Disney Days

I went to Disneyland last week with Collette and Sarah (friends from college (right)) and their kids. We had a great time catching up, riding rides, and chasing kids (mostly mine). Sarah (cute blonde on the right) and I did a college internship at Disneyworld together and we realized that it was exactly 10 years ago this month that we started. I decided to scrounge through some old photos and post some of my favorite memories from my time there. Here is a 10 year reunion shout out to my year at Disneyworld (thanks for indulging me)...

<- My first nametag (don't you love the misspelling of BYU... 'Bring'ham Young was actually more appropriate for me since I WAS so young)

I won a contest while I worked in a shop on Main Street (Athletic Club). My prize was being able to drive one of the Disney trains for a day (and got paid for it!!) It was actually quite difficult since it was a real locomotive! ->

<- Me as Chip at a Polynesian Resort character breakfast. I am hugging my Grandma Eileen and my Grandpa Bill took the picture (they lived about 3 hours away from Orlando and would come and see me often... I sure loved being by them!)

This position was so kindly called "Rope Hoe" since we would hold the rope at the end of the parade (to keep the crazies from attacking the characters :)). This part was really fun! ->

<- Me as King Louie (the monkey). He was my favorite character to play... I was even trained how to do somersaults in this costume (not easy)

Me as King Louie giving Aladdin some love in the breakroom :). Aladdin (Aaron) and I were great friends! ->

<- One of my "famous" somersaults

That's me as "Happy" in the Day Parade. My brother Scott and friend Rachel came to Orlando to visit me. They took this picture (and I am sure laughed at me dancing giddily down the street) ->

<- That's me as "Doc" in Spectromagic (the night parade)

These were some of the only female characters I was able to play. I am the blue fairy, Merriweather. We had buttons inside our gloves that we would push to change the color of the lights on our dresses. We would listen for our music cues throughout the parade. I loved being able to have some feminine movements (and ride on a float)! ->


So I am staring at a large stack of more pictures, but I am sure this will suffice for my 10 year "shout out." This was such an incredible journey that I wouldn't have traded for anything in the world. I made such great friends, learned a lot about myself, gave my posterity (and maybe you) something to laugh at :), and worked in one of the most amazing places. This was one of my dreams checked off the list.

Sarah... I am tagging you to post some pics from your time at Disneyworld! Can't wait to see you working it (cause you know they worked us)!

Deodorant Dilemma

I am very diligent about putting deodorant on every day. I take a shower whenever the opportunity is available. I wash my clothes on a regular basis. I shave my legs (when I have to :)). I brush my teeth quite often. I even spritz on perfume before I walk out the door so why in the world is everyone around me moving??? Here is a breakdown of the people in my life (and ward) who have moved in the past year or so:

One of the first families to leave me (yes, I am making this personal :)) were the Munoas. They only moved to a different part of town, but I don't see them as much as I would like to. One dinner group member down.

The Simkins moved to Orange County and this was so sad for my Dallin. He sure loves Merrilye and I don't know who is going to teach me the ways of Martha Stewart now!

The Fains moved and so did the Snyders... this is quickly becoming an unfortunate trend.

Next to say farewell were the Larsens. They had a darling baby boy and then took off to Kansas. I love and miss this family so much and, even though we talk on the phone, I wish Lindsay were here to witness how nice my perfume smells. Another dinner group member gone :(.

My visiting teacher, Janet Kehne, was the next to leave California... is it just me, or is it ME!

The Burr family took off and I was just getting to know Christina (such a darling family).

Another really sad farewell was to the Lowe family. We all loved hanging out and Krissy was (and still is) so much of my sanity. Dallin lost his best little buddy, Ethan to the state of Idaho and he now wants to move there. Maybe we should leave since everyone else is (no I'm not bitter :)). We really miss having the Lowes close by... and yet another dinner group member gone (maybe it's not my stench, maybe it's my cooking!?).

So just when you think my ranting and raving should be through, alas I have more...

The Lawrence family moved to Hawaii rather quickly and I really didn't get to say goodbye. Jule is so fun and we miss her musical ability in our rapidly depleting ward!! Come back Jule... my cooking isn't that bad and I just put a double shot of deodorant on!

A couple of Sunday's ago, the Benedicts were a wonderful part of the Chaparral ward and now they have decided to move into a beautiful new home and become a part of the French Valley ward. Yep, they moved within a matter of days. Such a great family that will be missed (I did see her at the baby shower last night, so maybe all is not lost).

The other night when I was driving home from mutual, I passed the Johnson's home (7 houses down from us) and saw their couch being put on a truck and a "For Rent" sign on their lawn. They landed their dream home last week and are moving in as you read this and yep, you guessed it, they are no longer in the ward. I will truly miss their girls stopping by on their bikes for some fruit snacks and a chat. I will miss our casual drop-ins to each others houses. They have been so much fun to have as neighbors... why, Why, WHY!!!

So here it is... my sadness and confusion written for all to see. The Chaparral ward is quickly becoming a branch and I am quickly becoming friendless. These friends who have left me were not apartment dwellers that could be expected to move at some point, we don't live in a dangerous or unfortunate looking city, there have been no threats of a major environmental catastrophe here and the housing market is horrible to sell in right now. The only plausible explanation in my mind is that I am somehow responsible... maybe I should try a different brand of deodorant...

(p.s. Randles and Wankiers, come and smell my new deodorant and lets see if I can change your mind! :))

I Better Be Better

For some reason I am having a hard time choosing what I would like to work on this year (my resolutions). I know it is because there are too many to chose from and I want to be realistic and not experience personal failure. I then found a fabulous quote by Sister Hinckley that put into words how I want to be better this year. What an incredible woman... my new resolution is to become a little more like her.
"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someones garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived." -Marjorie Hinckley