Coming to America

An unexpected blessing occured at work last week: we got a four-day weekend for the 4th of July! Wow! There's kind of a floater holiday that the company puts in random places, and this year it was last weekend. Made for an interesting time of it, though, as I scrambled to figure out something to do with my extra day while my hubby was still at work. But all in all, a good weekend.

I went up to SLC to visit Esther and Asher on my extra day off, and it was fun to spend some time with my gal pal. I came back to a very warm home, but the a/c problem that started up the day before was resolved, and my sweet hubby took me out for Thai food and a cheap movie for a nice date night (and to take advantage of free a/c in other locations).

 Our tattoos at "Freedom Days"

We hit the Freedom Festival on Saturday, which was crowded and hot, but pretty fun. We had fortunate timing and were able to hear a bagpipe group at the Colonial Days area, which Glen really enjoyed. (okay, i did, too, but his glee was manifest more clearly.) We got out of there before I melted completely, though, and got to relax and eat a bit before walking over to his grandparents' place, which is just behind LaVell Edwards Stadium. So after spending some good time chatting with family members I hadn't met yet, we had prime seats for watching the Stadium of Fire fireworks. Gotta love 'em. (although i hope i don't hear that song any more this year. no offense, katy perry.)



On Monday, after a morning of chores and a gift-card trip to Bed, Bath, and Beyond, we picked up Glen's sister and mom and headed to Springville for a Layton family afternoon. His grandparents are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year (wow!!!) and so this weekend was the "reunion/celebration", which was fun. Naturally, there was good food (including our lil' smokies .... scrumptious), and I had a good time getting to know more of Glen's family and trying to remember who was who. Glen was excited to bring his balloons to make balloon animals for his cousins, who were excited to get them (and pop them).

 The "60" for Glen's g-parents

 Glen's nieces sure enjoy their balloon animals

Happy birthday, America! I'm sure glad you're where I live.

-Me


"The thing that impresses me the most about America is the way parents obey their children." -King Edward VIII

To Kathryn

Dear Beloved Cousin,

It is hard to post about a wedding when you have no pictures. Believe me, I would looooooooooove to write about my fabulous wedding, as you have so requested (mainly because it was incredibly fabulous), but I'm afraid the post would look terribly boring without pictures to accompany it. (i have been informed that i write too many posts without pictures, and therefore my blog is difficult to muscle through.) I would have taken pictures myself, but alas! Wedding dresses have no pockets. I know others did take pictures, but officially I have only received six that my mother forwarded to me from your madre. Until I have some more, I probably won't be posting specifically about that wonderful day. I must crave your indulgence and ask you to be patient.

Love, Megan Merrell

p.s. To anybody else who may be reading my letter to Kathryn and you have pictures in which I would have interest, this is my passive-aggressive way of asking you to please send them to me!

Promises, Promises

All right, I always said I wouldn't be the kind of girl who constantly posted the countdown to her wedding, because it always drove me crazy to see that on facebook. In fact, I pretty much vowed not to. But I'm going to sliiiiiiightly cheat today, simply because ...

SINGLE-DIGIT DAYS LEFT, PEOPLE!!!!

All right, that's off my chest. Thank you. bows

-Me

"The music at a wedding procession always reminds me of the music of soldiers going into battle." -Heinrich Heine

93 Million Miles Away

After a dismally gloomy May in Utah, the sun has come out once more. I sure hope it's here to stay for quite some time. Help me out, everyone, and do some sun dances! I'm asking for purely selfish reasons, of course, (especially as regards the 11th of this month, so you oregonians had better participate, too) but I don't think I'm the only one who would appreciate some nice weather.

 Let's keep the sun shining!

-Me

"A banker is a fellow who lends you his umbrella when the sun is shining, but wants it back the minute it begins to rain." -Mark Twain

Willow, Tit Willow, Tit Willow

When I was in sixth grade, my music/expressive arts teacher decided that our "end of year" show would be a little one-act operetta entitled Trial By Jury. Thus I was formally introduced to Gilbert and Sullivan, a name pairing I had only heard listening to "The Pirate Song" by Ray Stevens in a passing reference to The Pirates of Penzance. A bunch of 11/12-year-olds singing light opera was probably one of the most grating-on-the-ears experiences my parents ever endured, but oh well.

As I have grown up, my experience with Gilbert and Sullivan has become a little more varied, but not so much that I can sing "Modern Major General" at full speed. I doubt that will ever happen, actually.

However, this summer, I will become more acquainted with Gilbert and Sullivan as Glen and I take the stage for a "revue" show of sorts (it will be quite the hodge-podge show, actually, but i'm only in the g&s sections). Time alone will tell if the experience will be positive or negative. Right now, I have other things to be focusing on. We'll see how I feel about it in a month.



I will be more enthusiastic than Sam, though.

-Me

"This ain't some Gilbert and Sullivan show, you know, with some little flittin' Tinkerbell!" -Ray Stevens

The Sweetest Gift

The big day is approaching, which is SO crazy, but I'm pretty dang excited. The 'rents were in town almost two weeks ago, so my sweet sis threw me a bridal shower while Mom was physically present. It was a crazy weekend, too, because I was also moving into our new place. While we gals partied, Dad and Glen took the last of my stuff and picked up the bed we bought and dropped that at the new place. Thanks, fellas! I'm glad I didn't have to do that!

It was a fun afternoon, and I loved seeing all who came. Thanks, Kelly and Becky for putting together such a nice little party for me!

 Me and my future sis-in-law Jenny

Kim and Sylvia

 Cute former roomies (and asher)

 Meg and Mash look on as I leap in excitement over the KitchenAid Mom got me

My cute family ladies who came to the shower!

Thanks so much, everyone! Y'all are awesome.

So now I'm in a new place, allllll by my lonesome until after June 11th. I'm hardly ever there except to sleep, though, so that's all right. (good thing i'm barely there, too, considering there's no furniture yet, teehee)

-Me

"Happiness in marriage is entirely a matter of chance." -Charlotte Lucas, Pride and Prejudice

White and Nerdy

Sometimes I feel like I am surrounded by cool people. Friends, cousins, etc. I think they're all excellent people. And I know you shouldn't compare yourself to others, but I occasionally still do that. (bad megan!) They take the best pictures, do the most fun things, give the best impressions of themselves to others. And as cool as they are, I wonder ... how could I ever be cool like them?

I'll have to settle for being myself (a state of being, by the way, i am normally very happy with). Sometimes, though, I really feel like I can relate to Dr. Sigmund Freud.



Oh, Siggy, somehow we'll make it.

-Me

"If you're a misfit within a group of misfits, does that mean you're actually normal and popular?" -Laura Preble