Update

Once again...really bad at blogging:

Here is a list of a few things that have happened since I last blogged (the pictures somewhat go with the list...):

1. I survived winter quarter: ‘survived’ makes it sound like I almost died or something, not the case, but now I have this picture in my head of me getting attacked by biological oceanography articles & giant marine larvae (cool).
2. I went to Hawaii: this deserves a blog post of it’s own, so stay tuned. Here’s a preview: 1^st birthday not in UT, kickin it w/ Auntie Olly, swimming w/ dolphins…
3. I went to UT twice since my last post: ugh I just love that place so much! I went home the weekend before I went to HI & the first weekend in April. My reasons for going you might ask??? Trip 1: the dentist & a wax, yes that does sound crazy but I really like my dentist & Joann & do NOT want to take my business elsewhere. But the biggest & best reason for going home: the fam! I love just hanging out w/ them, they are da coolest! Jayne’s baby shower was that weekend, it was great to see everyone & stay in my own house. I also went to see Dr. B. that man is amazing & I miss working for him! Trip 2: General Conference Weekend!!! A few of the B-ham singles wanted to make the trek to Mecca, so I agreed to go (duh!! Pay for a little gas in exchange to see fam & friends). When we made it back to WA I was exhausted from traveling (WA-UT-WA-HI-WA-UT in 2 ½ weeks) but…
4. I received an email from Southwest saying I had earned a free roundtrip flight to anywhere they fly: any suggestions???
5. I moved to Anacortes!! Back in the SPMC ‘dorms.' It’s really nice to be down here, although nothing really happens in Anacortes…but I’m ok with that. I’m the ‘dorm mom’ which means I drive the ‘kids’ (MIMSUPs!!) into town to get groceries, etc. and make sure they do their dishes. In exchange for being a mom I don’t have to pay rent, that’s right NO rent!
6. Research has started kinda: so the main reason I moved down to Anacortes was because I knew that I would have to be at the lab A LOT once research started. I am just doing prelim work with rotifers & algae, but I am also helping with some ocean acidification research. With both of those projects going on, I am on track to break the record of ‘the most number of consecutive days spent in the lab’ I think the record is somewhere around 74. I am currently at 26, but the crabs haven’t even hatched yet.
7. I’m engaged!!! Ok not really, I just liked the idea of 7 things. Nevertheless, it seemed fitting considering all of the ‘I’m engaged, I’m married, I’m pregnant, I just had my baby’ posts I’ve seen on facebook (which don't get me wrong, I love, there just seems to be heaps lately). On the same train of thought, I’ve come to the realization that I have officially turned into one of those single adults that people back in the home ward tell your parents that they know someone I should date. Really??? Am I that old? Give me a least two more years & a cat or two, calm down people I’m enjoying singledom.

The BC Temple :)

Well there you go, Amy’s obnoxious updates.

Dear Mom,

You are the best; words cannot express how grateful I am for you & how lucky I feel to be your daughter. Everything that is good about me I know comes from you. You have put up with me all these years and taught me so much.

I thought I would share with the readers of this blog a couple of my favorite lessons from over the years:

1. Always leave things nicer than you found them: you have no idea how much I love this lesson & how often I use it to judge (sorry I know I shouldn’t judge others, but cleanliness is a good judge of character) other people & when there is that potential, whether or not they are dating material…sad, yes; necessary, I think so!

2. A home cooked meal w/ the fam, beats eating out any day: I think I miss this more now because I can’t drive 30 mins to have Sunday dinner w/ the fam. Thanks for feeding me all these years & for teaching me how to cook. Without your cooking lessons through the years, I would be one of those ‘frozen stouffer hooligans’ as Selina calls them.

3. Sometimes the things you want to say don’t come out exactly the way you would have liked…so don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself: We all say stupid things, but man they are great. Here are two classics from my mom that still make us laugh.

"What's up braggy bitches?" -Mom

"What?" -Selina

"Oh, I meant baggy britches..." –Mom

“But, he LOVES me” –Me

“I’m glad somebody loves you…” –Mom

4. You are NEVER too busy to serve others: This was/is one of those unspoken lessons I learned at a very young age from my mom, it is also one of those lessons that was repeated frequently. I honestly cannot remember a time when my Mom (& Dad, shout-out to the chief!) was not willing or actively seeking an opportunity to serve others. I remember growing up (& still today) that my Mom was always crazy busy (I mean taking care of us 5 crazies was hard enough…) but there was always time to volunteer for the PTA, help clean the church, or take a plate of cookies to the new neighbors down the street.

Thanks Mom, for your amazing example and for your love.

I love you forever & ever,

~Amy Keita (I just love this pic)