Pioneer Lovin

Favorite Tweet: "The mormons, too good to drink coffee, but more than happy to light illegal fireworks #pioneerday."

This Pioneer Day, after a lovely Cafe Rio retreat, we joined the Madsen family for some larger than life fireworks. How massive you ask? $5,000-worth-of-fireworks-from-Wyoming massive. They got it all on sale though for about half the price, because they are "regulars" in the firework district.

Words Can Lift

Pinterest is my newest obsession and not just because I can stalk all the beautifully artistic things people are doing and creating out in the world, but because I can find inspiration like this. Here are some words to the wise.

 

Here's to my mother, for all her wisdom and willingness to share her inspiration with me. Below is a quote she shared with me a while back that she read one morning in her daily scripture study. It has stuck with me ever since.

I'm grateful for our prophet, who leads this church and reminds us that we can create light out of darkness, if we but rely on our faith. I will be hanging this simple creation of mine in my home very soon.  I hope this blog post boosts your day and lends some encouragement.

Summer Sun

I come to work every morning as the average American does, pick up the newspaper in the BYU University Communications office, heat up my oatmeal religiously and begin to email some professors, when I glance at the date and realize. Summer is running away from me!

Make a list of all the things you have accomplished. I usually tell this to my mother, who does a million things a minute but doesn't seem to notice what she's done.   The Perfectionist Patty inside her says she's done squat. Unlike my mom, I'm a competitor. Not with others, but with myself. I race myself to get my homework done, I see how fast I can write an article for work and no matter how many times I resist it, I will always get up and go to bed if Michael counts to three. I'm a trained child that always wants to succeed. Sad.

So here is to my successful summer!

Fourth of July Beach Day! My favorite tradition of the past two years. This year the Whites joined us! Here's little cuz Presley Harris. The girl sings "Billionaire" better than Bruno Mars.


The Cooks







The Nephews





Padres with the Family! I said this previously, but never posted the joy of watching the Padres Play Ball with my fam-bam.





I was texting Michael and keeping him updated on my new love, sports. That's an overstatement, but can I just say I watch and comprehend Sports Center? Cause I do.




Anneliese can photograph, but I can capture the live magic.

It's been a busy summer of school, work, travel and fun. It's been a little stressful, but it's mostly been a joy to see the family and check some more classes off my list. December Graduation, here I come!

To be 17...

You know how on blogs people actually follow, people have guest bloggers? Well, lets pretend I invited my sister to do that, but I really just stole her photos to share with the world, because no matter how much bad there is in the world there is still enough good (like you people) who deserve a little photographic love.

To be 17 and have the talent of this girl here. Anneliese (no middle name) Carter is, as most of you know, my little sister and alter ego. Famous for her speedy "that's what she said" and wit. Sister's got it all, plus she just posted her own photo gallery on Flickr today. And because she is hardly proud but truly talented, I will graciously be the one to share them with you.

The charming, handsome {son} of Cade and Kassidy Carter. He's just as classy as his mom and pop.

Keep snappin' pics, Ace (ha! newest nickname for A.C.). I hope this girl never stops and teaches me some tricks of the trade. Check out her blog acarter-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com for some more inspiration on how to be spectacular.

Sinner's Motorcycle Club

It's a common phrase, but an unmistakably golden idea - "if I could have a quarter for every time I heard... michael white ask for a motorcycle."

"Couldn't you just see me cruisin' down the freeway to law school?"

"No."

"Ahh, Babe."

"No. I'd rather have you alive than save a little gas money or have you look cool."

"But, Babe."

You get the story. So tonight when we went strolling around Springville with the Probsts, and yes, I understand it's a random saturday night activity, we spotted the next best thing to Michael's hopeful cycle.

This is the famous sculpture by "I'm a Mormon" Jeff Decker, member of sinner's motorcycle club and a mormon. duh.

Maybe Michael can get a motorcycle if he makes a sweet video like this AND wears a full-leather body suit, helmet, wrist-guards, elbow and knee-pads. I'm paranoid.

Off to the Isles

World, meet Sister Megan Looney, one of our newest sister missionaries at the MTC. She is called to serve in the, yep I'm going to say it, the Honolulu, Hawaii mission. It's hard to imagine, but that girl will make the sun shine even brighter on those beaches, because that's what Megan does, she glows.

FYI, this honorary blog post is not meant to be an epilogue, even though I keep telling myself "she's gonna come back again. we'll be able to go running, yogurt eating, movie watching and traveling again someday."

No, this is a toast to a mass of letters with "dear looney... love, stay."

I will 100% miss this girl.

Next up, Sister Claire Pingree, photographer, designer and friend extraordinaire.

Here's the two of 'em. Little did they know they'd be serving a mission in a little over a year from them. Ha!

{I'll be back to post about this little number when she leaves for the MTC august 3 with everybody's favorite Sister Janey Taylor. At least Michael gets to see all of my friends considering he helps run the place}

Runner Exxxx

Feast your eyes on the dirty dash: 9 miles, 6 people, 2 teams, and 1 photographer (moi)

"Oh hot JAMN" came in 2nd!
{Jeff AND Michael + Nick}

We were up at 7:30 AM headed up to some motocross trail in Salt Lake for these MTC co-workers and team Soil Sisters to endure a trek over hill and dirty dale.


Before


After


I totally should've come prepared with running shorts and shoes. Next year. But then again standing around and taking pictures was a little less treacherous

Les Miserables

Ron White called the day we left for Fourth of July Weekend in California to say that we were going to my favorite show of all time. I remember listening to this soundtrack roadtrip after roadtrip growing up, so although I knew every word, I refrained from singing along and spared the audience.

Thank you White Family!!

And thank you Julie for crying with me -- that show will do it to ya.

I had to throw this photo in, because we all look a little "not ready" for the camera (except our lovely Christie)