Everything changes.

Everything changes. And that is ok. It is exciting! This is the last summer I will spend at home in St. Louis with my familia. I'm moving into an apartment this year (very soon, actually!) and so I will stay in Springfield next summer, as my lease is for the full year (Aug to Aug). I am excited for school and moving into the apartment, seeing friends, though I have also loved my summer here...just being with family...and hanging out with friends....working....boating....etc. etc. Here's some photos from this summer!!

- Summer 2011 -


I absolutely loved having Lin come visit this summer. Just look at this picture - Lin loves life! She loves learning and connecting with people. She is one of my favorite people to have a conversation with. One, because she is so well-spoken (in English!!)...Two, because she always has something insightful to say...and three, because she takes a genuine interest in my life and knowing how I am doing. She cares. Lin has a beautiful heart, an insane work ethic and good character. Claire, Lin and I spent hours and hours in the study room this past school year. Lin is from China and studied abroad here in America last year....she's returning 1 year from now - I miss her! We had so much fun when she came to visit. I'm pretty sure her favorite part was when we went to a garage sale because she loves all the unique things she found and she bought a few to bring back home with her. She'd never been boating before in her life and absolutely loved going for the first time with us this summer on the Mississippi. Before we went she told me how excited she was because she had only ever read about/seen the Mississippi River on a map....she never imagined she'd get to go tubing on it!



I love these girls more than I can put into words. I love this picture of them.



Claire and Brooke!!! Roommates!!!!!!! Brooke came to West County...we went boating...and sleepover at Claires! I'm so glad to have met Brooke through GAL and I know that Claire and her are going to have so much fun rooming together in Wells this year. We laughed so much that night at Claire's - everything Claire would say was cracking Brooke and I up!


Ok, I love my grandma. Her and my mom are pretty much best friends. I think I've realized I get my "attitude" from her....my mom won't go to the cell phone store with her anymore because she is just real straight up with the workers and won't take any nonsense...lol...frustration with customer service...yeah I had a few blow ups due to this recently. Haha. It's just funny because my grandma won't even realize she's being rude, and she is. Haha. This is a picture of us at one of many garage sales we had at my house.



Jenny's homerun!!!!! At the beginning of the summer, before it got busy with my two summer classes and work, I went to a lot of her games...she's pretty legit at catching..and she can hit. Let me tell you.



I love Claire and her sister Zoe. They are so fun. Zoe and I still have a book to read and piano to play....gotta make that happen before the end of the summer! I've said this before and I'll say it again - Zoe is the coolest middle schooler I know.



Mi madre y yo. It's been cool this summer since I took a summer financial accounting class and my mom is getting ready to start working part-time in the field again - a lot of what I'm learning for the first time, she's been reviewing. While my dad, sister and I are in Chicago my mom is staying back to take a class to brush up on her accounting. My mom has a degree in accounting, is CPA certified, and worked for several years as an accountant before she became a stay at home mom.



Lexie is Courtney's niece and I love her to death! We are alike....and we bicker...but it is ok....it is fun. Haha. Had some very interesting conversations when we went boating this summer....I hope Lexie decides to come to Missouri State...Courtney's trying to sell her on University of Arkansas and I'm trying to get her to come to Missouri State...I'm not sure she wants to go to either one. Haha.



Bible study girls!!! I've loved going to church with Angela this summer and just hanging out...this night was fun playing games and such!!


Ok, one of my favorite things in the world is to just drive....road trips are exciting to me (I consider a trip to Walgreens a roadtrip)....windows down....music going...ahhhh it is the best!! This picture is of me and Lin on the way home from boating. Ps - I LOVEEEEEE my car...



Blue House Girls!!!!!! This was taken at the boat dock. These girls mean so much to me and I am so very thankful we are friends and that they came to visit!!!! Definitely a highlight of the summer.....



Family at dinner before Danny's high school graduation. Though it was cancelled and rescheduled due to storms....we still had a nice dinner...lol.....



I love this girl. A lot.



I don't have a picture from this summer, but here is one of me and "gma freak" (Courtney's grandma) and I from a while ago! I love her so much. Grandma's got such a personality and is very chatty. I love hanging out with her...it is always fun! She took Courtney and I out to lunch several times this summer...I always look forward to our lunch dates. She broke her hip this summer :( which means she's going to have to spend some time in a rehab facility, but she will be ok.




Jenna!!!!! So this is not a pic from this summer...but oh well...loved our conversations at Claire's this summer...that's pretty much what we did...eat and talk...we've both grown up a lot since high school and it was fun reminiscing and such...
Favorite quote:
‎"guys! what if we seriously have kids and bring little humans into this world?!"- Julie Wrocklage
"are you guys talking about ME?!"- Claire Godwin



Spent a lot of the summer hanging out with Courtney...We've both changed so much since we first became friends in 8th grade...yet our friendship has remained constant. Though I have pictures from this summer of her and I I thought it would be more fun to post an older one.....



Summer is almost over....school is starting....more pictures to come I'm sure......