hello out there

So, the internet is down at my house, so I'm at the local coffee shop for now...it is nice though to be out of the house. So, what to update on....I suppose I'll start with my recent trip to Green Bay to see the Lions and oh yea, my brother who is a coach ;) I left St. George on Saturday morning and was back by Monday afternoon, so a short trip that was worth it!!! I got to hang with Jay saturday night and we at Lombardi's Steak house, it was great food and we got to catch up on the past few months, just the two of us. Sometimes it is nice to sit and talk with my brothers one on one, and remember they are two men who have watched me grow up and have spent more time with me than most people. The restaraunt was really neat too, a lot of old packers photos, old timey music. On my way back from working out I ran into Jim Schwartz (our old d coordinator) and it was like running into a family member...surprise surprise, i got choked up! I have known him since I was 15, I was there the day his twins were born, used to babysit his kids and have grown up a lot around him. Jay later told me that he was smiling from ear to ear after I left...how cool! Bonds in the NFL are deep...that's for sure. I feel like I'm jumping around a lot, but stick it out...That night we watched football and then because we are old fuddy duddies, we went to bed before 11. The next day I made my way to Green Bay, a town that is similar to Shelby in size and excitment! I got there and it was around 41 degrees...cold for a girl who has been in the desert. I got in and went to look at the field and jay was out there...so I went and chatted with him for a while. I wanted to see him warming up his gusy so i went and got some food (with cheese of course) and found my amazing seats. I saw Jay come out and run across the field and the emotions that came over me were so powerful! I was so full of pride and joy for my brother! I got a picture...here it is.

The O-line warms up in the corner of the end zone, like dad's guys! So, I was able to get lots of pics of Jay, I put them up on my Facebook, but here is my favorite...

We didn't win, but our two best players were out...we play them again on Thanksgiving and i will be there too...we will get our revenge then! I had a blast with jay and getting to see a new stadium and check a state off my list too! Such a productive weekend! Next season Susan is going to come with me! cant wait!

To all my blog stalkers...

Does that sound big headed? Good, that's what I was going for ;) I'm writing from my hotel room in Green Bay, Wi after seeing the Lions play the Packers. It has been a while...pretty much because I am lazy not because of being busy! I think my last post I was in NH for Jess' wedding. For some reason, I have never been a dancer...WELL, that night, because of many things I'm sure I just boggied my little butt off! It was so much fun! I'll put a pic of that monumentus moment later on. After that I went home and got to LP Field 30 mins before kick off only to see the Texans win. it is reasuring to know that I still turn a special breed of crazy when things get close or rough. I guess that will always be in me. That Thursday I went to Knoxville to be in Cassey and Dylan's wedding that weekend. Their wedding was GORGEOUS, a total souther affair! I was able to get all gussied up, i'll add pics of that as well for all of you who have trouble picturing me in a dress;) After that I spent 7 great days at home soaking up all the time I could with my family and it was just what I needed! Ok, I need to get ready to go to bed, have a 6 am flight back to the desert...will add more later!

Washburn's are Special

So, i have been in New Hampshire the past day getting ready for Jess and Clays wedding and spending time with her family, and no surprise it has made me really miss my family. Whenever I spend time with friends or other families, i automatically compare them and how they operate as a family to the Washburns. And not saying that we are superior, it is just different, we have always been a different family than most. There are so many friendships within our family, spouses, siblings, parents, we are all friends with each other and that is what I think makes us so unique. When i come home from Utah, I spend 99% of my time with family and that is by my choice. People out in Utah have learned that family is my #1 priority, bc I spend so much time traveling to see them.

Also it is fun to think of how it will be when i eventually get married, not only because I will be geting married! But because I know it will be a big family event, like the other 2 weddings have been. That in itself excites me! I love when our house is full to the brim with our family, it makes it feel so alive. Nothing is better than waking up to a random niece or nephew telling me i have to get up because the sun is up too and then coming downstairs to mom and the boys drinking coffee and reading the paper...oh how i miss my family!

New Hampshire - Check!

Today I added a new state to my ever growing list, New Hampshire! My good friend Jess, my twin, is getting married this saturday, so i have flown up for the week to hang out and then attend the wedding...this is the picture that got our whole friendship started!

We have been fortunate enough to work together all summer, and it has bee a blast. We talked about this not long ago, but when you work with friends in our job, you get to learn such vulnerable stuff about eachother, things it would take months and maybe years to learn in a regular friendship, so things kind of get expedited out there. We have definitly benefited from that.

So, anyway, that is why i am out here in NH for the next few days. Let me just say, I was driving from the airport tonight and the temp was 58 at 7:30! I was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt and felt amazing and tonight I could see my breath! What a different place this is. From what I have seen so far it is a beautiful green place. I am so excited to see a new place. I feel like lately my travels haven't really taken me anywhere new and exciting, so I will get a taste of that this week. Tomorrow we are off to pick Apples...how quaint does that sound!? I will be back with more Northeastern updates!

Avett Brothers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGKdBkBuBZQ&feature=related

check it out, it will only add joy to your day

Weekend in California

I am back from my weekend in California...what did I learn? I don't like LA. I'm sure I wasn't in the "cool/fun" part of town, but i couldn't even see that part of town from where I was. However an amazing show by the Avett Brothers more than made up for anything bad that happened on my trip! This band over the past year has become a big part of my life, their music in a way narrating my life. It is always special for me to see bands like that live and feel the energy that they put out and realize again how much i love their music. I also feel that southern connection with this band, they are from Concord, NC and you can feel/hear their southern influence in their music. It was funny for me to see all these LA types dancin along to good ol southern bluegrass! I suggest everyone checks out their music, it is hard to not find a song that speaks to you somehow. 

On to the next month or so, I will be working this week and the day after I get out, wed, I will be getting on a plane to New Hampshire for the wedding of my two friends from work Clay and Jess. I will spend 4 days in NH and then fly home Sept 20 and my flight gets in at 11 and I will hurry to the stadium and catch the Titans home opener! Dad doesn't know so it will be cool hopefully for him to look up in the stands and see me there not expecting it! So TN readers keep it a secret! I will spend a few days at home, going to my own dentist(this gets me very happy!) and maybe going to see the Avett Brothers again in Oxford, Ms. Then I head to Knoxville to see two of my best college friends get married! Cassey and Dylan were two of my first friends at MTSU and we were all on a trip on the Smokies when they started dating, I remember her coming back to our cabin and telling me about their first "mini-date" so it will be a lot of fun to celebrate their wedding and see some college friends! They are also my Western buddies. They have been out west a little longer than I have, living in Idaho, Joshua Tree, and now Death Valley. We all 3 realize how nice it is to have a home connection out here. Then I will head back home for a week and I FINALLY GET TO BE HOME FOR A FAMILY BIRTHDAY!!! I will be home for Brady's birthday! I am almost beside myself, I have been in the field for sOOO many birthdays and for someone like myself who always likes to celebrate birthdays with family it has been beyond difficult, so i'm glad I get to hopefully share the day with Brady! I head back to Utah Oct. 3rd. I am so looking forward to some time in Tn- it is desperatley needed these days, I haven't spend much time in Tn since my birthday. 

I think sometimes my body/soul knows when I have been away for so long and just craves it. And thanks to football season I will be spending many Fall weekends in Tn this year!!

Party for me and Luke

So, I have just been just sitting around looking at old pictures today. I have been mostly looking at ones of Luke from his young days at a toddler and for some reason I was taken back to a certain memory of him. Shania Twain was have a concert on Broadway in downtown Nashville for some morning show. So, Ash and I decided we wanted to go since it was free. Luke might have been right around 1 over or under not sure. It was a cold crisp morning, and we had to go at like 5 am. But we got there and I carried luke in the snugglie thing on my chest and she had a duet with Billy Currington "Party for Two". I know that this song has more of a sexual undertone to it, but for some reason when that came on I had my first nephew on my chest and we were all dancing along and i was singing the song and so whenever i hear that song anymore all I think about is dancing with luke on my chest in downtown nashville, so in my mind "party for two" is me and luke's song. I have to explain that carefully considering some of the lyrics ;) But like usual, I don't care! Ash is looking for a picture of the two of us from that morning and when i get it i will put it up here...

here they are