Chase's graduation

Recently I was able to visit home for a while and see my brother graduate. 

It was great to hang out with Buster.

My lil' bro is all grown up and going off to college soon. It's hard to believe.

After being home for a few days we took a little trip down to Santa Cruz. Buster knew we were leaving so he hid out in the car hoping he could come. We couldn't bring him but he was in good hands ;)

We had some of the best weather that I've ever experienced in Santa Cruz.

I don't know what he's doing but its amusing.

We got to walk around the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

(in the warm california sun)

We stayed in the most luxurious motel I've ever been to.

I've always wanted to see what this place was about and was not disappointed. It was actually pretty mysterious!! Plus I got a smashed penny to add to my dorky collection.

I'm just hanging out with the trees. Luckily we made it out just barely before the fires started burning in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Zipline

My dad built a zip line in the backyard. I haven't tried it but it looks really fun. Brett and his friend Kevin video taped it and put it online at this address...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcjlbmJPjJw

Bikes, BBQs, babies, & Bouncy ropes

I recently acquired this beauty from a garage sale and I love riding it around town or to the grocery store to rent Redbox movies.

I found that even from the other side of the country my mom doesn't give up the 'worrying thing' and convinced me to finally buy and actually wear a helmet. I got this cuteish one but it still makes my head look huge (better than a smooshed head I guess). 

To be honest I'm not very good at riding this particular bike for some reason and kept falling over/running into things so I figured that I might really need a helmet.

Here's some things I saw on this exciting bike ride. There are only a few pics because the ride home was too difficult and dangerous to take pictures since I was busy trying to balance a big ole helmet box in one hand and my ipod in the other while semi-mud covered due to a puddle I wasn't prepared for. Needless to say I got a few weird looks.

When I arrived home I was welcomed by the hiss of 4 geese parentals surrounded by 21, deceivingly cute, evil gooslings.

Recently we got to spend a Sunday with Brady's bro Garrett & sis-in-law Mindy. We went to church with them and had a delicious bbq with Omaha steak burgers in honor of Brady's 24th Birthday. 

This is our nephew Carter. He's about 6 mo. and stinkin' adorable. Seriously cute.

While I was admiring Carter, Garrett was trying to teach Brady the skills of 'slack-lining' or walking on a bouncy rope. Its really hard.