i love my dog, he makes me laugh

The other night, I showed up at my parents' house only to find it empty. As I walked towards the kitchen, I saw my dog looking at me through the back door. "What are you doing out there?" I asked through the glass. (This was not normal behavior. Normally, he is one of the first to greet me and he doesn't leave my heels until I acknowledge him.) And then I saw it. The mess he had made with the garbage in the kitchen. It was the worse I had ever seen."Ohhh!!" I exclaimed loudly as the realization hit me as to why he was outside and why he was staying out there. He had either put himself in time-out for his bad deed or he was hiding out to dodge the bullets after he realized that he shouldn't have done what he just did and would most likely get in trouble for it.

He came crawling through his doggy door, with his nose down, to my feet where he rolled over, apologizing for what he did. "No, you better go back outside." I told him. He slowly turned around, crawled back outside, and resumed his original position until the rest of the family came home.

Yes, he was one bad puppy. But his behavior cracks me up. He knows he was bad and he was so sorry. He always is. He wants to be good. He just can't help himself. I can understand that. I want to be good, too. And most of the time I am. But like everyone, I have weaknesses. His just happens to be the kitchen garbage.

Picture curtesy of Hannah Jane.

currently cameraless, computerless, and keyless

Currently cameraless: I've been blessed with a curse for cameras. It started back in high school with my first orchestra tour my sophomore year. It was my first big trip without parents and we were going to San Francisco (that's fun to say). I had a great time and I took lots fabulous pictures to remember the sites I saw, the seniors I hung out with, and the fun I had. I got home only to discover...(yes this was back before the digital era.) the film had not been loaded correctly and none of the pictures I took turned out. Devastation. Since then I have had other incidents. Broken other cameras. And the curse continued on my recent road trip when my camera mysteriously stopped working (Honestly, no explanation. Both batteries--nothing.) and then I dropped my mom's camera, which put it out of commission. This curse is really too bad because I dearly love pictures and cameras. I just wished they loved me.

Currently Computerless: My cord to my computer got caught in the hinge of the hide-a-bed at my parents' house and I discovered the damage that had been done when I was getting set to settle in front of a movie and work on a project. Project didn't get done. And I am out a computer until I can get a new cord. Bummer.

Currently Keyless: Keeping track of my keys is a daily objective for me. This last weekend my last original disappeared somewhere along the Provo river. It is really a mystery because I had it hooked on good and tight. Fortunately, I do have a couple of spares. FYI: It doesn't help to keep your spare key in your car.

easily amused

We saw lots of signs on our recent road trip. This one was my favorite. Any thoughts as to why…?

Imagine you are on a road trip, and in no hurry to get to your destination, so you are stopping at random geological and historical sites along the way. You see this one. You’ve never heard of Adam-ondi-ahman, so you decide to check it out. You arrive and you ask the nice couples working there, “So, what historical event happened here?” Their reply, “Well…um…it’s kinda where history began.” 

I thought it was amusing.=)

week 9: happiness is being an aunt…again

This little lady joined our family on Sunday. We are so excited to have her and can’t imagine life without her. Grace May Hintze. Or already better known as Gracie or sweet heart or precious. 

Now, I have two loves of my life and the joy just keeps on growing.

week 8: brag just a little bit

I'd like to take this opportunity to brag about my sister. She is the greatest. Especially when it comes to smarts, serving, humor, friends, standards, singing...She has been especially amazing in her roll as Rose in the MidvaleArts’ production of Bye Bye Birdie.

I've gone to the show twice and both times I sit there in awe as she lights up the stage with her no fear, bring on the world attitude while she brings to life Rose’s character. She took this character and made it her own. Watching my sister on stage is one of the surreal experiences where I find myself thinking, "Is that really my little sister?" Siblings can surprise you like that. You think you them so well—after all you did grow up together, play together, fought together, worked things out together—then you see them do something incredible, like dance and sing out on stage, and you realize how blessed you are to be forever connected to them. I am over and over again reminded of that blessing.

PS. Yes, her hair is really that dark and mine is really that light.

This is my other cool sister who also was part of the production. And just in case you were wondering it was her show. 

i fell in love…

…with the Nauvoo Temple.

i {heart} old nauvoo

road trip

Location: Somewhere in Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, Idaho, Montana

week #7: one more place i’ve been

I can now add Mt. Rushmore (and South Dakota) to the places I’ve been. Check. A few people had somewhat talked it down for me and told me not to expect much. But when I got there I was not disappointed. I thought it was spectacular. And I lost my heart in the black hills and blue skies of Dakota. (two oldies, but goodies.)

#7 #6 

happy 4th of july

In the car is hardly an ideal way to spend my favorite holiday. (I love fireworks, rodeos, parades, fireworks, BBQs, swimming, carnivals, sparklers, watermelon, fireworks, etc.) However, I am pretty lucky because I get to see a few of the many beauties that America has to offer while on our road trip. Seriously, there is so much beauty to love and enjoy in America. And I am in love with all of it. Today I saw: The Black Hills of Dakota. The green prairie and red dirt of Wyoming. The Bighorn mountain range.(amazing) The Badlands. (Prettier than they sound.) And more. SO BEAUTIFUL. I live in a spectacular country. Not just country though; this whole planet we call earth is covered with gorgeousness. I have been privileged to see exquisite wonders all over. So much proof that God loves us.

I would have more pictures but I was driving and my mom wouldn’t let me take pictures while we were winding through Bighorn. Tomorrow: Yellowstone.