Loriel, remember when...

I can't help thinking back to when Loriel was little, and she and Daniel used to come visit each summer. They were so little, so we would help them keep a diary to help them remember the trip. They couldn't write yet, so they would draw and color what they did that day: jump on the trampoline, go swimming, play games, plant grandpa's corn, etc. I loved the way Loriel would say, "diary."  She would put the accent on the last syllable and made me laugh every time.

I love how she can make me laugh! On this visit she was telling us about the "other" dojo and how they only teach showy stuff and not skills, so their sparring is really terrible. I had to laugh out loud when she said she was watching them at the last competition and felt like Grandpa watching football and wanted yell at them to keep their arms up and move their feet. I just had this clear image of her in Grandpa's recliner yelling at the players.

I love her for having such a bright attitude.  She is up for any adventure and enjoys every moment.

I admire Loriel because she values family relationships. I am so grateful she helps me feel connected to her life through emails, pictures, and Facebook.  I am so glad she came for a visit!

BTW, I've tried and tried to get this picture to flip. But, it's still a cute one!

Meet Loriel:

My current occupation is: A karate Aide and soon I will be a daycare worker/teacher.

My dream job is: To own a bakery and complete custom cake orders.

If I could live anywhere in the world, it would be: Exactly where I am-- all the magic I need is right here.

The best birthday gift I could receive would be: Just people that love and care about me.

If I had a million dollars, the first thing I'd buy would be: A new house for my parents.

When I was a teenager, I thought that at my age I'd be: I always thought that when I turned sixteen someone would wave a magic wand and all of sudden I'd be beautiful, fun to be around and have a bunch of wonderful friends. No wand was waved--maybe the magic was believing in myself.

The goals I'm currently working on are: I want to get back into the same activity level as I was before surgery. I want to finish Electronic Highschool. I want to enlarge my circle of friends.

When I'm 80, I hope I am doing this: Impacting other's lives.

The person I'd like to be more like is: My dad is just so calm and content with life.

The last person I sent a card to is: My dad for father's day.

I ate this for lunch today: A leftover hamburger.

Something I just learned how to do is: Knit.

My favorite song right now is: The Story of Us by Taylor Swift

The last book I read is: Siddartha- darn you summer homework!

This is what I'm wearing right now: My karate gi--I'm about to leave for karate.

The last phone call I made was to: My best friend.

Inside, I don't feel very different from when I was: 12

The last restaurant I ate at as: Applebees

My favorite TV show is: I don't have one.

Two everyday things I couldn't live without are: My phone and an icepack to ice my knee.

Something I really worry about is: I worry about growing up. I want to do everything right. I want to make my parents proud but currently that goal seems out of reach.

My favorite place to shop is: Hobby Lobby- So much crafty things are there as well as cake decorating things.

Four jobs I've had in my life are: Weeding and babysitting.

Four movies I could watch over and over are: She's the Man, Penelope, While you were Sleeping and Enchanted.

Loriel's walking tour

Friday, Loriel and I tried a scrapbooking project and walked around downtown to take some artsy pictures of things like the brick on the buildings, the manhole covers, alley way signs, and Loriel got some really cool pics of all the different styles of old fashioned doors and I had fun taking pictures of all the different kinds of brick and the signs. 

Loriel's Whirlwind Visit

Whew! What a whirlwind Loriel's visit was! Loriel got here late Tuesday night and then left early Saturday morning. She did lots of projects with Grandma like covering notebooks with scrapbooking paper and sewing some aprons. I had to work during the day, but we got together every night for something. Wednesday night we had a movie night at my house and watched 17 Again with Matthew Perry and Zac Effron. I think I might have a little cougar crush on him. Zac, not Matthew :).

Thursday night Grandma, Chris, Loriel and I went to Twin Falls for some shopping and dinner. Then on the way back we went to visit Shoshone Falls. Since they're worried about flooding, they've been letting off HUGE amounts of water. It was pretty windy so the mist coming off the Falls kept making rainbows in the sky!

Friday, Loriel and I tried a scrapbooking project and walked around downtown to take some artsy pictures of things like the brick on the buildings, the manhole covers, alley way signs, and Loriel got some really cool pics of all the different styles of old fashioned doors and I had fun taking pictures of all the different kinds of brick and the signs.  Then we stopped for an Italian soda. This one has club soda, peach, raspberry, a dollop of cream, and sprinkles!

On the way back home, I told her she could drive some since she just got her learner's permit. For her first time off a parking lot and on a road, I think she was starting to get the hang of it by our fourth loop around the neighborhood. Of course, I also think both of our nerves were shot by that point, so we were just calling it good :). BTW, she just blinked and is NOT driving with her eyes closed!

Later, Loriel came with Chris, Tricia, and I over to our friends’ house to play Beatles Rock Band and Disney sing along (they have three little girls!). It was a busy three days and we piled a lot into it and made a lot of memories.