wild eyes and deceitful smiles

DISCOVERED: hidden high school treasures

This is a poem to my friend Aly
With whom I have shared a thousand glances
Into whose eye's I've looked and seen
My own expression
Whose wild eyes
Yet oft times soft
And delicate
Have shown at time certainty and conviction
Yet also doubt and uncertainty
Whom when asked to dance
Replies with a simple
Sure
And never gives
Except through eyes
An answer to the unasked question
Asked through another's eyes
And never spoken
The answer is swift
Yet contradicts
When a smile is given
Oft is one returned
But once offered not
Seldom ever returned again
Fleetingly spied
A deceitful smile is sometimes found
Yet may not contain deceit
At all
Defines the shroud
Of this my friend Aly, 15,
Going on 16.


Awww young love. Too bad there wasn't anything close to love with this young writer at all. But flattering, no?! What a nice boy. While searching through my desk this morning, I stumbled upon this gem that was written by a friend for his English class in High School, snagged by another friend, and given to me.
so. so. great. so. so. funny.

i insisted that we buy a tree to make this little texan rental home feel more like christmas. insisted. so much so that my dad believed my sister when she told him i was crying i wanted it so badly. don't worry, tears were not involved. but look! isn't it pretty?

happy christmas eve! my favorite day of the year. We're missing the German Archers and their beautiful baby today.
and these hoodlums.


merry christmas to all and to all a good night

total eclipse of the heart

It's been a space-filled 24 hours.

The sibs and I sat outside on lawn chairs on a deck overlooking the ocean for 2 hours last night. in december. We watched it go from a full moon to a total eclipse. It was beautiful and perfect. Even though there's no snow, I'll take the 80 degree weather and ocean view for now. merry christmasss.

also, got a little tour of NASA today--including Mission Control Center. Aka watched real astronauts in space riiiight now. so so cool! My brother is a smartie pants. Isn't it amazing that people have walked on the moon? the MOON!

clap your hands

ya know when you are just bursting with happiness for no reason and you just love the world and every single person you see? yeah, that is how I am feeling.

i'm happy because finals are OVER. 7 finals. over. They are OVER! Did you know that they are over? Praise be.
i'm happy because I heard such beautiful music tonight. from beautiful, humble, talented people. and I was proud of them (well, of him...David Archuleta maybe) for fulfilling his dreams. And singing with the MoTab. Way to go David! I seriously feel like a proud mother.
i'm happy because I get to see my nephews and a new niece tomorrow. And I got to skype with my other niece and her cool parents today. Beautiful.
i'm happy because roommate and I finally got to lay in our room and debrief on lives after a draaaining week.
i'm happy because I just discovered Sufjan's Christmas music. And he has a version of Lo, How a Rose. Haven't heard that song since we sang it in Singers. And no one had heard it then.
i'm happy because I've made decisions and things are happening. And it feels so good
i'm happy because the trees on Temple Square are so immaculately covered in pretty lights.
i'm happy because I made great friends this semester.
i'm happy because people around me are happy and I am happy for them being happy.
i'm happy because I can laugh at dumb things that happen. like say, getting your car towed. what?
i'm happy because we can shout glad tidings of good joy. and really take time to celebrate and reflect on the life of our Savior...with the whole world. How great is that?
i'm happy because I get to see most of my fam very soon. And I like those people. (my only sadness is that the Germans won't be there. that is not happy)
i'm happy because i get to wear my retainer every night.
i'm happy because it feels good to be happy.
call it end of the semester euphoria or yuletide cheer, whatever you wish. but oh my i am happy. bursting, really.

this song has been on perma-repeat in my head. subliminal messaging?

also, this music video is slightly disturbing

in case you were wondering

i like when my phone dies and i don't have a charger nearby
i may have the worst luck with parking in provo. ever. ever. ever.
EVER.
christmas remixes are fun
taking 7 finals is not fun. 2 more to go
baby clothes are the cutest
do people actually wear all of the clothes in every store?
shopko has everything. who knew?
i need a dentist
workers at nordstrom always think they know me from somewhere. is this a sales technique?
i want to sell all of my clothes to plato's closet
archer family christmas letter editing is soo entertaining
where are you sleep? can we be friends someday?
i forgot to give my spare change to the christmas bell ringer at wal-mart
eat mor chikin
i am becoming more of a teacher than i like to admit. applying knowledge and sprouting classroom ideas left and right
christmas lights!
you've got growing up to do
sound of music is playing beneath me. oh high school. oh performing. come back.
iceland funddd
i love to see the temple i'm going there someday
make sure to cover your tracks
kristie should get a cat when she moves back to denver
things to do places to go people to see
18 credits?
so much oil right now!
chapstick

agreed.

baby baby baby

Cambree Anne Archer. what a babe. Man alive I wish I could see her soon, but skype will have to do until May.

Congrats Andy and Paige! I am so so excited for you. You are already adorable parents and she is so lucky to be in your fam. Thanks for giving me another niece that I already completely love to death.

I wish we could apparate.

music box grid. it's way cool.
i may have found another finals distraction. uh ohh.

crooked head syndrome
no wonder i never learned how to head a soccer ball


his hips don't lie

consider this my cry for help

hello again, 4 am

woooaaah

"nothing happens until something moves" -albert einstein

i think its time for me to do some moving. and i don't just mean my body to the beat of a song.

this is why i love fishing

"He who fishes not so much to enjoy a tussle with a valiant trout as to experience the tranquility of the woods, the ceaseless murmur of the brook, and the ever-cooling mist of the sparkling cascades, gets the most out of this solitary diversion. Philosophy is born in the contemplation of such hours." -Claude T. Barnes

photo cred eli
quote cred liz

have you ever driven your car on the sidewalks on campus, you ask? why yes, yes I have. with my trusty hoodrat co-pilot. clearly we are adrenaline junkies.

after we went driving on campus we both gained 60 lbs in our lower halves. and liz purchased chaps.