t r i p || m o m e n t s {2021}

     It's here! The post that I've promised. 

     If you follow me on Instagram, or seen my last post, then you already know that LaKaysha and I recently went to New Hampshire along with Felicity, Josiah, and Kate. It was such a last minute thing I hardly had time to think about it, and then BAM we were on a plane bound for the East Coast. I don't know if it was because I never was in "vacation mode" or what, but no matter the reason, I didn't take very many pictures on this trip. (haha) That doesn't mean I didn't come away from this trip with great memories. Because it truly was one of my favorite trips out there. Crazy to think that it had been two years since we had gone out there, yet when we walked into Grandpa and Grandma's house it was as if we'd never left. I love that house and the people in it <3

     I'm not even sure if any of these meaningful moments will mean anything to anyone else, but they're beautiful to me, and I want them here to look back on later. To remind me of the good times I've had there in New Hampshire with my cousins and sisters.

m o m e n t s   t o   r e m e m b e r :

|| getting to sit to behind Felicity and Josiah on that first flight and holding Kate for most of it. Also, she said "Hi" to literally everyone on the plane, hahaha   

|| when your cousin buys you snacks for the (close to) two hour ride from the airport <3 

|| Grandma waited up for us, even though it was two in the morning when we got there, and guys, my heartttt <33333 *sniff*

|| Grandma put together the cutest room for us in the basement and I loved it. #mygrandmaiscute

|| that first morning there, I went upstairs to make my morning coffee. Grandpa was sitting at the table. He smiled and said, "Hi, Daminika!" <3 (read this, if you're not sure why this moment was so special)

|| that first night there Janeya picked us up and we went out for supper. Just me, her, and LaKaysha. We got *whispers* Starbucks *hides* afterwards, and then she brought us to Auntie Mary and Uncle Amos's so we could see Kate. (true friends bring you to your niece)

|| I tried to share ice cream with Kate, but she ended up sharing it with me. also, she got it in my hair. being her auntie is the best <3

|| my cousin was a sweetie and set up his nintendo switch our room, and even set up a hulu profile for us to use while we were there. that saved many a evening xP

|| Grandma bought me a coffee

|| once again. all the horrible pictures people got of me *facepalm* (and no, you won't see them)

|| played Super Smash Bros quite a few times - and failed - till our very last night there. I. Smoked. Em. *sunglasses* this is a huge deal since both Tyrel and LaKaysha were very good at this game.

|| somehow we managed to do tons of things without actually having to borrow a car! *mindblown*

|| longboarding with Tyrel - and then there was blood. (hahaha) both me and LaKaysha ended up falling off when trying to go downhill. she hurt her elbow (and wrist) and I hurt my knee. #adventureswiththecousin

|| going out for supper covered in blood xP

|| mini golfing with Felicity, Josiah, and Kate <333

|| explaining to my cousin for the millionth time that I AM A WEST TOO. Seriously, dude, I've explained the whole "1-2-3 cousins" thing to you soooo many times. How do you keep forgetting the part where I'm a West?? You know, the part where we share the SAME GREAT-GRANDPARENTS, making us THE SAME GENERATION OF WEST. come on, son

|| soooo much coffeeeeeeeee #itsnotaproblemipromise

|| going out for ice cream four times. and three times was at the same place. they had tonssss of dairy free options for LaKaysha... and Tyrel?... and Janeya???? am I really the only one who can have dairy!? (hahahaha)

|| making a special supper for Tyrel because it was his birthday. (I was super stressed but he said it was success, and thanked me for it, so I guess I didn't fail!) 

|| failing at making spaghetti noodles *facepalm* sorry, fam

|| getting my hair colored by my auntie and I looove it <3333

|| breakfast date with Janeya <3

|| went hiking on a "mountain" and almost died, but what else is new? #iamnotinshape

|| I made supper at Auntie Mary's one night. A meal that my grandparents made up (Hamburger Pie) and it's a little bit odd, so I was kinda nervous, but nobody gagged xP I think some people even liked it. (haha)

|| pushing Janeya's car because it died

|| on Tyrel's birthday we went through old pictures and found a bunch of him to stick on his door (tell me that wouldn't make you feel loved xP). Kate "helped" and she kept saying "Awwwww!". If we didn't react fast enough she would say it louder and louder *laughs* also, she thought Uncle Tim was her Uncle Chancy, so that's adorable. (oh, and my auntie Amanda and Uncle Tim had the cutest kids ever, apparently)

|| just hanging out with Janeya and Chanelle <333333

|| walking to Jonny and Darlene's because we didn't have a car, but it was such a nice evening for a walk

|| trying soooo hard to hang out with people other than cousins and failing so bad #itriedmybest

|| frolicking in the Center, climbing trees and just plain acting like we were sixteen 

|| "sneaking out" with my cousin to get coffee because he's afraid of people (hahahaha)

|| cousin while we're there: *takes us to The Stage*

cousin when we get home: "We never went to The Stage while you were here!"

me: "What ARE you talking about?"

|| that goodbye wave gets me every time *crying*

|| the mountains from the sky kill me every time #ilovemyhome

5.25.2021

     Wow, it's been a while! When was even the last time I did a life update? Last October!? Crazy. Not that it really matters, since I don't actually think people read this blog anymore. (haha) But, it's been a while and I thought it was about time for a quick little life update. For me to read later, even if nobody else reads it. Also, I put on Instagram (@walkinginthesonshine) a poll, asking if I should do a moments post about my recent trip on there or on here, as I've done in the past. And on the blog won! So I guess, soooomeee people still read this! 

     So, yeah. I recently went on a trip! I will be doing a "moments" post on here soon-ish, ok? But till then, this is just another life update. One where I go on rabbit trails about random things that happened in my life. (haha) 

     Well.

     I cut ten and a half inches off my hair! You probably can't even tell, because it's been so long since I've posted, you probably didn't even know it had grown that long. I decided in the beginning of 2020 that I would try grow my hair as long as possible and see how I feel about that before deciding if I wanted to cut it. So, for over a year I didn't cut it, besides a few teeny-tiny trims because my hair actually grows uneven (one side grows faster than the other). And long before deciding to grow it out I had decided to cut out heat tools completely. So heat didn't touch my hair for over two years! (I have now given in and used it in "emergencies", though each time I do I am reminded why I cut it out - I hate the way it makes my hair feel) But, after a year, my hair had grown a lot, but not as healthy I had wanted. The ends were so bad nobody even knew my hair had grown that long! I started keeping my hair up most days because it kinda drove me crazy. I would've cut it sooner, but my dear friend and cousin, Kirsten (please tell me you remember her!!) was getting married in April and I was standing. The hairstyle I picked for the wedding needed long hair. But, we were back from Montana only a daaayyy when I went and chopped it!! I loooove it! Though, sometimes I forget how bad the ends were when looking at pics and my heart kinda goes "awwww" when I see my long hair (xP) Cutting it isn't the only thing I've done to my hair recently! My aunt put some blonde into it, and, wow, I hope this giddy feeling I get whenever I see the blonde bits never goes away! (haha)

     Montana. Kirsten got married!! LaKaysha and I both stood in the wedding, along with another cousin. And Janeya was the photographer, so the weekend was an enjoyable one of running wedding errands with our friends we hadn't seen in too long! Also, the house my parents rented for us to stay in in Montana was a-dor-able! I loooved it so much I alost just wanted to hang out there the entire time! (xP) But there was no time for that. It was a buuusyyyy weekend. Let. Me. Tell. You. But in the end the wedding all came together, and Kirsten is now Mrs. Dan Goodrick! And after the wedding we got to hang out with family at Auntie A and Uncle T's rental house. That was soooo nice, even though I was dead tired and extremely burnt from the outdoor weddding. Get this: they planned for a winter wedding and we all got BURNT (bahahahaha)

(I didn't get any pictures on the wedding day, so I stole these from... my mom?? Liberty?? I don't know *laughs*

     We were only back from our Montana trip two or three days when LaKaysha and I did a crazy thing: we booked tickets to New Hampshire! Felicity and Josiah were going, and we decided to last minute get tickets on the same flights. And it felt like the craziest thing I've ever done. Especially since I'm used to a month or two to prepare for a NH trip. We booked the tickets and were at Grandpa and Grandma's house only three weeks later. I was not prepared, and more than a little scared with all the rules for flying these days. More than once I questioned why we were even going. Flying 3,000 miles, just for the two friends we have there. But you know what? I'd consider it my favorite trip there. It was just so blessed. So relaxing. And so amazing. But enough about that, gotta save stuff to tell you in the "moments" post (*winks*)

     Another big thing in my life: I'm an auntie again!! Little one is due in December, and I just can't wait to see sweet little Kate be a big sister!  For some reason I keep thinking this baby is a boy. (hehe)

     This weekend is Memorial Day Weekend, and LaKaysha and I are once again being crazy - we're going to the Campout! Only for one night, but hey, it's still crazy because nobody we know will be camping. Nobody we know our ages is even going! Liberty is coming with us, and it will be her first time since being a kid, so it'll be fun to show her what it's like. Also, I will be driving us for the first time, so that should be an adventure. 

     As far as work, I'm still cleaning houses with LaKaysha, though we just lost two clients. That's been a blow - especially coming after a two week vacation. But I guess God knows what He's doing. Still driving "Lassie", and he's been amazing. Despite quite a few nails in his tires. (where are those even coming from!?) If you're wondering how much I love my car, just ask my NH cousins - I think I made it clear that I missed my car while on vacation (bahahaha)

     Oh, if you couldn't tell from the cover picture, I have a longboard, and have been trying to master that. It was sent to me by a friend, and this same friend took me and LaKaysha longboarding while we were in NH. I haven't taken it out much since getting home, but I would like to. I'm just not sure of anywhere to take it. Not many paved paths around here that I know of. 

     Still listening to music 24/7. Still enjoying tv shows with the siblings. Also been reading a lot more in the past couple years. (I think I've ruined my eyes). I've been thinking that I should pick up some of my old hobbies again (crocheting? knitting? piano?). Or maybe learn a new one (guitar? longboard?). I've been realizing lately that I do nothing for fun. I work. I read. I go to church. I sleep. That's it. I've been hating the "what do you do for fun?" question because I don't have an answer. So, that's why I'm thinking about doing hobbies more often. Have any other ideas? 

And well, I guess that's about all I've got to update you about for now! 

Hope your year has been going great!