what a weekend.

Last weekend started out with beautiful blue skies and puffy white clouds.

Not bad for the beginning of October, huh?

Friday, I rushed as fast as my little brain could to finish my midterms and get to Salt Lake.

[come on, church University... midterms during General Conference?]

Grandma and Grandpa, along with my aunt and uncle's family, were in town.

So, naturally, I had a sleepover with my two cousins Saturday night...

and spent all day Sunday with my grandparents.

The company and conversation couldn't have been a more welcome reprieve from my crazy week.

Even if they're short, much-needed breaks seem to come right when you need them.

We spent the day watching conference, walking around temple square, 

and visiting the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. 

Grandma told me about staying in the building when she was a flight attendant-

at that time it was still known as hotel Utah.

We looked at the beautiful architecture and the little blurbs about the building's history.

We found out that my dad gets his love for history from my grandpa.

They both stop to read every sign.

It made me feel right at home, being with my family last weekend,

even though I'm still far from it. 

I think grandparents are one of those really special gifts He gives us.

They aren't parents, but they love you almost as much.

And you just can't help but love them back even more.

Here's to adventure

and learning

and miniature retreats from college life.

Summer Adventure: Berkeley Goodbyes

Gahhh, it's killing me to break this trip into pieces.
But I think if I didn't it would just be picture/youdon'tcarethatmuch overload.
Yeah?

Welllll..... our last day in Berkeley we had a French brunch at La Note

and awkwardly waited for the waiter so they could take this picture.
But it's ok, because it shows how drop-dead gorgeous my two favorite redheads are.
Sandwiched between them was, well, wonderful of course!
and now the moment is frozen in time.
well worth the awkward wait [and subsequently larger obnoxious flash] at the front of the restaurant.
Moral of the story: I have cute friends. 

Then we had to say goodbye to Aspen, and it was horribly sad.
If I was a cry-er I may have cried.
But I get to see her for a day or two here before I leave, so I'll be able to cope.
Barely.

and would you know it? The Oakland Temple is less than 10 minutes from there. 
and the Oakland Temple is beautiful.
I don't care if you believe in what it stands for or not.
If you're ever in the area, please stop by.
The building is beautiful and the grounds are so peaceful.

And if you're feeling adventurous, stop by the visitor's center.

we did.

and we watched this.

and talked to the sweet sister missionaries for a while.

and looked at beautiful art work.

and looked through the massive glass window out across the city.
What a view.
I do. I love to see the temple.

More spring adventures.

That, down there, is what my fridge looked like at the beginning of this week.

And that is pathetic.

so pathetic that it's blog worthy.

[please note that none of that is edible food...thanks]

Never fear, mom! I went and got real food :)

in other, less pathetic realms of my life..... 

Every afternoon this week has been spent outdoors.

 

Even though outdoors means "The Reluctant Mr Darwin"...

which wasn't exactly on the summer book list if you know what I mean.

But there's fun things too I promise.

like re-creating canon center meals. 

with chicken cordon bleu, frozen vegetables, and waffles. 

all the reasons for the freshman 15, together on one plate.

isn't it beautiful?

and cookie parties with really cool english people... and people going to England.

and engagement ring cookies to match. 

or as it was so lovingly called in class today...

en-gag-ment.

And crafts!

like an earring holder with a finger-painted DI frame.

and experimenting with new hairstyles.

and going to the temple that I love so much.

and sitting on the benches outside the temple. 

soaking up sunshine and the general splendor.

and finally, we come to the reason for the current, crimson nature of my back

the roof..... ;)

with it's privacy and girltalk and... proximity to the sun?

 

Just some more reasons I love spring semester, that's all.

do you feel like this?

one time I took my siblings to the temple.

at my normal time of course...five in the morning :)

they weren't quite expecting to do that on vacation.

I think these pictures  tell all.

thought you might enjoy them.

don't we all feel like this sometimes?

and just so you know, i'm back on board with blogging, so don't go anywhere.

have the greatest day ever :)

-taylor