Labor Day Baby

17 years ago my youngest sister was born on Labor Day and this year her birthday fell on the holiday once again. We drove up for the day to celebrate with our half-a-family. I made my baby sister french toast for breakfast.

And then we spent the afternoon at the Newseum. It's now one of my favorite sites in D.C.- despite that it was an unexpectedly sobering experience. Here we're standing next to a portion of the Berlin wall...

Beautiful views from the rooftop deck...

They had stunning yet heart-wrenching exhibits devoted to Katrina, 9/11, and pulitzer-prize winning photography. A monument of twisted metal from the World Trade Centers...

And of course there were cake and candles and presents involved... 

Happy Birthday, Brooke!

some of my favorite things

running with dustin in the park on a saturday morning.

... followed by a trip to the farmers market for fresh baked bread, tomatoes, corn.


nail polish.
(for years i've tried to stop biting my nails. then one day i got a manicure and discovered that as long as i keep them polished i won't bite 'em. Voila!)


how happy dustin gets when byu wins a football game.
(the opposite could be considered one of my least favorite things)


fall.
(boots, sweaters, scarves, apple picking, pumpkin candles)

the way Virginia looks in the fall.
(it's coming!)


sunday mornings.
(sleeping in- or going back to bed if you're like me and always wake up by 6am, pancakes, reading)


ice cream.


and sisters.
(i'm lucky enough to have 3 of them... and can't believe that the littlest one turns 17 tomorrow!)

(i found these pictures taken of my sisters as my bridesmaids only 5 years ago... before make-up and contacts, sporting braces... so adorable!)

Durham

On our way back from the beach we stopped in Durham for a short stay with the Sanford's (who left Richmond just a few months ago for a medical residency at UNC). We started our weekend off with a delicious brunch...

Then we visited a local farm to sample the fresh milk and ice cream... amazing!

And on Sunday morning we took a stroll through Duke gardens...

It's hard to part with friends, but awesome to have them only a few hours away! 

confusion.

you're supposed to get an education.
you're not supposed to stay in school forever.
you're supposed to work to support your husband.
you're not supposed to hate your job.
you're supposed to get experience so you have a career to fall back on.
you're supposed to be a mother.
you're supposed to be able to get a job anywhere as a nurse.
hah.
you're not supposed to lie on your job application.
you're supposed to move across the country in eight months. 
you're supposed to know what to do.


it's exhausting being pulled in so many different directions.


sometimes my favorite solution is to do nothing.

                                          (or at least for today.)

Beach Bliss

Our own little slice of ocean...

Not sure why the frowns.... it was gloriously warm and sunny and we soaked in as much summer as we could.

There was lots of fishing...

With some success.

Dustin's best catch was a sting ray (which was immediately released).

Amber is an expert with the net and provided a steady supply of bait. (The girl wasn't afraid to manhandle a fish or stick a hook in its head. I was impressed.)

And Jake reeled in a shark. (A little disturbing to discover what you're swimming with.)

The shark unfortunately became dinner. Better him than us, I guess.

And after a blissful week we said goodbye to the half of my family who is returning to school and we won't get to see again 'till after Christmas.

Amber, Katelyn, Jacob, and beautiful bit of beach... you'll be missed.

Retreat

This is where we've been all week...

...crammed with family and friends into a beach house- fishing, swimming, sunbathing, eating, and thoroughly relaxing. (But more on that later.)

On Monday we snuck away to Wilmington to celebrate our anniversary. 

USS North Carolina

Downtown Wilmington

For the night we stayed in a bed and breakfast in Hampstead. Really we were just sleeping upstairs in a sweet woman's adorable home (with breathtaking views of the waterway). It felt like a stay with a grandma we'd never met. In the morning she left us a wonderful breakfast and afterwards we went out for a paddle.

(Or rather Dustin paddled while I snapped pictures.)

Getaway complete.

Just 5 years ago...

August 15, 2006. 

Salt Lake City.

It's crazy how fast 5 years can pass and how much can happen in between.

Since then... 

we've lived in Provo, Portland, Connecticut, and Richmond.

we graduated from BYU in 2008.

Dustin applied, reapplied, was accepted, and has almost finished dental school.

I decided to become a nurse, completed nursing school, and am now an RN.

Dustin decided he wants to stay in school forever... and become a pediatric dentist.

Also unexpected...

Jessie started cooking. A lot. And this little project came about. 

We became an aunt and uncle. Twice.

We doubled our square footage and gained a backyard.

We grew a garden.

We fell in love with Richmond. 

But a few things haven't changed...

I'm still blonde. (Quite surprising considering my history.)

Dustin still complains that I steal the covers and crank up the heat. 

We're still together.

Just the two of us.

Still in love.

It's funny how on that day you hope, but you have no idea... 

of the joyful, sometimes painful, yet absolutely beautiful life that awaits you

and how in five years you'll look back and think about what a rewarding decision you made.