The Instagram craze has put blogging on the back-burner for just about everyone I know, including me. However, as always I am back, trying to make a renewed effort at blogging because it is a convenient way of journaling, which I am not so good at. I will play catch-up for a few posts and then try to get back in the swing of things, posting somewhat regularly.
We had a really great summer, and I am sad to see it come to a close but also excited to get back in the swing of things with school (for Sam) and into the fall seasons and holidays.
June- The biggest thing that happened in June was that my cute brother Ben left on his mission! It was so sad and emotional to send him off. He is one of my best friends and can make me laugh harder than anyone else. I miss him!
We also both finished school up in June...my last term. Hooray! And I finished up my job at the BYU Writing Center.
I wimped out of the service trip (I have been on two before, so that is my lame excuse...) and caught a quick flight to Boise to hang out with my grandparents for a week. I flew out there on my birthday and had a great time celebrating with them. My grandparents are so much fun and two of my favorite people to spend time with. My grandpa's birthday is the day after mine, so we had a big combined birthday bash. My grandma is an amazing cook, and I always love cooking with her and learning new things. While I was there, I was reminded that Boise is one of my favorite places in the world, and one of the three places that feel like home to me (along with Virginia and Utah). On this trip, I really enjoyed running and walking around the area that my grandparents live: there are beautiful trees, nice weather, and flat terrain. During the day, I got to hang out with Kristi and Greg's cute kids, which was a lot of fun. And, of course, my grandma and I went on a fabulous shopping spree. The two of us are a dangerous combination, especially when our two favorites are next door in downtown Boise: Anthropologie for me and Chicos for Grandma. Oh, and somehow we managed to go to Cheesecake Factory twice while I was there. It was a really great trip! Can't wait to go back for Thanksgiving!
"Jordan, will you take a picture of me?"
Pictures of my beautiful running route around the neighborhood in Boise:
The Lisonbees' beautiful house we stayed in:
Eleni was SO excited on the shuttle ride from the airport to the rental car place. So cute!
Cute little surfer girl:
August- We got home from our California trip on Friday night, headed to Walmart at 10 pm to pick up some groceries, and then hit the road Saturday morning for Atlanta, Idaho. Atlanta is such a uniquely beautiful, serene place and arguably my favorite place in the world. It was Sam's first time there this year, and he had to agree. We hope we get to keep visiting Atlanta for years to come. We have been going to this tiny town in the Sawtooth mountains with my Dad's family for over ten years. We stay in a large ranch, which is quite rustic to put things positively but just perfect for our large, loud, messy, rowdy group. There are no stores, no cell reception, and no people to be seen (unless you head out for a run on the mountain trails....then you might run into an old man sitting on his porch with scraggly hair and snaggly teeth who asks you, "What are ya'll runnin' from?"). The point is, it's completely secluded and beautiful, which makes for a very relaxing, uplifting few days. I feel like I need these couple of days each year to recharge from our technologically savvy, busy world. Couple the surroundings with fifty of my favorite people, and it really is the best. It was so fun to take Sam there for the first time and show him all my favorite things to do there: walk up to the lake, "jumping rock", swim/lounge by the pool, running on the dusty roads, watching (or in his case, playing) volleyball, and the big tree-swings. Can't wait until next year!
Sam, getting ready to jump! (with Emily)
Wow! It looks like you guys had quite an eventful summer! Doing summer vacations with two different families is quite a feat.
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