Boston Thanksgiving!

Blogging is the new scrapbooking! Seriously, ever since Erica pointed out that you can have your blog printed as a book someday I'm taking the calling seriously. So even though Thanksgiving was a week ago today, I'm determined to give it its full spotlight.

We lived in Boston when I was 13 years old. It's always fun to go back and drive around, actually recognizing a few things. If you know my family, our vacations and memories center around two things: 1) shopping and 2) food.

So, for shopping: We hit the Christmas Tree Shops at least five times in the four days I was there. Rumor has it the family went at least three other times without me. We all managed to purchase unneccesary knick knacks, like the red serving platter I got for $1.69 and the creamy eyeshadow sticks the girls were fighting over. I also managed to leave with a pair of dress-up fairy wings for $1.99. I bought Natalie a coat rack for Christmas for $9.99. Don't even ask what my mom got. It filled six shopping bags, whatever it was. Also, Natalie found us the greatest shoe store ever. Here's our loot: I bought the Ugg knockoffs, the red heels, and mocassins for $29. Total. Kendall got sexy gray pumps and yellow peek-toes, Mally ended up with the darling herringbone flats and wicked-witch copper shoes. And don't forget Building 19 - it's like the Food-4-Less quality version of a Big Lots. Christmas Tree Shops is the Kohl's version of Big Lots.

Food: Caswells it was. Best chowder and fish ever. Conveniently it was about 1 mile from our "little yellow house" in Weymouth so who knows if it's the best seafood ever, but it definitely rivals any we've ever tasted. I embarassed myself by asking if Haddock was Halibut (no... it's Haddock). The parking lot picture is me sitting inside of Caswells, looking at the Burger King where Kurt and I ate dinner in 2005 after I chickened out and wouldn't drive any further in the dark to explore my old hometown. We were chowdered out by that point so we looked at Caswells while we ate burgers and fries.

Oh and let's not forget the Texas Roadhouse. We manage to find one almost anywhere. We had a little picture-taking contest across the table, sadly those pictures aren't in my posession. I think my team won.

Dunkin Donuts are EVERYWHERE in New England. Here are my city-girl sisters living it up in the Double D. This is before Kendall embarassed herself by accidentally getting into somebody else's car in the parking lot.

Our photo shoot - I won't bore you with pictures here, I'm sure they are/will be all over the place elsewhere - took place Thanksgiving morning. This picture is here to showcase two things 1) How squished we were in the backseat, so we didn't have to bother with two cars and 2) The Diet Coke Addiction. It's awesome. Sadly I don't partake - orange Fanta is more my thing - but we never drove without at least one being passed around the car. And went through at least 2 12-packs during my 4 days there.

Here is our Thanksgiving table. A surprisingly little of our vacation centered around what/how we would actually cook. We made some really creative uses out of pots, pans, and large cups in the bachelor pad where we were staying, and minus the seafoam jello (which we never eat at Thanksgiving anyway!?) it all turned out delectably! No tablecloth, no placemats, and paper cups. A little bit of heaven.

We were so lucky to stay in the nice apartment of "The Dentals", three of Nat's guy friends in Dental school. It was surprisingly well-decorated for a bachelor pad! Nat and girls made especially good use of their HDTV, watching at least a full season of "How I Met Your Mother." As a family we also watched Ocean's 13 and Hairspray. The blue wall is the kitchen and front room, the window is our view from the 14th floor.

One of my favorite memories was driving around looking at the amazing homes and landscapes around us. One day while I felt like a teen being forced to drive to Plymouth Rock (it wasn't so bad!) we all picked what our house would look like.
Mallory's Pick: (of course) A Yellow house.

My pick: Dark Taupe with Black shutters and Red door.

Kendall's pick: Dark blue or Dark Gray house - sorry, no picture.

Mallory fell asleep in the front room on Thanksgiving night. I couldn't resist snapping her picture because it really reminded me of 1998.

Okay... I wasn't going to say much about the family photo shoot but as I think more on it, it can't be left untouched.

Dad was amazing and rented us the flash I dearly want (need?) and even better, he was willing to drive those crazy New England roads to find the camera shop to get it. The day was beautiful - but of course the sun came out at precisely the wrong moment, exacerbating the Williams Squint. Regardless, we managed to get some nice pictures even though Kendall couldn't jump in time with the rest of us.

Nobody wanted to lay down on the cold, wet leaves with me - I think to get me back they threw them up in the air, knowing they'd land cold and wet on my neck. (Thus, my facial expression below). Or maybe Mal was getting back at us because originally she suggested throwing leaves and nobody wanted to. But then we ended up taking like 30 shots doing so - thanks Mal!

All in all a fun, amazing, little-bit-of-heaven trip. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Freak!

Can someone tell me if this spider is supposed to have two grossly large second legs by nature or by accident?

And should I be worried about contaminants in my water pipes that create random growths?

I do feel sort of sorry for the gimp - you should see him try to walk. Sort of like a cross between Quasimodo and Kendall with a limp.

*Note - this spider is smaller than a cheerio, so don't get too creeped out. See those little bumps he's sitting on? They are the texture on the bottom of the tub - that's how cool my camera is.

Lights!

We braved the cold to check out the lights at Temple Square. Brrr! Adrie didn't last very long in her stroller and wanted to be one of the BIG kids. I had fun with my camera trying to hold as still as stone to catch clear shots without a flash - I'm definitely bringing a tripod next time. People kept staring when I laid on the ground to brace the camera on something unmoving!

See my family on the other side of the reflecting pond?

After Adrie shook one sister missionary's hand, she'd kept holding out her hand for more!

All in all, a great night. Check that one off the holiday list.

We're big on Tradition

1996:

2007:And there are lots in between. We're lookin pretty good after eleven years eh?

Return to Real Life

I have about six blogs composed in my head and don't know where to start because a) I'm exhausted b) they'll be photo-heavy and that's a lot of work I'm too tired to do and c) I like to have things organized and I can't quite decide how the subjects go.

So, until I get this little brain-blog-mess sorted out, a few random pieces:

The most gorgeous picture of the whole Boston vacation

The funnest picture of the whole vacation:

Tonight Adrie entertained herself by climbing in and out of her stroller for at least 15 minutes. She crawls up, turns around and sits down like "ah, this is the life", gets bored and carefully climbs back down... only to begin again.

I have a beautiful home. I'm really enjoying it. And I put up all of my Christmas decorations (that's about two tiny boxes worth). Loving it!

Back to work tomorrow, I've done four different photo shoots I haven't processed or blogged yet and have another one later this week. So it might be awhile. Love!

Finally some pictures

It was the first night of the Despain Family Reunion last night! I was the family photographer (more to come on the business blog soon) - but someone took pity on me and snapped a few of me and my cute Adrie and family. So here they are for family history's sake.

The Mind of a 14 month-old

1. Watch what happens when I squeeze this orange slice really hard. My whole arm shakes! And juice runs everywhere! I must be really strong.
2. Pot lids make great stepping stones on the kitchen tile.
3. Candle lighters make great pretend curling irons.
4. Screaming with my mouth closed is a great way to show frustration.
5. Dancing means holding my right arm in front of me and spinning in circles while bending my knees.
6. Bring a book to any adult and they immediately stop what they're doing and sit down to hold me.
7. Let's see how fast I can turn book pages.
8. Sliding down the stairs on my stomach goes fast when I'm in footy pajamas!
9. I now know what a cookie is and go from person to person saying "Ahhhh" for a bite. I'm so cute I usually get it.
10. Those teeth are pretty handy for mashing things up. I haven't figured out how to use the front ones to bite off little chunks yet.
11. String cheese is the perfect size for me to hold. That dumb wrapper gets in the way though.
12. How many beanie babies will fit in the bathroom drawer?
13. Remote controls make great cell phones. In fact, so does the baby monitor and the ipod.
14. When you pick up a phone you say "Hi".
15. Walking around seeing the world through the camera moving on the phone is the coolest thing ever.
16. All animals deserve to be barked at.
17. Any item that gets dropped - by me, my mom, or a stranger in the store - deserves a loud "Uh Oh!"
18. Everything has eyes! I must point them out and show off. "Eye. Eye. Eye." I like to poke people's eyes really hard.
19. The cat follows me and pounces on strings when I pull them!
20. Laughing and walking are impossible to do at the same time.
21. I can look at my Dad when they say "Where's Dad?" but I don't know what "Mom" is.
22. The scrolly-button on the keyboard is awesome. The whole screen moves! Up down up down up down up down up down up down up down up down...
23. When given a toy that has a button or light-up I can usually find it before any adult can.
24. I still hate baths and cry the whole time. Showers too.
25. What happens when I drop this toy in that dirty garbage can?
26. I can eat a whole banana. But when I'm not hungry they are really cool to squish.
27. I can carry a garbage can all by myself. I like to fill them up with dirty laundry and toys and then haul them around.
28. Headbands are round, just like the diaper pail. They fit inside the lid just perfectly.
29. Watching videos of myself makes my whole face smile. When that baby laughs on screen I laugh too!
30. That cat's tail is the perfect size for grabbing. And I'm finally stronger than him.
31. When mom says "Adrie, where are you?" I go find her no matter where I am in the house.
32. I still kiss anything I love. And I kiss on demand, too. In the Ensign on Sunday I kissed the scriptures, a baby, and even the prophet!
33. Even though I'm not supposed to, I drop things over the gate into the cat's food just to see what my mom will do.
34. I make a beeline for the kleenex box whenever I can, just to feel them pull out one by one by one by one.
35. I can finally get off a bed or couch by myself, scooting my legs over the edge until I fall just right.
36. I love to empty cupboards more than anything in the world.
37. I can ride my infant car seat on the floor like a rocking horse. I like to see how many creative ways I can crawl in and out. My stuffed animals get buckled in. And I scream when anyone else pretends to climb in.
38. I love little chairs. Especially standing on them.
39. I shake my head and mimic my mom saying "uh uh uh uh" when I approach the heater, the cat's litter box, or get ready to drop something over the edge of my high chair.
40. I can't seem to figure out why things fall off the spoon when I try to put it in my mouth.
41. My favorite toy is a straw. Pulling it in and out of a glass is fascinating. And I'm in love with my straw-sippy cup.

42. Let's dump these wet diapers from the trash can and fill it up with stuffed animals instead.

Happy 14 month birthday Adrie! You light up my whole world and keep me entertained nonstop. It's so fun to see you learning more every day, and amazing to notice how much you watch what I do and model me. I love you!

Pre-Thanksgiving

All of my family - well, practically - is at the airport tonight. Night before the New York extravaganza for all of the non-married girls. And their parents. And grandparents. I know I'm old when I'm not really jealous - just way excited for them. And then I get to join my nuclear family in Boston to visit Natalie next Tuesday. My first time away from Adrie... wish me luck!

I don't have anything that exciting to report... I made sugar cookies tonight... I'm attempting to dye my hair as we speak and I'm really afraid it's going to turn out black... Adrie finally slept through the night last night for the first time in at least a week - I think that baby has more teeth than I do already. Work is good, my cat cuddles with me at night... life is good. Except just when Prison Break finally got interesting again, it's not on until January. Bummer.

Happy Pre-Thanksgiving!

Another little Giggle

Self Explanatory. I had to post something fun from life amidst all my sad-complaining posts. :)

PS - See the wall on the far end of the room that I single-handedly two-tone painted today? And then continued all the way around that back hallway under the laundry sign too. I am woman hear me roar.

PPS - Mom, can I paint the kitchen red? Pretty please? Just two walls of it.

"All we can do is keep breathing"

Song on uber-repeat today: Keep Breathing by Ingrid Michaelson.

Thank you Grey's Anatomy for a great sountrack that introduces me to new songs and artists. Even though I don't watch your trashy plotlines anymore you still have great music. And I do miss you.

Health - taken for granted!

On top of a lot of other un-named crap going on, my body is giving out on me and it's amazing what a mental defeat that is. I feel SO much empathy for anyone with physical ailment... I am shocked at what an energy-eater and spirit-crusher it is.

Don't read on if you're not up for hearing me complain.

1) My SI joint is acting up big time. This first happened when I was about 10 weeks pregnant, and has flared up off and on ever since. SO LAME! Stretching and good posture and taking it easy haven't helped. I spent three hours at the physical therapist today and he offered some advice and exercises but no quick fixes. And I hurt worse after he manipulated my bones around.

2) This week I hit my knee on a big metal door while running somewhere. (Sounds sort of like the freak hit-my-eye-on-a-door incident from my freshman year of high school huh!) I have never had a knee injury but it sucks BIG time! I can't bend down, it hurts to put weight on it, and even sitting still it throbs.

3) I have a knot on my right shoulder muscle so intense that it goes numb and tingly as it squeezes out nerves. Sofar any amount of stretching and massage hasn't helped. I've always carried tension there...

On a positive note I've been organizing my Itunes today and I really continue to be in love with music. What a magnificent catharsis and panacea all at the same time.

Songs I REALLY love that I'd temporarily forgotten about:

I'm Movin On by Rascal Flatts
Anna Begins by Counting Crows
Even God Must Get the Blues by Jodee Messina

"Here is Coming a Better Version of Me"

I left my house feeling a little sad, dejected, and hopeless about a number of things.

After blasting music on my 45-minute drive to the babysitter and then work, I feel a world different. Empowered, excited, determined and motivated.

Thank you Fiona.