Rock Paper Scissors is no laughing matter

What you probably see as a silly game of chance my family takes very seriously.  Once a year that is. We started 5 years ago the Austin Annual Holiday RPS Tourney.  We have it at Thanksgiving or Christmas, whichever holiday has more family.  Yes, we really do this and yes, we really do take it seriously.  Please don't ask how this idea got started.  We were probably all sitting around asking: ok how can we make something completely harmless a REALLY BIG DEAL?

Our Tournament starts with the playing of the National Anthem (this year Beyonce did the honors).  We do a round-robin (everyone plays everyone) and then based on our record get seated for the double elimination bracket.  We stretch, practice our throws, and psychologically intimidate our opponents.  The stakes are high, bragging rights throughout the entire years AND a plaque with your name on it.  We really spend money on a legitimate wood plaque with brass plates and engraving because in my family bragging rights over a good competition is priceless.      

If you are lucky enough to attend a holiday with us then you are invited (and maybe pushed) to join in the competition.  Shout out to our guest athletes: Michaela Shoemake,  Danny Shoemake, Dennis Macintosh, and Akeem Robinson.

So here are some pictures documenting the years:

Christmas 2007 

This round must have required two referees.  Nice shirt Josh. 

Akeem interviewing the Champion athlete of the year.  

The podium 

Christmas 2008

My cousin Jeff Brown won this year and I didn't even make the podium so I guess it wasn't that memorable to me...

Christmas 2009 

My brother-in-law Russell won by PHONE from Hawaii.  After getting our tails kicked by someone thousands of miles away we decided that we would not allow any long distance athletes again.  We were all left sulky and sad without even someone to rub their win in our face.  very unrewarding. 

Christmas 2010 

My mom's infamous "RPS face."  I only see this face once a year and honestly that's more than I would like.   

The National Anthem- please note my dad dishonoring our country by texting.  

Margaret's intensity paid off earning her 3rd place. 

And Finally: Christmas 2011 

The National Anthem 

My dad's eyes reflect the intensity of the competition. 

Pure joy. 

I couldn't remake this face if I wanted to.  It only comes after sweet victory. Oh and yes I am wearing onesie Dr.Suess PJ's.  

and you can guess what this face is for. failure. 

Congrats Aunt Kim and Mom but I'm coming for you next year!  

Thanks Josh for always heading it up and thinking of this idea.  We missed you this year!  

Christmas Cheer

"The best way to spread cheer is to singing loud for all to hear." OR if you want to be awkward and still make people laugh you can sing real loud with your ipod in and dance around in public with a tacky christmas sweater on.

Stay tune for my own version of this video hopefully starring my brother Josh....Josh what do you think?  

Parties, Parties, and MORE Parties!

      So I am officially 21 as of November 27, 2011, and I feel like it's the land of no return. The only thing I can't do is rent a car, get a room on a cruise ship in my name...ok so I definitely have some landmarks to look forward to.  If you know my family at all you know that cruises are a BIG deal to us.  Eating for 7 days while floating in turquoise water---bliss.

     My family celebrated my b-day on Saturday and I was pleasantly awoken by my niece's loud sweet little voice saying, "Aunt B!  It's your Birthday!  We get to play birthday games!"  I just assumed that she would think this was her birthday and I was fine with that. I mean she's three people.  But I caught a little glimpse of her beautiful heart when she made it clear that it was my birthday and not hers.  The heart of a child is so precious.  We celebrated all day until we ate ourselves sick with the BEST birthday cake I've ever had made by my sister Keri.  My mom slaved over an awesome b-day dinner of my choosing.  Let's just face it. Birthdays are great.  I LOVE birthdays. Not just mine...that would be self-centered, but everyones.  It is such a great opportunity to reflect on how far God has brought our broken, beautiful lives.  My life is such a story of His redemption.  

Anyway, So after traveling back from New York on my real birthday with a bunch of USC students (Barf) I came home to an AWESOME surprise.    

Not only was my room covered with balloons and streamers, there were about 15 balloons floating on the ceiling containing "secret messages" AKA scripture.  My lovely roommates helped an anonymous person pull this off before I got home and my roommate video recorded my reaction which contained a lot of frolicking in the mass of balloons.  Oh come on, you would do it too.  right?  Never mind I don't care, I'm secure in my dorkiness.  

Thank you roommates and patron of this birthday surprise! It was honestly the best part of my long...delayed flight...day of traveling.  God has blessed me with such great friends!  


In other party news Campus Outreach hosted a stellar Christmas party.  Of course being the good white people that we are we turned it into an ugly sweater party.

The awkward hand shelf oh and I apologize for my crazy friend Logan in the background.  

As if two celebrations wasn't enough I just finished an awesome night of christmas cookie making (in ugly sweaters of course) with my Bible study group.  I love them so much.  I'm not ready to leave Clemson for Christmas break.  I'm going to miss all of this too much.

My LMing rebuttal

       So my very creative brother realized "planking's" genius but also that it's a fad that faded out like yesterday's sunset.  So he has brought us something new...like a refreshing cup of cold water after a long run, so is Josh's new phenomenon "LMing" to your sense of humor. Please go here to read Josh's definition before watching the video.  

So my entire family is taking up Josh's challenge of LMing.  Go here if you really want to laugh and see some quality LMing from some of my family members.  

Here's to you Josh. I can't wait to see you in January!   

An angel came to visit me

and her name is BRITTANY OZMORE!  Please entertain me for a second as I dote on her.  Brittany and I have known each other since 2nd grade. However, we weren't really friends until our Junior year of high school.  Since then we have shared countless moments together: Junior Prom, Senior Prom minus the prom, watching her like/date/get engaged to Tyler Hazel, many...many...many praise band practices, a lot of tears, and watching each grow in our relationships with Christ.  

5 years ago...

2 years ago

And this is her new Best Friend which honestly I'm pretty ok with because he is pretty great. Tyler don't get a big head or anything. 

This weekend I had a blast with her! She got a good sampling of the Clemson life: the football game, hanging out at the toolshed (my guy friends house), hanging out with my crazy roommates, pillow talk, scrounging for food in my apartment, and my awesome church and friends. Oops all of those things have nothing to do with actual school...I did that when you left Brittany.  

I love you Brittany!  You are welcome to come visit any time! Who's next?

Modern Day Poetry from a Christian Hipster

My new favorite song is Farther Along by Josh Garrels.  It's genius.  Pure poetry.  I'm not much into poetry so don't chastise me if you are a connoisseur.  The way he weaves the words with his unique rhythms is like nothing I've heard.  Go HERE and listen to it.  PLEASE read the words as you listen because if not you'll miss something. 


Yes, he is a Christian Hipster.  Please forgive him he is just a little caught up in this generational fad.  We can all laugh about it together in 30 years but please refrain from your laughter right now because some people haven't realized that it's a fleeting fad.  As I like to say there is a little hipster in all college students.  Think about it, you come of to college and you get to reinvent yourself.  You can change your clothes, hobbies, friends, even the way you talk!   And yet at college everyone loves to be just a little different.  Unique.  Most of us want to go back to our home towns and have the little middle schoolers look up at us and say, "Wow, they are so cool.  They are in college!"   Striving for our distinction in culture and society is definitely a hipsterish mindset.  Just embrace it.  If you are no wondering on a scale of 1 to hipster just how hipster you are go take quizzes online.  Yes...that actually exist.  So go thrown on a dirty scarf, your grandma's old costume jewelry, thick rimmed glasses and listen to this song and watch the video of Words Remain underneath it.  


Farther Along 


Farther along we’ll know all about it
Farther along we’ll understand why
Cheer up my brothers, live in the sunshine
We’ll understand this, all by and by

Tempted and tried, I wondered why
The good man died, the bad man thrives
And Jesus cries because he loves em’ both
We’re all cast-aways in need of ropes
Hangin’ on by the last threads of our hope
In a house of mirrors full of smoke
Confusing illusions I’ve seen

Where did I go wrong, I sang along
To every chorus of the song
That the devil wrote like a piper at the gates
Leading mice and men down to their fates
But some will courageously escape
The seductive voice with a heart of faith
While walkin’ that line back home

So much more to life than we’ve been told
It’s full of beauty that will unfold
And shine like you struck gold my wayward son
That deadweight burden weighs a ton
Go down into the river and let it run
And wash away all the things you’ve done
Forgiveness alright

Still I get hard pressed on every side
Between the rock and a compromise
Like the truth and pack of lies fightin’ for my soul
And I’ve got no place left go
Cause I got changed by what I’ve been shown
More glory than the world has known
Keeps me ramblin’ on

Skipping like a calf loosed from its stall
I’m free to love once and for all
And even when I fall I’ll get back up
For the joy that overflows my cup
Heaven filled me with more than enough
Broke down my levee and my bluff
Let the flood wash me

And one day when the sky rolls back on us
Some rejoice and the others fuss
Cause every knee must bow and tongue confess
That the son of god is forever blessed
His is the kingdom, we’re the guests
So put your voice up to the test
Sing Lord, come soon 

Here is my other favorite song by him.  Words Remain.  Enjoy!

Sometimes being a girl has its perks

So the weekend is over and I'm exhausted but I had a blast.  I only had to skip one class to recover from my lack of sleep over the weekend.  (sorry Mom & Dad) I went with two of the dearest people Megan Jessee and Lindsay Shane to a NEEDTOBREATHE concert in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  The concert was so much fun since I had awesome friends to jam out with all the way to the concert...at the concert...and home from the concert.  They rival for my favorite band ever.  I cannot stop singing them!  It got so bad that when we stopped for lunch at Subway the Subway worker asked us if we were in a chorus since we were unknowingly singing the same song underneath our breath.

After the concert we stayed with our awesome, one of a kind friend, Carre Coy.  Who was a great hostess.  We lived with her this summer at Drytle Beach and I miss her dearly.  After a short tour around Covenant College, where Carre attends, we were off on our way back home.      

The interesting part of the trip lies in our visit to Subway on the way back.  After we sang our way through the sandwich line we sat down to eat and I found out Lindsay had NEVER had a Subway cookie.  NOT ok.  So I went to buy some and the sketch high school boy asked me what I wanted, proceeded to put my cookie order in the bag, looked at me and said, "just give me three dollars" with a little wink.  I was confused because I only order 3 cookies which was $1.50.  You know those times when you don't mean for something to come out of your mouth?  Well I looked straight at him and said, "you are being very sketchy right now" and handed him my three dollar.  Then he proceeded to put the money...ready for this?...IN HIS POCKET and gave me the cookie bag.  When I realized he wasn't going to give me any change I just backed away slowly and went back to my table.  Then I realized the bag he gave me was bulging at the seems and he gave me SIX cookies.

Let's do the math shall we?  3 cookies cost $1.50 therefore 6 cookies will cost $3.  It only took a few minutes and some commonsense from Lindsay Shane to realize that I did NOT get a deal and that he in fact was the one who walked away with a few extra bucks and me a few extra calories.  I mean really dude?  I did not want to spend $3 on cookies I wanted to spend $1.50.  In his lame attempt to cut me a deal, he ripped me off.

So girls watch out next time you're traveling through somewhere in Georgia for the sketchy subway character.  He is out to steal your money, wink at you, and make you think you just got a deal.  Sometimes being a girl has its perks but when dealing with boys that can't do math, this is not one of them. 

A normal college student?

Sometimes I struggle with wondering if I am a textbook college student.  College is a unique time with tons of freedom but very little responsibilities.  Please re-read that sentence...does it sound like it's a good idea?  Am I really in an environment to naturally build good habits and life skills?  This is not real life in so many ways, but of course at the same time it is a period of growth and maturing.

I've been ready to go to college since I was five and saw my sister move away to Liberty University.  In someways I thought college would solve all my problems of discontentment.  My wise mother told me one time when I was whining about living in South Carolina (I think I'm a Colorado girl at heart) that if I'm not happy here I will not be happy anywhere.  How true.  I can move around chasing contentment but I know now it's only found in Jesus.

 Ok the serious part is over.  Sometimes I do feel like a normal college kid.  Like when I go to the store with a specific list.  How embarrassing that this is all I brought up to the cash register.

Saturday football games 

Weird Entertaining roommates at 12 am...

 And late nights that make everyone a little loopy 

My family LOVES food.

I mean have you seen us? Somehow all our activities seem to center around a meal, a snack, ice cream...you get the point.  We also have been known for "food pushing."  Go here to read my brother Josh's superb definition of food pushing.  If you know my family at all you have probably have been fed by at least one of us.  

Well part of being a college student is being a 4 year long charity case.  It's great really.   Just tonight at my work there was an extra muffin and everyone said "Oh, Bekah is a poor college student give it to her!"  I mean ok...but I don't think I'm going to starve without that muffin.  Charity is thrown at my left and right because I'm a "poor college student." People, I work, my parents pay for my school and rent, I have very minimum financial responsibilities, my monthly bills are so low you would hate me for it. Keep your muffin.

I got the privilege of driving my poor, malnourished self to DC this past weekend for my cousin Elizabeth's wedding.  It was awesome!  My three sisters and I stood in the same room for the first time in three years!  Upon my arrival my parents swept my car away and turned it into a complete convenient store.  I knew my mom was bringing me some food but geez. So four boxes later....

Please let me break down the contents for you a little: 

11 boxes of cereal 

10 packets of various seasoning (pictured below) 

6 packs of tortilla (10 in each pack)

11 cans of plain tomato sauce

5 cans of seasoned tomato sauce 

5 BIG cans of crushed tomatoes 

5 boxes of pasta 

4 bags of coffee

3 bottles of salad dressing....and then I got tired of taking inventory so there is much more unaccounted for.  

I actually had to create a pantry in my laundry room to house my new overflowing loot.  

And there was still overflow (3 boxes) that are now in my closet. 

Mom, please don't misunderstand me. I am VERY grateful not to be buying groceries for the next three years of my life.  You took "food pushing" to an entire new level.  

So fellow "poor college students" come over tomorrow night for tacos, Saturday for fajitas, Sunday for enchiladas, Monday for quesadillas, Tuesday for spaghetti, Wednesday for cereal, Thursday for tortellini.  Need I go on?  

Now that my mom well equipped me I want to pass on the Austin tradition and food push on others so head on over!    

Is Kidnapping Really a Crime?

So I am a proud member of Campus Outreach at Clemson and this summer at Leadership Project we were fortunate enough to make friends with students from all different universities including Western Carolina.  The other night my friend Megan had a spontaneous idea to go "kidnap" one of our dear friends from Western. Now when does kidnapping cross the line from a friendly prank to a broken law? Well you read the story and tell me.

On Friday night at about 9:30 Megan, two burly gentleman Merritt & Kevin, and I started our hour and a half drive to Western.  When we arrived our strategically planted mole led us right to our victim, Chris. (ok so we may have wondered around the staff guys house peeking in their windows trying to find him, but that only caused us a minor delay)

When we arrive outside of our victims location their was a gathering of about 4 up to no good hookah smoking college students.  It just so turned out they were acquainted with said victim.  When we explained to these simple minds what we were doing they said, "Wait, that sounds a lot like kidnapping." My response, "well...hmm...you see it's a relative definition.  I mean, he's our friend!"  They looked at us doubtfully and wanted nothing to do with us and our all black attire.

Then we went to plan B and lured him outside with a phone call from Merritt saying he came up to visit and was outside.  The fish was baited (very easily I might add) and after a friendly hug from Chris to Merritt, he was politely escorted to the car to "help Merritt with his stuff."  Really, I mean Really? He's a man but he can't carry his own overnight bag? Oh Western how simple you are.

I hurriedly turned the car on, Kevin pulled said victim in the car while Merritt wrestled his kicking legs into submission.  The fish was caught.  I sped off to invoke fear and excitement while look back in my mirror to the hookah smokers looking quite distressed and confused with mouth wide open thinking something like, "Are they really his friends?"

After zip tying his hands and some light verbal abuse we were off on our way.  Where was our final destination?  That's right, "where the blue ridge yawns its greatness."  When our victim realized his fate he said, "NO! Not Clemson!"  Just then there were police blocking the road!  Why does their always seem to be police checks at the most inconvenient time...like when your kidnapping someone?

However the trip went on as planned with a little smile and after a ransom note left with the hookah people and a few phone calls his friends caught on and were on their way to rescue their defeated friend.  After arrival to Clemson we immediately went to the baseball stadium where we tied him to a seat and covered him in Clemson paraphernalia.  Then a prompt text to his friends saying "centerfield."

Ok Ok so for all of you out there that now think I'm a crazy person I'll drop the dramatic twilight zone voice.  I bet half of you are say, "Who are you Bekah?"

After returning to our places of rest it happened: compassion set in.  Megan and I started to feel bad for our friend left in the baseball stadium after a call from our victim (Chris') friend saying he wasn't going to be there for an hour, so she went to go sit with him.  After all, we are all friends and it's a shame when you get to see a friend when you are kidnapping them.

But Megan was the fish that bit and upon her arrival to the baseball stadium she was met by 10 guys that kidnapped her!  I, in the comforts of my own apartment, was notified with a text message from Megan saying, "they have me" and a call from Chris' friend Ryan saying "You stole my best friend, I stole yours." I also received a call our boy cohorts lecturing me of how I was not "cut out" for kidnapping because I should have NEVER encouraged Megan to go back.

There it is my friends, it may seemed that we lost but Megan had a great time at Western (wearing the same clothes from Friday morning to Sunday morning) and I had a great Saturday AND Megan got a convenient ride home with a friend.  I say we won by taking Western off guard and making them stay up until 6 am when I was asleep by 2.  

You got served Western.  

I understand now Mom.

As some of you may know I am a Nanny part-time.  This shouldn't come as a surprise to those of you who know me because I have always LOVED children and been a little kid crazy.  I like to blame it on the fact that I'm the youngest and always wanted a little sibling.

Because of my job, some days I feel more like a mom than a college student with my car seats in my car, the crayons and snacks I always carry around in my pursue just incase, and the spare change of clothes I have under the seats of my car for those oh so fun accidents.

There are things that now being a part-time mom I understand about my mom.

1.) It's not that you were ignoring me when I said "Mom, Mom, MOM!" It's honestly was because you were immune to hearing it.

2.) You weren't the first (or second..or tenth) car in the pick up line not because I wasn't important to you, but because you saw how silly it is to idle and wait in a line for 20 minutes before school let out as opposed to just pulling right up to the front of the line. (20 minutes after the bell rang, but hey I forgive you)  Mom, I haven't ever forgotten to pick up my kids though...

3.) You always did know when I was lying.  I have always been struck by how children will just straight up lie.  The best part is that the child normally thinks they pulled a fast one on their naive mom. Now I know the mom is just momentarily tired of fighting their child's moral battle.  Moms like to call this "picking their battles."  This is a normal scenario in my car:
Alice hitting Theo or vise versa
Me: "Alice, don't hit Theo."
Alice: "I didn't!"  I didn't Bekah REALLY!"
Me when I'm tired: "Ok Alice..."
Alice's thoughts: Yes! I got away with it.
My thoughts: She thinks she got away with it...little does she know. I'll fight the next blatant lie.

4.) You were strict on snack time because it really can spoil my dinner...all this time I just thought you a kill joy.

Mom, I am just like you and know I understand the methods to your seeming madness.  

Prank wars...gone wrong.

I know I know people say prank wars never end well. They always end with someone mad, destroyed property, and dismantled friendships.  I, on the other hand, LOVE pranks.  I will say "touche" to a prank done well when it is due.  What constitutes a good prank to me you might ask? (please pay attention Sanders, Daniel, Caleb, & Sam)

1. Well executed- it has to be done sneakily and when least expected.  Doing the prank should be half the fun.  A relationship building experience between the prankers if you will.

2. Well thought out- For example: How could this go wrong and possibly damage my neighbors property? You should also avoid rash and impulsive comebacks because they are just not as fun as a well thought out prank and often end very badly.

3.  It must be annoying to clean up but FUNNY at the same time.  Example: running around in your underwear killing crickets with your high-heeled shoe right after waking up from a nap.  funny. OR turning on your fan only to find flour gently (or not so gently) falling like snow ALL over you.  Also funny because we can all agree it is funny to see a guy covered in flour with a huge grimace on his face.

4. You must respect pranking rules: You are to go back and forth meaning you cannot strike unless you have been struck.  Also when you strike we all know if should be in one move.  An entire day of back-to-back pranks does not constitute one prank and only ends in stomach ulcers do to chronic stress.

5. NEVER and I mean NEVER re-prank the prank that you have been pranked with.  Lame.


So why is this issue so close to my heart you might ask? Well thanks for asking:

Here are the perpetrators minus one  

Prank 1: a harmless, fun prank in our fridge:

What do you do with a fish in your fridge? Well you politely return it to where it came from or close to where it came from like under your neighbors couch where it sits for um...three days.

Prank 2: Retaliation.  We copied their key...snuck into their apartment at 4 AM (please note the careful and sneaky execution, see rule # 1) and tied their doors together and not so politely woke them up with a fog horn.  Please note: we did NOT enter their rooms and to avoid any awkward moments and we even took it a step further and locked them in their rooms.  Oh yeah and I we may have put flour on top of their ceiling fan just for a little Sunday afternoon surprise. (element of surprise see rule number 1)

This is a picture of them cleaning up the flour.  They were a little touchy and not exactly cooperative for a photo shoot.  Right after this picture was snapped I was hit in the face with a towel. 

Pranks 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7 consisted of flour on our fan (see rule # 5), syrup in our showers and toilets (see picture below), 40 grasshoppers running a muck in our apartment, the classic bucket of water over the door, and I woke up to flour covering me at 2:30 A.M.  Firstly, all these pranks were done on the same day but all at different times (please see rule # 4).  Is this pranking or is this just being obnoxious?  I would start naming all the classic prank rules they broke, like invasion of privacy, but honestly I don't have the time because I have to go change my sheets, my duvet cover, and clean off all my books.  

Here's to you Apartment 50 for ruining a perfectly fun prank war.


Mom, Dad, family, you wanted to know what goes on in my "busy" college life...well here you go. Thanks for paying for my tuition! 

Clemson-Classes=One of the most fun places on earth

I was so lucky to arrive in Clemson 10 days before classes started because I had to "work."  Just kidding Mom and Dad I did have to work.  I had a blast catching up with old friends at a leisurely pace (very unlike the year with one hour coffee dates scheduled one after another).  There are just so many cool people here and such little time (4 years) to meet them all!

During Campus Outreach's first week activities (activities to welcome the freshman and get them involved) we went to Turtleback Falls in North Carolina.

Here are two of my favorite people Lindsay Shane (on staff at Clemson with CO) on the left and Megan Jessee (old roommate and best friend) on the left.

 Here is Turtleback Falls after a good 3 mile hike there 

This is rainbow falls which is right now the trail and just to give you some perspective look real close there is a person at the bottom left of this picture.  

 I forgot what it's like to to rock jumping with guys.  This is Brink who is also on staff with CO scaling a wall to jump off a tiny-tiny ledge. Needless to say he was yelling in pain after he hit the water.  I didn't feel bad for him.  

I also got to go to PC for the PC vs. CU soccer game.  Here is my old room from the summer minus one...We missed you Sarah! 

And the festivities continued when I got home since it was my roommate Allison's 20th B-day.  This is my other roommate Katy in the middle.  I love my roommates!  

Now I guess it's time for the classes, early mornings, test, projects, papers...Yes Nana I know I know...I'm here for school and not only for a social life but sometimes I wonder. 

"Really? Is this really happening to me?"

So my life doesn't always go like I see it in my head.  Do you ever picture yourself in a false reality?  Like sometimes I wake up and feel graceful and then I fall down the stairs. Reality.  I feel like someone once called me a "walking disaster."  Although extreme, I've embraced that I'm not always the most smooth person.

I feel like this missing the mark of perfection is sold to us everywhere.  For example I made these cookies the other day with the kids I babysit.

THIS is how they really turn out. 

WAY worse than cookies. One day this summer I was playing beach volleyball and placed my water in the shade underneath a light post.  A safe place right?  wrong. There was a huge hawk sitting on the light post.  Do you see where this is going?  I was minding my own business and all the sudden poop all over me.  We are not talking a little blue bird's poop.  All the people I was with of course burst into laughter and proceeded to tell me it was in my hair, on my face, on my shirt, and on my arm.  They made me change shirts so they wouldn't smell me.  Have YOU ever been pooped on by a bird?  Yeah well that was my third time.   I know what you're thinking: What is wrong with you?  

You know I could trip over a stick and owe it to my clumsiness. I could fail a test and owe it to my lack of discipline or intelligence.  But somehow being defecated on by a bird is one of the most demoralizing feelings and yet it has nothing to do with my abilities.  How can something so out of my control make me feel more like a loser than anything else I've ever experienced.  Oh the power of poo.  

Lastly, I got locked in a bathroom stall today.  The door jammed and I seriously could not unlock it.  So I waited until everyone left and yes....I crawled under the stall to flee to safety and pray no one walked in while I was Army crawling on the disgusting public bathroom.  You do what you got to do. 

I don't know how suave your life is, but this is mine.  Obviously, not so suave.  

Farewell Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, AND New York

My travels are about to be over for the next few months.  In the past 15 days I have traveled through seven states (not counting the ones I flew over) and am currently in the Philly airport about to be home (Clemson, sorry Mom!)  The past two weeks have been filled with tons of fun!

I did some hiking of the AT while in NC visiting the Browns and my Grandparents.  This is my cousin Lauren on the left and my sister Nicole in the middle sporty her outdoorsy Colorado hiking skirt.   

While in New York my sister-in-law Margaret came to visit.  While visiting she really bonded with Jack.  To see how well she bonded with Jack go here.

She loves him so much she even buckled him in on our ride to go hiking. 

We went on a nice walk at Bear Mountain Park in New York.  

My beautiful niece Skylar enjoyed the view and climbed with her "claws" like baby jaguar from Diego.  I'm going to miss her saying "Aunt B, Aunt B, Aunt B! Will you play wit me?!"  

Jack also enjoyed the beautiful view.  

I of course LOVED seeing my awesome Dad.  After all he is 50% of the reason I visit.  (the other 50 being my mom of course) 

I also got to spend a lot of time with this little hunk of love, Finley.  (picture rights to my sister Keri) There are not many 4 months old that come in at 17+ pounds.  Naturally my family is quite proud.  He's definitely a little porker.

Clemson here I come!