Quest for Pumpkin

Dear Reader,

I made pumpkin cupcakes a few weeks ago. They looked a little something like this:

Whenever I eat pumpkin cupcakes a get nostalgic about London (Natalie, you know what I'm talking about) and a certain cupcake shop named Hummingbird Bakery.

As I'm sure most of you remember, I went to London in the fall. And as most of you are probably aware, pumpkin is a popular food to eat during that particular season.

Except, apparently, in London. And I found this out the hard way.

Natalie and I searched all over the city and found nothing. NOTHING. I almost doubted London's being the greatest city of all time, but I got a hold of myself before things got too out of hand.

[I should make the disclaimer that there were pumpkin pie type things (very rare, but we found them once or twice), but we were jonesing for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin cupcakes, or something of that nature.]

So for two months we looked in every bakery and food stand we walked past--but to no avail. We had pretty much lost all hope until, on the second to last day in London, Natalie was inspired to stop by Hummingbird Bakery on Portobello Road. Pumpkin cupcakes were the cupcake of the day. Was it fate? I think so. Needless to say, she bought one and shared it with me, and there was much rejoicing. This is kind of what that looked like:

We were clearly all about the product placement.

Natalie also got a red velvet cupcake. That's the one on the right. A very good choice.

This is it. The coveted pumpkin cupcake. It's so beautiful.

It was totally worth the wait.

The cupcakes I made last month were no where near as magical as the London cupcake, but I'm gonna say that's because I didn't have to wait 2 months to eat them.

P.S. Before you get confused and think that I'm good at photography, Natalie took the Hummingbird cupcake pictures. (Well...except for the one of her. I took that.)

When the Parents Come to Town

Dear Reader,

This last week my parents and little brother and sister came into town for a visit. Mary's birthday was on Sunday (the 25th), so Wednesday (when they got in town) we went over to David and Cassie's for cake. (And so my parents could see Naomi. Let's be honest, we all know that's the real reason they wanted to go over.) The cake was a cat, per Mary's request. I forgot candles.

Of course.

But at least it tasted good.

And here's Naomi! She's so cute! She was also super mellow that night. She basically let anyone hold her, and she slept the whole time. This worked out really well for me because I finally got to hold her without her bursting into tears. I have bad luck, I guess.

If I didn't know any better I'd say the parents are wanting some grandkids. . . .

(This is the proof she let me hold her.)

And now we segue to my cousin Cami's wedding. She got married on Saturday (July 31) in the Salt Lake Temple. The fun part was, like 86 other couples were also getting married that day.

It was like herding cattle.

But the busy-ness aside, it was a really beautiful wedding, and really well done. She had her temple ceremony (most of the following pictures are from the wait outside) and then pictures very briefly (mainly because we were running late and only had the JSMB reserved for 2 hours), followed by a luncheon in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. She seemed pretty happy, so I'm guessing it was a success with her. Which, honestly, is all that matters.

My little cousin Cate. Yes, she is that cute. (And yes, in the background is Mary. That's what she was doing like all weekend.)

I love love love the converse!

My cousin Savannah's baby, Lily. We like to abuse children while they're young and can't fight back. It's easier that way.

My cousin Sabina (Lily's aunt) and Mary.

Brother and sister (X and Cate). Love it.

The happy bride!

Okay, I kid you not, this piece of chocolate mousse cheesecake may have been the best thing I have ever eaten. And I'm not really crazy about mousse or cheesecake.

Was a Christmas miracle? I would say so.

The centerpiece.

Savannah, Lily, and me. Clearly the child was annoyed she had to be in ANOTHER picture. I don't blame her. Sorry for adding to your pain, Lily. . . .

The World's Largest Water Balloon Fight

1100 hours:

I leave home thinking today will be like any other day. I pick up my sister, and we head for what we thought would be a normal BYU activity. If only we knew how our lives were about to change.

1130 hours:

We sign up for what can only be described as the most epic water balloon battle this world has ever seen. We choose our colored shirts--realizing afterwards that the colors we have chosen decides our teams: they have pitted us against each other--sister against sister, friend against friend.

1131 hours:

The wait begins.

1136 hours:

I find members of my team and we separate, preparing for battle.

1137 hours:

Cosmo bumps into my friend on the way to the water station. Clearly he has forgotten he has no mouth hole. Water falls everywhere.

1200 hours:

We are given our weapons and commanded to form ranks. Stray balloons find their way across enemy lines. The fight is about to begin.

1215 hours:

I am hit. Hit again. All I see are balloons, flying through the air like happy grenades.

1218 hours:

There is a cry next to me. A boy has lost his glasses.

1218 hours and 30 seconds:

It's ok. They're not broken.

1223 hours:

The ammunition appears to be running out. My casualties are limited to water in my eye contact, smeared make up, and a very wet shirt. Overall, I am lucky to have suffered so little.

1225 hours:

The battle has finished. We have officially completed the world's largest water balloon fight ever.

See footage of the fight here:

http://www.fox13now.com/news/local/kstu-byu-world-record-largest-balloon-fight-ever,0,6359724.story

We broke the world record by 25 participants and 1021 water balloons. And we all got free t-shirts.

You know how we do.

The Hunger Games

Dear Reader,

Okay, if you haven't read (or haven't heard of) The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins--repent!

Only the first two books in the trilogy are out and literally ten minutes ago I finished reading Catching Fire, and the month and a half wait until Mockingjay is released (Aug. 24!) just might drive me insane. Suzanne Collins, you sure know how to tell a story (although I wish you would be a little more careful about where you put those commas).

Several people recommended that I read these books, and it wasn't until a friend said I could borrow hers that I decided to try them out. No one would tell me what they were about, though. Seriously, everyone I asked just said they were intense, and if I pressed them for more details, they would just say that they were hard to describe. In retrospect, I'm glad no one told me what was going to happen. It made me all the more disgusted at the world Collins writes about. Um...but disgusted in a good way. You should still read it. It's a great insight into humanity, government, and morality. I mean, what would you do if you were in Katniss' situation? I like to think that I could be brave...but I would probably be one of the first to die.

Intrigued? You should be be. Read it! But be warned....it's intense. :)

Fun with Rocks

Dear Reader,

Last weekend I took a trip to Arches with some friends. Seeing how I've spent most of my time in Utah in Provo (which is not the most beautiful place to me), I was pleasantly surprised to find that there are some places in Utah that are pretty. Such as Arches.

The Devil's Garden

Pinetree Arch

Devils in Devil's Garden

Delicate Arch--the arch that's on the Utah license plate. It's kind of a let down. Super tiny. (Although it's probably bigger up close...)

Sweet tree

As you can see, this place is awesome. It's like a giant playground of rocks. The only downside: I got a painful sunburn. But it was bound to happen...

Just call me Charms

Dear Reader,

Yesterday was our last day with BP, future Elder Parker. Pretty much the best Sunday School teacher I've ever had. And he hasn't even been on the mission yet! Milan, Italy, watch out. This kid is ready for you.

Anyway, we went bowling as a final activity all together. The first time I went bowling with this crowd I was given the nickname "Charms." Clearly this is not because I am any good (because I bowl quite inconsistently: one time I bowled a 116 and the next time we went bowling I bowled a 54). I like to think it's because I'm a lucky charm to the other players. But if that were true, maybe BP and JBray would have bowled 200's.

In any case, we went bowling and it was fun.

The man of the hour.



I think Ashley may have gotten a strike or something. She's pretty excited.



Ashley and Bay--Bay loves having her picture taken. Can't you tell?...

Randomly some news anchor from channel four came to interview BYU students about the Utes getting into the Pac 10. None of us had any idea what that was, except for JBray, so he was interviewed.

Uh...and this is my desk at Deseret Book. Not bowling related, but I took the picture today. Please note how my chair looks like someone got hungry and started to devour it. Clearly it didn't taste good, seeing how the rest of the chair is still there.

Michigan!!!

Dear Reader,

So last week I went home. This means family, trees, and a very crazy puppy.

Also, I decorated more cakes!

Here's Proof:

My little sister and Molly

Aren't the GREEN trees so TALL???

There was an awesome midwest thunderstorm while I took this picture.

Coincidentally it delayed my flight back to Utah 3 hours, but I think it was worth it. I've been jonesing for a big thunderstorm for a long time.

She's looks a little more normal now.

You wouldn't believe how many pictures I had to take to get one of her face straight-on.

Here's the first cake I made. It's a wizard hat!

And here's the second cake. It's a spaceship! Inspired by the remains of the cake I cut up to make the wizard hat.