and another one goes

I have been out of commission the past week due to strep throat...figures. Just the icing on the cake for my life over the past month. Lets just say its been a rollercoaster of emotions. My favorite. NOT! Anyways, Andrew went into the MTC this past Wednesday. Luckily I was able to spend the last couple days with him. I drove up Thursday to pick him up from Idaho and get him packed while he finished his hw and completed all his finals. We drove back Friday and hoped on a plane for Carlsbad on Saturday where I FINALLY got to see my new home. It was beautiful! I loved the weather, loved the area, loved the zip line and loved that my family was all together! Matt and Camille drove down with the babies and we spent the weekend eating, laughing, watching conference and zip lining. There was some beach pushed in as well! We all flew back on Monday and spent the next couple days getting Andrew ready for his big farewell. On Wednesday the lucky boy got set apart an hour before he entered the MTC by President Brown. It was a powerful hour filled with lots of crying, testimonies and smiles. Andrew is going to be an incredible missionary to the people of Thai. I could not be luckier to have two amazing brothers out on their missions. I miss them very much but everything is okay knowing that they are in the bset place that they could be!

oh! St. Patrick was a gentlemen....

i love holidays! a past roommate of mine made me appreciate them a whole lot more than i ever could imagine. but today this is holidays reminded me of an amazing time in my life when i was able to meet some incredible people and see by far the most beautiful place i have ever encountered. so not to rub in but let me just take a step back into memory lane.
the majority of these pictures are with people but thats what made it so amazing!

Welcome to California

Minutes after I was picked up at the Oakland airport this lovely vehicle came rolling up right in front of the car. I loved the classic tires and rims but what made this picture worth capturing was the little sign hanging on the back window. "Baby on board" Enough said. Oh how I miss this great state.

what could be more perfect?

another stamp in that passport of mine

About a week ago I headed south to warmer climates and can I just say, it was fabulous. Words could not express how excited I was for some natural vitamin d. Once I arrived in Mexico I striped off my jacket threw on some shorts and flip flops and hit the beach. The water was warm and my vacation was perfect. I drank my way through pina coladas, zip lined through the wild jungle of mexico (13 zip lines 1,000 ft long 700 ft high), and went sailing for thefirst time (which then led to getting kicked out of the pacific for lack of experience). Sadly I did a terrible job of documenting the trip and only took these pictures.
I have a little bit of an obsession with taking pictures from planes.

sytycd addiction

for those of you who know me would agree that when i say that i am addicted to sytycd that is an understatement. even when i was traveling abroad i watched it everyweek through youtube. so one night i was showing krystal some of the dances and she said:

K: Is this interpretive dancing?
R: hmmm...or hip hop!

maybe it was just funny to the two of us. but she is just so dang precious i could not stop laughing.

on another note. my dear friend ashley (shout out) showed me this video today. i had heard the song several times but i loved this. if you get a chance watch the original sytycd performance and her music video.

lack of vitamin d

Fact: I can't handle the cold. I know it seems like every other post is revolving around the snow or cold but i am OVER IT!

SO on an upside I am peacing out to Mexico for 4 days! Hello Vitamin D I can hardly wait.

Fact: Last year this time I was heading to south america. i had zero direction in my life.

Now I for sure feel like I have a grip on life and I kind of like it!

Fact: Right now i wish i was in the amazon sweating my booty off rather than living in 9 degree weather.
Honestly I am happy to be in good ole' p-town!