elder jer.

This is how my family, the Nef's, looked prior to May 18, 2008:

This is how it currently looks:

Besides the obvious addition of a couple boys and a girl, we are missing one of our favorites....

Jeremy (a.k.a. Elder Nef)

Jeremy is my brother, younger than me by only 11.5 months, one of my top best friends, and certainly someone I want around on Christmas.

But this year and last year, Jeremy has been gone for Christmas doing bigger and better things, like serving the people of Oakland/San Francisco Cali.

You bet I got to talk to him today, and I promised him I would write a blog about him. So here it is.

Dear Elder Jer,

We miss you. Come home soon, but not too soon.

In May though, probably.

We thought about and thought about and missed and missed you this Christmas, just like last Christmas...

...And pretty much everyday since you have been gone.

I know it's not supposed to be this way, but we will soon make a paper chain which will count down the days until you will be back to entertain us and make our family whole again.

Until then, don't forget about us.

But more importantly...

...in these last few months,

work the hardest you have worked

so you can come back with zero regrets.

LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!

Please.

I don't want to take this down...

or these...

I want to be able to do things like this all year long...

and this, too...

Christmas, don't ever leave. I'd listen to "The First Noel" everyday of the year if I could. Everyone is happier when you are here. Love you.

big kids.

This is my dreamy husband.
He graduated from college on Saturday.
We are so excited.
Congratulations Alex! I am sooooo proud of you!

done.

...with school.

alex=done forever.

sam=one more semester.

BRING IT ON.

i had a birthday.

11/27/2009: I celebrated my 22nd birthday, and what fun it was! I am shocked at how many people think of me on my birthday. I am sure it helps that I start announcing it to EVERYONE three weeks in advance, but whatever. Here are the highlights:

1. Lizzy made me THE cutest stockings ever. Thank you Liz2. I got to eat these cupcakes in beautiful Newport Beach, priced at $3.75 each......and I got to eat them with my favorite person in the world (he also got me new boots, a manicure, and took me to the coolest restaurant by the beach). Thank you Alex3. My mother-in-law made me this darling apron (so cute!) which was only one of the items from the awesome birthday basket she gave me. Thank you JodieI love my birthday every year, and never want to reach the age that I will start dreading it.

P.S. Thank you Facebook for making it so no one forgets my birthday :)

best friend/cousin/roomate's wedding.

Katelyn, my dearest Katelyn got married. I could not be happier for her and Ian. They are soulmates, really. The day was perfect. She looked GORGEOUS (as usual). I am so happy for the new Allen family.
Me and Alex had to play around the beautiful Red Butte Gardens before the wedding dinner started...Ian, I hope you realize how lucky you are. But just in case you don't quite realize it yet, I will remind you with this video.



Love you Kate.

Halloween.

I love love love the Food Network. Once on a certain Food Network TV show called Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives there was a Salt Lake dive called Moochies.
Ever since this dive appeared on television, I have been dying to try their legendary philly cheesesteak sandwiches. I can now proudly say that I have done it.
[Guy Fierri has a glare. But that's him.]


Next, item: Halloween. We were hippies at Alex's sister Jaylene's Halloween party.
[Sam & Al hippies]
[Sam hippy and Jaylene mummy]
[homemade rootbeer and vampire blood punch]


Happy Halloween. Until next year...