Farewell, farewell, homecoming

     Farewell season is upon us.  Already about 10 missionaries have left and by the time I get home from Europe (yes, I am leaving tomorrow to spend the next three weeks in Europe!!) that number will probably have more than doubled.  These boys are all such great examples to me and I just hope that I can have their faith and strength as I go off to college in the next couple of months.

11:00 - Jake's farewell.  His talk was clear and easy to follow, entertaining, and brought a strong spirit into the meeting.  He's going to be such a great missionary!

3:00 - Matt's farewell.  I have known Matt ever since I moved here back in third grade and spent endless hours at his house with his sister, Lizzie!  He gave a great talk as well and as he spoke I could just imagine him on his mission!

4:30 - Ashlyn's brother, Jeff's homecoming.  Ashlyn has been counting down the days until Jeff got home from day 180 and finally it came!  We loved meeting and getting to know this mystery brother that we had heard so much about.

So, another Sunday has past in a pattern that seems is going to prove very common the rest of the summer -- farewell, farewell, homecoming.

Please notice Lindsey's photobomb.

My beautiful friends.  {Olivia (Carly's sister and practically my sister too), Tessa, Me, Carly, Ashlyn, Ruby}

Shylnny and the Cats

Tonight was the last night that we have all the girls all together.  Tomorrow Ashlyn leaves to pick up her brother from his mission, I leave for Europe before she gets home, and before I get home Ruby moves with her family to Santa Cruz.  Then everything changes.  Ruby's family will be in Santa Cruz, Ru will be up at BYU Idaho, I leave to Washington, Taylor and Tessa go off to BYU, Carly goes to UVU, and Ashlyn and Zoe will be at the U of U.

It will be weird not seeing each of my best friends every day...but I know everyone is going off to start their own new adventures!  I am so grateful that we all found each other because we really are the best of friends and, it's cliche, but I don't know what I would have done without them all these last few years!

"We chit and chat and dish the dirt.  We laugh so hard our stomachs hurt.  We open up and bare our souls.  We dream out loud and share our goals."

Shlynny and the Cats...kind of a long and pointless story that turned into this!

first {real} week of summer

Spontaneous boating day.

Typical...

JD is staying with his other cousin, Nate, for the summer, but while Nate was out of town JD came and partied with us!!  We took him up the canyons to give him a taste of what the mountain life is like.

Christopher plays rugby.  He's hardcore.

This week it finally has hit me that it is summer...  and that we are out of high school!!  From the beginning of junior high, I have been with these girls...they loved me through my awkward stages, taught me how not to be an "uncultured swine," and have stuck with me through all the craziness and fun that high school brings.  So here is my tribute to the three amigos. . . love you Ru and Chan Chan!

I love my dad.

Happy fathers' day to the best dad in the world!  Thanks, Dad, for always being so supportive, loving, encouraging, a great example, and for always making me laugh.  Love you!!

Goodbye, Newport. It's been real.

Photo cred. to Ruby and her polaroid camera.

Senior Trip: Day 8

Our last day in Newport... I wish we could just stay forever!  We spent all of today at the beach, then went to BJ's for one more dinner all together before leaving.  The rest of the night was spent packing up the car and, for me and Taylor, sleeping so we would be awake to drive tomorrow.

Not enough sleep for Carl...

Matchy matchy.

Packing?

This is Wilson.

Senior Trip: Day 7

Temple run.  The Newport temple is beautiful and going to the temple was the perfect way to start out the day!

Lunch at Ruby's on the pier.

Another beautiful, sunny beach day!!

Zoe and Carly beating Will and Connelly's record!

It's not often when you see a plane draw a heart in the sky.

Tessa, Zoe, Jeff, Connelly, Carly, Ashlyn

Oreo photo shoot since I love Oreos.

Senior Trip: Day 6

Just a day at the tide pools.

Meet Lil' Sebastian...the tiniest crab ever!

Delicious sea food dinner....

We stayed on COURT AVENUE.

We found an interesting display window.

Sparklers on the beach.

Senior Trip: Day 5

There is nothing better than hanging out on the beach all day long with your best friends.

It was Weston's last night at home before being dropped off at the MTC and since we couldn't be there with him, we FaceTimed him one last time!  It was so fun to see him once more before he leaves on his mission.  I loved watching the boys joke around and laugh with him, support him, and most of all encourage him before he left.  "See ya in two, Elder StinBaby!"

Late night gelato run.

Senior Trip: Day 4

 Doughnuts were made fresh at 3:00 am...so who could pass up on that??

Just a little tired...

The weather decided to forget about June gloom for one day and gave us the perfect beach day!!

Dane and Hunter

Tessa and Ashlyn

Me, Ashlyn, Tessa

Carly, Tessa, Ashlyn, Taylor, Donald 

Tessa, Taylor, me, Ashlyn, Carly, and please notice Connelly's photobomb in the background.  Haha, props
to you, Connelly.

Dinner at BJ's with the crew...we couldn't pass up that deep dish pizza or the pizookies!

Late night bike ride down to the Wedge.

Playing chicken with the HUGE waves.

Me and Carly

Tessa and Zoe