Tuesday, September 1, 2009

30!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I AM 30!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!!!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

For My Grandfather

Dear Grandfather,

It’s hard to believe you’ve only been gone a short while and already I miss you more than I can say. Thank you for sharing your life with me and for being such an amazing grandparent. I can honestly say that nobody else I know or have ever known or probably ever will know had grandparents like I did. All of my best memories have you and Grandmother in them. My childhood was one of a kind thanks to you and all you did for us. I don’t even know where to begin-all my memories are so jumbled up in my head. There’s just so many of them!!

Thank you for taking me on all those family reunion road trips even though I didn’t have a clue who any of those people were (and yet they all seemed to know who I was!!). I remember the night before the first road trip I went on. I was so homesick & we hadn’t even left yet. I was sleeping in the “Pink Room”. I was complaining of an upset stomach but you saw right through it! You came and sat on the bed and talked to me until I felt better. I had the most fun on that trip with you and Grandmother! Good thing you talked me out of going home!! Thank you for taking us to Kings Island all those times. What did you do the whole time we were in the park!? Again I don’t know where you were but I knew you were there! Thank you for operating the video camera so faithfully at all the family gatherings, line dancing in the basement, Easter Fashion Shows, Christmas morning, the Nativity re-enactment, 4th of July parades in the backyard, and whenever else we wanted to record ourselves! Thank you for BBQing in the summers. You were a one of a kind chef! Hamburgers and hot dogs don’t taste right to me unless they’re burnt to a crisp! Thank you for letting us ride the horses and for helping us get up into the saddle when we were too little to do it ourselves and for helping us trot them around the yard. Thank you for hiding the eggs at our annual Easter party and for not remembering where you hid them all enabling us to find some missing ones at next year’s party! Thank you for speaking at my Baptism and for the tender little talk you had with me afterwards. I have that moment captured in a picture & will keep it forever.

Thank you for marrying Grandmother and for loving her so much. Thank you for sealing our big, crazy family together. I love them all so much. I can’t imagine my life without all my cousins. Thank you for all of our time at Knollwind. It is truly the treasure of my childhood.

I want to tell you that I love you. I love you for the quiet way you sat in the background & let Grandmother be the center of attention (as I’m sure she preferred to be). I can’t honestly say I remember what you were doing all the time but no matter what was going on you were there-probably video taping!! I love you for how excited you would get when we would come to visit and how you just loved to hugs us & scoop us up in your arms! I love to see you sitting in your yellow recliner watching the news at 6:00 with your trusty glass of Pepsi with the crescent shaped ice cubes in it and to see that you’ve once again fallen sleep! I love to go feed the animals in the barn with you and to help gather the eggs. I love to play on all the broken down trucks & flatbeds scattered across the yard next to the barn & to ride around on all the farm equipment even though most of the time I was too afraid to climb up on them! I love to hear you play “Edelweiss” on your harmonica. I love to hear you call me “Missy” and want you to know that I hold that name in reserve only for you and Grandmother.

I’m glad you’re back home with Grandmother. I know you’ve missed her so much since she’s been gone. Even though I am so incredibly sad that you are no longer here with me and that I will have to live the bulk of my life with you so far away, I am that much happier that you are once again with the one you truly love. Please give her a hug for me and tell her that I love her so much. The greatest desire of my heart has always been that you would see me get married. Please come and see me on that day.

I know I will see you again and can’t wait for that reunion and for you to scoop me up in your arms and hug me. Goodbye….for now.

Nobody loves you like I do.

Love,

Missy

Monday, August 3, 2009

Man I'm Such A Great Friend!!!

So check it: I am such a great friend! Not even gonna front about it! Who else do you know that would drop EVERYTHING they’re doing to drive 4 hours just to eat dinner with you and then drive another 4 hours back home?!?! I’m pretty much the greatest friend ever cuz that’s just what I did when my Precious came to Utah last week! Before I start my tale let me just say for the record that I’m still a little fussy that said Precious didn’t inform me that he was arriving in Utah-hello I could have been down there all day to play instead of the measly 3.5 hours that I was able to be there on such short notice! RUDE!! Ok now that I’ve gotten that out of the way let’s begin my story!
My dear, sweet friend Joni made the little trek with me & it was such good times! We cranked up our tunes & had plenty of nonsense to talk about! The ride home would be a different story but we’ll get to that in a minute! We managed to get down to Provo just a little after 6:00 & only ran in to 1 area of “road construction” wherein we had to stop & wait for traffic to clear up. Why is there always road construction going on but you never see anyone actually constructed anything!??! Utah’s a mess!! We got to Provo & retrieved Johnny at his sister’s apartment. What a great little reunion! And Joni got to meet him too! Or maybe I should say that Johnny got to meet Joni! Whichever! After retrieving Johnny we went across town to Kristy’s house so Johnny could meet little OP! 1st of all we drove Joni’s vehicle down which happens to be a stick shift which I happen to hate driving but what can ya do!? So after we picked up Johnny I go to back up from our parking spot & find that I don’t have it in reverse. We go forward instead & I am ALL up on the car parked in front of us which just happens to be Dad Turner’s car-that’s great! I tried unsuccessfully a couple more times (as did Joni) to get that crazy car in reverse & it just wasn’t happening! And then when we did finally get it in reverse I was too scared to try & back up as I was convinced we were gonna hit Dad Turner’s car! So Joni & I switched spots so she could back the car up-you know like I was at my 1st Driver’s Ed class!! She backed the car up & we switched seats again! We are retarded!! So we get to Kristy’s & OP was in quite a jovial mood which is quite a change!! I wish I would have taken some pics of that little OP & his booty shakin that he does now! Oh I love him!! Next we went to the Cracker Barrel for to get some grub! I love that place! They have GREAT mac ‘n cheese which everyone know is my one true food love!!! Delicious!! We had a delightful time at dinner discussing this & that & the other-simply delightful! And of course we had to have a photo session with ourselves! It’s how we do!!!

Dear Johnny-he is but my dearest friend!!!




New BFFs Johnny & Joni!!! I love it!!!




I am cute!! And look how tan I am!!! Apparently Johnny thought he was at a GQ photo shoot!!




So precious!!!



So after dinner we had to get to getting so we could get back home. Good grief the drive home was LONG!! We had run out of things to talk about, nothing was sounding good on the ipod, & we were straight up exhausted!!! I thought I was going to die!!! The road just kept going & going & going & going-when are we going to be home?!?! We started talking absolute nonsense just to keep ourselves awake!! Absolute nonsense!!! We finally made it home about 2:00 in the AM & I crashed!! But I also had to get up & go to work like 4 hours later! I am so sure!! I certainly hope John Turner appreciates me!!!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Team Dunbar:The Finale!!!!

Well it’s the end of an era! Since John Stasiuk (it’s Polish!!) is departing for Maryland today Team Dunbar had its final gathering last night! Oh I love us so much!!!! Now while I’ll miss John S immensely I know the remaining members of Team Dunbar will carry on! It’s how we do!!

Alex was of course the main source of entertainment for the evening saying such things as:

"Curve is wear it's at"

"I missed all this because I was riding the wiener…Oh I have that book."

And for some reason was fixated on whispering the word "moist" without laughing which he could NOT do!!!

Also I seemed to be having a problem keeping my cleavage under control last night & Alex became obsessed with trying to show his "man cleavage" off in our pictures!! where did he come from!??! Oh he is such a delight!!!

It took like 5 tries to get our final picture taken-good grief you guys!! Here are some of the failed attempts:




Cleavage Melissa-Gosh!!!



Here we are for the very last time! And have you ever seen a better looking or tanner group of people?!?! I don’t think so!! Well except for Sarah who is just slightly sunkissed!!!



And check out me & Alex!! Well we are married in Rexburg after all!!!




Dear Team Dunbar why do I love you so much?!?!!?

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Island Park Extravaganza!!

Last weekend we took a trip up to Island Park with good ole' Memorial Branch! Every year we trek up there for various summer pleasantries & spend the night in a cabin. It is good times!! It was specially fun this year as ALL of Team Dunbar was there for the festivities! Sav & Sarah came from Rexburg, I abondoned my new branch to be there & we joined the rest of our crew that was already there! SO.MUCH.FUN. On Friday me & Joni got up there about 2:00 & hit the water!

1st up was Joni trying out the jetskis for the very 1st time!



I thought she might wet herself!



Brian, Casey & Trevor from my new branch joined us for some boating Friday afternoon & it was fantastic!!

Trevor & Brian in the tube-those boys just think they are too cool for school!! :)



Brian's failed attempts at wakeboarding! He gets serious points for effort tho cuz that looks hard!! I'd never be able to do it!




And Trevor making it look so easy!!



So Joni gave it an unsucessful shot but she's my hero for trying!



The room that the girls stayed in had this awesome bridge & slide that Brian just HAD to try out! And apprently he didn't feel the need to wear all his clothes whilst doing this!! Dear Brian!!




The rest of Team Dunbar arrived later that afternoon & it was a blessed reunion!

Sav & Alex-I heart this picture!



Ready to hit the water!



My hair is once again a hot mess!



Me & Alex-I also heart this picture!! The tannest & the tallest!



Still the tannest & the tallest & we look HOT in this picture!!



Dear Sav & Sarah



Bless this event!



We spent Friday night at the cabin & by Saturday morning I have to say I had hit my fun barrier but then my friend Kyle showed up & took me out on the jetskis which I had never done before since everyone knows I'm afraid of everything! I told him there was to be NO Tom Foolery & absolutely NO shenanigans whilst we were out there! Don't try & tip us over or try & make me fall off or any of that nonsense! The 1st time we went out we hit some nice little wakes from the boats & for a minute there we had some Tom Follery going on but it was fun! The 2nd time we went out we got on a faster jetski & hit some bigger wakes & got into some straight up shenanigans! I thought for sure I was gonna fly right off the back of that thing but I had my kung-foo grip on Kyle's waist & managed to stay on!!

And I look good on the back of this jetski mmmkkkkaaayyy!!




By lunch time I had hit my fun barrier twice over so me & Joni decided to bounce on outta there! We were so sunburnt & so exhausted but oh my soul it was such a great weekend!!!

Some Summer Stuff!!

So Team Dunbar had a delightful reunion yesterday! Oh it was just the best day!!! First me, Savanna, Sarah, John Stasiuk (it's Polish!!), & my new friend Joelyn had a delightful little afternoon at Rigby Lake! Of course we got fried!!! I love being in the sun!!! Now normally I don't enjoy swimming in lakes & such cuz you know there's prolly dead bodies & what have you floatin out there but it was crapping hot & the water was actually really clear yesterday so I jumped on in!! We were out there for a good 4 hours & got pretty deep fat fried!! A most delightful afternoon!!

Me & Sav floatin in the lake! Side note Savanna's "Noodle" was only $5!!! you can't beat that right Sav!?!?



Sarah & John building their little sand castle-how tender!!





It even had a little mote!! Well done you guys!!!



And the subsequent mud fight that occurred! You'll be finding sand in places you didn't know you had after these such shenanigans!!






Me & Sav scorchin in the sun! My hair is a HOT mess!!!



Dear Joelyn soakin up some sun!



Alex joined us that night for a movie & oh it was just the greatest day! Team Dunbar for the win!! And my hair continues to be a hot mess!!



I love us!!!!!!

Sunday, July 12, 2009

4th Report!!!

Ok it's taken me a bit to get my 4th of July write up done but when you're popular like me life just doesn't allow the time to sit down & play on the computer!! 1st of all let me just say on a personal note that while most people base their lives around New Year's I seem to base mine on summer & the month of July in particular. Things just seem to happen to me in the summer months. I'm especially surprised this year as I look back at my life compared to last year & it just seems so different & sometimes I can't believe where the last year has taken me. Anyways.....Ok here we go folks my 4th of July!!

Me, Jenny & Strudel got up early & drove down to Logan to see my BFF Jared as he is heading to Iraq very soon & I just had to see him before he left! I met Jared coming up on 10 years ago when I was at Ricks! I can NOT believe it's been 10 years!! We were just kids when we met!!! Even though I don't get to see him as often as I would like to he is still one of my closest friends & knows me better than almost anybody! I'm sad that's he's going to be gone for the next year & I'm concerned that I'm going to have to have his wife Cheryl fill in if I were to get married in the next year while he's gone as Jared is supposed to be one of my bridesmaids-which would be fine as I adore Cheryl!!! Still I just want Jared to be there!! On a cheezy note (and cuz I am talking about the 4th of July) let me just say how proud I am of Jared for giving up his life in service of this country!

ok here's me, Jared & Jenny




Dear Jared-I just love you! Here's to 10 great years!!!



Bsically we just drove down there, ate lunch with Jared, snapped some pics, and then headed back home! I love little road trips like that!! After we got back to Idaho Falls we headed to the river to eat funnel cakes! That was our only purpose in going over there & at 1st we could NOT find the funnel cake stand!! I was pretty much devestated & close to tears! We walked all up & down the street looking for the funnel cakes & couldn't find them! I can't celebrated my independance without stuffing my fat face with funnel cake!! I almost resigned myself to settling for eating anything that was fried when out of nowhere that funnel cake stand appeared before us! It was right there the whole time! I haven't been so excited in quite a while!! Strudel had never even had a funnel cake before & almost dind't get one! We weren't having any of that nonsense!! Oh they were so delightful!!!

Here we are stuffing our fat faces!!





Holy crap I love funnel cake!!!!!!



After eating our delightful funnel cakes we headed out to the parents for their annual BBQ with all their crazy neighbors! I dind't take any pics of that-sorry folks! Whilst we were out there we had our Michael Jackson Memorial for Strudel! Me, Jenny, Strudel, my brother Geryk & my sis-in-law Heather headed over to one of the canals by the parents house & put little candles in these white paper bags & sent them floating down the canal while listening to "Will You Be There"-which I thought was a great song for the memorial.

Strudel sending the 1st bags down...



Dear Strudel why are you so sad?!?!



Us sending the rest of the bags down the canal







One of the bags caught fire part way down & I FREAKED!! I can just see the headline now "Five Local Idiots Set Town On Fire While Having A Michael Jackson Memorial"!!! I'd never live that down! But not to worry the bag sank pretty soon after & all was well!!



Here's the bags floating down the canal





The local idiots who had a memorial for Michael Jackson





Oh by the by-the doll we're holding is of course 1 of Strudel's Michael Jackson dolls & this 1 in particular played several MJ songs & had a different outfit for each song! I am so sure!!

Dear Michael Jackson why are you dead?!?!?

After the memorial me & Jenny headed to the river to watch the fireworks. This would be our last time to watch them together as Jenny & Boyfriend are mvoing to Ohio this week. Don't get me started! As we were waiting for the show to start it occured to me that the very 1st time Jenny & I ever hung out together was on the 4th of July, at the river, waiting for the fireworks 9 years ago & that now our last time together before she moved was on the 4th of July, at the river, waiting for the fireworks! That's crazy!! And tender!!!

Here we are! Dear Jenny-I love you & I'm going to miss you more than I can say!!



Holy freak this was a long post! But there you have it-my 4th of July report!! I look forward to next year's festivities & of course more funnel cake!!!!