Oregon Happy List

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-Meeting with the Hintons for breakfast in Pendleton

-going to Multinomah Falls.. Beautiful!

-seeing Grandma and Jo

-going to eat dinner at the Logger

-arriving in Seaside & going straight to the beach

-going to bed early & falling asleep until 3:00 AM

-the whole family waking up at 3:00 and chatting because we couldn't sleep :)

-picking up Austin from the airport

-going to Burgerville for lunch

-playing 20 questions on the way back to the coast

-family time

-having a campfire & smores on the beach

-special one on one talk between me and Austin

-Deanne's "scary" little red riding hood story

-spending so much time with Austin and Jeremy

-texting Jilly & having her there to look after my little home

-climbing the Astoria Column

-our favorite Long Beach fudge shop!

-the word "deedle" with Deanne

-going to get snow cones with Deanne

-shopping with Austin and Jared

-walking around the North Head lighthouse

-Jared accidentally throwing our umbrella off of a cliff!

-having spiritual conversation with my boys on the beach, in the rain.. bliss.

-the most wonderful bed.. so comfy

-the Four Winds Hotel.. A tremendous blessing in my life and some of the most Christlike people I've ever met.

-listening to Grandma tell us stories about her childhood spent at the diner

-listening to oldies all week..

-walking with Jared, in the rain, with a polka dot umbrella
-a relaxing day

-going to see Transformers

-talking with Grandma and Mom

-eating grapes while playing Upwords

-not wanting to go home so, going shopping and to the beach instead..even if that meant getting home at 4 AM.. :)

-finally making it home & going straight to bed

I won't back down

Check out this timeline..

Friday, June 24th 11:00 PM - Pick up Jared from work and start our roadtrip to Oregon
Saturday, June 25th - Thursday, June 30th - Oregon.. :)
Friday, July 1st 4:00 AM - Arrive home & straight to bed.
Saturday, July 2nd - July 3rd - Camping!
Monday, July 4th 3:00 AM - Arrive home, shower, & straight to bed.

26 hours of driving, 5 states, 1 waterfall, 2 lighthouses, 2 Burgerville shakes, 2 Candyman ice cream cones, family time, 3 games of Upwords, 3 campfires, 10,000 mosiqutos, fourwheeling, 32 fishies, and 2 very sleepy Toblers.

These past 11 days have been quite something! I have much to edit, much to blog, and much to do. There is fun to still be had.. now dear ShayLee is visiting. :)

For the 4th, Jared and I planned on going swimming at Seven Peaks. We got into our swimming suits and put on some sunscreen but, when we walked outside there was no sunshine to be seen. So, we went back inside, put on our pajamas, and watched sitcoms on the couch. It was just what we needed.

Jared later went to work (bless him and bless holiday pay) and I went to watch fireworks with the girls..

I am obsessed with the Instagram App. It's true.

p.s. blog title explanation: I heard Tom Petty while filling up my car, it made me instantly happy, and I decided it was today's anthem. Plus, what's more American than listening to Tom Petty?

daydream believer

I recently received a card from my aunt Joleen, who lives in (my beloved) Oregon. She says the weather right now is wonderful, just like it was the February I came out 7 or 8 years ago. I went alone to spend time with my Grandma and Joleen. We stayed in a room with the view of the beach right out of our window. We had crab cocktails and fudge and went sight seeing everyday.

The Oregon cravings are starting and I am daydreaming about June.. My cousin, Austin will be home from his mission and the whole family will be together in my favorite place.. :) Here are some pictures of Jared and I swinging on the beach last year:

The weekend song

-lunch with Aunt and Mom at my beloved Cafe Rio'

-flat tire

-grocery shopping with my mom because she was kind enough to drive me around to do my errands

-cleaning the house

-chicken pillows

-watching Overboard with friends, I love that movie..

-a relaxing Saturday

-watching one of my favorite movies, The Young Victoria

-breakfast and an inspirational movie before church
-lasagna at my parent's house

-playing games with friends

-Jared so kindly reminding me during church that my CTR ring has been to Hawaii but, I have not. (He took it with him when we very very first started dating and took the picture below.. Someday, he will take me... I hope!)

The Weekend Song

We stayed with friends, Rob & Mckenzie, in their family cabin and admired the most amazing yellow leaves, played games until the early hours of the morning, and slept in until the morning hours were almost over.

When we pulled out of Maple Lane, I wished we could stay the entire week. Oh, weekends are wonderful aren't they?

Oregon Happy List

-driving to Oregon
-watching the sunrise in Idaho
-finally seeing my Oregon trees
-Jared letting me drive for 130 miles. Haha.
-showing up at my grandma’s & Jo’s early
-eating my favorite chicken taco salad at the Logger
-being recognized by the waitress at the Logger (is that sad or not?)
-talking with Grandma & Jo Jo
-surprising my Mom & Dad. We told them we were going to leave at 6 AM but instead, we left at 1:00 AM and beat them to my Grandma’s! They were so shocked!
-our gorgeous condo! It was amazing..
-sandcastle competition on Cannon Beach
-shopping in Seaside
-the best chicken strips I’ve ever tasted
-a new beautiful painting of Astoria
-almost starting a fire in the bathroom
-going to church in Seaside
-racing dad on the dock

-going on top of the Space Needle
-an amazing view of Seattle while eating lunch
-seeing Pike’s Place Market
-taking a Ferry on the Puget Sound
-meeting Kristie and Devin for dinner
-playing tag in slippery socks with my dad around the condo
-listening to Grandma’s stories
-a character drawing at the Seaside Mall
-talking about our religion with the artist who drew our picture
-swinging on the beach
-walking on the Promenade
-Deanne arriving in Seaside
-seeing movies with Jared
-going to Ecola with Mom, Deanne, and Joleen
-taking a little hike with Deanne
-ECOLA State Park! It’s my favorite thing about Oregon
-laughing and talking with the girls
-playing games
-winning Upwords
-shaved ice with Deanne
-the beach
-laughing hysterically with Deanne
-surprising Jared and taking him on a breakfast picnic in Ecola
-taking jumping pictures on Indian Beach
-driving through the trees in Ecola while listening to Kelly Sweet
-having the whole family together on the last night (minus Aust & Jerm)
-a comforting hug
-Pign’ Pancake before leaving town
-goodbye hugs
-one last look at the ocean
-reading "The Last Song"

Oh, how I miss Oregon. I'm still trying to recruit friends and family to move there with us! ;) I've gotten two couples so far. Any other takers?? ;)

Seattle Aquarium

Lake Powell

I remember going to Lake Powell with my family when I was younger and thinking, "this is my favorite place in the world". I remember running down the sandy hills with my cousins and sleeping on the boat with Austin. Tubing for hours.. cruising around the lake as fast as we could. Ice cream cones on the dock.. Ah, I have always loved Lake Powell.

We went with the Tobler's in June and it was just as wonderful as I remember. Here is my happy list from our trip, and pictures, of course.

-Cafe Rio before we left for our trip
-getting to Kanab much faster than we thought!
-waking up giggling.. Sometimes I am so hyper in the mornings
-boating on beautiful Lake Powell!
-wakeboarding & getting up on my first try! (it has been a few years..)
-tubing with Meagan
-sandwiches on the beach
-dinner & Safeway's ice cream
-the most delicious french toast I've ever had
-a very friendly waiter from the Philippines
-relaxing
-swimming at the pool with Kaden, Meagan, PJ, & Jared
-pina colada by the pool
-Kaden and his water gun
-a dinner cruise on the Lake. It was so beautiful and a wonderful time.
-swimming under the stars
-talking with Meagan in the hot tub
-Kaden "swimming" back & forth
-showing Kaden the stars and him saying, "I just can't believe it!"
-going to the Antelope Slot Canyons. It was so breathtaking..
-an indian tour guide who said he use to play in the slot canyons when he was little. He helped me out a lot and took many pictures of me and Jared.
-a french woman's very hairy legs
-touring Bryce Canyon
-pizza & coke for dinner
-a very adorable candy store with very yummy FUDGE!
-Willis Creek.. so pretty.
-Mossy Waterfall

Bees like honey, yes.

When in Colorado, Jared and I were lucky enough to spend our weekend cuddling with a 4-year old name Joseph. He knows every kind of car (Te-yoda, Nissan, Honda..), loves to read, and he told me over dinner that, "Bees don't like hamburgers. Bees like honey, yes..." We also were able to go explore downtown Denver. (loved the city!) We had a great trip and Colorado is gorgeous!

Happy Weekend & September!

Labor day weekend means that Fall is on it's way! I can't wait. Autumn is my absolute favorite season! I've made a FALL LIVE LIST inspired by Megan's Summer Live List. What a fun Fall it will be!

Fall Live List:

-Go to the zoo

-Go on a moonlight liftride at Sundance

-Make pumpkin chip cookies

-Have a Halloween Party

-Visit the mountains to take leaf pictures with Whit

-Have a campfire in the mountains with friends

-GET MY HAIR DONE!

-Go to the Haunted Deseret

-Carve pumpkins and then watch a scary movie with Mr.

-Go to FRIGHTMARRRES!

We're heading out of town to a place I've never been!

Happy long weekend!

White River Rafting is my New Love

We had a great weekend in Riggins, Idaho with new friends last weekend.

A few favorties from the weekend:

-Jason Mraz
-Sleeping under the most fantastic stars I've ever seen! I couldn't even sleep..
-River rafting adventure on the Salmon River!!
-Beautiful Sunsets
-Rainbows
-Girl talk on the beach of the river

Happy List: Oregon Addition

-The famous chicken taco salad from The Logger
-Sunsets and swings on the beach
-Deanne's Johnny Cash impersonation
-Kristie's arrival and spending time together
-Laughing hysterically about my grandmother sounding like Darth Vadar as she slept
-Playing games
-Deanne throwing a bottle of root beer at Kristie and then not remembering the next day
-Taking Kristie's Bridals
-Finding the most gorgeous house in Cannon Beach
-Jared talking his way out of paying to get into Ecola Park, thanks to Kristie's wedding dress
-Getting an early start to a wonderful day
-Cheese samples and ice cream scoops at the Tillamook Cheese Factory.
-Driving down the Pacific Coast Highway on a perfect day
-The Newport Aquarium.. Amazing
-My white skirt
-Sea lion caves in Florence
-The most beautiful sunset while driving back up the coast
-Going to Long Beach for the most famous fudge
-Holding hand on the beach
-Spending a nice warm day on the beach allll dayy loonnggg. Archadia & Ecola Beach are so beautiful
-Finally winning a game of Upwords
-Antique shopping
-An adorable baby fawn on the side of the highway
-Getting a (little) tan in Oregon
-Exploring the mountains with Jared
-One last chicken taco salad
-Burgerville's strawberry shake

(I am aware of how I ridiculously love Oregon.)

People Watching

Are you guilty of this too? I loved people watching on our vacation.

Doesn't this look like a family picnic you'd love to attend?

This family had (five) Great Danes!

I think they're very cute.