Steve Carell.

You probably know him best from The Office, where he plays Michael Scott, regional manager at Dunder Mifflin. My husband and most of my friends enjoy this show. I don't really and I sort of held a grudge against the guy because I think the type of comedy he's involved with is crude and stupid (examples being Anchorman and The 40-Year-Old Virgin- neither of which I have seen in their entirety, admittedly... however, I can tell just by previews and stories I would dislike them). Also, I have attempted many times to sit down and enjoy an episode of The Office, only to be mocked for not having a sense of humor because I didn't laugh. Some of JD's friends, and maybe some of mine, think I am a little... I don't know...dry? I promise I do have a sense of humor. It's just a little more innocent and childish (meaning I still laugh at Laffy Taffy jokes...)

But on with my story... Steve Carell started to win me over a few years ago with his performance in Dan in Real Life, which I really enjoyed. He also recently won brownie points with me as the supervillian Gru, in Despicable Me. Then, he was on Oprah yesterday to discuss his new film Date Night with Tina Fey. After discussing the movie and their lives as comedians, Steve and Tina decided they had some questions for Oprah. Tina went first and asked some funny questions and then Steve told Oprah he had some real questions. He looked up at her like he was going to ask a deep, powerful, thinking question and then asked, with such a serious face, "Oprah, who let the dogs out?" And I laughed. And then I thought to myself, "Maybe Steve Carell is funny after all."

Wednesday memory.

I've been working on a special project for my brother lately and have looked through some fun pictures. Pictures are such a happy way to capture memories and try to hold onto time a bit longer. Sometimes when I'm scrapbooking, or working out, or just walking about... I'll think about a moment or time or experience in my past and it'll make me smile, or ponder, or wonder. And then it's gone. I have this big fear that as more years pass, I am going to forget all about my childhood and adolescence (This is already happening, as evidenced by my inability to answer Lindsey's questions about what my life was really like when I was her age...).

In a small effort to document my life a little better, I am going to start posting a random memory or story on Wednesdays. So here's to the first Wednesday memory!

Overnight laser tag extravaganza:

When I was in high school, my dad was a leader for the young men at church. All the boys loved "B-Rob" and thought he was the coolest guy. Of course, I think he's awesome too. I'm not sure if it was his idea originally or one of his boys' or maybe a group collaboration, but someone came up with the idea to rent out a lasertag place overnight. It wasn't an official church activity, clearly, but we did it. A few years in a row too. And it was so fun. My dad and a few other men in leadership came to chaperone because it was a co-ed thing. We had snacks and everyone dressed in black. We just played over and over all through the night (different rounds of people, different strategies, different game plans). I think it must have been my junior and senior year that we went (maybe sophomore?) My junior year... I was pretty infatuated with Jordan and hoped we'd get some time alone in a dark corner or something. Oh gosh! My senior year... Stephen came and I think he was upset at me because he thought I was flirting with Jordan too much. So silly! Nevertheless, the overnight laser tag extravaganzas were such fun activities I did with my friends from church.

New York, in pictures.

JD and I took a four hour bus ride to New York City this weekend. As we approached the city, both of us were just speechless. It was such a rush to see so many buildings, lights, motion, and excitement. It was literally breathtaking. I was just so excited to be in NEW YORK CITY with my favorite traveling companion, my very best friend. It's one of those feelings I am struggling to find the words for. Traveling is so incredible. Here's a re-cap of our adventure:

Bravo Pizza. Yum. Statue of Liberty lego building at Toys R Us in Times Square. So cool!

(They also had impressive Empire State and Chrysler buildings.)
A (very skinny) cookie monster.
NYC from way up high.
Top of the Rock observation deck at the Rockefeller Center.
69 stories high.

Love.

Central Park.

Cutest hotel room ever!

Seriously? Fun orange lamp, green bench and desk chair, red fridge, orange walls! So fun :)

Dos Caminos restaurant. Yummiest pork tacos! We'd definitely recommend it.

Times Square night life.

Clearly, I was obsessed with this little place JD chose to stay!

He did so good.

Ferry to Staten Island.

Statue of Liberty.

Chinatown.

Metro.

Grand Central Terminal.

Taxis.

So many people. So many lights. So much culture.

We loved it.

You.

You put away the dishes and like the kitchen really neat.

You always fold the blanket when you get up from your seat.

You like to cook dinner and make food that tastes so good.

You can't cook every night, but probably would if you could.

You think to surprise me with things like picnics in the park.

You come to bed at the same time I do so we can cuddle in the dark.

You read scriptures to me before we close our eyes to rest.

You pray with me and keep me wanting to be my very best.

You listen well, but you also like to talk a lot too.

You are fun to be around even when there's not too much to do.

You like to play games and are competitive like me

(But not too much.. or there's no telling where we'd be!)

You watch sports and like to go out to see events.

You love to light the candles that fill our home with lovely scents.

You enjoy having people over and are an excellent host.

You're a pretty humble guy and never like to boast.

You know Spanish and can speak it like a pro.

It comes in handy in a lot of places that we go.

You like to travel and explore new places we haven't been.

You calm me down when my patience runs thin.

You serve others willingly just to make them smile.

You start the laundry when I'm too lazy to move the pile.

You notice when I do something different with my hair.

You call people out of the blue to tell them you care.

You go on dates with your Grandma and won't let her pay.

You try to think positively even if you've had a bad day.

You are willing to work hard to provide what we need.

You are very reasonable and aren't driven by greed.

You remind me to take pictures and bring the camera along.

You know most of the words to Taylor Swift's songs.

You make friends almost everywhere you go.

You tell me scripture stories I don't already know.

You look at the things I make and compliment my style.

You lift me up when I get down every once in a while.

You give me big hugs and sweep me off my feet.

You iron my clothes, even the skirts with pleats.

You never use bad words and you discourage me from gossip.

You share your food with me and then leave a good tip.

You are an Eagle Scout and a hard worker, too.

You'd never ask anyone to do something you wouldn't do.

You love your family and are patient and kind.

You send me little texts to say I'm on your mind.

Every day I discover more reasons you're so good for me...

I love you, little lovebug. Happy anniversary!

All Grown Up.

Did I mention when I went home this weekend I found some strangers living in my house? Like this 6'2 creature: Papa John's employee, future Idaho resident, and center of a thriving social network.

Or this pretty blue-eyed pre-teen: well-developed girl, brilliant mathmetician, and already prepping for college.

Or the new leader: an almost licensed, ready to date, volleyball star.

Really? Who are these people and what happened to my little baby siblings?

Honestly, when did Jake shoot up taller than my dad? How did Morgan already skip ahead to 9th grade math? And since when is Lindsey old enough to drive?

Happy memory :)

I found this little gem as I was browsing through all the pictures on my hard drive for a little project I'm working on. Made me smile. I miss these girls!

Feeling Rebellious.

Dying my hair brown is just about the most rebellious thing I've ever done. Before I left for Texas last week, Brittany and I were talking about our hair and I told her about how I really wanted to dye my hair dark when I was in high school, but my mom would never let me. Then, I thought to myself, "I'm 21 now. I can make my own decisions!" And in the spur of the moment, we went to the store, bought a box of hair dye, and she transformed my look! It still seems a little weird to me to be a brunette, but it's a good way to break the monotony while I keep trying to grow my hair out.

Ps. I love this picture of my parents and I. They are so cute!