last summer

we had only been living in elko for 2-3 months, still didn't know half the people in our ward, and still hadn't made really great friends.

i walked out to get the mail one day, though, and saw angela mills and another neighbor outside with the kids swimming.

they invited me over so i went to the car and grabbed a chair, and promptly creeped pictures of my friends!

this is parker and tenny.

we were even friends then! i asked them to water gun my knees that felt like they were burning.

so they did.

and they did.

but it was lovely anyways..!

we also drove out to south fork (a recreational area 20-30 mins away) with matt and grace (first time we'd really done anything with them...) to do what we thought would be swimming.

we met up with their roommates ken and kyle...who were fishing.

and it was windy,

and this was the beach...

not exactly wader friendly..! but matt and jordan got in.

until we overturned a rock and found leeches

not exactly what we'd planned on, and i probably wouldn't go back...but it got our foot in the door with matt and grace, and look at the times we've had!

worth it.

the 4th of july was our first work friend bbq. and ryan and cat's. where i became the cat lady.  if you remember

and there's molly! first time i met her. she was significantly more sober this time.

guy i don't know, nick schwind, and enwei--who just got married a couple months ago! they're in the army and just left for afghanistan.

there are always lots of animals at these parties, i came to learn. it all started with this...

oh yeah--that cat i am holding as the cat lady? was a tiny kitten at this party...

we watched the fireworks in ryan and cat's front yard on blankets and chairs, eating these weird m&m and strawberry chocolate cupcakes...

there was a fire on the hill a little ways away...

but the fireworks were pretty phenomenal for such a small town--thanks, rich mines, for donating to the cause.

i do love the 4th.