Grant Marcus Shields

Today was the anniversary of my brother's death. A day I don't love to remember but I love to remember him. My sister Chelsea (see her blog) wrote a beautiful blog about some of the great memories that surrounded his death. I look at my family now and I'm amazed at how well we are doing-we are surviving and are stronger because of it.My life-our lives were irrevocable changed that day.

Sometimes out here in Boston I feel isolated surrounded by a mob of people who love me. The thing is they never new Grant, they never loved him, and therefore they can't share his loss or love of life with me. This is hard, but at the same time this is what healing feels like.

So to my family, struggling with their individual life strains, I love you and I'm thinking of you today.

I miss you

I got a letter in the mail today. It was addressed to me in a little kid's handwriting with my little sister's name up in the left hand corner (just her first name), Camryn. I opened the letter and it was folded in half with my name written really big with a cute pink polka dot sticker seal. I opened it up and there was a picture in blue of an angel with long hair and a arrow pointing to her that said YOU. This is is what the letter said:

Dear Kylee,

I love you so much I miss you!

Love, Camryn

I cried.

Maybe because I can't believe the timing. Maybe because it's things like this that remind me that my sometimes my sucky life isn't really that bad at all. Maybe because it was a reminder to me of all the things I'm missing about my baby sister whilst I'm out here trying to figure out what it means to be an adult. Maybe it's because I can't believe how incredibly blessed I am to have such a wonderful family!

Or

Maybe it's just because I Love you and miss you so much too Camryn!

Love, Kylee

I hate toothpaste!

Is it any wonder that I hate toothpaste?? Lest any of you worry I do love to brush my teeth (and I use toothpaste--I'm just extremely picky)

4th of July

The day dawned early for 4th with the parade, the oration, the fife & drum band, and much much more...


Might as well dress the part when you're feeling so patriotic!


Kylee & Natalie


Are we having fun yet?


We staked out a place and hunkered down for the sky to explode


Come rain or shine the fireworks were spectacular and it was another amazing 4th of July in the "Cradle of Liberty"!

July 3rd

This is us waiting for the pre-Pops Concert on July 3rd! It was quite the ordeal getting everyone to the Hatch Shell but well worth it!


I was surprised by how many groups of those crazy Mormons I saw!


Hugo, Phil & I


Marianne & I


Me, Marianne & her BFF's visiting her--Courtney & Anna


Another crazy group


Nick & I


Ben & I


Another group...



Another...

A
Another...


And yet another...


Amy Flake & I


Hugo & I


Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops, and the Boston Children's Choir


My favorite part is the sing along


The girls and I blowin' kisses


The after show party was happening at The Cheese Cake Factory



HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIANNE!!

Treasure Island, Maine

Jared & I did not intend to capsize our canoe (thus both of us fully clad) but the winds and the ways thought different


Where we ate & played an ENTIRE game of Phase 10


Where some slept










Jasmine & I


Timothy and the beautiful hostess herself, Jenny




Nat & Ky


Joe & Ju


Go Joseph!


Natalie & Jared