It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Nothing says the 4th of July to me like a girl walking through a farmer's hay field in a sundress and flip flops to a small town parade where hoards of small children gorge on sugar and sunscreen. The smell of hairspray and world domination thick in the air as dancers, cheerleaders, and rodeo queens prance by in puffs of glitter. The crowd cheering perhaps loudest of all for the boy scout troop scooping piles of manure into giant buckets pulled by 4-wheelers following the horse brigade. This has been my day. And I wouldn't trade it for anything. The great thing is that this day is repeated in small towns throughout this vast vast country of ours.

I stopped by the grocery store we used to sneak to for donuts while ditching class in high school, this time to pick up some deli lunch-meats with my mom.

I've eater watermelon, sloppy joes, and so many cherries my fingers are stained red. I accepted half-eaten taffy bites from my nephews. I've laughed so hard my stomach hurt and my lungs spasmed.

I watched fireworks explode in the sky, hot dog on my plate, tears on my cheeks, as God Bless America played in the background.

I listened to Kenny, Brad, Zac, and Rodney. I watched The Sandlot, and I watched the beautiful flag wave in the hot summer breeze of my parents porch. I kept tabs on the Yankee game. (they won)

And I gave a silent prayer of thanks to be able to be here with my family. And for all those who have fought so hard and sacrificed so much in order for me to enjoy the day in celebration of freedom and independence.

Throwback Thursday

Something happened to me today that doesn't happen often ...ok, maybe ever. I became nostalgic over high school memories. I'm not one of those bitter people that looks back on high school with any sort of negative emotion. I actually loved high school. But from the moment I graduated, it's never been anything I'd wanted to go back to. And I think that's the way it should be. Life just gets better and better every day. So today when my sister texted me a video of this year's graduating class singing the School Song at their commencement ceremony, I was surprised when I teared up a bit.  I don't want to go back by any means, but I had a flood of memories of laughter and good times while watching the video. Remembering the countless hours spent with arms around best friends (--Kelli, Kristy, and even Steph and Becca although they were younger) screaming the school song at the top of our lungs at halftime of basketball games. Remembering that it was our class that started the tradition and how fun it was when Ben Salisbury would wheel out the piano at halftime and we'd all scream away. I remember the feeling at my own high school graduation as we sang the words "We will always say as we go our way, and of this it can be told; The friendships dear we have made while here, are a treasure more than gold." I teared up then as we got ready to toss our caps in the air because it was true. And it was also the end of an era. The end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood. And looking back it was such an exciting precipice to be on the edge of. And what a wild, crazy, and wonderful ride was ahead of me. My friendship with Kristy that began before and has grown stronger after, as well as my friendship with Kelli are among my most treasured life experiences from high school. Two friendships that no matter the time, distance, or events between us will always feel like coming home.

In other throwback news that surprised me this week, I went to see the movie Million Dollar Arm with Jill. This is not surprising. We love sports movies --and this one was AMAzing. What was surprising, is that she cried through the end, and I didn't . Shed. A. Single. Tear. Shocking, I know. I just don't think I'd filled my tear-tank back up from my emotional breakdown two days before. I'm getting off track. The throwback surprising part happened before the movie. We were getting ice-cream at Coldstone. There were periods of time during college where I would eat nothing but Apple Pie A-La Coldstone with oatmeal cookie batter ice cream for weeks. Every day.  As I was waiting to pay for my ice cream I dug through the pile of cards in my wallet and came across an old punch card from the Logan store. I don't remember when I got it, but it may very well have been in the college years. I asked the girl if they still took them, and she said they had a different card, but that she could trade it over. As she was throwing mine away she saw the Logan address on the back and asked if we lived in Logan because the card she switched over to was only good at a few SLC locations. I said, no it's just an old card from college. And she said, "Oh so from a while ago then?" And I wasn't offended in the slightest. Surprising huh?  It's been ten years since I graduated from college the first time. Ten years. And I don't want to look like a 21 year old any more. I want to look like a woman in her 30s who has lived and experienced life, who has figured out who she is and who loves and has loved every minutes of those ten years. It was a very deeply happy moment to realize how at peace I was with the woman I am.

What would Throwback Thursday be without a few photos :)

Kristy and Me

Kelli and Me

2004 Nsg School Graduation

2014 -the 10yr anniversary shot

Over the Hill

Last weekend I made it home to Logan, UT for my mother's 50th birthday. Getting there ended up being quite the adventure. I worked 6 days in a row, then I had given myself Thursday for a day off to clean my apartment, wrap everyone's presents and pack. So I slept in, went to my facial appointment, then slowly started getting everything ready. I went online at 4am (on Friday) to check in to my flight that was leaving at 6:25am. The confirmation code I entered gave me a message that I couldn't check in to my flight unless it was within 24 hours of the scheduled departure time. I thought I had mistakenly taken the confirmation number from my New Year's flight... So I opened my email again and imagine my horror when I realized that I had opened the correct email, but when I booked my flight I had booked it for Thursday the 15th instead of Friday the 16th. Oops. But, after a quick call to the airline and additional payment of $150 I had myself on the flight I thought I had been on all along. So I finished getting ready. I called a cab at 5am. Usually it takes 15-20 minutes from when you call until they get to your house. Today they told me it was going to be 2-5 minutes. Crap. So, I scrambled to get dressed, finish my hair, take the garbage out, and run out the door when he called. I left the living room un-vacuumed --it might not sound like a big deal, but  I operate under a strict policy of having a CLEAN home before leaving on vacation. I'm talking, floors mopped, fresh sheets, laundry done, beds made, surfaces dusted, the whole shabang.

I got to the airport, and as I was putting all my sweaters, shoes, etc in the security bins I realized that I was going to Utah without a coat. I remembered my Utah shoes, and I brought two scarfs with me, but no coat. Oops.  And I had to leave before finishing the rest of my brother-in-laws present. Oops. And I had left all of my diet food at home. I get sick when I eat real food after sticking to the diet plan. Oops. And I had left my mother's birthday present at home. Oops again. The whole confusion of the morning totally threw me off!!

But I made it home, and I spent Friday with my sister, then Friday night with former college roommates Jill and Kristin. Once I got off the plane, all the stress involved in getting there was instantly forgotten.  We had a great time laughing and catching up. Kristin drove me back to Logan the next morning. As we drove into the valley I noticed that I had patches of goopy blurred vision.  When I blinked they cleared and there were green goobers on my eyelids. Lots of them. And as we got closer to Logan, my eyes were fire-engine red, itchy, burning, and oozing green gunk. I had pink eye. Awesome. I've never had pink eye before, but there's no mistaking it when you've seen it at work countless times. So, Kristin drove me to my parents' house and we walked in. My mother was shocked and the look on her face was priceless. She didn't know I was coming home at all, and there was no way she could know about the bigger surprise that was to come!  But after the hellos and the hugs, I had my father drive me to the insta-care for some anitibiotic drops.  We were lucky that it was a slow day, and we were home with my prescription filled in 45 minutes. From there it was smooth sailing.  My eyes were better in about 36 hours, I no longer looked like a vampire.  And thank goodness for infection prevention skills I managed to love my nephew and the rest of the family without spreading my germies.  I had the most amazing time with my family. They are honestly the greatest people I know. The surprise party and preparation went of beautifully and it was wonderful to see people make a fuss over my mother like she deserves. She is truly one of the greatest women in history. She's amazing. Not even the pictures can do it justice, but they're better than words. So, I've described the bad, and here's the photos of what made me forget all of that as soon as I stepped off the plane:

 Boston loves his football :)

 Boston's new trick --the kissey face :)

 All of mom's favorite snacks

 The house was PACKED with peoplem it was great!

For the record, this was not my idea, but it was pretty funny... :)

The Bost Man's Birthday

Last week was a happy happy week for the love of my life, my little nephew Boston. He turned 1 and is getting so big so fast!  I love this little guy so much, and I'm so glad I got to go home for the occasion!

Heidi's Wedding

Better late than never, and a picture is worth a thousand words... so here is 13,000 words on my sister's wedding (plus a few). It was the most perfect day, everything was beautiful and wonderful and I couldn't be more happy for my wonderful sister and new brother-in-law!

 me and my brother

 Logan Temple grounds ...so pretty!

 My lil' Bosty

 the happy couple coming out of the temple

 me and my favorite newpew

 such a stud

 Heid and her two bffs getting ready for the reception

 my madre, me, and my wonderful aunt 

 my super hot shoes

 I'm not sure why these are sideways ...they weren't when I uploaded them and now I can't fix it...

Best of all things to the both of you. I love you forever and always!!

Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens

How could I have not gotten a single picture of the barbecued hamburgers with all the trimmings?              Goal for next time :)

There's no place like home for the Holidays...

The 4th of July is my very favorite holiday and the one that I'm the most homesick for if I'm not with my family. I got to be home this weekend because my sister was getting married. She had pretty good timing :)  The holiday is all about patriotism, family, parades, and sunshine.  To me this is the life that so many have shed blood sweat and tears for. This is the life that lives have been laid down for. A life of freedom, a life of happiness and sunshine. Our bravest and finest have fought and still fight each day to protect our way of life. I can't not tear up over a grand fireworks display accompanied by the tones of a patriotic melody. I've shared my feelings on my most favorite of holidays here and of course, here. Rather than share more sentimentality, I thought I'd share a bit of what makes Logan my favorite home to be in for the holiday.  First the sunshine. Pools, family, picnics, etc. And oh, those mountains. My beautiful mountains.

 Me, Chelsea, Boston, and Heidi soakin' up the sun

Yours Truly 

I've been a lot of places and seen a lot of fireworks for a few different occasions. But to me the greatest fireworks will always be the ones at Romney Stadium in Logan UT done by Fireworks West. I think part of it is the sentimentality, but in all honesty, they do a GREAT job!!!  Some of my greatest summer memories from my childhood involve laying on the football field with my family watching the fireworks overhead. They were so close that I was sure they were going to fall in my lap.  If we weren't in the stadium we were all huddled on a piece of grass somewhere nearby. Laughing playing, then silenced when the skies lit up. We'd have our car door open and the program was broadcast over local radio.  We'd ooh and aah and occasionally sing along to the instrumental accompaniment of the songs we knew.  As I got older I'd even torture my family with talk of the chemical composition of the fireworks and the different ions that made the different colors. I'm sure they were grateful :) But the fireworks were still an occasion looked forward to, the days counted down. Some things never change.

 Me and my Papa ...clearly the one I get my good looks from :)

My momma, her cousin Bonnie and Duane

The other thing that means Logan on the first weekend of July is the Cruise-In. It's a giant car show filled with amazing restored vintage cars. They're on display at the fairgrounds all weekends and there's bands, sno-cones,  food, and all sorts of fair-type fun. This year the Beach Boys were even in concert! Saturday night they have a parade where all the vintage cars drive up and down main street. Awesome.

 '67 Mustang

 The original Batmobile!  Complete with .50 cal WWII vintage machine guns!

 '54 Corvette

 '54 Porsche 1600s --same as the car on Top Gun :)

'65 GTO

The rest of my weekend was engrossed in wedding-ness. That will be another post later. I also still have more family-fun-parade-and-picnic pictures for later, but this folks, is Logan on the first weekend of July. The only place to be :)