easter weekend

easter weekend was full of nice things. 

saturday started off with a little church cleaning and then a relief society birthday party with our bishop's wife. probably only 6 or 7 girls showed up so we had an informal discussion about things her and her girlfriends wish they had known at our age and then how her and Bishop met. i'm glad i went because i really enjoyed everything about it. 

that afternoon i headed to blue hills reservation with some friends to hike. it was a beautiful afternoon to hang out with neature. 

 (also - i just barely noticed that "will u marry me" is written on the wood above our heads! makes the photo even better/more classy)

 

it was so nice to be outside in the (somewhat) fresh air, i've definitely missed hiking and the smells that come with it. the views from the top of the summit were pretty incredible (minus the part where it isn't fun to look at dead sick winter trees). we are definitely going to go back in the fall because it will probably be 30923 times better. but - what the fall time might not have is that giant beethoven friend. how are some dogs as big as a medium sized bear? i was dying. also, i like that in the above left picture you can see jamie handing a random stranger an easter egg filled with candy. we offered everyone we saw easter eggs which either thrilled people or creeped them out..i felt satisfied with either outcome.

 guys SOMEBODY IN BOSTON HAS MY BIKE. we walked past cortina and i immediately grabbed her and felt sad that my real cortina is just sitting aimlessly in my parent's garage thousands of miles away. boston would look so good on her but i just can't risk her being stolen!

 saturday night i went to john's ward talent show because he emceed the whole thing. he was clever and happy and right in his element so it was fun to watch him. my pictures of him are kind of blurry and lame so instead i'm including this photo because i need to forever remember my friend ashley mitchell walking in the room wearing nothing but a short onsie and bath robe. 

this is so terrible that i took a photo in church but i had to so i don't forget what a nice sacrament meeting we had. our bishop cancelled our sunday school (which meant i got out of teaching!) to have a two hour long musical program with a few speakers in between. i am consistently amazed at how much talent we have in my ward and i feel very grateful and lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful and gifted people, their music and testimonies made the meeting so nice. 

post-church prom pictures

our easter afternoon included the ensign (because do you remember who finally renewed their subscription?!) and some nice talks and videos from lds.org. this portion of the day was my idea..if you couldn't already tell haha

(and brynne they had that sweet deal at our tj's too!)

 that evening we had a delicious dinner with a few friends. it was supposed to be out on their roof deck but it was super windy and freezing so i took a picture of those brave souls and then went back inside. 

luckily they had a couch pretty close to the door of the roof deck so we just sat there and watched everyone freeze outside while we enjoyed our meal and each other inside. i was sad to not be around any family yesterday but felt content/happy just holding j's hand, talking and laughing with friends, completely dominating our adult easter egg hunt, and facetiming with my dad and niece mickayla. 

it was a very nice easter sunday. 

and then that brings us to today! because for two posts in a row i am telling you about things in a timely manner. after work i could not stop loving the clouds and sun setting shadows nor could i stop loving these seattle babies of mine whom i haven't seen in way too many days to count. 

technology deserves a big round of applause for making living across the country from your family somewhat bearable.