i can do without you!

i try to tell myself i can do without you! what better way than with one of my favorite childhood musicals. i also have a serious crush on howard keel and all the musicals he is in.

xo, a

pops

thanks for.....

 all your hard work

 showing me that change is possible

patiently waking me up in high school

teaching me to drive

cleaning snow off my car

making sure i knew how to change a tire

allowing me a voice

listening 

teaching me not to be a damsel in distress

my thick golden hair

 being a dedicated husband

giving me the benefit of the doubt

being open to new ideas

following your dreams

always being honest

never letting your family go with out

teaching me right from wrong

working with my "tonal" issues

painting my toenails on prom night

ignoring my difficulty with telling time on a face watch

showing me that reading is a great adventure

barbecuing

keeping your promise to take us to disney world

being different when i turned 18

making the best pancakes ever

getting us puppies so we wouldn't worry

i don't tell you nearly as often as i should, how much i love and appreciate you. i'm so grateful for all the things you taught me. i'm so happy that i get to work, laugh and create things with you every day! happy fathers day, you really mean the world to me pops

love, 

little foot 

pride

 me & val

 they taught this one in sunday school

me & cam

so glad i could celebrate pride with my friends. i'm grateful we live in a place where we can celebrate our beliefs. i only wish we all had equality.

my body

dating is good for music finds! now i'm utterly obsessed with this song. i've also come to love minus the bear, fun., awolnation, of monsters and men and gotye. maybe dating is good for something....

microwave, microwave on the wall...

our microwave is rater reflective.... i walked by the kitchen last night to find my mother waiting for her popcorn to pop. as she waited she was fixing her hair in the reflection. this had me rolling on the floor with laughter. bless her heart, she just can't pass by a reflective surface without checking herself out. does this ever happen to you? do you take a peek at your reflection whenever possible?

xo,a

smitten

about a boy

so i decided to get back on the horse and resume online dating. last monday i met "x" i'll call him that for his love of bmx and i think he has the x factor at a sports bar near my house. we started off emailing, then moved to texting. i've been super busy so i didn't really have time to meet him but after texting for a couple days i was starting to wonder about him. i couldn't get him out of my head. so while at my hair appointment i text him and said 

"so have you decided when we are gonna meet up?" 

"your the busy one miss?! i have my son on wed and this weekend."

"i know, so your telling me we have to wait until next week?"

then he asked if i had time tonight, that is cutting it close. i was getting my hair cut and colored, i told him i would be done by 8pm and could he meet after at a sports bar near my house? he said yes, then proceeded to tell me he had already had a few drinks with a friend watching the playoffs. was he asking if this is ok? just letting me know? idk then he asked if i liked beards? because he had one and wouldn't shave it off. he stopped talking to one girl because she wouldn't go out with him unless he shaved it. was that ok? yes i replied. facial hair is cool with me. 

of course my hair appointment ran late. he just told me to text him when to leave. i rushed from downtown back to draper to meet him at a quarter to nine. we got their at about the same time but i sat at the bar and he sat at a table. he text me to join him. x is tall, dark and ruggishly handsome. he's a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy. which is perfect for me. i like to be the fashionable one above all he's cool. like that cool, down to earth sports jock you always had a crush on in school. what surprised me right off is he, like me is a no bullshit kind of person. he was talkative and refreshingly honest. he talked about his ex a little more than i was comfortable with but i get it, they have a kid together she will always be in his life. he is kinda a reformed bad boy. he got his act together when he learned he was having a child and got a degree with a double major. he seems to know who he is and what he wants. he is right on the tip of arrogant which i unfortunately find incredibly sexy he has a full life with a great job and hobbies he loves. i was instantly at ease around him. our meet up didn't feel like the usual interview online dating sometimes turns out to be. you know when your talking to someone and they say the exact words you are thinking? x did that to me a few times and i couldn't help but smile, he had me laughing and smiling all night. the time flew by as we boned over movies and music and tv. we talked about politics, sports, pets, religion, and family. he has an adorable three year old son. he told me if he ever gets up from the table and walks away it's because his son has called. he always tells his son goodnight and tells him a story before bed. swoon! was i drooling? i started absent mindedly rubbing my shoulder, he noticed and asked me whats up? i told him i was a wretched sleeper, i fidget to get comfortable and sleep on my stomach and shoulders. "well he said you can't sleep in my bed then." i replied "you're already picturing me in your bed? don't you think that's a bit fast?" then i winked i told him i was loud and loquacious and.. i meant to describe myself thinking i'd change the subject but i realized i lost my audience. i looked over at him to see him lost in thought. omg he thought i was describing myself in bed. i blushed. no! i told him i thought we moved on from the bed topic. we talked ourselves to close! one o clock in the morning! he walked me to my car we talked a little neither of us wanting to leave. we hugged and said our goodbyes and that was it.

i can't remember the last time i met a guy and instantly liked him. i never kiss men on the first date and all i could think was you idiot! wtf is wrong with you? you spend four hours laughing with a guy and then... hug? goodness your pathetic! at the bar i told him men online often ask me for feedback. he teased me with a text and said

 x: "so i had fun meeting you u are diff than most. but i would appreciate some feedback on our meeting! i like to know where i need improving so i can make the next one better." 

me: "thanks for picking up the tab. most guys don't so no improvement needed there. i had a great time as well. i'm glad i met you."

x:"you must date boys then lol."

me:"was that a date?"

x:"it was whatever u want it to be. but u know what i mean!!"

me:"it was a great meet cute(that's what the movie industry calls a first meet)." yes i'm aware how corny this is

x:"so does that mean i get a second one?! or even a date?"

me:"that's exactly what it means!"

x:"okay good... well when you can pencil me in let me know... actually u should use pen! i'll let u sleep now though!! sleep great!"

me:"goodnight"

we have "talked" text everyday since and i can't get him out of my head! every time i look at my phone i hope i have a message from him. i've reverted back into my 15 year old self. i am utterly, smitten! i know things will move slow with him. we are both busy and he has a child so... i can't wait to see where this goes!

 xo, a

redwoods

 i rarely see this color green in utah. 

the trees are breathtaking!

do these trees have great posture or is it just me?

mom and i resting on our hike

last weekend we took a road trip up to visit my bro. while we were in the area we visited the redwood forest in northern california, it is overwhelming breathtaking! i've never seen such tall, straight, enormous trees before. it felt so great to get out and hike in such a magical place. can't wait to visit again i think this was my favorite part of our trip. (sorry bro)

xo, a