NY: Day 1-2 (Going home to Long Island)

So we did it. The long awaited and planned for summer vacation with my girlfriends to New York City FINALLY happened. And it ended up being one of the best vacations I have ever taken and one of the best trips back to NY I have experienced.

Since I know you all just want to see the pictures, I will keep the words few, and let them tell their own story.

Enjoy the trip!

DAY 1- Beaches on Long Island with the girls, Terri (nanny friend), her kiddos and Ryan Hamilton (friend from SLC, now living in NYC)

I LOVE Terri. 8 years ago we were 19-year-old nanny's from Idaho trying to figure out life in NY. I'll never forget the long Sundays together (our only time away from our nanny families), our fun adventures in the city, the many boys that chased her, and our first time serving in the RS presidency. She is one of my REAL BFF's. (And she even named her little girl Chrislyn...awe!).

Erika (Betty), Rachel (Twiggy), Me (Polly)

Also known as "SSS"

Yes, definitely two of the coolest litle dudes I know!

DAY 2: Long Island with the Katzmann's (family I nannied for in '99-'01)

It was SO great to see my boys who are getting SO big! They have grown up to be the most respectful, smart and handsome boys! I wish I could say I had some influence in that, but I think all they really remember about me is the fun music I played in the car, and how I loved to play baseball with them. They are definitely like nephews to me, and I have felt SO blessed that the family has wanted to stay in close touch with me and let's me continue to feel like family. (They even still call the room I stayed in "Chrislyn's room"...awe.)

Kevin (14), Nanny Chrislyn, Scotty (12), Christopher (16)

The amazing mother, Kathleen, who is the reason those boys are so great!

The Kathleen Maria

Don't you think this would be a great calendar pic? ;)

Captain Scott & the ladies!

Just an average house on Long Island...

Next: Into the city we go!

For the Little People in My Life

So I will admit, starting a blog has been a goal of mine since, well, yep, last November. But for some reason there was never a big enough drive for me to actually do it. It had become just "something to do for myself" and so, consequently, got put on the back burner. But as with most things that I actually end up doing in life, I finally realized this week that this blog isn't "just for me." As I was trying to explain to a good friend the other day my struggle with starting a blog, I shared my "real reason" for wanting to start a blog, and to my surprise, it was really good. And so here I am today, with a drive to finally publish my blog...for the little people in my life: Daryl, Elijah, Kailee, Brandon, Jasmin, Dylan, Levi, Charisma, David & Tommy....the ones who call me "their favorite aunt."
So here it goes. This blog is my attempt at documenting the fun, the adventurous, the educational, and maybe even a few of the hard or sad things that make life 3-dimensional for me and that make it all worth it. Here's to sharing my JOY with the ones I love. And if you're not one of those "little people" in my life, I hope you'll still find a reason, or two, to come back and visit every once in a while. Maybe one day i'll write something for you, too!

Oh The Places I Go...

A lot of my life is spent traveling around the country, which I love, but rarely get to share with others. So this is an attempt to share the fun I get to see experience with those I love.

Here's just a quick summary of this Spring, and a few of the favorite places I visited...
(sorry i don't have pictures for all of them)

• Idaho Falls, ID
• Fresno, CA
• Spokane, WA
• Seattle, WA
• San Diego, CA
• Toronto, Ontario

Seattle in February: Steve, Erika, Ryan & I set out for an escape weekend...which it was! I was able to visit my mission companion, Nicole Ponder (Crisenberry), now known as "mommy", my favorite little sister, Jessica and enjoy a rare day of sun in Seattle. Probably one of the best trips I have taken in a long time.

We're always up for a little posing in front of the camera!

Prego Nicole and Me at her place in Federal Way

Last TOFW event of the season: TORONTO, ONTARIO, Canada

My boss, Laurel, and I at the CN TOWER (we were too cheap to go up, but cool shot, huh?).

That's me in the cool city of Toronto. Very neat architecture all over. Loved it. Felt like a mini NYC.

A Chrislyn pose...meditating in the Labrynth.

I'm always up for a HUG and these boys were giving out FREE HUGS! Happy Day for ME!