great kids think alike (aka bri got a scanner)

Did you know Adam and I were doing very similar things while we were growing up?

While Adam was oddly sleeping on a laundry basket ...

I was oddly sleeping on the floor of a public establishment.

While Adam was a ghost (make that a boxing ghost) posing in front of a pumpkin ...
I was a princess posing in front of a pumpkin.
(I'm the one in blue.)

While Adam and Brian posed in front of their house ...

Kara and I posed in front of ours.
(Turns out I had squinty-eye syndrome as a child.)
While Adam had a very Smurf-y birthday ...

I had a very Barbie birthday.

Sidenote: Remember how I'm giving stink eye to one of my party-goers?
It was a little rude of me, but too funny!

And while Adam's fashion statement was brightly-colored clothing ...

Mine was giant bows the size of my head.
(Those yelps you hear are our mothers saying ... "That was the style!")

play ball

As many of you know, I'm extremely athletic.

— I'm always picked first when teams are being divvied up — a "first-drafter," if you will. (And I think you will.)
— I'm never seen without my tennis shoes (for those spur of the moment athletic adventures).
— And sports is, like, all I can talk about.

So when Utah Valley Magazine asked me to represent them at the BYU Women's Football Camp — an event where the BYU football team succumbs to the mercy of 500 giggling women — my first thought was, "Obviously."

OK, so the jig is up.
My entire opening paragraph is a lie, as you can see from this first photo. All the guys at work immediately informed me I didn't receive the hand-off correctly — I should have been cradling it with my arm. But it's not my fault. When they were explaining the correct technique I was fixing my hair.

This cradle, however, is perfection.

Look at me throw!
Thankfully, I ran into lifelong family friend Heidi at the camp. Before I found her, I was a lonely, scared little girl among the herds of women.
This is one of my favorite shots of her. As a BYU player is handing her the ball, she's looking at him saying, "What am I supposed to do with this? I don't know what you want me to do!"

You wouldn't know it from this shot. Goooooo Heidi!

I hopped over block thingies, showcasing my astute agility.
I'm basically a cat.

And then I pushed the block thingies.

And then I ran away with the block thingies.

And then I ran backwards like a master.
And then I mingled with Bronco Mendenhall.
And he totally told Heidi she had a cute haircut!
(The things we women remember.)

And then I got the money shot.
Oh, and major shout out to Adam who took all of these awesome pictures.
Cutest. Photographer. Ever.

this is amanda

(L to R) Amanda, me and Sammy on my wedding day.***

She's crazy fun.
She's wicked smart. (No seriously. She had a 4.0 throughout all her years of graduate school. I know, right?)
She's trustworthy.
She's obsessive compulsive. (In the good way — like me!)
She loves TV shows on DVD. (Like me!)
She's able to watch said TV shows on DVD for hours and hours. (Like me!)
She's adorable.
She's a fantastic listener.
She's a lifesaver.
She's one-of-a-kind.
She's a keeper.
And she's 26 today.

Happy Birthday Mander. Muah!

*** Disclaimer: I apologize for the overload of wedding pictures on this blog. My photo collection of Amanda is wretchedly non-existent. So a wedding shot it is!

home Is where hawaii is

You know when places aren't as great as you remember them? Places that have been so built up in your memory that the reality of them is disappointingly ordinary?

Hawaii is so not one of those places.

After seven (yes, seven!) long years, I returned to my birthplace along with my entire family. And it was an absolutely perfect trip. Who knew going home would be the best vacation of all?

Adam and me in the yard of my Aunt Kathie and Uncle Jim's house, where we had the pleasure of staying. And yes, this is merely one angle of the gorgeous view they look at every day.

Their house also has a pool, and this was my trick of choice.
My form is ah-mazing, if I do say so myself.
This was my other trick of choice.
My parents — looking cool in their shades — at the swap meet.
Did you know I have the best parents ever?

We hiked the famous Diamond Head — in slippers, of course.
(I'm still a local girl, after all.)
This is the gorgeous view from atop it.
And this is the ONLY picture you'll see of us on Diamond Head. I looked so unfortunate on this hike, and I refuse to submit my blogging public to the close-up shots we took of said unfortunate-ness.
Us at the Pali lookout. I told you the wind hates my hair.
We girls visited Punahou campus — our educational roots. It's a fantastic (and gorgeous) K-12 school filled with so many memories.
Did you know Barack Obama went to Punahou? I'm just sayin'.
We got the best shave ice from Matsumoto's — even if it was in a touristy purple catcher cup.
(Oh, the shame! Right Dad?)
Adam and Ryan at the beach.
As you can see, Ryan really bulked up before our trip.
He was all, "beach bod this, six-pack that."

Pretty Ellie. Pretty beach.
We took in a temple session at the stunning Hawaii temple.
I loved it.
We also went to the Polynesian Cultural Center. I've been a dozen times in my life, but it was so fun to experience it with Adam.
Cuties.
Talofa!
Adam got called up to the stage at the Samoan village to drink coconut juice.
They climb trees at the PCC.
Boat ride through the villages, anyone?
Make yourself at home, Ryan.
Since we celebrated our wedding anniversary in the month of July, we were asked to get up on stage and dance at the luau. Romantic, eh?

Nia, Breezy and Melissa.
My childhood BFFs and I had a completely overdue reunion. I adore them.
Oh, and this picture is coming to you in sepia because I was way sunburned and splotchy that day. Sepia rocks!
The Mataeles, lifelong family friends (and family to Nia), didn't really do very much for us during our trip. They only took us to a wonderful lunch at Kincaids, gave us 72 boxes of Mauna Loa candies, brought us malasadas for breakfast, and, you know, made me cry because I love them so much.
Nope, not much at all.
Don't Erin and I look tan? I think we look tan.
Oh, and this was the view from Haliewa Joe's, a wonderful restaurant Uncle Jim and Aunt Kathie took us to.
It's a shame those two didn't do very much for us either.
Yes, that's Adam's prime rib dinner at Haleiwa Joe's.
Yes, he ate every bite.
My Grandpa celebrated his 90th birthday while we were there. It's been so long since I've seen him that I soaked up every hug, smile and kiss.
Life IS great, Grandpa. You said it.
Grandpa and his boys.

I love, love this picture of Aunt Kathie.
She's one of my favs.

Green with envy, yet?
Did you know Adam had this Reyn's Aloha shirt before we even met?
Fate, I tell you. Fate.
So many Mahalos to make ...
To Aunt Kathie and Uncle Jim: You absolutely made our trip. We love you!
To the Mataeles: You have a permanent place in my heart.
To Grandpa: Thanks for the legacy. I'll always live a life you'd be proud of.
To Mom and Dad: There aren't enough Mahalos in the world. Mai ka pu'uwai.