L is for LOVE...

GV Raspberry sherbet is the best sherbet I've ever eaten. Seriously. It's amazing and inexpensive. (Thanks for the tip, Callie!) Combined with lemonade (either Country Time or Minute Maid), it's the best summertime treat EVER. I know y'all have had sherbet with 7-Up or Sprite. This puts that combo to shame. I even prefer it to Slurpees, people! I've probably had 3 "floats" within the last 4-5 days. And it makes me smile. Every. Time.

the very picture of summertime...

I. Love. This. Treat.
You totally want to try it now, huh?

the darnedest thing...

The third Sunday of every month, there's a little something called "Smoothie Sunday" put on by some guys in my branch. The smoothies are tasty and the company is excellent.

Welp, this time around, things got off to an exciting start! My friend was cutting open a watermelon and as it sliced open, half of the watermelon shot off the counter. It would be a crying shame for such a tasty treat to go fall on the floor, so I went to grab it at the same time as my friend. Turns out, he still had the knife in his hands (as he had just finished cutting it open), and the knife sliced my right ring finger a bit. (It all happened so fast that I actually don't recall what happened to the watermelon. I'm pretty sure it didn't hit the floor though.)

Anyway...to make what could be a long story less long, it was a rather deep cut in certain places. I nearly passed out when I took a peak at my finger and saw my finger skin move around in a way that it...shouldn't.

Jess to the rescue; he bandaged and taped it to get the bleeding to stop, after which we played a game; then he applied some butterfly bandages and wrapped it up again.

See for yourself:

You can see the deep part of the cut.
The cut actually goes along the fingernail beyond the finger tip.

Butterfly-bandaged up...

I figured I'd be okay, but Mom and Lisa had a different plan; I went to the doctor Monday morning and ended up getting 5 (small) stitches, a tetanus shot, and some antibiotics. The doc said it cut right along the tendon, so I'm pretty lucky the cut went length-wise instead of...otherwise. It looks kinda cool.

On the mend...

papa bear...

I fully recognize what a lucky gal I am to have such incredible parents. Both of them are AMAZING! Since today is Father's Day, here's a little tribute to my papa...

Things my father taught me:

*Integrity: If Dad says he'll do something, he'll do it, and he'll do it well. Always.
*Constancy: Dad's a rock. I know he's always there for me no matter what.
*Love of words: This man reads way more than any other individual I know. He passed his love of books onto me.
*Support: Financial, mental, emotional...Dad has always supported me and the family in every way.
*Importance of family: Family has always come first to Dad (and Mom too). It's such a great feeling to know that nothing will ever upset that. Family is forever!
*Sports: I'm not terrific at sports, but Dad's the one who taught me to ride a bike and swing a bat. Good times!
*Love: Dad once said in a letter/written testimony to his kids that it is his desire for each of his children to secretly feel as if he/she is Dad's favorite child. I'm not sure how my brothers feel, but I know I secretly feel like I'm his fave...
*How a girl deserves to be treated: Mom and Dad are best friends and can (and do) talk about anything. Dad loves Mom best and would do anything for her. He's a worthy priesthood-holder and he respects his wife and his children. (The bar for my future husband is set pretty high...)

Happy Father's Day, Dad! I love you!

F is for FAMILY...

Here are some pix of what went down last weekend at home with the family...

I took Goose to dinner at Texas Roadhouse in O-town
for all the niceness he does for me (and my car)...

I played with this kid...
Isn't Seth ridiculously good-looking?!
He looks so grown-up in this picture...(smile/frown)

And he, in turn, played with my keys.
(The child LOVES cars)

Shared a delicious Slurpee with these two...
(Amy and Jackson)

Took pix of Jackson's parents adoring him...

Played fetch with Ikers...

And tried one of these bad boys...
They weren't overpoweringly coconutty, but still...

PS I tried asparagus this past Sunday. Lisa made some delish foil dinners (cooked in the oven). Asparagus was on my list of things to try, people. I haven't forgotten about it.

ASPARAGUS!
It didn't really have a flavor, and it was cooked long enough that it was soft.
I liked it. I think I want to try it sauteed sometime...

wag of the finger...

Goose "chewed me out" this past weekend for not posting a particular photo on here from the last time I went home. He made me promise to remedy the situation sooner than later, so here goes. Goose, this one's for you...

Choke hold...

This picture was taken at Red Robin about 30 minutes after our family Temple trip a few weeks ago. If you click on the picture, you can see some veins bulging in my head; that was a real choke hold Goose had on yours truly. What makes this story even better is that it was my Mom taking the picture. Aaaand I can't forget to mention Brent's happy thumbs-up in the background. (In their defense, Mom knew Goose wouldn't let go of my neck till she snapped the picture. And Brent truly had no idea that Goose was strangling me. And that vicious look on Goose's face? Totally staged. Right, Goose?)

Anyway...I went home this past weekend, once again. I took a few pics, so I'll get around to that...sometime.

the Labyrinth...

I love the movie The Labyrinth. Always have, always will. So...when my friend sent me an invite to take a quiz on facebook called "Which Labyrinth character are you?" I got pretty excited and took the quiz, eager to see the answer. Some of the questions were pretty random, but I think they usually are on that type of quiz...

My answer:

You are the Bog of Eternal Stench. "You are a force to behold. All who know you fear you and your mystical powers. Your stench is strong and all-conquering."

This is me, apparently...

First of all...OUCH?! Didn't even think that the Bog of Eternal stench was an option for Labyrinth characters. I laughed out loud, before I even read the description.

My roommates also took the quiz. Their results are...

Brooke was Sarah. "You're a feisty, smart-mouthed person who wants to take on the world. You love to win at all costs, even if it means gambling a small baby's life just to get your kicks. You seek to conquer a mysterious prince. One day you will wish for a friend & end up dancing with a room full of puppets. You have power over many things & you look hot in a ballroom gown with super puffy sleeves..."

Less offensive than the Bog...
but her description was hilarious!

And Lisa was Jareth. "You like to kidnap babies and slowly torture young women. You have amazing skills with your balls. If only you used your magical powers for good, instead of evil! You love to belt out a tune with your friends and walk upside down on staircases. Overall, people really respect you, despite being a real nasty person/owl."

Mr. Bowie/the Goblin King/Lisa!

lately...

My friend Brooke (aka "Brooker," aka "Sly") just had a birthday. She's 27, too. In celebration, a large group of us gathered in nature (over by Swan Valley) to play in canoes/kayaks and to eat food cooked over a fire, only to end up in the cabin when a torrential downpour occurred. (The rain may have soaked our lovely fire, but it did NOT dampen our spirits!) The party went down Friday/Saturday...but I was only there for the Friday portion.

I'll stop talking now and get to the pix...

the crew...

Katy hid from the mosquitoes...

Callie, Gina, Katy...(and Taletha's behind the camera)
We were the gals who decided to forgo the canoeing adventure
in order to stay dry and warm.

The four of us went on a nature walk...
(Katy, Callie, Taletha)

Some of the crew having fun in the boats...

Friday evening was BEAUTIFUL before the rains came down...
(I took this picture from inside the car)

Jeff really got the fire going...

Mallow mess...

The "J Crew"
Janae, Jeanna, Jen, Jeff

FIRE!!!

So...that's some of what I did this weekend. I also went to the Temple (I love it there!), took a lovely nap, talked to Momma on the telly, saw Wolverine (again), went to church, and wrote a talk. And some other stuff.

Now you know.

a place i love...

Ever since I moved to Idaho Falls, my roommates and I have made it a tradition to head up to Mesa Falls towards the end of May...to sorta kick off the hiking season. This past weekend, we kept that tradition alive!

It really is a great tradition; the ONLY thing I would have changed is all the nasty mosquitoes; they attacked me (and everyone) like crazy! Nasty little buggers...I've decided that mosquitoes are the devil's little devils. Hating those horrible insects! (They sucked the blood out of my ankles in particular...meh!)

The carpool: Keri, Lisa, Brooke, me and Matty...

Heading to the lower falls...
(Gina, Matthew, Taletha and Lisa)


Wade has decided he doesn't like his camera, so he asked if I would share mine with him.
He left this little number on there for me...
"If I were in a dream, I'd fly down in the hole."
-Priceless!

The Lower Falls...

Lower Falls again...
(I think this one was taken by the Wade)

The Wade knows how I feel about faux-hawks, so...
(Thanks, man...)

The entire crew at the Upper Falls...
There were 22 of us this year!

Matt, Ryan, Brenna, Patricia and Lisa

Lisa, Gina and Brooke near Upper Falls...

Look how green!!!

Upper Mesa Falls...in all her glory!
(Not sure who took this picture--me or the Wade?)

Anyway, I have about a million pictures, but I think you get the idea...It was way fun! And actually, a lot of people in our group had never been before; it was fun to see them see it for the first time!