The Pretend Wife

Today was a pretty day, nice sunny and warm. What June should feel like. On the dock I was in the middle of my book finding my self getting lost in the words and writing style of the author. I've been somewhat of a bookworm since I've been home, maybe one of the main reasons being because for me, books allow me to look at life through a stranger's eyes and see things how they see them. Unsettling at times, maybe. But I find it calming. When you find yourself content in life and where you think its headed, it almost seems mundane in a way. Through a novel, whatever the plot may be, a narrators voice can suddenly highlight life's truest parts. Complexity. Change. Heart.
I hear the phrase from time to time about how life is beautiful, so enjoy what little time you are allotted. I agree that it is beautiful, but to me that saying falls short. Life is how to see things, how you communicate and love the people you hold close.
Complexity. how each person in your life affects you, both the good and the bad.
Change. the world never does stop spinning, even when you try and hold onto reality with both hands.
Heart. what makes it all worth it.

I am reading The Pretend Wife, by Bridget Asher.
"Did I feel like I deserved more than that? I didn't believe in being entitled to the good life. Life was life. It handed out its sorrows randomly. You took what you got and you found something in it to be thankful for--that was your job as a human being."
my favorite line... "...true love should be a conversation that lasts a lifetime."


Hank&I snuggling...I only get two more months with this pup!

Facts about Hank

*he likes ankles and shoe laces
*rather than drinking his water, he like pouncing in it (similar to a small pool)
*he should have been named jaws
*he has recently discovered the upstairs, but hasn't quite mastered the going back down part
*he likes to lay on air conditioning vents and cold marble floors
*washing machines scare him
*like a lion cub, he pounces
*his face gets him away with most things
*empty clear plastic water bottles are as exciting to him as christmas morning (and it never gets old)
*he likes slippers.....& climbing into dishwashers while they're being loaded


but I guess we love him anyway♥

Life is a quilt

Life without obstacles really isn't life at all. And if you don't slow down to appreciate the small things, it is hard to ever appreciate the things that define you.
To me, life is about focusing on the relationships I have with others, each person adding to my quilt of what makes me, me. How easy it is to get wrapped up in the superficial! When I look at my life, I should not have any complaints. But no one is perfect. There are those things that I wish could be different, people who I wish could think differently, things I feel I have maybe missed the mark on. But that's life. Life is what happens when things get messy, the laughs that make my stomach hurt, the people I've managed to hold on to for better or for worse. Every day something gets added to my quilt, however small or seemingly insignificant: a stitch here, a picture there--an image of what used to be, or what a future day holds.
I love the familiar. I love the not-knowing. I love the journey. And I continue to try and love the most difficult part of it all, loving myself through the building and breakdown of all that is me.

summer at a glance...

Only three weeks into summer and so much as already happened. Austin's graduation, running the sound of narrows, babysitting beautiful 3-year old twins Connor & Anna, the arrival of Hank, and really good family time. Summers home from college make me so happy because I really feel like I appreciate time at home more. I love the days when I never leave the house-- waking up with mom, the two of us making coffee and watching the TODAY show, our new trainer Angelina coming to kick our butts every monday and friday mornings, playing with hank and attempting to take him out on the leash, walking the golf course, baking, and reading in my pj's. I've been the biggest book worm since I've been home. Right now I'm reading Sarah Dessen's new novel, Lock and Key and I'm already 200 pages in. Love her! I also recommend all the Emily Giffin books.. but esp. something borrowed and something blue (they are a sequence). I'm nannying for The Clark's again this summer and got a raise! woho $13 an hour! It's nice that it's my second summer with the kids because now they're a lot more comfortable with me and we can do more.
What have we already done?
Made PLAYDOH!
Played in the POOL!
Baked Chocolate Peanut butter COOKIES!
Educated me in everything STAR WARS!
Taken a picnic to the BEACH!
and have future plans to go to the ZOO!
LJ... the fourth in our little four-some, as well as the only part of us who does not reside in WA has confirmed her plans to fly up here July 28th! She will grace us with her presence for a week and I could not be more excited!! We have already started planning fun things (both things for rain and shine, you can never be sure!) but what ever the weather I am ecstatic!
My scrapbook is progressing at a steady pace, I am almost done with first semester. I bring my ipod down to the storage room and love just working alone with all my supplies, stickers, paper, and print outs. Megan said she might help me tonight work on a few spreads, something I am looking forward to because she is always so creative!
Father's Day is T O M O R R O W! Yay for daddy's everywhere! Mine is especially special (I might be biased?) ;) LOL. BUT I am excited to celebrate Dad for everything he does for us. We just love love love him!


As my post reads, here is my summer at a glance... (so far!)


Congrats Austin!


3 peas in a pod!


Pre-race: 12K SOUND to NARROWS


Post-race: attractive huh? Time: 1hr ~7min


Look at those faces! Uh, I just wanted to be their mommy! Conner&Anna♥


Hank the tank!

more...!

in the car on the way to his new home!


boy bonding


oh my goodness my favorite picture.


oh and he flies too


one tuckered out little pup!

We already love you, Hank!

our newest arrival!

Our highly anticipated pup arrived on Tuesday from good ol' Nashville, TN. Welcome Hank! He is spunky, loving, cuddly, and likes shoe laces & ankles. 3 days in and he is already part of the family :) More pictures to come!

What a cutie!!!!

the adventures of nannying & walk for the cure!

This summer I'm back to nannying for the same kids as last summer. WHICH only means that my daily nanny chronicles will not be in short supply. Yesterday was my first day and I was so excited to see their cute faces! We went swimming, had a coloring contest, and dinosaur excavation activity (which led me to boil the bones we found on the stove to make them bendy)
Last sunday Megan and I did the Walk for the Cure with Nana. It was really fun! Megan had done it before but it was my first time and it was really special. It was a 5K walk, so a little over 3 miles and to say there were a lot of people there would be an understatement! So many survivors and supporters were there with their signs, matching outfits, and groups of family and friends. It started in Quest field and wrapped around the Seattle viaducts. It was really neat. & so great to spend some quality time with Nana!
Pictures from the walk:


group shot


sisters :)


Things coming up:
- Running the Sound of Narrows with Dad on Saturday!
- Puppy on Tuesday!!! (finally!)
- Lizzie gets home this weekend!

ah yes, now THIS is familiar

A gloomy june saturday... I was waiting for our luck to run out!
Well, when it rains the only logical thing to do is go see a movie so thats what were doing! Star Trek! Austin and Dad have been wanting to see it for a while now and today is the perfect day. Will is coming down for the weekend, he should be here in a little less than an hour, I am so excited! He lives in Redmond so its hard to find days where we can see each other, so I'm excited for him to come and hang out! Hil, Jackie and Dani are coming for dinner tonight too... a little Redlands reunion--and maybe some hottubbing?! :)
Tomorrow morning, bright and early, Megan and I are going to do the Race for a Cure with Nana! We got our registered shirts in the mail and are excited to support her in a walk to raise money for cancer research! I haven't seen Nana since, how long has it been? Christmas?!?! Oh wow! Too long! So yes :) that will be fun tomorrow!! Hopefully the sun will shine for us!! :)

Austin is movin' on up!

Yes, there is a reason I'm up at 6am. Getting ready for Austin's Middle School Graduation this morning! Every year on the last day of school Dad and Jeff Iverson take all the kids to iHop for an end of the year breakfast. I already had my last one senior year, but here I am back for more celebrating Austin and Beau making it to high school! Mom is sad to see her last little one leave the middle school nest but I am more excited for him. He is going to love CW high school and everything about it! Although it is hard for me to wrap my head around saying both my younger siblings are in high school, I know it is time!
Love you Bud! ♥

i think i brought the sunshine home with me!

Well, I'm not missing the Cali sunshine too much since it has been SO NICE here at home!! Today is supposed to be 88 and this past week has been consistently in the 80's, ahh feels so nice! Mom bought a paddle board over the weekend and I have gotten addicted to it. Its just like a surf board that you stand on and you have one paddle that you push yourself around with. We took some pictures that I'll be sure to put up later!
Tomorrow is Austin's 'Moving On' ceremony... how time flies! I clearly remember my own 8th graduation and how old I felt. Well after tomorrow Mom is going to officially have all of her kids in (or out of) high school... utoh mom your getting up there!
Hilary came over yesterday to lay out and stayed for dinner. I got to see Kaylee last night who is home for the summer from Williams and Anna was over Monday who is back from London! I feel so old having all of my friends getting back from their travels abroad and separate colleges.. but it's always nice to come home and see familiar faces :) Lizzie gets back late next week but she is based mainly in Boston this summer doing an internship that her dad helped her set up with Panera's headquarters.
In a nutshell, my first week home has been very nice and relaxing. Congrats Austin for movin' on up to HIGH SCHOOL!!

last day pictures from redlands...



nickie and i... barcelona and salzy♥



my big and i... (i am wearing spandex, dressed up as 80's workout barbie..hahah)



thetas & deltas together at last..



delta love.♥



SALZBURG FALL 09' BOUND!!!! eeuurrooppeee here we come :D