HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN!

I kinda knew Meg would be my best friend as soon as I met her on the bus on my way to my first day at a new school the middle of my sophomore year of high school.

Megan and I have had so many great adventures over the past 12 years. In fact, Pedro and I met when Megan and Pedro were set up on a blind date and we doubled (thanks Meg and Grant).

Today is Megan's birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

I LOVE YOUR GUTS!!!

         She writes cool songs (note guitar in background)

                At the Logan temple after all four of us came home from missions

     After a walking self-guided tour of Washington, D.C. sin umbrellas

Meg and her husband Tyler making brownie sculptures on a double date with us

Happy Birthday America, America!

Pedro hung up our flag off the porch. Hooray! I love seeing the flag every time I walk in the front door.

I haven't been able to capture it on video yet, but Rody sings the most adorable rendition of "America the Beautiful".

I LOVE THE 4th of JULY!!!

I took Rody to his first parade. I think he would sum up his reaction as so: horrifyingly loud, intriguingly fun. We potluck-lunched with church friends at a park. That night we exposed our son to the joys and terrors of driveway fireworks. He loved waving around a sparkler - until it went out and he touched the hot part. Oops. Sorry buddy. If I remember, I'll post the video of that experience.

I randomly sang patriotic songs throughout the day and loved every minute of it.

While Papa is studying

 Bubble Beards

 Cotton ball Sheep Art

 Color Time

 Shadow Bunnies

 Froot Loop Fun

Extracting bone marrow for nearly authentic Bolivian Saltenas

Happy Birthday Gabby! Happy Birthday Tami!

Temple trip adventures

Rody came with Momma to the temple. Relief Society offered free child care at the church - thanks! After Momma was finished, we walked around the temple. Rody got to touch the temple wall and smell the flowers. We sat on a bench and sang one of his favorite songs "I Love to See the Temple."

We talked about how because of the temple, Papa, Momma and Rody get to live together forever as a family. We are so grateful for the temple and the blessings we receive through keeping our covenants.

What do Minnesota and Bolivia have in common?

I've never felt such high humidity/heat-induced lethargy than in Minnesota and Bolivia. Until last night I never worried about getting heat stroke at midnight in my own bedroom.

For those who hail from Southern California or somewhere equally unbearable in the summer, I feel for you and I covet your A/C.

Okay, I think I'm finished with my whining session. Thanks for your patience.

On a upbeat, Rody got his first underwater swimming experience in a neighbor's thigh-high pool. He was very brave, but declined when asked if he wanted to do it again.

Cheers!

Semi-guilty pleasures

I am eating cookie dough and blogging about it to get my strength up so I can attack the montrous mountain of dishes threatening to take over the rest of our apartment after they finish off the kitchen.

What are your guily pleasures or strength-building (aka procrastination) techniques?

"appy! appy!" with Nana & Grandpa Blake