because mindi doesn't

a couple weekends ago i went to manhattan to visit my favorite family. (you can guess who it was.....) i joked with mindi that it was time to start blogging. she mocked me. so...i returned the favor and antagonized that i would do it for her. she laughed. but....like i said i would, here are some shots of my favorite kiddos. (in case you wondered how big they are getting...BIG. a small army, i might say.)

so...since mindi doesn't:

here's zeke. little, but with a BIG opinion. :) he's so funny.


here he is checking out the gecko. i'm not sure of it's name....
i'm lead to believe the name changes on a regular basis.

and the finished product of the disaster you are about to witness. the cookies. i made dough and some of the frosting ahead of time...definitely cut down on the mess and work time. but...i may have made cooper chuck some green frosting in the middle of the night due to sugar overkill! sorry brian and mindi!!!

a patient brian helping out zeke. or shall i say "monitoring the frosting intake?

the only picture of mindi i could manage. and a picture of a very grown up elijah. (i know you're not supposed to have a favorite, but how could i not love this face?!? don't tell him i said that, he's far too grown up to have 'aunt megan' gushing over him.)

and a very grown up emma as well. she took this job very seriously. and made sure to nab every 'girlie' cookie cutter possible.
(turned her nose up at the teenage mutant ninja turtles....what am i supposed to do with flowers and ribbons??? this girl is ALL girl!)

and my very own heart with my name on it. the best one i've ever recieved. elijah was very proud and couldn't figure out why i didn't want to eat it right away. i might have saved it a couple days....but e- it DID get eaten!




eating the goods all along the way.



zeke managed to lick several clean. we snuck them into the trash when he wasn't looking. trust me, no one wanted to eat those!

poor cooper. little did he know, that frosting was not going to stay with him long. seriously. how

cute is that face? ugh. so cute.

coop helped me make frosting during the day. and i couldn't tell him no when he requested licking the spatula. those eyes. no one can resist those eyes.

the boys rocking out to michael jackson. they're so hard core.

i mean really, look at these eyes. i told cooper that his father will have to teach him to use them for good, not evil. seriously, the sweetest little batman ever. my hero.

on a more serious note, i got to go to challenge with mindi on thursday and listen to brian speak. so much fun. it was sort of surreal to be in a place that held so many memories, but to feel like such a different person and to wonder how to return to a place where faith seemed much simpler. the journey with God certianly does change as we experience more life. regardless, hearing brian is always special and important. thank goodness for that. i'm so thankful that they have walked SO much life with me. and that they know me so well. family.

anyway, it was a priceless weekend. my goal is to have these weekends as often as possible. this family is so precious to me. i really just don't know what i'd do without them.

and for the record, after over 48 hours....i now know why mindi does not blog.

music

i love music. i mean, love it. it might be my single most favorite thing in the world. there are so many things i cannot do without the sound of something wonderful in my ears. like- work out. i've been known to walk into the gym, hop on a treadmill, and if my ipod battery is dead- i walk out. i suppose that's not a monumental statement from anyone who might be reading this. duh. megan loves music. but i seem to be finding that i appreciate it so much more in the last year.

here's the thing. mario and i had completely different taste in music. not completely different, but well, we listened to mostly salsa, meringue, bachata....things not in english. which is fine. i LOVE that music too. we danced, we shared a love for dance. latin music brings me joy, but not being in my native language, it's hard to be completely inspired by something i can't fully understand.

so rediscovering my ears has been the most fun thing from my newly single life. i find myself listening to new things all the time and thinking, "how did i NOT know about this?" like, there's not enough time in a day for me to sit quietly and listen to new things.

here are things i currently can't get enough of:




i know. it's a bizarre combination. if there's something you haven't heard of, i can't really take the credit for discovering any of these gems. i have friends that have ridiculously amazing taste in music. (thanks to ben, michael, matt, todd, the list goes on.) but, if it's something you would consider complete crap- that's me. like i said i love music, but dance is my second favorite, and who can't get down to lady gaga?

check them out. hopefully you'll find yourself truly inspired.

what are you listening to?

as promised- the 30 greatest in my 30th.

(in no particular order)

1. My mom (after two check-ups) remains cancer free.

2. My super-rad turqouis walls, and super-cute living space.

3. I went to California twice, and had the time of my life.

4. I lost thirty pounds. (With thirty more to go...) 5. Two weekends ago I laughed really hard. (I remember wondering last Christmas if I would ever laugh again.)

6. My mom's family spent Thanksgiving together, for the first time in 30 years!

7. My arm DID NOT get wripped off by the zip-line. (It was a close call.)

8. I joined a choir.

9. I learned to shop for myself at the grocery store, after shopping for someone else for several years.

10. I danced. And danced. And danced.

11. I got to go see Mutemath with Matt T.

12. April and I went to Oklahoma to visit and old friend, and her super-cute son.

13. My car hasn't caused me any problems.

14. I started work at Neurology Consultants, Chartered, and have never been happier in a work environment. I truly love my job.

15. I went nutso over the Twilight series and have felt like a complete teenage girl with my friends.

16. I was on the Price Is Right! Finally...a long-time goal. (Shout out to my dad, who would be so proud.)

17. My brother and I have bonded over movies at the Mainstreet 6.

18. I have had a lot of fun with these ladies.

19. I went out on New Year's Eve and spent it with people I barely know. A big girl moment for me as I would have rather stayed home.

20. I tried really hard to grow things.

21. I have the most fun, amazing, loving, brilliant friends in the world. (See top)

22. I re-learned what I like. Movies, concerts, music, food....I went to a lot of all of thee above and loved seeing parts of me come to life that I had long forgotten!

23. I pinpointed some major issues I've been having in my relationship with church/God/etc. Now....solving them....I'll let you know how that goes at my 40th. ;)

24. My dog. She's so much good fun.

25. I learned how to make boundaries and say 'no'. Maybe I say it too much, now?

26. In the few 'Mario Encounters' I had. (Two in person, and two on facebook.) I was able to handle the situation without fear, conflict, and letting it destroy my day/week. I hope I never have them again, but I know now that I can survive them.

27. I got a Starbucks gift card for Christmas. (I know, I know. But I really love it that much.)

28. I cancelled cable. A tough, but very good decision. Thank goodness fot Netflix.

29. My divorce was final on March 13 and I was so happy to take back my last name! April stood by my side and it was NOT a day of tears! Praise the Lord!

30. I'm alive! I laugh on a regular basis! I have a safe place to live!

So that's it. 30 has been the best year by far in the last 4. I'm smart enough to realize I couldn't have survived this year and ENJOYED it without the prayers, provision, and support of many. So, thanks! I'm not so scared of 31....in fact, I'm sure that it can only get better!

something grand.

i should say something. but i haven't had the time. it's true. i don't have a computer, which i suppose i should remedy at some point, but i stare at one all day long and can't imagine giving any attention to one in the evening. (picture hunched shoulders and brooding carpal tunnel.) so my blogging opportunities are few and far between.

i'm getting ready to round off the big 3-0 next week. and 30 has been great. so, maybe i'll blog some highlights this weekend. post some pics.

but for now, know that i'm well. and trusting the Lord, something that i don't do as easily as i once did. but with so many things up in the air for the upcoming year, i'm glad He leaves me no choice.

happy friday.