Another Christmas spent with my amazing husband! Loved every minute of it and we even filmed opening our presents this year. Mr. P couldn't be bothered to wait to actual Christmas morning, we ended up opening everything at 8pm Christmas Eve.

I've been having fun coming up with more fun photos to take with family and friends. I recently did a photoshoot with my brother and his wife. I call it Ninja love. Photos of that next post.

P.S our house has smelled amazing all winter thanks to this!!

J.K

My brother and his wife were kind enough to let me take pictures of them this weekend. People are my weak points and I'm trying to get better.

Fear...in the form of a fin

One of my biggest fears when I was little girl were sharks. Great.Big.White.Ones. And it's all thanks to one movie. Jaws. I used to love to take baths and one thing I would sometimes do is swim underwater like a mermaid. Since I was in a bathtub it was more like thrash around, spilling water over the sides and making the floor a hazardous zone for anyone who tried to come in a stop me. After I saw that movie, I would go underwater but the very idea that a shark could somehow end up in the tub with me terrified me right up to the surface. I was a mermaid no longer.
One time while we were visiting some of our family in Wisconsin, we decided to spend the day at the lake. Apparently I was more traumatized than I thought because as we were walking along the narrow wooden pier towards the water, I found myself slowing down more and more. The next thing I remember is clinging to a dock post and refusing to go any closer to the water. I'm serious...no I'm Sirius hahah ....... sorry. Anyway, all my family wanted to do was look out at the view and possibly dangle a few lower extremitites in the water but I would not budge. I clung to that pole for dear life and would not let go until we were heading back to land. True story.

Please don't get me wrong, now that I'm older, wiser and more vulnerable, Jaws is one of my top all time favorite movies. I literally watch in once a week. Why? Because first of all, I love to be scared and I love scary movies. Second of all, I found the subject of my terror fascinating.

The very idea of this is insane. I'm not quite sure how I feel about it.

Best week of the year? Shark week, followed very closely by General Conference. Very closely. I love learning about these fascinating animals. Great Whites especially. I think they're beautiful, I think that they need to be protected and respected.
A couple years ago, I was swimming in a lake with some friends and for some reason I decided to pretend a shark was chasing me and I high tailed it to the shore. Why do I do these things to myself? Practice in case it ever happens? Better safe than sorry? You can never be too prepared?

Here are some the my favorite shark links: Beware, they're terrifyingly awesome.

link 1

link 2
I like this one, it's like you can hear the shark saying, waaaaaasssss sssssuuupppp?

link 3

link 4

I heard somewhere through the grapevine that there has been a couple instances where dolphins have assisted people who are being attacked. Anybody else heard that? They distract the shark to help the person get away.

Something I want to do before I die, and maybe I'll force myself to do it since I just recorded it on to my blog, is cage dive with Whites. Ugh how terrifying and thrilling. I would love to do it though, confront my fear and probably pee my pants...or err wetsuit.
However, accomplishing the above goal is a bit of a problem for me since I won't get into the ocean. My family and I were in San Diego two summers ago and of course we went to the beach. My mom (traitor) and two of my brothers dragged me into the water and trust me I was screaming. I surprised nobody thought I was being murdered and offered assistance. I lasted in the waist deep water about 11 mins. Both my mom and I felt something brush our legs and we high tailed it out of there.When Mr. P and I went to Mexico for our honeymoon I was happy to enjoy the water from the beach but I did learn to scuba dive in the hotel pool!

I know you guys probably think that's extreme but it's actually quite manageable. I'm thinking about joining a support group... Meh who are we kidding? One New Year's resolution at a time.

Anybody else scared of sharks? Or anything else for that matter?

love and embarrassing pictures

Who would have thought a girl from Indiana and a boy from Pennsylvania would have ended up together? I'm amazed everyday that I was lucky enough to find him and that he found me.

                                                                   

                                      

Merry Merry Birthday

P's birthday is coming up on Saturday. He just barely had one last October but he wants to have another one this year too...and on the same day even. Kids these days.

I decided to throw him a little surprise birthday party. In preparation for said surprise party, my conversation with P went a little something like this:

me: I need you to make sure you're home by 7 on next Saturday.
P: I'm not sure baby, I just took off time so we could go to PA.
me: No you definitely need to be home by 7.
P: Why?
me: .........
me:......Joey's having a BBQ and I really want to go.
P: Well I'll think about it.
me: No you need to get off and be home by 7.........because I really want to go to Joey's thing...........and I don't want to be late.

I might as well as phoned up P and said 'hey be suspicious about a party I might be throwing for you'. P later admitted that he thought I was throwing a bbq party for him at my brother Joey's house. He was only half right.

I spent a month and a half secretly buying stuff for the party and hiding it all over our apt. Sometimes I forgot where I hid stuff and found candles and candy corn under all my socks or paper cups and streamers under the toilet paper stash.

When Saturday came I spent most of the day decorating the house and getting everything all ready.

Here's the spread, I made most of the food and got the rest at Costco. My mom had a Halloween tradition of taking plastic gloves and putting candy corn in each finger and then filling it with popcorn so I had to make them as well.

While we were in PA, P's mom gave me a whole bunch of pictures of P when he was growing up. I put them to good use.

I was worried about everyone fitting comfortably but I think it worked out just fine.

I only had to run out once for a couple more pizzas but other than that the night was a success. Thanks everyone who came and made it great for P!

Pennsylvania

P and I flew home to Pennsylvania this weekend to celebrate his sister's wedding. Needless to say we were beyond excited. We haven't seen his family since our wedding and I was stoked to see PA in the fall time. Trust me I was not disappointed.

P is from a little area called Bucks County. It's not a state park but it should be. It's one of the most beautiful places in the world.

This is P's backyard, I know right?

We're planning on moving back there someday. It's so beautiful there I think anyone could fall in love with it.

Here's a fun fact for you. M. Night Shyamalan's movie Signs was filmed in Pete's home town.

 This leave was suspended by a spider's web. If you look closely you can see it.

                P's house is like something out of a story book. His dad bought it and renovated it.

The unbelievably embarrassing Lord of the Rings poem...by me.

I wrote this poem a couple years ago. It's horribly embarrassing but a little fun at the same time. I'm pretty sure I made up a couple words as well just to keep the rhyming going if you know what I mean. To add to my embarrassment, I've included a couple of horribly inaccurate drawings from scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring. Enjoy. Also, depending on the response I get, I may or may not post a story I wrote about the fellowship finding themselves in the Land of Oz. 

Post script I do not owe anything by J.R.R. Tolkien or New line Cinema for that matter. Please don't sue me. 

From Rivendell they set out

Nine companions true.

A Man, a Dwarf, an Elf,

Chosen to see it though.

An Heir of renowned blood

Though folly scarred a vein.

Brave and Noble was he and

Destined to reclaim his reign.


Four hobbits also made the group

Valiant and loyal were they,

One bore the Ring of Power

And there his quest would lay.

   

Last of all came Gandalf

Virtuous to his line.

Might and power he brought

Thus completing the Nine.

   

From Rivendell they set out,

Traveling as a band,

Unsure of what peril would

Come from evil hands.

   

South was the way of their travel

Heading for the Rohan Gap.

But the Eye turned its gaze southward

And put them on his map.

   

Their path was veered to Caradhras

The mighty mountain pass

No race could overcome it

And the storm soon turned their backs.

   

Anxious they turned to Moria

The mighty Dwarven Mine.

Where danger and evil dwelled

Acquired over time.

   

The door was lit by moonlight,

Opened by an elvish sound

Fleetingly they hurried in

Too late to turn back now.

   

   

Entering they discovered

The Mine was now a tomb.

Gimli mourned his brothers

As Gandalf read their doom.

   

A clatter fell down the well

Causing all to stop and look,

From the mischief of a hobbit

Known as Peregrin Took.

   

No one dared to breathe

The crash echoed the halls

The drums began to wickedly beat

As the orcs began their calls.

   

The door was quickly shut

And jammed by fallen axes

Warriors then took their places

Ready to meet their matches.

   

Orcs and Goblins soon arrived

Hacking at the door.

Legolas was quick to see

A hole at which they tore.

   

Skillfully he fired his bow

The elven arrow true.

Yet swiftly he again took aim

More was there to do.

   

Battle began as minions swarmed

Fighting like vicious dogs.

Fearlessly the Nine did fight

Felling orcs like logs.

   

Crashing through the walls,

Came a sudden dread.

A cave troll of monstrous size

Severely underfed.

   

Dumbly he swung his club

The battle continued its plight

Unwittingly it cornered Frodo

And stabbed with all its might.

   
  

The cave troll finally fell.

An arrow to his head.

No rejoicing was there though,

For Frodo lay there dead.

   

Little did the companions know

The thrusted spear did fail.

Mithril wrapped his body

And it’s as hard as dragon’s scales.

   

Running from the room,

They once again took flight.

Swarms of orcs surrounded,

Forcing them to fight.

   

Loud came a bellow,

Down an unlit hall.

Orcs and goblins ran away,

As the fear continued to call.

   

Only Gandalf knew

What evil lay ahead.

Fear slumped his shoulders,

His face was dropped by dread.

   
“A Balrog of Mordor”

He announced with a sigh.

Fear gripped the Fellowship

As Gandalf shouted “Fly!”

   
Tearing down the hall,

To the bridge of Khazad-dûm,

The Balrog screamed behind.

He would be upon them soon.

   

Gandalf’s heart began to pound,

For he all too ready knew.

He made a grab for Aragorn,

And told him what to do.


   
Pausing for a moment,

The Ranger held his breath,

One against a Balrog,

Would surely meet his death.

      

One by one they crossed the bridge.

All, but one who did not cower.

Gandalf the Grey would stay and fight,

For he possessed the power.

   

“Gandalf!” Frodo cried,

anguish in his voice.

But the wizard stood upon the bridge.

He already made his choice.

   

Thus the Balrog came.

A terror in his right.

Black as coal and bright with fire.

A nightmare from the night.

   
“You cannot pass!” Gandalf roared.

Slamming down his staff.

No matter what the creature did,

It would not be allowed to pass.

   

Then the creature fell.

Bright whip still in hand,

Gandalf turned to go,

And join the awe-struck band.

  

Alas, the whip still hailed.

And grabbed him unaware.

The Balrog’s whip pulled him over,

And frantically dangled there.

   
“Fly you fools!” was all he said.

As Frodo screamed his name.

Gandalf then fell down into dark.

One player out of the game.

   

“Nooo!” Frodo wailed

 jerking for his friend.

Boromir grabbed him just in time,

And carried him up the bend.

   

Blurred was the world to all,

As the broken Nine emerged.

Some openly cried their tears,

Other’s remained unheard.

Too fast went the time

As Aragorn took charge.

“Give them a moment!” Boromir snapped.

 But there was dangerous orcs at large.

  
Their course was set for Lothlorien

The beautiful elven haven.

That’s what Gandalf had said,

That’s where Aragorn would take them.

   

Traveling in their sorrow,

They soon reached the Golden Wood.

Unaware of being observed,

Silent from where they stood.

   

Unexpectedly the group did find

Themselves at the business ends

Of the skillfully pointed arrows

Of the guards of Lothlorien.

   

“You cannot go back”

a voice softly warned them.

Belonging to Haldir the

Marchwarden of Lorien.

   

“We must go back”

Gimli said, panic in his voice.

But the elves took them forward

The companions had no choice.

   

They were taken through the Golden Wood

And up the trees that tower.

Where Celeborn and Galadriel stood,

The might of elven power.

   
There counsel was held.

And all to know was learned.

Then Galadriel bid them sleep,

A rest they all had earned.

   

Exhaustedly they laid their camp,

As Mithrandir’s death was mourned.

Sam awkwardly stood erect.

A poem had he to bore.

       

“The finest rockets ever seen,

They burst in stars of blue and green.

Right after thunder, silver showers,

Falling like a rain of flowers.”

   

Time passed slowly

For one who did not sleep.

Frodo Baggins lay there restless,

When he heard the sound of feet.

Quietly he followed her,

The Lady into a dell.

And there erect and proud,

Stood the mirror of Galadriel.

   

There she showed the hobbit

What was in the mirror.

To his awe and horror,

Frodo became a seer.

   

Dreadful things he saw in there,

Races doomed to die.

Suddenly the image blackened,

And then there was the Eye.

   

Frightenly he clutched the ring

And tore himself away.

Death would come on swift wings

Were he to obey.


Gasping for a breath,

He offered her the ring.

To free himself of burden

In which the ring to bring.

   
Though desire in her heart

Forced her to the test,

She will remain Galadriel

And sail into the West.

   
Alas the time drew near

To leave the elven haven.

Hurriedly they packed their gear

And supplies the elves had gave them.

     

Gifts were then bestowed

To each member of the band.

Elvish boats then set sail,

The time to leave at hand.

   
Swiftly down the river

The Fellowship did sail.

But unknown to them,

Gollum was on their trail.

   

Far away at Isengard

Saruman’s army made.

“Bring the Halflings, kill the others”

His evil command obeyed.

   

Onward they did charge,

The fighting Uruk-hai.

Through the woods of Amon Hen,

The broken Nine close by.

   
On the banks of Amon Hen,

They rested from their flight.

Only Legolas could sense

That something was not right.

   
He earnestly urged them on

But Aragorn answered nay.

“We cross the lake at nightfall.”

And so they must delay.

   
Wandering all alone,

Frodo continued on.

He was then found by Boromir

And the hold upon him was strong.

   
He demanded for the ring.

Frodo put up a fight.

Boromir would use the ring

To aid in Gondor’s might.

   

He quickly got away

And found again by Strider.

Frodo offered him the ring,

But he bade him hold it tighter.

       

He then let Frodo go

As the blade of Sting went blue.

The fighting then commenced,

As Frodo turned and flew.

   

To Mordor he would go,

Alone to finish the quest.

All though they had been faithful,

He would have to leave the rest.

 
Valiantly they fought,

The warriors of the Nine.

But Merry and Pippin were taken,

And Boromir left to die.

   
In the arms of his king,

He took his final breath.

Then Boromir Son of Gondor,

Was finally laid to rest.

   
As Frodo rowed away,

Samwise finally found him.

And immediately swam after,

To Frodo he was bounded.

   
“You cannot swim!” Frodo cried

as Samwise thrashed around.

Water began enveloping him

And he slowly began to drown.


Suddenly his hand was grabbed

From Frodo up above.

He helped him into the boat,

And gazed at him with love.

   
Together they would stay

To Mordor they would go.

His promise Sam would keep.

And they both began to row.

   
Three companions left

Standing on the shore.

They dwindled on their failure.

What had it all been for?

      

They then thought of two

Who had been taken by the band.

Merry and Pippin would not be left,

For torture by evil hands.

   
A pact was made then and there,

To stay true to each other.

In vain the Fellowship would not be,

Though it rested on another.

   
Quickly they gathered their gear,

And raced away toward the sun.

The whole of Middle Earth before them,

The hunt for Orcs begun.

   
And so ends this poem,

That has taken many hours.

But the quest to destroy the ring,

Goes on in the Two Towers.

   

End.