Camelbak Hiking

On Saturday, I went on a hike. My first hike in Oregon. And my first hike with my Camelbak!

So of course we had to take a picture to document this important moment for me and my Camelbak! I really enjoyed the hike. It was a beautiful day with so much sun!! We went to this place called Punchbowl Falls, which might be familiar from a certain video.

I also loved that this random guy came up to me and asked about BYU because of my awesome BYU shirt! He had gone to BYU and was hiking with his scouts.
GO BYU!

Bedtime

Why is it that around 10:30pm I get really motivated? I want to do my finances, clean something and everything, start some laundry, watch another YouTube video, organize my closet, whatever! Then around midnight I realize I am going to regret my decision in the morning when I have to be up for work. It really isn't about being a night owl or a morning person. It is that I hate waking up tired especially when it is for work. Now if it were to play and have adventures......who needs sleep! As much as I like sleep, I wish it wasn't required. There is just so much to squeeze into the day and if I am required to work all day, then I just want to play all night! Or how about a summer break? Maybe my inner child is fighting these adult habits when it is suppose to be days of playing by the pool and having fun in the sun.

I did get a little 20 minute nap in during lunch so maybe tomorrow morning won't be too bad....

Happy Father's Day!

To the Best Dad in the World!

I am so blessed to have such an incredible Dad! He is so amazing. I love that he is such a hard worker and provides so well for our family. He is so smart and has spent countless hours with me and most of my siblings late into the night helping edit papers, figuring out math problems, and making sense of science questions. And the help has only increased from there, he helps make sense of life and the many choices and decisions, even figuring out health insurance and retirement investments.

This one time, when I was in high school chemistry, I had homework that I couldn't figure out! My dad sat there patiently teaching me and he even helped me with the challenge question. The part I loved best was when he sat there looking at the question and leaned his head back and said, "I remember doing this in college chemistry." I had learned how to do it THAT DAY and couldn't remember, but my dad who has been out of college for decades could remember! I was completely impressed!

My dad is also amazing because he helped me learn to love the Gospel from a young age. We would sit with our scriptures and read and mark them together. I wanted my scriptures to be colorful like his, but it has been such a sweet experience as I have studied those marked verses and found them to be answers to my prayers now! I also remember driving to school memorizing the Articles of Faith.

He also loves to laugh and make others laugh. A classic father-ism is when I would be mad he would say "Watch that smile!" You just couldn't stay mad. To the best dad in the world, I love you!

Saturdays

I love Saturdays. I live for Saturdays. They are the day I can sleep in, party with friends, and have adventures! But yesterday I woke up to rain.....lots and lots of it! I was so sad because Thursday and Friday had been so lovely. So these lovely yellow tulips were my little bit of sunshine to fight away the gloom and storm of what is suppose to be a summer Saturday!

Saturday evening, I helped my friend make this awesome quilt that will go to a foster kid. It is a program that Intel does to give back to the community. I hope one day a little boy gets to stay warm with this awesome motorcycle quilt!

Pinewood Derby

For FHE, we did a pinewood derby. I ended up being in charge of it so I thought it was only fitting to wear a scout uniform to make it more legit. It was fun, but people love to customize their cars.

The Short Bus

Portland Report Card

Well in terms of how I have measured most of my life I have been in Portland for a semester and it is time for grades.

• Weather - Summer still hasn't arrived and raining is still coming. (D+)
  
• Social - I have met some awesome people, but it is a very small social circle. (C)
  
• Work - It has definitely had its challenging and I am learning a lot. (B-)
• Apartment - I love my apartment and the complex (A-)
• Food - The food carts are pretty cool, but nothing has been life changing. (C+)
• Roads/Traffic - Can I please just drive fast? And not get lost all the time. (D)

As most experiences tend to be, it has been different than I expected when I decided to embark on this adventure. I hope I am learning the lessons I am suppose to be and becoming a better person. I found this quote by President Monson and thought it went nicely for my life.

Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon me , my knowledge of the gospel and my love of my Heavenly Father and of my Savior will comfort and sustain me and bring joy to my hearts as I walk uprightly and keep the commandments.

Sunshine for the Soul

This weekend was amazing because it was so sunny and warm! Seriously, it makes all the difference. So on Friday after work, I got together with Adeline and we went to the City Fair in downtown Portland. We got to try some BBQ, alligator jerky, and walk around enjoying the beautiful weather. After, we went to Powell's, a bookstore downtown, and I got two new books to read. Then we went driving to the outskirts of civilization so we could enjoy the stars that usually are covered by clouds. It was pretty hilarious when we stopped in the middle of a country road and turned off the car lights and were looking at the stars when a car came and scared us to death. I thought for sure we were either going to be murdered or arrested.

So on our way back to town, I remembered it was National Donut Day and Krispie Kreme was giving away free doughnuts. So we had to go! We could get any donut for FREE, too. So I got the glazed raspberry filled and Adeline got the chocolate frosting creme filled. YUM YUM!

On Saturday, I enjoyed the glorious sunshine with a morning workout and then swimming! Oh, the blissful moments of water fun. If I could live in the water, I think I would! And I really don't understand how people just lay by the pool for hours....it is so boring! After swimming, I went to the zoo with some friends and it was pretty awesome especially the Dinosaur Walk. It felt just like Jurassic Park except I didn't ride in a jeep, see a goat disappear, or see anyone get eaten.

The elephants were pretty awesome and I also really loved the penguins. However, my favorite part was when I was looking at a leopard this little girl came up to me and started to talking to me about how the cat was sleeping and then she grabbed my hand. I was slightly worried that her mom was going to think I was trying to steal her, but luckily her mom saw it all happen. I love that random kids come up to me like that. It happens surprisingly often and I kind of love it.

After the zoo, we went and got slurpees to quench our thirst on such a warm day and it just seemed like a summer type thing to do. Then I went with some people from the ward to the Starlight Parade downtown. It was fun to be out and about watching a random parade at night, oh Portland, but it was fun. Then we finished off the night with dinner at the food carts and Voodoo Doughnuts, because I can't say no to a bacon maple bar even if I did eat Krispie Kreme the night before.

So sadly, Sunday turned out to not be sunny. Luckily, there were some fun laughs at break the fast to help make the day still good. Oh, if only weekends didn't have to end or could be a little longer and the rain would go away.....alas, one day summer will come and decide to stay!

Memorial Weekend

This past weekend was quite the party! It started off right with getting off work at 2pm. Booyah! Unfortunately, I went to the DMV and had to register my car and get a new license. It felt like an identity crisis giving up my California license with my 15 year old photo and having to get Oregon plates. I loved having an automatic excuse of driving fast or making funky turns because of my Utah plates. It just makes the Oregon transition seem more permanent, but it wasn't welcoming at all as it poured during the entire event. Also, alcohol is a depressant and not a stimulant.....but you drink when you are depressed, it makes no sense!

I waited until June 1st to actually change them.

Anyways, after my identity crisis at the DMV, I decided the best way to recover was with shopping and pedicure. It was a very good thing. Then on Saturday, I slept in, worked out, talked on the phone, and went to a Nerf war activity. There is something so awesome about Nerf toys because it is actually okay to shoot and hit people!

On Sunday, I drove out to the coast to see a friend who was here visiting from Utah with her family. I would call it a miracle! They were staying at a beach house only 2 hours away from me. The house was right on the beach and it was so awesome because we got to see whales and a baby seal.

On Monday, we drove up the coast stopping whenever we saw something cool. Luckily, Oregon was nice enough to provide some blue skies!

We enjoyed a quick stroll through a flower garden, stopped at a few beaches and saw more whales, we went to a lighthouse and also went to the Tillamonk cheese factory.

If only good things didn't have to come to end....