bapple

oh little minions...

i just love you!

watching these mini-movies is like popping little yellow happy pills!

but that's beside the point.

i started and ended my trip home with my favorite friend.

we have one of those bittersweet relationships

if you will.

it's absolutely unhealthy 

and wrong on so many levels.

i feel absolutely awful by the end of our time together

and so guilty too.

i know i'd be better off without him.

i'd be healthier,

happier,

with a wealth of cash and confidence.

but i just can't stand the thought of ever giving him up.

at times he's beyond sweet

and seems, 

to me,

to be exactly what i need

'til I come to my senses and realize I sought out a deceivingly empty source of comfort 

for all the wrong reasons too.

to be honest,

i think the my main draw is the rush I feel when i see him.

i never plan our little trysts.

never know what's happening until I'm there.

i say this only to ease my conscience.

I fully know these "serendipitous" encounters are the result of an impulsive subconscious.

i know what i'm doing when i do it,

even if i like to pretend i don't.

so,

in sum,

he's my forbidden fruit.

dangerously appealing.
delicious to the taste.

the off-limits love i can't help but crave.

he's...

my bapple.

oh golly!

you do not know the real meaning of sweet until you've tried Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory's "Apple Pie" apple.

"Bapple" became Parker's pet name for my sugary sweet treat the night he discovered just how much I hate to share.

(hence the minion movie)

I tried and tried to convince him to buy his own.

He insisted he didn't need a whole apple,

that he'd be happy with a bite of mine.

I feigned sympathy.

"oh honey! you've been working nonstop all week. you deserve this!

we've been so good with saving too!"

no go.

so i tried sarcasm.

"okay. i suppose you can play martyr tonight. i'll "take one for the team" tomorrow and skip my shower so we can afford to pay for yours k?"

no go again.

and now he's borderline bugged.

And so I confess,

"I'm sorry sweetie.  I just...it just...it's MY apple.

I just love it so much.

And, well...I love you too.

and if I have to share I will.

but, um, if you got your own..."

"You don't have to share with me Chels,"
he laughs

"Go get your bapple."

end story.

*to my credit, I did share.

but only a little...
:)

anyway...
now that i've dedicated 90% of my post to exploring that obsession
I made my way home the weekend before last for an itty bitty spring break.
With Parker's last minute plans to head south to St. George for a brother's biking trip and a free flight in reserve I figured
what the heck!
i'm taking a trip to the 775.


so I hopped on the phone with rapid rewards and,
a quick 90 minutes later
(85 of which I spent on hold)
i had a Friday night flight
woohoo!


I'd been missing home quite a bit lately.
We crammed so much fun and so many visits into our Christmas trip that I'd forgotten what felt like to just be home. 
to sleep in my own bed,
well...the guest bed.
Haley'd laid claim to my room by my second year of college
which is A-okay.
i only ever used my room as a closet anyway.
a BIG closet.
(which I'm convinced gave me my unrealistic expectations about how much storage space one should have/require).
for some reason i always preferred sleeping on the couch.
or the bonus room bed.
i guess you could say i was a bit of a bed nomad.
special thanks to Parker and our little apartment for helping me change my ways.
(please reread the last big print line before my babbling tangent.
if you proceed without doing so this list will no longer make sense).
spend time with my family,
and reacquaint myself with the simple life of Sparks
or should I say acquaint myself?
i've never not been busy in that city.


so yes!
I couldn't wait to be home.

My flight left Salt Lake at 5:10 Friday afternoon,
touching ground in Reno by 5:40.
I love, love, love skipping back to Pacific Standard Time!
I wish I could have an extra hour every day.
and i think i lied about those flight times.
we waited to board for over an hour.
oh well.
you get the point.

I bought a bapple at the airport,
of course.
Did you know there's a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory there?!
it's just past security. 
i tried so hard to resist.
ok, that's a lie too.
i googled all the stores in the valley once.
so i knew.
and i planned on it.
i'm not proud of it...

read a thought-provoking Spirit magazine article on brains,
post on that to come...

dozed off just long enough to miss out on my free in-flight beverage,
i've decided the cran-apple juice on planes is just magical.
it tastes so much better 30,000 feet in the air
prayed I'd find my luggage on the carousel,
do you ever worry it's going to disappear?
lost luggage scares me.
then made my way out to meet the fam.
let the fun begin!


our adventures?
and intended lack there-of
(remember I wanted some real R&R)

seafood louie's
and an embarrassing run-in @ the Nugget.
have you ever forgotten someone you should absolutely know
and tried to fake your way through the conversation,
only to realize afterward how absolutely unconvincing all of your comments must have been?
makes you feel like a pretty terrible person no?
i'm still feeling it...

Limitless
am-A-zing movie!
sleeping in
i won't say 'til when.
just know it was glorious.

hitting the gym
i've never laughed so hard during an ab work-out.
mom + chelsey + haley + stability balls = chaos & hilarity
shopping
it wouldn't be home without it :)

Mimi's Cafe
& lunch salads the size of serving bowls.
i wanted to pop.

frozen yogurt
to talk wedding plans with the Proulxs.
i just love that family.
and their latest addition too :)
pictures with Molly

i will never attempt a photo with a canine again.
i don't care how cute she is.
i fed her a whole roll of saltine crackers,
watched my jeans be slathered in slobber,
endured all sorts of heavy, stinky breathing in my face,
and still ended up with this 
(50+ takes later).
The world will never know just how cute you are Miss Molly.
we tried.
(is this somewhat similar to taking pictures with little ones?
my guess is yes.
but that's just a guess.)
Sunday meetings in my home ward
it's changed quite a bit in the last few years.
even the name's changed!
*wingfield hills...psh*
but there's still more than enough 8th Ward veterans to make it feel like home,
and that's why i love going back.
I love my ward family.
I adore the people there.
They taught me what it means to live and love the Gospel
and made and still make me feel like I can be anything and do everything,
and I can't tell you how much that means to me.
Sunday dinner
i cooked.
it actually turned out.
so well,
in fact,
that my dad thinks it's a miracle meal.
he's convinced it's the reason he dropped 2 lbs in 2 days.
talk about a weight loss tool!
i'm thinking i should sell it :)
YW's meetings
what would a weekend with my mom be without a meeting? :)
i tagged along just for kicks
(and to see a few more of my favorite people).
blew my mind to see girls I led in leadership roles.
they're so grown up!
kind of crazy.

Rummikub
dad being the timer Nazi.
mom yelling at the timer
(and dad).
Haley cool as a cucumber.
and me just a little bored
but a giggling mess all the same.
why is my family so funny?
i just love them.
and games with them.
oh so funny!

facials
just blissful!

sushi time
unusual chopstick methods
(a chopstick is not a fork
nor should it be used like one)
+
crystal shrimp 
(mmm!!!!)
+
watching mom choke down a roll that
"tastes like slugs"
=
my best Sparks sushi experience ever.


(I can't relive the slugs moment without laughing,
"Nobody told me?!"
"Well, we needed someone to try it...").
We owe you Mom :)
family time
This was by far my favorite part of the trip.
I love my family so much.
I never believed it growing up,
but it's absolutely clear to me now that they all are 
-and always will be- 
my very best friends.

Mom & Dad-

I love you.  

I wonder every day how it is that I was blessed to come into your home.

There's no place that makes me happier.

No two people who make me smile more.

I love that our family loves to laugh;

that you taught us that.

I learned from you too what it means to work

and take pride in that work too.

You helped me develop ambition and drive

and always, always believed in me.

You've been my best cheerleaders

and biggest support.

I know the sacrifices you made you give me everything;

I so hope you know what that means to me.

I learned how to love others and make friends

and learned that blessing the lives of others through service is the best way to be a friend. 

I've been the beneficiary of your generosity for far too many years

and was again this weekend.

And though I know you don't expect a thing in return, 

I wonder each and every day what I could possibly do to give back even the tiniest bit of what you've given me.

I've not the slightest clue what to do just yet,

so for now just know how that I love you

so. much.

and I always, always will.

And Haley-

I love you too!  

I grew up thinking we were both so different.  

We're not.  

Not at all.  

And it's so fun for me to see just how much we are the same.

From our thoughts, ideas, and opinions

to our super silly mannerisms, crazy eyes, and dumb jokes,

we're like two tubby little peas in a pod.

I'm so happy we're friends!

so glad we can chat.

so lucky to have someone to laugh at mom & dad with.

and so blessed to have such an amazing example in my life

(especially in a younger sibling.

isn't is supposed to be the other way?)

I am so excited about all the fun you're going to have in these next few years.

I wish you lived closer : /

Come visit soon okay?

Love you Miss Hay!


And Molly & Paws...
I absolutely love you too!
(if you could read I'd expound on that.
i'm sure you understand.)

and of course I got

one last bapple.

yummmmmm

I loved every minute of my trip home.
Funny how a city can have such a special place in your heart.
No matter how many years I spend away,
I think I'll always call this place home.
I realized this the night we went to the Sparks Century 14 theaters.
I made a life for myself in Provo when I came to college.
I'm making my married life here in Salt Lake.
We'll make a life for ourselves in a new city for dental school.
And we'll raise our family in a new town too.
And I know, from past and present experience,
that we'll spend many nights out at the movies.
But I believe,
-no-
I'm convinced,
that I'll never find another hometown theater.
 if that makes sense...


anyway...
Monday night came.
I said goodbye to Sparks.
and
4 calls to rapid rewards
3 flight changes
2 planes
and a 5 hour delay later
I made it home sweet home to Salt Lake City,
my adorable husband,
and the most exciting surprise.


stay tuned...




*Thanks again family for everything!
I miss it all already.
Love you so much!*

good news minute

so I think we should start by breathing a big sigh of relief that I am officially done with my psycho-babble blogging and back to keeping it light.

oh happy day!

I'll start off by saying that my title's a bit misleading.

We have no big news

but some of my very favorite people do!!!

so please indulge me in this good news minute.

I needed an outlet to celebrate.

I am so, so, so excited!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mrs. Kayla Chandler kicked off the good news express with this little peanut...

baby Chandler

at 8 weeks & 2 days
due September 2011

It absolutely floors my that one of my very best friends is going to have a baby!

either because I am so absolutely unprepared for that stage of life or because it feels like just yesterday that we were Lady Raiders playing our way to the 2007 state title.

I have no question in my mind that she will be the best mom.
truly...

Kayla is one of the most genuinely sweet and sincere people I've ever met

and I'm certain Heavenly Father only let me have her as a friend so that I could learn from her example
which is why I'll be paying close attention to what I know will be perfect parenting.
I'm convinced her little one will be one of the cutest and best dispositioned babies who's ever bounced on down to this earth
and am preparing now to have absolutely unrealistic expectations of what to expect when we bring home our first little bundle of joy.
I'm just so excited to meet you baby Chandler!
hurry here...but not too quick!
:)


Congrats Michael and Kayla on your growing family!
We love all 3 of you.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our next sweet surprise came when Parker's younger sister Kaitlin received a letter from the First Presidency calling her to the 
Chile Viña del Mar mission!

This makes her the seventh of all seven of Parker's siblings to serve a mission
Did I marry into the most amazing family or what?!
and I know she is going to be an incredible missionary.
We are all so proud of her for her willingness to serve the Lord and I am convinced her constant efforts to try and find the best in people, kindness, and ability to understand and relate with others will be the first of many reasons the people there will come to love her just as much as we do.


Hermana DeMille will be speaking español as she shares the Gospel with the Chilean people in one of their most beautiful cities
according to Wikipedia its iridescent-white sandy beaches, sunny climate, and grandiose resorts make it the nation's vacation capital.
I did just learn from Kaitlin, however, that her mission extends down into the Atacama Desert, one of the driest deserts in the world.
I'll be sending loads of Secret Wonderland lotion your way Kaits, promise!


We trekked down to Richfield this last weekend to hear her farewell talk.
The bishopric assigned her the topic of "Following Christ," and I honestly can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciated her insights.
just exactly what I needed to hear.


We'll miss her so much these next 18 months,
but I suppose we can lend her back to the Lord for this little window of time
but only because He's let us keep her the last 22 years.  
:)


Counting down the days 'til April 6th!

We love you Kaits!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From the moment I knew I'd fallen in love with Parker, 
I wanted,
more than anything,
for my best friends to find love too.
and I insisted they find it 
right. that. instant.


The main reason I hoped and prayed they'd soon be living out their love story is because I wanted them to be happy, 
of course.
And then there were the little reasons...
the more selfish reasons...
that centered around my unwillingness to allow anything in our relationship to change
because, up until that point, we'd always been on exactly the same page.


I wanted married friends I could talk to about married things and plan married vacations with,
and I wanted them asap! 


I'm amazed their eyeballs aren't forever fixated on the back of their brains from their constant dismissals of my musings that, 
before they knew it, 
they'd be loving married life too.


The eye rolls, the laughs, the exasperated sighs
I know you both wish you could take it all back...


Jill blushed when she caught the bouquet
and Nicole nearly fainted when I suggested she be a bit more forward if she wanted to catch the attention of her summer crush.
I can't remember if you ever thanked me for that little hint.
Not to worry!
I'll just put it on my friend tab.
You can name a kid after me or something.


But, somehow,
months before my first anniversary,
both these girls have diamonds fiancées who've replaced me as their bestest friend.
which I think I may actually be okay with.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cute Aaron decided to make the most of their "candid" moment at their photo shoot and surprised Jilly with a proposal.
eeeeeeee!!!!
(this is what it sounds like in my head any time I think about Jilly getting MARRIED)
oh so exciting!

Now that it is officially official, 
I am so happy to announce that
Jillian Rose Proulx is engaged to marry Aaron Michael Prado
this August 5, 2011 
in the Reno, Nevada Temple.
hooray for hometown weddings!


I love seeing my Jilly Bean so incredibly happy and I am so excited to have Aaron sealed into our little friend circle forever.
Yes, I am convinced that the girls and I are as close as you come to being family without actually being family.
And yes, I do believe we'll be together forever.
I really do.
I'm so excited to see all her wedding plans come together because,
in case you can't tell from the pictures,
these two might possibly be the classiest looking couple you'll ever see
which naturally makes for a beautiful wedding!
I'm so looking forward to your big day
and the moment you'll both say yes to forever.
Love you two!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And as if one summer wedding isn't enough for the Sparks Girls,
Nicole & Kip will tie the knot 
July 1, 2011
in the Salt Lake City Temple!
eeeeeeee!!!!
(this is the sound in my head any time I think about Nicole becoming MRS. Kip Stomberg)
it makes me so, so happy!


 Kip pulled out all the stops
and a marquis diamond!
when he asked Nicole to be his forever.
A candle-lit walkway to a blanket of daisies overlooking the valley,
followed by his rendition of her all-time favorite love song at an adorable little table-for-two.
I think you really made her "feel your love" with that incredibly sweet serenade Kipper.
SO romantic!


I love that Kip is one of those people who makes you feel like you've always been best friends forever from the first moment you meet him.
I'm so happy Nicole found him and I just love seeing how much he absolutely adores her.
They are the cutest couple and the biggest cuddle-bugs you'll ever meet.
Don't be embarrassed Colie. 
I think it's super sweeet.
And you deserve every bit of this happiness!


I am absolutely ecstatic I get to be a part of your big day
and cannot wait for you two to promise forever!
Love you both!
And hooray for married friends!
Fish, fish I got my wish!
I always do...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smack dab between these engagements Miss Tiffany received her own letter from the First Presidency announcing her call to serve in the 
Paraguay Asunción North Mission.

Can you believe it?
Hermana deVries's first time outside the country will take her all the way down to South America for 15 months!
I'm excluding the first 3 spent in the MTC where she'll be learning how to speak-o the Spanish.


I'm so impressed with Tiffany and her prayerfulness in coming to the decision to serve a mission.  It'll be hard for our little scholar to spend that time away from school, but I'm convinced that her break from chemistry and physiology and microbiology and every other -ology will be to her benefit
I can almost picture her brain jumping for joy at the thought of its upcoming 18-month break from science.
hooray for new study material!


I know Tiff's infectious laugh and exuberant personality will make her an absolute hit with the Paraguayan people.  But as much as her smile can light up a room, I'm convinced it'll be the power of her testimony that changes the lives of the people there.  She's one of the strongest saints I know.  


I can't wait to see all that Heavenly Father has in store for her.


Counting down the days 'til July 27th Miss Tiff!
We love you!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wish I could add my getting more than 4 hours sleep to the good news minute, but it really doesn't look like that's happening tonight.
*sigh*


Nonetheless, I am ecstatic for all the months ahead.
the wedding planning,
letter writing,
baby shower hosting,
and all the smiles & happiness each one of these BIG life moments is certain to bring.
which, in my case, includes quite a few happy tears too.
I take after the rain-bird...


Congratulations girls!
here's to staying friends through every stage of life...
love you all!