I'm a homemaker!

or at least I can sew a couple pieces of fabric together. I made this body pillowcase today. These are my favorite colors. Just something to brighten the room as you can tell from my comforter that it isn't bright enough. But the other one kind of clashed. the embroidered pillow I made long ago. But this is the first time I've ever made anything without the help of my mother telling me to sew colored sides together. Or threading the machine!!! But I got a new- or rather really old- sewing machine in July (thanks Gma!!) and I just barely this week opened it. I was just scared of it. But I figured it out, and threading it was the hardest part. But now, I am ready. This was to sample it. I'm gonna be a sewing fool.

And now, for the Rents' mission

These are not in consecutive order, but random spurts of Nauvoo, IL from Aug 5-8. Nick and I journeyed across half the US to visit the parents on a mission there. They are lovin life and seeing more general population than probably 5 of their lifetimes in Firth. They love the 'spirit of Nauvoo' and everything that goes with it. Here is a view of the beautiful temple from down below. and (below) mom and I love these hibiscas. who knows how to spell that?
And there was an adventure of riding the oxen team. I think I'm not allowed to get the word out of what 'really' happened. but you can ask me later.
Dad is a true blacksmith. ANDERSON BLACKSMITH here he is. like father like son. the finished product is a baby horseshoe. the process is man bonding. The capturer is yours truly. All the other elders are jealous of Dad's skills.

On Sunday we watched the Joseph Smith Restoration movie in the visitors center. But a couple evenings earlier we found the special arch where Joseph and Emma made out...
So whenever the band comes around and plays, Pa grabs any children he sees and starts to boogy with them. He's not sure it's in the rules but he hasn't gotten kicked out so far for dancin' out those kicks.
Ma gave the tour at the schoolhouse and we also played a version of madgab. I guess they taught phonetically. She is very knowledgeable.
Here's Dad giving the tour at the Browning shop. Who knew the gunman was a mormon? Dad does! Nick is quite into learned about the multiple bullet theory. (round?) So basically every site we went to the people would offer for the rents to give the tour to their "beautiful glorious children"
We are good at being the 'parents': filming and waving and seeing the children perform and do their best and singing, dancing, and acting...

My ma loves the band and so they love her. They pulled up and started blasting after our tour with the Community of Christ tour. I cried.
Oh wait. This should have been first. The very first morning: My ma's got out the planning and the calendars and the different sheets of paper for each day's activities. not a minute of down time. Unless it's planned of course. and Nick still chowing...
And also, I'm famous. We ran into Dean Hughes and wife who are there acting as public affairs with the City of Nauvoo and the church. (he is an author. Children of the Promise and such)
Here is about the only fam shot. In the home of Brigham Young. I feel like I could practically give the tours around Nauvoo now.

I was going to play catch up and put a bunch of pics on from when me and A and little Oliver went on a road trip to WA, but then Adrie posted them all already and they look good, so go look at her link if interested and haven't already done so... :)

Happy 4th of JULY!!!

I don't know about you, but we had quite the traditional festivities for the holiday weekend. Parade, bbq lunch, lounging around the afternoon, hanging out on the grass at Freemon Park awaiting the long anticipated Idaho Falls fireworks, and crashing the whole drive home. (I wasn't the driver) :) But these are just a few friends from the ward playing phase 10...
And Brian


And today, since we both had the day off, we decided to be adventurous and visit some local tourist attractions... er... some waterfalls. Cave Falls and Mesa Falls. we tried to find sheep falls also but there aren't as big of signs and we looked for a good while and finally gave up only to succeed with some different ones. They're cool. and big. and splashy. and I felt so outdoorsy and one with nature. (it doesn't take much for me) (next step is real camping)
And here is the rock Basalt. Not to be confused with the town Basalt. They're different.
I really do love water. In many forms. Love just watching it go by. And who doesn't love a lovely breeze as well?



This is the other looking down side of cave falls. There used to be a cave here. This is evidence of it 'caving' in. haha. but like in the past couple years or something. Scary. imagine if you were the one that was exploring the cave when it happened to cave...

Cold. Numb.

I did my very first triathlon at Rigby Lake on May 29, 2010. First and only? I don't know. But I do know I trained for it at least a good month and felt I was ready- but nothing prepared me for the bitter cold Idaho day that it was. My face pretty much captures the chill of the lake. The first step in and I knew I would not feel my feet the rest of the race. Which proved to be true. They said it was 58 degrees but I think more water added = colder temp. It was absolutely the coldest water my body has ever been in.


oh the relief of finally getting to get out of the water! swam 1/2 mile


They had wetsuit strippers up by the grass. Just lay on your back and they give you a good pull. It was so hard to get my shirt on! It took probably 2 whole minutes just to get it on. I could barely move! Kal and Brian were there cheering me on and couldn't hardly believe how slow I was moving. But I was lucky to be moving at all! haha. shoes were a challenge also.

This is the bike I borrowed from a new girl I just met in my ward. Aren't people sweet?
The biking was definitely the easiest part. Actually quite fun. Biked 14.4 miles.
This was after I'd already run around the lake and was heading out towards the road. Now I could not feel my feet at all at this point. or ever... Who knows what I was running on. Also it was pouring rain the whole time and in the low 40s.

And I made it! Ran 3.1 miles. It was fun to train and get in shape. Not a fun swim. But a 'good experience' haha.

Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point!

Would you look at this!

Look who decided to update her blog! I finally made my new laptop from Thanksgiving work! Something about a pop-up window disabled. I'm brilliant. This is just some news of a recent road trip we took. Nick, me, Heather, Brian. Heather had a house in St George made available to use so we ran with it. Cruised on down to Vegas and since I hate Vegas I made them say we could watch a show. And Lion King it was! It was seriously amazing and definitely worth it!
After Las Vegas, a cleansing of the soul is recommended. So, we did a session in the St. George Temple!
Oh this is the m&m factory/place in Las Vegas. So many colors!
This is mostly for A. Hugest onion rings ever. And the shake was a mini. It was at Iceberg. It hit the spot man.

Then on the coldest day they've seen in months, we decided to visit Zion's National Park. There were still some good sights to see and driving through caves to be done. That little window is a window in the tunnel we drove through. Over a mile long!
Such beautiful scenery!!! I had to pose in my model shot...


And here we are running down a hill. cool huh? Yeah, we actually got out and hiked a bit in the bitter cold and hail. Great trip. good times.