Thanksgiving Break!

Christina and I were able to go back to Washington for the break. We spent some time at both of our family's. We actually forgot to take pictures so I got these from my dad and sister.

We arrived Tuesday night and my parent's took us out to dinner to celebrate my recent birthday.

Daysha got to see this Red Robin they had walking around.

I even got some dessert and they surprised me by singing happy birthday

Daysha, Christina, and me playing.

Ready for dinner!

It was a really fun trip!

Sweet Home Washington

This last weekend I made a trip up to Washington. Christina came too! This was a weekend to not only see each other, but meet each others parents since we are both from Washington. She picked me up Thursday night from the airport and we went down to my house. Most of the pictures in this blog will feature my adorable niece--cause she's really cute (well, so is Christina, but she gets tired of me trying to take pictures of just her). Friday we went to a small water park. That was fun and the weather turned out nice, but the water was still super cold.

That afternoon Christina and I went out to the Chambers Bay park overlooking the water in my city (University Place). That evening we had pizza with the family and played some games.

In the morning we went over to my sister's to play with my niece for what we thought would be the last time and to say goodbye. She was soooo hyper and excited to see us. She would run up her slide and come down over and over, stomp all around, and squeal as I chased her around.

On Saturday we went up to Poulsbo, where Christina is from. I always tease her cause she says she doesn't live on a farm--but she does. There's a barn, cows, and five acres. But it's a nice farm. I met her whole family (her oldest brother wasn't there, but I'd already met him). We went to a ward activity, walked around downtown Poulsbo, watched some old home videos, went mini-golfing. Then the young couples (her sister and husband and us) went to her sister's house to watch a movie. Here's the one picture I took in Poulsbo.

Sunday was relaxing and we went to church. Because I forgot my sandals at my place that gave us a reason to go back there (I didn't do it on purpose!) on our way to the airport and I got to see Daysha once more. A very eventful and great trip.

Trip Home for Brian and Meaghan's Wedding

One of my best friends (Brian) just got married to another really good friend (Meaghan). I've actually been friends with Meaghan since at least 7th grade and good friends with Brian since Senior year of High School. It was a fun, but short, trip. I was also able to spend some time with my family.

Here I am with Daysha, my niece. She kept saying JoJo (my nickname) whenever I would leave the room. It was so cute!

Having fun at the Children's Museum in Seattle

Right after the wedding ceremony. It was beautiful and I was so happy for them (they were ecstatic!). I'm glad I got to be there.

Brian and me.

All of Brian's cute nieces and nephews. Brian actually stayed at my house the night before the wedding because he wanted to get some sleep and wouldn't be able to with all these guys in his house. That was cool to be able to spend some time with him.

Brian singing to Meaghan.

St. Louis Visit

My nephew, Jared, learning to ride a motorcycle.

The Arch (as wide as it is tall and taller than the Space Needle)

Sitting on a giant turtle. This place is known as Turtle Park. We almost didn't want to leave to go to the zoo.

Danny on a turtle or snake. I'm not sure.

Welcome to the St. Louis Zoo. A very large, free zoo.

Jared with his dad's sunglasses.

Me with cutie patootie. My mom bought the same pair of sunglasses for her three sons this last Christmas.

Here is the actual reason we all got together. My brother Jason can now be called Dr. Hochstrasser. The second in the family (although my mom's is a Ph.D, not MD).

Other fun things I got to do.

-Go swimming in a pool that was part indoor and part outdoor. I've always wanted to do that!

-Eat as much popcorn as I wanted provided in the hotel lobby.

-Play tennis in super windy weather.

-Ride the metro to the airport.

More pictures to come of this place we went to on Friday morning called City Museum. It's nothing like what the name says. In fact, it's nothing like anything I've seen.

Visiting Utah

My sister Angela, her husband Keenan, and daughter Daysha came to visit Utah last week. Unfortunately, it was about the busiest week of my life with The Pilgrim's Journey Home concert going on, but I was able to go to my grandma's for dinner in SLC on Tuesday. They also came to Provo for a little bit on Thursday and to my concert on Friday night. Here are some pictures of the trip.

Learning to drive.

Before my concert.

Daysha!

Here's pictures of my niece. She was the only one around Christmas so she gets a special place on my blog. What a cutie.


Flossing her teeth.

Nephieces

I just got back from my sister's wedding in Washington. The whole family was gathered together. For the longest time I only had nephews (five of them), so I could always just tell people, "I have five nephews." Now that I have a niece I have to say, "I have five nephews and one niece." Look how much extra effort that takes! I really wish there was a word that could be all-encompassing, to let people know I have six _____ total. Then if I wanted to go into more detail, I could. My lame attempt at a new word for that is nephieces. Any better words? If we get a good one maybe we can convince Webster's to put it in their next edition.