Family Reunion

This past week all of my mom's brothers (2) and sisters (4...including my mom) came to Vegas with their families for a hectic but fun time. We had family pictures out in the desert - luckily no one fainted this time or had to sit on a pointy rock for hours - celebrated my sister's birthday, had family game night, went indoor mini-golfing and just spent good quality time together.

Because my parents are both the oldest siblings in their family, I have the privilege of being the oldest grandchild on both sides. As you can imagine, this comes with its own up and downs. I was totally spoiled as a child which is nice but now all of my cousins are way younger than me. I think I get the best of both worlds though. I get to hang out with my fun aunts and uncles but I also have a ton of cute kids I can go play with if the adult talk gets too boring haha.

My aunt January, her husband Todd and their kids stayed in our house during the week. Since they arrived in Vegas the night before everyone else I decided to take their little girl out with my little brother and sister. We saw Ice Age - Dawn of the Dinosaurs...in 3D! haha They had a lot of fun and it was good to spend some time with them.

This picture is super dark because I took it with my phone in a dark theater but it shows the sweet glasses we got to wear.

One of my cousins I don't get to see very often because her family lives in Texas. Its always amazing how fast kids grow. Last time I saw this girl she was a baby! Now she is one of the big kids but still so cute.

Harry Potter came out during the week so one of my uncles took me and Drew along with one of our cousins to the midnight showing. Drew and I decided to branch out a little and dress up for the event. We didn't have very long to find costumes around the house and they aren't very accurate as far as Harry Potter goes, but we had fun anyway.

Yes...we even had wands! The movie was fabulous. It might be my favorite Harry Potter so far.

As crazy as it was having so many kids running around (15 I think...) it was so fun to see my family...especially the ones that don't live in Vegas. Thanks for coming out guys. I love you all!

Fourth of July

Oh boy! I am so behind it is not even funny. Its kind of ironic I guess...I always think that I will be able to conquer the world or something during the summer because I have so much free time, but I always end up finding something to do and never get as much done as I had hoped.

Anyway...the Fourth was so much fun. For me, one of the best parts about being home is getting to spend time with my family and that is exactly what I got to do.

It has become a tradition that my sister and I run Summerlin's annual Fourth of July 5k. Its not easy to get up so early and race but I love it. Racing, even in these smaller 5ks gives me a break from the every day run and adds some excitement to my routine. I love seeing my sister race. She is so talented and so young, I know that she will do great things as she keeps up with her practicing. This year she beat about half of Palo Verde's boy's team which says great things about her future. Keep it up baby girl!

As always, there is the horrible after-race photo courtisy of my dad. Its not his fault they are so bad...pictures after a race are never good. Nevertheless, this documents that yes, we ran.

After getting cleaned up my sister and I joined my brothers and my dad on a project they have been working on for a while. Lately, Matthew has become way into model rockets so he and my dad get them all ready and we all go out into the desert to see what they can do. This time we invited my uncle and my three year old cousins out to the event.

Luckily, there is a ton of empty desert not too far from our house where we can launch the rockets off without desturbing anyone. It was hot and one of the rockets was lost forever, but we had fun.

My brothers getting ready to launch one of the rockets.

Watching my dad get one of the rockets ready for take off. I think this one is the one that never came back...sad.

My uncle and two cute cousins. They loved watching for the rockets to land and recovering them. They also got to launch a couple which might have been the highlight of their day.

After the rocket launching, all of my family that lives in Vegas came over for swimming, a barbeque, and of course some fireworks. Thanks to the Indian reservation not too far away we had a nice show :)

My sister and I with two of our cousins.

I am so lucky to have so much loving family not far away at all. Thanks guys for a great day.

Jordan's Wedding

I was in Utah these past couple of weeks for a CNA class but, more excitingly, I was able to celebrate with Jordan and her friends before and after her wedding.

On the Wednesday before her wedding Jordan came over to get ready with me. We went out to P.F. Chang's with a few of her other friends - girls I came to love. The food was delicious and honestly, who doesn't love a girls night out.

The night before her wedding, Jordan had a dinner at Magleby's...so so good. Then, all of the girls came over to my grandparents condo (where I was staying) for a pre-wedding sleepover. We had to get her away from Greg somehow! haha We made pizookies and just talked until the early hours of the morning. It was great.

Sleepover!

The next morning Leah did Jordan's hair and we sent her off to the temple before getting ready ourselves. Then, we were off to the Mount Timpanogos temple. If I have to get married in Utah, this is the temple I want to get marrried in. It is absoluetly beautiful and the weather couldn't have been better. Jordan looked beautiful and so so happy. Even though I could only wait outside, I loved the feeling of just being there.

Alena, me, Rachel, and Leah just waiting outside the temple.

That night, Jordan had her reception at the Springville Art Museum. The venue was perfect for Jordan...so fun and unique. The food was delicious of course and I had a ton of fun working with her family in setting it up.


All the girls...isn't she a beautiful bride?

I love this girl...I am so happy for her.

A London-style self take...just for old times sake. I am going to miss this trio...so many memories. :)

Congratulations Greg and Jordan!

Tagged by Abby

1. What is your current obsession?
Of course...my mind quickly goes to food.


But at least its healthy right? haha I LOVE snacking on these, especially the red ones. I don't need dip or anything. I just cut them up and enjoy.

2. What do you hate the most that everyone else seems to love?
Not hate, because I don't hate anyone...but I really don't like Miley Cyrus. I'm sorry. I just don't.

3. What are you wearing today?
Let me explain...today was road trip day. I drove home from Utah so I am currently wearing a men's v-neck undershirt and some knee length shorts. I would post a picture, but like I said...it was travel day.

I love these things. These shirts could almost go under the obsession. (see number 1)

4. What's for dinner?
Since I have been gone for so long (London then Utah) today was my family birthday dinner. As requested my mom made chicken cordon bleu, a yummy salad with strawberries and candied nuts, croissants, and chocolate fondue for dessert. YUM :)

5. What would you eat for your last meal?
Avacado egg rolls from B.J.'s, a strawberry shake from In-N-Out, orange chicken from Panda Express and anything else delicious and totally unhealthy haha.

6. What is the last thing you bought?
A diet Dr. Pepper so I could make it home awake.


7. What are you listening to right now?
Whatever my dad is watching on the military channel. I'm not really paying attention...its just background noise.

8. What do you think of the person that tagged you?
I LOVE Abby. She is more like an older sister than an aunt to me. Even though she doesn't think it, she is totally still young and stylish with two kids! I hope to be as young and as fun as she is when I am her age. She also raises the cutest kids...I love my cousins.

9. If you could have a house--fully paid for and totally furnished--anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Somewhere on a cliff over the ocean...but with a beach nearby. Tintagel maybe? But definitely with a private airplane and runway so I can get home quickly.

Tintagel...one of my favorite places in England. LOVE it.

10. If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would it be?
Haha the first thing I thought of was a big comfy bed. Sad.

11. What is one of your hobbies?
Running. Wait, does that count as a hobby?

12. What is your favorite quote?
Just one I can think of right now...sometimes you are the windshield, but sometimes you are the bug.

13. What is your favorite color?
Green...but only certain shades of green. I'm very particular.

14. What is your favorite piece of clothing in your wardrobe?
When I'm just chillin...sweats or running shorts and a men's undershirt.
When I want to look nice...I don't know...maybe this white blouse I just got from Gap. Or maybe I'm just thinking about it because its new...

15. What is your dream job?
There are so many things I would love to be able to do...but most importantly I want to be a really good mom. We will just have to see how that goes.

16. Describe your personal style.
Changing. Thats really all I can say. In London I got super bored with my whole look. My clothes (maybe because I was stuck with the same 10 shirts for 7 weeks...), my hair, my make-up. So right now I am just trying to find my style I guess. I'm experimenting with different things, seeing what works, and trying to branch out of my comfort zone a little.

17. What is your favorite tree?
Any kind of fruit trees I guess. I don't really know my trees that well...

18. What are you going to do after this?
Play Jenga with Dani. I should probably unpack and go to bed sometime soon.

19. What is your favorite fruit?
Grapefruit...with a little sugar.20. What inspires you?
Music. All kinds of music.

21. Who was the last person that you kissed?
My baby cousin Libby.

22. What are you currently reading?
Tartan Tragedy and the Pearl of Great Price.


23. Go to your bookshelf, take down the first book that you see with a red binding, turn to page 26 and type out the first line.
But the prince was incurably extravagant. The simple life became less and less simple.
(From Historic Houses of Britain by Mark Girouard.) The were talking about the Royal Pavilion in Brighton. The best part...I have been there!


24. What delighted you the most today?
I got to come home after living in Utah by myself for two weeks!

25. If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
My Life Be Like by Gritz haha. Because I am soooo gangster :)

26. If you bought a wiener dog today, what would you name it?
Scott. The first name that came into my head.

27. What is your most memorable dream.
I had a nightmare one time where all of my friends were walking in a line through a tunnel straight into the ocean...where they all proceeded to drown. Just like that. Right in front of me. I was in the back of the line and when I got to the water I just went around...and I never understood why they didn't go around either. It was really sad, I woke up and called a bunch of people to make sure they were all alive.

The rules:
1. Respond and rework; answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your invention, add one more question of your own. (I didn't replace any. Oops!)
2. Tag eight other people.

Ok. I tag Jess, Jordan, Rachel, Emily, Sarah, and Carrie