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Those pictures are absolutely adorable and are just a perfect show of how fun and full of life you guys are! Love it!! Hope things are great!!
I'm grateful for joyful memories . . . and so many of these photographs bring back some of those most cherished of times! And nobody laughs quite like you two!
Thanks for the giggles!
Love,
–Dad
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So happy to hear that you both have GREAT jobs and that things are going well! Hope you don't get too busy to post, I love seeing what you guys are up to!
Take care and drop a line sometime!!
cute posts Luisa. You guys are in Boise still right? or somewhere near? So where does Nate work?
I love that you did a thankful countdown. I am going to also, albeit not a count down but a post on what I am thankful for. Much love to you!!!!!
Great job, Luisa!!!
–Proud Papa
te amo amiga!
God bless you and god bless our friendship that will grow along with our waistbands.
Loves and hugs,
Nellie
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What a great idea, Luisa: THE GRATEFUL COUNTDOWN!!! That is one of your many divine attributes–your gratitude . . . and love!
Let me just add that I am surely grateful to have such a wonderful daughter!
–Dad
P.S. Do we have any photos of Nate WITHOUT a camera in his hand? : – )
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Editing to the music, that's talent! Nice work!
Mom and I have watched this over and over again! And, of course, love it. Luisa: you do skip well! Was Nate having more fun than he should have putting that scene to music? My favorite photo of Nate is one in which he is airborne and touching his board [which goes from upper left to lower right--not the way we usually see him airborne]. He included it twice; once in black and white. AMAZING photo [which you must have taken!] and amazing wake boarding. You all make it looks so fun and so cool! Glad you posted this. We are super proud of you guys!
Good luck with the corporate bid!
–Dad
Luisa!!!! I'm sorry to say that I laughed really hard at you skipping across the water. That is exactly why I will NEVER tube again. What a fun video – it makes 6 months feel like FOREVER away.
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so our new bishop…..is FORSURE Nat in 20 years!!! LOL! i wish you could meet him! its mind blowing how much he looks and acts like Nat. he is an awesome person!
….
ja ja ja!.. buenas fotos
love you mi amiga!!!
Barbie Holden would be proud!
: – )
–Dad
Queenie
p.s. oh nice CHILE shirt by the way
My hubby knows that something BIG is going on when he hears me say: “Baby, I think that was the BEST book I’ve EVER read.” It would be a lie to say that I have never said that before, nor do I foolishly believe that I will never say it again.
Having seen and loved the movie The Count of Monte Cristo, with the dreamboat James Caviezel, I went into this book fully expecting to love it, while still hoping to experience something new, knowing that the book was entirely different than that portrayed on the screen. As in the movie, our protagonist, the dashing Edmond Dantes, meets his tragedy at the hands of Fernand, the jealous lover; Danglars, the spiteful coworker; Caderousse, the coveting neighbor; and Villefort, the ambitious lawyer. That IS, however, where the similarities end.
It was fascinating to watch the plot of this story unfold with SO many twists and subplots, suspense and surprises. EVERYONE, everywhere was somehow connected to the Count as he manipulated all of Paris to facilitate his complicated revenge.
When tragedy, inflicted in the name of justice, had caused immense suffering for the innocent ALONG WITH the guilty, Edmond finally desists. After inflicting this so called ‘justice’ on those who had depraved him of his every happiness, Edmond sadly laments: ”Pray for a man who, like Satan, believed for one moment he was the equal of God, but who now acknowledges in all Christian humility that in God alone is supreme power and infinite wisdom.’
Dantes, like Frankenstein, who was dubbed the ‘Modern Prometheus’, yielded to his irresponsible curiosities and yearnings to transcend the limits of human life which led them both to the disaster that WAS their lives. Before reading the novel Frankenstein, I never knew that ‘Frankenstein’ was the name of ‘the Creator’ and that the being he created in likeness of the human form never received a name. This self-titled ‘Creator’ ACTUALLY had the audacity to state: “I became obsessed with the power I had developed to instill the spark of life into my creation.” The actual Prometheus, in Greek mythology, defied the Titans and gave fire, ‘light and knowledge’, to human kind. As a punishment, he was chained to a boulder and daily, an eagle would come and eat his liver, which would grow back that night. It seems humankind has an innate urge to take matters into our own hands, defying the only Being who actually posseses an omniscience that puts our own intellect to shame. The last words of Dantes at the end of the novel was: ‘Never forget that, until the day comes when God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these words: wait and hope.’
“It takes a long time for eyes that are swollen with weeping to see clearly,’ and I believe that anyone in this life can attest to this truth uttered by Dantes; no one is foreign to suffering. Had he not endured such despair, I know that the havoc he wrought through vengence would not have come to pass, nor would he be a man of such depth and compassion or capable of such goodness at the same time. As he said, we must ‘wait and hope’ or in religious terms: Have faith and trust that Justice and Mercy will come from Our Father who ‘knoweth all things’ and will ‘exalt those who wait for Him.’
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You and Mom impress me so much with your thirst for good books. I am also impressed with your ambition: not only do you not shy away from difficult classics, but you welcome them, devour them . . . and understand them! You are an enlightened mind. And as expressed so beautifully by Elder Uchtdorf, books are your current university!
You inspire me!
Love,
–Dad
Dressing:
Limes
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Hope you guys are doing great! Sure miss hanging out!!
Hmmmm . . . that looks seriously good! . . . even to this RAW dieter.
Everything you do is cool; and even your recipes bring two uniquely great things together [just like you and Nate]!
HUGS and love!
–Dad
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bobyyyyy i love you sooo much you beautiful woman!!!! hey i discovered this awesome series written by steve berry, its the cotton malone series and it is awesome… i started sort of in the middle of the series but you can start wherever right now im reading the charlamagne pursuit .. well actually im listening to it on CD but i started with the venetian betrayal but they are such good books. the auther incorporates myth, real history, and all this cool stuff into these action thrillers…
Hey, don't forget Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas. It is a wonderful classic. Actually, I have a lot of suggestions. Call me and I can email you the list. I love a good book!!
I know. I was so disappointed when I read Phantom and found out that the production was not even close to accurate. They each have their merit though. What did you end up picking for your choices for book club? You have an extensive list here, I keep one in my phone for when I'm at the library. haha. Love you
have i told you lately that you are my HERO!! seriously!! look at you you're beautiful! you're such an inspiration!! LOVE YOU FOREVER!! oh and I LOVE the main picture of you guys. you look SO happy and i love it! miss you:)
I absolutly LOVE the Langdon books! They are some of my favorites!! Im so glad that you found them…I still havent had time to read the Lost Symbol one but it is definitly my next book the read!
Luisa: Reading The Symbol with you at the cabin–stealing the book, back and forth–is definitely one of my fun memories from our trip. I still think about it and agree with you on its value: it is always fun to see our basic beliefs placed into a story as "mysterious and ancient truths that have been lost."
FOUND! RESTORED! Maybe we should start working on the sequel! : -)
HUGS!
–Dad
I LOVED My Sister's Keeper. Her books make you think afterwards. Quite a heart wrenching story though. You have a number of books on here that I might have to go look up. What is the trilogy The Uglies?? Love your blog! You look so happy!!
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That must have been so much fun. YAY for you guys.
Fun. Great photos. Love the expression on Papa Perkes on the ATV!
What a gorgeous area!! Looks like you guys had such a BLAST!!! We miss you guys and sure hope to keep in touch!!
Looks like you had a blast and it is beautiful!
Darling post… WHAT FUN!! SO, I've decided that Mom & Dad have quite the life! I wish I could travel around and see all of us all the time
Your blog is always so cute. Love you & miss you guys lots. -jhp
Luisa, you sweetie, that was so kind . . . and wonderful! We did have a great time, didn't we?! The photos you posted and your skilled commentary brought it all back in such a beautiful way. What a treasure!
Much love,
–Dad
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You guys are too funny!!!
–Dad
Guess we got kinda lucky.
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) look like babies!! I just love that you guys were friends for so long and ended up together! How perfect! I think I said this last time, but I hope we get together soon!! Maybe we can plan something for this weekend??
How fun! You guys look like babies! So sweet!
Wowzers!!!
Talk about young love! How many people can go back that far? How fun you actually have pictures of you when you were teenagers together. Nate looks like such a kid! It is fun to be reminded that your lives have been drawing you to each other for quite some time.
HUGS!
–Dad
TE QUIERO mi querida amiga!
After swimming, we got the famous Salisbury beach fudge and took these old fashioned pix, as well. Sorry, Bubba! Wish you could have fit!

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You are so amazing!!!!!!!!! I couldnt have made it through the day without you. Gosh I wish our childhood dream would come true so that we could live on the same corner sipping lemonade with and getting waffle bottoms from our lounge chairs as we sit on the stoop. I miss youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu gosh i wish god could make the world a pangea already with your house right next to mine.
Your photos are like a window to your soul, Luisa: dancing in the rain, loving grandparents and siblings. I hurts that you were so close and that I was in trial mode.
But in just a couple of weeks . . .
Can't wait to be with you, Nate, and the rest of the Boise Perkes clan!
Love,
–Dad
Hope we get together soon!!!
You look BEAUTIFUL and SOOO HAPPY!!! i LOVe how happy you are with your family. I MISS that SMILE like crazy!! i LOVE YA TONS !
te quiero amiga,
Queenie
p.s. i'm so glad you were able to go back home for Nelly's wedding. she looked so pretty!
We both landed at about 11 am and quickly got our car, checked into our hotel (after doing a few ‘U-ies’ and thanks to Mapquest and my ‘amazing’ navigational skills [I mean, good thing I brought my GPS]. We then headed straight to the coast, which wasn’t far.
Here’s HUNTINGTON, a place I’ve always wanted to go!!! We hit up Newport as well. Here are some pics of both beaches and the surfers and the lifestyle and everything else that I LOVED!!! I could seriously get used to this kind of life: lunch on the beach, watching the surfers, going swimming, feet in the sand, sun, waves…













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Okay, so Nate – you don't know me, but I know your darling Luisa and i think she's amazing. I just have to tell you, I know a lot of people that call themselves photographers because they have a fancy camera and they take pretty cool pictures sometimes. I was kind of over the whole, "I'm a photographer" thing a while back, but every time I look at your web-site I am amazed at your talent. It's more than just saying, "I'm a photographer." You really have an incredible talent and it shows. Thanks so much for sharing your art and gift. I look forward to more pictures!
Gorgeous pics Nate!! Glad the workshop was so great!!
HEY! Isn't that my swimsuit you're wearing?!!
I hope it looks half as cool on me!
–Dad








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Wow! I'm impressed you can ski in those ear rings!
Hey babe…it's me! Nate, I know, weird commenting on our own blog…but this is really YOUR blog. So here I go. First off…if anyone didnt finish the movie…watch till the end as she skips across the water. Poor girl, but there I am in the background laughing. Love you! And second of all, I have to tip my hat, because her SECOND time on the wakeboard, as she's getting tired she decided she's just going to go dynamite on a jump and let go of the rope. That takes a lot of guts on just your second time up. Baby…you're amazing!
Love,
Nate
Luisa: Those pictures are GREAT! All of them. I love the look of surprise on your face in the first picture . . . and your pre-wipeout picture is pretty fun too. But, honestly, you look great on the board!
And Nate . . . my word!!! I can't believe his air pictures! There is one I really love [the second one]. Great shot!
Also, the one of Jake and Gracie is really cool!
But, being a grandpa, perhaps my favorite is you and the kiddies! Very sweet.
Most of all, it is just fun to see you all having fun! Thanks for sharing!
–Dad
This is how I felt by the end of the day….
I LOVE entertaining guests! This is us at breakfast: Stuffed French Toast! YUM!!
…and this was his reaction. As a wife, can it get any more satisfying!?!?
This is Nate, trying his cool moves on his new wake board. Jake was kind enough to help me with the execution of this day.
After a LONG day of wake boarding in the very hot sun, we went home, took an hour nap and then got all dressed up to have a nice, classy dinner in downtown Boise. The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant, is our new favorite place to eat. They treated us LIKE ROYALTY, with complimentary Pina Coladas, a birthday presentation and a coupon for $20 off!
After that, we watched Nate’s favorite TV Show, Wipeout, and presented him with his FAVORITE cake ever, ‘Ring of Coconut Bundt Cake’! It was a VERY intimidating recipe. Mom, thanks for your help!
To finish it off, we had one final visitor… actually, captive, I guess. I did catch him and trap him in a vase for a couple of hours. That eliminates the ‘guest’ possibility.
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Your post is a timely cobitrnution to the debate
Luisa, I hope you don't mind but I found your blog and just had to peek at it. I'm THRILLED that you have become the woman you are today. It looks like you've got a great guy and a good life. Good for you. Love you, Jen Lambert
WOW! What a fun and fulfilling summer you guys have had! Way to go on the veggies! You are amazing Luisa!!
Sounds like a great summer, and I'm glad Kaia was one of the good things about your summer! Very impressed with the garden. I have my worse garden in years, and am sad I don't have more produce! Maybe next year! I love reading your blog because you make everything seem like a party! It jsut makes me happy to read it!
You two are such a fun couple!! I love all the pictures!! Oh, and HELLO—your veggies are awesome!! You've gotten me excited for our garden next summer!!
What a fun whirlwind of a month or two. Wow! And that didn't include your triathlon adventures. What great photos and sweet words to express your months.
I LOVE the picture of Katie,….my goodness she looks happy and content — you'd never guess that she was a mother of 4 rambunctious kids (not to mention a rather rowdy Jake)!
The cake looks amazing!!! Definately a contest winner.
Thanks so much for sharing. Can't wait until next month to get to see you and get in on some of that play action.
Love! Mom
I can't imagine why you haven't had more time for blogging this summer! Ha!
Anyway, I loved the summer update. Great photo of Kate and "Baby" Nate. As always, your blog is a delight to see and read!
I think I will copy you and do a one-post catchup of our summer fun on our blog . . . I am SO behind!
Love,
–Dad
Nate’s Sprint Tri:
Swim: 500 Yards
Bike: 12.4 Miles
Run: 3.1 Miles
Luisa’s Olympic Tri:
Swim: 1 Mile
Bike: 24.9 Miles
Run: 6.2 Miles
As you can see, Luisa’s Tri was twice as long as mine in almost everything except for the swim, which was THREE times longer. Here are some pictures from the day.




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Oh my goodness. Way proud of you both!! Natey, I told you the day you got married that you would never have the upper hand again. LOL! Here goes Luisa, still proving it.
***Wisa, I had a Mom moment. I was totally tearing up when I read about the 69 year old woman.
Smooches to you!!
You guys are awesome, I love hearing about everyones experiences as they accomplish their goals, and prove to themselves that they can exceed all expectations of themselves. Its the best feeling, Way to go you Two!
Nate: Guess you really are an ATHLETE!!! We are very proud of you. Now let's see what you can do when you train! Just try and keep up with your amazing wifey!
Luisa: YOU ARE AN UBER-ATHLETE!!! I don't even know anyone who has completed an Olympic Triathlon! And it is so you to feature another inspiring woman–quickly diverting the spotlight off of you. Luisa, there is no doubt that you will be sucking the marrow from life well into your sixties and beyond! I am so incredibly proud of you!!!
Wish I could crown your head with a wreath of laurel leaves. You deserve it, you mighty Olympian!
Hugs with deep admiration!
–Dad
WAY TO GO you guys! You are awesome for doing that! I love the grandma story…how awesome is that!!?? We should all be that motivated.
Sounds like you've got "the fever". Luisa–how are you smiling thru it all?? I love how happy and positive you are! I'm proud of you!! I have no doubt you'll be doing this in your 60s.
I AM AMAZED! Way to go Nate…that's exactly how I feel, too…why on earth am I doing this! And then the minute it's over I can't wait to do it again. I'm really impressed! And Luisa–you are Wonderwoman. I really am blown away that you completed those distances. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL. I actually can't wait to get back into tri's. First things first, though…I'm still working on having the strength to vaccuum. During our date last Friday, Josh and I spent a few hours at Scheels. I bought some Zoot tri shorts in anticipation of the day I can compete again. We should pick a race next summer, maybe when we come visit in Boise, that we could all do together. I would love do one with you. Great job, both of you!
I think the favorite thing that I’ve made would be a salad with cucumbers, beets, feta cheese and a light dressing I made with limes, soy sauce, and fresh basil and oregano from my herb garden. I use the same dressing on a steak and potato salad I make using potatoes from the garden [featured above].
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Tomatoes HATE wind and they don’t have high light requirements because they are tropical plants.
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Marigolds and chives are natural bug repellants… especially to aphids. Plant them around the border of your garden or sporadically in your patch.
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Plant garlic in the fall and you’ll have a spring harvest. They are a cold hearty plant.
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Rabbit manure is the best fertilizer overall, but turkey manure makes the best strawberries.
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Onions and cucumbers require A LOT of water. If cucumbers don’t get enough water, they’ll be bitter.
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Hill [pile large mounds of dirt] around your potato plants to get twice as many.
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I look forward to your next blog!
Love Auntie Bindy
P.S. I LOVED the garden tour! I heard it mixed with "Dream Big." It was the perfect background music!
These last three posts say it all: LUISA YOU ARE A WONDER WOMAN!!! You ambitious lady!!!
I love your garden; it's beautiful.
Save a tomato for us in September!!! . . . or sneak one on the plane in August . . .
Can't wait to see you guys!
–Dad
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Luisa you are an inspiration! It really is beautiful. I felt honored to be able to sit at your table with such good company when we visited. I'm just sorry that we couldn't have stayed longer, although I don't know if you could have taken anymore of us! Especially witht the dogs barking the whole time. Sorry about that. Thankyou for your hospitality and the sandwhiches to go! You are very thoughtful. I know what you mean about starting out with very little! Paris and I had to sleep on the floor in our second apartment in SLC(the first one was furnished). We didn't have room for a table like yours. It was a little tiny apartment. But we could dream. I told Paris that I wished we could have a fireplace so we could snuggle by it. So he made a fireplace out of paper and taped it to our old fashioned steam heater that would go clunk clunk all night.
I am so glad you explained what you did because I'm planning to do the exact same thing to our table and you saved me a lot of time researching. Not to mention – it looks amazing!!
Luisa–I LOOOOVE it!! It turned out so great. You are such a Renaissance woman!
It's more beautiful in person! I can't believe you actually went through with it. I would sit and stare at it telling myself, I need to work on it, then 5 years would go by and I would just end up buying a new table, never to have finished the first! =) Way to go girl!
And she runs triathlons in her spare time . . .
I LOVE the table, Luisa! When Mom and I were at your stage, I made our table out of a wine barrel and a round piece of plywood. Not even close to as cool as your table–which I guarantee you will keep. It is a classic!!! [You will notice we don't still have the wine barrel.]
GREAT JOB!!!
–Dad
AHHHHHHH! I'm stunned! It looks GORGEOUS Luisa! I'm SO jealous we don't live here, because I totally would have had a bidding war with you when we picked up the thing! HAHA! Way to go girl! You are SO talented! What a DEAL in the end! I would pay like over a 1000 for this with the chairs and stools included! Awesome!
Luisa doesnt quite do herself justice. She worked on this SO stinkin hard. And it turned out amazing!!! She did all the research, talked to so many different people, and busted her bum off to finish this project. In short…you're amazing baby. Great job!
Luisa~
That table is BEAUTIFUL! You did a great job. Congrats!
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Slendarella - Love your cranberry candle holders…gonna steal that idea! Marvy photos here too!