The Tube.

 Let me tell you a story about one of my EPIC FAILS. Now, I really hate when people use such a term, but I felt it was appropriate.

However, I will say it was one of my more awesome fails.

You see, once upon a time, I was inspired by Miss Katie Berry

to knit a Gryffindor scarf for Ammon since he would be missing the movie of all movies by just a mere month!

I mean how hard could it be, this knitting business? So I bought some yarn, and some needles, got some instruction from a wise woman and started knitting away.

Things were going good, I had gotten pretty far pretty quick.

All the sudden I began to notice that something was not right.

The scarf, it was..well...growing.

But thinking it was only my imagination, I continued on.

A few days later, myself and other looked at it, and thought, "Man, this scarf is getting huge!"

So I decided to count the stitches.

Yeah. My scarf had more than doubled in width.

Bahahaha...

 I don't know how and I don't know why.

All I know is that I ended up with something huh-larious.

It's called The Tube.

And you know what?! It is unbelievable versatile!

Here are just some of my favorite uses of The Tube.

 I ended up having to make Ammon's scarf on a loom due to lack of time, but I will not let this fail get the best of me.

I WILL attempt to make a knitted scarf again.

But seriously...look at that thing....

 Bahahaha.

So I wrapped up the scarf in some paper packaging along with some other wonderful things...

a.gryffindor scarf  b.letters from friends    c."magical" candy
d.gryffindor tie    e.a letter from me        f. HP wand pen
g.HP bookmark       h.'staches-in honor of Hagrid i.a tape
j.HP quotes         k.a Unicorn-long story        l.the TUBE story
m.a little something from the Weasley twins

...and sent it off by owl to my missionary in Alabama:) 

Thank You Harry.

I remember finding it on my mom's nightstand, the book.

She was suppose to be reading it for book club but hadn't really gotten into it, so I decided to give it a whirl.

I'd never really been too into reading, but for some reason i decided to try.

Harry Potter Party for Mutual-2008
 

Little did I know this book would change my life forever.

And so began my Harry Potter love.

Over the course of 10 years, I became a reading fanatic.

Harry Potter was the first series I actually READ. As in liked it so much I couldn't put it down, as in I could imagine every little detail. I learned to use my imagination. I learned lessons about hope, bravery, love, friendship, and redemption.

Choir trip-2010
Nick and I gave each other wands for Christmas a while back and have put them to good use over the years. 

I remember the countless night I stayed up till all hours because I could not stop reading. I remember having entire days dedicated to reading the newly released book. I remember going to the dollar theater to see The Sorcerer's Stone for the first time, just me and my dad. I remember going to the Walmart in Payson coming back from girl's camp to buy the 7th book and reading it all the way to our family reunion, which I don't remember much of because  I was reading the book the entire time. I read and will continue to read the books over and over. 

Harry Potter DAY!-Summer 2010

I know everyone has been saying this, but these books TRULY were a huge part of my childhood. On days that seemed dark or unpromising, I would imagine myself hopping aboard the Hogwarts Express and lose myself in that magical world for awhile. "Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it."

Yes, Ammon can fly. Just one of his many talents.

Also, one of the things he is better at than me.

So I think what I really am trying to say is, Thanks Harry. Thanks for bringing magic into my childhood. Thank you for allowing me to discover the magic of reading. And thank you for your story and for the legacy that it has had and will continue to have. I know what my kids first book will be that's for sure;)

Waiting in line. Playing HP clue with some random Dobby and Bellatrix.

Mallory.Shelby.Becca.Me. 

Ethan erasing Mallory's memory! And making good use of the Hogwarts snuggie. 
Yeah. That's a snuggie. Be jealous. 

Devyn could hardly contain her excitement!! 

Me and Lydia, my Harry Potter partner in crime.
All through elementary school we were in the same class and would always be reading the books at the same time! HPBFF's:)

 Go Gryffindor!


As far as the movie, I thought it was brilliant. I NEED to go see it again, like right now! Neville is a beast! Snape was absolutely perfect! Ron and Hermione's kiss trumped all of Harry and Ginny's! And the battle was just as I had imagined!When the movie was over I was practically crying knowing that it was really over. But what an adventure it has been! And when it is all said and done, the magical wizarding world is just a book away.

Mischief Managed.

It All Ends.

"You'll stay with me?"

"Always."

"Until the end."

 

Order of the Phoenix-2007

Half Blood Prince-2009 

Deathly Hallows Part 1-2010

 

Excited just doesn't quite cut it.
 
7.15 

A California Adventure {part one}

Once upon a time...

12 awesome people set off for the sunshiney state of California.

We didn't know what adventures would await us.

We just knew there'd be many.
After all, this is California we are talking about here.

The car ride there was pleasant due to many things.

NAKED juice being one of them.

Lots of naps and lots of snacks were of course a necessity.

In need of a potty break, we stopped at creepy, really old rest stop where it cost to pee!! What the?

But, thanks to Brett, he pleaded our case and got to use it for free. Thanks Brett.

 Then, onward towards our first main stop of the trip.

Hollywood, CA.

 We walked up and down Hollywood Blvd. looking at the stars on the sidwalk and awing the complete oddness of the place.

I swear, I have never smelt so many odd/nasty/dirty smells in my life. Having never been to Hollywood I was amazed at the filthy-ness of it. I guess it's part of its charm, eh?

Apart from the odd smells and creepy bums, there was lots of cool things to see. Such as the Chinese Theater.

Aren't we cute in our matching Target shirts?

We all own like four of them.

One of my most FAVORITE things to see was the Harry Potter square in front of the theater!!

Yes, I touched Daniel Randcliffe's hand...and about 10 bazillion other peoples germs but that's beside the point.

We were just a tad excited.

Some other celebs that got us excited:

Shirley Temple.

Check our her tiny hands and feet!

Julie Andrews and Frank Sinatra.

 My long lost relative, Jimmy Stewart.

 Another cool thing was all the crazy people dress up like different celebrities and movie characters that lined the streets. I personally HATED all the people dressed up from scary movies. Chucky, Jason, the girl on The Ring etc.

Barf.

But check it out!

 

We saw House!

And also a little something from the X-men.

Pretty cool huh?

 Next stop, the hotel and some food.

Some slept on the way...

 Okay, maybe we didn't sleep.

But we took attractive pictures instead!

We stopped for dinner at Red Robin and scarfed down more fries than I want to remember. Probably because the ranch they brought up to dip them in was the bomb.

 Also, lemme just say this.

Their french dip sandwich was to die for, along with their chicken wrap.

Mmmmmm....me want. now.

 Then, naturally we partied it up swimming and jacuzzing all night.