This is Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Love, Our little Spiderman, Spider and Witch

Autumn Afternoon

I Need Three Volunteers

I'm working on a project, and need some help. It doesn't matter where you live - just leave me a comment, and I'll tell you what it is. Your help is greatly appreciated, and it shouldn't take too much time.

My Twin?

A lady that I have known for a while, but has recently become a good friend, let me in on a little secret. Apparently she and her husband aren't very good at remembering names, so they make up in-home-nicknames for the ones they have forgotten.

She giggled a little as she said, "Ya know, before I really knew you, my husband and I referred to you as Kewpie Doll Face." I laughed and asked, "You called me WHAT?" She then laughed harder and said, "Kewpie doll face (pronounced Q-P doll)." I told her that I had no idea what she was talking about, but that I'd look it up when I got home.

When I got home there was an email from her. It read:

Tell me this isn't your face, Melissa!!

I've mentioned before that I am the queen of "you look so much like..." or "you remind me so much of..." But I have to say, THIS is a first. So, friends, what do you say? Is this really me?!

Punked

The BEST thing about this prank was that since we had gotten a new key for Greg's room, his old key was disabled. So at 4am (I'm still not sure why they were out so late) when they came back to the hotel, they were locked out. They had to go back down to the front desk, and get a new key.

Other Noteworthy Wedding Events

Obviously my mother's wedding was the main event of our trip back home - but there were a few other moments that, to me, were blog-worthy.

1. Greg wore pants...TWICE. This is a big deal in my family. He is often referred to as, "The guy in the shorts and flip flops," mid February, so I had to document it.

My little sister, Sarah, belted out an amazing version of "At Last," by Etta James. People were quite shocked that such a little thing could sing something so huge.
We had dinner with my Dad at my favorite restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory. {Seriously, how cute is little Evan?!}


My older brother, Dan, showed us that Mentos and Diet Coke don't mix, but the result really isn't "stand 100 yards back in raincoats" worthy.

Rob and I took this picture:
After seeing it, I said, "Rob! Why can't you ever really smile for any of our pictures?! I have a million pictures of this same face!" He looked at me and said, "Then why do you keep taking it?!" (I have secretly enjoyed that comment all week. I love this guy.)

I was able to spend some time with my friend of 14 years, Mary. We then took the worst picture of all time...so I've deemed it not-blog-worthy.

Oh, and I caught this video of Greg showing off his signature dance moves.

There is one more event that I am waiting for pictures of. I accidentally left my camera at my mom's house when we discovered that the front desk at our hotel would give out room keys to anyone. No I.D. necessary. All you had to say was, "I lost my room key." They'd then ask what room you were in, swipe a new key, and you were good to go. {Um, scary!} But for the first of many-to-come-family-travel pranks, it was awesome. I'll save that for my next post. By far, these were the best two days I've had in a long time!

The Wedding

It's official, she's married. Congratulations Mom and David, you both deserve all the happiness in the world!

"When I wear this to school my friends will say, 'Maddie!! You look so stylish today.' "

(Thank goodness it wasn't a school day)

What a Wonderful World

Sometimes it's just nice to get out and get some fresh air. Especially when the mountains are on fire with color.

The Indignity of it All

I've been called out. My aunt Cindy just IMed me and said, "Saw the sexy pictures on Greg's blog. Looking good!" My first thought was, "Mandy is posting sexy pictures on her blog? That seems out of character.." But then I remembered that my little brother, Greg, challenged me to a blog-photo war. In a "Happy Birthday to Melissa," post he decided to post a picture that I SWEAR is not me. However, my sponsors would still like me to issue this statement:

"While we cannot confirm or deny that it is Melissa in the recent photo scandal, it is very important that the public realize that no tube tops were harmed in the making of this photo."

Even though the subject of this photo is NOT me, I can only imagine how such horrid film came to life. I picture it going down like this:

One afternoon some eight year old girl with brown hair and blue eyes was hanging out at her friends', Janelle and Joanne's house. Janelle was the same age as this brown haired girl, but Joanne was a few years older. A camera was found in the girls' home, and Joanne suggested that they make a fitness magazine. Joanne decided that she (being the oldest) had to be the photographer. Janelle then offered to be a model. Joanne, in true older sister fashion said, "You're to fat to be in a fitness magazine. You get to be the one who holds the lights." Since there were only three girls, the brunette was left to be the fitness model. The brunette girl really wasn't in any shape to be a fitness model either, and actually remembers being directed to, "suck in that roll," during this shot.

This picture was obviously taken before digital cameras, and once the shots were taken, the brunette girl forgot all about them. She really hoped they would never resurface, because the brunette girl thought her parents would kill her. She wasn't allowed to wear tube tops, and thought her parents would think she behaved like a floozy at her friends' home. Unfortunately, at the time Janelle and Joanne's mother happened to be best friends with the brunette's mother, and some time over the next ten years, the pictures were passed from one family to another.

This is all just a theory - I mean, who knows, maybe the brunette really IS a fitness model now. Maybe she's actually Megan Fox, and now I can blackmail her. And maybe now Janelle is a TWIG. The world will never know. One thing I DO know....Greg, you're dead.

SEE AFOREMENTIONED PHOTO HERE

Looking Up

Finally, a diagnosis! I've spent the past, what seems like, eternity, looking like this:

glasses, ratty hair, un-showered in PJs, with continual television running in the background. I've ventured out from the house on few occasions loaded up on Excedrine and/or Advil to try to maintain a normal lifestyle, but today it was figured out. I have strep. And I've had it for a long time. It's been giving me every symptom in the book...including the lack of blogging desire, but no more. I'm back, baby! (Or will be in five days when the meds take care of business)

Labor Day

We had a really busy weekend with my mom and her fiance, David, in town. {Oh yeah, uh...maybe I forgot to mention that my MOM IS ENGAGED!} Unfortunately I only captured a few pictures of our hike up Donut Falls. The other activities (blessing Evan and a surprise grad party for Rob) went un-photographed.

Tired Jude hitching a ride with Jessica's dad. He was so sweet to carry him!

Rob found a butterfly.
People everywhere started taking pictures of Rob and his find. We even overheard one lady saying, "Oh wow - look at that! The butterfly must be his spirit guide." Seriously.
My brothers Derek and Johnny
Jessica's Mom
Glad naked guy was able to be part of the family pic.

I can't believe that after all that, I don't have any pictures of my mom and David. I'll check my phone, and post some of those pictures soon. Thanks, you guys, for coming out. We all had such a great time and can't wait to see you in October.

Donut Envy

I haven't had much time to bake lately, but my friend's recent blog post inspired me to get back in the kitchen. Even Rob helped out with today's tasty treat. We made cinnamon, glazed, powdered, and chocolate. Thanks, Kat, for the yummy recipe. These were crazy delicious.