FRiENDS.

Every summer vacation my family went to the upper peninsula of Michigan and the Brooks family came with us. Before it just seemed normal to me. I spent my summers with Ashleigh  running around trading stickers, and crashing four wheelers. Going to the U.P. was just what our family always had done. Then i learned that our parents had met and became friends at the very place we attended vacation!  

So the story goes: My mom (Ruth) roomed with Mrs. Brooks (Debbie). And my dad (Jerry) worked at that summer camp as well! Ruth and Debbie became friends after a few summers spent together in the kitchen, office and bookstore. Jerry and Ruth (after a bumpy road) eventually fell in love at that summer camp. Then Mr. Brooks (Joe) visited one week. Thus the love square began and each couple got married and still 30 years later spend there summers at that same lake.

Each summer vacation spent on Piatt Lake was one filled with bliss.Looking back on the memories Ashleigh and I made while being so called 'lakers' are some of the best memories of my life.  [Besides crashing the quad. that ones not so great]. My cousin, Katie's family came up a few summers as well. Katie and I would spend time crafting and writing plays. Then preform them charging admission fees of course! Katie joined me for part of the UP vacation and we laughed remebering memeories of the past.

Just being up there reminds me of all the childhood adventures i experienced, and almost brings me back in time. Since all of us kids have grown up we don't attend a month long vacation anymore.With all the kids leaving you would think that the parents would no longer see the need for a month long vacation, and late nights. But, oh boy do they ever! I hung out with the rents just enjoying there company and friendship for a week.Visiting them was one of the funnest adventures i went on this summer!

We played dominoes- and i kicked butt!

Even when the electricity went out, we played by candle light!

You could tell they had all been friends for years through how they talked to each other. Spending time with them made me excited to have family friends one day, and be all grown up together playing dominoes until 3 in the morning! 

Mr. Brooks and Dad.[[the goofballs]]

Mom and Mrs. Brooks [[The Party Planners!]] 

[[ 30 years and counting ]]

[[ Some of the Kid's. ]]

When leaving the beloved vacation spot I couldn't help but be so thankful for such a wonderful place to house my summer memories. My family has truly been blessed to have such dear friends and joyous memories.

Sisters and Creativeness.

I am not sure if you have seen the movie My Sisters Keeper , it caused my mind to wonder back to all the years my sister and I spent fighting. To be honest my sister and I have only recently become actual friends. I think thats what happens when girls grow up, and don't have to share things any more. :] Anyways, this movie really touched me and opened my eyes to how blessed I am to have a sister, even if we fight.

And today I felt a craving to create something. Do you know what I am talking about? Sometimes I simply have a spark of excitement and longing to DO something! So, to satisfy my creative craving, I had to create something. I thought about writing a short story or something but, I am tiered of writing. So i thought about painting again, but I am certainly not in the mood to clean anything.

Then i thought about pictures. For the past 4 years I have been using the picture editing site PiCNiK. It's free and AWESOME. If you enjoy capturing memories in a picture, this is the site for you! It's easy to use, and its SO fun. 

So, with the combination of me missing my sister, & wanting to be creative -- I created this: 

This is one of my favorites I've done on picnik. :] Here a few more that I have done, and I like! Enjoy! 

Like What you see?! Check out Picnik! Seriously!! :]

If anything this makes me want to buy all the adobe 'stuff'. 

One Day. :] 

This Weekend.

First- I would like to say, I have been trying to add super cool things to my blog and cool fonts- and pictures... Well. This is the best I have so far. It will have to do... I'm too annoyed with the internet to try anymore. I don't care. This is my blog. It will have to do for now. :]

 TAYLOR ViSiTED ME!!! :]]]!!!! 

I don't think I have laughed so hard in such a long time. It was wonderful being reunited and feeling like we were never apart! At first, I felt like her visit was not real. Running out, hugging Tay, and crying. Looking at her standing in my apartment- thinking "this isn't happening, this is too good to be true!?!?" :]]. It did happen, it was real, I have pictures and videos to prove it. 

Of course our first stop consisted of getting Fiesta items! :]- Like ::

 You may be staring at that picture asking "Did they really have a fiesta together?" And the correct answer would be yes. We did have a HayloR Fiesta. How cool are we? Too Cool for words. We bought sombreros, chilly pepper necklaces, fiesta signs, streamers, and a few other fiesta items! :]

We fiesta's the weekend away chatting about new friends, old friend, old memories, and looked through pictures from freshman year... I cannot accurately capture in words the happiness floating around the both of us. Finally being together after being 3 time zones, and on two separate coasts- we were together again! 

Isn't this what being young is all about?  Having Friends, & Having Fun Together? Life is SO short. Life is here then gone. Life can disappear in a moment, a second or a half of second.  Taylor has that ability to create fun in everyday life. Sometimes I forget to have fun. Okay- I'll be honest, sometimes I forget the idea of fun in everyday life even exists! Taylor reminds me to enjoy life.

Laugh with someone you don't know. Smile at someone who is frowning. Dance to your car in the rain. Make a new friend at the gas station. Whatever happens, enjoy. Take small moments, days, minutes, seconds and embrace what life has placed in your lap. Make the most of what you are given. Take chances. Run away from all you know, and start new. You will be scared, and stupid stuff will happen- but cherish every moment. We have been given one life. There is no do over, no restart button, no extra life hidden in a brick box somewhere- This is it. One. 

Why not enjoy?

Taylor--- Thank you for teaching me this vital and valuable lesson. Many people go through life without really living- without really enjoying, without cherishing. Thanks to you I have learned to Laugh, Cherish, and Enjoy! :] 

Here are some more pics- that I think capture our friendship perfectly! 

 We had some late night adventures and chats under the stars! :]]]. GREAT memories that we will be laughing about for some years to come! :] 

  

You don't dress up at 3 in the morning and take pictures??? 

                                                                          <3<3<3.