Happy birthday, Sister!

Dear Laura,

23 was a crazy year, huh?

You finished school and got a real job...

You got to be the hot teacher...


You got a dog...(and named him Wu Tang. Seriously??)


You've dealt with more loss...(and embraced life a little harder).

You did things that scared your pants off...

Thanks for going with me, by the way!

I'd say you've accomplished a lot.

Happy birthday!!
The Hill girls love you!!

Love,
Ginny

Because I don't really blog anymore...

I've been super busy, and I don't even want to blog about it.

This is my first time even logging into blogger all week.
See? Busy. But who isn't??

Hmm...how about an unflattering update?? ;)

On my hair...
It's way too short right now! I love the cut, but it's about two inches too short all over. If anyone has any ideas for growing hair out, please tell me about them! Please. I've added Biotin and silica to the my supplement regimen. I'm using a hair growth shampoo (I know! Probably a gimmick!). And I'm avoiding my straightener like the plague. (Sad face!)

On my complexion...
I'm really glad that the cystic planet that showed up on the side of my nose earlier this week, is almost gone now. Yay for salicylic acid! It was practically casting it's own shadow. I even contemplated renting out add space on it. Your local business would have gotten LOTS of exposure. ;)

On Big Foot sightings...
You would not believe the skeeze factor that has been seeking me out. OR how painfully naive I am! I'll take 90% of the blame on this one! It's foolish to think that members of the opposite sex, who spam your inbox and FB wall and ask for your number, just want something platonic. And then when there's mention of going to the beach sometime, because the beaches would love me... Yeah. Stop trying to picture me in a bikini!! (Patti Stanger would have a ton to say about that freak show.)
Super grateful to the friends who posed an intervention! Love you girls!!
Lesson learned: When faced with a Sasquatch, avoid friendly conversation.

On the weather...
I went to Walmart yesterday for some last minute essentials (i.e. my two week supply of water). The things I saw other people buy made me laugh, and prompted this status: "Milk, bread, popsicles, ice cream, microwave popcorn, Slim Jims, Diet Coke... I am so ready for this biatch!!"

On my BFFs...
T. Thorpe and some other favorites, didn't get that status. Within minutes she texted...
"How are u going to pop popcorn??"
Then...
"Oh wait, generator??"
Then when she realized that those are all foods I wouldn't eat ever, we went back and forth trying to think of even grosser, more random foods that the people of Walmart might stock up on for a natural disaster. Love her! And clearly my blonde moments are contagious! I felt just a little misunderstood. hehe :)

On my babes...
Just because I adore them, and there's nothing unflattering about them, and this post could use some of their sweetness...


Welcome to my silly life. :)

xo

Sometimes, I jump out of airplanes...

Here's the deal... With Ben's birthday creeping up on me, I haven't quite known what to do with myself.

So, my solution?? Something totally out of character. Something to get me way outside of my comfort zone. (For five minutes, I even contemplated a tattoo. But I'm too...noncommittal. And I can just picture the girls eventually wanting one...or 50. Yikes!)

Anway! Jumping out of a perfectly good plane, (while strapped to a guy, strapped to a parachute) made perfect sense! ;) And I kind of always wanted to. It's one of those bucket list items.


Dad and Laura jumped, too!
He has wanted to for...forever, and she actually went two weeks before we did (and loved it).


When I first met my instructor, and he was going over the basics with me, I asked him, "So, can we do a back flip?! I think that will help me be less nervous!"

He just kind of looked at me confused and slowly nodded, "We...can do a flip..."
(Maybe he wasn't expecting that! But eventually I think he got me. :))

I've decided that skydiving people are the funnest people! It was impossible to not have fun, too! Everyone laughed, joked, and chugged Red Bull on the way up!


Actually jumping was crazy, and too fun for words!

Once the parachute deployed, he told me I did really good. He even complimented me on not screaming. Ha!! I got to steer, too!

THEN he told me that I should look into getting certified, because I have the personality for it (??!!). After brushing him off, I realized he was completely serious! So most of the conversation down was about what it takes to jump alone. How much ground time... How many jumps... How safe it really is...

I think he talked me into it!


Anyway, I have over 100 amazing photos, but this video will have to do!


Apart from marrying Ben, and having two perfect babies....
Funnest thing ever!

:)

Ben & Laura

A while back, when my sister knew that I was looking at Ben's FB profile (and laughing), she told me to go look at their wall conversations. Maybe it's only funny if you know how Ben and my sister could be. But I'm posting it here.

:)

Ben >> Laura
And I was like, Yeah Whatever
September 24, 2007 11:25pm

Laura >> Ben
C.R.E.A.M. cash rules everything around me. dolla dolla bills yall. MONEY, POWER, RESPECT.
September 25,2007 11:37pm
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Ben >> Laura
"Laura sucks at cars, phones, and black eyes."

Laura is good at adderol.
October 31, 2007 at 11:31pm

Laura >> Ben
hahahahahaha! I FREAKING LOVE YOU MAN.
November 1, 2007 at 11:59 am
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Ben >> Laura
Do we need to take you to Sexburg? My current plane can do it in about an hour an 15 minutes.
November 17, 2007 at 10:04 pm

Laura >> Ben
okay, i'll be there in about an hour and ten.
November 18, 2007 at 1:30 pm
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Laura >> Ben
it's thanksgiving and you have my family. awesome.
November 22, 2007 at 12:00 pm

Ben >> Laura
They are my family now
November 23, 2007 at 12:12 pm

Laura >> Ben
honestly if you want to be like that, then just be like that okay.
November 25, 2007 at 12:03 pm
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Laura >> Ben
so you have signing time with jocee..as in sign language? wtf is this!
December 15, 2007 at 11:57 am

Ben >> Laura
Sign language for babies. WTF did you think it was?
December 15, 2007 12:48 pm

Laura >> Ben
your status said baby signing time, maybe it should say singing? singing as in sign language yo.
December 16, 2007 9:50 pm

Ben >> Laura
it is SIGNING, as in sign language; are you snorting pixie sticks or something?
December 16, 2007 10:39 pm

Laura >> Ben
pop rocks ben, pixie sticks are for kids.
December 16, 2007 10:41 pm

Ben >> Laura
smoking beer is bad for you as well
December 16, 2007 at 11:51 pm

Laura >> Ben
well i guess it's a good thing I only smoke vodka. didn't you know i was hardcore?
December 17, 2007 at 9:38pm

Laura >> Ben
i'm a lightweight? you wrote on your own wall! hahahahaha!
December 23, 2007 1:37am

Laura >> Ben
howdy ho.
December 23, 2007 at 1:37am
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Ben >> Laura
When the crap are you coming again?
December 26, 2007 at 9:27pm

Laura >> Ben
hey, my plane comes in on january 7 at 4:20, coincidence? i think not.
December 30, 2007 at 3:56pm

Ben >> Laura
Stoner
December 30, 2007 at 10:48pm
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Ben >> Laura
Trapped like rats.
February 18, 2007 at 10:51pm
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Laura >> Ben
happy birthday yo
August 18, 2008 10:33am
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Ben >> Laura
...and I was like. Yeah whatever.
September 23, 2008 at 9:32am

Laura >> Ben
thank you kind sir.
September 23, 2008 at 11:59am
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Laura >> Ben
original gangster, olive garden, orangutan gay, anything you want, but mostly original gangster.
March 15, 2009 at 8:52pm
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Laura >> Ben
happy birthday dawg.
August 18, 2009 at 9:38am

It gets sad after that. But I'm keeping this one light.

My Two Girls

So, I have these two girls...

They love to shop.

They both know exactly what they want, every single time.

One little chicky always gravitates towards reptiles (I.E. snakes, frogs, lizards, dinosaurs--whatever!) without fail.

And if I happen to lose track of the other...

She comes equipped with pink radar.

If there's any pink to be had, she'll find it.



Anyway, they're the sweetest that I know!
:)

Love.

"Look, Mommy! I'm really stronger!"

Gotta love that sweet, patient cat...

But I love my girls more!

Shiner

Short story, shorter:
Sophie has inherited Mommy's clumsiness, and definitely not Daddy's cat-like reflexes.

Poor Buggy!

Team Work

I love when I hear giggling in the next room, and find something like this...

These little chickies can be resourceful!

And just for the record, they didn't have any help from Mommy.


So lucky to have them!

:)

Happy Happy Birthday, Laura Dear!

Because I'm feeling soo grateful for my sister, on her 23rd birthday...

Dear Laura,
Thanks for being born 23 years ago, and sparing me from the horrors of being an only child. Maybe I should be thanking Mom for that one, but whatever.


Thank you for always getting me to try new foods. You make being vegetarian fun. But let's just agree to disagree on that whole spicy curry thing, okay??


Thank you for getting me to step out of my comfort zone. I always have fun.


Oh! And remember THOSE bangs???
Thank you so so much for growing them out! I know I had nothing to do with persuading you. And let's be honest; no one can. But thank you! That newish hair is more...you. :)

Thank you for always making fun of my clothes....
And then borrowing them....
And getting compliments on them.

Just so you know, I totally want to borrow this dress. Thanks!

Thank you for being such a...good influence on my girls. They adore you.

But most of all, thank you for always being you.
We may not ever see eye-to-eye, but that makes it fun.

Love you!!

Love,
Ginny

Brown Eyed Beauties

Today, I am grateful for two things...

1. My blue-eyed genes are nowhere to be found.

2. A fabulous new camera to capture all the cuteness.

I love my girls!

Sisterly Love

Reasons to Visit India...#221

As a part of my efforts to break out of my comfort zone...
My sister and I went to the local celebration.

And yet, somewhere amidst the color throwing, loud music, belly dancing, vegetarian eats, and laughter...I felt oddly at home.

Sure, it was held at a temple just minutes away from where I live...
And sure, those belly dancers traveled all the way from Boise, Idaho...
And yes, I've almost entirely made the switch to being fully vegan...

But I've never had that much fun, while looking that ridiculous...ever!



Favorite quote of the day:
(While walking from where we parked...)
Random guy working on his yard : What are all the people walking for??!
Laura: It [the shuttle] is taking too long!
Me: Laura, I don't think that's what he was asking.
Laura: Ooh. He doesn't know about the festival...

A Makeover

I love these little girls.

But almost more than them...

I love the way they play together.

They are so sweet and kind (usually).

They are learning to be considerate.

They are learning to compromise.

They are learning to share.

Sometimes they even play quietly...
.
.
.
.
.

There were no innocent bystanders this time!
After switching laundry the other day, I walked into the bedroom to see them helping each other with mascara application.

Happy Birthday, Laura!

(Since I composed a list for Ben, and since I am horrible with sending cards in a timely fashion---if at all---I decided to do the same for my one and only sister on her birthday!)

Laura and I are about as different as two sisters can be. However, there is a lot that I admire, respect, and love about this girl. Today at 11:00 pm EST, she turns 22 years old.

To my sister, on her birthday...

22 Things I Love About,
Laura Happnie

1. Of the two of us, she was definitely the cuter baby.


2. Laura is smart; the smartest in our family! She will soon complete her Bachelor's degree in secondary education...art major with a minor in math.

3. She is a very talented artist. She can paint, draw, and has an amazing eye for photography.

4. She is an amazing aunt! Jocee completely adores her! This is mainly because, they are so incredibly alike.

As Laura would say, "We are twins. Just born at different times."

5. Laura is hilarious! Anyone who knows her would agree.


6. I really love her fashion sense...90% of the time.

And the other 10%...she doesn't care!


7. She doesn't care what other people think...ever!
(Like when I relentlessly begged her to grow her bangs out. She may be growing them out now, but only because she wants to.)


8. She speaks her mind, and is never hesitant to put someone in their place.

9. She started wearing big sunglasses before they were trendy.


10. She is always there for her friends.


11. She loves animals...any and all!!

And they love her...


12. I admire Laura's ability to live in the moment. She is only concerned with the "here and now."

13. She lives without regret.


14. Laura is fearless. Almost nothing scares her.


15. She is open-minded. She'll try almost anything once.


16. Laura is a free-spirit. She is a bit of a hippy.


17. ....and a tree-hugger, and a PETA activist.


18. She has the prettiest, naturally thick, naturally blonde hair that I've always been jealous of.


19. It's safe to say that Laura is somewhat of an extremist. When she commits to something she embraces it wholeheartedly.

20. Laura is creative, and has an extremely expressive personality.

21. She is adventurous, and likes to make everything fun.


22. Laura will always be young at heart!


Happy Birthday, Laura!
Thank you, for being my sister!
Thank you, for being such a good auntie to my girls!
Thank you, for always being who you are!