Cupcake Party!

For my nieces and nephews i made rainbow cupcakes! This party was promised before viewing the movie "Up." I told them if they sat through the whole movie, we'd have a cupcake party! I'm a really nice aunt.

We decided to throw in a pizza as well.

The moms! Shelley came later...

Ty practicing his modeling. He is such a cutie!

The two baby boys! Shawn can slide down the slide and suck his thumb at the same time.

So...I guess all the cupcake icing was pretty intense on the tongue. We had to give the babies the lighter colors...just in case.

water fountain fun! Taylor (female, left) got a paper towel and wiped off everyone's dirty face.

Then I got them all sitting in a row. I really love all these kids. Living with the parents is nice because I get to see them more often. I'll take them all home with me and keep them forever, please.

4 movies I've seen recently

Oh by the way my job is really cool. I like the work. And I have a cool area with lots of windows. The hours...um...I am going to experiment and find a sleeping schedule that suits me. I am thinking midnight to 4am then 8:30 am to noon? Is that bad for you? (not you but me?)

Before I started my job I would watch a couple movies a week.
I don't give the plot or any significant information away for any of the following movies.
Reader's Discretion is advised.

Wolverine.
Filmed in New Zealand.
Fun Fact: The motorcycle scene was filmed in the Elf Forest of Lord of the Rings.
I loved this movie! But even if it was not a good movie I would still love it! Because I went to some of the places where Wolverine was! And duh. It's Hugh.

UP!
I saw this one TWICE last week.
It is very entertaining.
I love the silent parts where there is no dialogue.
Beautiful movie, not just a kids movie.

State of Play.
It's at the DOLLAR theater! So we went on Tuesday night for a dollar.
I didn't lean back in my seat once. It just pulled me in, every second. Just good stuff.

Night at the Museum: Battle at the Smithsonian.
Almost fell asleep. And I don't know if that is because we saw the midnight showing or if it was really boring.
You decide.

I got a job

as a custodian. 4:30-8am. Hey. It's a job.

200th post

yay!

What do you think?

I am opening a booth for the Provo Farmer's Market. I have my ideas but I'd like to hear yours too! What should I sell at my booth that people would purchase?

You know what is worse than having a cold sore?

having a cold sore during a job interview and not getting the job...probably because of the cold sore.

I probably won't take your advice

but what the junk should I do?

Twenty Two

I guess Forever 21 was wrong.
Memories of my first day of being 22:

• Waking up at intervals beginning at 6am to the several phone calls and voice message alerts from my brother Daron. He wanted to be the first to wish me happy birthday. His messages are priceless, I'll save them forever.
• "Hallie...I woke up at 6am just to wish you happy birthday and you didn't even answer your phone"
• "Wow. 19 years old."
• in a warning tone: "Hallie"...5 seconds later..."Hallie" breathing...hang up.
• temple
• an interview for the tree room at sundance. And even if I don't get it, I got to sit in a chair there. So I can honestly say I've been to the tree room.
• Lunch at Blue Lemon
• 9th & 9th in SLC. Go. Cute boutiques and antique shops. I just love shops that end in "tique"
• Les Madeleines
• The Sweet Tooth Fairy
• Color-me-mine
• Papa Johns in the movie theater parking lot with Katherine while my dad made aside comments as he was peeling an orange, throwing the peelings on the asphalt. And I carried four pieces of pizza and two peeled oranges into the theater.
• Angels & Demons
• Writing in my journal

Baby Brighton!

Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks for birthing me even though they had to cut open your stomach. I hope I was worth it, raising me. All that energy and emotion it took to deal with me. Wow. I can't even imagine what that would have been like! Thanks mom! Hope I'm something like the mom you are when I grow up!

Old Friends

Today I went to a bridal shower for my childhood friend Alisa. I haven't seen her since junior high! But she has always remembered to call me on my birthday and we've kept in touch. I admire people like that. They don't forget their good old friends. I wish I was more like that. I get so caught up in life and the people I am currently with that I think of old friends as unreachable.
I'm going to try and be like Alisa.

Since I've been home

Recovered from jet lag
painted a wall in my parent's family room
babysat a bunch of kids for 8.5 days
applied to like 11 jobs
saw a couple movies
One of which was the ghost of girlfriends past. I don't recommend it.

Just look at this picture. It deceives you to think that he only has had a few girlfriends. Lies. But the last half is good. So maybe go an hour late. Yeah. Do that.

First day of class

Well I'm officially back to real life since I've been home to New Zealand. How do I measure real life? I don't really know. But I am beginning real school again. Like hard classes. Unlike the fantasy school of New Zealand.

So for my New Testament class our teacher is really cool. And he opened the class with a few questions.

1. Has anyone ever lived in a different country?
-Of course I raised my hand. I lived in New Zealand...for a few months... I know a lot of people don't think that counts but it totally does.
2. Can anyone do an impression of a famous person?
-No one volunteered.
teacher: "You guys are a bunch of mormons" (making fun of us for not sharing)
3. Can anyone here do a weird body trick?
a couple of people raised their hands. One guy just made a popping sound with his supposed "double jointed jaw" what does that even mean? All jaws have two joints. duh. the other person just put her hand behind her back and waved. I can totally almost do that.
Well at first I forgot my special talent. But then I remembered. But I hesitated. Then I thought of the aforementioned stargirl and what she would do in this situation. So of course I raised my hand.
"I can flap my left nostril"
A sound of surprise from the classroom
So I did what no one else can do and I breathed in really hard through my nose. As I do this, one nostril flaps open and shut open and shut. They had me turn do it again and face all directions so everyone could see it.
thank you stargirl for not only reminding me who I am but to not be afraid to BE who I am.
lol.

bookworm

So as I said before I am watching these kids and sometimes I find myself bored. Like when they watch the same spongebob show for the millionth time. (I am doing better about not letting them watch tv...playing is so much more like real life)

Well I read. I have averaged a book a day. Just like 200 page chapter books for elementary school kids.

• Tuck Everlasting
• The Black Cauldron
• Stargirl
• Frindle
• Skinnybones
• Wait Till Helen Comes

K Stargirl is officially my favorite book other than harry potter books. It is amazing. This girl is absolutely everything I want to be - she only cares about others and she is crazy and totally herself no matter what.

Frindle and Skinnybones make me laugh out loud.

Wait Till Helen made me really scared. That author just sets this spooky mood that freaks you out. and it's a kids book!

All I'm sayin is that if you have nothing better to do and you are watching tv, which is so dumb, you should just read some of these books.

babysitting

I am babysitting my cousins (shown via picture) in SL for the week. I've been here since Friday morning.

I wonder if I am going to be like this when I'm a mom. Always wanting to die half the time and thinking "this was fun at first but now I just want to go sleep." And I realized that this may be what my life will be like starting sometime in the next decade and ending in like 20 years. so yeah. the next 30 years of my life are going to be like this. Waking up. waking others up. Getting others dressed and lookin good. Not getting myself dressed and lookin good until like 3pm. If at all.

So right now in my life (aside from this glipse of mommy-time) I am living the most selfishly that I will ever live. And I will enjoy this time enourmously.

But I guess as a mom you start with one and build from that...instead of having all of em at once. then there's the fact that they are from you, which has also boggled my mind. Of course I will lick the chocolate off their hands because it's like my own hand...Yeah I think being a real mom will be cooler. all that special love that I don't really know about yet and stuff I hear about is part of the deal too.

But I really love these kids a lot too. Just look at them they are so darling.

Jet lag

It's 3 am and I have been lying in the dark with my eyes wide open trying to fall asleep. No use. I am officially diagnosing myself with jet lag.

Here's a movie:

See ya later alligator

right after getting Kissed by brothers...camera wasn't quick enough!
Tim tam slams - it's a new zealand thing
And my favorite girls!

Alright
I'm all packed! I leave tomorrow for the airport at noonish.

I'll be a day ahead and 4 hours behind. So right now it's Monday at 8pm. I will be facebooking blogging, and webcaming. You just let me know if you want to be a part of that and I will let you know!

If you want any gifts let me know.

Farewell!

My New Zealand Blog is: KiwiHal.blogspot.com

We'll miss you, barbie heads

Gina and I spent our last night in Arizona with our best friends, stacy barbie head and barbie barbie head.
It all started when I was first introduced with Stacy barbie head. I was putting clothes in the washer. In my peripheral vision I saw someone standing next to me. I looked over. Stacy barbie head's face was 3 inches from mine. I screamed bloody murder, I was so startled. Gina was holding her. Little did I know that this would be the beginning of a ruthless barbie head war.

I was on my computer sitting on a chair next to my couch bed. My dad needed to use the computer so he sat on my couch bed. He sat on something hard and pulled it out from beneath my pillow. It was Stacy Barbie Head. Whew. Thanks dad. That stinker Gina was going to get it.

She caught me in her room trying to hide stacy barbie head. Failed attempt.

Several minutes passed and I heard that Gina was in the shower. I slowly turned the knob to the unlocked door. Stupid girl forgot to lock it. I quietly entered and held stacy barbie head just below the shower head as I stood on the other side of the shower curtain. It took a few seconds, Gina must have been closing her eyes. Then she SCREAMED and it was so satisfying. Strike one.

Barbie Barbie head said she felt left out. So I fastened my bra to the door of the bathroom and hung barbie's head on one of the straps. When Gina opened the bathroom door, barbie's head swung around. But Gina was scared out of scares. Dang it.


Luckily stacy had little suckers on the bottom of her stand. So I licked them and put her on the inside of Gina's bedroom door. Kekehehehehe

when I had gone to bed and all the lights in the house were out, I heard gina creep up to my bedroom door. Then I got a text from her with this picture and a recording of Gina's voice saying "sleep well, Hallie, sweet dreams" in a creepy whisper. so we tied, fair and square.

Shumway Christmas Reunion

We only got together with my dad's side once. On Sunday night. But it was so great. Here are some of the cousins we chilled with.


Then the turkey was done and Gina got a turkey shot. It's tradition.

Then, oh my gosh what? The turkey was pregnant!?It was a joke my mom and I decided to play. We got a cornish hen - they look like little baby turkeys. And we put the cornish hen in the turkey's tummy before we cooked the turkey. Then when we pulled the turkey out we acted surprised and confused because the turkey was pregnant. We got those shumways so good!

Chrissymas!

I called my mom vaness this entire trip. Didn't even think about it, it's just what I call her now?

Gramma loved her gifts! notice the slippers she is wearing. from me.

Dad loved the watch, which was totally unexpected. First gift we've given him that he hasn't returned.

Gina seemed to enjoy the purse that came with an umbrella. She'll have bad luck in 2009.

Thank you Gina for the bling

To conclude, it was a very Merry Christmas.

Gramma Quotes

When my Grandma Kellis first noticed my hair she said "Oh I love your hair short. When you had it all long and straight you looked like a witch. I didn't tell you then but now I can."

Discussing the Christmas meal preparations:
Hallie: How about banana cream pie?
Grandma, in a condescending tone: What is banana cream pie? I've never heard of banana cream pie!

In the car on the way home from the temple...
Grandma to mom: ...then we have to go to the fabric store to get white fabric for your temple dress
Hallie: Oh you mean for my wedding dress? Grandma, will you embroider my wedding dress?
Grandma, without hesitation: I will not
Hallie: But what if you do want to?
Grandma: If I ever wanted to make your wedding dress I would break my hands so I couldn't.

packing to the third power

So I packed and moved out of my homey townhome...sniff
now I am unpacking all that junk at my parents
then I am packing for AZ because I am spending a week there beginning tomorrow
then when I get back I'll be packing for NZ

I just looked up my school and my house on Google Earth! I will live on the skinniest part of New Zealand...which can only mean one thing...

THE BEACH IS CONVENIENTLY ACCESSIBLE!

and the school I will teach at looks amazing:
Pomaria School

and I have broadband in the home I will live in. So we'll keep in touch.

313 hours!
I just got shivers all over.

Frosty the Snowman

Niece and Neph Christmas Party

^ This is how the spontaneous dance party ended up. I said, "Hey I'm a christmas donkey! Everybody hop on let's go to bethlehem!" And they did.


The whole bunch. So cute. So loving. So sweet. Totally on the nice list.

Hey mom what's the difference between Gina and me?

Gina is "bossy"
you are "It's all about me"

so basically according to my mom we are both not very nice.

I'm probably not getting any presents this year.

Destroying Christmas...starting early this year

On Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 2:24 PM, Vanessa (my mom) wrote [to all her kids]:

My Christmas List:

Ebelskiver Filled-Pancake Pan - Williams Sonoma
Narciso Rodriguez Perfume - I saw it on eBay and google
gift card to Quilt's Etc. in Sandy
Gloves - not too thick
Slippers
Mac eye shadow
Home Depot gift card
An HDTV...

On Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 4:56 PM, Hallie [hit reply to all, forgetting to disclude her mom] wrote:
gina and I have the pancake pan taken care of...

On Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 4:57 PM, Hallie wrote:
da#&it! MOM WE DIDN'T GET THE PAN AND WE AREN'T ANYMORE!

Murder Mystery

it was amazing! Until I made the bread pudding sauce with a cup of salt instead of a cup of sugar. Correct me if I'm wrong but that was possibly the worst thing you could ever experience.

for lunch I have a cream cheese and olive sandwich or a shredded cheddar cheese and pimento sandwich. totally weird I know but that is all I like right now.

9 hours of my Thanksgiving break consisted of

Australia - saw it twice

Twilight - mmhm

Math teacher: "I guess I'll see you all after the break"

Hallie: "No you won't!"

Math teacher: (startled) "I guess I won't see all of you after the break?"

Hallie: "because...I will be a turkey."

a few of my favorite things

the weather

a stuffed panda from one of my students. I named it "panama?"

the thanksgiving break that is going to take all my pain away

Walking into my apartment with 24 rolls of much needed toilet paper, seeing the faces of my roommates light up, then removing that joy by saying "HO HO HO! MERRY POOMAS!"

the classroom that I love

I am taking pictures of all the classrooms in my school and this is my favorite. Because you never know when a kid just really needs to go to the back a take a nap on the bunk bed. keehehe

I put the hal in halloween

sarah palin, front right


a geisha, back left

make words that have "ee" in them

so this one kid, to be funny, asked how to spell the names of the other people in his group and added "ee" to their names. It's amazing what kids will come up with to NOT do exactly what you want them to do. Can't blame him. I was the same way.

Something different because Katherine just said:

"I keep looking at your blog and realizing that it is the same old boring thing."

go see it

why are you reading this? go see it!

NOW!

k NOW!

no seriously it is worth dropping whatever you are doing!

go go Go Go GOOOO!

Oh sorry

what I was for Halloween

at the elementary school:
a cowgirl. because the kids and teachers were NOT allowed to dress up on halloween but every friday because their mascot is wranglers you can dress up as a wrangler. So I went all out y'all

at the stake party and other lame parties:
a geisha.

at the nov 1st after party:
sarah palin.

all these are lame because the first one wasn't really a costume and the parties weren't as cool for my second costume and sarah palin lost the election. She should run next time. And by that I mean the real one. Because I was so easily confused with her it wasn't even funny.

write something!

something.

So I taught for the first time this week. Nerve racking. Kids are great though. All my classes are postponed until December while I am at the elementary school. And guess what? I am 10 times happier because I am teaching actual kids. I'm not in class, stressing about fake things. I am doing what I want to do so I have a better perspective about life.

I sold my contract for winter semester because I am going to New Zealand on January 5th 2009.
I am down with some annoying sickness.
I cut my hair off. It's like above my shoulders a-line type thing. I like it.
My elementary school has a display of fake guns that look real in the library.
It also has stuffed deer heads and other wild mammals that are stuffed.
I am watching Peter Pan at my brother's house while babysitting because they are going to find out if Shell's baby is a boy or girl. I say boy? hm. They told me I would be the first to find out. other than the doctor and them.
I can't breathe out of my right nostril.

just found out...a third girl!

Thriller

I saw this last night for Gina's birthday. It was AMAZING. It was a dance production by Odyssey Dance Theatre for Halloween! They of course did Thriller which was even better than the music video, no offense Michael. then they had a mummy dance that was CRAZY and one of my favorites was the Frankenstein dance where it was Frankenstein and his wife or whatever her name is and she died in the middle of it and her body was completely limp as he kept trying to dance with her. It was amazing how she was able to be so limp! Like for reals maybe she was dead!
Then they had a skeleton dance where all the lights were off and it looked like real skeletons dancing because they had glow-in-the dark skeletons on.
And Sugarplum's finale was really awesome as well. This beautiful ballerina was decked out in a beautiful tutu and was dancing to the Sugarplum's fairy song like on nutcracker and then this guy in a white mask (as picture below) came onto the stage and BANG! he shot her. I know.


Then my second favorite was called "River of Blood Dance" where a bunch of girls were riverdancing and one by one they each got shot and fell out of the line of dance. It sounds really violent and it was but it. was. hilarious.
Then of course they had to have a vampire dance touching on "twilight" where all they guys were dressed in hot black edward stuff and chased a girl around the stage and bit her and she turned into a vampire. Pretty good junk.

Before and after they had zombies lying around on the floor and the stairs and they would walk up to you and breathe loudly in your ear and freak you out. so scary. Oh I have pictures of me and gina next to them I'll put em up later.

all over an i-clicker

K: "you're not moving out if you move out I will never talk to you again"
H: "well if you can raise 600 dollars for me..."
K: "i can't do that I don't sleep around anymore...that's cool if you think our friendship's worth only 600 dollars then yeah you should move out"

cold = painful

Note to self: Don't ride on the scooter to school without gloves.

A Walk with a Praying Mantis

Walking to class just barely I found a praying mantis on the sidewalk! He was just crawling toward the grass, having a great October walk as well. So I decided that it would be a good idea to share a walk together! I picked him up and at first he was a little alarmed. He spread out his arms like he wanted to attack me! (like in that picture below, which I just read was their defense pose.) But then he realized what we were doing and he calmed down. We walked together to my class and I put him a the foot of a bush where I am sure there are buggers he can feed on. Bad bugs. Because he's a good praying mantis. Thanks for making my day, I really needed that.

People were around. And seemed disturbed. Whatever though they don't even know.