{nice to meet you}

good thing the weeks have been flying by, 

because this week feels like i will barely have time to breathe.

BUT, it is ok

after this semester [only two more weeks]

then i have two, read em, TWO semesters left to graduate

there IS light at the end of the tunnel!

i don't think baby jay even knows the ground exists, 

we played pass the baby all afternoon;

we just love him so much!

i'm just here for the pie...{and the baby.}

this was a mucho fun thanksgiving.

we had about 30 people

(possibly our biggest group to date, lame i know)

but it was so great to have family in from out of state.

another first this year was having a new baby in the family!

this never happens, all the grandkids grew up together

so we're not used to seeing babies 'round this town.

me, daddy azimi, bro and grandma johnson.

my mom and baby jay.

son of my cousin gary who lives in wisconsin.

we just could not get enough of those chubby cheeks!!

daddy azimi and baby jay.

i think this was jay's first middle eastern encounter,

he's never seen eyebrows such as those.

jay and his great-grandma johnson.

presh!

{there goes my dream of having the first great-grandkid in the family}

oh well, maybe next year.

then finally, it was my turn to hang out with jay,

and his older brother kane.

**

all in all, 

a wonderful thanksgiving lunch.

i think i'm going to invest in one of these bad boys.

being sick has not been my favorite thing.

although, after a decent nights sleep (thank you advil p.m.)

i went to bashas' this morning to feed my, ahem...donut craving.

{don't judge me}

and in the car the first song i heard was

the hippopotamus song.

this made me instantly happy.

then i thought about how much i love

 the chipmunks christmas song.

then i felt better...

at least for a little while.

underneath it all

...and even when:

- i have reddish hair.

{not the brown with a hint of gold like the cute asian on the box}

- i have to wear extra make-up to disguise my zits.

- my throat has an itchy, burning, achy, "i'm going to make you so sick" feeling.

- my back hasn't stopped hurting for the past number of months.

- i am a negative norma.

- i'm stressed, and tired and no fun.

- i only ever want to talk about one thing but don't 

because there are too many other things going on.

i have comfort.

and i have a best friend who takes care of me no matter what.

and for that i am grateful.

trashy treasure

our neighbors moved.

{hopefully we get some friendlier ones that move in}

anyways, they had a garage sale

and my mom came home one morning with this collection of reader's digest storybooks

i pretty much couldn't decide which ones to keep

so my mom let me keep them all!

she is the greatest.

now someday when i get my own shelf in my own house, 

you can bet these babies will be on there,

but for now, they are happily placed above my closet in my room

happy day

this year, i am skipping autumn 

and going straight to wintery goodness.

wouldn't it be lovely to wake up to 

A Charlie Brown Christmas every morning??

of course, a plain ol' cd just wouldn't do;

so i would need the LP version...

Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas

Then of course, I would need a turntable (also travel friendly) 

to play music in all of its dreamy, vintage glory.

Crosley AV Room Portable USB Turntable

oh, hello diana dreamer camera,

would you like to be in my Christmas stocking this year??

a girl can dream...

never have i ever

"In the end, what we regret most are the 

chances we never took."

Frasier Crane "Thinking will not overcome fear,  but action will." “ W. Clement Stone

a baby changes everything

ok, so i'm fully aware that i'm very early on my Christmas thoughts, 

but i love this song by faith hill, 

and the Savior has just been on my mind.

i know that Jesus Christ is our Savior

i'm so grateful for His life, and His perfect example.

i know that we can be made whole through Him.

i'm excited for the holiday season, 

to continue to celebrate his life, 

and to count my blessings.

{image by  mark mabry}

**

Teenage girl, much too young
Unprepared for what’s to come
A baby changes everything

Not a ring
On her hand
All her dreams and all her plans
A baby changes everything 
A baby changes everything 

The man she loves she’s never touched
How will she Keep his trust
A baby changes everything 
A baby changes everything 

And she cries, oh she cries

She has to leave, go far away
Heaven knows she can’t stay
A baby changes everything

She can feel it’s coming soon
There’s no place, there’s no room
A baby changes everything 
A baby changes everything 

And she cries and she cries oh she cries

Shepherds all gather round …
Star shines down…

Choir of Angels say
Glory to the newborn king
A baby changes everything, A baby changes everything, everything, 
everything, every day Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

My whole life is turned around
I was lost and now I’m found
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything

- a baby changes everything-

faith hill

AZ State {questionable} Fair

i finally ventured out to the state fair.

it had been probably a good 10 years since i had last gone...

and attending the fair again reminded me all too well of why i have not been back since.

luckily, i was in good company.

i mean, unless you are attracted to: 

ginormous crowds of smelly, rude, drunk, smokey and inappropriate people;

having to hand sanitize/wipe everything down with a 'wet one';

enjoy spending 10 dollars on a turkey leg that gets smoked on a communal grill surrounded by the people described above;

hearing profanities that even howard stern himself would be offended by;

contracting an airborne disease;

creepy carnies with teardrop tattoos by their eyes {just smile and nod at these ones!};

and seeing the nastiest of all nast couples make out in every line and around every corner...

i suggest you call it a night in the comfort of your own home.

mr. turkey gave me a good gobble, he was mean, i was so scared...

so i told him i'd see him in a few weeks...

on my dinner plate, sucka!!

i'm starting my christmas list extra early...

item number one: a baby goat.

i did get to see Andrew Zimmerman from 'Bizarre Foods' on the Travel Channel

[terrible picture, i know]

the aforementioned communal grill.

barf!

view from the ferris wheel.

i think i'd like a sugar shack in my backyard, please.

this is me.

still trying to figure out the settings on my camera.

normal setting was not the best;

night setting was not the best.

i forfeit.

top of the wheel

"I’ve been thinking a lot lately about taking chances. 

And how it’s really just about overcoming your fears. 

Because the truth is, every time you take a big risk in your life, no matter how it ends up, you’re always glad you took it."

-Scrubs

happy weekend!

tonight, tonight

um...cool.

ticket to paris, please.

maybe someday i'll be glamorous enough for feathers.

if this photo doesn't put a smile on your face, i don't know what will.

**

i suppose i have to publicy apologize, 

since i recently was told that my blog is boring and lacking in feisty posts.

to that, i say:

eh, oh well.

but don't worry.

i've already got some new ideas in the works...

it just might be awhile.

how long you ask?

even i don't know.

but i'm just happy to ride along.

someday i'll actually post about my life

“Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere."

- Albert Einstein

death to all chemistry!!

i'd rather just make headbands all day...

{...then clean my room.}

only 5 weeks left

happy monday!

i don't care what it does to me

"We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. 

It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person."

W. Somerset Maugham