happy friday!

if i've made it to friday, i feel like its my birthday, and i just get to celebrate and say happy friday to myself all day. today's friday is finally beginning after 11 hrs on campus. no beuno. but...i got things done. i am so close to being caught up. and once i am....wait i probably won't, so i won't get my hopes up.

its the first night i've come home before 11pm. that means success--because that means i'm not at the library! tonight my summer ward is having a little "reunion" but....i'm just skipping that. why? because i am reading a really good book, called MindSet. and right now, a book sounds more enjoyable then talking to people. crazy as that sounds coming from me. so far, i've been reading this book in sections, because it's not a novel. it was written by Dr. Dweck, from Stanford.

some funnies this week:

:: one night after going straight from work back to school, i decided to indulge and buy myself some dinner at the cougareat. I was hesitant. because i can count on my hand probably how many times i have actually bought food from there. i usually would rather starve, eat gum and drink water, then pay and arm and a leg...you get the point. i bought a wrap, and proceeded to sit down. as i began eating, i see Crismon walk by to get a napkin or something. he sees me too, and we start talking, and he brought his dinner over and we sat and ate together. it was good fun. its nice to not eat by yourself once and awhile :)

:: part 2 to this story, as we finished, he said he was on his way to the library. when i replied i was too,  he asked me where i like to study and i said the media center on the 4th floor, and to my surprise, thats exactly where he studies too.

:: part 3 to this story. then on wednesday night, of course, like my ritual, i went back to the media center to study, after being there for awhile, i had fallen asleep sitting up, and crismon happened to walk by to get something, and sure enough saw me....go figure. this truly means we are siblings since we eat at the cougareat at the same time (which is seriously a rare occurrence for both of us), and study in the same place at the same time unintentionally.

:: sorry, since all my time is spent in the lib, i really only have stories about it...but today, i was again in the media center, and i saw my cousin becca!!! one of my most favorite people ever. what i mean to be only a quick hello ended up being a 1.5 hr conversation! my checks literally hurt from smiling and lauging with her. i'm so glad she goes to school, because i love seeing her at devotional! :)

:: another funny. i walked back to the school after work on thursday and i was on the phone with Ondalynn, my sister. after awhile she handed the phone to sydney, my 8 yr old niece, she's my hero by the way, so we could talk, and then i told her i had to go meet up with a friend for institute. without missing a beat she said, "FINALLY!" and I kind of laugh, and said, "sydney, why is that...." and she responded, "well, every time we webcam with you, or you talk to my mom on the phone, you are always by yourself on a friday night! its about time you have friends." wow... reprimanded by my niece. :) i did nothing but laugh.

look familiar? this would be a girls bathroom counter space. 0% space whatsoever. typical.

celebration of the escape from the womb (19 years later)

12.05.92 and 12.05.11 was a fantastic day. and every december fifth in between has also been fabulous.

i would feel weird doing a self-absorbed post of myself (oh, wait, i do all the time...) but just to record for history sake, i want to remember why it was so memorable, and say a loving and forever THANK YOU for everyone who helped make my birthday special, and made me feel love, and most of all for those who have helped shaped me these past 19, and most of all to my mother who was willing to have children and sacrifice so much of herself to raise me and bring me into this world. Thank You doesn't even touch the surface of the love and admiration I have for my mother and father. So....thank you. 

Sunday night: I was able to have Lynette & Jennie (our 2nd cousin) Lewis over for dinner, and then we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional together. It was bliss to hang out with them. I made them my birthday dinner including my favorite items of food: couscous salad with chips (easier version of cafe rio), sweet potato fries, chicken and a green salad. my roommate Hannah brought this tree and decor, and we had a blast setting it up. we danced to christmas music and hung lights on our window. 

christmas is magical. 

Jennie brought hot chocolate, and I made an apple pie,  because lets be real here, who actually likes cake?

monday, the fifth. was absolute bliss. roommates gave me rides to and from school which is a beautiful thing when the weather is 15 degrees. my friend announced my birthday in my new testament class, entirely against my will, and turns out it was my professors birthday too. (and this isn't just any professor, this my absolute favorite religion professor that i had for Book of Mormon and he's helping me prep for the seminary program). 

conner, my friend since we were 6mo. old, brought me hot chocolate and a donut to anthropology, which was just splendid, since i didn't have time for breakfast that morning. 

someone offered to work for me, which was just a wonderful break. I studied for most of the day in the library and then cousin Harrison took me to the cannon center for lunch. I went back to the library for more studying, and once i start falling asleep at the computer, i decided to walk home, and Gemma picked me as she saw me walking. 

i came home to a package from my favorite family in Washington, the Vances. I almost just cried looking at the box, but then i opened it and of course my heart melted with the sweet inside joke items and a few darling decorated cards by my neices and nephews. my favorite was from bryson. it was completely blank and on the inside said: love, bryson. precious :)

i also got a sweet card from my mom and dad! Thanks so much again for the Thomas S. Monson book. I love love love it!

my favorite part of the day was when my siblings called and left messages of their kids singing happy birthday. it was the best. thanks for thinking of me fam!

my roommates were so kind to take me out to dinner that night to California Pizza Kitchen. It was delicious. And free ice cream sundae is a plus always a plus!

then we came home, and i thought i was having the best birthday ever, until i walked in and there were surprise guests waiting for me. i'm pretty sure my pulse has calmed since then, but i was so surprised. i'm quite certain that my brother Crismon and I are the most oblivious people on this earth.

that was so sweet of them. they put up streamers, ballons, signs, and made brownies (my favorite). 

cousin Harrison, summer roommates Sami, Amber (and Sara dropped by later), cousin Lynette, and friends Jorgen and Craig. 

the 19th most valuable wish of my life. (do you see the M&M's spelling Emily? Lynette is the best!)

I seriously was overwhelmed by all the love and kindness everyone gave to me. It seriously was one of the best birthdays ever. I am so lucky to have such great friends and family who care so much about me. I am so grateful to be here--and to celebrate life on earth! 

thank you again. 

have the happiest of day, everyday.

you know when....

....you are really excited for college when your cookbook comes in the mail!

Especially, for a girl that can't cook. 

I was so excited, I even slept with it last night. 

Call me crazy....but I'm stoked. 

And ....my backpack JUST came in the mail too!

No more embarrassing moments with my backpack from now on.

And, the novelty of everything is that is is...NEW. 

NEW. NEW. NEW.

A rare luxury that doesn't happen often around these parts, since my family is all about reduce, reuse, recycle. If you don't understand, I'll help you out. 

Problem: First grade, i needed new shoes since the hand-me-down pairs where falling apart. Solution: Dad used copious amounts of shoe glue and duct tape.

Problem: Hand me down jeans were way too long on my short legs in elem. school. 

Solution: Mom pinning them with safety pins as I'm eating breakfast.

Problem: Not enough cups, bowls for family

Solution: use yogurt containers as cups

Problem: Doing dishes, putting away food after dinner, you would think through something away if there's only a small amount left....WRONG.

Solution: Mother saving every scrap of uneaten food. One day I'll understand.

Problem: Not enough diapers for children growing up...with 9 children, thats expected

Solution: wrap them in newspapers, there was more than enough to go around...

our family a living newspaper reading machine.

The Lewis Family is the reason why Recycling is a law in Oregon. 

just sayin...

final sights from D.C.

i'm on my final victory lap around the D.C. trip. I can't believe its already come to an end, but so happy that i was able to go. a huge fist pump to Ondalynn who didn't kill me for living with her and her family for 11 days. thanks a million sis! 

On Saturday, as a fam we went to Mt. Vernon, George Washington's Estate! the grounds were beautiful! And as we drove in the car, my love for Virginia grew immensely. A crush wouldn't justify it. Mt. Vernon is a must see if you go to the East Coast. The museums were kid & adult friendly and the least overwhelming--you just enjoy everything!

{right: George Washington's tomb/coffin, with Martha W. on the left. Vance Co. and I in front of Mt. V}

Friday: the JIMMER FREDETTE BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR MR. B

of course, basketball, football, baseball brownie/cupcakes were on the menu, with alot of other sugar as well. 

it would be an understatement to say he was estatic about his new basketball hoop. Or...to prounce it as mr. b does it would be a "baketball hoop"

we love mr. b aka the next jimmer fredette.

the trip was so wonderful. and i realized vacation life is ten times better than reality life. but oh well. that will be my last vacation in a long time. and it was absolutely the best place i could have gone. all the sights were wonderful, but the best part was being with my family.

its cheese, i know. 

but true.

so go grab a kleenex now, or two.

the end.