travelocity

these last four months I've traveled more than I ever have in my life. Since January I've been in 16 different planes, 8 time zones, and spent the night in over 20 locations.

Most recently, I visited Washington DC for Memorial Day and Taylor was able to travel to visit me in Seattle! Visits and vacations make summer all the better :)

we went bike riding in the park

visited Snoqualmie Falls. . .in the rain

gum wall in Seattle

toured the Capitol in Washington DC!!!!

most beautiful temple

Lincoln Memorial

National Monument

white house

driving home from the beach

downtown DC

aaaand this was probably the laziest post ever with no cool stories or funny things. however I did make it onto facebook! and because fb uploader is so much faster than blogger. . . more pics of Seattle and DC are at 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150830164064639.404739.540939638&type=1

 I cut myself some slack because today I am home sick lying on the couch. guess I'm all partied out. even blogging makes me tired. Today I slept for 12 hours and then sat all day watching Bones and eating Great Harvest cinnamon chip bread. hmmm so I guess worse things have happened.

BUT the exciting news is! 

the next trip on the agenda is going to Provo with my mom to run Ragnar! I also get to see some of my besties and hang out with fam. so stoked.

only babies wear rompers

on Mother's Day weekend my family went to Maui (yes I am behind on blogging. . . )

I sported my romper which was not well received by the rest of my family. Apparently "only babies wear rompers".

Speaking of babies, we were able to talk to the baby of the family on Mother's day! My brother is in Brazil serving his mission, I we finally got to see his face and talk to him after 4 months. Only 20 months to go! And in t-minus 7 weeks I will be joining him in Brazil :)

I'm so blessed and love my family so much! It's probably just because they are my family, but I think they are the funniest people and love to be with them. For instance, this video cracks me up. Nothing funny in particular, and yet so funny. We all thought Mel was taking pictures when really she was filming. And this was the result.

                                 

if only i was famous

if only i was famous and could be in a music video. . .

this is the one I would choose hands down. it's so funny, i just wish i could be her.

watch out boys.


            

seattle summer

this is my first time being home for spring semester, which means that almost everyone is still at school and I am home :)

However, I have been keeping myself busy. I began a "spring cleaning" project in my bedroom just after I got home. . . and it's still going. I can't believe how much weird stuff I've saved over the years! I went through my drawers and closet and cleaned out my clothes. I have a hard time getting rid of things, either because they have some weird sentimental value or I got it for a really good deal so I want to keep it.

. . . like bright colored vests, ugly hats, and my "chalk bandits" disguise
 (remember those Claire and Keri?) ha.
       

finished product. . . organized closet!

and lots of clothes to donate to value village :)

When I am not sorting/re-organizing my whole room. . . .

I go to the temple with my mom :)

I try and get in shape.

 Ha it's been a slow and painful process. I am running Ragnar in June and need to work up to 21 miles. So for the time being I jog with the Relief Society ladies in the mornings (haha) or do P90x. Usually that just ends up with me lying on the yoga mat in child's pose, watching Tony Horton and his crew "bring it!" what a man.

I hang out with my dog. Lame, but weirdly fun.

Visit my sister/niece/nephew!!

My mother and I took a spontaneous roadtrip to Oregon to see my sister's new apartment.

Anne and I read books

painted finger nails

played with make-up and my toothbrush

did P90x together - she was actually pretty good at it.

                                   

we made brownies

she is THE cutest. and she looooves princesses :) 

                               

my new nephew william is the most precious little human being :)

Sounders soccer games in Seattle 

how many dreads can you fit in one hat? 

Relax up at the cabin in Snoqualmie

still snowing up there!

nothing like watchin a movie in the morning with oatmeal and milk :)

Hang out with Andrea - the newly engaged woman! 

Andrea and I are the only ones home for the summer. . . because Keri is now in New Zealand, Claire is married and living in Idaho, and Anna is back in Provo for spring term. miss these girls.

So Andrea and I spend our time doing fun things like looking at http://attackofthecute.com/ for hours.

This is our favorite discovery thus far. . . who knew sloths could be so frightening

oh. . .and in celebration of Cinco de Mayo we made taquitos and my mom even cutely decorated the table :)

in 4 DAYS I'm headed to Hawaii with my fam

and in 18 DAYS I'm going to Washington DC. eeeeeeek! so excited. life rocks.

deseret celeb

I walked into Deseret Book and saw my face on a book cover!! 

totally shocked. It was the strangest thing. I asked the lady at the counter if I could get a discount since my face on was the book, but apparently that doesn't get me any special treatment. bummer.

I posed for this painting over six months ago with my niece Anne for a woman named Elspeth Young. She is so talented!! Originally this painting depicted me as a Nephite mother who brought my child to see the Savior when he appeared to the people in the Americas. Which is why I was surprised to see me as Mary with my niece as the baby Jesus! Pretty cool though :)

http://www.alyoung.com/art/work-children.html 

"And so, the young mother in this painting brings her child to the Savior. The Messiah does not appear in person in the painting, but as the young one stretches forth her hand toward Him, the radiance of His countenance encircles her in hope and healing."

I also posed with my sister for Elspeth's "Women of the Bible" art collection. In this painting my sister is Phoebe, a woman mentioned in Romans chapter 16, and she is comforting me because I am a woman who just lost her husband. 

                                          

 

Check out Elspeth Young's beautiful artwork at http://www.alyoung.com/art/elspeth_young.html! :)

little gems

Today I went through a box of old stuff and found some little gems from the past :)

such as my Lisa Frank hummingbird journal. Remember when that was all the rage?

Here are some thoughts from an 8 year old girl . . .

- - - - - - 

5/17/1999

     A few days ago I was a bad girl and I looked in Amys journol. Well I've got an idea. So I'll wright to Mr. Fat. 

   Dr. Mr. Fat, 

I am feeling kind of nevous. I don't know why! I have a strange feeling about something. But I don't know what is so strange about it. I may not be making any sense. You are my best friend and you might understand. 

Your Friend, 

Natalie 

ps - whisper back to me! 

pps - I forgot my idea. miss you! 

ppps - to everyone whos reading my journol Mr. Fat is a fake friend. I tell him all my feelings. 

10/20/1999

    When I grow up I want to be a stay at home mom! My mom is a stay at home mom and my dad works. Almost everyone in my family is a girl except my brother and my dad and the girls want to be a stay at home mom. Our husbands would work. I would keep the house clean and I would take care of my children. I would read to my children every night too. If I had to work I would be an art teacher! I would work at the school as an art teacher. I would work for someone named Mrs. Fonk. Or I would be a mail lady! or a horse rider! 

1/26/2000

   If I could be a vegetable I would be a carrot because carrots are my favorite vegetable. I would live in a frige with Alyssa and Linda. Linda would be an apple and Alyssa would be a onion. The people wouldn't eat us because they liked to keep us. The people names were Kathy and Hally. 

6/5/2000

   This frosty morning as I was coming to school I was thinking how it would be to fly and as I was thinking I started to fly. A big unicorn came and said, "hello". The unicorn showed me the prettiest place. It was a waterfall covered with flowers. There was a stream and tall tress. Also other unicorns with a white body and pink glittery tails. The horns were shining yellow. We flew above the clouds and flew to a castle. We saw the king and queen. There was a lake with islands. Then I saw a purple tiny weeny elephant. It was carrying a blue gigantic mouse. I crossed the street and said "what planet are you from?" It pointed to the sky. I said "Can you take me there?" They nodded there head. I followed them to their space ship. I went there and lived happily ever after. 

- - - - - -

Definitely safe to say that I had quite the imagination! And sorry Amy that I read your journal 12 years ago. . . I remember feeling really guilty about that for a long time. 

As far as the career, I can say I'm glad I chose not to be a mail lady, although who knows. . . maybe they make more money than an elementary school teacher. Becoming a horse rider? hmmm I would still say that's very possible.