matt and ananda- los angeles

my last shoot before I am OUT for a few weeks. saturday is the day. sorry for the lack of posting. planning weddings are time consuming! can't wait to post some photos from my own happy day.

love to all my radiant readers.

nikki and matt's sealing

two of my best people were sealed in the salt lake temple this last saturday. it was really awesome and really cold. (g and I made it in the group picture...look for green boots and grandma coat).

run down of weekend in utah:

-land on friday afternoon
-head strait to frenchie and pick up lights
-dress fitting
-haircut with shep
-dinner with kate and anna at pizza factory
-apartment that smells like syrup
-sleep
-breakfast at park cafe
-sealing at SLT
-photo time
-awesome bride and groom snow angel photos (coming soon)
-walked down bike path to lunch open house at the afflecks
-walked in mall like zombies
-fell asleep in car in parking lot of mall for 30 mins
-dinner at royal india (favorite indian food in sandy)
-sleep
-church time
-gave baby wright horsey rides in sacrament and tay a makeover
-went to the single young adult class (what?!)
-had slight breakdown about getting married
-lunch with family, cheese fondue
-pack and play
-not enough time to take photos of newborn mary...not fair.
-dinner at wildes. thank you for a fantastic dinner!
-family shower at grandma henriksens
-collected a lot of yummy recipes and told the story of "us" for our family.
-lost grants cell phone
-found grants cell phone
-watched "son of rambo"
-sleep
-caught early flight home
-bumpy ride, three people threw up on our flight
-landed with the electricity off at long beach airport

home with 2 1/2 weeks until the wedding. hollah!

feb 14

(kate spade email valentines..seen on smitten)

hope everyone gets "some".

xo. rachel

trader joes

at least three times a week I eat a whole cucumber with trader joe's hummus. it is the best hummus in the universe! is it the sesame oil that is the addictive substance? is it the combo of garlic to chic peas? sometimes I use my finger and just wipe the plastic container clean when I near the end. I have started buying at least 2 at a time because they only last a few days. thank you trader joes. thank you.

if you love trader joes (flaws and all) you will watch this clip and nod in understanding.

I want to go to there, RIGHT NOW!

eye to eye

did a little photo shoot for a wedding surprise we are putting together. shot these in my bathtub. yep. sitting on a stool in the tub. can't deny the light in the loo.

happy birthday grant!

couldn't find an old photo of him blowing out candles, but since he loves costumes I was hoping this photo could inspire an outfit for tonight.

happy 31st to the coolest dude in my life!

he does read this blog (although he doesn't comment much...usually because I am looking over his shoulder bossing him around on the computer), so lets show him some birthday love on rachelthurston.blogspot.com! why are you glad grant was born?

and just for old times sake let's check out this gem of a blog. probably his best quote of all time and truer with each year that passes.

xxxxoooooxxxxooo.

tribe rokker porter

born february 7th, 2009, 1:43 pm. at 6lbs he was so small he looked like all body and no legs! we weren't there until a few hours after the birth....and the natural light was gone (boo), but I still think we got some adorable photos despite the harsh overhead lighting. listen to me!! complaining about lighting! what is my problem?! A BABY WAS BORN! I think I was a bit of a holding hog, and grant was getting funny ideas about me being more ready for kids than I let on.....one big decision at a time please!

tribe we love you and already miss you! all day yesterday I would keep randomly asking grant, "where's the baby?"....and after he responding a million times, "I know, you miss him...he's in orange county"....he finally stopped responding, but I kept asking, "where's the baby?". I couldn't help myself. I love myself some newborn baby.

in memory

last night we heard the news that grant's brother in law died in motorcycle accident.

he leaves behind a beautiful wife and 6yr old son.

he was a man full of laughter and generosity.

this weekend we had a particularly interesting look at the fragile nature of life. on saturday, a new nephew was born and on sunday, mark passed away. both events make my mundane list of tasks today seem so unimportant....but my life as a whole much more meaningful.

our prayers and sincere support and love go to heather and jacob.

honeymoon in brazil!

the tickets are booked! we are flying to rio the day after our wedding for 2 weeks! a little bit of city, a little bit of giant waterfall and a lot of beach. we wanted to go someone where neither of us had been and somewhere were we could explore and relax. I think brazil will work just fine.

anyone been there? any great suggestions? what not to miss? what food to eat? usually I am in charge of travel as grant doesn't handle online forms and airports quite as well, but he is helping with this trip (he must!) AND he is booking the honeymoon night all by himself. I am so proud of him.

dreaming

this has been circulating in the blog world and I wanted to join in.

I think this happens every night while I sleep. dreamers will strongly relate.

I love stop motion. this is so beautiful. so intimate. there is so much trust someone gives you when they can sleep in front of you or with you. you are never more vulnerable than when you are still and deep in dreaming.

enjoy!