Blue Eyes

About a week ago I had some extra time *WOW* and Luke and I wanted to do a fun photo shoot. We donned him in some, I my opinion, cute apparel, and went out. Of course, Luke being almost 14, had to do mostly goofy pics, but I think we took some pretty good ones in the end. Unfortunately, the camera batteries started dying so the focus isn't perfect, but oh well, I think he is a handsome boy nonetheless:)

This one is my favorite, he looks so grown up:) This next one was from some JCrew inspiration from the boys department. Honestly, it looks nothing like what they have though, you decide if it's better or not..... The "cool dude" look with his I-touch-whatever :) And last is the......I don't actually know, hot nerd? Hahahahah, NO!

Time flies when you're having fun.....

Remember how I had three resolutions for the year? 1. Donate blood, 2. make a lemon meringue pie, and 3. ride on a four wheeler. Well, last Sunday, not only did I do something I had not even thought possible, but I officially finished my list, as I rode on a small 4x4! To some this may be unimportant, but it was something I had never done and really wanted to try! It's been so long since my last post I'll try to do a general update first.

I'll start with my foot. As of today it had been 1 month 1 week since my surgery. It is healing well, and I should be off crutches in about a week+. Life on crutches has been not the most pleasant, but as I get to my next life update, life crutching without a 25lb backpack on, seems almost like walking. The thing that probably makes me the most upset is that the outsides of my legs are getting stronger, but the insides are becoming all soft and my one calf is so atrophied that my leg looks like it shouldn't even be on my body. I can almost wrap my hands around my calf with my thumbs overlapping, where on my left leg my thumbs to middle fingers just touch. But, enough of me complaining about what I don't like and I'll go into what I had almost started on about: college which began two weeks ago.

This semester is pretty crazy for me. I'm taking 19 credits doing math, psych, a windows class, ceramics, guitar, piano, and writing. I like all my teachers a lot and love ceramics. So even though this is going to be my hardest semester, it might be my favorite. Even math, which I'm not doing too well in, I'm actually (don't tell anyone) almost enjoying....."Shhhhh". It's hard to get around the campus on crutches, and the guitar and 20lb block of clay have been a challenge, but fortunately I have good friends and a willing boyfriend to help me out:)

The reason for this post was to share not really what I've been up to, and my excuse for not posting, but to write about last Sunday. So, wait for it,......last Sunday, I..... got to ride on an Ultralight! It was a unexpected day, a great day, but pretty crazy overall. The airway was having a show and had free rides for kids ages 7-17. Unfortunately, I fell above the age limit, but they said I should look into the adult rides. The price wasn't bad at all, so Mom and Dad treated me to a short ride on the Ultralight.

First, I'll write about my brother though. Matthew and Luke were able to take a free flight since they are 13. The plane they are standing in front of is the one they rode in with one other boy. They said it was lots of fun and Luke even got to steer the plane. They are going to start this aviator program where they volunteer at the airport and after a certain amount of time will get a free lesson, and the more they work the more time they get in the air. By the age of 17 they can have their pilots licence free of charge. Which is, in my opinion, awesome.

Here is me all dressed up in the huge jumpsuit and helmet almost ready to take off. People have asked me if I was scared, but honestly it never even crossed my mind to worry. I was like "this is going to be fun" hopped on and took off. The only thing I regret was that it wasn't longer. 12 minutes of air time just isn't enough. I was beyond thankful for what I did get though.

Here is a better picture of the Ultralight. The pilot sat in front of me and he said that had there not been so much turbulence he would have let me drive. *sigh* oh well, but it was amazing nonetheless.

This a picture Luke took from the air. Pretty fantastic huh? Later that day I was invited to go to a friend of Steven's family, home on Flathead. This was a grand finale to my already spectacular day. Because their house was a bit up a hill to the lake they let me ride the four wheeler down to the water because of my foot. So that is how I completed my evening and even was able to ride on a boat and laugh as Steven tried to water ski and as Sheri (Steven's mom) was pushed off the dock. Great day.

Now I'm back where I started and so ends this post. Hopefully I post soon again. bye!!!

two things new

These last few days have been quite eventful. I'll start with the good and the most recent. So, *da dada dum* I got my braces off today! Yeah:D After nine months of, not pure torture but not great either, I'm finally able to smile without the thought of "Hmm, I really hope that spinach ravioli I just ate didn't leave an unpleasant green spec on my front brace..." Also, maybe people will finally stop asking me if I'm "a junior or senior in high school". It just got a little old after having it asked of me sometimes more than once in a day. But, alas, no more! I'm so happy, it was definitely worth it.Now, onto the not quite so pleasant. Last Thursday I had surgery on my foot. I'm not going to go into all the details into why I needed the surgery but basically I'm really bendy all over my body, and the bones in my foot were doing wacko things. So now three screws latter, I'm home and on crutches for 6 weeks. I can't put any weight on my foot for that whole time, so that is going to be the hardest part. Fortunately though the surgery went well. I stayed the night in the hospital, which was a good thing because I actually ended up passing out and then was sick, but I had a lot of support from people, and faith in God, and even though we had a few scares, and scars, everything is going good.

I hope this last pic isn't too icky, but it better shows what it looks like under the cast on my foot. Oh, one really positive thing is that the doctor thought I could be on pain pills for up to two weeks, but I was off them by Saturday morning. Funny though, while on the pills besides sleeping a lot, I can't remember quite a bit of what actually happened. Stuff is slowly starting to come back to me, but people keep telling me things I did that I can't remember but I truly wasn't loopy and was always really lucid when people were talking to me! I go and get a new cast tomorrow, so pray everything continues to go well:)

A few days

This last week has been quite busy, but incredibly fun. Last Thursday we did Hannah's baby shower for Sean on the way. Tina did a really cute job of setting tables up and baking tons of cupcakes, and Barb, Anna, Mom and I helped with prep and the games.

Me, Anna, and Hannah +Sean

We set up the chairs in a circle out side and we were all so thankful it was such a great temperature outside, not too hot and just enough shade. Tina read two very sweet poems and did a wonderful little devotion.After the games, which I thought were quite entertaining, we put all Hannah's gifts in a wagon mom and I found for her which I think ended up working really well to bring everything over. Baby boy stuff is always so cute, I think Sean will be a very adorably dressed, stylish little boy.Later that night the Takahashis treated us all to bowling. It was so much fun! Honestly, I'm a horrid bowler but at least I improved from a 44 to a 81:) I'm pretty sure the parents were in the high hundreds...

Nick enjoying the couch:) On Saturday we decided to go floating down the Swan River. We had one whole car just to carry all the tubes, I think we had 9, and another for all the people! We were a little worried that it would be too high, but it wasn't. It was actually safer than usual because you were less likely to hit rocks and booty bump, but the water was still, as normal, quite cold.Mitch and TinaUs all coming around the bend to the bridge.Later Saturday night we had everyone over for a lasagna dinner and played some frisbee. It was a great ending to the busy week we had had, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Two Days

Last Sunday, after walking around at the art fair in kalispell, we were all so hot that we decided to go over to Wayfarers to go swimming/rock jumping. I'm actually having foot surgery in a few weeks so I'm trying to get all the fun summer activities I want to do done now and this was something I had really wanted to do. It was really great. It took us a while to find a good place because of how crowded the lake was, but we did eventually find the perfect rock to jump off of and after Steven made the first jump, Christian, Nick, Luke, and I soon followed. It was so much fun! You had to jump out far enough that you wouldn't splat on the rocks, but no one was hurt, so all is well.

The water was actually not that cold and because of the sweltering heat it was even better for swimming. It was also fun just sitting on the rocks in the water because they were so slippery and the "waves" would push you around. Kind of made you feel like a seal.....

Sam and BarbThe rock we are sitting on is the one we were jumping off of and just about where Kermit is, on his kayak, is how far we had to jump.

*fun*

Today my family with the Takahashis, Mitch, Matt and Christian went up to Glacier National Park. We were going to do the hike to Avalanche, but when it started raining us girls whimped out about half way and the guys soon followed when it started pouring. So, at least we weren't alone in our yellowness.Nick, Anna, Me, Christian, Luke, Mitch, Matt, and Sam

After coming down from avalanche and finishing the well known, overused, Trail of the Cedars, we all went to Apgar, had ice cream and walked around the shops. I always enjoy Glacier and even though our hike was cut off short, it was still another great day.

There goes the groom.....

Well, my cousin Eric is officially wed! Honestly, I always knew he would end up getting married, I just never thought he would, if that makes any sense.... Despite my doubt, on July 23 in Plains, MT, Eric Underhill married Tara Mathers.

We left at 11:00 on Saturday to get down there by 2:00. It didn't take us as long as everyone said though, so we were really early. Oh well.

Hannah +Sean, Rachel, Anna, and me. Christian, Matthew (who was in the wedding), and Luke. Jay and Stacia did the sound.I felt bad for the men in the wedding party who were in black because it was sooooo hot out. We were all roasting in the pelting sun though, not just the party. At one point a cloud rolled in front of the sun and everyone gave an appreciative sigh, but just as quick as it came, it moved away. Haha, I got a really funny sandal and sweetheart tan.

Eric waiting for his bride to be.The wedding party.At the reception they had really yummy pulled pork sandwiches, fruit, and variegated salads. I was (along with everyone else) so glad to be in the shade after the ceremony and it took a good while before I was cooled down enough to even move.

Nick, Luke, Regent, and Christian at the table. The wedding was done in Western theme (no duh), and their colors were blue and brown, which is always a really lovely combo.

Eric and Tara cutting the cake.Ridge and Hannah.After the wedding we were all so fried that we stopped at the river on the way home. None of us actually went swimming, but we walked into to water up to our knees and splashed around. *nice* Overall, besides being really sweltering, it was a fantastic wedding. It went (as far as I know), really smoothly, and everyone looked great:)

First Fish

Normally by this time each year we have already been camping at least twice, but because of the late summer we've had this year, we just finally were able to this last weekend.
Tina, Christian, Matt, and Mitch arrived Thursday, my family, plus Steven, went up Friday at various times and Bill, Tammy, and Derek came Saturday. We were camping on Lake Koocanusa in Eureka. It's not really "roughing it" camping, but I do really like the Rexford Bench campground. Very nice, and really quiet (except for the stupid generator the man had next to us).The weather was really warm most of the time except for one evening when it started storming. We were out on Bill's boat fishing when it started to thunder. It wasn't until we could see the lightening right above the lake that we started to get worried and headed back to the shore. On the way back it started to sprinkle, then rain, then pour. It was really exciting, (a little scary) but mostly amazing to be on the lake with a full out storm starting. Loading the boat was interesting especially when it started hailing. The moms, plus me, vacated into the truck while dad, Bill, Matt and Steven were out getting soaked. When we finally got back to camp everything was drenched. The guys had wittingly set up a huge canopy above the chairs, but it really didn't do much to help with the rain. Overall that was quite the evening. The next day (Sunday), was so hot. We spent most the day zooming around the lake on the boat and then going across to the other side of the lake to play in the sand. Steven got the boys making a sand castle and soon had quite the fortress built. Tammy brought some water bombs and so we also had a war going on. Personally, I really love the sandy beaches on Lake Koocanusa, it always reminds me of the ocean I often long for. You forget how hard it is to walk on sand though! Later that night a few of us went out fishing and although we didn't bring in anything, I caught my first fish ever!!!!!! It was abuut an 8" WhiteFish. When I felt the line going wild I started yelling "What do I do! What do I do!". Steven came over and scooped up the fish in his net and brought it in. I'm glad it was too small to keep because honestly I would have had a hard time killing the poor thing. Steven said it was gasping for air, but to me it sounded as if it were crying and it looked really pathetic squirming around in my hand.
I'm not sure how many, if any more trips we will get this year, but I hope a few. I had a great time and I think everyone else did too. We came home on Monday. leaving early to beat the heat, and noticed that over the weekend I had, as Hannah put it, become very "pink and tan".

Boldly going where no Meg had gone before...

Most of you probably didn't even know I was gone, but late last night I got back from my trip to Oregon and Washington. I went with Steven, his parents, Chet and Sheri, and sister, Lindsey who is 9, to visit with his family. We left Thursday around 3:30ish and took the 6-8 hour drive there. I think we made it in about 7. It was actually a really nice drive. At first boiling hot, but then it cooled down and then at one point even started pouring. We stayed at their grandparents house in Walla Walla Washington where I shared a room with Lindsey. The town is a Seventh Day Adventist town so it was different at times. Like for example they don't sell any meat in the stores and are closed on Saturday because that's their church day.

The next day we drove into Oregon to visit with Chet's parents. The country is really different out there. It's mostly wheat fields on rolling hills, and then some foliage here and there. There were so many little towns I don't really remember which ones we were in most the time so I'm not even going to try. *sorry* That evening we went to a park for a family get together/reunion. The park was really beautiful. Reminded me of a cross between Lawrance and Woodland. I met so much family I was a little overwhelmed, but I think I finally started to figure out who went to who. Everyone was really great and it was a privilege to be able to be there.

Saturday we went to the Caledonian Days in Athena, which is a Scottish fest. It goes for a few days in July and they have lots of games and vendors. We spent the whole day there and I met more family and friends of Steven. Sheri had her high school reunion that day too so we walked around the whole town, which didn't take too long. They had a Tattoo, in which they had bagpipers play and some people dance. It was really fun to watch and hear both the experienced and beginner players.

(sorry for the crummy pictures, they're from my phone) Each Scottish clan had their own table with their plaid. We spent alot of time in the park, and then some over at his friend Justin's house playing wii. I whupped everyone at sword fighting haha, but my arm still hurts for it..... :) Tartan ties anyone?

It was funny how many people were in kilts. I would estimate around 40-50 men alone. We didn't know if we would be coming home Sunday or Monday, but they decided to leave yesterday. So after visiting with some more family and dropping off Lindsey at her grandma's house to stay a few more days, we started the drive back. On the way we stopped at this chocolate factory which is the coolest store ever. It mostly sells chocolate, but they also have a huge selection of salsa, produce, ice cream, breads, gifts, amazing sandwiches, just about everything actually. I bought a bag of some really yummy chocolates and after trying just about every sample of fudge, split that with Steven too. Funny, I'm one of those people who if they offer free samples I take them up on it.

*Hint* people don't seem to mind letting you try a bazillion samples if you do it with a smile, laugh, and talk to them.

The rest of the trip back went by way to quick, and even though I'm glad to be home, I'm still sad the weekend is over. This was definitely a great trip that I will remember forever.

two down and one to go

So, not only was this probably one of my favorite 4th of Julys ever, but I also accomplished one of my New Year resolutions! What you may ask? If you remember I had three: first, I wanted to donate blood, second, make a lemon meringue pie, and third, ride on a four wheeler. A few months ago I gave blood, but that didn't turn out to well, and for the fourth I made two lemon meringue pies. I'm beginning to become a little worried about the whole 4 wheeling thing now, because those pies where, let's just say more like lemon pudding:) Although I do think for pudding they tasted pretty good.....At least I know how to fix them for next time: use a double broiler. We started out the day early in Bigfork to watch the parade. I have to say I missed not going for two years and was really excited to go. Steven came over to our house early and even though we were a good 45 min early, we still had to park aways away. Oh, well, the walk was worth it. Sorry I don't have any pictures of the parade, but we forgot the camera.

Oh, funny story.... The last car in the parade was throwing full sized candy bars quite generously and Luke and Steven both caught a few. But was 3 enough for Luke? Nope. So Luke chased the car the rest of the way having the guys on the car throw them at him. At one point I guess the guy told Luke that if he could catch up to the car, he would give him 5. He did. All in total Luke came home with 19 candy bars. Haha, my funny brother, but his insanity paid off in the long run (pun intended).

Steven brought over sooo many fireworks, and then James brought over a load too.

People started coming over to our house around 5:00 and I was really grateful it was such a wonderful temperature outside because in total we had around 39 people come over. Yup, quite the group.We had a BBQ dinner and lots of other goodies. I have to say I'm a bit of a watermelon addict:) We so seldom have it, and when we do only for the few short months of summer, so I love the fresh flavor. *yum*While waiting for it to darken up the boys (and girls), played various things. They even had a short lived game of soccer going. I found out I suck at soccer. It was sad to see, but we made up a pretty pathetic game of badminton too. I guess those muscles are still hibernating:)I think James and Steven were really excited for fireworks because we started them pretty early. They were really great though, we had just about everything you could think of, plus more.Some people tried out the stilts dad made for Luke but none were quite the master my brother was!Poor Cleo was sooooo terrified of the fireworks she hid in the van in the garage. We had to lock Shelby up too because she was barking at every "bang" she heard, which as you can imagine is quite annoying after the second firework.The boys put on a terrific show this year! Steven did an awesome job entertaining us all and even did a fantastic grand finale. You can't see too much in this picture, but if you look close you can just make out Luke, Steven, Christian, and Matthew about ready to do some pyromaniac endeavor.

*sigh* It was such a great day. I was never bored and I do think that this was my favorite fourth ever. I highly doubt that I will ever have a fourth that will live up to this one: Great day with Steven, great parade, great afternoon, great evening, great fireworks, and overall just a great time with everyone I love.