Time to catch up? Yes. It's time to catch up.

When my siblings are off at school... I'm kinda really bored. Humph. And my conscience has been naggin' at me to update this thing because I swore to myself I wouldn't let last summer's blog hibernation happen again. It made me sad when I had to cram three of the best months of my life into one post. History will not repeat itself this time. Time to take advantage of this productive feeling & get this off my chest. So if you wish to be swamped in pictures and rambling from this girl... continue on. I'll really try hard to keep this short.

Easter was simply perfect, complete with egg dyeing a few days before 

as usual, a beautiful Easter sacrament meeting the day of, and a huge family 

dinner at Papa & Nana Krop's that evening. I can't imagine a better way to 

spend such a special day than with my family.

The past two years I've lucked out majorly by way of
employment. Assembling street-brushes is my game. Working 

consists of counting out a certain number of plastic 

straws, depending on what type of streetbrush I'm 

making, bending them in half, and wedging them into

the semi-circular brush frames, usually while watching 

a movie {Most recently it's been Forever Strong 

followed by the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice [: } 

or listening to music. The pay is phenomenal and by 

the end of the summer I should hit my goal of $4,000.

 

Merr was lucky enough to have two of the 

cutest Tahoma fans cheering for him at his last 

few games, if I do say so myself. Not that he even 

needed much cheering anyway, being the crazy 

soccer star that he is. I taught him everything he 

knows, of course. [: Not. But he does me & those 

left side positions proud, he does.

Photobombbb.
I'm my own kind of beautiful. Haha.

Once again the annual pre-summer clean up at our cabin was done in a downpour

worthy only of western Washington. But I couldn't help but smile as we chopped wood, mowed grass, raked leaves, and cleared the trail while talking with relatives I hadn't seen since Christmas. My hilarious uncle felt for a ring under my gardening glove and demanded an explanation for the absence of such, then gave me a smack on the bum and a command to come home next time with a man. I'm in no rush to get hitched, and I had to tell him not to get his hopes up. Sorry, Uncle Claus. I love my family & working hard - pouring rain and all. It was a good day. 

Oh. Also, Merritt jumped in the lake. He is insane.

After such soggy adventures there was only one thing to do - hot dinner at Chipotle and a 

double feature at the dollar theater. For those of you who haven't seen the Adjustment Bureau,

GO SEE IT. And for those of you who haven't seen the Green Hornet, I suggest the opposite. 

Quite unimpressed. We actually walked out. Guess ya can't have it all...

This little lady is quite the Miss Barry Bonds. I've been spending some time out in the backyard

with her, trying to keep my miserable pitching skills up to par with her hits & have had not so much

success but a whole lot of fun. This is her grand slam face. Watch out.

When Mother's Day rolled around, Dad surprised us with crème brûlée {store bought, but 

hey that's fancy stuff all the same}, complete with authentic preparatory measures. 

Anything for this lady! I love you, Momma!

The newest addition to our family. This is Jessie. Cutest thing ever.

Last adventure: DATE NIGHT. And this was not just any ol' date, 

folks - this was the date signifying my stud muffin brother's entry into the dating world. 

You heard me ladies; Merritt is now sixteen and eligible. I had the honor of 

attending this momentous occasion, and let me just say, doubling with my brother was a blast.

Merritt took his friend Christina, and I went with my buddy Justyn. Dinner took place

at the marvelous Buca di Beppo, and then it was off to the Sounders game against Portland. 

It poured the entire time, but that didn't keep us from sporting our rave green and blue and 

screaming ourselves hoarse for our boys. Just how we Seattleites like our soccer games. 

After the game, soaked to the skin and happy about it! Far as I'm concerned this here boy
should get a medal for handling the insane Seattle streets with much more patience & quick 

thinking than I could ever posses. With a stick shift. What a stud. 

All in all it was a very good night. 

Events not pictured: Upon getting back from Provo in April, I was asked by a friend in my 

ward to play on his outdoor 18 and over co-ed soccer team, and that's been a lot of fun. 

I really, reeally have missed soccer, and getting back into it felt so great. We have
some serious fun and I have a great time playing with them.

Also, lots and lots of running with my amazing mom.

Andddd getting my SCUBA certification. But that's
another story for later.

And that's that. Major events from the past two weeks, consider yourself somewhat documented. I feel 

very accomplished. Now watch, there probably won't be another one of these for two
months haha. We'll see. 

Life is good.

I barely have time to post or even open my laptop these days

And I'm loving every minute of it. [:

PS I'm in love with Parachute.

Happy Friday.

& this is why I love Sundays

And my family. And living here. And my life in general.

Actually this is only one of many reasons. But in short, I just double love being home. 

Thank you Google/the rest of the world for reading my mind

Good to see I'm not the only one with this question [: Made me chuckle.

PS... what is it about weddings that just puts a smile on every girl's face?

Beats me. But it sure has that effect on this one. Happy Fridayy.

Wrappin' things up

Before the summer adventures really start up in, I want this for the record. The last week of my first year of college. I don't know how this is possible, but it pretty much went without a hitch, which I definitely didn't expect to happen considering all I had to get done in five days. That's definitely not saying there wasn't any stress, though; my jam-packed studying regimen was interspersed with packing sessions and preparing for the final cleaning check. It was so good to have my parents & siblings to join for meals and spend a little time with to keep me sane. I witnessed at least three emotional breakdowns on campus during the week of exams - the atmosphere was pretty tense to say the least! But that didn't stop anyone from having a little fun. In fact, I'd say it instigated much of it to a certain degree... Anyway, without further ado here are a few of the escapades that went on during the last week of my freshman year:

I found my new happy place in Provo, Rock Canyon, and ran past the temple and up to the trailhead

 as often as possible to de-stress and be out in God's creation & the breath-taking

geology of the place. Right where I'm happiest.

Another method of stress relief: Crush The Castle. It's an online computer game that 

my best friend David and I used to duke it out over back in the high school days. Not only did it bring back

fond memories, but who ever gets tired of knocking stuff down with rocks flung by a trebuchet? 

Pfft not this girl.

Many an evening was spent studying in the library, and when one has been holed up in said 

library from 7pm to 2am, strange things start to happen. Work that pose, Davie. 

The weather was absolutely wonderful; the epitome of spring! I spent every chance I got 

to study outside on the grass. Just look at that scenery. 

Final exam technique: Take that little extra time to look presentable. Then if a test is bombed

 you can at least have the assurance that you looked good doing it. Fortunately no tests were bombed but

 the extra little confidence boost that comes from feeling pretty is never a bad thing to

 have during times like these.

Nate & Sarah's wedding reception was a blast. They are the world's cutest couple, hands down.

I can't help but smile just thinkin about it! Ahh! We are all so happy for them. Sarah fits right in with 

our family but still brings her own energy and just plain fun attitude to the
table. I love her!! Nate, ya done good. [:

My last night in Provo, I was up late studying Biology when I got a call from my buddy Zach, who demanded I come to Denny's with the group for a last hurrah. My voice of reason told me to stay home and finish up my studying, but my spontaneous self took no heed. Last night of being a freshman? It's time to party. So off we headed to Denny's at 3am for breakfast. After plate upon plate of pancakes, hashbrowns, and eggs for all, Jared tried what none of us were brave enough to even touch - the Maple Bacon Sundae. I just about gagged while typing that haha. Brave soul, that boy. Just look how excited he is. All in all I couldn't have asked for a more fun way to wrap up my freshman year.

The following day I took my last exam, packed up the rest of my dorm, checked out, and them we were on the road & homeward bound. I spent a few hours of the 16 hour drive talking with my parents, but eventually my finals week sleep deprivation caught up with me and I crashed, only to wake up hours later to this:

Happy girl? Yes. Very happy girl.

And then unpacking took forever but it was fun.

Home sweet home. 

 Until August, my dear BYU. It's been real.

There are no words for this. [:

Because firstly, I've never been more purely, simply happy then I am right now. I'm with the people who mean the most to me, in the place that means the most to me. I am home. No words to explain this feelin. And secondly, a certain furry someone keeps walking all over my keyboard and headbutting my face while she purrs up a storm... I'm lucky to get four words down before I get smothered again.

 But I'm pretty happy to see her, too. [:
Someday I might write about finals week & the adventures that went down, but right now... I got bedda things to do.
Year #1 of college under the belt, and four months of break ahead. My life is so good.

Holy final exams, Batman!

Conversation at the Commons entry desk at lunch today

Me:  Hey! (hand my card to card-slider guy)

Card-slider guy:  Hey there. How's it going? (slides my card)

Me:  Not bad, how about you? (take my card back)

Card-slider guy:  It's goin alright! I like your shirt.

Me:  (totally serious) Thank you. It gives me special powers when I take exams.

Card-slider guy:  (awkward silence and unsure smile. Nervous laugh.)

Me:  Have a good day! (Smile and walk past)

This is my winter skin. I'm about two shades away from
Edward Cullen status. Don't get too jealous.

I was blessed with my father's sarcasm. Sorry, card-slider guy. I realize that was probably extremely uncomfortable for you. Anyway, though I was kidding with that poor boy, this shirt does bring me good luck to some degree, no doubt about it. First of all, BATMAN. Helloo. Anything related to that guy in any respect must possess extraordinary power. And secondly, there are some pretty great memories attached to this here shirt. So the happiness level automatically goes up about ten points. Yep I'm pretty fond of it. Win. Anyway, it is the accumulated awesomeness of those facts that precipitates my wearing of this shirt whenever I need a boost. Meaninggg the next six days. Today: review sessions & studying. Friday: more review sessions & studing. Saturday: take exams, hit my cousin's wedding reception, and MY FAMILY GETS HERE [: [: [: Sunday: church, pack, hang out with the fam and review a bit. Monday & Tuesday: take more exams. Wednesday: take my last exam, check out of the room and then it's hasta la vista, P-town. I'm bound for the Evergreen state. Soo that means no more of this thingy till then. Adios, blog. It's exam butt-kicking time.
Six days till this beautiful scene meets my eyeballs:

 [: Makes me so happy I think my face could just bust from smilin so big.

Alright magic shirt, I need all the help I can get. To the Batmobile.

I'm gonna miss these girlies. A whole lot. Is this really my last week of classes? Is that possible? Am I really almost done with my first year of college? I almost kinda want to go find Neverland and just stop with this whole "growing up" business.
9 days.

I miss these people

Just a little missionary magic

Today is a very good day. Big fatty letter from my Brazil-bound best bud = extra good day. Of course that's what goes through my head every Monday as I resist the urge to go shred-zilla & instead carefully open the envelope in order to preserve the little doodles and sketches that decorate it, then walk home so absorbed in the pages that I run into things (no joke, I dodged the stairway railing just in time today). Missionary mail is some of the most inspiring reading you can find on this planet. I literally cannot stop smiling after reading his letter today. Hearing from my friends in the field never fails to make me want to be better, do better, and know every single thing about this gospel so that I can do my part in the work. I know without a doubt that the missionary program is the best thing these boys can be doing with their lives right now. Missionary work is amazing.

Seriously... how can that not brighten your day a bit.