august's first day in 51

1. 5:30 a.m.
   
2. what? mind's racing and there's no falling back asleep
3. guess it's time for a run
4. 6 miles
5. before the sun
6. pink morning clouds
7. oatmeal and raisins
8. yum
9. load up backpack with climbing gear
10. hop on bike
11. ride up to Rock Canyon
12. say good mornings to the cousin and his wifey
13. hike a bit
14. watch cousin set the line
15. climb
16. belay
17. rest
18. climb
19. belay
20. rest
21. etc.
22. etc.
23. such pure fun
24. no one else in sight until two climbs left
25. perfecto
26. climber's high
    
27. sail downhill home
28. cut up veggies
29. cook veggies and some pasta
30. eat
31. yum
32. small power(ful) nap
33. shower
34. laundry
35. Margie
36. Border's
37. journals obscenely on sale
38. grocery store for batteries and snacks
39. present to lovely Mermaid
40. playtime with Marge
41. see old friends
42. talk
43. play volleyball
44. talk
45. eat
46. scurry to soccer game
47. play and sweat
    
48. victory
49. ride home with windows down and Regina blasting
50. soon to bed
51. love it
    

yes, summer is dying (for me), BUT...

I only have a couple weeks left of this delicious summer vacation! Once a child of summer, always a child of summer. That's me. But I intend to fully enjoy the rest of what I have.

Next week I get to:

monkey around at Ponderosa State Park,

build sand castles,

pick and eat huckleberries,

enjoy lakeview sunsets,

and more, of course.


(All pictures courtesy of last summer's trip.)

punkin

I've been enjoying the last few days with lovely Skabbys in town.
This little half Skab just makes me smile.

another july birthday

This time it's Marmee's birthday. She's not out of country--just out of state at the moment. My mama is simply the best ever. She cooks the yummiest food. She lets me run with her. She taught me how to swim and swim well. She coaches so many kids and makes such a difference in their lives. She is kind. She is funny and fun. Here are some pictures of here, along with some commentary from me, of course:

Ma contemplates. She also puts up with all our reading habits. She's even picked up the reading bug herself.

Oh, here she is being contemplative again. Actually, I think she's being patient here. We'd just witnessed Sainte Chapelle and Dad was figuring out where to next.

Mom is the most perfect BYU model ever. She also sure knows how to use a fork and knife, continental style.

Ma makes friends so easily. She has a gift of instant connection. (BYU modeling again.)

Mother is gorgeous.

Ma smiles. She puts up with a whole lot of ugly singing and strange jokes. She's a good sport. And, no, this is not the last picture in which she advertises for Brigham's school. But that's what she gets for being a coach and owning so much sporty attire.

Mom knows how to say Champs de elysees.

Marmee makes Christmas lovely. She's such a beautiful Christmas morning angel.

Like I mentioned before, Ma knows how to cook.

Marmee has great communication skills. Here she interacts with the smallest cub.

Happiest of birthdays Marmee!
Thanks for being so wonderfully you.

one more year as a teenager

It's my sister's birthday. Happy birthday Guya! You're far away in Mexico. Hmmm, perhaps this is a trend I ought to follow; Andrew was in France for his birthday and now Nat's abroad too. I doubt I'd be able to manage escaping to somewhere far away with my birthday being in the middle of the school year. I can always hope, though. Oh, but here I go like usual, talking all about myself--chatterchatterchatter. Let's celebrate the beauty that is Natalya.

Natalya glows. She also knows how to cast a shadow upon Josh. It must be said that he chooses to live in shadow, though, and it's not all her doing. Isn't she simply lustrous here?

Natalya plays nicely with her siblings. Yes, yes, I know she's 19 now and that's to be expected, but it still does make her a very good girl.

Natalya is pensive, thoughtful, contemplative, ruminative, cogitive, and wistful. (Notice: she's glowing once again.)

Natalya has no fear of mounted antlers. She also knows how to zip and unzip her jacket.

Natalya will kiss giraffe statues with me--now that's love.

Natalya is modest. See how she so delicately covers herself up with her coat?

Natalya has gorgeous hair. Sometimes it's long and sometimes it's not.

Natalya is an expert at Sunday walks. If you ever need a companion on a little walky, pick her.

Natalya knows how to take self-portraits. I could post a whole slew of them, but I wouldn't want her wrath to fall upon me. But this is her birthday, so let's all pretend that she has no way of having any wrath at all (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, you know what I mean, you know what I mean).

Natalya smiles. And just as she harbors no fear for mounted antlers, she has no fear for bald little brothers.

Happy birthday darling sister of mine!

summer nights

concerts, friends, birthday girl, tie-dye shirts, kissy faces, amazing dance moves, crowd surfing, cloudy skies

summer nights are fun; they make me feel young (again).

happiness is

• pink clouds
• raspberries straight from the bush
• overcast weather for a bike ride
• 5 a.m. runs
• cutting chard with my babiest brother
  
• my journal
• Swiss chocolate
• lyrics, for example:
  

"My feet are buried in the sand, and there's a breeze.
There's a shadow. You can't see my eyes.
And the sea is just a wetter version of the skies.
Let's get a silver bullet trailer and have a baby boy.
I'll safety-pin his clothes all cool and you'll graffiti up his toys.
I've got a perfect body, but sometimes I forget.
I've got a perfect body cause my eyelashes catch my sweat."

--"Folding Chair" by R. Spektor

• cleaning
• notes written and pictures drawn during church
• solo hikes
• cat naps in the sunshine
• signing up for two triathlons!
  
• sea turtles, killer whales, and mermaids
• a friend who has the skill and talent to pen-tattoo sea turtles, killer whales and mermaids (see below). It's said friend's birthday today! I'm certainly glad she was born.