Throwback Thursday - 1 Year Later!

One Year Ago

My Family looked like this:

My mom was still rocking the Stay at Home Mom title. My dad had JUST left IME. Toni and Sage only had two beautiful daughters. Dawn and Bryan only had Camilla with an un-named baby on the way. Bryan still worked at Goldman Sach's.  Ty was a lowly Junior at BYU. Todd still lived in America. And I had no real future.

Today: 

My Family looks like this:

CONGRATS TY!!! I'M A VERY PROUD SISTER!!! YOU'RE SO SMART!!! AND HANDSOME!

My mom is the newest and BEST Support Specialist for the Powell area Institute. Pops has not only rocked Granite Engineering - he's now on his way to REAL ESTATE MOGAL. #baller  Toni is now the pregnant sister and un-named baby boy is coming REAL soon! Ty's a graduate and has a JOB!

 Dawn and Bryan dropped out of the Goldman life and living as college students in Pittsburgh - and Henry is a human being.   

Todd is sharing the Gospel in Africa! 

And I have a career and a life in Houston.

Another person who was a huge part of my graduation day/life:

Last year Sweet Stacey was hugging me and wasn't officially dating anyone - yet!

This year:

Sweet Stacey is graduating and has her arms around the man of her dreams (who only has eyes for her) and is going to marry him in less than 2 months!

It's amazing the difference a year makes!

Anecdotes From A Pleasant Week

• A client at work made me a mixed tape that he put together himself. He told me I was his favorite lady, and he laughed at all my jokes! NICE!
• As I was listening to the mix tape on the way home from work - it was mostly Johnny Cash - I had two windows down and I was loving my life. As I pulled up to a stop light, with my windows down, a man in the lane next to mine was shouting at me. I finally figured out that it was me he was talking to and I turned down my music - "I grew up in Dubois - where are you from?" - startled I shouted back "Powell!" One of best reasons to register my car in Powell once more - the chance to keep having these wonderful encounters! 
• As I was pulling up to another stoplight on another day - I started to un-peel an orange - it's a long light. But... it just happens I stopped right next to a homeless man - with my windows down and the music up. AWKWARD. I turned down my music and then after 10 seconds I looked over apologetically to the homeless man (H.M.) - 
• K: "I -" 
• H.M."You don't have to give me anything. Don't feel bad."
• K "I have an orange. Would you like an orange?"
• H.M. "Sure if you want to give it to me."
• K hands H.M. orange.
• H.M. "I'll eat it right now." (begins to unpeel it)
• Silence
• H.M. "Do you know Spanish?"
• K Um... trying to figure out if I look like I know Spanish for some reason.. "No, I don't."
• H.M. "I'm know f-ing Spanish" (he didn't censor)
• I raised my eyebrows in surprise - but his face was down so he couldn't tell.
• H.M. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to say (pause - trying to figure out how to apologize for cussing without saying it again) that word."
• He then went on to tell me about how on the streets you have to learn Spanish and that he's pretty fluent - until the light turned green. Then mid-sentence, as the light-turned green - he held up his hand and said "Bye."
• I was at another stoplight (I only have a 20 minute commute - even though it sounds like I'm ALWAYS driving) on another day and saw across the way a Wyoming-ite from county 10 or 16 - my eyes are going bad, don't judge! I hardly EVER see any cars not from Texas and yet that is second siting of a Wyomin'-ite! Love it!
• At salsa dance class this week, I moved from super beginner to regular beginner because I finally reached FLOW status! I really felt the dance - instead of just doing the steps. My favorite dance partner told me I finally got it because I added a little bounce to my step - which was true because I finally found the beat! YEAH!!!!!!! Now I just have to find places to dance that aren't totally sleazy.
• At Wal-Mart yesterday, I was walking in and a middle-aged man from behind me says - you have something on you and he points downish. I looked at my bag which was on the backside of my leg and didn't see anything. He kept pointing and then was like - someone else is going to have to get it off for you. My roommate looked at booty and saw a sticker from her car on my skirt and pulled it off. I was left feeling really weird that a man would be telling there was something down there. Was it weird or kind that he mentioned it?

The most unfortunate teeth and other adventures...

I have the most unfortunate teeth or I'm really bad at applying lip-gloss...

When I was younger, I thought it was just because I had braces, 

but as time goes on - it still keep happening. 

The lip-gloss invariably ends up on teeth. It's a curse, 

but I don't let it stop me.

 In fact.. I embrace the white-trash nature of my predicament:

5 points for TP, 15 Points for the actual toilet.

The above pics were taken as we were headed out the door for Wings and Latin Dancing.

Wings were fantastic - Latin Dancing left a lot to be desired.

First time eating wings!

 Mostly because I was way out of my element,

and my hips weren't lying - I'm as white as they come. 

But I have a strong desire to get good at dancing - it's always been my dream, 

so I'm going to keep trying.

On Saturday I had to work, and next Saturday I will also work again and the Saturday after that I will also work. I can't wait for the summer when weekend work slows considerably. For now, I remind myself that I'm doing fun things (and getting overtime!) like going to the zoo, learning new skills, like how to paddle in a Dragon Boat competition, and providing the best Easter Egg Hunt our clients have ever had with beeping easter eggs for our kids that are blind and visually impaired.

Shout out to Toddy-boy who I think of every time I go to a zoo!