Fourth Festivities

My parents and Connor and Brianna spent Friday night with us so they could be in the center of activity for Provo's Freedom Festival. Our apartment sits along the parade route and is prime property on the 3rd and 4th of July. People start staking out their spots early on the 3rd and then spend the night to ensure they have the best seat possible. It is amazing how many people pack into such a small space along the street but it is pretty exciting. People are crazy when it comes to this parade. We had to rope off our apartment parking lot so that people wouldn't block it off and even then there were a couple cars that tried to park in the driveway. I'm sure the cops love this time of year.



Well, we played games, ate ice cream, and watched a movie Friay night as well as did a little people watching on the front lawn. Just outside our apartment was a pretty happening place. We woke up around 6:00 am (after going to bed around midnight of course) to go to the hot air balloon festival. I love hot air balloons! I haven't gone to the festival for a few years because it is so early, but I forgot how much fun it is. I love all the bright colors and the unusual shapes of the balloons. They intrigue me.








After the balloon fest we played cards while we reserved our parade spot and then watched the parade. There was a little down pour and it was very convenient to just run inside the apartment for a few minutes, rather than have to sit in the rain. The parade was pretty typical, nothing too exciting there.




After the parade some of us took naps, others played games. About an hour later we picked up Rumbi's for lunch and went to the park. We were joined by all the Linebaugh cousins and played a game of ultimate frisbee in the heat for a little while. Following our adventures in the park we went home and took a shower and long nap before barbequing and watching the fireworks from my grandparents house in PG. A great way to end the fabulous Fourth of July!

Bicycling Adventures 2

So, last Saturday I didn't have to work so Kevin and I decided to go on a bike ride. It was supposed to rain but when we went outside the sky was semi-blue, although somewhat cloudy, and it was sunny so we figured we would be safe. As we headed down the Provo trail toward Bridal Veil it started to cool off a little bit but it felt really nice.

After we passed the Riverwoods and gone a short distance passed the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival park I was getting tired and we turned around. Good thing we did because by the time we got to the Riverwoods again a torrential rain storm started. It hailed, dumped rain and the wind blew like crazy - kind of like you would see in a movie. It was probably the biggest rain storm we'd had this year. As we hunched over to be more aerodynamic in the strong wind we pedaled as hard as we could (even going down hill) and we were hardly moving. So, we stopped at Will's Pit Stop so we could warm up a little and dry off.

Once he was semi-warm my loving husband headed back out into the rain, rode his bike home, got the car and picked me and my bike up so that I wouldn't have to ride in the rain any further. To give you an idea of how long the torrential rain lasted... it took Kevin about 20 minutes or so to get home and another 10 to come back with the car. That whole time the rain didn't let up. It took a very hot shower to warm up after the chilly ride.

Bicycling Adventures

In an attempt to exercise more I have been riding my bike (or Kevin's or Jamie's) everywhere including:

-- to work
-- to school (although I nearly die going up the hill everyday)
-- to the DMV to register my car (how ironic)
-- to the Post Office to mail a book we sold on Amazon
-- to get groceries (not very many)
-- to Utah Lake via the Provo River Trail
-- to DI to get decor for our apartment

(this isn't my bike, but I thought all the bikes lined up looked cool when I was at the DMV, Kevins' bike is just behind the blue one)

It's been quite fun and hopefully I'll be in much better shape by the end of the summer. I just went to DI and that was quite an adventure. Not thinking about the ride home I just brought my purse (no backpack like when we got groceries). For only $4.50 I got a few cute vases to go on some shelves we got at a yard sale (total cost of decorating: $14.40, not bad).

Well, let me tell you, riding home with a couple pounds of ceramics on one side of your handlebars is a little bit difficult. I was kind of nervous about them breaking but then the extra weight on that side made the bike tip anytime I went over a bump which was a little scary. But in the end, I figured it out and made it home to end up with beautiful wall decor! I need opinions though about how everything looks. I don't really love it but I'm not sure what do do. Any ideas or suggestions?

Graduation Class of '09

Brianna graduated on Friday this week at the Marriott Center. Grandma and Bill came down for the event and after graduation and the barbeque we played cards for several hours which was great.

Memorial Day

Our Memorial Day weekend was pretty eventful. On Saturday we went to Bridal Veil Falls and Sundance with Sara's parents. Sunday we played some lawn games in my parents backyard including 500 and Bocce. On Monday we had a graduation celebration at a park in Cedar Hills. I took my awesome Spiderman kite which Brooke and Shaylee enjoyed flying. It was a great weekend and a fantastic break from school and work!

Let's Go Fly a Kite

As you may or may not remember, one of the items in my Easter basket this year was a Spiderman kite. Kevin and I have been anxiously waiting for a time to use it and that time finally came. Last Saturday there was a little bit of a breeze so we went to the field by the Hospital and flew Spiderman. The kite flew amazingly well for how little wind there was. It wouldn't hold up under a really strong wind, but it worked very well that night.

After a couple weeks...

I realized it has been quite a while since I posted last. So, here is an update with a few photos. Kevin and I finished up school at the end of April and started again. I actually had finals at UVU and the first day of class at BYU all in the same week which was quite fun. Kevin and I are taking an art history class together and just took our first test. Spring semester is almost halfway over! It definitely moves a lot faster.

April 25 we went on a hike with Connor and my Dad. It wasn't raining when we started, but once we got to the top of the hike it started to pour. Kevin took his glasses off for the picture, but we are still wearing glasses (which is not fun in the rain) from our lovely viral eye infection. I think we are going to try contacts again soon. But, by the time we got to the car, my pants and shirt were soaked and my hair looked and felt like I just got out of the shower. It was pretty fun though.







A couple days after the hike, Kevin helped my dad plant some trees he bought. Kevin dug large holes (and hit a sprinkler pipe doing the first, they thought the pipe was further back than it was) and then moved the trees into the holes. They were not small trees and one of them took four people to move into place. The picture doesn't really do the hole or tree justice.







I'm working on my photo project and it's been really fun. A lot of people give me weird looks, but that's part of the fun. I posted some of the pictures I have taken lately here.

Devin's Engaged!

Since Devin hasn't posted this on his blog... I'm going to. He and dolly are engaged! They are getting married on June 25th in the Salt Lake City Temple. We are very very excited!

Belated Easter Photos

We celebrated Easter with my family as part of Connor's Birthday last week. We raced little wind up Easter toys and the goal was not to see who could go the fastest, but the furthest from the line. Many of them went in circles or would go straight and then turn, so it was more difficult than it may seem.

On Easter I woke up early to make a breakfast in bed for Kevin. As I walked into the living room I was surprised with an Easter basket full of chocolates, as well as a Superman Kite and some racing cars. Thanks Kev!

Aubrey's Blessing

A few weeks ago we went up to Vernal for Aubrey's blessing. These are some pictures we took while we were up there.

Another Show

I was not accepted to the UVU Student Show, however, the same piece (the Pantheon) was accepted to Salon de Refuses. This show will run from April 20-May 2 on the 4th Floor of the UVU library. The opening reception is April 24 from 7-9 pm and refreshments will be provided.

Also, on my photo website I now have a list of upcoming events where my pictures will be showing. I will still post most of them here, however, you can check there as well.

Yes these were really taken on April 16th

We got about 6 inches of snow the night of April 15 and the morning of April 16th. Some of the beautiful trees I was planning on photographing later this week had branches snapped off due to the weight of the snow on the blossoms and branches.

I am quoted...

The UVU newspaper emailed me about the photos I submitted to the Touchstones magazine. They quoted me in an article to promote the "My Word!" event where the magazine will be released. You can read it here!