two new additions to our family

meet Nisse and Ethel-pictured below on our exursion to San Fran where we became instant friends. Nisse, in the blue, is Devins. Ethel is obviously mine.
they will be accompanying us for 25 days as we take them with us to europe on MONDAY. we cant believe it is here. hopefully Ethel can fit everything in that i want to take:) hopefully my back can handle it.

ODE to Miss Henderson

today not only do we celebrate pioneer day, but the beloved date of birth of one of the world's most couragous spirits: BECCA HENDERSON

my love for this earthly angel began almost 8 years ago when i saw her dance. i couldnt forget that. two years later i remember having a conversation in an elevator with her. as time passed, she became an aquaintance and eventually a lifelong friend. my senior year i spent a weekend at her pad in AZ for an audition. after graduation i spent the summer of 2006 as her comrade and it is there that our friendship blossomed.

we spent many a night sitting on this window sill listening to sarah.

we bought fancy clothes and played dress up.

we danced, sweat a lot, and constantly laughed. everytime i finish a conversation with her my cheeks hurt for at least 2 minutes.memories with becca consist of great restaurants...

long talks on rocks in central park...

an experience with conversion and missionary work that changed us all...

good food of course...

getting ripped off by some foreigner to ride in a buggy around central park...being there for every important event.

good summers together...the list goes on with lessons learned about scripture study, selflessness, pure creativity(probably one of the most creative people i know) health, journaling, dancing, thrift, wittyness, style and on.

i evol uoy acceb nosredneh!

we wish you well devin

my brilliant man takes the GMAT today. a lot is resting on this test-but we are glad to know we have someone perfect to help carry the weight. go get em tiger

Side note: President Hinckely said, "Women are endowed with particular qualities, divine qualities, which cause them to reach out in kindness and with love to those about them. We can encourage that outreach if we will give them opportunity to give expression to the talents and impulses that lie within them. In our old age my beloved companion said to me quietly one evening, 'You have always given me wings to fly and I have loved you for it.' "
Devin has been particularly exceptional at giving me wings to fly. I hope to do the same for him.

best of san fran ferdinand

in a nutshell here are some highlights of the past six weeks of our life.

here is some fun at yosemite national park. we took a weekend and drove out to visit for devins birthday.

we jumped in at the top of the waterfall and if devins face doesnt show you-- it was freeeeeezing.

at the top of mist trail, mt vernal

the beach on devins birthday

lombard street: the curviest street in the world.

oakland temple with misty and danielle. i feel like being in the temple with friends puts your relationship at a whole new level.

when my parents came out one of the best memories was visiting my mothers grandparents house. they lived in the sunset district right by the ocean in san francisco for many years. my great grandfather was born 100 years before i was to the day:april 26, 1888! he is a special man to me. here is his house

another treat was having my father come see me dance. i get emotional knowing that he cares to support me that much. he couldnt get enough camera time of the ocean.

and dear bev- she is the best mother, and my biggest fan.

i fell in love with the pacific heights houses in san fran. such lovely homes that line the ocean.

here is summer, the one teaching class in sandals:)

we made the best of friends and met the nicest of people

for the fourth of july we flew kites on the beach(yes that is a barbie kite:)

we attended the annual barbeque(or shall i say gourmet dinner with salmon and artichokes) on the fourth of july at summer's house on a vineyard in napa california.

here is the lovely hostess.

here is to you san fran- we'll miss you

a little taste of summer.

tomorrow marks the beginning of the end of one of the most magical and attitude-altering blessings in my life: the gift to dance here at San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. tomorrow is our first show, and saturday is our last. for too many reasons to list, for not enough words to explain, and for not enough of time to really tell i will abreviate my love for this place- if i can, i am tearing up as i write this.
this program has given me so much knowledge about myself, about teaching, about dance, and about others that is has flooded into all aspects of my life. besides the gospel, i think this has affected me in a holistic sort of way than anything yet in my life. i eat less sugar(huge i know). i go to bed early and wake up early(another monumental thing). i am more disciplined. i am happier. i have bigger dreams.
the main person to blame for all this is the program director: summer lee rhatigan. she is eloquent, she is breathtaking, she is wise, she is generous, she is a genius and she believes in and loves people with her whole self. she makes more jokes in ballet class than i thought was possible. she doesnt believe in mirrors:). she uses things like wet dogs, blown glass, and world peace as analogies to help us with ballet and it works. she makes 3.5 hours of ballet an uplifting experience. she is more than just a ballet teacher, she is a life coach. and before i start rambling-i will leave you with a few of my favorite of her phrases, the likes of which are routine, prosaic, daily occurrences, and if i could i would record every word she says:

i try jeans on in fifth. i braid my legs when i walk:)

fourth position becomes what second position needs it to be-like a good friend:)

the goal is a consequence. the goal is not an action.

if you need to worry, worry in a magnifying way. if you need to think, think in an open way.

make your troubles the most magnificent part of your life.

self doubt, conceit, fear, self deprecation are all vanities. they all get in the way of YOU!

you are powerful. be heros and leaders in your art form because that is what you are(she gives us the most sincere compliments that make you want to cry. and we usually do:) develop your power for others. be selfless. promise to be powerful for good. thats what i have promised.

amen with my tribute to summer.

devins dream mini

this past week devin got an early birthday present: a test drive in a old mini cooper. they have many in san fran and we drove an hour after dance to take one for a spin.
a few of the things that surprised me about the ole cooper:
-power steering. for those of you that dont know what that means, and i didn't, you are literally the one turning the car, aka its really hard.
-the trunk was big enough to put my lunch bag and nothing more.
-the walls of the car are almost as thin as tin foil(turned me off to ever buying one).
-it's height!! my head touched the ceiling in the back, what would someone reasonably tall do?
so very cute. so very fun. so very glad we aren't going to buy one-don't let devin see that. ps its his GOLDEN B.DAY TOMORROW!!!

take me out to the ball game

just as a disclaimer this is devin posting not mare, so if it seems different my apologies.

we had the opportunity to go see a sf giants game at at&t park, or a baseball game if that's easier. i speak for mare too when i say that it was a blast! the main reason for this was because we got FREE BOX TICKETS. it was a first time in a box for the both of us, and there is no better way to go. at&t park is located right on the ocean (which you can see in the third pic below) in downtown san francisco. we lost, but needless to say, it was a good first time experience.

when i think of san fran i think of:

LONG days full of beyond marvelous dancing.
sore muscles.
train rides into the city with devin.
and missing trains.
bums and hobos on the street.
story-book colored houses.
Becca Henderson. period.
rainbow flags.
the Lefrandts and eating a whole carrot cake together.
brown sugar with ginger caramel swirl ice cream at bi-rite...highly recommended.
dolores park
the beach...we hope to fly kites there soon.
oakland temple in all its glory. and it is glorious.
spreading the good news of the gospel.