27

Family, friends, pizza and ice cream cake, a perfect way to celebrate 27 years

Light Box

A few weeks ago I found a tutorial online for a DIY photo light box and since Sundays are for relaxing and killing time I thought why not make one! Mine didn't turn out nearly as pretty and put together as the tutorial, but I figure no one will see it and if it works it works.

Disclaimer: I am NOT a photographer, but I've had a SLR camera for a few years now and have made a summer goal to learn to use it better and use it more, even if that means looking like a tourist everywhere I go. Basically, hide your pets and children, because they are my favorite subjects!

Aunt Mom

The past four days I've been pseudo-mom to my nieces and nephew while their parents were away at girl's camp. I had prepared for tears and fights and the three of them trying to swindle me, but instead I got three obedient and fun kids. I'm pretty sure Ava even called me mom once, so I guess I did a good job. 

Most of Thursday was spent out in the pool, leaving me with knees full of bruises, (it's not easy being a big kid in a little kid pool!) a sunburned back and a stop to the shave ice shack down the road. And of course a sleep-over with their favorite cousin. Let's just say I'm grateful swimming and sun wore them out!

After a long Friday morning and a quick dip in the pool, we headed up to Orem for the annual Summerfest carnival! There's only pics of the girls, because naturally, the impatient boys ditched us.

We ended the night at Grammie and Papa Olson's house for a campfire and s'mores and some impromptu dancing on the grass. Again, just the girls, the boys run when they see a camera unless I sneak attack them.

I had a great four days and got maybe a small taste of what it's like to be a mom and let me tell you it's hard work! These kids are three of the greatest blessings in my life and I love that I get to live so close to them and watch them learn and grow. They make me nostalgic for those summer days as a kid and I'm lucky I sort of got to relive them with my three buddies. Maybe my sister should go out of town more often!

Stewart Falls

Yesterday, Drea and I made the short hike to Stewart Falls in Provo Canyon. I haven't been up there in years and I've made a personal goal to get out and be more active this summer and Utah is the perfect place to do just that! The weather was perfect and the mountains were more lush and green than I have ever seen them, lets hope the burning summer temperatures don't change that.

We stayed at the falls for about an hour, taking pictures, eating our picnic snacks, watching all the kids run through the river acting like it wasn't freezing cold and climbing high enough to feel the mist and make a run through the lower level of the waterfall (I screamed through the whole thing both times, SO COLD!) Places like Stewart Falls help me better appreciate the state I was born and raised in and remind me to take advantage of the beauty and opportunities that are literally surrounding me. Next up Battle Creek Canyon!

Ben

After a long two weeks of not seeing baby Ben (and Maddie and Trevor!), I finally stopped in for a visit and he's gotten so big! Full cheeks, little neck rolls, starts of a pot-belly, dimpled elbows, cooing! He's so cute I can barely handle it. Even better he thinks I'm funny, even though I know he's really looking at the ceiling fan, I'll take it!

 

Orlando

Last week one of my bests, Coleen, and I made our wish of visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter finally come true! Being the nerds we are, there was nothing we wanted more than to guzzle down some butterbeers at the Three Broomsticks and peruse Ollivander's Wand Shop.

First things first we ran straight to Hogwarts castle to ride The Forbidden Journey, which I can safely say, I will never do again. I have never felt so sick in my life! But I would stand in line just to walk through the castle one more time. Moving portraits, the sorting hat, Dumbledore's office, Hermoine casting spells in the classroom! Nerd heaven! Of course we stopped in for a butterbeer, wandered around Honeyduke's sweets and Zonko's joke shop and went in every other store they had to offer. Perfection! 

Once we peeled ourselves away from all things Harry Potter, we walked around the rest of Islands of Adventure to see what other rides I could get sick on. After Coleen's test ride and some heavy convincing I rode the Hulk Coaster, twice! Eyes closed the whole time of course. We wandered around the rest of the island taking it all in, riding every ride we could until the park closed and my feet begged for a break.  

Day two started with the Universal park, me avoiding The Rocket coaster, and really just trying to get through it all so we could get back to Harry. Seeing as it was our last day there we were sure to get in a few more rides, more than a few more butterbeers and of course pick out a wand, something I didn't plan on buying, but that place just sucks you in. We were definitely sad to go, but I'm so happy we had the chance!

The next two days were spent at Walt Disney World. That place is HUGE! What amazed me the most was the fact there are four parks and they all have their own highway. Madness! We started off in Animal Kingdom with a safari, a ride on Everest and a tour through Africa and India. Next up was Hollywood Studios, not much to do other than the Hollywood Tower of Terror, which I love, and the Rock n' Roller coaster, where you're en route to an Aerosmith concert while Steven Tyler screams in your ear, but it was fun seeing all the movie sets and walking through the stores. The night was finished off with a quick trip through Magic Kingdom and a ride through the Haunted Mansion. 

Did I mention the days were slowly getting hotter and more humid? I was told the horror stories of the Florida humidity and they were all coming true, how does anyone live there?! 

Our final day started off at Magic Kingdom, then a trip to Epcot. We visited a few countries eating some of their local treats and buying a few trinkets here and there. They all had something interesting to offer and I loved that all the employees were from the country they worked in, made for a more unique experience. I think Epcot was the beginning of the end for my legs and feet. By the time we got to China I was hobbling into Norway. Even though I felt like I couldn't go any further, Mexico was just too enticing.  We stopped in for some nachos and a much needed break then made our way back to Magic Kingdom for a ride down Splash Mountain to cool off and a spot in front of Cinderella's castle for the light show and fireworks.  This is also where Coleen got in the fight I don't think either of us will ever forget.

We had an amazing vacation and I'm so lucky I was able to go, especially with someone who enjoys the same nerdy things I do. I would say it was worth the near heat stroke, achy calves and swollen feet!