A Great Day to Be Alive

You should know.  I am in love with Instagram. My name can be found on the left. If you have one, let's be friends. Pictures are so fun. :)

Also, for those of you who have not met Ronnie, my soul mate, I've taken a picture.

Joseph and I sometimes have matching taste. So we decided to put on all of our matching things and take a picture. ... It's ok to be jealous.

Name the movie: Penny loafer fashion moment!!!

Tyler and I decided to make the creamy cupcakes with chocolate mix this time. [You make cupcakes and while they are still hot you squirt whipped cream in them. They get all gooey and creamy inside!]
The good news: the cupcakes were delicious and creamy.
The bad news: We tried a cream cheese frosting recipe from the internet and it was... Yucky. At least Tyler liked it!

WELCOME HOME TRAVIS!!! My dear cousin, Travis, came home from serving a mission in Argentina. This is Jo and I looking at a picture of him back in America. 

Tyler served in Brazil. He was really missing Brazilian food. I found a little deli/store called Little Brazil in Westminster. Obviously a trip was in order!

I have never seen someone so excited and happy in my life. :) He wanted it ALL. Haha

I saw Doc # 12 yesterday. We are trying some medication. ... I am trying to be open-minded. [In case you didn't know, I really don't like medicine.] I am just grateful to be back with a doctor again who is trying to figure out the problem. What a blessing! :)


Last night, the Wilsons, Armitsteads, and I went to the midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises. It was very dark, but still a very good movie.

This morning I learned that just a few miles away at another theater, there was a shooting. 12 killed, 54 injured.

The truth is that tragedies like this could happen anywhere and anytime. We cannot live our lives in fear because that is choosing not to live the time we have been given. But being so close to the situation is really eye-opening. That could have been our theater. Events like this help us to realize how much we take our lives and the lives of our loved ones for granted. Each day is a gift.

I am overcome with gratitude. I am grateful for my life, my happiness, my loved ones. I hope and pray for those affected by this terrible event. I am also grateful for the gospel and the perspective it gives me. I am so blessed.


... On that happy note.


Tomorrow Malena and I fly out to Utah to begin our journey to Disney Land! I've got a doctor's note for a wheelchair, and we are ready to cut in lines and have a blast! :)

Much Love!!

Adventures

Summer is wonderful. It is all about adventures and trying new things.

Tyler and I decided to try painting this week.

He was very enthusiastic.

We discovered that painting in the wilderness [AKA a park by his house] is really relaxing! :)

 And he has some SERIOUS skills. 

We painted Africa. Inspired by Jamon.

Trying new hairstyles is always an adventure too.

What a cutie. :)

 

Friday Savers adventure with the boys!  Always eventful...

 

Girl shirts... Yeah...

This weekend was the YSA Conference here in the Denver area. It was 2 days of Spiritual high. :) We had so much fun! We got to look at a Ferrari, take a picture with a real, stuffed lion, and laugh A LOT!

The theme was "A Joy Beyond Measure." It focused around the song, "Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?" And because it was for Young Single Adults, it also focused on marriage. Haha Typical. There were classes, food, and other various activities. Super uplifting. :)

We became very close. ;) Can you tell?

 Ok, fine. We smiled for one, too. :)

Last night, we did what we do best. We all sang around the piano. [Tyler even joined us.] Dad and Ben were just too cute singing their Spanish hymns. I sure love my guys.

After over a month of waiting, I will finally see my next doctor this week! Doctor # 12. Hopefully he will have some great insights about the problem. :) But in the meantime, I am sure the adventures will go on, pain or no pain.

And this Saturday begins the DISNEYLAND TRIP! Woopie!

Life is so GREAT! :)

Much Love!!

Bringin' Home the Bacon

This blog is just catching up on missed Raisins. :)

Jackson is a cutie.

It was Slip N Slide time.

Great news: Tyler and I beat Jenga... WITH the Hobbit as a foundation. I certainly think that had something to do with our success. ;)

 

I've found the answer to the world's problems. On my breakfast plate. My eggs were trying to send me a message of peace. I'm just doing my job as a world citizen to pass it along. Peace, folks.

Dear Quinci,

I am so excited that it's nearly Disney Land time. There were 5 billion ladybugs in the garden I was weeding. I take this as a good sign.

Love, Michelle

I've been in a cooking mood of late. Mini peach and pumpkin pies have been popular lately. I just need to find a good recipe of dough so it requires more effort.... Haha

We got Jack to do some funny faces. :) Enjoy.

Yesterday, before church, Hann and I walked out of our rooms wearing the same thing... 

I changed. Don't worry.

 Mom spit water all over herself at dinner because we laughed so hard.

This morning we broke out the power tools! Yeah!

Too bad I'm accident prone... The bruise on my thumb isn't as bad as losing a finger though! ;)

Tyler went on a manly adventure this weekend with Jamon. They hiked 4 Fourteeners in 2 days! I am just so glad he came back. I'm especially glad that he brought me the best thing ever:

 A bacon T-Shirt. Best boyfriend ever? Obviously. Thank you!!! :)


Much Love!!

Street Smarts

Take me out to the ball game! Up to the [almost] top row! Bring in some pistachios and cracker jacks. Sit in the heat and feel sweat on our backs!

... Ok. I'll stop there. :)

 Yeah. Basically we had a really great time on Monday despite not really ever watching the game. :)

And the Rockies even won! Just another testament to how wonderful Colorado is. :) No big deal.


I am feeling really grateful for the little things. Things like a note stuck in my car door, a heart drawn in the dust on the dirty car, or a nice bag of potato chips. ;) Little things matter. [Thanks, Tyler.]

This Sunday was our family/ friend fast. It was such a wonderful experience. I also had the opportunity to receive a blessing. [Thanks Wilsons/ Tyler.] Thank you to everyone for praying for me and just loving me. You all make a massive difference in my life. :)


Fact: Even errands can be a blast. :) Mom and I had an adventure-y errand trip yesterday.

We got the same book at the library. [She gets audio and I read them.] Aren't we so cute?

P.S. "Heist Society" by Ally Carter. LOVED IT.
I've already got the second one on hold. [And not that I looked it up or anything... But the third comes out on February 5th.]

Then we got super crazy at Wal-Mart and went "sans-carting!" The excitement levels were off the chart, let me assure you. ;)

 Our little gnome got a makeover.

His name is Achilles because.... Well... ;)

We've all got problems, right?

I have a feeling that our little friend had many adventures before he came into our lives. I guess it's not our place to judge a gnome by his scars.

Unconditional love. It's a wonderful thing.

And don't be fooled by the "folksey peasant look" this guy's got street smarts.

Much Love!!

Childhooden

Can you believe it?? Thatcher is 1 year old!! Miss you, Beedoh guy! Thanks for being the smiliest baby in the world. :)

We went to the museum on Thursday with Jes and Garren!

They have a snakes and lizards exhibit with real snakes and lizards. [And also cardboard bracelet lizards...]

This is where we decided to do our Harry Potter moment by the python. Don't we look super convincing?

You thought we were really falling in, didn't you? ;) [Especially me... sitting in the wheelchair....]

We also learned that there is a rebellious museum artist that hid little gnomes in many of his paintings because he was not allowed to sign his pieces. We found 3! I have high hopes of going back soon and completing the whole gnome scavenger hunt!

The best part about going to Red Robin and sitting across the table from a 3-year-old is that you get to make all of the goofy faces you want and no one looks at you weird. :) Here is Garren's "best" silly face. Complete with macaroni and cheese fingers. :) Mmmmm.

In the past little while, I have learned that sitting in a wheelchair is a really interesting sociological experiment. If you are ever looking to study an aspect of human nature, try this.


Last night Tyler and I went out. Shocker, I know. We got bacon burgers and sweet potato fries before heading to a hill in Littleton that overlooks... EVERYTHING. This picture doesn't even capture a little fraction of the beauty of Colorado.

On this hill we discussed only the important things. Examples:

"Would you still date me if I had a mustache and groomed it with the gel that is in Sharks' ampullae of lorenzini?"

"Under what circumstance would you kill me?"

Then we went back to our childhooden [The plural of childhood] and had somersault contests and played on the playground.

Perfect night? Obviously. Thank you, Tyler!! You are the BEST.


Much Love!!

Teenie-Bopper-A-Day

"Hey. How you feel about coming over to the Wilson's? Pick you up in my grandpa's convertible?"

Well that's the easiest question I have ever had to answer. YES. 

It's always a blast with the Wilson/Armitstead clan.


Hann and I have been on a Teenie-Bopper-A-Day kick this week.

[A Teenie-Bopper a day keeps the... monotony of growing up and facing reality away... for a couple of hours at least... :) ]

Yesterday was Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. Today was Nancy Drew.

We camped out in my bed with only the necessities: Drinks, chips, candy, and our trusty books of choice.

Oh yeah. And attractive picture-taking skills, too. ;)

What can we say? Photogenicism [Is that a word? ...It is now.] runs in our family. Never a bad picture! :)


I got a "Get Well" card in the mail from all of the nurses from my last nerve block! Sweet!

Life's good over here! I hope you all are enjoying your journey. :)
 
Also: We are having a Family Fast this Sunday for my foot. Anyone and everyone who would like to take part is invited! Thank you so much for all of your love and prayers! You all make a massive difference in my life and I am so grateful!

Much Love!!

Entertainment at its Finest

WARNING: The following information may be shocking to certain readers. Check your pulse and read with caution.

Dad finally got rid of his recliner!!!

The gross one we have had for 3.5 Billion years! Can you believe it!?! Go, Dad!

Tyler is a good sport. We always put him to work when he comes over carrying heavy things or fixing stuff. Thanks, Tyler!


What does one do on a Friday night? Great question.

But TWO do this:

[He was really excited to take this picture. Can you tell?]

Sonic [Double date with Quinci via poor quality cell phone picture.]

AND THIS:

North Dakota [AKA the most exciting state in the country.]

 
Yes. Being easily entertained is a good thing when you are poor college students. :) "Isn't it great!?!"

Much Love!!