Summerfest

Ahhh the Summerfest. What can I say about the Summerfest except for that I LOVE IT! I love the sounds, the smells, the noises, the crowds and most importantly and sole reason for the Summerfest - seeing peoples interpretation of art! People are amazing! The creativity and the talent that people have astound me and I can only hope that one day someone will find my art as inspiring as some of the art that I was able to see!

We walked over on Friday night with the Duts! Nate & Eric were ever so patient as Brynn and I perused and enjoyed! It was the perfect evening and I am grateful to be able to participate and enjoy the amazing talents that people have been blessed with!

Thought We Looked Familiar...

but couldn't quite place us?




This must be why! Is it strange that I got a little self esteem boost from this silly website? :)

Thursday Throwback - Statue of Liberty

Going to the Statue of Liberty has always been on the top of my life to do list! Learning about it when I was young helped me appreciate the freedom that we are blessed with and in 2006 I was lucky enough to see it twice!

I have a sister who, for now, lives in New Jersey and can get to Manhattan quite easily! I was able to go to her house (once for a visit and once as a baby sitter with our good friend Brynn) and both times I was able to make it to the Statue of Liberty!

It was so fun to go with Amanda and the kids and to see the monument through the eyes of my nephews and nieces!


It was also fun to go with Brynn and to experience the monument through the eyes of a teacher!


Going to the Statue of Liberty, twice, is truly a life dream fulfilled! I am grateful for what it represents for me personally and for the country that we live in! I can't wait to go back with Nate someday!! (3rd times a charm, right?)

100% Fun

Chocolate Cake, Caffeine, Licorice, Doritos, Matthew Sweet (100% Fun Album - amazing coincidence)... mix these in with a little time with some good friends and you have all the ingredients for a night FULL of laughter !! Brynn & I got our trashes kicked at the Hand & Foot, but to be honest... I don't think we were trying very hard! It was good times all around!! Thanks mucho friends!!

Date Night

You know when you have been married for 9.5 years and date night turns into getting groceries... well... last night we stepped out of the box and went on a real date, and it was fabulous!

Because I'm a visual person, you get a picture to help depict our evening!

We started out at Hastings! A few posts ago I promised people... well... myself really... that come payday I would be owning the August Rush Soundtrack! We went, we bought, we perused, we chatted with Tom and admired his mesmerizing eyes (inside joke) and then we went on!

Our next stop was some tasty dinner at one of our favorite places! Iron Gate Grill! This place is never a bad choice! We had delightful conversation, wonderful food and a contest to see who could drink the most caffeine (which I'm claiming I won because I had less ice)!

Our evening was topped off with a late night viewing of "Angels & Demons." Nate has read the book several times but I haven't taken the time to, so I didn't know what to expect and I was on the edge of my seat through the entire movie! Talk about intense! It was fabulous though and as soon as I finish the book that I was reading I am starting that one!

It was a wonderful evening... I think I'm going to start banning date nights at the grocery store!!

Trouble Makers

A few weekends back we got to hang with these two yayhoos (hee hee, inside joke):


They remembered the picture that I made of them a few months back and wanted to take a stab at their own... I'd say they were successful - wouldn't you?




And these pictures, ladies and gents, are why I can proudly claim the title of "Favorite Aunt."

Sweet as Sugar

Seriously! Couldn't you just take a bite out of them? I LOVE being an auntie!!

August Rush

Did any of you see this movie? It is now listed on my top 5 and I CAN'T WAIT for pay day because I'm totally getting the soundtrack! If you haven't seen it, GO RENT IT! It is, seriously, one of the best movies I have ever seen!

Lunch Break Laments

Holy smokes I'm exhausted today... our neighbors had an all out rock'em sock'em screaming match at MIDNIGHT last night... it was a L O N G night indeed - and the 6:20 alarm clock went off WAY TOO EARLY this morning...

So I need some advice from you all of you *sparkling* and *brilliant* people! When your neighbor is the landlord's son (and a bit crazy), do you talk to the crazy son or the landlord? Or, do you just skip both and call the cops (which I would have done if the neighbor's son didn't look like he would feel at home in prison)? Yeah... I'm think cops are a little extreme at this point... but in my exhausted dreamlike state, can I really be responsible for my actions?

So peeps, really - how do I handle this because it's not the first time that it's happened and unless the earth opens up and swallows crazy man and jailbird son, it's going to happen again...

SoCk MoNkiES

Everyone should have a friend like Brittany:


Not only is she more a sister than a friend, someone that I can giggle endlessly with and a wonderful person... she is extremely crafty! And is always up for teaching me something new...


I love them and I'm making them for all of my nieces for when they come home this summer (shhh, don't tell - it's a surprise)! They are super easy to make, a little time intensive, but I think they are absolutely adorable!!

One Nap Needed

6 hours of sleep, one trip to the grocery store, four adorable and loveable children, 9 hours, 75 water balloons, one very wet Aunt Clar, one lunch of tamale pie, one load of dishes, too many loads of laundry... yup! Time to rest my eyes for a minute!

So, So Busy!

Wow! Is it really almost the end of May? I was so excited for school to get out so that I could have some time to re-coup - but I haven't gotten it at all! I've started working full time (for at least a month and 1/2 but hopefully no more than that) and have had a bunch of photo shoots, which means lots of creating and playing with photoshop... we have family coming into town for the long weekend and a birthday party for our nephew and then it will be June... It has been a C R A Z Y month! Between the craziness at work and the vet visits with Rascal (she has had a couple more bad days but has been good since Saturday, so we're happy) I feel like I haven't had a May at all... Here's to a more calm June!

Interesting...

For some reason I'm always up at 6:30 or 7:00 on Saturdays... I'm shooting a wedding today - that may be why I got up so early (pre-wedding jitters) - but I tend to turn on the news (because it's the only time I have to catch up on current events)... This morning I learned this man has been chosen by President Obama to be the new Ambassador to China...


I don't know why, but for some reason I feel a sense of pride and excitement for this new change... Governor Huntsman's acceptance speech was very humble, acknowledging the fact that that he and the President may not share every view, but that this is a good step in working for the greater good...

I'm pretty sure I like this piece of news...

New Kids On The Block {Sigh}

Today I work at noon. I had work to do on my laptop so I turned it on and flipped on the "Today Show" for a little background noise. Things were going smoothly until I hear this: "Coming up, a concert (yada, yada, yada) New Kids On The Block." My attention was diverted to my T.V.

There was once a time where I was convinced that he was in love with me...


I mean... how could he not be? I was so in love with him! My sister, Amanda, was the luckiest girl in the world. She got to go their concert. I was, as always, too young (and apparently still a little bitter).


I think it's safe to say that he's not in love with me - and I know it's safe to say that I'm no longer in love with him (now you can rest easy, Nate :), but I kind of want to buy their new CD... and their old one... but I'll stop there... I won't dig up the old posters that used to hang in my room!

Sweet Summer Break

Wow, oh wow, oh wow! I can't believe how much FREE time I have had the last 5 days! I took my last final last Friday at 7:30 a.m. (there should be a law against that), and now it seems like I am having to find things to do! (Mind you, I'm not complaining)! Nate & I both had a couple of days off and it was nice to just hang out and spend time together that wasn't filled with assignment or cat worry! Update on the cat - she is doing much better and we are very happy about it! I'm getting ready to shoot some Bridals this weekend and then a wedding next - I'm a little nervous but I'm also very stoked, so wish me luck!! Anyway, other than that it is just work, dishes, laundry & hanging out with my sweet Nate! Yay for summer!!