Baltimore Harbor.

On the last day JD's parents were here, we went up to Baltimore a few hours before their flight departed to people watch, eat lunch, and explore the harbor. Baltimore is quite delightful.

We're so glad they were able to stay with us and see this part of the country!

NYC, here we come!

JD and I are in the midst of planning our first anniversary get-a-way to New York City this weekend! We are having lots of fun looking up exciting attractions to visit while we're there. So far on our list: rent a boat in Central Park, get icecream near the Brooklyn Bridge, explore the Grand Central terminal (otherwise known as Grand Central Station), see the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty, and of course... party it up in Times Square! We'll only be there for 2 days and a night- so we are looking at the best ways to maximize the time we have. If any of ya'll have been to NYC, we'd love your tips and suggestions! Can't wait!

Atlantic City, NJ.

Because I've been scrapbooking so much lately (a few hours a day usually), I sometimes forget what things I've scrapbooked and what things I've blogged about. In mid-July, JD and I went to Atlantic City up in Jersey with a few of our friends for the weekend. We had a really great time. We walked on the Boardwalk, enjoyed a watershow, watched our friends lose their money in some casinos, ate at The Rainforest Cafe, shared some icecream, toured a Ripley's Believe It or Not museum, played cards, and laughed a lot. It was quite a delightful little get-away!

Cool trivia fact for the next time you are on a gameshow: The game, Monopoly, was based off this very Boardwalk in Atlantic City. Cool, right? Also, this is the place where the first salt water taffy was discovered. Yum!

My Granny.

My Granny passed away on Sunday. She was ready to go, and has been for years. She was my mom's mom's mom and the most precious little lady. Although I didn't know her intimately well, I am grateful for her testimony of Christ and the commitment she had to take my grandmother to church as a child. Her eyes twinkled the way people's do when they are pure in heart and have a strong idea of who they are and where they came from. I have no doubt she is rejoicing with her loved ones who've passed on and singing praises to her Maker. I know she is happy. I know both because of what I know about Heaven and because of the sweet moments my mom has described of my grandmother and her's last few days together before she passed. I am so thankful for Heavenly Father's eternal plan of happiness and for the blessed opportunity we will all have to return to Him if we are righteous and choose to live his commandments. I look forward to an eternity of learning more about Granny and all my precious family members. Also, I booked my flight home to Texas for her funeral. Can't wait to see the fam :)

New news.

Here are a few pictures of my 21st birthday celebration- we didn't get any big group shots, which I'm bummed about. JD surprised me by inviting a bunch of people from the office over for a surprise party. We went to lunch at Matt's and everyone gathered at our apartment for the party. When we walked back into our apartment, a lot of our friends in the office were there to celebrate with me Hawaiian style. We limbo-ed, ate cake, and played games. JD's cute for planning it all and I really would've been 100% surprised if he hadn't been acting funny all morning. I love him.

New news: I've been spending a lot of time with Brittany out here and thus, a lot of time with her dog, Thea, too. When we first got here. . .she seemed so huge and freaked me out a lot. Now, I like her and she's pretty precious. The new news is. . .I think I might actually like dogs and want one of my own. (All other animals, though, are still not for me.)

Thumbs up.

JD's mom, dad, and little brother have been visiting for the past 10 or so days. On Thursday, we took a tour of our nations' capitol and got to sit in on meetings of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. If I were more mature and sophisticated, I might think the hour we waited in line for those meetings was worth the five minutes we got to hear of debate. However, I clearly haven't reached that level in my development because it all seemed rather boring and pointless to me. Granted it was probably a once-in-a-lifetime type of deal...Larry was very enthusiatic and excited... so I put on a happy face and acted very engaged in the whole she-bang. In the end, it was all good. We went to see Despicable Me to appease my 10-year old brother-in-law (and partly me too).

(I was looking at the pictures from our outing today and couldn't help but notice a common theme throughout... thumbs up.)

How I feel about turning 21.

I feel anxious. I feel old. I feel nervous. I feel excited. I feel changes coming. I feel grateful. I feel responsible. I feel sophisticated. I feel childish. I feel antsy. I feel bittersweet emotions.

A few days ago I posted on Facebook that I was trying to find a way to stop time. Well, that hasn't happened. My next birthday is still coming. Tomorrow.