A few of my Favorite things Part 1

I have been absent from the blogging world for a long time due to a lot of things that have been going on-so rather than bore anyone with the crazy details of my everyday life, I figured that I am long overdue for a "Things I am thankful for" post. It will go in phases because as I was thinking, I realized that I have a TON of things to be thankful for. The first thing that I am most thankful for is my family. We are the wonder known as the Barlow family and we started out like this:Steve and Jane:the early years. This is one of my most favorite pictures of my Mom and Dad and they still look at each other like this and make each other laugh. Love it. Over the years, we have grown and grown:We have added two wives and now 4 grandchildren and have expanded to this:
Together we make quite a diverse group too-mostly because we are all so talented:) Anyways, no matter what, through thick and thin, big hair and bad hair days, we are always there and we enjoy each other's company. I have been able to spend quite a bit of time with them over the past couple of months and it has made me appreciate our family that much more. I am going home for 10 days of fun at Christmas and can't wait! This is why I am a lucky girl...

My So-Called Life

I have been a little crazy busy as of late, but I thought that I would take a minute to let you all know what I have been up to:
1. I got to hang out with the greatest guys from my ward (including the Bishop) when I was the MC of the Mr. 64th Ward Pageant. Here they all are at the end of the pageant in their "Evening Wear" and notice their sashes that have their phone numbers on them: They all did great and competed in the talent, beach wear, evening wear and question portions and I got the best seat in the house. I also got to take a picture with them all, but the girl who took it won't give it to me because, yes, she is like that.
2. I got to attend a few events for my Fine Arts class and especially enjoyed the African Children's Choir. If they come anywhere near you, you should rearrange your schedule to go. Totally worth it.
3. I got to go home last week to do some recruiting for Utah State. We met with some really cool students and school counselors and even got to host an Open House at the Pleasanton Hotel at a room that was right next to the bar. Excellent. But best of all, I got to hang out with the cutest baby in the world:The only bummer is that I came back to Logan with a huge cold, so I am a little under the weather but determined to be healthy by Wednesday when I go back to Cali. Oh, and we also got to see the Twilight movie on Saturday...yummy!
So that's me right now in a nutshell and the combination of working, traveling, group projects and finals in the next couple of weeks makes Anne a tired girl, but it is all totally worth it. Hopefully.

Flashback Friday

There hasn't been a Flashback Friday in my world for a while, so I thought I would dig way back in the archives. I am pretty sure that this picture explains why I don't like the zoo. Enjoy.

There's a CHP in my Family

So, Laura and I just spent a whirlwind weekend at home with the fam and had a blast! First, we saw Chuck Norris in the Salt Lake Airport:
I pretended to be taking a picture of Laura in the decorative cob webs so that Chuck wouldn't get suspicious. Was it really Chuck Norris? Yes-that's our story and we're sticking to it! Then, we got to go see our brother Mike graduate from the California Highway Patrol Academy/look for future husbands. Mike got Tasered with Boatwright here, so he decided to join the family:Apparently once you have been tased with someone, you know him well enough to introduce him to your single sisters. Luckily, he laughed at our jokes so he is in. Besides the fact that Dad got stung by a vengeful bee, it was a great day! And, we got to hang out with the cutest little flower in the world:All in all it was so fun, except for the fact that our flight coming back to SLC was late and we didn't get home til after 2am, you get a bunch of Barlows together and it is a great time! I am so proud of my brother, Officer Barlow, and my parents who worked so hard to campaign for the Yes on Prop 8 effort-which even included Jane standing on the road in a torrential downpour holding signs and being yelled at to, "Go Back to Utah!" Like that would be such a bad thing...

Seriously? It is time to take action. Seriously...

So, it has been a while since I got riled up enough to do another Seriously post, but alas, now I am. There have been some things going on in the news and in the world around me lately that leads me to ask: Seriously?
1. I am very passionate about politics, especially right now when we are in the midst of two very important events in our history: the election of our new President and the Proposition 8 defining families in California. To my fellow Americans: We are very lucky to live in a country where we are able to vote and have a say in who leads our country. We are blessed to live in the land of the free because of our brave soldiers past, present, and future who have volunteered to fight for the freedoms that we enjoy every day. If you think that your vote doesn't count or that an issue does not effect you, it does. If Proposition 8 is defeated in California, mark my words, it will start a wildfire across the other states of this great nation and pretty soon our children will be taught in their schools that it is okay for the Prince to marry the Prince. Seriously. So, my plea to you is this: Educate yourself on the issues and vote what you feel is best for you and your family. Let me repeat. VOTE. It counts. It is a privilege. The future of our country is not decided by the registered voters. It is decided by the registered voters who vote. Seriously.
2. According to Proposition 8 that is on the ballot in California, to vote yes, you are voting yes to define marriage as "between a man and a woman..." and amending the Constitution of California so that the law will never change. You are not voting to have any rights taken away from anyone. If this Proposition is defeated, it will continue to be legal for anyone to marry anyone. It will become legal for any 2 consenting adults to marry anyone or anything. That's right, anything. It will also become mandatory that teachers are required to teach about same sex marriage in the schools. Grade schools. It will become illegal for a church (any church, not just the LDS church) to refuse anyone the right to adopt or get married in their church. This should be a scary thing to anyone who values the definition of a family. Like I said, if this gets defeated in California,I am positive that within the next 5 years it will be on the ballot of many other states with a lot of force behind it. Our Prophet and Priesthood leaders have asked us to take a stand against something that is attacking our morals. There have been many stories on the news that have interviewed "Faithful members of the Church" who state that they do not agree that the church is getting involved in this issue. All I have to say to these members is this: Maybe you should look up the definition of Faithful. Because I am pretty sure you have it wrong. Seriously.

3. On another completely different note: Halloween is coming! I love it. Seriously. I do not love, however, that some people think that Halloween=modesty free day. Just because you are wearing a costume does not mean it is okay to be scantily clad. Enough said. Seriously.

Yikes! The 3rd and Final Tag

Okay, so I have to admit that I have enjoyed the tags of the past week, so here is the last one. Hopefully you now know everything you ever wanted to know and more:

I am...Happy
I know...lots of random facts
I want...world peace. Really.
I have...good friends
I dislike...mean people
I miss...Sammie. Everyday.
I feel...busy
I hear...the humming of my computer and good music
I smell...like American Eagle (the green bottle)
I crave...bread sticks from Olive Garden
I cry...often. At commercials, TV shows, the news, when I am sad, or just because.
I search...for a new phone
I wonder...where I will be when I am done with my degree
I regret...not saying the right thing sometimes
I love...good weather
I care...about other's happiness
I worry...about the future of our country and California after the election
I remember...only the good stuff about people
I believe...the Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us
I sang...to the radio in the shower this morning
I dance...only when no one is looking
I don't...get in bad moods
I argue...about things that are near and dear to me
I write...a lot of papers right now
I win...when I try hard or bet at bowling
I lose...focus around 3:30 in the afternoon
I wish...that curly hair didn't equal frizziness
I listen...whenever anyone needs me to
I can usually be found watching...The Office
I am scared...of being alone
I need...lots of hugs
I forget...to hold a grudge
I am happy to be...a girl!

Yikes I have been tagged (three times now!)...Part 2

My next tag has come from Jen and I just have to list 6 Unspectacular Quirks about myself. Feel free to do this one too...although I prefer to think of them as "spectacular" quirks-so here goes:
1. I am a symmetrical thinker. What I mean by this is that I have to have everything hanging on the wall centered with the furniture centered and balanced. The pictures also have to be straight. I am always making sure that this happens in my house and in my office and I am sure that I drive people crazy, although I do get calls from friends asking to help them hang things...
2. The toilet seat lid in my bathroom always has to be down. If I walk in and it is up, the first thing I do is make sure that it is down-I think this is mostly because I am afraid of things falling in and I read a study a few years ago that said the water can spray up to 6 feet when flushed. Bleck.
3. I am always thinking of ways to decorate my house. It takes a long time and happens in bits and pieces, but I love to put the personal touch on everything that I have and make sure that it involves my personality. Here is a sample of a shelf in my room:
There is a pic of me when I am little, my Mom when she was little, my Grandma's copy of the book, "Anne's House of Dreams", a snow globe from Florence, a picture of the Savior that has been with me since I moved to Rexburg for my first year of college, an old world globe from my Grandparents, a handmade flower from a trip to Hawaii, and a few more things that speak for themselves. I love it every time I look at it.
4. I dance like a middle class white girl. I do not have the beat. In fact, I only dance when no one is looking because I am afraid that 911 will be called with the report that I am having convulsions.
5. When I go bowling, after I throw the ball, I strike my Wonder Woman pose of standing there with my hands on my hips. It is just a reflex-but come to think about it, I do stand like that a lot (refer to the above pic of me striking the pose). It means a lot of making fun of me when I am bowling, but I am really good at it if anyone needs me to be in a bowling league (or League of Justice).
6. I am entertained very easily. I can do pretty much anything and have a good time. This probably stems from the fact that growing up, if we ever said "I'm Bored" to my Dad, he would tell us to find something to do, or HE would find something for us that would be much less fun than whatever we could find. Thus, my brother Mike and I are both entertained very easily.
So, there are some quirks about me and I am sure that if you have ever lived with me, none of them are a surprise. But, if you are looking for something to do, call me-I am up for anything. Just don't ask me to go dancing...

Yikes! I have been tagged...twice! Part 1

So I have thus far avoided being tagged, which made me a little sad because I always see the tags on other people's blogs and they make me laugh. Never fear, though, I always had faith that someday I would get tagged. That someday happened this week, so here goes:

The "5-Things" tag from Katie:

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Working at a health club running the youth programs and a men's basketball league
2. Living with my favorite friends Cinda, Janae and Casey
3. Celebrating that smoking was banned in all California restaurants
4. Driving a Nissan Sentra-that was a little dented in the back from a run-in with a hit-and-run driver
5. Hanging out with my family that looked like this:

5 Things on my To-Do list:
1. Go grocery shopping
2. Hang up the frames in my living room that I repainted last night
3. Attend a performance of "Thriller" at the Kent Concert Hall
4. Find some cute jeans
5. Cook some good pasta with homemade sauce from the Magic Bullet

5 Snacks I Enjoy:
1. Apples and Peanut Butter
2. Asian Pears (seriously they are sooo good!)
3. Chips and Salsa from Chili's
4. Anything Chocolate-but mostly brownies
5. Pumpkin Egg-Nog Shakes

5 Things I would do if I were a Millionaire (after I contributed to the Humanitarian fund):
1. Buy Property
2. Get a gas-efficient car (although I do love the Jeep-he is kinda expensive at the pumps)
3. Make sure my family has what they need
4. Travel
5. Get my Master's Degree with the luxury of being able to concentrate only on school

5 Places I've lived:
1. Sacramento
2. Pleasanton
3. Rexburg
4. Logan
That's all! I HATE moving-although I have lived numerous places in Logan...

5 People I Tag:
Don't worry, I won't tag any of you, but if you would like to do this one-it is kinda fun, so you should!
I also got tagged by Jen-but I don't have time to finish that one too. So, until next time-dance like no one is looking at least once this weekend:)

Reba and Kelly in Concert? Oh My!

This past Friday, Laura and I went to the event that we have been planning on since August: Reba McIntire and Kelly Clarkson in Concert at the Stadium formerly known as the Delta Center. It was pretty much all we hoped it would be and more! We started the night off by going to Iggy's and then just headed over to check out our 7th row seats. We were a little early...
We had about an hour to wait, so we just people watched, trying to decide if people were Reba or Kelly Fans. Then, we got an unexpected treat:
That's right, it was Barbara Jean from the Reba show! She came out and was hilarious! When she left, we were a little sad, but had a sneaking suspicion that we hadn't seen the last of her. We started getting really excited for the big moment when the girls showed up and we screamed our heads off when they finally started singing! They started with "Sweet Dreams" by Annie Lennox which was an interesting choice, but they could sing the phone book and still sound awesome!
They sang all of my favorite Reba and Kelly songs for two whole hours! We stood up and danced and sang at the top of our lungs...
We even got to see Barbara Jean again when they sang "I'm a Survivor" because don't you worry, she tried to sing it with them...

All-in-all, it was a fantastic night and made me an even bigger fan of these ladies. Although I am pretty sure that I can't be a much bigger fan of Kelly...I own her movie, "From Justin to Kelly", the American Idol first season highlights DVD, and all of her CDs and now I have seen her in concert 3 times! And, I am pretty sure that my sister Laura and Kelly were separated at birth, so that seals the deal. She is even worth my ears still ringing after 3 days and my hair getting huge by the end of the concert (humid stadium + my hair = me not wondering why I don't have a boyfriend)

So, thanks ladies for a great concert, and believe me, if either one of you are anywhere near us in the future, we will for sure be coming to your concert!

USU vs BYU Part 2: Dear Aggies

Dear Aggies:
While I will always be a true-blooded Aggie who loves the spot where the sagebrush grows, I have to say that I have a hard time being happy with the state of our football team. Now, I grew up in a football house so I appreciate a good program like the one run by Notre Dame great Lou Holtz. What I have a hard time appreciating is that I attend a school that has now been touted to be, as ESPN so delicately put it, "the worst football program in the nation." SO, as I watched my beloved Aggies play last Friday night against BYU, I thought of a couple of things that you might want to think about for your next game:
1. Although you play in a refurbished stadium, it does not mean that your reputation for being really bad has changed. It just means that now we get to watch you with more beautiful surroundings. With better refreshments.
2. We, as your fans, will always be there to support you, although it makes others question our intelligence. For instance, you are really good at getting the "Aggie First Down", but as far as the other 3 downs that it takes to score, you kind of struggle. Maybe we could start with little goals, like concentrating on getting the ever-elusive Second Down. Maybe we need to have some bright lights in the end zone so that you know which way to run and how much effort it will take to get there. Until then, we, your fans, will continue to show our undying support by wearing things like this:
3. True, I have never been on a football field in full pads waiting for the quarterback to throw me a pass so I don't understand what kind of pressure that you must be under. I do know, however, that if I was the one catching the ball, I would want to have the opportunity to be wide open, standing there waiting for the ball to be thrown so that I could catch it and gain some yards. I am pretty sure that when the opportunity came and the quarterback threw the ball right at me that I would a) keep my eye on the ball and b) wait until I caught the ball to start running down the field. Because this happened a few times during the game, I am pretty sure that this may be something that the coach needs to go over in practice: catch ball then run.
4. Last but not least, I think that maybe we need to go over our colors. When on the field, look around at what color jersey you are wearing and then make sure that you only throw the ball to people that are wearing the same color that you are. And here is another tip to the quarterback: the reason that they always know where you are throwing the ball is that you need to be quick quick quick to throw because the other team can see where you are looking.
Ah, how I love you Aggies, but sometimes you make it tough to love you. I have faith that one day you will be a program that everyone will be proud of but until then, I will go to your games at least once a year and look cute with Shayna and Laura wearing our game shirts.

BYU vs USU Part 1

This is just a quick post to share that whilst we were at the game on Friday night, we were privileged to sit behind some BYU fans and their kids. To our surprise, we looked down and there was a woman in front of us who was breast feeding not one, but two of her kids and no they weren't twins. She fed them 6 times in one hour, so apparently she should contact Ben and Jerry's because she has plenty of milk. And, being a warm night, she didn't feel the need to cover up, so I took a picture (not as disturbing as it sounds). This is what we saw:

So, as a concerned citizen of Logan my plea is this: Although it may be okay to just flash body parts and feed your children in public in Provo, we here in Logan would prefer you cover up. Especially at a football game. Where people can see you.
And this is from the school that will not play our basketball team in the Spectrum because the fans are too rowdy...seriously.

The Magic Bullet...It truly is Magic!

I have been totally obsessed with a little kitchen gadget called The Magic Bullet. It truly is magic like they say. I got hooked on their infomercial and now my kitchen turns into it's very own infomercial every time we pull it out to use it-which is at least 3-4 times a week, usually more. I make fruit smoothies on a regular basis: One big bag of frozen fruit in the freezer + fat free yogurt + some juice or Crystal Light = a yummy cup of 2 or more servings of fruit! I have also made some other concoctions: Dip = fat free sour cream + fat free ranch dressing flavoring + frozen spinach. Tomato sauce for pasta, pesto sauce, alfredo sauce, bean dips,the greatest chocolate banana peanut butter concoction ever and many more possibilities! We have also had Magic Bullet parties where everyone can make their own smoothie to enjoy. Really, if you are on the fence about buying one of these, you can come to my house and we will show you how fantastic they are! If you are looking for a new kitchen gadget, the Magic Bullet should be on the top of your list. Seriously:)

Do you want veggies with that? Seriously? Seriously...

So, I realize that you do not have to go through an extensive amount of training to be able to work in the food service industry and that most of the employees at the Hub here at the beloved Taggart Center (where I work and spend an average of 40-50 hours a week)are some of our best who are on work study. But, I do ask that they go over one thing whilst in training: When you ask someone "How can I help you?" to stop for a second and listen for the answer. I had the following conversation with one of the attention-span-challenged-employees today and just had to share, because I am sure that you have all had a similar experience:
Cute Hub Employee: How can I help you?
Me: I would like a pork and veggie bowl please.
CHE: Ok, would you like veggies with that?
Me: Um, yes that would be great
CHE: Is it okay if you have one of these pre-made pork bowls?
Me: Sure, that would be great
CHE: Okay here you go (handing me the veggie-less pork bowl)
Me: Thanks, but can I get veggies with that?
CHE: Oh yeah, you wanted veggies with that?
Me: (wondering if maybe I have not been speaking English)Yes, that would be great.
CHE goes to the back with my bowl and then comes back up to the front empty-handed.
CHE: Would you like some help?
Me: Yes, that would be great. I would just like some veggies on that pork bowl that you just took in the back.
CHE: Oh, yeah, okay be right back.
Me: (to the girl standing behind me in line) When CHE comes back and says, "Hi how can I help you" she really doesn't mean it.
Girl behind me in line: Apparently!
CHE comes back with said pork bowl this time with veggies. Hooray!
CHE: Now did you want this to be the light option? (Now the light option is just taking some of the food out of the bowl and charging less)
Me: No, not really...
CHE: Okay, good, because we already made it and it is not the light option. You did know that veggies cost extra
Me: You mean it costs extra to actually have veggies in the pork and veggie bowl?
CHE: Yeah
Me: (Thinking that I will just explain to the check-out girl who is one of my friends that I just have the pork and veggie bowl, nothing more, nothing less)
Okay, I'll take it now, Thanks!
CHE: Okay, thanks...is there anything else that I can help you with?
Me: (Thinking that I do not have any more time to waste on getting my food because my stomach is growling and I am starting to get a little shaky)
No Thanks! Have a good day!
CHE: (to the girl behind me who has witnessed the whole thing) Can I help You?
Girl Behind Me: (speaking very slowly) Yes, I would like a bowl of plain rice and some soy sauce.
CHE: Okay, would you like veggies with that?
Seriously? Seriously...

Pretty Pictures Part 2

Once upon a time there was a pact that certain pictures would not be found on the internet. Alas someone from the land of North Logan posted them on Facebook, so the pact has been broken. Thus you will be able to enjoy some of the fruits of what the fair maidens of A203 like to call "Fun with Photobooth".

Sometimes I am really happy to have my picture taken, and sometimes I am just a big square! Clockwise from Left: Michelle, Anne, Kendra and Melissa

I had a headache this big...and really we weren't on drugs!

This is one of the backgrounds that you are supposed to be able to look like you are in Paris. Well, Melissa is very excited to be in Paris, but apparently dark curly hair is not allowed:(

This is the famous Superhero pose that is seen often by everyone in my world and there are pics of it from various stages in my life-I have always loved Wonderwoman!

When bored in Logan...

These past couple of weeks have been a little busy, but not without fun. A couple of weekends ago we went down to Brigham City for Peach Days. Let me describe Peach Days to you: if there was a movie being made about someone from a small town and they needed a place to film-this would be it! They shut down Main Street and there were carnival rides and window displays, old men sitting in their lawn chairs in front of the stores, Harley riders complete with mullets and American flags, and a dance presentation in front of Town Hall. I, of course, am entertained easily, so I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and took in every whiff of cotton candy I could. We also ate lunch at Maddox and bought fruit at a fruit stand, so the experience was complete.
This past weekend, my roomies decided to go camping for the last nice weather of the season, so we headed up the canyon. I decided that I would go up for the evening and eat a yummy dinner of dutch oven chicken and potatoes and then enjoy a night of sleep in my own bed. Lucky for me, I was still there when our neighbor at the next camp decided that he would honor us with a song on his banjo. He introduced himself at Ugly Earl (which I immediately decided to change to Crazy Earl and he was okay with that), and made Melissa be his helper while he sang a song about a dog. She was great! She barked at all the right times and wagged her tongue when she was supposed to...Crazy Earl was thrilled.

Then, when we were all finally home from the weekend, we decided to play around with the laptop and take some fun pics. 2 hours and 98 pictures later, we were still laughing our heads off and decided that we are very easily entertained! Here are some samples of some of the best ones that we took, although I am sure that we will be taking more:)



So, that is the report of what happens when 4 middle class white girls armed with a laptop do when we are bored...

Seriously? Seriously...

Anyone who is a fan of Saturday Night Live knows that Seth and Amy do a segment called "Really?!?" where they observe some of the stupid things that people do and ask "Really? You just did that? Really!?!" So I decided that I have had a few experiences in the past few weeks that prompted me to put my own spin on the whole Really? experience only I like to use the word "Seriously"...so here goes-keep in mind that these are real things that have happened to me recently:
1. While standing in line at the grocery store, we were talking and there was an older gentleman in a suit behind us on a cell phone. We were just chatting like normal and then he shooshed us! Seriously? I am sorry that you can't hear while you talk on that phone that has no cord. While standing on those legs that are not broken. Seriously.
2. I was waiting in line at the Registrar's office on campus and an older lady behind me was clearly staring at me. I smiled at her, so she starts to reach for my hair and says, "Is your hair real?" Seriously? I can only assume that she was wondering if my mane of big hair is naturally curly or a perm, but there are better ways to ask this. And if I don't know you, please don't touch my hair. If you want to scare a curly-haired girl-threaten to comb your fingers through her hair. They will get stuck. Seriously.
3. We were at a dinner with some friends and a couple of other acquaintances that I didn't know very well and someone had brought a delicious-looking salad that had raspberries and avocadoes in it. I am highly allergic to all things avocado, so I didn't take any salad. No big deal, just didn't take any. So, everyone starts to rave about the salad, and the salad-maker looks at my salad-less plate and asks if I want some. I politely say that I will pass, and she inquires as to why. My roommate says that it is because I am allergic and the salad maker procedes to make the moment awkward by asking, "Well, how much do you have to eat before you have a bad reaction?" Seriously? Is there a good reaction when you are allergic to something? Seriously. As a personal rule, I try not to see how much my body can take of something before my throat just closes up and my eyes swell shut (Think Hitch). Seriously.
4. My Bishop,trying to be ever so helpful, just informed me a while ago that the reason that I am not married is because I am too busy. Seriously? Is that really the reason? I don't even know what that really means, but I am pretty sure that there are probably other reasons and that Mr. Right is not sitting around thinking,"Wow, she's fantastic and I would totally date her if she was only just sitting at home doing nothing." Seriously.
I think that some of the funniest things happen when people don't really think about what they are saying. Don't worry, I have more. Seriously.

Flashback Friday...Reunion Time Already

In light of deciding that I will be going to my High School reunion in February, I have seriously started my effort to get in shape (I also have a class where we have to run a timed mile, so that scares me more than my classmates). Here is a pic of what my High School friends know me as so I will become the Incredible Shrinking woman in the next couple of months. Yikes.

Goodbye to August....My most favorite month of the Year!

It has been a long and crazy month of fun things and lots of changes. I love the month of August and always have... and not just because it has the 19th in it! We had lots of fun here in Logan and in Cali and now that school has started, everyone is back and all is right with the world! I love the feeling on campus when school starts and there is a buzz of new life and busy-ness and excitement as students start their college careers. Here in the Admissions office, we get a lot busier and I love it! I am taking 7 credits and working full time, so I will be a little crazy too, but I love love love my classes. We took some pictures on campus that will be in all of the publications and all in all survived the first week of school. We even got to listen to the vocal stylings of Carmen Rasmusen of American Idol Fame! I do have some fun things to look forward to in September too...so we will see how things go.

Flashback Friday

Back by popular demand is Flashback Friday! In honor of school starting again on Monday, I had to post some of my favorite back to school pics ever! As you can see, the Barlow kids could not wait to get back in the classroom:)

Best Birthday Weekend Ever!

Some people believe in a BirthDAY...I believe in a BirthWEEK! I went home on Thurday night the 14th for the weekend with Laura to celebrate my Birthday. It turned out to be the perfect weekend! On Friday, my Mom, Laura, Chel, and I took Sammie to her first chick flick "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and we had a great time. Sammie was very good the whole time and we enjoyed the movie. Then that night, Laura, Jen and I went with the parents to the A's game. It was a blast! We got to watch some good baseball-the A's won for a change-and just hang out. Saturday, we went to another A's game during the day with the entire family...we had been a little neglectful because we waited a whole 7 weeks before introducing the newest Barlow girl to the A's. As you can see from above, she had a great time and so did we. She was dressed head-to-toe in A's clothing which included a blanket and it was the cutest thing ever! After the game we went to the Cheesecake Factory. It is yummy there and if you ever want to score major points with me...buy me the Tuxedo Cheesecake. It really is heaven in the shape of Cheesecake. Sunday we hung out and had dinner with the fam. My Dad is a master barbecuer, so we had Tri-Tip and it was a close second to the Cheesecake for the title of heaven. Monday involved shopping with the girls and getting really good deals and then flying back to SLC late Monday night. I stayed in the estate with Laura and then we had lunch at the Capitol on my actual Birthday. She was a very good hostess. I shopped my way back to Logan and went to dinner at Cafe Sabor with the roommates. When we came home a bunch of people came over for cake and to surprise me on my big 25th:) All-in-all, I think that I am getting this birthday thing right and have had a great few days! I am very lucky to have such great family and friends around to help me celebrate on my birthday. It was great!

I Heart the Olympics

I have to apologize now to any of you that were hoping to see me anywhere outside my house for the next few weeks. You see, when the Olympics come on I kind of go into a coma whilst watching them. I can't seem to tear myself away. I love all things Olympics and I of course get the chills when something miraculous happens. Like last night with the men's relay: does it get better than the Americans? Note to the French team: When you decide to shoot your mouth off and state to the newspapers that the whole reason you came to China is to smash the Americans, you make our men all the more pumped up to make you eat your words. I think that last night's race where we beat the French and set a world record will go down as one of the greatest Olympic moments in history.

Another one of my favorites are the commentators. After the above mentioned moment, one of the announcers screamed, "Who's talking now?!" Hilarious. Another favorite: Bob Costas commentating the Opening Ceremonies (which were also amazing by the way) and stating, "In case any of you are wondering why everyone is sweating, it's because it is 85 degrees in here, Nary a breeze." The other announcer picked up on the use of the word nary by stating, "Nary, huh? Great word!" They are always being witty with eachother, so listen carefully and you will have nary a disappointment.

Ah the wonder that is the Olympics. I love them!

Camping-fun or not fun?

I haven't quite decided how I feel about camping, but I do know that I am not the best sleeper under the stars. It is pretty and everything, but I have a little bit of a fear of being eaten in my sleep. There was even a time that I thought I heard a bear, but it turns out it was just a boy in my ward snoring. I am also not a fan of being dirty. I think that I am a one-nighter as far as camping goes, but I did have a great time camping with my favorites. One of the Bishopric's sons named Keaton decided that Joe is his new best friend, so we had to take a picture of the new buddies and here is a great morning after pic of me, my roomies Michelle(with the bandana) and Melissa. All in all it was a fun experience, but we were all exhausted after. So my vote for the next camping trip involves a cabin...and beds...and no snoring boys that sound like bears.