Vacation Pictures...In Whistler

Green Lake...Hole #17...Nicklaus North Golf Course
Yes it's the end of July....and yes, people are still skiing!

Our Condo is on BlackComb Mountain...literally, on the mountain.


The Black Bear that decided to come golfing with us :)
Glacier fed creek runs right through Nicklaus North Golf Course...

In Seattle...

Katelyn's cute house!!

Pictures in Kellogg

Chilling with Mama...

The dress I bought her...it was just so purple...I couldn't resist :)

Hanging out at the 3-on-3 tournament...helping daddy sell stuff for the basketball team :)

3 months old, and the basketball team can't get enough of her :)

She's so much fun!! I miss her already...at least Spokane is THE cheapest place to fly from Boise! haha...that is if you want to fly at 6am :)

The past...

I don't have much to say, it's weird....one of those days where I really want to write, but everytime I sit down to start, I have nothing to say. I guess the weird part is that I want to write...that normally only happens when I already know what I want to write :)
I'm almost done with my first week back at work...the alarm clock is my worst enemy right now. I got way too used to just waking up, instead of being forced out of bed ;)
My friend Erika's 21st Birthday is tonight and her husband is having a party for her, so that should be fun! I love that I have friends where I can go to their house on a 21st bday, and not have to worry about how out of hand everyone will get. It's nice to know.
This morning I found out some horrible news about one of my friends from high school. My junior and senior year of high school I didn't spend much time with girls, instead I spent my summers and weekends dirt biking, camping, climbing trees and just hanging out...with the guys. Matt, Boden & Andy. These guys were best friends and for some reason they let me tag along on all their adventures. Well Boden & Matt went to WSU for college, and this summer they took jobs at a cattle ranch in Wyoming. I guess Matt really got into the rodeo side, and started bull riding. Well last week he was on a bull and was knocked out while riding and then after he fell the bull attacked him. I guess is what you would call it...his horns went right into Matt's head. Boden said he could see Matt's skull! The gash/cut/wound, whatever you want to call it, is over 5" long and Matt was flown to a hospital for emergency surgery. He is currently still in the hospital, but his family is in Wyoming with him now and he has been moved from ICU.
The doctor's keep telling Boden that it is a miracle Matt is even alive! Yet, Matt is not only alive, he is talking and even got up and walked a little. He remembers who he is, where he is, why he's there...everything. It is amazing and Boden says he is watching this miracle right in front of him. I think in some ways I'm glad I didn't hear about it before today, it was good to get the news "Pray for Matt, he's really hurt" rather than "Pray for Matt's family, he's not gonna make it". He can't leave the hospital yet, because of the chance of infection from being drug through the dirt once his brain was exposed...but they hope he can go home this weekend.
It makes me think about that time in my life, back when Matt & Boden were my best friends. Back when life was simpler, we went to school and worked a few hours a week...and that was it. We didn't have any responsibility, didn't have to worry about where food or rent were going to come from...we had time to spend hours dirt biking in the hills...driving around laughing, watching movies late at night (because we didn't have to get up for work!), climbing in treehouses made for their little brothers, jumping on the tramp, hanging out at Young Life...we lived. We had so much fun, and if we worried about things it was like where we would go to college, or what we would do...little things, things that dont matter near as much.
Now here we are 3 years since graduation and Matt is fighting for his life. I think the most comforting part is that Boden's there. 3 years later, Boden is still right by his side. But where am I? I haven't talked to Matt or Boden in over a year...I haven't seen either of them in probably two years. I don't even know if the cell #'s I have for them are any good. I feel like a horrible friend. Yeah, I moved more than 400 miles away...and I only go home like twice a year...but still, their always only a phone call away. Why do relationships change? So quickly? So much? I hate that I have so many friends from high school that I wouldn't even know how to have a conversation with now...I understand that life changes, we change...and most of the time I'm okay with that. But right now. I just want my friends back, I want Matt & Boden to know that even though we may not keep in touch very well, I still care about them. I would love to go back to those times when I spent my free time with them. Back when I just felt like "one of the guys"

Back to reality...

Well I'm back in Idaho...and still haven't been home for more then sleep...so my life is a crazy mess! :) I have no food in my house, no idea where anything is, no idea what needs to be done except that I do have piles of laundry, weddings to get ready for, a family dinner to do Sunday (at my house), which reminds me I need to clean, a 21st birthday party thursday night, oh and yes the never ending piles on my desk to be rid of! Umm...life sure is fun! lol.

But vacation was wonderful! And once I have a moment of sanity I will post pictures!!

4 days!!!

That's right! I can't believe its finally here...but in 4 days I leave for my vacation!! I can't wait! A whole week, in Canada, with my parents! I'm so excited :) Well let's see...this weekend was great! Friday night Carly & I decided to celebrate a weekend without homework, and no final looming! And let me tell you...we went all out :) It was so much fun! She just moved and so we took a tour of her new apt. And then headed to dinner at Olive Garden. We were planning on dinner and then a movie at 7...well we had a little too much fun at dinner and didn't leave until after 7, so then decided the 9:30 showing would be good :) So what did we do? Yes...you guessed it...Cold Stone!! And they have new flavors!! Seriously, I don't think there is anything better than cake batter ice cream. Except for maybe CHOCOLATE cake batter ice cream :) It was amazing...and then because we were starting to make ourselves sick (surprise, surprise) we decided to walk around until movie time.

We love our ice cream!

So we hit Lowe's (yeah you're thinking what could two "twenty-ish year old girls" possibly want with Lowe's?) Well let me tell you my friends...you know that great hardware, handyman stuff you do yourself...forget that...instead how bout some molding? Wouldn't that make a great picture frame? haha. We think so. So we preceded to pick out some molding for Carly to use in her living room to frame Kylee's art work :) Then once we convinced ourselves it'd be better if Carly's dad chopped it up then us try and get the corners to fit together...lol...we headed across the street to Ross. And though Ross does have some cool things, and I'm all about cheap...lingerie, not something one should purchase at Ross...we decided that's a little sketchy :)

Well we finally "wasted" our 2.5 hours before movie time and preceeded to Edward's for Wall-E. Now, my cousin Reid is working at Pixar this summer and has been talking about Wall-E...so I knew I needed to see it :) And I'm sorry Reid...because I usually LOVE all Pixar movies...but...I'm not so sure about this one. Maybe it was the fact that it started at 9:30 and I got up at 5 friday morning...I don't know. But I had a really hard time actually getting into it enough to walk out saying it was great! Don't get me wrong, it was cute...it just wasn't everything I thought it would be I guess. By the way the future humans made me cringe many times and think about (and regret) all of the food I had just eaten before walking into the theater :) But yeah, so Wall-E was cute...I just didn't really fall in love I guess.

King Salmon

Check This Out!!
My brother caught this...30 lb. chinook king salmon on the Columbia River - July 9, 2008
With my grandparents at Wells Dam...

My favorite things...

I love books. I not only love to read, but I like to own my favorite books. I love looking at them...I don't know why, but it is comforting or something. I love buying a new book and reading it over and over. I am probably the only person that has read all the books I own numerous times :)

I love coffee. Especially from Aut-to-mocha in Wenatchee. My favorite is coffee with white chocolate powder...way better than white chocolate syrup/sauce! I love coffee mugs. I love the smell of coffee, the friendships and relationships formed over coffee, the atmosphere of coffee shops.

I love pictures. I typically don't like pictures of myself, but I love pictures of me with people I love. I like taking pictures of everything, little details such as signs and landmarks, God's creation such as flowers and sunsets, people...especially candid pictures exposing their true expressions. I love looking at pictures. I love scrapbooking pictures. I love how you can look at a picture from years ago and remember what you felt for that person or place at one time, and wonder what changed? I love the memories that come from a photograph.

I love houses. I love to look at houses...I will almost always stop for an open house :) I love to close my eyes and imagine what a house could look like, or what the floor plan should be. I love to draw houses. I like to decorate houses or look at how others have done so. I like to look at furniture and such. I want to design floor plans and watch them come to life, to meet the needs of a family, to please the eye, to make someone happy.

I love cars. I love to drive. I like to watch the cars around me. I love car shows. I wish I was around in the 60's...it was a great car era :) I like my car clean. I love to listen to my Dad talk about new cars, or a gorgeous car he saw, his entire demeanor changes...he is so passionate about it, it makes me happy.

I love rain. I love the smell right before, during & after it rains. I love watching it fall. I love the sound it makes as it hits the ground. I love the way it cools everything. I love opening my windows when it rains, and listening to it and feeling the climate shift. I don't love what it does to my car...

I love strategy. I love competition...in sports and in games. I don't like to lose. I love football season, and bastketball season, and baseball season :) I like following a team, knowing what happens, what changes, talking about what they could do better next time. I love playing games. Any game...it doesn't matter. I like focusing on a goal, figuring out the best way to get there and in the process how to beat everyone else there.

And after the 4th...

Okay, well the weekend is over. I received a couple phone calls from the campers :) Of course all saying they were having fun but I should have been there. And then Jenae sent me a picture of Holly with the grandparents on my phone. So cute! So I've decided...Pinelow...way better then how the rest of the world spends the 4th of July :) I think this was the most relaxed, laid back weekend I've had in years! I read 4 books, yes that's right, four! Which I have to admit wasn't all bad :) I love to read! Especially when it's for fun...and not class! But now, I have to get studying for that last final. Hopefully I'll get it done tomorrow, we'll see.
So I bought a plane ticket yesterday...I hadn't realized that I was scheduled to fly back to Boise on Friday the 25th, from my vacation in Canada. So I changed my Seattle to Boise flight to a Seattle to Spokane flight, and will spend the weekend in Kellogg with Kieth & Jackie!!! Yeah! I'm so excited :) It was great! It didn't cost me anything to change the ticket, so I only had to buy the one way ticket from Spokane to Boise on Sunday...and I get to spend my ONE wedding-free weekend with Baby Holly :) the one thing I've been trying to figure out! How could I squeeze in one more trip to visit them before my school break was over?! I'm so glad it worked out! It happened so fast, mom mentioned I was flying home friday, I called Kieth & Jackie and all of a sudden I get to go! Yeah! Oh and so if I hadn't mentioned it yet...mom, dad & I are spending a week in Whistler, British Columbia in 2 weeks!! I'm so excited for a week away from work, away from class, away from Idaho, away from roommates (not that I don't love my roommates :), away from everything! It is going to be wonderful!

This is it...

How I typically spend my 4th of July weekend...

Keep in mind...everyone in these pictures...yes, they are all SLONAKERS! :)

Am I Shy?

I don't know why. I don't understand what brings it on, but somedays I just want to write. I'll go weeks without anything in particular to say and then all of a sudden I have days where I just want to keep adding stuff. Today is one of those days.
When the whole family was here in June for our reunion, all of us girls went to dinner for Carmen's birthday. That night I realized something that I hadn't really thought through before. We were all standing outside Mai Thai talking...amazing enough in itself since we'd already been inside for 3 hours :) Yes, we have dinners like Italians, they go on forever! Anyways, Jenae & Kathy were talking about grandma. Jenae mentioned how she had noticed that she was much quiter this weekend and kind of reserved, staying in the shadows. And observed that grandma tends to be like that whenever Mary Ellen is around...as if, when they were growing up grandma would be in the background and Mary Ellen would take over. So now even though they're older, whenever the 2 are together grandma reverts to those old ways and lets Mary Ellen take charge. It makes perfect sense. I never thought about it before, but I am exactly the same way.
As long as I can remember my parents & sister have thought of me as shy. I have always been the shy, timid one in the family. And my sister still thinks of me like that. What's funny is that my friends here thinks she's crazy. They do not see me as shy, not at all.
I am a totally different person when I'm with my friends here, friends that do not know my sister, have never spent real time with the two of us in the same place. Yet, even now, after 3 years of living away from my sister...when I'm back in that situation I revert back to that behavior. Not so much on purpose, it just seems to happen. When I'm with Jaclyn I become a quieter, more reserved person. I guess I become the shy person that she believes I am. even though I don't think of myself like that. It's not a bad thing, it just is. She is loud, she LOVES to talk, she talks to EVERYONE, she enjoys talking about people, talking about random topics, did I mention she LOVES to talk? And when we're together, SHE talks. I listen. I don't like to talk, at least not all the time...typically only when I have something purposeful to say. I definitely don't enjoy talking to everyone, I would much rather only talk to people that I care about. I hate talking about people...people that I never see and don't know, I don't like to talk about or to people just to talk. I like to have a reason to talk. So, when I'm with Jac she talks. I listen. And it works...its how life has always been. It's just weird to me that I can be so different with her then with the rest of the world. Seriously, all of my friends laugh when my sister calls me shy. Sometimes I wonder if that's healthy. Is it normal to be different with one person then with everyone else? Am I being true to who I am? Or am I simply doing what's easy? Does it really matter? All those years growing up...was I a different person? Was the real me just waiting inside, waiting to get out? Or have I changed that much? I don't know. I don't understand. I don't want to be 2 different people. I want to be who I am. All the time. Whomever I'm with...but maybe I will always be a little more on the shy side when I'm with Jaclyn. And maybe that's okay.

Pinelow

It's starting to sink in. My grandma and grandpa fly into Spokane today...my aunt and uncle drive up tomorrow, as well as my great grandma. My parents & brother go Friday. Keith, Jackie & baby Holly go Saturday. And me? Me! I get to stay in Nampa for the weekend and work at two weddings. Lame! I'm really starting to get mad about it...:)

This will be the first year of my life (other then when we were on our mission trip) that I have missed 4th of July Camp @ Pinelow! I mean my sister was born June 23, 1988 and we still went to camp that year...if that doesn't help you understand, nothing will. It is a HUGE part of my life. It is consistent. It happens every year, at the same time. It is always filled with family, laughs, boating, volleyball, games, food...and yet it is different every year. I have thousands of memories from our weekends at Pinelow. My cousins and I grew up together at camp, we are such good friends today because of our past at Pinelow. The inside jokes, memories, pasttimes are endless...and make our relationships unique.

Not only is it the first year that I won't be attending, it is the first year that Holly will. I think that is what gets me the most. I want to see her so bad! I want to hold her and play with her and look at her beautiful face. And even though she won't remember it (at 3 months old), it will still be her first trip to Pinelow. And I'm going to miss it. Sometime growing up sucks...being an adult is totally overrated.