even mind not having a floor when I arrived home. The washer had flooded practically the whole downstairs, so all the flooring had to be ripped up, as seen below. But I still LOVE going home, especially in the summer.

We headed down the Oregon coast for a quick trip. There is an ocean down there, you just can't see it because of the fog.

 

I got to go running on the beach, barefoot (just for you Jamie!). It was kind of cold, but worth it.

 I love jumping pictures. My mom and I had a lot of jumping pictures, but most of them didn't turn out. 

 

 

My mom and I. It was pretty chilly the whole time we were down the coast, but it sure was fun!

My dad and I. He's a great man.

Hmm... let me contemplate life in a tunnel...

We also went to the Tillamook Cheese factory, not once, but TWICE! We ate at the restaurant and the lady who took our order laughed at me when I asked for no cheese on my sandwich. HA. I might add they have delicious sorbet.

We also saw the WIENERMOBILE and of course pull over and take a photo of it!

It finally cleared up enough to see the ocean. I love this shot.

Before we got back to Washington, we stopped in Portland and went to Target where they have escalators for people and for carts! It was fun!

There are a lot more photos, but these are the ones that made the cut! Way to go photos! Thanks Dad for taking most of these! 

Summer Photos

Summer went by super fast. I am now back in Logan going to school and working two jobs. Here are few photos from the summer... they aren't edited the way I usually like to edit photos, but I thought I might as well put something on this new blog!

 Music in the mountains.

Three Sister Stew!

 So excited and cold from playing in the wah-duh!

 Siblings.

Cousins.

My favorite 2-year-old nephew showing me the moon.