world's largest, record breaking water balloon fight. no big deal.

The record was broken by 25 participants and 1,021 balloons, making it a total of 3,927 participants and 120,000 balloons. It is also for Kyle Andrew's music video for the song "You Always Make Me Smile" that comes out in August. As you can tell from the video, it was a war zone. It hurt when a balloon hit you and before you know it, you are soaking wet. Mickelle was hit three times in the head. Luckily, only once for me. You had to keep your head down and throw without looking, you had no idea when one would nail you in the face.

Looks like I am in the record books again, folks. First, for the largest attendance of a basketball game at the Cowboys Stadium for the NBA All-Star game and now this.

what i realized today

I can't blame Matt anymore for why I can't get things done.

I thought I would be more productive when I don't have Matt around to distract me. Wrong. I need to start building an effective daily routine. For starters, eating breakfast at a normal time instead of forgetting until it's time for lunch, or do the most important things first, like replacing the windshield of my car, instead of making it a priority to get in a daily stretch to get that much closer to becoming flexible (one of my many goals). I'm still disappointed I couldn't fit in the flexibilty class into my schedule last year.

Lately,
Our apartment has been a sauna. It is as hot inside as it is outside and the AC takes forever to lower the temperature. However, I would rather have it this way than it be cold outside. Bring it on.

Beau and I having been playing alot of Peanuts (Nertz), the card game. I feel so good when I beat him and I'm not a very good loser.

Here is the list of books he put together for us to listen to on our way to Lake Powell and I get to choose. I'm not surprised they are either about war or politics. War it is.
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa
The Road to Serfdom
 Horse Soldiers: The Extraordinary Story of a Band of US Soldiers Who Rode to Victory in Afghanistan
 A Patriot's History of the United States: From Columbus's Great Discovery to the War on Terror
Marine Sniper: 93 Confirmed Kills
Tears in the Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath

We are so excited for the next few weeks!


Pictures from hiking the Y at sunset last night. I love hanging out with these girls.

change is the only constant

This has been an overwhelming week. Matt was offered a job with a great company and we are so excited!  He will be training for four months and then we could move anywhere in the country at the end of the year. He doesn't start until late August, so we have the great opportunity to do as much as we can with this free time before he starts. 

As for me, I walked in April, but I still had an online class to finish before I would officially graduate. I am happy to report I finished it and I cannot wait to get that diploma in the mail. 

Pictures as of late:

I don't remember Utah summers being this hot! Matt's freshly buzzed head. I like rubbing my hand on it.

Rach left me this note at the testing center while I was taking my very last final.

To celebrate we ate out at a delicious new restaurant and stopped in a fun toy store.

My legs                                           Rach's legs

get into it!

We went up the road from Vivian park to a bonfire, so I took a picture of the road where Matt proposed to me on January 23, 2009 (picture it a night). The story of the proposal is the very first post of this blog, found here.

Today, Manti, Rach and I hiked the 8.4 mile hike (up and down) to Squaw Peak. There was a lot of singing, sweat, achey feet and a little dancing (referring to the title of this post). It was steeper than I remember, but the view is worth it. Matt is currently sacrificing himself for science (and for me) in Salt Lake. I love-a-love him so much!

"The Church is true wherever you go."

I just talked to my Dad today who has been traveling a lot lately to Ghana for work. He said he was in the Accra Ghana Temple the other day and I thought that was so cool. He was there with people who spoke many different languages, but they were all taking part in the same ordinances that happen everyday and in almost every part of the world. He made a statement that I knew, but struck me differently when he said it 7,000 miles away, "The Church is true wherever you go."

I cannot stop thinking about the summer I had a chance to go to Europe with my parents and sis with the soccer team and then going to the BYU Jerusalem Center. After getting back from these amazing places, it almost feels like they were a dream, but those memories have stuck with me more than any other experiences.

While in Florence, we went to Church and I am so grateful that taking part in Sacrament there is no different than if I was taking it at Church in Utah or anywhere. Even though I couldn't understand everything while listening to the members' testimonies during the meeting, I felt the spirit and I know what they were saying was true. I had another experience like this in Jordan while with students from the Jerusalem Center and I just cannot wait for the day when all the world has the opportunity to learn and choose whether or not to accept what I know is true. I am so grateful to have the Church in my life, my whole life and that I have been taught the same, true, constant gospel as other millions across the world.

Accra Ghana Temple

4th of july festivities

For the 4th yesterday, Matt put together his amazing shish kabobs and we had a nice, little picnic in front of our apartment. He put so much love and care into preparing these puppies, it made me a little jealous. I'll offer my help whenever he cooks, but I don't think he trusts me.

Today was the parade and this morning we woke up to a hot air balloon right outside our window. This is my first 4th of July celebration in Provo and I never knew what a big deal it is until I experienced all the festivities. There is no regulation for fireworks and we have heard fireworks go off every night this past week.

Matt, Rach and Manti ran up with the little kids to be sprayed with the fire hose.

After the parade we drove down the canyon to float the Provo River. The view of the mountains from the river was beautiful. We bought tubes that we thought wouldn't pop (luckily they didn't, a first), but the water was FREEZING, more than usual. And any part of my body that wasn't burned before is no doubt burned to a crisp now. Time for us to take a break from the sun and let our skin recover. I have a love/hate relationship with the sun. I know I will get a nice tan, but it will cause way more damage in the long run.

happy birthday nathan and america!

Every 4th of July growing up meant two things:

Celebrating the Independence of the US of A

&

Nathan's birthday.

(Must be nice to have fireworks every year on your birthday!)

I am so grateful for my brother. He is funny, smart, outgoing, hard-working, a great dancer, and loves his little sisters and family very much. Happy birthday big bro!

Nathan's wedding. February 2010.

I have the best brothers. Two have/are serving in the military and you can't celebrate the 4th of July without celebrating all those who have sacrificed and served to protect us and our freedoms. It takes a lot of courage and love for our country to be a member of the armed forces. We owe them for all we have.

Steve in Afghanistan. March 2010.

I stole this picture from Adrianne's blog. I couldn't find pictures of Matt in his Navy attire, but Luke is looking precious in the camo. Matt and Luke in San Diego. 2008. I hope Matt and I have cute babes like Adrianne and Matt!

Aren't my brothers handsome? I am so proud of them for who they are and what they have become! I am one lucky sister.


Last weekend, Matt and I drove to Pocotello, Idaho to spend time with Matt's Grandma and Dad. We went through his Grandma's old pictures and had the favorites copied at Kinkos. It was really fun to look through the old black an white photos.

 This is Matt's grandpa, Tolbert. During WWII, he lied about his age and enlisted in the Navy at 17. He fought in the Pacific as a Seabee with the rank of MOMM1 (Motor Machinist Mate 1st Class) and earned the Purple Heart.

America is the greatest country in the world and I am so blessed to live here!

stewart falls

It was a beautiful day to hike up to Stewart Falls at Sundance. The mountains are green and we are loving every opportunity to soak up the heat and sun. The water was freezing, but that didn't stop Matt from stripping down to his underwear to jump in.

the dog days of summer

This past week I finished my training for my new job. I am a swim instructor for SwimKids and I love it! Here is their website. It is a great program teaching children, from babies to young kids, water safety and swimming skills. It is amazing how children can learn all of these important skills at such a young age. I love going to work and I feel like I am making a difference.

FACT:

I am 2 years older than Rach.

However, 9 out of 10, people who have just met me and Rach assume I am the younger sister. Here's another example to add to the list: Rach and I were walking back to her house after eating dinner and she ran into an old freshman friend. He asked if I was in school. I told him I had just graduated. Immediately he replied, "High school?" Oy vey. Another story like this happened when I was working at the floral wholesale place. I get that I look young, especially when I am not wearing make-up, but high school? I just wonder how much longer I will still look like a teenager.

In other news...

Matt's parents bought a boat here in Utah for the Lake Powell trip in August, so Matt worked on some repairs today. I love watching Matt work with his hands and I took this opportunity to see what I can do with my camera in attempt to take more creative pictures.