created a new word. Spread it around.
What do you think?
Christian + Karaoke + New Year's Eve + Air Guitar + Creedence Clearwater Revival + Not Knowing The Words = Really Funny
I guess Christian digs for nuggets when he gets nervous. Who knew? Can you all hear me laughing very annoyingly? You're welcome.
sofa from against the wall to a great open area in front of our exceptionally large window. The natural light bounces off the white fabric and makes the room seem so fresh. I also noticed that all the pictures that I like of family rooms all have a coffee table of some sort. I especially like the bold fabric on this one.
Dutch door and see the silhouettes hanging on the wall, the delicious green kitchen, the red armoire that my brother made, the leather couch that the children jump off of onto piles of blankets, the fireplace hearth where they sit together as a cozy family, the larged framed Family Proclamation on the wall showing their family beliefs, the uncovered windows leading to the backyard with orange trees dressed in lanterns and the soon-to-be Mulberry Bungalow. It's a very comforting sight for anyone. No matter who you are, you feel at home. I don't know about you, but that's how I want my home to feel. So, I bought a coffee table and purchased a few things that don't necessarily "go together" but I love them. I'll post some pictures after I complete a few finishing touches. Does anyone out there have a few decorating tips that they live by?
It was such fun to spend time with my in-laws. I really feel like we've moved to a new level in our relationship. We played their Wii for hours and busted up at the sound the cow makes when it jumps on the racing Wii Play game. We talked as we made orange rolls, enchiladas and set the table. We shared Christmas traditions around the dinner table and we laughed until we cried as we played games after Christmas breakfast. David's sister and I sang together at the Christmas program and I felt so good when someone at church took David's mom aside and said, "David's wife is lovely. He did very well. You must be so happy." Yep, still smiling.
I love my family. We went to a Christmas concert last weekend in Tempe and then headed over to Mill Avenue for a little gelato after. Only in Arizona can you eat gelato outside in December.
David made funny faces
My mom insisted we have a sisters and sisters-in-law picture.
Then, the photographer insisted we have a bridesmaid picture
Oh, wait, what? You want to see a picture of the bride and groom?
Aren't weddings fun?
Orange
The first thing you should know about Sarah is that she has phenomenal quilt-making skills. It seems that she makes one a month and if you saw the beauty and detail of these quilts, it would make you want to pay whatever it took to get her to make you one. I was lucky enough to receive one of her masterpieces as a wedding gift. She is so talented at knowing what is in style and then combining that knowledge with your personal tastes. I would feel confident letting her pick anything out for me to wear, eat, do or decorate with. She has made various quilts for members of my family and every single one is prized and loved. She features her recent quilts on her blog often too so it's a treat to see what she's working on.
Sarah is also very giving . . . but I'm betting you've already guessed that when I mentioned the several quilts that she has hand-made and selflessly given to people with nothing in return. Another thing you may have guessed is that when she and Mark got married, they combined 2 families into one - not an easy task but because of Sarah's unselfish and giving personality, she swooped up my delicious nephew as one of her own thus combining the two families and bringing eternal bliss to everyone related. That takes a very special person and that's what she is. We all love her incredibly!
Melissa
Melissa is married to quite possibly the biggest tease on the planet. I believe I was a teenager when she married her husband and those years of insecurity and emotion did not go well with his incessant rib-poking, silly jokes and teasing of me and the other teenage cousins that I hung around at family parties. We all secretly thought that Melissa's husband was really cute (in an "older cousin way") and I know that I secretly wished that I could muster up the courage to make fun back. And all along, there stood Melissa who would occasionally let out a comment in her husband's direction to let him know that he better stop bugging us. It was always said very half-heartedly, and she would probably give him a little pat on the bum when she said it, but I remember thinking that I knew that she got the most teasing of us all - at home . . . and she must have a lot of patience and good fun in her. I was right. She does.
Quite possibly the most important thing is that her sugar cookies are as good, easy and as fun to make as they look. I am NOT KIDDING. She is a baker-pro! It is uncanny how mean her cakes, pies and cookies are. She should look like Paula Deen but in reality, she looks like Heidi Klum.
Karren 
Devowered. Karren is also really, really, really brilliant. If you knew her family, you would not be surprised. I mean, they’re all brilliant. It’s quite ridiculous. I've heard a rumor that my uncle has a strict rule that before one of his children is allowed to date a person, that person must be able to successfully play an intelligent game of Scrabble with the family, probably using words like "perfunctory" and "antediluvian". She won a Merrill J. Bateman Oustanding award at the J.W. Marriott School of Business where she received her Undergraduate Degree. 
Here's another article. I told you she is smart.
StrawbsHe introduced himself as "Strawberry Steve" one day in church and has been known as "Strawbs" ever since. His red hair gives it away. Strangely, finding the right words to describe my brother is harder than I thought but his delightful fiance thought of some great adjectives. "Stalwart" is one of those words. I just love that she came up with that. Just saying the word out loud almost makes it so. Strawbs is committed to doing what is right. He never waivers in his dedication to his family, his religion and his goals..jpg)
Another great thing about my brother is what a peacemaker he is. You see, I'm almost certain that Strawbs is the only person in my family with whom I've never had a fight with. He's super nice to every one in the world. Every picture from our childhood, with the two of us in it, usually has Strawbs' chubby little arms around me or else he is laying a big kiss on my cheek. Being surrounded by brothers, I never wanted to play Legos, Transformers or Micromachines so Strawbs played Cabbage Patch with me a few times . . . maybe even Barbies. As we grew into our teenage years, I got nerdy glasses and Strawbs grew a huge bush of thick, red hair as well as a singing group of 5 boys called Euphony 5. Being annoyingly boy crazy, I would desperately make treats for those boys as a bribe to get them to even look in my direction. Strawbs never said anything around them to make me feel bad even though I’m sure he was annoyed with my pathetic attempts for attention (except the one time that he told his best friend that I was in love with him). I also love that he laughs really loud at my jokes so that it covers up how loudly I am laughing myself. Even if they are pity laughs, he is REALLY good at them.
Strawbs is a wonderful photographer. He has taken many pictures of family reunions, portraits, weddings, vacations and has somehow taught himself to be really good at it. So good, in fact, that he started himself a little business called "Orange Life Photography". Don't you love that name and the logo? Strawbs is eternally optimistic and "orange life" perfectly describes his personality.
He is getting married on Saturday to a really wonderful girl that we all like a lot. We're all really jazzed about the whole thing - especially since we all get to go to Seattle for the wedding! His website is rarely updated (like, since February) but here's his photography website and here's their wedding site and his Flickr site.
alice k{i}nd
Alice is the busy mother of 3 children. She drives them to and from school, lessons, activities and thousands of other things. She has a singing group for children, a time-consuming church calling, a {really funny and cool} 
husband and various other activities that take up her blogging time. Be sure to check her blog for sporadic postings. It is very fun read . . . especially when she writes about something her adorable children say or do. See Alice here. 
EldonMy cousin, Eldon, could have possibly been on my "stranger no danger" list were it not for blogging. Being 15ish years older than myself, we never really spent much time socializing at the family Christmas party . . . especially when our other 90 or so cousins were all there to take up our precious cousin time. Needless to say, I had no idea when I was growing up what a riot he is! Reading his blog has not only let me get to know my cousin a little better but I have also learned a few things from him:
1) Living in San Diego is a dream. Like, I didn't already know that.
2) His wife and children are blonde beauties and he is madly in love with his wife.
3) He seemingly has a very stylish and glamourous work life, including traveling the world and eating interesting things.
4) He is a bit of a crazy person when it comes to ice cream and pumpkin carving.
5) He is a really good Dad.
6) He is super "SoCal" (and by my standards, really cool).
7) He respects women.
Reading Eldon's blog is a little treat for anyone with even half a sense of humor. The experiences he has are pretty commonplace but the way he describes each one and how he reacted, will make you giggle (or perhaps "Guffaw") as you read. His writing style is brutally honest, and therefore, hilarious. Do yourself a favor and read here.
C Jane
Plus, she doesn't get enough credit for how beautiful her house is. She mostly gets credit for being clever, cunning, hilarious and fun to be around. Check out all the fun here. 
NieNie
exceptionally kind. She is not faking the love she has for my brother or her children. She genuinely loves everything about them and helps them be better.
Oliver (3) is an adorable handful. Stephanie has allowed Oliver to experiment with his own boundaries and in the process has molded a little boy with a huge imagination and a love for adventure.
My mom's house is very yellow. Not, like bright yellow or even mustard yellow, but a very muted and hardly noticable yellow. It's very pretty and I've always liked it. The outside matches the inside and it's happy and cheerful - just like my mom.
The truth of this picture is astounding.
Remember how cool and hardcore we were in front of the British Museum?
Remember how you played the lute at the edge of the Irish Sea like a leprechan . . .
Rememer how high you jumped at Hamlet’s red doors?
Remember how we strolled along this path before we came to the shore of the Baltic Sea?
