ACDC World Tour

Well, we're finally wrapping up our tour, and what a tour it was!


You've already heard about the first two stops on the tour, but you may not know about #3 and #4. Our third gig involved a BBQ at our new digs (which gave us all the incentive we needed to put our house together in a hurry), where we got to meet up with our DC-area friends who may not have been able to travel so far to catch either of the previous shows. We treated them to burgers and kosher dogs and a place to gather and Rock Bandify, and they treated us to their sparkling company. Not a bad trade-off!

We had so much fun that we neglected to take even a single picture. So, David and I reenacted a few scenes for you. Just imagine that the tortillas are hamburgers. And that there are other people.




Last leg: Indy!

Special thanks to the Drapers for making our final appearance possible. David and I buzzed on over to Indiana for a whirlwind excursion through his old stomping grounds. It included a pit stop at Steak 'n Shake (I'm told that this was essential to my Indy experience), and a trip to the State Fair, which we realized was going on just after we arrived. I learned that they have a new fried delicacy every year. This year it was fried butter. Last year it was fried Pepsi. Not really sure how either of those work. In any case, we neglected to sample said fried butter, but we did manage to meander through the cattle building, check out the local artistic talent, pick up a funnel cake, and take a ride on the ferris wheel. I'm feeling good about that.

But wait, there's more. We also wandered over to the Children's Museum, which is the largest in the...country? World? Not sure. But it sure is big. And it sure is awesome. We sort of flew through it. I'm dying to go back.



After all that funness, it's showtime! We headed over to the Drapers' and I got to meet all kinds of awesome people that David grew up with. (Pictures will be available on David's blog, probably.) It was a smaller crowd, and it was delightful. What great people. And let me tell you, they love those Chipmans! Lucky me, I get to be cool by association!!

Ohana

I've been thinking a lot about family this week. And I'm feeling so deeply blessed by my entire family that I want to tell everyone about it. I was born of goodly parents and brought up in a home filled with love. I was taught the important things that would bring meaning, purpose, and joy to my life. Each addition to my family has brought new richness and blessings that I never even realized were missing, but couldn't imagine now living without. My latest Chipman-style addition was, in all seriousness, beyond my wildest dreams. They're everything I never knew I always wanted. How fortunate I am to have been guided by a divine Hand to where I am today.

I have so much love for my complete, eternal family. I have so much gratitude for each and every member of it. We support each other. We pray with and for each other. We share in each others' successes and trials. We will always be there to lift each other up in our times of need, and I believe that help comes from family on both sides of the veil. We are, as a wise man I know has said, 100% family.

It is with these thoughts in mind that I feel a need to take the time to "resurface" and share more of the positive experiences I've had over the past few months. These are for you, my wonderful family, the most loyal readers of my blog.

Covington is where it's at

And by "it," I mean my Fidelity training trip. And also the center of everything Fidelity, really. It was grand. I got to meet other Fido workers from all over the country, and in our freetime we got to explore all over the Covington/Cincinnati area. Among said activities:

We met Mayor Mallory of Cincinnati, owner of the worst opening pitch in baseball history:

One of my new Fidelity friends convinced him to pose for a picture with all of us.

He requested that we put it on facebook and tag him. Awesome.

Could the night get any better? I submit that it DID! We stopped at a nearby establishment that had, of course, a mechanical bull. Needless to say, most of us took a turn.


It was a grand trip. By the end, everyone was calling me Shirley Temple after my Sprite-based drink of choice. Aren't work friends great?

Summertime and the Livin's Easy

Despite the humidity and masses of tourists, DC is an excellent place to be in the summer. Especially if you're friends with fun people. Which I am.

Here's proof.

This year was my first Independence Day in the US since 2007. So, of course, we made it good. David and I went camping that weekend. Sort of.

Yes, that's our backyard. We dined on popcorn and hot chocolate and slept soundly on a mat made of memory foam.

We also made some killer pancakes.

(The regular-looking one is actually the Death Star. Bonus points if you figured that out before I said it.)

And, of course, we took advantage of our location by biking down the Mt. Vernon trail to a fantastic lookout point for some fireworks.

See those kayaks on the water? That's where I'd like to be next year.

Here's my attempt at capturing us and the moment at the same time.

Self-portrait fail. If you'd like to actually see some quality shots, you can find them on David's blog.

Also awesome: Screen on the Green! Copycats of this pastime are popping up all over the area, but we stayed true to the original with a trip to the National Mall.

Not even the rain could keep us away. We were far too prepared for such sissy impediments to stand in our way.


And more awesomeness: Go Ape!! It's how I spend my weekends when David's away. How does one go ape, you may ask? Like this:

and this:

and a little of this:

and don't forget this:

and perhaps most importantly, this:

The trick is to embrace the swinginess. And don't forget your harness.

Can there really be more in this awesome summer? Why yes, yes there can. How about a nice game of polo in the not-too-distant town of Middleburg?

And just for fun, here are some shots of Marcia's award-winning "best wedding shower activity idea of all time."

Yes, it's true. She happens to have a belly dancer friend who came and showed us the ropes.


There's more, but I've gone on enough. If you want more, it'll be on David's blog. Eventually.

Summer is wonderful. And it ain't even over yet.

Of one heart

Guess what??

I got married!

To this guy!!

Here!

Two months ago!!

As you can see, I finally have some pictures to show off. (Thanks, Busath!) It was a delightful day. All we really wanted was for everyone to enjoy themselves, and I'd like to think we succeeded.

(I also really wanted to not be stressed that day, which mostly worked out, most of the time. For the most part.)

Lots of happy memories were born. Here are a few highlights I remember:

* Friends and family came from near and far, from the east coast to the west coast, and even from Peru to be there. Thanks to all of you – both those who were present and those who wished you could be – for the love, well wishes, acts of service, and support.

* I picked up David's sister, Emily, before I picked up David from the airport. He did not know this. She hid in the back seat and scared the pants off David by jumping out and yelling, "Party in the USA!" Sheer awesomeness. She was also the catcher of my bouquet. :)

* David and I put together all wedding day playlists on our drive down to Salt Lake the night before the wedding. If you know either of us very well, you'd already know that the musical selection was a highly important piece of our day and would be shocked that we put off this detail until the eleventh hour. Well...we did.

* For the party in Pocatello, Uncle Carl catered, Aunt Verna Lee entertained us with beautiful piano music, Cousin Sveta arranged the flowers, the nieces and nephews were the greeters/gift collectors, Dad was the landscaper, and Mom, the event planner/interior decorator. Huzzah for family!

* After Friday's Poky party, Dad x-rayed David's ankle. Marcia said it was to make sure he didn't have cold feet. :)

* It was raining buckets the night before. (I've decided that "rain on your wedding day is good luck!" is just something people say to make you feel better about the situation.) Marcia said she'd take care of the weather, and she suggested that we buy an umbrella because then it wouldn't rain for sure. So we did - a cute red one we'd be able to use in pictures. She was right: we never had to use it.

* We got free cookies AND Lion House rolls during our photo shoot. Awesome.

* David and I got some quiet time to ourselves in the morning, after the pictures and before the sealing (during which time we enjoyed our delectable Lion House goodies). I highly recommend this.

* Of course, the sealing was special. We were sealed by President Child, the temple president, who is a friend of David's parents and understood very well the sacrifices they are making for the Church in Peru. The look on David's face all through the sealing was captivating. I couldn't take my eyes off him.

* Before we came out of the temple, they warned us not to trip on the big step down right outside the door. So, we threw the doors open and jumped over it instead, which is what everyone got a picture of. :)

* Ibuprofen saved my feet - especially at the end of the day while I was waiting to transition out of my hot red heels and into my nice, comfy flip flops.
(This is the only picture I have of said comfy flip flops!)

* David's parents got to be there - his mom in body, and his dad in mind and heart, but also in cardboard cutout form and via Skype.

* We took family pictures outside and then requested that everyone meet on the terrace in the building next door in 5 minutes...when we reached the terrace 5 minutes later, not a family member in sight. It was an impressive collective disappearing act.

* The dancing at the reception was the only thing I knew I wanted at my wedding before we ever began planning. (Except the lilies. I knew I wanted those.) I especially enjoyed that the kids joined in so much. It helped that Dana got them going, and that we did the chicken dance in their honor.

* The kids in general were amazing. My biggest fans. Thank you for helping to make my day special. My mom made a comment about how good it was that the grandkids were all so excited about a temple wedding. I am more than happy to have contributed to that.
(Must...resist...posting...too many...kid pictures...oh well, I give up.)

* Speaking of the kids, apparently Colby threw up at the end of the reception after we left?? Something about dudes in hazmat outfits cleaning it up? Too much sampling from the candy buffet, I guess? Please tell me someone has pictures of this?!

* We didn't even get to try any of our carefully selected desserts, except for one little bite...

I hope it was all good.

* I got to play Charlie Brown at the reception. David pointed out afterward that I should have played it upside-down. Yeah, probably. But I wouldn't have looked as pretty. :)

* David and I made our exit through a gauntlet with Thunderstruck playing in the background. (I think everyone can agree that AC/DC just had to make an appearance.)

Bye-bye everybody!

Being married is awesome.

If you wish to see, there are many many more pictures here.

ADDENDUM:

Thank you very much to my new mother-and sister-in-law for THIS:

and THIS!! (Dad, I still want to see your vid!)