Thursday, July 30, 2009

atleast we made history

It's hot here.
Way hot.

Yesterday was the hottest day in Seattle ever. Which makes me feel somewhat better about the whole thing because at least I know it's not all in my head. After surviving being trenched in sweat in northern Guatemala, I vowed never to complain about the heat again. Well, that didn't last. I'm being forced to turn on the air conditioning in my car, but houses here just don't have AC, so we're surviving based on fans.

You know it's super hot when...

You take pictures to prove how hot it is. 103, baby! and a little humid. And I think it got hotter at my house. The worst part-- 86 degrees inside, and that doesn't go down any too fast.
You gather the essential-- HP and Otter Pops, and huddle near a fan for hours to cool down
Your mom and you abandon your beds in the hot upstairs to camp out on air mattresses in the cool downstairs family room with open windows and fans. You can't take the kids at work out into the heat, so you're forced to come up with other activities, such as today's "mural art" on the walls.

It's been quite the adventure, and I'm definitley looking forward to normal temperatures tomorrow (we're 25 degrees above average for this time of year!)
Oh Seattle summers, you keep me young.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

oh, the svw

"there's so much baggage in a singles ward, they should have curb-side check-in"


-from the pulpit in a talk at church today.
so true my friend, so true.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

a trip to mt. rainier

We took a lovely trip to Mt. Rainier yesterday. It was the perfect day to hike around the mountain. My dad and the scouts were just getting back from a grueling 50 miler around the mountain, and my mom, sister, bro-in-law and nephew and I did about...3 miles? but it was amazingly beautiful and I took way too many pictures.
That white spec in the sky is a kite flow by some of our fellow hikers at one of the peaks we hiked to. Rather pictureesque, don't you think?
Just communing with nature.
We eavesdropped some cyclists saying they felt like they were in Heidi or The Sound of Music. I have to agree it felt like that, only better.

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees while cares will drop off like autumn leaves"

-John Muir
(from a sign at the visitor center)

Thursday, July 16, 2009

30 pictures


Please indulge me for a trip down memory lane and a distraction I found on facebook called 30 pictures.
#1. A picture of you in your room

This is when I took over Kylie's half of the room. I thought I was funny. I don't think she ever figured it out. Maybe it wasn't that funny.

#2 A picture with someone you don't like
I guess I don't take pictures with people I don't like. But remember when we met Sanjaya from American Idol? He was weird. I guess I didn't like him.

#3. A picture of you very drunk
Well, this is as close as it gets. A ward social bonfire freshman year with ROOT beer in glass bottles.

#4. A picture of you in daylight
I just wanted to put a picture of these lovely girls-- my spring roommates. And look-- daylight!

#5. A picture of you on your birthday/ favorite holiday

Oh the sweet sixteen party at a preschool!

#6. The youngest picture you can find of yourself in digital form
Opening day of boating-- spring of high school freshman year, braces and everything.

#7. A picture of you in one of your favorite outfits.
The first time I wore this dress, winter invitational 07. It's my favorite dress. Also, I miss this boy a bit.

#8. A picture of you making a goofy face at the camera

So many choices, but the heroes of the Book of Mormon photoshoot takes the cake. This is how we spend our Saturday afternoons in apartment 2.

#9. A picture of you eating
pre-eating, really. La Garage Cafe, Chimaltenango, Guatemala. So classy.

#10. A picture of you truly being yourself
Train time! Organizing in its wedding-est form.

#11. The most recent picture of you
4th of July parade with Dad and nephew

#12. A picture of you being absolutely ridiculous
Rap video freshman year. And basically all of freshman year by association.

#13. A picture of you showing off a new haircut/color
Remember when I had bangs for like a week?

#14. A picture of a time in your life that's over, but you wish it wasn't
pato, pato, gonso in Guatemala. But all of Guate, really.

#15. A picture of a time in your life that's over, and you're glad it is
Can't belive I found this. AP US History, junior year. Loved the class, glad it's over.

#16. A picture of when you were anything but happy.
It's a stretch, but the media fast brought mixed emotions. Can't you see?

#17. A picture of a time when you were nothing but happy.
Christmas, roommates, snowflakes, and pajamas. What could be better?

#18. A picture of when you were a different person than you are now.
High school leadership, senior year. Wow, things have changed.

#19. A picture with someone you love.
The fam, obviously.

#20. A picture of how you'd like the world to see you.
The West Wing-esque. A successful PR professional

#21. A picture of a time when everything was changing.


Last summer, in the midst of a wave of mission farewells. These boys are all gone now, but will be back in a year!


#22. A picture that makes your heart hurtOrphans in Guatemala. Love them so much.

#23. A picture that makes your heart smile
Besides my face, this picture makes me really happy. Adam's face, BYU basketball vs. Utah, and how if perfectly sums up our friendship. I miss this boy, too.

#24. A picture that describes how you'd like to spend each day.
Exploring Antigua, being artsy, eating crepes, and drawing stares with these people. Sounds great to me.

#25. A picture of one of the best days/nights of your life.
No question. Last night in the dorms.

# 26. A picture you didn't know was being taken.

This is a gem for so many reasons. First, its totally candid. Second, just look at my face and remember FUHE and the giant ward activity that included this wedding dress contest. We won.

#27. A picture of you with make up
Cop-out I know, but chalk will have to due. Also, a shout out to the festival of colors.

#28. A picture of you in formal wear.
Oh boy, prom 07.

#29. A picture you couldn't leave out
Tree tour. It's just classic

#30. A picture of just you.
Sunday springtime walks/photoshoots on campus with Cynthia


Wednesday, July 15, 2009

a brainteaser

What is vanilla that you buy at the store?

Ice cream!

"Yes!"


-from a five-year-old at work.
his enthusiasm and delivery really sold it

Thursday, July 9, 2009

some things are just better in spanish


on a billboard seen in rural Guatemala:

Imagina, suena...realiza, vive.


(imagine, dream...realize, live)


poetic words for life, I think, read along a highway in the middle of nowhere, Guatemala and taught to me by people in villages along the way.



Sunday, July 5, 2009

happy birthday, america

It was a wonderful weekend at my grandparent's river house in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. It's probably one of my favorite places ever. We had every single cousin, aunt, grandchild, etc. there. 30 people crammed in to one small house. Kind of crazy, but so fun.

Besides the Fourth of July parade, swimming in the river, and the family baseball game, here are some highlights from the weekend....

I sure am glad my grandparents have rich neighbors whose crazy huge fireworks displays we can watch along the river from the dock. I'm also glad none of the cousins lost an eye in the fireworks madness.
sparklers. my favorite.
The younger-than-I cousins passed the annual 4th of July family parade on to the younger generation this year. Here are cousins for the children's hospital. Please note the "sick" look and bandaids on the little one.
My mom was the grand marshall of the family parade
We had a photoshoot of all 30 of us together. My mom bought my sisters and I matching sweaters for our smaller family picture. As you can see, the cuteness runs in the family.