Summertime

I had such a fun and busy summer! On top of attending Pirate Fest and visiting Natalynn, I also got to go home to Idaho for a week, Keith's parents came to visit, and we hosted some Chinese students for a week.

Sadly, it was also a very busy summer for Keith, but he had less fun. (lots of work and school)

So-pictures from Idaho first!

My parents neighbor, Bryce had his open house/reception in their backyard. I didn't get any photos, but it turned out really nice and it was so fun to see people I hadn't seen for a while!

While I was there Whit and Tobin let me babysit Maylee a few times. We had some good bonding times..... mostly of me snapping picture after picture of her

Isn't she adorable!?!

We went to the free concert in Ross Park the Sunday I was home

Maylee rocked my sunglasses

Techno-Baby.... so hip and stylish

We went evening swimming and camping at Downata

"Hey Chels, get a picture of this....." (thinking she was going to dunk him)
ha ha ha -- didn't quite go as she had planned

Group photo, although, not great

Wes and Jess

Me and May-Bug
Camping

The night before I left
Love my family! Thanks for keeping me entertained guys!

Pirate Fest

So many things I could say.

SO, so many.

I'll leave it at this: If you are in the Bay Area on Fathers Day weekend, make a trip to Vallejo to attend Pirate Festival.

Bring your camera.

And be ready to be blown away.

These people take piracy very seriously.

Although, some appeared to have missed the Pirate part of Pirate Fest.

(as he was motioning, dripping in sweat, "Come get in the picture with me, beautiful.")

Honestly.

Pirate Fest = Serious Entertainment.

Kindred Spirits

Have you ever met someone and automatically been friends with them?

I met Natalynn at the beginning of our second semester in Dominica and it was obvious we were kindred spirits.

(can you tell I just read Anne of Green Gables?)

Anyway, we spent a lot of time together in Dominica between living in the same apartment complex for a few semesters, both working with the day school kids, and being in the primary presidency together. I can't think of too many things we did without each other.

Every Saturday morning, we walked to the market together. We would catch the free bus into Roseau (the capitol) to go grocery shopping together. We went to the pool, watched movies, and hung out all the time while our husbands studied.

The kids stopped asking me "Where's Keith?" and starting asking "Where's Natalynn?" when they would see me---because that's who I was commonly with.

Often, we would wear the same thing. Sometimes, we'd call each other to make sure we were NOT wearing the same thing.

(Are all of these mushy memories making you want to puke?)

My point is, we are close. And since we have been back in the states, it's been a sad thing to live so far apart from each other.

At the end of May, Keith surprised me with a ticket to fly out and visit Natalynn for a week!

We went to Bronners, which is the worlds largest Christmas store. So many fun things in there.

We also went to a splash pool and splash pad with Kate, but mostly, we did a lot of:

*visiting

*hanging out

*visiting

*hanging out.

IT. WAS. AWESOME.

One night we made cookies and then froze some cookie dough.

We did a few crafty/sewing projects. We made this cute Tutu for Kate.

And these awesome pillows for my couch.

And we got together with other friends from the island.

Natalynn, Me, Paige - (late) the night before I left

The Roy kids at a really fun and free splash pad at one of the parks.

I especially love this picture. Xiomara liked to wear my sun glasses in Dominica and it was fun to find that even after 2 years, not much has changed.

Flash back: Sharing a PB&J (and sun glasses) with Xiomara at PBH.

It was such a great week---Thank you Michigan friends and especially Natalynn for the great visit!

Kid Quotes

My job working at the elementary after school program has ended for the summer.

It was a blast, but I'm really enjoying my break so far. I was doing something the other day and I was reminded of something that one of the kids said and it made me laugh out loud.

Yes, I was home by myself.

Anyway, I had to write down a few of the funny things that they have said that I can remember. I know there are more, and probably a ton that are more comical, but this is what I can remember for now. (I'm sorry if they are not funny to you, some of them you had to be there)

Kindergartner walking around holding her pink belt doubled over in her hand. "Hhmmm.... I feel like whoopin' somebody!" (I'm bending over my cooler, giving popsicles out to kids) I suddenly felt a sting on my backside and I turned around to see my used-to-be-innocent kindergartner standing there, holding her belt, smiling up at me.

"Mrs. Chelsie, can I hold your cardboard?" (clipboard)

teacher: "Hey, did I hear it's your birthday?"

2nd child: "It's your birthday? ARE YOU SERIOUS?"

Birthday child (very somberly): "Yes. It is serious."

"I want to play tiger-go-seek!!!" (hide-and-go-seek)

As I passed one of the kindergartners in the hallway he casually says, "Hey Ms. Chels-Chels."

"Look! I used some handzamatizer."

Some what?

"Ya know, hand-matizer stuff, cuz my hands were dirty."

During quiet time I turn on instrumental music. "Mrs.Chelsie! This music makes my finger hurt!"

"But Mrs. Chelsie, I didn't do it! My feet did!"

"Mrs. Chelsie, so-and-so hit me. Right on the face like this" (hits himself again to show me)

(I call over 2nd child) "Did you hit him?"

1st child: "Ya, he hit me hecka-hard!"

Me: "Did you hit him hecka-hard?"

(I really shouldn't encourage slang, but it was just too funny at the time)

2nd child: "Ya.... well.... I didn't hit him hecka-hecka-hard!!"

Me: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Boy: Uuhhh...... a Man.

Me: (to girl standing next to him) And what do you want to be when you grow up?

Girl: I'm going to go to college.

Boy: Oh ya? Well I'm going to go to High School!!

(Different boy and girl)

Me: What do you want to be when you grow up?

Boy: (with his finger on his lip in deep thought) Uuummmmm....... A transformer.

Girl: You can't be a transformer when you grow up!

Boy: Never mind...... I want to be a Ninja!

Girl: What's an inja? OH! Like a fire-inja?

As we were kneading dough the girls in my cooking group were talking about how to make pizza dough.

Girl 1: "Did you know that chefs use their whole arms to roll out the pizza dough? They even use their elbows!"

Girl 2: "EEWWWW!! What about elbow grease?"

They really keep me laughing and help me enjoy my job that much more!

"Jessley" Wedding

In May my baby brother got married.

(Jessie + Wesley = Jessley)

Everything about the day was beautiful!

It was cold and raining the few days before but the day of the wedding was gorgeous.

As was the Bride.

And every single other thing.

Welcome to the family Jessie, we are VERY excited to have another sister!

Giants vs. Braves

My spring break lined up with the first week of Keith's semester break this year and we were able to go and do a few fun things. One night we went to a Giants/Braves baseball game. Although the Giants lost, it was still a lot of fun!

AT&T Stadium with the bay in the background

You can climb up in the Coke bottle and there are slides inside

We found Keith's ISU hat (that I'm wearing) looks very similar to the Giants SF hat, so that worked out nicely.

Nothing like a baseball game under the lights! Our tickets included a $5 food voucher so we were able to get a hot dog, which was perfect.

I am not much of a professional sports watcher, but after the second pitch of the game, I had to agree with the guy sitting next to me when he said, "HOLY COW!! Live baseball is SO much cooler than watching it on TV! This is awesome!"

I'm also not a huge fan of taking the motorcycle places at night on the freeway, (*hello freeze-out!) but things really aligned this night. We saved $30 on parking because we found a motorcycle spot on the street 2 blocks away from the stadium. Since it was after 6:00, we also didn't have to pay the meter!

Yay for summer activities!

Wisteria and Sunshine

It's been sunny and warm here the past few days.

After 21 days of rain in March, we have welcomed it!

Along with the sunshine, the wisteria lining the fence that goes along our carport and back yardish has bloomed.

It is delightful. We sit in our house with the doors open and the smell of fresh wisteria fills our apartment.

I don't know how long it will last, but it is a pleasantry that I am thankful for.