This one may be a doozy

June 26th is always a fun day on my Mom's side of the familiy, because it's a DOUBLE BIRTHDAY!  My Grammie and my brother Spicer were both born today!  So this post is dedicated to them (and written quickly before I leave on vacation!)  I've been asking family members their favorite memories/stories/things about Spicer and Grammie (I stole this idea from my friend Brighton).  It's been fun to hear/read these.  And here they are.

Our Bubba Spicer.

Mommy--Spicer came by his love of performing naturally.  At a family camping trip with several other families, we would gather around the campfire as each family provided the entertainment.  Spicer, 5 at the time, decided to tell a ghost story.  It was all about a boy named John who heard hiccuping in a dark house.  As he entered the house it got louder and louder.  He was so serious and yet his lisp didn't allow him to say his "r"s well--so it was extremely funny.  So we all started laughing.  That was when he informed us that it was not a "funny stowey, it was a scawey stowey."  That of course made us all hit the floor laughing.
Daddy--My favorite story about Spicer is from when he was in kindergarden.  Now, Spicer is just about the most "regular" person on earth...and so he had to go to the bathroom like he always does...and they had a fire drill, so when he came out (they forgot he was in the bathroom), there was nobody in the classroom.  So he panicked and started running around the school screaming.  And when he was telling Mom about it later he said this...and this was back when he couldn't pronounce his "r"s very well:  "I went to the bathwoom and I came out and der was nobody der and I stawted to cwy."
I also like this:  He had to go to the principal's office so many times when he was in elementary school, that they set up a little space for him, just for him to sit because he went there about everyday.
Hope--I love his facial expressions and his stretchy face!
Titus--I like his comedic acting!

Jack--I love his hair and his singing!
Lauren--My favorite story about Spicer is from when we first moved to La Mesa, when Spicer's favorite movie was Sleeping Beauty.  And his favorite character was Malificent (he loved witches and wizards).  Anyways, so we were all sitting in church while the sacrament was being passed.  Minding our own business, trying to be good so that Grammie would pass down the mentos after the sacrament was over.  All of a sudden, Spicer stands up on the pew--he's maybe three or four years old I think, and he says, "AND NOW YOU SHALL DEAL WITH ME AND ALL THE POWERS OF HELLLL!!!!"  Right into that dead silence.  So we pull him down and tell him to hush up; we were all so embarrassed...but part of you wants to laugh, because, I mean, really??  During the sacrament?  Haha, anyways, he stands up and does it again!!  Ahh that story never gets old.  I'm telling that one to my grandkids, for sure.
I love that Spicer has always been his own unique individual.  Even if that means getting into my high heels and dress up and twirling around singing opera.  =]  Really though, Spicer is such a great kid, always wanting to stick to the rules, reminding us of important things, and trying his darndest at everything he does.  He has a tender heart and truly loves and feels for everyone around him, and loves his family.  I love that he would always march around the kitchen with me, singing "Easy Street" from Annie, or help me in my living room recreations of Les Miserables.  He's so dramatic and musical and talented, and I'm so glad he's my brother!
Dan--My favorite Spicer-moment was at our wedding reception when he caught the garter, and your dad said, "That's the only thing he's ever caught in his life!"

Our Grammie Girl

The Eric Chambers Family:

Our boys are so excited to see their Grammie (and Grampie). They have been counting down the days and talking about things they remember about her. So much so that when I was tucking Dylan into bed last night, he reached up with his little hands, put them on my cheeks and said, "I've got a secret." "What's your secret Dylan?" "I love Grammie, " he whispered. "That's a good secret."

He's pretty little to remember lots of details, but he already knows he just loves Grammie. Because you just do.

Small and big, we do all love the Grammie girl. And we hope it's not a secret to anyone. Benjamin and Isaac remember going to Stone Mountain with her and proudly wear the shirts she bought them as soon as they are washed each week. I remember them coming home that day covered in chocolate that they had enjoyed that day thanks to Grammie. I was home with then new baby Dylan and incredibly grateful for the extra help she and Grampie were giving us with the two older boys. They showed those two little boys the town that week and they all had so much fun together. And together we tried to bounce, comfort, and figure out what was wrong with newborn Dylan who insisted on the fussies every night but was otherwise a very calm cute baby. Maybe he was tired of Law and Order shows already?

One of the reasons I fell in love with Eric was because I fell in love with his family. We hadn't been dating very long at all, when I decided it would be fun to go along on his planned trip out to California with him. Grammie must have been a little excited that Eric has a girl willing to go places with him because she quickly offered to pay for my ticket. I was very surprised. The surprises kept coming. Eric's sisters and sister-in-law were beautiful, funny and warm and accepting. Eric's brother and brother-in-laws were intelligent, driven and great story tellers one and all. The nieces and nephews were absolutely adorable and quickly entertaining me with plays, stories, pictures. This was a place that everyone wanted to be. In fact, I've even heard there are children that ran away from home and went to Grammie's. The Chambers home was beautiful, clean, bright and happy. You could immediately tell that it was a home in which the gospel of Jesus Christ was front and center. Scriptures, pictures of the Saviour and temples. Pictures of ancestors. And the spirit. And in that place there was a family that loved each other and enjoyed laughing and spending time together.

That week we were busy. There were outings to the zoo, Sea World, and to see things in San Diego. A trip to Tiahuana (sorry you didn't get to go Hopey). Barbecues and evenings just sitting around laughing at Paul Davis' stories. And of course. Sunday dinner. If I hadn't fallen in love by then, well I was head over heels with Sunday dinner.

It's not so much the food (although the rolls and the mashed potatoes are to die for), it's that behind all of this there were loving hands planning, organizing, cleaning, preparing, arranging so that we could all be together.

This was the family I wanted. That was the mother-in-law I wanted and the kind of mother I hoped I would be. I ate dinner and saw the respect and love all of her children had for her. This was the right family. (After all, how many adult children will agree to drive to hither and yon crowded in cars together to place markers on graves? That's something!) And the icing on the (Claim Jumper Cheesecake), was seeing her relationship with the Grampie Man. They are each other's very best friend. They love spending time together. They're a team. They're fiercely loyal to one another.

So my love affair with all things Chambers began. At the heart of it all is Grammie, Sharon, a Mom. She loves us all so much and would give us the world. I always feel like there is not quite much I can do to give back to her all that she has given me.

Grammie makes it happen. Whatever it is. She makes it happen. Now and eternally.

Happy Birthday.
 

The Mike Chambers Family:
Some of our family's favorite memories with Grammie are the many vacations we have shared!  In 2007 we went to New York with Grammie and Grampie.  There, we visited Niagara Falls in the rain.  It was beautiful!  At night the falls lit in many colors, and everyone enjoyed seeing that, except Amadan, who was so distraught with a missing pink spoon, she refused to look out the window.  We had flown all night from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Buffalo, New York, and I'm afraid that very little sleep had made for a very grumpy girl. 
The next day, we got to visit many of the Church sites in Palmyra, climbed the Hill Cumorah, and walked through the Sacred Grove.  
Another fun memory from that trip (only fun now because it is over!) is that we drove and drove all over Rhode Island looking for a beach where we could play.  After what seemed like hours, we found a nice little beach with access between some beautiful New England style beach houses.  The kids had a great time in the water, and we all enjoyed seeing the Atlantic Ocean.  After our excursion, we had ice cream at Friendly's and called it dinner.
In New York City we spent time at the M&M store, the Hershey Chocolate Store and at the gigantic Toys R Us (we were traveling with Grammie after all!) 
We have been lucky to spend time with Grammie in locations all over the country, from coast to coast and across the Pacific Ocean.  Having her with us has made every experience a little sweeter (again with the chocolate!) and a lot more fun!!


The Robyn Carr Family:
Robert--When we went to Hawaii, and we'd just got to the airport and got our luggage, we were trying to get a van to take us to the rental car place.  Well, there were so many of us, Grampie went and flagged down a guy and he was supposed to take all of us together.  So this van pulls up and two women jump in front of us and get on--and at least one of them was rather large.  Well everyone decides we can all still get on, so we do, but Grammie was so mad, she would not get on the van.  And she stood out there on the sidewalk with her hands on her hips, and I looked out the window and I said, "That's it!  That's where Hope gets it from!"
Robyn--Grammie has always loved shopping--and has an incredible sense of style.  As a teenager it was not uncommon to come home from school and discover a new outfit in my room waiting for me.  And almost always it was something I really liked.  My friends would always comment that they wished their moms would take them shopping--and that their moms could find outfits like mine did.  They said if they ever came home with anything it would not be something cute like my mom did for me.
Lauren--There are so many reasons why I love Grammie.  She's so fun and hip!  I love that she takes me shopping and makes all my wildest fashion dreams come true.  I love that she lets me come visit her with all my friends, and then feeds us until we can't hold anymore.  I love that she always has ideas of what to do and stories to tell.  I love the fabulousness that is Grammie--a trait that has earned her the nickname of "The Queen" amongst all my friends.  I even love that she gave me a "naughty nightie" at my bridal shower.  But most of all, I love the love that radiates from her; a love of the Gospel and the Church, and a great and lasting love for her ever-growing family.  She is an incredible matriarch and role model.  I love you Grammie!
Dan--I love her cuz she's Lauren's grandma!  She's nice and I like her cooking.
Hope--My favorite story of Grammie is when we were in the car with her and Grampie, and she asked Grampie a question, and he responded with his usual, "Well don't you know?  Can't you see?"  And she snipped back, "Of course I can't see!  Why would I ask if I could see??"
Spicer--Grammie is great because even though she's about four feet tall, she rules the familiy with an iron fist!  She's tough and she's funny.
Titus--Her cooking!
Jack--Ummm the Zhu Zhu pet she got me.


The Cheryl Deacon Familiy:
Robert--I love a mother-in-law that doesn't say bad things about me.
Cheryl--She takes me shopping and fun places, she makes me happy and smile when she's around, but most of all I love Grammie's testimony of the Gospel.  She is a wonderful example to me and my family.
Natasha--She can always make me smile and buys me boats in Hannibal, MO, when I'm crying because my mom won't buy it for me.
Trevor--She makes me happy when she is around.
Daniel--She takes us fun places and her apartment is fun to explore.
Isabella--She takes me shopping.

So Happy Birthday to my favorite 15 year old brother and to everyone's favorite Grammie Girl!

Summer Countdown

Drive to California--3 days
Cruise--4 days
Super-Awesome-Lauren-and-Dan-Tourist-Trap-Road-Trip--12 days
Family Reunion--17 days
Graduation--51 days
Andrew and Jourdon's Wedding--57 days
Move to California--58 days

I wish life would just start already. 

My Pops

is the best daddy I know.  I know everyone says that about their dad (especially on Father's Day), but really, he's great.  I remember when I was a little girl, my favorite part of the day was when my dad came home.  I'd get so excited when I heard the door open, and I'd always run into his arms so he could scoop me up into a great big bear hug.  One time, he came home and I somehow miscalculated where he was standing, so instead of running into his arms, I ran into the corner of the wall.  Yeah, I had to get stitches.  Awesome.

I've always been told I have a great sense of humour.  That's definitely my dad's doing (and my mom's too).  My family loves to laugh.  But my dad has the best laugh of all of us.  When he thinks something is really funny...well I can't even describe it, but he almost starts crying.  And you know when you get that laugh, you've hit the jackpot of humour.  But I wouldn't know a joke if it danced naked in front of me without my dad's help.  Some of my dad's finer moments:
"Dad, we don't have any friends!!"
"Maybe that's because you guys are LOSAHS!!"

Bringing home a fart machine and hiding it under my chair during dinner.

Teaching my little brother, Ti, how to go cross-eyed when he was still a baby.

(After my brother caught the garter at my wedding.)
"That's the only thing he's ever caught in his life!!"

Always the southern gentleman, my father really does have a deep and abiding respect for those around him, and patience like you wouldn't believe.  He's an excellent example of a peacemaker, and always tries to cheer you up when you're feeling down...even if his efforts to cheer you up come in the form of teasing.  I've always tried to emulate him in that respect--in trying to see the best in people, and not losing my temper too quickly.

Like all dads, he never misses an opportunity for a life lesson, which I always managed to get when we were driving alone in a car.  Sometimes, they were frustrating, but they were always enlightening.  And even though my father once accused me of being a loser, he always was ready with a compliment for me.  So when I was down in the dumps, I always knew that my daddy thought I was the most beautiful, smartest girl in the world (a tie with my sister, of course  =]).

Most importantly, it's from my dad that I inherited my southern charm (ok, half my mom's side is southern, but my dad is alllll southern.)  I learned to appreciate the little things and to take things at a slower pace than the rest of the world, so as to better enjoy life.

So thanks Daddy, for being a huge influence for good in my life, for helping me to see the best in myself, and for always being ready with a laugh.

Love from your laddle gurl/Rashley/Princess Poot-root/Wo-wo.

Paranoid

I am always afraid that I am that annoying, weird girl that people avoid.  I probably think this because I used to be that girl.  No, really I did.  And I guess I still am, I've just developed better social skills as time has gone on (which still aren't that great).  It doesn't change the fact that I'm sometimes afraid people are nice to me out of pity.  Which is why it is always fun when someone that I admire for their confidence/fashion sense/intelligence/awesomeness gives me a genuine compliment.

Yesterday, this girl in my class turned to me and said, "You know your cute t-strap rainbow bead sandals?  Well, I liked them so much, I asked for some for my birthday, and I got them!  But I've only worn them on Monday/Wednesday/Friday, because I didn't want you to think that I was a copycat...because I really am!  But they're so cute!"

Ok, so maybe this was a compliment to my shoes, and not to me, but still.  It's the little things in life. =]

Penny on the train tracks

It's funny that even though it's just me and Dan, we have to "get away" for the weekend to spend quality time together.  You'd think we have plenty of time at home, but with school and work and everything, we really don't.  Which is why it was SO nice we were able to spend the weekend up at his grandparents' cabin in Heber.  It's nice to have alone time with no distractions...other than the World Cup...=]

(This is what happens when you forget you have the zoom on and then your camera dies.  Good thing this is the only picture I took of us all weekend...)

Things on my mind

1.  How cool is Abby Sunderland?  It makes me so mad when I read these comments on articles about her with people blasting her for being reckless and her parents for being negligent and irresponsible.  Just because someone's dream is outside the norm and doesn't consist of finding a 9-5 job or persisting in the mediocrity that seems so celebrated in our country sometimes, does not mean that they are a horrible person.  And supportive parents aren't a bad thing.  It's not like they shipped her off without knowing anything.  She's been training for this for years.  ALSO it wasn't to break a record, she'd already given that up, she was just trying to fulfill a dream.  Some people dream big, and there's nothing wrong with that.  In fact, I'd say it's admirable.
Dan thinks I'm silly for caring about this so much, but I just don't like it when people are mean/disrespectful to others.

2.  What is with all this restricting of education in Arizona and Texas?  America is made up of multiple peoples and multiple cultures, so it's got more than one version of history.  Sometimes it's not pretty, but part of life is facing up to past mistakes and fixing them, not ignoring or brushing over them.  Rewriting history is dangerous territory, and (to me) it rings of facist regimes.  Like it or not, the world is expanding, and with that our worldviews.  America is a nation of immigrants, and at some point, lawmakers in Arizona and Texas are going to have the face the facts and be grown ups about it.
P.S. That link to the Texas article is a pretty unbiased one, and neglects to mention the...let's just call it the lightening up of the horrors of the slave trade.  In fact, if these new rules take effect in textbooks, Texan students won't be learning about the slave trade, but the, "Atlantic Triangular Trade," which hardly rings of the human trafficking system it was.


3. I think what makes me so passionate about the two topics discussed above is that there seems to be a complete neglect of respect for other people, ideas, and cultures.  I thought this was the 21st century.  I thought we had grown more accepting of others.  I thought maybe we'd lost the fear that different=dangerous.  I thought maybe that Christians would be more concerned with helping and caring for others.  What motivates most of my political convictions is my faith and morals.  And at the heart of my faith and morals is charity and compassion towards others, even if I don't agree with them on everything.  It just makes me so mad to live in such a judgemental world.  Negative vibes, man.  They're no good.

4. This brings me to the conclusion of my post.  All of these are factors in my decision to try and get a job with Teach for America next year.  I don't know that I'm qualified enough to get into the program, but I've been thinking over my future career a lot lately (seeing as how I graduate in like two months), and education is something I feel strongly about.  I've always wanted to be able to make a difference with my life, and I think this path will help me to do that.  However small of a difference that may be.

Glogster

So, for my project, we have to use this weird website as a visual aid for our presentation.  So here is mine!

Ice cream

Today, I went and bought some ice cream because: A. I love ice cream more than any other food and B. We don't have air conditioning in our house, and now that summer has finally decided to join us here in Utah, our apartment is hotter than all get out.
I wanted to go get Coldstone, but Dan persuaded me to make the economical choice and get some from the Creamery.
I bought "Peanut Butter Trails" because it's pretty tasty (nothing to Coldstone, of course, but decent).

As Dan started scooping a bowl, he commented, "You know, they should put some red food dye in this and call it Peanut Butter Entrails...get it???"

Gross.

My lovely interviewees.

So, this last week I finished up the interviewing for my project, and I thought I'd introduce all my wonderful helpers, since I'm going to be posting parts of the interviews up here.

Hope Carr.

This is my seester.  She just finished her sophomore year of high school, and she is a babe.  I interviewed her because I thought it'd be interesting to get the high school perspective on the indie phenomena.

Lyse Cook.
Lyse is just wonderful.  She is so fun/funny, and so easy to talk to.  She is dating Dan's brother Zach, and is just about the cutest thing out of Oregon.

 They're so cute!

Zach Snow.
Zach is my brother-in-law, and he is seriously funny.  We've basically gotten along ever since we met...mostly because he is like Dan the second.

Cooper Carr.

We're not related.  And if we were that would just be creepy, because we dated for a bit.  Anyways Cooper is the kind of guy that can always make you laugh, and he's so cool that he's the only one of my friends in Texas that I have kept in regular contact with since I moved.  He's also one of the nicest guys I know.

Shalee Curtis.

Shalee has been one of my roommates/best friends since I moved out to Provo.  Basically, she's like family.  She is one of the best people I know and is such a great example to everyone around her.  There really aren't words to describe this girl and how much she has helped me out when I've been in a rough spot.

Autumn Clement.

I know I look weird in this picture, it's ok.

I feel like I've mentioned Autumn a ton in my last few posts, but it's ok because she is great.  Autumn is my talented and fun cousin who I am finally getting to know.  We both seem to have blessed with the southern gift of gab...and apparently similar facial features...=]

Brighton Capua.

Sorry for the facebook stalking that occurred to get this picture...

Brighton is my English major buddy.  We met Winter semester 2009, and led seemingly parallel dating lives when we met our husbands.  I love talking with Brighton about almost anything, because we seem to have such similar opinions.  She has the best common sense and the best fashion sense of just about anyone I know.

Dan Snow.

My spectacular husband who I love so much.  I'll be honest, his answers were mostly one liners, but I still love him for helping me out since one of my friends I was going to interview didn't get back to me.  Dan can make me laugh no matter what, and even though sometimes he drives me crazy, it's in a good way.  I love him!

I have such great friends!

Favorites

Seeing old friends, like I did this weekend:

Getting to know someone awesome.  (Like Autumn!)

My husband.  And getting to spend a whole, entire day with him!  Love!

My family.

All of my wonderful friends everywhere in the world.

When I'm making brownies and have to mix the butter in and it looks like this and smells so unbelievably good I feel like I could just die happy right there.

Sweet Jams.

Cute clothes.

Postmodern literature.

Anything vintage.

Pretty pictures.

Sunny sunny sunshine.

Adorable little kids that make me think I just can't wait to be a mommy (but really, I can).

When I make banana bread and it turns out.  Which it most definitely did not do this weekend.  But I salvaged about half the loaf.

The beach.  And I will be at one in Mexico at the end of this month!