my visit to my sister :)

mandy and i decided that it had been faaar too long since we had just seen only each other--and we needed to fix that..! and she needed help decluttering/reorganizing her house. and paul was on a business trip. and jordan was working a bazillion hours. so i drove out to spend like 4 days in utah! and it was. the most fun. ever. also this is the longest post ever. you've been warned.

except that it started like this: i'm all packed up, get on the freeway, i'm off! on the road, then i think to myself....... wait...... where's my wallet..... oh, crap. please oh please oh please...! rifle through my purse. dump out said purse while trying to stay on the freeway. start searching frantically for somewhere to turn around on i-80 (ha!) as i realize but pray so hard it's not true... that my wallet is in my car. that is locked. and sitting in the mine parking lot. and jordan has the only key out at the mine a half hour away. because of course i can't find the valet key that i swear was in my purse!

and now my options are: 1) keep going to utah. without money, without my id, and just risk it. jordan could have overnighted me the wallet--and in hindsight, i think that's what we'll do next time. but just please bless there isn't a next time but option 1 didn't include the overnighting plan. ha. idiots. 2) turn around and go home. wait for jordan to get home and then leave for utah. but that's not an option, because then i'm not to utah til like 7-9 pm!!! no way. 3) turn around and go home. and try again in the morning. that that wasn't an option because then i miss a whole half day with my sister! no way. 4) turn around and drive 45 mins (by this point) in the opposite direction to the mine, navigate all the security and dirt and getting him to be able to leave his office, and get the key. drive to the mine parking lot, get my wallet, continue on to utah. adds on one-two extra hours of driving to an already 4 hour drive. no thank you! or option 5) that i was hoping beyond hope after i'd found an illegal turnaround on the freeway and called jordan as i was on my way back home, that he'd be able to come home and meet me halfway during his lunch! ...except he only gets a half hour lunch, and probably not even that that day--no way he could leave.

so at that point i'm back home, deflated, furious, and pms hormonal ugly crying on my living room floor. i facetimed mandy and told her my sordid tale, and she talked me through and calmed me down and then jordan called me and said just hang on a minute someone might be leaving the mine right now that could meet you at the parking lot (which is just 10 miles west of town... better than 75!) so i just relaxed, watched fringe, and waited to hear back, resigned to waiting. then i got this text

and frohbieter (yeah. like fro-beater. best last name ever.) met me at the parking lot and saved my life!!! jordan had given him the car key, which i used to get into the car, grab my wallet, hid it closeby so jordan could still get home, and THEN headed for utah! for real this time. 

and i was just so mad. and i hadn't gotten a book on tape, or anything...but i just listened to npr and dave ramsey the whole time wherever i had reception, and i made it ok.

and i saw this awesome semi. 

jesus christ will soon come. and the side of it as i passed was covered in pictures of jesus! so so great.

well i finally made it, and i was just so so thrilled to get to see my buddy! and to be out of the car, and to hug my sister. she had a photoshoot or something that night, and i made it right before she had to leave! and she had the most delicious dinner ready to go on the table, and we got to eat and chat before she had to go! but then i hung out with maxer while she went to work. we read stories--except they had to be transported by tractor.

and played trains, (and tractors) and the tractors would sit in the middle "to watch"

but when we couldn't find the other half of the bridge piece, i had to get a little creative. no idea why there was a pinecone in with the train tracks--but it was perfect.

we showered homeboy right before bedtime, and i saw the little message mandy had left for me!!! i probably squealed a little.
and also took a bajillion pictures of max in the shower. because he's my nephew and i think he is adorable.

we had such a blast. except i had to leave because he thought it was hilarious to start throwing water on me. ha.

we did the drying machine (an old tradition my dad did for us as kids--you sit on his lap, everything folded up in a towel, then he holds his finger out in front of your nose and you have to "push the button" to start. his legs bounce while the arms do the drying with the towel (and some tossing and turning, and flipping upside down)--but then it stops before you're all dry and you have to push the button again!) fond memories, that's all.
then i made him walk around with his towel dress... ha! he wasn't thrilled.

but then we read stories til mama came home

and then we decided we'd better change into long jammers cause he was covered in mosquito bites and couldn't stop itching them. i don't remember what we did after max went to bed. i'm pretty sure we worked on mandy's bedroom. :) and we never even took before/after pictures! dang it.

thursday morning we went to the temple. we had to drop max off at mandy's friend shellie's first, because she and her girls were so kind as to watch max for us! max had to help bear climb the stairs. and there were sound effects... it was hilarious.

they really did such a gorgeous job with the brigham city temple...! i love that this is the view right out the front doors--

and we stopped to take a picture on our way in, but a family was coming in right behind us and they stopped so they wouldn't get in our way...! hate when that happens... it's like, please, you can keep walking. our picture isn't going to turn out as well if you're standing there watching...! no need to wait for us.. ha. so on our way out we tried again.

i love this sister of mine. she's pretty much the world's greatest.

we finished working on her room that day, and max just loved to pick his nose during story time. love that 2 year old.

then uncle jordan facetimed us and i caught their screen shot giving a kiss... gah! heart melter. also jordan was doing the dishes at home. double bonus!

i don't remember what we did friday, except work on the craft room dejunking. but max refused to walk normally holding mandy's hand--and instead squat walked. i died...!

we went on a walk with becky in the cemetery, and before she pulled up we did some squats and lunges... two older ladies who were doing their own walking passed us, and laughed at our faces; a loud "HA! good morning..!" so that was nice. but we just laughed right back. at their faces.

and max was just huge and as adorable as always, and after i came back from taking a little run around the place we walked like this for a solid road length. ha! it was tricky. but adorable.

after our walk we went to the grocery store, but max and i just stayed in the car so it was faster. we had some deep conversations about life.
you go ahead and tell me you don't love the way 2 year olds talk. i dare you.

then we played trains so mama could have a rest. i'm pretty sure i had more fun than he did.

and we had the most delicious smoothie before naptime, but max had to double fist it with his smoothie and water... because why wouldn't you?

we kept working on the craft room, and i found so many pictures! i just had to look through them for old times sake... although old family pictures are only awesome to...your family. sooo, sorry not sorry!

this is like 9 year old jordan... oh that kid... pretty sure we were camping at yellowstone or something here. he still doesn't smile normal for pictures.

and proof that we used to be friends sometimes! even though i was a brat growing up...

and i about died when i saw this...!! mandy's high school graduation. look who just happens to be in the background...! ha!! my honey.

cuuuute...!

through our cleaning we found mandy's shower crayons that she'd been saving for when she had kids. well, ta da!!! perfect timing.

gah that little baby butt!!! ....sorry mandy. and/or max when you're 17.

he had a blast. and never ever ever wanted to leave that shower. getting ready for bed was rough this night... but he eventually went down and our cousin emily came to the farm with her family for some pictures! it was a gorgeous night and even though it rained a little i think they turned out pretty darn great. my sister is amazing. that is all.

saturday morning we were going to head down to salt lake to hang out with mama before i went home, but first mandy had to get some footage for grandpa munns' birthday video. or father's day? i don't remember. i think it was father's day. it turned out pretty adorable, but max was having a grumpy time.  except for when i stuck him in the bucket.

so i just made him ride with me to grandma's house--and we sang songs the whole way. and he played with my sunglasses. luckily i had 3 pairs... (who am i??) and did all the songs. this kid is a boss at book of mormon stories, the wheels on the bus, and the itsy bitsy spider. and the temple song. ya know. the usuals.

he kills me.

jordo stopped by while we were all down, and we just hung out! we probably went to target... and my dad came home from work in time that i got to see him too--and i just had never felt so sad to leave home...!!!! i just miss and love my family so much. at least it's only 300 miles that separate us..! could be worse!

4th of july

zeus

3 rounds for time of:

30 wall ball shots, (20/14)
30 sumo deadlift high-pull (75/55)
30 box jump, (20/18)
30 pound Push press (75/55)
row 30 calories
30 push-ups
10 body weight back squats

except we did a block run in place of rowing, and 30 front squats instead of 10 body weight back squats.

it sucked.

grace's body language here shows that. but i did a good job!

we went to see man of steel, then went to a bbq that was the same as what we did last year, even though the owners weren't home--so nice to let us use their house but this year it was more fun. it pays to know people better! 

the girl in the sundress made theee most amazing cheese dip. and it sprinkled on us while we sat there chatting. it was beautiful.

i was particularly thrilled that matt and grace came. and kyle. i like kyle.

grace's roommate ken also showed up--did you know some reef flip flops have bottle openers on the bottom of them...?!?  i was floored. and amazed by the ingenuity. and wished i had a reason to need them.

it rained a couple flowers too. and this one landed so perfectly in jordan's hair. i loved it.

right when someone finished their best rendition of the star spangled banner across the street at the fairgrounds, it started pouring rain. so we just shoved right up under the front porch and sat cozy til it died down a little. (it never really did)

but i loved it! and last year--the guy who asked if we were having a good 4th--and then chucked two handfuls of glo sticks over the fence and told us to keep going. 

this year he never did reappear. but two boys running in the rain saw us piled against the house and asked if we wanted to buy any glo sticks. nick, having had a bit to drink, yelled "f* it. yes! come 'ere! I'M THE F*ING GLO STICK FAIRY" hahahahahahahahahaha. i cried. he shelled out 20 bucks for each of us to have one, and while they were counting them out he was telling the kids "i know these things only cost like $.30!"

it was hilarious. and then i found out grace has gauges! and glo sticks totally fit in them perfectly. she sported them the rest of the night. and perrin had an umbrella in her truck! so we improvised.

eventually it died down enough to light them off--it was great. 

then since traffic was so awful because we were right across the street, we decided to play telephone pictionary. 

which happens to be one of my favorite games. except with this crowd it gets a little.... inappropriate.

but we still had fun! i love the 4th. i love the fireworks. i love the bbqs. i love the people...most of them.  haha! these are lovely folks. and i loved that it poured rain! and i also couldn't walk the next day. 

life is good. 

god bless america.

life in parkway

last sunday i woke up from my nap before i was ready and i was just so grumpy. jordan went home teaching. and came home and i was sleeping on the couch and i woke up. and was so grumpy. our conversation went like this, as i walked at him and he just wrapped his arms on me "i'm so grumpy...! i just want cookies..." giant frownie face. "coookiiiieeeessss..." jordan says: "you want cookies?" "it's too effing hoooottttt.....!" and i walk down the hall to do something, i don't remember now. he yells down the hall "too late!" and as i hang out on the couch this was the view i had

he's the sweetest. also, kevin is our home teacher! and these two cuties were his companions! best. hometeachers. ever. they also helped me be less grumpy.

monday after the gym i went to get my mail as usual, and found angela and her cute boys riding bikes and looking at bugs in the shade on the sidewalk! i swung by to say hi and ended up talking about potato bugs with the boys.

until we heard some particularly obnoxious crows right within range--and i asked angela if she would mind if i brought my bb gun out in front of her boys. they asked a million questions, and we shot at those little effers and this is all we got out of it...! but they left. and didn't come back. ...til a few days later.

all the sudden another hour had passed with us chatting and bug watching and enjoying the shade, and angela had to run to take her husband his lunch! so i offered to watch these two kiddos while she took the youngest and ran quick.

we had a blast. they picked these flowers for me.

i laid down to relax while these boys tied flowers onto their bikes. we talked and searched for all the potato bugs we could find. named them. talked about bb guns. and wa-bam! it was noon. love these crazy kids and all their stories and the constant things they have to tell me.

angela came back, our neighbor cadie came over with her stroller on her way home from a neighbor's, and one of the boys found a sprinkler set up behind us... came back soaking wet, and i decided i had to join in...! and angela offered to get us pictures on my phone. it was kind of the funnest morning.

since i was already soaked and the city pool opened in an hour--enough time for me to eat and get changed, i texted stefani to see if she wanted to go swimming! it was just the funnest day.

i love where i live.