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.

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.

Founder

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

Graduation Weekend

Waiting for The Underground Tour:
Enjoying sunshine (and strawberry lemonade) at the West Seattle Farmer's Market:

Graduation, of course:

A celebratory margarita:

And, as always, my two favorite people in the world being goofy:

A few quick shots from Portland

sisters celebrating christmas (early)

high tea

we went to a neighborhood-y tea room instead of the big fancy hotel for high tea. it was an excellent choice. the walls were covered in photos of british royalty and the waitress was sassy. the crumpets were particularly delicious. all in all: worth my $13 Canadian.

someone in the family "signed" with the mariners

phoenix trip redux

there was food:
fun:
and family:
and jason thought it was hilarious that he was in an earlier boarding zone than i was even though our seats were right next to each other: