Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Fresh Spring, the herald of love’s mighty king!


After looking at Tara Whitney's pictures, I feel like I am unworthy to take pictures. And this picture does look a lot better when it's bigger, but darn blogger has to make it look ugly! The sakura isn't quite out yet, but this kind where the leaves come out at the same time are out. I'm just afraid that the sakura while come and go while I'm away at youth conference.

Miley & Mitchel
Today proved an ideal day for a picnic...a day of breeze and blue, warm, sunny, with a little rollicking wind blowing across housetops and cars. If only it had been like this yesterday for the actualy picnic. "It's so easy to be happy on a day like this, isn't it?" Lexi said to herself. "If only I didn't have the 'before Youth Conference' jitteries!"

Eragon
I'm really excited to go, but I'm a home body, and even though I know everybody there...I'm still kind of nervous for some reason. It's like this every year. And then I come home all wound up and have lots of stories to tell. And I will talk your ear off! I can't wait to show off at the talent show!!!

American Eagle is so good!

Well, just like Tashi said, our 2 American Eagle orders came (Thanks Grandma & Emily!) I got 3 shirts, and a pair of jeans. I am just in love with their clothes! They're casual and durable. Enough said. Go check out ae.com! I can't wait to wear them to youth conference!!! OMG youth conference is in 2 days...excited Lexi! I actually got the jeans too big, but mom shrunk them for me! Now my tush isn't hanging out when I wear them. I need to go clean my room now. I don't know the last time I did. I keep trying to work on it, and I pick up a couple of things, but I get distracted and don't finish. So the room just goes back to the way it was before I "tried". I really need to clean it before I leave for youth conference.











Sunday, March 25, 2007

Child From Another pLaNeT


I was a really weird little kid. Most of it was just what went on inside of my head. I either spoke my mind or pondered deeply. Here's a list of weird things about me.


1. Before I learned about digestion, it finally hit me one day while we were at the store. All the food we eat must just pile up inside of us! What would happen when it reached the top of your throat?! How come I seemed to be the only person that thought about this?

2. I used to bawl when I watched "Rigeletto".


3. I had to hold my breath when a dog walked by because I would breathe in the germs from its bum (they don't wear underwear! what else was I supposed to think?)


4. I couldn't step on cracks or lines in the road, sidewalk, or floor. I just couldn't.


5. I thought that someday I would marry my cousin Stephen - I guess

6. I named my 2 stuffed animals Fred and Walter. Tashi was naming hers Fluff and stuff like that.


7. I used to tell people boldly, "You're fat!" or "You have big feet, so you have to play with the big-feet Barbie!"


8. Me and Tash would play Barbies whenever we could. Barbie and Ken fall in love, they have a million kids, those kids grow up, they fall in love, have a million kids...it was a never ending cycle.


9. I didn't understand why in the primary song "When Jesus Christ Was Baptized", the 3 members of the Godhead were present there "in love". I thought they were men?! They shouldn't be in love!!

10. I just couldn't understand why there was such a weird word as "island" in the English language. "Is land" is a sentence, not a word!

11.We had mushi cakes for lunch at school once, and I didn't know what it was. Mushi means it was steamed. But I only knew the other 2 meanings, humid and bug. I couldn't figure out what these cakes would have to do with humidity, so it must have something to do with bugs. Those black things on the top looked suspicious...what if they were bugs? They wouldn't do that to us would they? But it is school-lunch...so I didn't eat it. Later I found out that the black things were black beans, and it is just steamed and very yummy. Too bad I missed out on that!

12. Ah, the joy I felt when Austin Rodenberg was the only and first boy that played "house" with me...

Quote of the Day

It's funny how certain things

trigger memories, songs, & smells.

Some make you sad, and some

make you close your eyes, and

for that moment you are

captured in the past.


Friday, March 23, 2007

My Mostest Cutest Cousins

(All of my cousins fall into this category, though).

These are just some recent pictures that we got from cousins. These 3 kids below are my dad's little sister, Emily's kids. Aunty Em is the one that came and babysat us while our parents went to Guam in Fenbruary. She took these pictures at Liberty Park.

Livia - she's so pretty! I can't believe she'll turn 9 soon!


Andy-pants is so cute! He's only a couple of months younger than Noah, so he's almost 3. I wonder if they took Andrew on a walk in the park...

And Arik. That is like the cutest smile ever. It doesn't seem so long ago when he was a baby and had all that crazy hair. haha Now he's 6. Love all 3 of you!


Miley Cyrus


This is my mom's little sister, Jill's youngest - Benjamin. Or Benji. He just turned 2. He's holding one of the chicks that they're raising. Don't you love the look on his face?

Monique & Ashley
And last of all, My mom's baby sister Micaela's youngest, Eliza. She was born on New Year's Day. I haven't met her yet.

Quote of the Day
Every girl looks prettiest
When they're smiling.
Always remember that.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

A Golden Day

The 2nd Season of Hannah Montana is coming out in April!!! Yay!

So that means another Hannah Montana soundtrack!

And a "Miley Cyrus" album is coming out this June!

One of the Season 2 songs is already out: "Nobody's Perfect"




Everybody makes mistakes,
Everybody has those days,

1, 2, 3, 4
Everybody makes mistakes,
Everybody has those days,
Everybody knows what, what I'm talking about,

Everybody gets that way
Everybody makes mistakes,
Everybody has those days,

Everybody knows what, what I'm talking about,
Everybody gets that way




[VERSE 1]
Sometimes I'm in a jam,
I gotta make a plan,
It might be crazy,
I do it anyway,

The way to know for sure,
I figure out a cure,
I'm patching up the holes,
But then it overflows,

[PRE-CHORUS]
If I'm not doin' too well,
Why be so hard on myself?

[CHORUS]
Nobody's Perfect!
I gotta work it!
Again and again,
Till I get it right,

Nobody's Perfect!
You live and you learn it!
And if I mess it up sometimes,
Nobody's Perfect,

[VERSE 2]
Sometimes I work a scheme,
But then it flips on me,
Doesn't turn out how I planned,
Gets stuck in quicksand,

The problem can be solved,
Once I get involved,
I try to be delicate,
Then crash right into it,

[PRE-CHORUS]
But my intentions are good,
Sometimes just misunderstood,

[CHORUS]
Nobody's Perfect!
I gotta work it!
Again and again,
Till I get it right,

Nobody's Perfect!
You live and you learn it!
And if I mess it up sometimes,

Nobody's Perfect!
I gotta work it!
I know in time I'll find a way,
Nobody's Perfect,

Sometimes I fix things up,
And they fall apart again,

Noboy's perfect
I know I mix things up,
But I always get it right in the end,

[TALKING]
Next time you feel like,
It's just one of those days,
When you just can't seem to win,
If things don't go the way that you guys planned,
Figure something else out,
Don't stay down, come on everybody, Try again!

Everybody makes mistakes,

Everybody has those days,
Everybody knows what, what I'm talking about,
Everybody gets that way
Everybody makes mistakes,
Everybody has those days,

Everybody knows what, what I'm talking about,
Everybody gets that way

[CHORUS]
Nobody's Perfect!
I gotta work it!
Again and again,
Till I get it right,

Nobody's Perfect!
You live and you learn it!
And if I mess it up sometimes,

Nobody's Perfect!
I gotta work it!
I know in time I'll find a way,

Nobody's Perfect,
You live and you learn it,
Cause everybody makes mistakes,

Nobody's Perfect,
Nobody's Perfect,
No, No,
Nobody's Perfect!


Lexi Comes to Grief in an Affair of Illness

If you've been wondering where I've been these past few days...just look at the picture...
Our family has come down with this achey-fever-runny-nose thingy. It started with Mia on Monday, who got better, then me on Wednesday, then on Thursday all the kids woke up with it (including Mia). All four kids were piled on the couch. We didn't care. Mia went to school today, though, and I'm feeling a lot better (no fever). We've just been sleeping or watching movies all day. So everybody out there - stay healthy! Take care of yourself!!!

Quote of the Day
Don't count time,
Make time count.

Monday, March 19, 2007

A Quilt Set On Fire At Night

And it nearly burnt us to a crisp in our beds. A quilt that my mom made started to fall off my parent's bed last night on my dad's side and got caught on the heater. My mom was having this dream where she was trying to get rid of this horrid smell but couldn't. But she finally realized it wasn't a dream and bolted up and caught it just in time. She woke up my dad, and he grabbed the burning ball of quilt and carried it out to the bathroom sink. My dad would have just kept on sleeping. Seriously, 10 seconds later - it might have been too late. So hurray for Mommy and her "ESP" (Extra Sensory Puma - her eyes may be closed, but her brain was on red-alert), and for daddy who courageously jumped out of bed and carried the ball of fire out of the room with his bare hands.
No wonder it smelled like someone had lit a stinky candle and my doors kept opening and shutting.
The bedroom smelled toxic yesterday, and my mom's throat was really irritated from breathing in the smoke.
And it was a really pretty nautical style yellow and blue quilt that matched my parent's bed - but luckily it was the only thing damaged. So everyone was feeling bad for my mom that her quilt was ruined, but she's just glad nothing worse happened.
Me too.

Quote of the Day:
The hardest part isn't finding
who we need to be
it's being content with who we are.

Sunday, March 18, 2007

Make You Weep Uncontrollably

Sorry about that negative post yesterday...
I stopped writing in my journal when I started my blog, but now I realize how much I need it! I really need something to write my personal, private feelings on. This blog didn't work for that. I'm not a peachy, super-happy person all the time, just to let you know. I'm really high and then I'm really low. Very extreme. That's one thing I don't like about people's blogs. They only talk about the positive things in their lives, and look like super-people. I don't want you to think that about me. I'm a teenager. All right? I'm really negative sometimes. But I won't write about that here. Or it will be like reading the Series of Unfortunate Events every time you come to my blog. "Of course, it is boring to read about boring things, but it is better to read something that makes you yawn with boredom than something that will make you weep uncontrollably, pound your fists against the floor, and leave tearstains all over your pillowcase, sheets, and boomerang collection..." (Series of Unfortunate Events, Book #11)


Ashley & Vanessa

So seminary graduation felt good yesterday. I'm not so happy about my youth conference group, but I guess nobody really ever is...why do all the older, fun people have to graduate? Aaaarrrrgggghhh.

And I'm kind of depressed about church right now, which I'm trying to get out of. Help me, people! (Not about the gospel, but about church itself...)


Miley = Hannah

Quote of the day:
Never take someone for granted.
Hold every person close to your heart
cause you might wake up one day & realize
that you've lost a diamond while you were
too busy collecting stones.

Friday, March 16, 2007

ON HIATUS

ON HIATUS...I only get comments on highlight posts

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

These are a few of my favorite things

My favorites right now:

1. Hannah Montana interview


The Early Show Behind The Scenes of HM

Or if it's not working, go watch it HERE

2. Ed Speleers and Sienna Guillory (from the Eragon movie) interview

http://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/mpd/permalink/1282:1285


Everlife & That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana

I just bought these 3 new things that I really like (see my to-do list in the sidebar). Here's a review on all of them:

Christian pop/rock trio Everlife--consisting of sisters Amber, Julia, and Sarah Ross--presents an energetic set of accessible and uplifting tunes. With messages of faith couched in highly melodic, guitar-driven anthems, the Disney-affiliated group has an appeal that extends beyond a CCM audience, as evidenced on the surging "Goodbye" and the optimistic "Find Yourself in You," which was previously featured on the HANNAH MONTANA soundtrack.



High School Musical



The Tipton Hotel is the happening place in Boston and one famous personality after another is checking in. First, Raven (That's So Raven) gets the chance of a lifetime when her boss Donna Cabonna asks her to fill in for a sick assistant and accompany her on an important Boston photo shoot that will launch her new boys clothing line. Raven's ineptitude with a new electronic scheduler lands their famous photographer at a Tipton half way around the world in Italy, strands their two young models somewhere in Central Europe, and threatens to derail the whole photo-shoot. Luckily, Zack and Cody (Suite Life of Zack and Cody) step in to serve as last minute models and the photographer manages to make her way to the correct Tipton Hotel. While she's there, Raven has one of her psychic premonitions and warns Zack and Cody that the surprise party they're planning for their mother's birthday will somehow go very wrong and Maddie and Raven hatch a plot to trick London into wearing a Raven-original dress to an important "Young Heiress Magazine" photo shoot. Hannah Montana (Hannah Montana) also happens to be at the Tipton Hotel where she falls in love with London's Raven-original dress and begs Raven for a dress of her own to wear to an important award show. Back home, Miley (Hannah) suddenly realizes that she and her brother may be holding her father back from his own musical ambitions and the pair makes some big sacrifices to put him back on the road again. The Disney worlds of That's So Raven, Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and Hannah Montana collide in three consecutive mixed-up episodes that are sure to enchant everyone. Bonus features include an episode of Suite Life of Zack and Cody that focuses on the difficulty of sensible eating and weight problems, an interactive That's So Raven trivia game, and the Hannah Montana music video "Who Said." --Tami Horiuchi


Ashley Tisdale


Surpassing its popular prequel Eragon, this second volume in the Inheritance trilogy shows growing maturity and skill on the part of its very young author, who was only seventeen when the first volume was published in 2003. The story is solidly in the tradition (some might say derivative) of the classic heroic quest fantasy, with the predictable cast of dwarves, elves, and dragons--but also including some imaginatively creepy creatures of evil.
The land of Alagaesia is suffering under the Empire of the wicked Galbatorix, and Eragon and his dragon Saphira, last of the Riders, are the only hope. But Eragon is young and has much to learn, and so he is sent off to the elven forest city of Ellesmera, where he and Saphira are tutored in magic, battle skills, and the ancient language by the wise former Rider Oromis and his elderly dragon Glaedr. Meanwhile, back at Carvahall, Eragon's home, his cousin Roran is the target of a siege by the hideous Ra'zac, and he must lead the villagers on a desperate escape over the mountains. The two narratives move toward a massive battle with the forces of Galbatorix, where Eragon learns a shocking secret about his parentage and commits himself to saving his people.
The sheer size of the novel, as well as its many characters, places with difficult names, and its use of imaginary languages make this a challenging read, even for experienced fantasy readers. It is essential to have the plot threads of the first volume well in mind before beginning--the publisher has provided not only a map, but a helpful synopsis of the first book and a much-needed Language Guide. But no obstacles will deter the many fans of Eragon from diving headfirst into this highly-awaited fantasy.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Otousan: The bestest daddy

Ta-da-da-da-da! Today's spotlight is my daddy. Be warned! This will be a long post!

He was born as Brock Matthew Stout on December 17, 1965, at Cottonwood Hospital in Utah, to Richard and Renee Stout. He was the oldest child and son - Brock, Natalie, Jordan, Emily, and Gina. So 2 boys and 3 girls. He was the cutest baby!

The photo below was taken close to his 2nd birthday, in December 1967.
In Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades he lived in Illinois and attended Field Stevensen Elementary School.
In 3rd grade, he lived in Ohio and attended Thomas Edison Elementary School.
In 4th and 5th grades my daddy lived in Murray, Utah and attended Twin Peaks Elementary.
In 6th grade, he moved to Bluffdale, Utah and attended Riverton Elementary.

In 7th grade, he attended Bingham Middle School.

(above: 7th grade - 12 years old)

He went to Bingham High - home of the Miners!
He loved to run, and was on the cross country track team in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. He made the varsity team at the end of his junior year.

He graduated as the class of '84.
Daddy attended 2 quarters at the College of Eastern Utah before his mission '84-'85. He received a full-tuition scholarship to attend CEU for journalism. He received the bronze award at the National Junior College Forensics Championship For After Dinner Speaking in April 1985 - 19 years old.

(above:) Daddy posing like the prophet Mormon in the picture on his lap. He was in his second-to-last area in his mission. Spring 1987 - 21 years old.

My dad was called to the Japan, Kobe mission. He spent most of his mission off of the mainland in Okinawa and little islands like Ishigaki.

Meanwhile, my mom was in Osaka Japan during the last 2 months of my dad's mission - July & August of 1987. They came home only one week apart. Dad started BYU, and mom started her senior year of high school. They would meet over a year and a half later at BYU.

They met in May 1989 at the "Elms" apartments at BYU. They got engaged on July 4th, 1989 while they were watching fireworks. It became "official" on July 8th when my dad called my mom's parents in Fillmore, and then gave her the ring in Spanish Fork Canyon at sunset.

(above:) my mom and dad's engagement picture. My mom was in her 3rd semester at BYU, and dad was in his 6th.

They got married on Tuesday, August 29th, 1989, in the Manti Temple.

Both of them graduated in April 1991 - my mom was 4 1/2 months pregnant with me! My dad majored in Public Relations and minored in Japanese. He only needed a few more credits to get a double major!

He went on in internship to Japan in Spring of 1991, while my mom was pregnant. My mom couldn't go with him because they were too poor. I was born on September 21, 1991. And Tashi was born only 16 months later - on January 27, 1993.

Weren't we so cute? We adopted Mia in April 2001, and Noah in April 2004. And we're expecting baby #3 or #5 (depending on how you look at it) at the end of May.

I really have the bestest dads in the world. He ponders about things deeply before he says them, keeps his promises (seriously) and puts his family before work or hobbies. He works really hard for us. I've had friends who's dads buy their affection, or boasting about them in front of people. I used to be jealous of that, but now I'm glad that he just told us to do our best and that he believed in us, and he spent time with us to show his love instead of buying us things. Those friends didn't turn out too good either - I'm not saying that I'm perfect either - but I'm just glad that I have a very family-dad.

I found this recently, and it's so true!

Why A Daughter Needs A Dad...

#1
To learn that when he says it will be okay soon, it will.

# 2
To make sacrifices so she will not have to sacrifice.

# 3
To teach her that her value as a person is more than the way she looks.

# 4
To laugh at her at the right times.

# 5
To have some whowill always have timeto give her hugs and kisses.

#6
To have someone who does not mind when she steps on his shoes while dancing.

#7
To always make sure she has a place to come home to.

# 8
To have someone who will never think she is too old to need him.

# 9
To make the family whole and complete.

# 10
To have someone who will not punish her for her mistakes, but help her learn from them.

# 11
To teach her to believe that she deserves to be treated well.

# 12
To teach her to accept the differences in others.

# 13
To teach her to weigh the consequences of her actions and make decisions accordingly.

# 14
To know what its like to be somebody's favorite.

# 15
To tell her truthfully that she is the most beautiful of all.

# 16
To protect her from scary nighttime creatures.

# 17
To answer the questions that keeps her awake at night.

# 18
To make the complex simple and the painful bearable.

# 19
To protect her from the thunder and lightning.

# 20
To teach her that family is more important than work.

# 21
To be the safe spot she can always turn to.

# 22
To show her how it feelsto be loved unselfishly.

# 23
To be the standard against which she will judge all men.

#24
To have someone to influence her life, even when he isn't with her.

# 25
To tell her that all is not hopeless, even when she feels it is.

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Plain Crazy

Quotes from our family recently:
  1. We're on the way home from church. The car next to us has their dog in the front seat. Mia sees this and says, "Why do dogs get to sit in the front seat?" (she isn't allowed to sit in the front seat). And my dad says, "Because people don't care if they die..."
  2. Me and Mia biked to the post office on Saturday. Mia wasn't keeping up with me so I had to keep yelling back at her to hurry up. She calls back, "This is as fast as my little leg-leggies will go!"
Now, this next video might be too frightening for people to watch. Last Sunday, me and Tashi just pulled about as many freaky faces as we could, and took pictures of ourselves. Here's the slideshow: