My blog is moving....

...to wordpress.  I have given up trying to get blogger to upload photos. 

http://emilychipman.wordpress.com/

I hope you'll stay in touch!

Oh. And if you know how to use wordpress and have any tips, send them my way!  (It's a little more difficult to use, but at least it gets the pictures up!)

33 and Perfect

33 is the perfect number. I'm certain of it. I actually am thrilled to be 33. Sometimes I feel a little shocked that some of the next numbers are so close down the path, but I feel like the 33rd year is going to be a wonderful one to the record books.  Thanks to so many friends and family who made it wonderful. 

Birthday highlights included the following: a spontaneous surprise party from family including Hoops and Yoyo and Justin Bieber cards, a rainbow cake, the grandkids pulling party popper streamers, and all the sweet messages of love shared with me;

celebrating with several friends over brownies and chips and soda; flowers and a custome made fabulous t-shirt made just for me commemorating my love of swimming; and all the restaurants that give away free food and goodies on your birthday.  I drove around picking up all the free food so that my roommates and I could enjoy the free stuff for dinner. (Sephora gave me free lip gloss, which I love.) 

I'm so loved.

I'm so lucky.

Really, I'm just so blessed.

p.s.  My goal this year.... somehow, someway find a way into Disney's Club 33.

ASU

I love collegiate shirts, most notably my Harvard shirt that I bought on the streets of Boston.  I think today I finally found the shirt I need for a school I actually went to.  It's Sun Devil time! See you at the games!

Utah Antics

It was so great to have the family all together after my parents returned home.  The prep for their return was a lot of work, but definitely worth it. In typical Chipman fashion, we had SO much good food to eat. As mom always says, people are always happier when there is good food to eat.

 



Just a little ketchup

We were so grateful for a chance to go to the temple together, including all spouses, children, and parents. As a bonus, Abby's parents got to come as well. (They're practically family anyway.) It made for a great excuse to go to Kneaders.

 

 

We also got to catch up with all of our cousins up in the canyon. I can't remember the last time we did this, but we always used to do it growing up.  It was great to see everyone together again, and I just loved the addition of the sweet little babies my cousins brought along.

 

I love this sweet little girl.  Don't you just want to pinch her cheeks?



We also managed to get some family pictures, and even got Chris to laugh.  Forbidding him to do so using a monster voice worked very well, and we got a lot of pictures where he looks truly happy. 

No picture session is complete without a silly picture. Joe was worried what to do, so I gave him a wet willie. 
I'm nice like that.

 

What is it with me being all hunched over in all the pictures?  Goodness.  Whatever.  I love this picture anyway.

I enjoyed the Fourth of July for what seems the first time in ages.  How is that possible?  I don't know, but I can't remember the last time I sat around watching a fireworks show for the holiday.  The fireworks were great, although I wish I'd been able to see San Diego's disaster of a show that lasted all of 15 seconds.

We finished off the week with a Chipman family reunion, once again getting to catch up with many of the cousins and getting in some good time at the lake. (pictures to be added if blogspot ever starts cooperating again...)


Finally, I was lucky enough to have an extra day just to my mom and I.  It was so great to buddy around with her and spend time at the best store ever.  No pictures, unfortunately, but you can guarantee that it involved some serious time in Costco.

Welcome home, parents!

After several days of cleaning linens and putting the house in order for the parents' return, we were all so excited to see them. Preparations included creation of a huge sheet designed with Peruvian influences to welcome mom and dad home, two days of laundry, many trips to the grocery store, twenty or so balloons celebrating every holiday/race/birthday/fathers day/mothers day/etc. that we've missed while they are out of town, and some home made signs.

  

 

 

Unfortunately, C's family got delayed due to awful car problems, and the parents' flight was delayed several hours.  You can only imagine how wonderful it was for these grandparents to finally get to see their grandkids and hold them in their arms.

We were all so glad to see them walk down the stairs of that airport!  Welcome home, parents!  We're so glad to have you home!