Which seat can I take? It's friday!

I just looked at our proposal video on youtube.

We have 4,694 views!!
Waaaaa?! Crazy. I never thought.
Maybe we'll catch up to Rebecca Black yo.

If you haven't seen her music video titled Friday, please watch here.
Next step: You HAVE to watch Conan Obrien's Thursday music video. HILARIOUS.

We had chili for lunch with the babies yesterday.
It's MESSY, just fyi, so they have to take off their clothes and it was oh so cute!

*sorry about the grainy pictures. My phone isn't the fanciest of cameras*

Happy Tuesday friends!
Loves,
Me

Bring Spreak

We had such a good time in San Clemente!
One of Derek's best friends from high school invited us to go and stay with his family.
The Richards are so great and so generous.

That break was VERY needed.
I feel so much happier after not doing any school all week.

Here is a picture overload for you filled with love.
Requested by Kait. :)
I have lots more on my phone that I'll upload later.

We are into researching the illuminati and a shadow government right now, so we put the all seeing eye in honor of our new interests.

Trey and his sister in law heather headin' out to surf.

I don't think we relaxed for a second. We were either building this, playing paddle ball, walking on the pier, or wrestling in the sand.

My seaweed whip.

Trey and Sara Richards. Cuties.

We didn't think to put on sunscreen one day cause it was cold and overcast and we had clothes on. The sun is very tricky.

I was trying to be artistic.

Hope you enjoyed.
We sure did :)

Love,
D+A

PS...my brother gets home from his mission in 2 weeks and 3 days!!!!

A free silhouette!

Takin' a quick break from relaxin in the sun to say hi!
(slightly meant to make you jealous. Did it work?)
And to let you know about this awesome giveaway...

I think giveaways are nice, but I usually don't even try cause I never win, but I had to try for this one.

Decor Chick is giving away a free Silhouette!!
These are over $300, so this is huge.
If you craft, you'll LOVE this and crafting will be SO much easier!
If you don't craft, you will if you own one of these.
I've been dying to get one.
Check out the giveaway HERE.

...........!!!!!!!!

.......... = anxiety, stress, hard work

!!!!!! = done, excited, CALIFORNIA!

We are headed to Cali in about 6 hours.

This last week we babysat the Walker kids all week.
It was a blast.
I was SUPER stressed out until Thursday. Had a bit of a breakdown that night. I felt bad I wasn't being fun. Once Thursday came around though, we were like, super cool. But really, we had so much fun playing with Jake and Kenna. They are so great.
We feel like our brains have literally turned off studying and thinking mode. It's a weird feeling. Sometimes frustrating, but it feels so good to have spring break awaiting our arrival.

I have pictures of our St. Patrick's Day breakfast we had this morning that I will add soon.
Late I know, but every morning was nuts until today.
It was yummy and fun.
Sure love those walkers.

Pray for safe driving, no earthquakes and tsunamis, and that we can live through the radiation.
Jk, we'll be ok. We feel good about going.
But really, remember to pray for those Japanians. It's heart breaking.

(I apologize if this post is a little off/weird. I'm REALLY tired.)

5 more days

As of 2 hours ago, I'm officially worn out. Last week was crazy, this week is crazier. This week consists of 4 exams, 2 papers, another bridal shower, hopefully a hair appointment for a much needed haircut, work, and we are babysitting the walkers all week in Bountiful. I am counting down the seconds until spring break. We are going to San Clemente California for spring break.

wearesoexcited

We are both in need of a break. Our brains hurt. We have to continue exercising our brains a bit while in Cali, but the sound of waves makes learning a lot more enjoyable.

Love,
tired me

I'm havin' a moment

As I sit here doing stats homework, my mind can't stop thinking. Almost everyone I've met throughout my life is coming to mind. I could not be more grateful for so so many things. I love so many things in life, and too often don't show how grateful I am. You are probably on this list, and I'm so sorry I am not better at expressing my love and gratitude for you.

I am so grateful...

for every single person who had any part in my wedding, that Berit is dating Matt again, for my Nana who is so selfless, for my new job, for long toes so I don't have to bend over to pick things up, that Roxanne's baby is healthy, for sign language and those who taught me ASL, for Aunt Kambi who keeps me laughing, for the example, Kimeree and Phil set in having a great relationship, that my Paco (grandpa) is still alive, for Derek's patience with me when I don't want to cook or clean anything for days, that I have long eyelashes, for my only friend Candace at school (besides Derek), that things are working out with Suzy and Ben, for Chelsey Searles great photography that inspires me to still try, that I only have some facial hair to pluck instead of a whole beard(slightly sarcastic...i do have dark hair on my upper lip and chin), for Derek's great friends and their sweet wives, for the Lowry family, for the sweet letter Cosette sent when we got married, for the beautiful weather we are having right now, for Paige Ellis who was always a great example to me in high school, for my super fun and funny family, for my Dad's example of humility and 'geniusness', for Derek's great study habits he is trying, note trying, to teach me, for my strengthening families class that teaches me incredible things on how to be a better family member, for music, for my future kids who have helped me through my hardest trials, for my health, for Melissa in always being such a faithful and loyal friend, for the missionaries, that my brother Ammon on a mission gets home in 1 month and 2 days, that Derek dropped his girlfriends that waited for him on his mission and he picked me instead, for girl friends(I've never been good at making them, but those who will be my friend, oh I love them so), for my friend Ryan Halls who is so genuine and was always a huge example to me, for Randy Hyde the greatest psychologist and friend ever, for all of my friends in the therapy group that were amazing examples to me of how to get through unimaginable trials, for the boy who stood up for me when people were being mean in junior high, to my 8 six chicks for being incredible examples and friends, Sierra Ainge and her positive attitude through everything, for the comments you leave on the blog that are so supportive and remind me people do care, for my mom who can be the busiest person in the world and still be sane, for my in laws who are truly the most loving affectionate and generous people I know, for Kaitlin Gray and how long she has stayed my friend even when I wasn't a good friend, for my calculator so I don't have to do mental math which would be a disaster, for my friend Brad George who was always there for me throughout high school, for my sister Brynn who is the most inspiring and practical person in any situation, for Stephanie Nielsen who gives hope and is a great example of joy in motherhood, for Julianne Burr who is so sweet and has such a fun blog to keep me entertained during class, for craft blogs to inspire me to someday make something cool, for my patriarchal blessing, my Savior, and for Derek's unconditional love and support to me always.

I could go on, but I don't want cross the line of being obnoxious. That may have been like 13 lines up. Or one picture down.

I typed in "I'm grateful" on google images to find an inspiring image, and this is what came up. Please laugh. We sure did.

(picture taken down cause I got so sick of looking at it. It was a tattoo of a cat on a guys belly and his belly button was the bottom. Gross, but hilarious)

Please know this...

I love you and am grateful for you.

I mean every word.

If I have ever offended you, please know that I am truly sorry.

Hugs, lots of them,

Amanda

Sweet billy/cookies/eviction

A family in Derek's family's ward has a young (6/7) down syndrome boy named
Billy

Billy got the flu 2 nights ago and fell asleep on his older brother John that night. The Dad came in the next morning to wake them up for school, and Billy didn't wake up. He had passed away.
I am so heart broken for the Yates family.
I can't even imagine coping with something so sudden and tragic.
Everyone that met Billy LOVED him. He was seriously, so cute.

I loved watching his family chase him around the choir seats during sacrament meeting. It was way more entertaining than the speakers! Am I allowed to say that? :)
Please remember them in your prayers.

*******************************************************************************

I have never been one to remember St. Patricks Day, but for some reason, I have thought about it since Valentine's Day. I get really excited for holidays. As I'm writing this, I looked at my outfit. Green shirt, green bracelet, green socks.

I decided to make some St. Patricks sugar cookies. They were delicious. This is my first time making and decorating sugar cookies by myself. Big deal right? Gotta blog about it.

*************************************

Some friends/renters at our complex didn't pay rent on time.
No big deal.
They thought it would be though. So we thought we'd make it one!
We made a fake eviction warning. We thought we were so clever.
For the phone number, we put the "how to keep an idiot entertained" hotline number. What kind of immature apartment managers would do such a thing?
Definitely us.

FAVES

GOT MILK?
This is my sisters blog. She is the most inspiring person. Especially her most recent post. I truly hope I can be more like her someday.

VINTAGE REVIVALS
This girl is incredible. She is so creative. The most expensive thing in their house is $30!

NIE NIE DIALOGUES
She's wonderful.

71 TOES
I want to give special attention to this blog. It's an average family that shares their story and trials. They are fighting blindness with their sweet daughter Lucy. It's so inspiring. Her most recent post had me in tears.

*Derek and I are playing a wicked joke on some friends right now*


Love,
Derek + Manda

Mandy makes

I have now officially designed two invitations!

I ended up completely changing the last one...
BECAUSE...I lost it.
I was distraught last night.
But I stayed up until wee hours in the morning to redo the bridal invite and complete the baby shower invite.
Please may I share? Because I'm really excited and it's not very often that I can share something I MADE.

Please pardon the sharing of info.
I know you guys are niceys and not creepers.
I just don't want to go edit it out just to share it with my sweet blogging friends.

I seriously need to divorce the Picnik program and find something REAL.
We have had a good relationship though, and I think these turned out alright!
Let me know if you need an invite to something.
I enjoy it. Unless you're picky. Then don't ask.

Hugs and kisses,
Mandy
(I'm now Mandy in the hubs phone too. This is legit guys. He says I need to change my facebook name now. I'm too scared)

PS: I still haven't heard from oreo.

Plastic Oreos

I just found hard plastic chunks in my
OREO

I made sure to let OREO know, and suggested the idea of free oreos for life.
Seriously, I did.
And yes, I was eating an oreo.
Today has not been a good dieting day.

Much Love,
Mrs. Mandy
(I'm really getting used to Mandy at work. So feel free to call me Mandy. I will respond. Or Mands. Or Manda. Or Mandy Pandy Queen of Candy. Whichever you prefer.)

PS...I now leave stats with tears of Joy because I understand it perfectly. MIRACLE.
PPS...I am now officially Amanda Walker. So long Amanda Hallsted.

A Scary Scare

Before you hear the scariest story of your life, we wanted to show you our matching paper cuts.
We were so excited.
(PS...the nails are to help me break a terrible habit of I'm sure you can guess what)

We had a very scary, weird, and funny experience tonight.

I was waiting outside an apt complex while Derek ran in to deliver cookies to his home teachEEs.
20 minutes goes by.
He comes back and taps on the window and smiles at me.
I turn for 2 seconds to unlock the door for him, I turn back and he is completely out of site.
There were no trees or bushes to hide behind mind you. Just a nice pretty lawn.
I thought for sure he would be hiding behind the car or something, so I put the car in reverse to scare him. Well after he didn't pop up from behind the car. I got out and looked.
Nothing. I called his name. Nothing.
I started getting scared, but was more confused than anything.
I didn't think there was any way I could have just imagined that, but I seriously didn't know what else to think. All of these scary thoughts of him getting murdered or kidnapped were going through my mind. So dramatic I know, but I seriously didn't know what else to think. Downtown Salt Lake is WILD I tell you.
About 15 minutes goes by.
I had searched everywhere, tried knocking on the door of the apartment, and he was nowhere. I didn't want to drive home, and then have him show up and me be gone. He didn't have his phone. I called my Dad to ask what I should do. I was SO SCARED at this point.
Well to make a long story short, I prayed a couple times, he showed up, and I have never been so relieved or so confused in my life.
Turns out he had "raced me home" and was waiting for me to show up since I had the keys. He started worrying I had gotten in a bad crash since I never showed up.
Might you call us, "Worry Warts".
Definitely one of the weirdest but scariest experiences of our lives.
I went back and read this and realize how dumb it sounds.
But this has made me more grateful for what I have.
We never should take for granted what we have.
I have been so blessed and am so blessed.
Sometimes we forget how blessed we are, until the blessing is gone.

I recently have been reminded of how good life is, by some things not going my way. I got kicked out of volunteering for my prescription being 1 week expired that I took the day of my drug test, my job was going to kick me out until some social security name issues were worked out which will be a while, and school was way too much to handle. Small but big things.
Things are getting better, and I am so much more grateful for the good times, after weeks like the last few. Sometimes I just gotta force a smile, and look forward to the blessings to come at the end of the trial. They always do. :)