Over the last few months, I've spent less and less time blogging (which I know I will regret since lately this is the only thing that comes close to a journal) and I'm not really sure why I haven't found the time  that I used to for this little online space of mine, but at least I'm making an attempt today, right?

So far, Summer has been a 10/10. A lot of reading, late night movies (or Twilight Zone episodes, Hulu has all 5 seasons online for free... holla!) and plenty of night games with friends. Last month we even convinced each other to make an all-nighter attempt, but we found that we could only last until about 5 AM. That was good enough for me.

There are too many things to catch up on, so I'll just say a few of the highlights have been seeing Mary Poppins (so good!), "streaking in Georgia" (this is another story for another day), turning 24 (I almost refuse to believe it!), and last but certainly not least: Max's impromptu One Direction/pandora/living room concert the other night, because yes, I scoured the internet for any tickets to see them in SLC ... but it was to no avail. Max is probably the only one who knows how sad this had made me, but luckily he's way cuter than Harry Styles.

Every summer I can count on those summer nights driving home with the windows rolled down and the radio as loud as I used to like it when I was in high school. Something about those drives after one long, sunny day outdoors and that's when I forget about all that I worry about. Chlorine hair, sunburned cheeks, and a stop by In & Out (I definitely made a mistake by choosing to live down the street from one!) Nights like these, and life is going my way.

she's married!

Whataday. Wednesday was so happy and bitterweet, and bittersweet and so happy, I hardly knew what to do with myself! Kylie and Shyler have been a long time coming (they went on their first date to the Sadie Hawkins Dance the same night Max and I did!) and boy has it has been fun to watch the story of these two develop from the sidelines.

Dating back to our Algebra class Kylie, Shyler and I had together our Junior year of high school, all the way up to the beautiful temple ceremony seven years later made me feel so many things all at once. So I mostly just cried. They're reception that night was perfect - twinkle lights, chandeliers in tall trees, diet coke (of course!) -- I think of the hundreds of times Kylie and I have talked about what we envisioned on our wedding day, and everything about the night was out of the ball park amazing. But the best part of all was seeing how happy they are, and how much they still love each other even after all these years.

So now as another chapter closes I can't help but think back to all the ups and downs Kylie and I got to share together as we grew up together these last 10 years... too many to possibly even count. So when we finally hit the dance floor with both of our husbands in sight, it was a memory I know I will keep forever.

Congrats to Mr. & Mrs. Shyler Bischoff. You guys have an exciting and wonderful life ahead of you, and I'm so glad I get to see the first part of it begin :) Now onto wedding number two tomorrow!

#tbt

I'll spare you the disposable camera photos of me with braces in 1999 and instead (in honor of throwback thursday of course) share pictures of where we've been the last little while: the greatest place to spend in the summertime. Wallowa Lake.

 

We realized that next year will mark 20 years (!!!) of taking family trips up to the Lake. That means I was five years old when I started going... no wonder it feels like a home away from home! I will forever love the old cabins, the smell of pine trees, stretches of farmland, and overall the Americana feeling you get in this little town up North (which has the best ice cream ever ... not kidding!) These trips will never get old. And neither will our music videos :)

This place is just the cherry on top to summertime.

fathers day.

If I had to narrow down and count all of my best blessings on only one hand, I'd have to say four out of five of them would be some pretty special people (max, mother dearest, kenken you know) and of course, one of them would be my dad (he's the handsome tall one in the picture, hanging out with elder holland and justice clarence thomas. we often use this as our small claim to fame!)

Oh the lessons I have learned and continue to learn because of his love and his example; he'll never quite know how lucky I consider myself to be when I tell people that he's my dad and I'm his daughter.

Happy Fathers Day Dad! I love you.

--this video is really, really great. and yes, it basically made me cry.

the night my house was haunted

So imagine if you will: You've lost your keys. This is kind of a big deal, because your car key is one of those computer chip car keys which costs three hundred dollars to replace. Not only have you lost your car key, but you've lost your house key too. So you have to leave your apartment unlocked, meaning you have to have your mom drive you around to run errands because your car keys worth a paycheck are missing.

Now also imagine spending your afternoon going to see a scary movie, and spending an evening watching Dateline: The Perfect Murder. It's creepy. This is not an acceptable combination when you've left your house unlocked and you won't be returning until after dark.

Then...please imagine that you and your husband have finally arrived home (slightly anticipating any disturbance) and as you open your unlocked door... you walk inside...  to see .... this:

Horror. That is literally all that went through my mind. Shock and horror. If you have seen any scary movie in the last five years, you know that freaky things always happen in their kitchen... like all their kitchen cupboards being open. I was as white as a ghost and ran out the door, Max (who won't admit it but was just as scared as I was!) ran out and kept asking What should we do? What should we do? We called the police.

I was so panicked by this point I was having chest pains. Was the intruder still inside our house? Was he hiding in our bedroom? Was it something more sinister... like were we being haunted by ghosts who left our cupboards opened? On top of all of that, Max was convinced that either aliens were tracking us or someone had broken in looking for prescription drugs... but within minutes of calling the police, some friends had texted us (perfect timing) asking if we had come home to a surprise.

No aliens.
No ghosts.
No Jodi Arias hiding in our kitchen cupboards.

We had failed to notice the cupcakes sitting on the kitchen counter that were left by some of our friends (who would like to be named for publicity reasons) Ben & Jared.

What a relief. And luckily, when the police finally arrived and we had explained what had happened, they weren't even mad! In fact, all they asked for was a cupcake.

Whatanight.

24 already.

Happy Birthday to Max! We kicked off the day with breakfast in bed and had cakebites for dessert (since dessert after breakfast is okay when it's your birthday right?) I really can’t tell you how much I love having my best friend be my husband at the same time. Birthdays become extra special that way! And he’s 24 already?? Where has the time gone!

Thank you to all the friends and family who helped make yesterday and today so special. And Happy Birthday Max!! I’m so happy to be one of the many who love you, and even happier that you’re my boyfriend forever.

at the drive in.

I just love drive-ins so, so much. I used to go when I was younger, and it's just as summery and as wonderful as I remember. When the weather is finally warm enough to spend the night outside, something sort of happens... like squishing in the back of a truck bed is actually fun again, and sharing In & Out french fries and spilling cokes sort of feels... happy? I don't know how to explain it. What I do know is that my endorphins go through the roof when the temperature hits 75 and I'm finally outside.

So we took the yellow truck out for a ride and watched Tom Cruise on the big screen. Plus a major bonus of the night was that I was with a group of people who liked One Direction almost as much as I do (they'll deny it) but if you're singing about what makes you beautiful and you know every single word... then we just all need to admit it: they're great.

you know what they say...

April showers bring May flowers! And when you're walking through the Tulip Festival (for those of you who have been) please tell me that I'm not the only one thinking about the song "I am sixteen going on seventeen..." because once I saw the gazebos, I needed to reenact at least thirty seconds of that song. It just looked too good not to.

biiike riiide.

Being married during finals week is not my favorite week of the year. I lived by myself for nearly four years throughout college (and loved it) so you think I'd be better at spending evenings alone while Max is at school studying...  not so much. To make up for it, last week I got to go do what I like to think I do best: the first bike ride of 2013... it's like springtime officially begins for me once I hop onto that bike of mine and pedal my heart out.

And let's be honest: it's no secret on this blog that some of my favorite spring and summer memories include my girlfriend Thelma Louise - so once Max finally caves in and gets a beach cruiser, life will be nearly complete. (Matt and Sara in the meantime suffice :)

-- the photo collage thanks to a new app that magically created this for me. all I can say is life looks good on a bicycle... even at a gas station.

deep fried oreo sundae.

Max and I have had a few trips to Vegas over the last several months, but since I'm playing catch up I realize there is only one thing most worth-mentioning:

Helllllo deep fried oreo sundae, and thank youuu Serendipity's! It's outrageously expensive for a cup of ice cream really, but those sixteen dollars go a long way when you're enjoying deep fried Oreos! Snap. It is so. good. Max and I are beginning to realize that we have one too many traditions centered around food, but this is a pre-diabetic tradition that must carry on. Worth it worth it worth it!

So for those of you who have an extra $20 dollars to spend the next time you're in Vegas (or NYC for that matter) ...
you know what to do.