365/365

365/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Three hundred and sixty five out of three hundred and sixty five. I just typed that. I'm a little bit shocked. First, because I actually did it and second, because it's actually finished.

Well, almost.

It's my birthday today. I'm 26 years old. Which means that this blog is officially outdated!

I woke up late after a pretty sleepless night. Late breakfast and lounged around. It was kind of lame and sad and boring. But finally, I made myself get up and go sit at an undisclosed location that happens to have really good bread and soup and coffee and, maybe I've been there quite a few times in the last week...

I treated myself to a 3:00 lunch and coffee while I worked on my computer for a few hours.

After awhile my mom showed up and after a few more cups of coffee, we met my dad and Rachel for dinner.


Rachel painted me this really beautiful card! It goes well with my mojito, no?


It doesn't take much.


All I wanted was some Tex Mex. Enchiladas with chile con carne and lots of cheese and beans and chips and salsa. Don't ask me why.

After like, two bites, I was full. But I kept on truckin'.


Sad that I couldn't finish my beans.


Me and Sister.


Me and Sister and card.


The reason for my being.


Free flan to go...

in the TRASH!!

Seriously, flan is scary. But free dessert is free dessert.


This is the real deal.


Trying to figure out how I can eat the entire thing, probably.


Hmm...flan or homemade dark chocolate cake?


Well, this looks and feels like a fat deposit...


And this looks and feels like heaven...


Guess who joined in Happy Birthday?


The other sister.

Who, by the way, sent me ten e-cards today. This one:

And a few others. She's just lovely.


I'm amazed at her singing voice!


I like cake.


My walrus impression!!!!!


White on the outside, black on the inside. Just like me.


And just like that...it was over.



























Sike!

Come back tomorrow. I've got something special for ya.

348/365

348/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

We always go to my grandparent's house on New Year's Day. My Mimi normally makes black eyed peas and we munch on whatever leftovers we have from the holidays. Today my aunt Mary Alice made chicken and dumplings and I had an indiscernible amount of servings. It hit the spot.



My dad got to take his dad hunting today. Unfortunately, they didn't see much and it was cold. But as you can see by the walls behind him, my Papa has had his fair share of hunting adventures. He isn't exactly smiling in the picture I chose, but I like it because he was telling me about the first time he took my dad hunting. He was four-years-old, said he just followed him everywhere he went. I like that he can remember it. Must have been a cool moment, taking your first son hunting with you. He couldn't have known how much my dad would take to it.


Good lookin' duo.

Meanwhile, we played games and snacked some more. I wore workout clothes but didn't put them to use. I think there's a cheese stain on my hoodie. Alas, tomorrow is a new day!


Chris sent me this picture of me throwing his son in the air. Keane was laughing so hard that it got caught in his chest. I just LOVE playing with that boy. I mean, we all do. He was the only other cousin there today, so we had to stick together. He keeps us entertained, that's for sure.

Oh my goodness, it's January. My blog ends this month. Maybe something cool will happen in the next 18 days, like a series finale. Things will get really exciting and you'll be at the edge of your seat! Maybe I'll get a movie offer for my life story, or maybe I'll get a job in France, or maybe I'll receive some mysterious flowers (with a note that I shouldn't trust anyone around me because they've all been planted in my life from day one), or maybe I'll just try to meet someone and fall in love real fast.

My promise to you: the most exciting thing to happen in the next 18 days will NOT be me finishing the scarf that I'm knitting.

347/365

347/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Happy New Year's Eve! I took some pictures today but I didn't take this one. I stole this one from Rachel. Since I'm almost finished with my blog, I am allowing this. I am allowing just about anything. But I think this picture sums up NYE better than the ones I took. I'll show you.


We started off the night with some mini golf!

I generally don't like mini golf. But it sounded pretty fun tonight and it was. Mini golf came through.


Uncle Robert, considering his next move.


Joel, parkouring his way through the course.


Dad, positioning himself in a silly manner. Silly dad!


But...


He's a pretty good shot.


Uncle Jay, filming the action.


Mom, posing.


Me, posing.


And this crazy man, doing I don't know what.

After golf, we went to the movies. All of us split up so we could see whatever we wanted and then all of us met up after. We came back to our house for food and drinks and games. Earlier, we'd made BBQ meatballs, caramel corn, deviled eggs, hot corn dip (thanks Christine!), and a few other things. I like making appetizers. I'll be doing that more often.

We had fun at the house.


Right?


Right?


....Right?


Riiiiiight.

Note to self: always carry magnets of my head for situations like this. Also, try not to spill wine on people's magnet heads.

Mmmmk it's almost 3AM. I need my beauty sleep for 2011.

341/365 Part Two

341/365, originally uploaded by britrosewhite.

Let's just get right on to it...


Christmas morning! Mom walked out, wide-eyed, and said, "Santa came!"


Santa came with some sweet kicks for me.

Then we had breakfast: venison sausage, chocolate gravy and biscuits, scrambled eggs and mimosas. The strangest meal you've ever heard of.

Next came one of our Christmas traditions: be ready to walk out the door for grandparent's house, be late, but decide to take pictures in front of the tree anyway, be cheesy.


We always laugh like "how stupid is this going to look!" when we hug, but then we end up liking those pictures best.


And here we are in the winter frost! Brrr.


And here we are with our laser dog!


Then mom and dad joined us.


And Gracey smelled remnants of sausage on my hands.

Moving on!


Loads of shrimp. Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas...


My cousins love Christmas!


My sisters love Chelsea!


My mom loves her, too.


There is no telling what Jonah is playing or what Joel is eating.


Sweet cousin love. Did you know that I was her maid of honor like, five years ago? I'd do it again if we were polygamists!


Kasey got a Cinderella dress, a Belle dress, and an Aurora (Sleeping Beauty - yes, I know her name) dress. I gave her bitter, jealous glances all night. Here, I told her to pose like a cute little girl with her chin resting in her hands. Then I told her to sweetly ask, "Where is my prince?" to which she responded, "WHERE is MY PRIIIIIIIIIIINCE?!?!?!"

Eeek. I know a lot of people who can relate to you, Kasey.


We posed some more.


We travelled to the 60s with my grandparents.


Can you believe I've made it this far without posting a picture of Keane? Here he is with his parents and both sets of grandparents.

By the way...


Keane weighed 5 pounds last year.

Way to grow, cuz. Way to grow.


Yes, this is the cutest moment you've ever seen.


This is pretty cute, too.


If I were really cheesy, I'd say that Keane is a gift...

(Keane is a gift.)


This year's cookies were not our best looking but ummm wow, they tasted good. Of all the sweets there, I was so into these. How often can you say that about a sugar cookie? ALWAYS mix vanilla and almond extract.


The deer lost his head on the ride over. It's okay, he was dead already.


New tradition? (Check my uncle Jay - nice touch.)


And check last year. Also, check the fake gold eye lashes....

We nixed that idea this year.


Brandon liked the cookies.


Lauren liked the cookies.


Chris took a perfect bite of his cookie!


And my cousin, Justin...


He liked the cookies but I don't know how he ate them considering he literally filled his plate with some sort of awesome cherry dessert that his mom made. I'm talking, a serving the size of his hand, at least. And that's why he needed Joel to hold the plate for him.

At some point we had communion and a sing-a-long with Andrea Bocelli.


And we also opened presents! Lauren has the same reaction...


As Emmalynn.

Christmas is always magical.


I wrapped seven presents for Jesse and put them in different places under the tree.


BAM! I win. Or, he wins.

There you have it...that's what I got. Some of these pictures are from Rachel's camera so thanks for those, sis. Even though I deleted them all. Love you!

I was thinking today that my faith is really pretty crazy. God became man...He walked among us...He never, ever messed up...He suffered so that I wouldn't have to. It sounds absolutely insane and yet, I believe it. And I believe the root of it all is love. So love and tidings and baubles and bows and cheers and hugs and kisses to each of you!

Well, kisses only to some of you. I have a reputation to uphold, here. And some of you might not brush your teeth that often.

Merry Christmas!