THE STORY OF MY LIFE

I saw a tractor. Then, I took fifty-million pictures.

The end.

MOTHER's DAY

Each of my students made one of these in class for their mother. 

I woke up Sunday to Andrew busy in the kitchen.  

I received something fun in the mail from mom-in-law.

And this is my mom. 

She happens to be here visiting for the week. 
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Too bad she's feeling anti-social. 

B-day

Well, life is going to be insanely busy for the next couple of weeks as we wrap up the school year, host family, and enjoy spring.

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Lots has happened that I'm excited to share, but some pics of my birthday last week will have to do for now. The big 'ol twenty-six. Andrew surprised me with a home-made double layer cake.
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LOVE that guy.

Happy weekend, all.

ANDREW'S UNDERSTUDY

Andrew really appreciates the fact that Becca has moved in here. 

You see, usually, he's the only one around to bare the brunt of my photo taking fanaticism. He's my only model. 

Now he has a buffer, or as he calls her: his understudy. 

I like it too. Andrew's a great-looking guy and all--but I can't imagine him ever looking this pretty standing at the kitchen window. 

I just happened to walk by, as Becca sat staring at the yard. Something about the soft lighting, the feminine, flowered shirt, and her posture in the country kitchen left only one thought resonating in my mind: 

MUST. TAKE. PICTURES.

I snapped three frames before Becca realized I was yet again, photographing her. She dryly stated a snide something that isn't worth repeating. 

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To which, I proceeded to threaten her physical safety if she moved a muscle. 

She was kind enough to remain in place for a few more frames before rolling her eyes and walking away. Apparently, she doesn't fear me. 

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Punk.

PERSONIFICATION

I'm sure I looked like the paparazzi to my Easter tulips--the way I followed them around with a camera all week. 

Here are my Easter tulips {thanks Mom} watching the sunrise. 

And helping me enjoy an afternoon snack. 

And hangin' with Andrew while he watched a baseball game on-line. 

That is until  I stole them back they soon got bored and chose to help me proofread my cousin's book instead. 

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Heather's book is so fun, and when it's published you'll all want to be the first ones in line to buy it. You won't be sorry.

This is Andrew informing me that allowing the tulips to accompany us on our Friday night date is "out of the question."

I guess he just wanted some alone time without the little ones. But I shared my ice-cream when we returned. 

Sweet dreams.  

GOT IT.

I had a dream last night. {Just let me preface it by saying that this is NOT an announcement.} Now that I have that out of the way:

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I had a dream that I was on a makeshift bed in my doctor's living room...his entire family milling around...while I was in labor with my first baby. Even worse, nobody knew where Andrew was!
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Despite this ridiculous, terrifying setting, all I could think about was the fact that I was about to lose my last opportunity to get a picture of myself with a pregnant belly. Nothing stressed me out more than the fact that I COULD NOT FIND MY CAMERA! This MUST be documented!
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Apparently, my subconscious priorities are a little out of whack.

Yesterday, I submitted an eighty-something page paper...for my master's program. It took two months, and I can't tell you the relief that followed after finishing it. It had lots of graphs and tables and scanned documents...but STILL...that is an insane amount of typing.
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I feel a strong sense of pride and accomplishment in the idea that I compiled such a project myself...which is probably why I'm bragging about it to all of you. I like the sound of it. Here. Let me say it again:

I just finished writing an eighty-something page paper.

No big deal.

And only 2 classes left to go before I get this darn degree!!!

Um, yes actually. I got time. I gots lots of it. Not only was my big paper just turned in, but are both currently church calling-less. All within a few weeks, Andrew was released from a bishopric, and I was released from a Relief Society Presidency.

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{Bishopric and ward member at ward social}

I can hardly comprehend the amount of extra time we've got floating around in our lives right now. No meetings, no phone calls, no e-mails, no home visits, no lesson prep...
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Andrew now wanders aimlessly through the house, while I spend entirely too much time watching YouTube tutorials about designing your own blog header. {Which reminds me...you like? See Above.}

Anyway, we'll see how long it lasts...

FROSTY

Southeast Idaho. Back in December. -14 degrees Fahrenheit.

We were driving home from Sun Valley.

The desert was glittering with sparkly-ness.

After making Andrew stop the truck, I bundled up to my eyeballs to take some pictures.

These crystals did not form from falling snow. Just freezing temperatures. 

This was last week. In town. 31 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Beautiful, little sparklies.

Really quite miraculous the shapes they form.

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Can you imagine me on my belly trying to get these shots?

Makes me miss the Snoshack and my daily dose of shaved ice. 

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I'm guessing it probably has to be above freezing before that place opens for the season. 

Drat the luck.