education matters

This weekend was chock-full of proud big sister moments, one of those awesome weekends that you just never want to end. My sister, Lyndsey, second oldest in command, graduated from the University of Utah on Friday. You see, Lyndsey loves parties, events, surprises and gifts. Oh boy, does that girl LOVE herself some gifts, but the weeks leading up to her graduation she was told that dear little (but really huge) brother would not be able to fly home to celebrate her achievements. Having been denied the best gift of all, all of her siblings back together again, she was left brokenhearted. She tried and cried and begged, but to no avail, he just wasn’t coming. This resulted in Lyndsey feeling like “no one in our family actually cared about her”. She can be pretty dramatic sometimes. Once or twice I even had to pull the big sister card and tell her to suck it up and get over it, it didn’t mean he didn’t love her.
Anyway, the big day came, and here’s what actually happened…

(BIG thanks to the ‘baby sister bear’, Shelby, for making such an awesome vid!)

…and all this time she thought we weren’t any good at gift giving. Joke’s on you, Lynds. Joke’s on you. Phew, never thought we’d pull that one off.

The rest of the weekend played out just as you’d imagine. With lots of laughs, praises, hugs, food, teasing and a few petty arguments over clothes *sigh*… sisters. And even today, Monday, I’m still just so darn proud of that sister of mine. For being an amazing teacher, for having so much passion and for chasing after her big dreams. Get ‘em girl!

xo,

Kait

And now, for the pictures, because this is a blog, and that’s what blogs are for!

 

why i'm giving up on to-do lists

It used to be I loved making lists because of the pure satisfaction I’d get from crossing my completed tasks off, but lately it seems my lists keep growing faster than I can actually draw that beautiful line through each ‘to-do’. And suddenly, I’m beginning to feel more overwhelmed than ever before and I’m growing to despise the lists that once made me feel so productive and on top. I spend more time these days writing down all that I need to get done than I actually spend getting said things done. It’s like, just thinking about all of it exhausts me and requires a nap. So, I’ve got to figure out how to fix this. If my lists are failing me (I know, it’s not my lists it’s me, but just go with it) then I obviously need to find a way to push myself to make the most of my time. Honey says I need to, “just do it” (gee, I wonder where he heard that one). He’s right though. I need to just get off my butt and do it, but without my lists how am I to know what I’m supposed to do? This is a serious problem peeps. So, I’ve come up with a plan. I don’t know if it’s going to be successful, but at this point, I’ve got nothing to lose.

It’s called, wait for it… a schedule. *gasp* A what?!

That’s right, I am placing myself on a strict schedule. I have a real bedtime, no longer a tentative one. And get this, I’m actually going to try really really super hard to wake up before 9:30 am. Oh, early mornings! We’re not friends, but we’re about to be! And another thing, I’m turning the clock back to 1990 and holding myself accountable for my household duties by utilizing a chore chart. Remember those?! A chore chart! Complete with gold stars and weekend rewards like candy and quarters even! AND I’m exercising. Regularly. Not just thinking about it. I’m doing it. Bring on those endorphins! Heaven knows I could use a major dose of those bad boys.

I know what you’re thinking. “Really, Kait? You can’t just handle your business like a real grown up?” And the truth is, no. For some odd reason, lately, I just can’t. I NEED those gold stars and that early bedtime. I need that schedule and that specified treadmill time. Some people can do it on their own, without a chore chart to answer to at the end of each week, but me, I’m so easily distracted by all of the things I WANT to do like catching up on every episode of Downton Abbey and showing off my Draw Something skills or stalking my friends on Facebook. So balance, here I come. And ‘to-do’ lists, bite me. And tomorrow, you better watch out, because I’m about to schedule the crap outta you and start handling some damn business.  

xo,

Kait the (soon-to-be) Great

weekend walks

 

With Summertime fast approaching, Honey and I have taken up ‘free’ weekend activities for the next little while in order to save up our dough and prepare for the many adventures that are crowding our Summer calendar. No complaints here. It’s refreshing to challenge ourselves and be creative about how to spend our weekends together without diving into the good ol’ pocketbook. This week, we wandered about Salt Lake City’s East bench with our family canine companions in tow. The canines walked us (yes, you read that right) to the nearest gully, complete with rushing river water and knee deep mud (a dog’s best friend and my worst nightmare), and as much as I adore my sweet purrball, Franklyn, I can hardly wait for the day when Frankie boy gets a puppy (even if said puppy is as fond of mud as I don’t want him/her to be). I just know that someday Frankie is going to make an amazing cat Dad to a sweet little baby dog, he just doesn’t know it yet. Hope your weekend has been lovely as well!

xo,

Kait

spring cleaning and victory

I’m in the middle of a major spring cleaning project. And by, “in the middle”, I literally mean I’m stuck in the middle of the world’s largest pile of junk. How all of this junk has fit into my teeny tiny apartment, I will never know, but oh my it feels so so so good to get rid of it. I filled an entire room with ‘stuff’ to donate to our local Deseret Industries. This includes the FIFTEEN pillows I found jammed into what should have always been our storage space. Fifteeeeeeen! I’m blowing my own mind with that one. I even chucked some old furniture into the big dumpster out back. Furniture like my dining room table and my desk. I told you, I’m getting serious over here. Suddenly, I can see clearer, breathe easier and dance to Paula Abdul all around my living room. It seriously is amazing what some good ol’ de-junking can do for the soul. Closet, you’re next, watch your back…

In greater news… the Utah Jazz made it into the NBA Playoffs when they smashed Steve Nash and the Pheonix Suns last night!! Wahoo! I know you’re wondering why you should care, but Honey and I love our Jazz (see here). So much that I woke up this morning to a body that could hardly move and a voice that could hardly talk. Apparently, I used every fiber of my being to cheer on my boys last night. And it was worth it. Oh, so worth it.

xo,

Kait

party animal

 

My friend, Sissy, is a baby making machine. We’ve always known this about her. Even before she ever had a baby, or a husband for that matter. And I don’t mean that in any sort of inappropriate way. Sissy’s just always possessed that ‘magical mama’ gene. It’s a good thing too, because she happened to make the world’s most delightful chubster and this last Saturday we all got together to celebrate our little prince’s first year. It was a party to be remembered, equipped with every toddler on the block as well as half of the neighbors’ farm animals. Baby Ian, you sure are loved, and even though your mom won’t let me babysit (I can’t blame her, I’m regularly surprised that my cat is still alive and healthy), I sure do adore you and those gosh darn perfectly plump little cheeks. The ones that were practically begging to be kissed all night long, and Lord knows I just can’t say no to kissable baby cheeks. Happy Birthday, sweet boy!

xoxo,

Auntie Kaits