six friends meet for a camping trip

view from the sky

a LOT of tulips

look who came to visit!

Jason had convinced me we were going on a little trip for my birthday. He told me to pack a bag and we went to the airport Friday evening, where I was going to find out what the trip was as soon as our tickets printed out of the machine. But instead, when we got there, we found my sister standing around the ticketing area. There were many tears of laughter and a LOT of explanations on the way home from the airport. I had tried to think of every possible weekend trip we could possibly be taking, but I had completely ruled out seeing brooke or other family members because I knew exactly what everyone was supposed to be doing this weekend. Turns out brooke's story was a lie!

What an awesome birthday surprise. It has been years since brooke & I have spent our birthday together (yesterday was her birthday, too!). Happy birthday, sister! And Jason deserves huge kudos for thinking up the idea, putting up with my pestering questions, and arranging for everything to happen. This was definitely a memorable birthday.

yesterday's adventure

we took a trip to bainbridge island! Pretty safe to say that I love making the trip over there.

i always think the cranes look like brontosauruses.

our friend ty likes to take pictures even more than i do.

jason made everyone in the bookstore laugh when his cell phone rang, really loudly, in the middle of the quiet store.

(really? it would be wrong to go without visiting the awesome yarn shop.)

Bellingham

Took a little afternoon trip yesterday - Bellingham is so cute!

Nebraska-trip

I won this banana playing pitch with Mom, Grandpa, and Grandma. 'Nuff said.

These lovely girls came to hang out in Lincoln.

Hi, Mom! (I liked your new house!)
Went irrigating with Dad (these are soybeans). Also saw Dad & Connie's awesome new house and had Johnbengetty!

Runza!

DC: the artsy edition

Sisters at the Metro stop

From the US Supreme Court cafe

I like to imagine that the Justices sit at the "employees only" table.

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I'll do some big DC-roundup posts when I have time - maybe this weekend or early next week.

Important "blanco" buildings

Spotted on Tuesday.

Founder

- of my "favorite" holiday, spotted in the U.S. Capitol building.
(this one's for you, Jason!)

In which I make use of my camera's "flower" setting

(Ty and I both took a ton of pictures)







and also: i liked the name of this one

We spent the rainiest part of Sunday at OMSI

(Oregon Museum of Science and Industry)

A few quick shots from Portland

sisters at the portland saturday market

so fun!

little friend in topeka

victoria, b.c.