I feel myself changing

I can feel myself evolving, changing... questioning... discovering. Coming into my own, but it's happening so slowly. The hand of cards I was deal this last year seemed to have been a big part of all of this "coming into my own". This has all felt as though it came at once. As if the questions and the self-discovery and internal push and pull of my early twenties is catching up. I wish I could go back to the way I felt when I was coming into this space every day. It was easy. I knew my purpose. I felt comfortable in my skin. This thing, self-discovery, finding yourself, whatever you want to call it, has made me want to pull inward. I feel out of order. I feel uncomfortable. Most of the time, I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. I crave observance. I crave quiet, anonymous living. I would be happy for the rest of my life just to live in solitude with only my family. I want to bury myself in a little cocoon and only come out when I've become exactly who I want to be. Down to the very smallest spot on my silly butterfly wings. Will it ever happen?  
With as much push and pull as I've felt on the inside, equally matched are my feelings of happiness in this life I've created for myself with my husband. And I like to focus on that. He is my peace and my calm. However, all to often I find myself coming up empty handed. All I can feel is boiling change underneath the surface. What do you do when that happens? What words are there to say when you don't feel resolved? It's a job for a writer, and a writer I am not. But passing it by doesn't seem fair to this time in my life. If there's documentation of anything, shouldn't it be a documentary of discovery? Of personal evaluation?
I want 2013 to feel different. But I am scared of the change, of the future. The questions and emotional stretching that come scare me like no other. But I need the challenge. I like how I feel when I have one of those "ah ha!" moments, when I listen to myself. I like who I am starting to become even though moving through it can feel like a real mess at times. I am in the thick of it. But maybe 2013 will be my year... the year for being open and authentic... for getting more comfortable in the uncomfortable. 

Family Pictures 2012

Christmas 2012

Tyrel and I have worked too much to consider these last few weeks a "break". We both worked Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Years Day. Valet doesn't close for holidays... who knew?! But we were able to spend some quality time together and with family... which is what it's all about anyway right? 

Christmas 2012 highlights:

-Decorating

-Shopping for the perfect gifts 

-Working at Michael Kors as a seasonal sales associate

(Note to self: working a part time & full time job isn't fun)

-Preschool Christmas parties

- Making a quick trip to Fillmore to spend some time with the in laws

-Meeting up with awesome friends

Johnny & Kiley!

-City Creek Mall, Tucanos & Temple Square Christmas lights in Salt Lake

City Creek

Tucanos

Temple Square

-Christmas Eve Del Taco lunch with my parents

-Listening to Michael Buble's "Cold December Night" on repeat for weeks at a time

- Celebrating Tyrel's 24th birthday!

-Last minute gift wrapping

-Spending Christmas with my family in Las Vegas

-Christmas morning omelets

-Exchanging gifts

Cutest gift for Deegan from McKenzie

-Eating way too much

Treats from the Primary presidency

-Having the best view of the New Year's Eve fireworks right from work!

Aria fireworks

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from us to you!

xoxo

Familiarity

I have spent far too few moments treasuring the beauty of familiarity. The thought struck me late the other night when I was in the bathroom, cutting my husband's hair. I don't know why it struck me then. I've done it countless times before. But this time, somehow the simple intimacy of knowing exactly how he likes his hair and snipping my clippers accordingly while he watched me in the mirror seemed profound. There is something to be said about sharing your life with someone. Growing up and growing old together. That idea is often romanticized by stories and movies, but amidst the day to day living of that life, the appreciation for it can be lost. 

To be truly known by someone, with all knowledge of your past and present, your weaknesses and strengths exposed and still loved. That is beautiful. What a privilege it is to be the one that he knows better than anyone. And to experience the seemingly insignificant day-to-day of growing old together with someone. To me there's nothing, even in the constant stream of new and exciting, that could top or fulfill as much as that warm familiarity.

San Diego

In June, we were lucky enough to get to spend a whole week with my family in San Diego!

There really is nothing better than spending time with the people you love most. 

Here's our week in pictures :)

(sorry for the picture overload!)

Road trip to Cali!

4th of July fireworks

My beautiful cousin that was able to come with us this year :) Love her!

Solana Beach 

My book of choice for the week :)

We made Chase into a mermaid... man?

The Hulk!

Tyrel found a jelly fish!

... and then threw it back into the water.

We can hardly wait until next year!