The Epitome of Summer Days

Last Saturday, Nate and I combined all the best parts of summer into one fantastic day. The only unfortunate thing is that I didn't get any photos.

Early in the morning, before the day got hot, we ventured out with friends from our ward and went blackberry picking. Long rows of berries stretched out before us, waiting only to be discovered. Conversations floated along easily, as the buckets filled and the sun slowly rose higher.

In the afternoon, Nate, my sister, and I along with some friends went to the Blue Bell Taste of Summer festival. Blue Bell is a regional brand of ice cream and they have a local factory. Every year on the last Saturday in June they host a party with all-you-can-eat ice cream. However, I've lived here almost my whole life and never been. It was awesome. By the time we arrived at the festival, at 11am the day was already turning into a scorcher. There was ice cream, local musicians performing, factory tours, ice cream eating contests for all ages 5yrs - adult, games for little kids, and the fire department even opened up a hydrant to help everyone keep cool. Altogether, I tried 7 different flavors in the hour and a half that we were there: Triple Caramel, Strawberry, Rainbow Sherbert, Moo-lenium Crunch (vanilla with almonds, pecans, chocolate and butterscotch pieces), Chocolate Covered Cherry, Dutch Chocolate, and Turtle.

We finished out the day splashing in the pool and taking it easy. What a perfect summer day!

The House Where Deb Lives

First, thanks for all the birthday wishes. I had a wonderful 23rd birthday yesterday. Except for Rachel and Steve, my whole family was there and it was lovely.

We've been in my good old hometown in Oklahoma for about two weeks now and my parents have wasted no time in putting us to work. But nonetheless, I am going to attempt to be more active in writing. So, since as much as I'd like you all to, most of you will probably not get to come and visit Oklahoma (one of the more beautiful and under-appreciated states); here is a virtual tour of my childhood home.

home, sweet home

This is our front entry.
It doesn't always look like this, however due to a recent flurry of this activity...

it has become the work whereby Nate and I earn our keep.


Immediately to the left is the dining room.


Up the stairs we go to my room when I was growing up, which is no longer a bedroom

Then on to the largest room that for a time my sisters and I all shared, except for Bug - spoiled from the beginning. Just kidding, she was still a baby.


Back downstairs, there is the closet under the stairs where we keep our camping gear. This is where I had my secret club meetings when I was little. I think our club membership maxed out at three people (you can't fit many more into that little closet anyway).


The living room, complete with Mom taking a snooze:


And the kitchen with Nate studying away at his statistics reading on summer vacation.


Finally, the place that I spent by far the most time in the summers while growing up and the grand finale of our tour, the back yard.

Well Katie, and all you others who are secretly wishing that you could spend your summer vacations in Oklahoma, I hope you feel at home in my home now.