a new teenager.

Tuesday was also Jessica's 13th Birthday.

After we got home we cleaned up and drove to Lihue to eat dinner at Dukes. The food was delicious and so was our waiter. Jessica had steak and shrimp and I had rubs, yum!

All the kids sat at one end of the table and we laughed the entire night.

Here's one of the reasons why...

[Don't mind my stupid laugh/squeal at the end]

I was determined to get a smiling picture of these two!

Logan and Jacob.
Mini and Ab always provide us with something to keep us laughing.

We walked for a little while after dinner and found some funny statues to pose on.

Jocelyn Me and Jessica on the camel.

I think mine and Jess's birthdays were perfect on the island.

off roading in a mini van.

Monday we vegged, played by the pool, BBQ'd and watched shark week.

Tuesday we headed over to the north shore to one of my favorite beaches right next to where the Napali Coast starts. Our family had stayed in Princeville on the north shore a few years ago and we had gone here but it was short lived because mom got stung by a jellyfish.

The road out to this private beach is off the paved road and through sugar cane fields. My dad drove his rental suburban and John had a rental jeep so they were just fine of this "off roading road". Jill, whom I was with, had a van to drive, this made for the most hilarious experience of my life. I wish I had a picture of us! Jared sat on my lap the whole time and LOVED it! Best part was when Mini [Jenna] said to her mom something along the lines of "watch it, you're driving terrible." She didn't realize that it was just the road and Jill was doing an amazing job for our circumstances.

Props to Jill too for making that half hour drive on a bumpy dirt road look simple in a mini van, both ways!

Once we were there the kids ran out into the water and Mini and I started our shell search. We found millions of beautiful tiny shells and had to much fun walking along the shore line together.

Mini me and Big me.
We got in the water for a little bit and then decided to take a walk to the mountain. It ended up being quite the journey because we didn't think the end of the shore was that far away. On the way back the wind started to pick up and sand was pounding into the backs of our legs. After about ten minutes of heavy wind everyone was ready to head home.
Fun day at a beach all to ourselves!

sunday funday.

Sunday morning we all woke up super early and went to the Kalaheo Ward's sacrament meeting. It was fast Sunday so we were able to hear some lovely testimonies from the members of the ward. After church we went to the Hyatt for Sunday brunch, which was delicious.

Then we took some family pictures...

whole fam.

seeeesters.

The rest of the day was spent lounging by the pool and hanging out together.

goodbye teenage waste land.

I'M TWENTY!!

After a relaxing day at the pool and moving into our little home we all loaded into the cars and went out to dinner for my birthday at Keoki's. I ate some of the best Ono I have ever had topped off with their famous hula pie. Yum!

Me and Ky Ky just a little burnt...
Me and the fam bam.

Me with all my teen years behind me.

a new woman.

paradise.

After landing, getting out bags and renting our cars for the week we were ready to drive to Poipu but not before stopping at Brick Oven Pizza for some amazing pupus [hawaiian for appetizer] and pizza. We arrived luckily a day too early to check into our timeshare so our families booked rooms at the Grand Hyatt Kaua'i. We checked in, put all of our stuff down, took naps and then headed for the pools and spa.

After soaking up the sun we all changed and walked up stairs to the Terrace for dinner and fruity delicious drinks. Jenna and I sat at our own little table and talked about life. It amazes me how much she is my mini me. After dinner we all walked back to our rooms and retired for the evening.

The next morning I was woken up by Papa saying, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOO MOO!" I knew it was going to be a perfect birthday in one of the most beautiful places on earth. The grounds at the Hyatt are unbelievably gorgeous and we spent most of the morning playing in the pool and ocean.

Mom and Jill.
We ate lunch at the pool side bar where the manager treated me to free drinks and lunch for my birthday. Score!

John playing with Jared. He's one happy boy!
Wubbas and I swam all day.

At four o'clock we checked out of the Hyatt and into our home for the week at the Marriott.

kaua'i

Friday July 30th

Went to bed at 4, woke up at 5.

Drove to the airport, checked bags, went through security and got on a plane with all of these lovely people headed for HAWAII! We landed in Kaua'i after a five hour plane ride and began our week long party on the island.

Mini Me!
My little Gauthier girls.
Jessica, Jenna and Jocelyn.

Four years later... nothing has changed.

but I'm glad nothing has changed.

best thing ever.

This is my all time favorite YouTube video.

I do an amazing impression!

35 and counting.

I ate whatever I wanted in London, yes I fussed about gaining weight but who didn't.

Then I came home and lost it... and then some.

I hate to brag on myself [dad would say I love to brag]

but I am looking pretty dang good these days.

That is at least compared to about three and a half months ago.

Both of these pictures I have posted somewhere on this blog,

but when they are next to each other they look a little different...

I know, that "before" shot on the left is EMBARASSINGGGGG.

But that's not me anymore, thankfully!
I feel great and I worked hard to do so!

Want to know my slim down secret?

Stop eating more than your body needs and fruit is just as sweet as ANY dessert.

stanislaus county fair.

This summer fair was a week earlier than it always is so I was only home for three days of it. Erin and I went to see Blake Shelton and eat fair food. The corn dogs at the fair are crispy, flaky, mouth watering goodness. I can not go a summer without one. Luckily I got two and downed both in about 5 minutes, and these things are about a foot and a half long. :) So you can tell just how much I love them.

Blake Shelton was awesome minus the fat chicks dancing on the bench in front of us in mini shirts. That made me a little sick after stuffing my face with corn dogs and a milk barn strawberry milkshake.

I live for the food at the county fair!

new bike!

Early in July Erin and I decided one afternoon to drive to Modesto and look for bikes. We both found the greatest bikes in the world at none other than super walmart.

Mine is a navy blue Schwinn.

I love him!

We go for rides pretty much every day.

Best purchase all summer!

back to school... minus the school part.

In the beginning of July I started to get a little "home"sick for my second home in Idaho and all the amazing people that are there so I packed up a few things, hopped in the acura and made the 14 hour trek to Rexburg, ID.

A five day trip turned into some of the most fun two weeks of my life. Although finals were going on and graduation was on a few peoples minds we never stopped partying. My two week vacation at school consisted of

tanning at the sandbar

huge bonfires

dancing in the rain

clubbing[rexburg style]

Saturday sand dune slip n' slide parties

BBQ's with the crew

best of concert

late night Maverick runs

4a.m. adventures with Court

cliff jumping

Jackson Hole

meeting new friends

laughing two weeks nonstop

and

spending time with my best friends!

Fab Four aka The Queens of Rexburg.

Courtney. Gina June. Macy. Allison.

The Crew. love every one of them.

KSH is my love.

Burkeeee!

Carson. We go way back. hahahaha.
Kambri!

Volleyball tournament champs!

Dunes Slip n' Slide. SO MUCH FUN!!

Me and Court aka Nannerpuss aka Miss Moogoo.

You will never meet a more funny person than this girl.

We went to the sandbar seven times while I was visiting.

The sandbar is a tiny spot on the snake river that has about four feet of sand, a slide and a swing set. Very oakey but perfect for laying out.

It's also conveniently located down the street from Big J's where the greatest milkshakes in the world are made. We most definitely got one every time we went.

Sandbar crew.

Shayne, Hill, Dallas, Court, Kellie, Jackson, Grand, Hayden, Gina, Andy, Erik, Allison and Me.

Jefferson and Me.

Allison, Chris, Court, Justin, Me and Chayce at the sandbar in St. Anthony

Allison and Me

I love Mere Meres and I love that she goes to school with me!

I would die without this girl.

Lindsey, Anissa, Mere, Alyssa, Gina, Court, Me, Katy and Tiffany at the "best of" show.

30 ft. bonfire at the "crack" got rained out... lovely huh?

Sunday BBQ's and football games at Porter park.

Best part of the trip was getting to spend every second with my best friend Allison.

I'm going to miss this girl next Fall.

until september...

lameeeeeeeeeee.

Most of this summer I have thought my life is absolutely fabulous. I have done so many fun things and been around so many amazing people. Today is not ones of those days. I have literally sat in my bed alone all day.

Ate lunch here,

sat on facebook for who knows how long here,

I watched a movie here

and I even worked out here, in my bed

[oh yeah it's possible].

I don't know if I am the laziest person in the world,

if I just need my own space for a little while

or if I realize that in less than a month I wont be able to enjoy such a large bed.

Whatever the case is today my life kind of sucked.

I tortured myself by looking at pictures from London. This lead me to thinking about how alone I am here which then lead my to tears. After two minutes of crying I realized how pathetic I was being and bucked up a little.

What always makes me feel better is being productive. Hence my blogging today. It has been at the top of my to do list pretty much all summer and I have been terrible at keeping up with my own life.

So on this extremely boring day I will catch up with me!

On to the next post...