The story of this summer starts with a graduation! We did it! Abby got her B.S. in English Teaching and School Library Media Administration. I got B.A.s in English literature, Spanish, and an interdisciplinary certificate in Medieval and Early Modern Studies.
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| When you find yourself at a precipice, take the leap. |
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| Look at how beaming and hopeful these people are! |
The Graduation Ceremony was so worth going to. Alyssa Quinn's speech made it worth all the time in the world. Also, the job I've been working all summer has left me, on multiple occasions, looking like this:
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| After a hard day's work. Or maybe I think I am a Dorothea Lange subject. |
So a day off of work for a celebration of academic achievement was well worth it. (While we are complaining about work, I have gained a few pounds due to Abby's summer-time employment at a bakery.)
In spite of all the work, we have had some fun. It feels like we've been to a wedding every other weekend. I even got to give a speech at one of them.
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| Chris and Ashley's wedding. |
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| Emily and Ian's wedding. |
We have also spent some quality vacation time. We spent a week in a cabin in Northern Idaho for Awesome Party Weekend 2016.
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| It's always a good time when you can backyard philosophize to that sunset. |
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| Meal time. |
I tried to give a toast after this meal. My brother made a joke and I spewed water all over everyone. so much for being a toastmaster. We also had the opportunity to ride (downhill) on the
Hiawatha Trail.
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| This photo was supposed to highlight the tunnel, but my big head is in the way. |
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| The helmet hair and the helmet hairless. |
Lake Coeur d'Alene provides the unassuming tourist with ample opportunity to relax and bathe.
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| Books, beach and brothers. |
Southern Idaho has some incredible vistas, but Balanced Rock is one of its more unique features. Just west of Castleford, Idaho, this balancing rock is worth a jaunt into the wilderness.
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| I don't understand it; I just know it is majestic. |
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| I still don't understand it. |
We saw balanced rock on our way to the Oregon coast. After a long drive, we camped and celebrated our second anniversary.
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| Here we celebrate two years of goofy smiles. |
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| Nothing like the smell of a good campfire! |
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| At the end of the earth we contemplate the vastness of our universe to the quiet roar of the ocean's waves. |
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| Abby is a cutie. |
On the way back from the Coast, Abby convinced me that we needed to stop in Portland for a VooDoo donut, and some good Chinese noodles.
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| Agreed. |
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| A tasty tourist trap. The British girls in front of us in line used an authentic American ATM. |
Abby has craved good hand-pulled noodles since she got home from China in 2014. It was worth waiting until the restaurant opened at 4:00pm for some noodles (Even if that meant arriving home at 4:00am).
All in all, the most important part of this summer is summed up in this photo:
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| Yes, this is a big stack of documents |
We are waiting anxiously. First we waited anxiously to find out whether or not we were accepted into the Auxiliares de Conversación program. Then we waited anxiously to find out where in Spain we were going (El Ejido). Then we waited anxiously for FBI background checks. Now we're waiting anxiously for our Visas. And, of course, we are waiting for September 21, when we will get on a plane and leave for Spain!
