just a few of my favorite things

So this title is a bit too Christmas-y for what it's about...but I think it fits.

I started out this post with the intent to focus on things.

But the thing is...my happy happy birth month not only brought me some of my latest and greatest most favorite things, it also brought me a few of my most favorite fall memories (which my good 'ol dad would say trump things any day).

(not to worry future present-buyers...because I'm a girl I can still appreciate both :) ).

With that said...

here are a few of my favorite fall things!

I LOVE my new Versace purse.

It makes me feel so classy and put together, even on those days when I look like a total bum.

On a shallower note...it's drawn quite a bit of attention too (causing even the best of people to lend it a covetous glance and/or outrightly threaten to steal it).

Pair it with my snazzy new glasses and I am one of the Jones-es. Good luck trying to keep up :)

Thank you thank you Kristy for taking a risk to give me my first real taste of the New York high life!

My new COOKBOOK!

Poor Parker's been such a good sport to suffer through my sporadic and very simple cooking regime. Luckily our veggie fight and ravenous Sunday appetites cued his sister into this little problem and

voilà...

I am now the proud owner of this family favorite recipe book. I'm so looking forward to trying these babies out! Thank you Lara for this little gem! I'm planning on faking it 'til I make it as a DeMille super-wife :)

INSANITY!!!!

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for this!

Goodbye love chubb!

Thank you so much MiKell for giving me hope for a healthier, happier second-six months of marriage!

I can't wait to lose my jell-O -esque jiggle that wiggles when I walk :)

The iPhone.

I used to think you were the sign of a snob...of superfluous excess...an overpriced piece of plastic people buy to be trendy.

But now I love you.

You make me feel like I have the whole world at my fingertips.

When our internet was out over the weekend you saved the day!

When we needed the number to every Blockbuster in the valley, you called up your buddy Google and had them for us at a moment's notice.

When I needed help falling to sleep at night without a light to read by, you brought me digital Sudoku (then sold out your three highest scores to Tiffany...I'm disappointed, but I won't give up on you just yet. I'm sure there's a way to erase your memories of that sordid affair).

I owe Mom & Dad the world for finding you (and buying all sorts of accessories to protect you from my gravity problem)!

Looking forward to many happy, scratch-free days ahead.

My brand-spankin' new sparkly black flats.

I've said it a million times before and I'll say it again--my husband's got style. And he's super thoughtful too!

He noticed my threadbare, faded, tattered black flats and thought...my wifey deserves better. I'm going out to buy her something nice!

And what does he do?

He spends his one boys'-night-out-Friday window shopping at the mall for these babies.

bejeweled, satiny, sparkly ballet slippers.

wow...

When I opened his gift at my surprise dinner, squealed with delight and slipped my new slippers onto my feet, my dad stared at Parker wide-eyed.

"Wow...I don't think I've ever bought Robbi clothes or shoes...or really anything fashion-y. I wouldn't even know where to start!"

He was quite impressed. But me...it didn't surprise me one bit!

Lov-a my baby...

The only downside (for him)...he's got big shoes to fill for Christmas now that he's exposed his shopping skills.

I can't wait to see what he finds!

My beautiful bouquet of flowers!

Every year I'd wait anxiously for my dad to come home for work so I could

A. open my presents (I was a little kid...don't judge me), and

B. help him load the beautiful birthday bouquet he'd be bringing home into the vase I'd already eagerly prepared for its arrival.

Dad brought home about every kind of flower you can imagine for any and every special occasion he could think to use as an excuse to buy his girls something beautiful. While he appreciated diversity in flowers, he most often brought home roses...and seeing these pretty pink buds on my birthday just about made my day.

I'm still his little girl. I really always will be. And I love that something as simple and sweet as flowers can remind me of that fact.

I love you Daddy!

(And yes...Parker did spend a good 20 minutes arranging these for me. I will be forever grateful for that floral design class! He's so stinkin' cute when he plays florist!)

And last but certainly not least...

Thank you to my Mom for the mountain of gifts she sent with my dad earlier in the month (and added to with their latest visit).

It never ceases to amaze me how much effort she puts into birthdays, Christmas, and really every other special occasion.

(Weddings, vacations, visits home...she's always sending us off with a care package. The funny thing is, my mother-in-law is exactly the same way! Not sure how I hit the "mother-load" when it comes to my mommy dearests. It's a beautiful thing!).

ANYWAY, she basically helped me stock up on all the hair-care products I can no longer afford, outfitted me with three new Reed High School soccer tees to lounge around in, helped me flesh out my "professional" wardrobe with a few gift cards, searched high and low for "chunky" jewelry she thought might fit the vague description I'd given over the phone, added "Dicecapades" to our growing game collection, and bundled it all with a fluffy wrap-around towel to keep me warm while getting ready on these ever-brisker early mornings (Parker says thank you too...he loves the soft towel! ).

But while I am the kind of girl who appreciates things, I am also quite a sucker for the sentimental.

I cried quite a few tears this birthday. A few sad, it's true. But the overwhelming majority were happy...

...the kind of tears you cry when something touches your heart and so overwhelms you with emotion that you need a release.

I never used to understand happy tears, but in recent years they've started to make so much sense. Tears stream down my face when my broadest smile just isn't enough to express exactly how I'm feeling.

It's actually really sweet...

ANYWAY, this year my Mom sent me a birthday gift that triggered one of these misty-eyed moments. Parker seemed confused as to why something so sweet would make me so sad.

But I wasn't really sad...

No.

I'd just been hit with a heavy dose of nostalgia.

Mom sifted through all of our old pictures, dug out dozens of her favorites of me, then wrote on the back of each one everything she could remember about that moment. She tied on a final picture of the two of us hugging on my wedding day with a note that read:

"I SO love this photo of us because it's one of a precious few where we are in a shot together...I sorted through the piles of pictures and found that I was usually behind the camera.

Makes me sad that I didn't take more photos with you.

Mostly I love this shot because it's so telling of the amazing woman you have become and the wonderful new beginning your life as Parker's wife. As you walked out of the temple that day it was so evident how much you love each other.

You'd stepped into the next phase of your life.

I can't tell you how proud I am of you and how happy I am for the continual good choices you've made in your life that so enhance who you are. I love you!"

It's nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing any other mother might think to write.

But it just hit me.

I've moved to the next phase in my life.

I'm no longer the little girl in Disneyland clinging to my dad's hand to stay safe from the crowds.

I'm no longer the chubby baby in those photos smiling brightly at my mom.

And I can't rewind back to those days so she can take another picture with her little daughter.

No.

I'm all grown up now and at the start of that phase of life where I might soon have a little girl of my own.

And as exciting as that is, it's so sad to me too.

It's hard to think I'll never get to go back to those days.

Hard to think of what it's like for my parents to see all their little ones grow so big so quickly.

Hard to think of what it might be like to ever say goodbye to them for good.

But luckily, that's not something I have to or want to think about for a good long while.

And I know, no matter how many birthdays come,

I'll always be their little girl.

And that's a happy thing!

So thank you thank you to everyone for all my sweet things.

I think this last gift makes for a good segway into my happy birth-month memories...

I'm going to try, for once, to let the pictures do most of the talking.

So without further ado...

My Top 5 Favorite Fall Memories (thus far...)

1. Broadway's "The Lion King"

My in-laws have this wonderful habit of absolutely spoiling me! Not only did they outfit me with the finest fashion New York has to offer, but they were also sweet enough to treat Parker and I to a night at the Capitol Theater to see Disney's "The Lion King" LIVE! We loved every minute!

2. Nights out on the town

Both my parents and parents-in-law decided to treat us to dinner. It's been so fun going out on fancy dates with my husband and, while my love-chubb-loathing self isn't too happy, my food-loving side is LOVING the fact that we've been able to have so much gelato. Yum!!!!! I'm so hooked.

3. LOTS of nights spent with friends in Provo

I think I used my birthday as an excuse to plan something nearly every weekend...my poor amigos. When will I learn to stop expecting people to eat, drink, and breathe the social life like I do? Probably never :) Between heated hand-and-foot competitions, scary movies at Nat's cabin (which I so love because of the way it totally creeps Bennett out), Sparks reunions and around-the-world ping-pong competitions at the Lovelands, and peppermint ice cream with my mom's homemade fudge....I'd venture to guess that, even when I go overboard with my party-planning, everyone comes away having had a least a little fun.

4. A little birthday bash at Lara & Kirk's!

They will always be some of my favorite fellow gamers. The fact that we're all so competitive makes it such a fun dynamic! Not to mention the fact that Lara helped me finally ditch my hand-and-foot losing streak by leading us to a solid win over the guys. Such a fun time! We're so blessed to have family willing to entertain us on Sundays. It's really making Utah start to feel like home :)

5. CORNBELLY'S

So I'm a total sucker for all things Halloween and figured...what better way to celebrate my birthday than a corn maze!

My bestie Nicole and her boy Kip partied the night away with us.

From losing ourselves in acres of corn...

...to the boys & Nicole chucking corn husks into the black abyss (with the intention of nailing other innocent maze-goers)...

...to obstacle course competitions on the kiddie playground...

...to quarrels over who could and couldn't see the Magic Eye pictures...

PLEASE tell me someone else can see the 3-D kite in this picture! Everyone thought I was CRAZY for being able to "see" the real Magic Eye pictures. They think it's impossible. I know it's not. Back me up...

Also, if you'd like to try out more Magic Eye images search "magic eye" on Google Images. It's super fun!

...to forcing the guys into Cinderella's pumpkin carriage for one final picture...

...we had loads of good 'ol corny fun.

Thank you thank you to everyone for making this my happiest 21st birth month ever!

happy birth month!

I've dished on my actual birthday (and am feeling exceptionally better about the big 2-1...thank you writing catharsis). But there's more to the story (always is when I'm telling it).

Last night I had to say a hard goodbye. It came out of nowhere...came quicker than I'd expected...and left me feeling absolutely powerless to the heavy hand of reality.

Sounds like the end of the world, right?

That's because it is.

As the clock struck midnight I bid a full year's farewell to...

...my birth month.

*sigh*

It's been my best friend for the last 31+ days.

It's brought me closer to those I love, attracted more attention my way, and made me feel more abundantly blessed than any other month this year (minus May...wedding months trump birthday months hands down).

Saying goodbye basically shattered my high hopes for continuing along my spoiled streak...

...especially when it comes to begging favors from my Parker.

I've used it to my advantage all kinds of ways!

When trying to convince my cozy couch-sitting companion to let me burrow my cold toes under his bum...

"But baby...I'm so cold. How can you say no to keeping your wifey warm? Not to mention it's my birth-week!"

When trying to talk my way out of a budget...

"Baby...you can't make me count this coat toward my Christmas budget. It's my birth-month! You're supposed to let me spoil you (and do whatever else I'd like to do)."

When trying to persuade him to permanently swap me for his better spooning-side of the bed...

"But sweetie...it's my birth-year!"

Parker: Took it too far that time Chels...

"Happy birth-month???"

Parker: Still a no.

"Meh..."

Outside of that last fail I fared pretty well with this. My cute boy wished me a "happy birph-week" at least 5 times a day and even pulled off the impossible.

He surprised me...

...for the 2nd year in a row.

This never happens. I always know. I ask too many questions. Suspiciously eye everyone I know. And then interrogate the weak until they break.

Only problem...Parker's not weak...not in the slightest.

And I never suspected my parents...not once.

So they got me good...

...got me with the best birthday surprise ever!

Parker & I decided early in the week that we'd be celebrating my birthday together on Tuesday the 26th (the day before my big day). No parties. No family. No friends. Just the two of us at our favorite restaurant Settebello (yum!) topping off the night with gelato in lieu of a cake.

Parker "had a test" Thursday and didn't want to spend our celebratory night stressing out over needing to speed home to study. And you all had a sneak peek of what my Wednesday looked like, so I quickly agreed.

Tuesday it is.

Well...if any of you know me you know I am FAMOUS for rescheduling (or should I say infamous???). I am in desperate need of a cut and color, so, when my stylist's Tuesday night appointment opened up, I took it!

"Happy birph-week" to me!

Cue suspicious move #1.

When I called to tell him the news and ask if we could bump the birthday dinner to Thursday night, Parker resisted.

Odd considering he's typically pretty go-with-the-flow when it comes to schedule changes like this (even though he doesn't particularly like change).

So I tried talking the eskimo out of his heating pad...

"But sweetie, I already made the appointment. And I need it SO badly! Won't it be better to do it Thursday anyway? You'll be completely carefree with your test out of the way. It's a good idea! Plus it's my birth-week!"

...and failed.

I said it'd be impossible to get another appointment with my stylist this week.

He asked why it couldn't wait 'til next.

I said I needed the start of the week to work on my Wednesday presentation.

He said he needed Thursday for a lab write-up. "I need a good grade in this class to get into dental school sweetie. But whatever you want. It is your birph-week" (dirty move...low blow...but not quite enough to convince me. He could do his write-up Tuesday).

So I defiantly asked what difference it really made whether we do it Tuesday or Thursday? What made one day any better than the other.

And he replied, "Thursday would just be anti-climactic. It's not the same celebrating something that's already come and gone. But really honey, it's whatever. you. want."

He won.

But I wasn't done asking questions.

"Parker...the only reason you would be this rigid about a date-change is if other people were involved. Who's coming?"

He paused for a moment. (haha! got him!) Only to come back with this...

"Oh babe...I'm sorry. I really didn't plan anything this year. It's been so crazy with work and school. I thought about calling your friends but I just never got around to it. If you want a party I can make some calls (this is on Monday night mind you...none of my friends would book it up to Salt Lake midweek on such short notice)."

I asked him a few more confirming questions, assured him that I was SO so happy to celebrate with just the two of us, and called off the hounds. This time my senses failed me...

...or did they?

Tuesday came around. I texted Parker to ask what time we needed to be to the restaurant (mostly to figure out whether the commercial breaks between Glee would leave me enough time to get ready).

He responded, "8 o'clock."

Cue suspicious move #2.

"When and why did we decide on 8?" I ask.

"I don't know. I just decided. Why not 8?"

I couldn't find a good reason so I decided I'd let it go and sit back and enjoy the show.

Parker comes home.

Cue suspicious move #3.

"Oh. I thought you'd be ready."

(sheepishly sets the remote on the floor) "Ya...ummm...Glee came on and I...ummm...got a little sidetracked. Just a sec."

I hustle into the bedroom, throw on my Shade closing sale steal, and run back out just as the last commercial ends.

"Babe...no more Glee. Let's go."

"But sweetie...you love it too! And it's my birth-week! What's the difference between 8 or 8:30?"

"I just want to get there. Come on! Settebello!!!"

I go over to give him a few x's and o's...hoping the affection might distract him long enough to buy me a couple more minutes.

"Babe..."

"It's almost over!"

"This is a dumb one anyway," he kills the TV. "Let's go."

I eye him suspiciously for a moment, look for a motive, then chalk it up to our disappointment with a solid sixty percent of the episodes from Season 2 of Glee. He's right, I think, I don't know anything about Rocky Horror anyway. Might as well be on our way...

Our car conversations aren't anything out of the ordinary, though I do find it odd that he's decided to dwell on my accusing him of planning a party. He's not usually this apologetic...

Cue suspicious move #4.

"Babe, I really hope you don't think there's a bunch of people waiting there. It's really just you & me."

I remind him of how happy I am to be spending my birthday with just him. Company can be exhausting anyway...

"Really though...I don't want you to be disappointed. I'm sorry I got your hopes up."

I shoo shoo his apologies. We debate over whether it's 300 S. and 200 W. or vice versa. And before I know it we're there.

The hostess goes to seat us at a cozy 2-person table. I hang my purse on the back of the chair and take a seat. I keep waiting to hear the seat across from me scrape along the floor as Parker pulls out his chair. It never comes.

I look up and see that he's still standing.

Cue suspicious move #5.

Parker motions to a table near the back of the restaurant. It's decorated with a big bouquet of balloons and a dozen pink roses.

How sweet!

then

How on earth did he get it all here? His class doesn't let out until 7...

Cue suspicious move #6.

I continue to admire the table-setting as we make our way to the back when I'm distracted by the odd pair at the table directly behind ours.

Cue suspicious move #7.

They're sitting with their backs to us. Not odd. But what is odd is the way they're sitting. The are completely motionless. rigid. still.

And then it all comes clear...

I know that fluffy hair! I know that round, graying head! I know that jacket! I know the one person who always brings me flowers on my birthday! I know these people!

My parents!

Here all the way from Sparks, NV. Just for my birthday!

We gave hugs. I offered a million-and-one expressions of disbelief. And then I turned to Parker...

"How did I not know this?!"

He laughed and they proceeded to tell me the story. My dad booked these flights months ago. He wanted to come in on a Tuesday so Parker and I could spend my actual birthday together.

Parker had no test Thursday...it was all just a hoax he invented to sell me on a day-before birthday dinner.

Mom worried all the time that I might hack into her email (as I sometimes do to retrieve forgotten passwords) and see their flights.

Dad kept our phone conversations short so he wouldn't slip up and tell me. (I'm so proud of him for pulling this one off...he NEVER does surprises. He's just always too excited to wait! Mom's had more early Christmas presents than any wife I know...).

Parker tried not to panic when I pulled the haircut stunt (He then apologized to my parents for showing up late. He didn't know how to put the ka-bosh on my Glee episode without being too obvious. Sadly my parents replied, "Oh we planned on it. We know our daughter!" Sad!!! I have my grandma's reputation...).

And everyone spent the day wondering if I'd already figured it all out (because it's rare that I fall for these kinds of things).

We spent the rest of the night chatting, laughing, and learning how to use Mom & Dad's new iPhones (I still can't get over the fact that my anti-technology/anti-texting Dad now owns an iPhone! I swear his phone prior to the upgrade still had the game "snake" on it).

My Mom & Dad teased about being a letdown surprise and promised me they'd be heading back home the next afternoon so I could celebrate my real birthday night however I wished.

And all I could think was, "If I could, I'd keep you here forever."

They are truly the best birthday surprise I've ever had. I'm not sure if they've realized it yet, but they are some of our very best friends. I LOVE my parents to pieces! And Parker does too. They are not only the most generous, selfless, and loving people & parents we know (in addition to Kristy & Tristan), but they are also HILARIOUS!

Truly.

Dad Halloween 2010--Mom brought my Chick-fil-A blog to life with this clever cow costume.

I'm not sure why it took me so many years to realize it (I'm guessing it's because my brother's always been the funny-man in the family), but my mom and dad are the source of all our good senses of humor. I've always known my dad was a teaser because of the way he'd razz all my friends (and my mom too. Thinking back on it we all kind of ganged up on you...all in good fun though, you knew. We love you!).

Dad & his "kids"

But as I've grown up it's been my mom's humor that's surprised me most of all.

During our houseboat week this last summer my sister and I sat watching my friends vie for my mom's attention and just listened. My friends have always adored my parents. And while I understood why I loved them (and could see why my dad's generosity and mom's planning-abilities would keep the attention of my "mooch-face" [as dad jokingly calls them] friends), I sometimes wondered what it was about my parents that made my friends love their company too (sometimes even more than they loved mine).

My teenage sister (who is not yet to the age where you realize how amazing your parents really are) was the first to say it.

"Have you ever noticed that mom is actually really funny?"

At first glance my mom appears to be the ultra-nice, super sweet, makes-it-happen-for-her-kids-and-anyone-else-who-needs-her-help soccer mom. And she is all those things.

But if you listen, really closely, you'll start to realize. My brother Jason did not develop his killer-quick wit. He inherited it. Inherited it from none other than my smiling, innocent, sweet-as-pie Mom.

She's actually pretty sassy. And SO funny!!! But sweet at the same time. I wish I'd inherited her style of sarcasm. Mine tends to be more biting like my brother's...

ANYWAY...long story short, we have so. much. fun. spending time with them.

From watching my Dad rubberneck at a gang fight outside, to having my mom buy me an O-magazine just so I could take the "Find Your True Calling" quiz (her mom-radar must have picked up on my impending crisis mode), to hearing my non-tech savvy parents talking iPhones and Photoshop with Parker...we had a blast!!!

(Not to mention the fact that I finally figured out the root cause of my Nazi-like, picture-taking tendencies [my mom probably took 10+pictures of me with my balloons...which I am now grateful as they are the only evidence of this night]. Apple really doesn't fall far from the tree...)

We ended the night chatting away by the hotel fireplace, watching snow coat the Wasatch Valley floor. My parents spoiled me...absolutely spoiled me (pictures to come on the haul from both sides of the family...I'm so loved!). And while I used to deny it when my friends said that, I realize now it's entirely true.

I'm so thankful to them for coming all that way to make this birthday a special one. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to express to them how truly grateful I am for all that they do for me or repay them for all that they've done (though they wouldn't let me even if I tried).

I nearly cry every time we say goodbye because it's hard to give up that feeling of being loved so unconditionally, even for a short while.

They are amazing people. Amazing parents. And amazing friends. If you haven't made them yours yet you should. We all have quite a bit we can learn from the Dave & Robbi Whites of this world.

I love you Mom & Dad!

Thanks again for making this the best birth-week ever!