a dying profession.

I must have had this conversation a dozen times.

Yes, I am well aware that print journalism is a "dying profession."

Yes, I know that newspapers are dwindling, folding and professionals foresee drastic changes in the near future.

Yes, I know that nobody likes to read newspapers and most people don't trust the media in general.

Yes, I know that it may seem pointless to trust a reporter to present an objective article.

Yes, I know all of these things, and about any other journalism-related question you may have to throw at me.

But to me, journalism is more than a Jayson Blair, a Stephen Glass.
To me, journalism is an "All the President's Men." It's a New York Times since 1913.

It's why I have every class besides New Testament in the BRMB (aka Communications building).
It's why the tips of my fingers are always black.

It's what I have dedicated the past six years of my life to, and most likely the rest of life.

It's the first thing I think about when I wake up, and usually the last thing I think about before I go to bed (relatively).

I have woken up at 7 a.m., ran out the door in my pajamas, just to pick up a hard copy of the DU and double-check everything. Yes, newspaper is my life right now, but I wouldn't change it.

I love doing something that I think is important, that I can get involved in. Something that is constantly challenging and stretching my mind; a job where I learn at least one new thing a day on a program I have been using for years.

I may be getting a degree in something that's dying, but it's something that matters to me. and hopefully, your kids.

that's what I'm doin' these days.

yes, it may take me two months to get through all the pictures I took this summer, but at least they're up!

songs of the week, on repeat:

My Temperature's Rising: The Audition, and Holes: Rascal Flatts. two complete opposites, I know, but that's me right now.

Earlier this summer I spent the day with the Maile, Ethan & Ridge in Eagle Mountain. I used to be their "Friday" nanny my freshman year of college, and occasionally still get the chance to spend a day playing with them :) it's always such a blast! being the oldest of six, I'm used to being around kids & this whole college thing has made me realize how "kid deprived" I have gotten.

a day with my favorite utah kiddos

I think he's scared of the jumping here, and maile is such a good big sister!

my pretty little maile...her hair is sooo long! when I first started nannying her, her hair was in an adorable little bob, now look at it! I know she just loves it :)

loves & favs from summer '09.

over the summer, I worked, slept & played, and I also managed to fall in love with a few things I absolutely must tell a) the blog community b) creepy people that read my blog and don't even know me. meh, you must all know.

500 Days of Summer

"This is not a love story, it's a story about love."

I walked into the movie having only heard that quote, no trailer, no synopsis, nada. I walked out regretting that I hadn't seen it sooner. wow, what a great movie. It's different from your typical chick-flick, but that's why I love it so much.

Tom is looking for his soul-mate, his one true love, and then he meets Summer. Summer doesn't believe in love or relationships really, but Tom thinks that's changing. I won't spoil anything ... but I do hope you watch it & love it as much as I did!

plus, Tom's wardrobe is awesome. all I know is I really, really, really want to date someone who dresses like him. yess. and the soundtrack is great too ... all important components!

Gandolfo's Deli

yup, I'm totally in love with this deli right now. there are at least 40 different sandwich choices, and at least all of the one's I have tried are delicious. I have this routine of always stopping by there after work on Saturday afternoons, and then eating on the grass, usually while I talk to my mom or Courtney. It's so relaxing and I totally look forward to it. my advice? If you're in Provo, go to the one on 800 N. because 1) there are a lot of great deals, especially after 3 p.m. and 2) they are usually quiet compared to the other one.

HIMYM

(or How I Met Your Mother)

now, it may have a laugh track, but you can't judge until you've seen it. this show is the funniest show I've seen, hands down (and yes, that's including Arrested Development, although it is still great).

my brother Erik got my roommate Sarah & I hooked on this show when he came up to visit in March, but we've been addicted ever since. the shows are short (about 25 min. long) and so I like to pop one in my computer and watch it while I do my hair or makeup.

besides being hilarious in a witty, satirical way, the characters are endearing and memorable. sometimes I think I am as cynical and independent as Robin, and I think everyone hopes to marry someone as romantic as Ted or Marshall ... and let's face it, Barney just makes the show! :)

The best part? Season 5 is starting up on Sept. 21 at 8 p.m.!

Owl City

ok, I'll admit it: I'm pretty picky about new music. usually, I only listen to music I find myself or that Erik either recommends or forces me to listen to.

but Kyle insisted I listen to Owl City, and voila! love them, so much. my favorite two songs are Fuzzy Blue Lights, especially the beginning, and Hot Air Balloons.

the night I stayed in the hospital with Erik, we squished in his hospital bed and listened to Owl City off and on pretty much all night on his laptop. love it.

ps. like my new playlist? :)

vacation fun.

I had the wonderful opportunity of spending several weeks this summer, in two trips, with my grandparents in Oregon. Such as blast! We spent four days in Bend, Oregon grilling, biking, playing tennis, and watching SYTYCD, of course :)

waiting to board on the way to Oregon!

where we stayed, just beautiful

father-son moment...erik is possibly rolling his eyes, wait, I'm pretty sure he is! Two of my favorite boys :)

biking through oregon countryside

Tennyson & Brenna on our ride

my pretty little sister

mariah in the cute little town ice cream parlor...so fun!

the baby ryry "playing tag" with the big kids in the yard

mi papi! behind the lens at dinner, of course!

mariah, I think she totally looks like a movie star here :)

we had dinner by the Sandy river, at the restaurant where I'm going to have my reception, huh Bill?!

on the Sandy river, my beautiful momma

pretty backyard, pretty view

the tradition of the "after-shopping" fashion show lives on, started by yours truly, of course!

Sandy river!

baby & mom

Now begins the "Man Cave" portion of the blog...so, while the entire family was up in Oregon, the boys decided that the Home Theatre room downstairs needed to be converted into the "Man Cave." They pretty much did that themselves anyways, segregating the girls out of the room for video game sessions, retreating to the Man Cave after dinner, etc.

We leave, with lots of joke for what the new Man Cave would include, but no one (ok, none of the girls) actually believing anything would happen.

THEN.

Bill takes it to an entirely new level.

I return solo, maybe a month later, and ta-da! New downstairs (yes, the Girlfriend room is being re-done. sad day.)

Refurnished the room, including paint and carpet. New HD plasma screen, anyone? Custom-made pool table, which was delivered the day before I left...so much fun! Bill & I practiced our pool skills...awesome. I missed the poker/card table delivery, but I guess that just means I'll have to come back up!

bummer. blogspot is totally messing with the colors on these photos...so I will upload them to flickr too! hopefully they will be better there.

http://flickr.com/photos/leahmariewasson

King? :)

What a wonderful summer vacation! We had so much fun :) Thanks a million, Bill & Mariah...can't wait to come see you again!

song of the week: Everything I ask for, The Maine ...

outsides.

in so many ways, these pictures describe my summer. which is weird, because I haven't ever really been a landscape, outside-type of photographer. I've always been a people person, focusing on relationships, stories to tell, expressions to capture.

but somehow, in these fields and open skies, I feel like I capturing me.

oregon fields.

arizona botanical gardens with dad :)

biking through oregon countryside

mm. my favorite spot on campus on all time. I have spent so many hours reading, photographing, thinking, even dancing (yes!). I'm not sure I will be able to handle winter without this garden.

prescott!

dainty pink flowers & prickly cactus thorns.

early mornings.

dusk in provo.

song on repeat right now? so long, so long: dashboard confessionals. yup, I'm bringing it back old school style & its goooood.

Yes, I'm a Wasson.

if I could hope for one thing, it is to have a family exactly like mine. as awesome, as crazy, as fun, just as incredible.

my family is the one that arrives late. late to church (we're the overflow), late to a wedding, late on trips unless the grandparents are driving us to the airport and hussling us out the door.

we're the family that listens to preschool music or harry potter on cd in the car.

we're the family that has saturday morning chores, and if friends are spending the night, yes, they help out too.

we're the family that insists on feeding you, even if you just stopped by to drop something off.

we're the family with a game wall. an entire wall (ok, half) full of board games, card games, and pretty much every game in-between.

we're the family that will never own a cat, or any other animal besides fish.

we're the family that speaks English and Spanish, scrambled up between the baby saying gibbered-up Spanish words, Brenna translating for non-speakers, and mom catching the tail-end of conversations.

we're the family with computers. Macs, to be specific. and on that note, three or four candy-colored Mac shells in the garage, a couple regulars, Dad's laptop, and the kids' computer.

we're the family that fights over books. yes, literally. we have a library that is continually evolving and growing, starting with Brown Bear, Brown Bear board book to mom & dad's college teacher books.

we're the family with a routine. dinner is always, always a family affair. the baby goes down at 8 with a book & bottle, brenna is in bed by 8:30, the kids by 9.

we're the family that covets sunday morning brunches with mom's homeade waffles & dad's huevos rancheros.

we're the family with art. giant framed photos of dad's photos, tio's art, abuelito's art, and of course, more photos from dad.

we're the family with oversized red couches.

we're the family that hosts and entertains. all. the. time. work swim parties, family events, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and every one in-between. oh, and other people's family events, birthdays, and graduations.

the family that set up the giant projector for rockband at christmas. and lotr. haha

we're the family that has something green on the table for every meal, no exceptions.

we're the family the hides Shamrock bullet popcicles in the fridge so they won't get eaten. because in my family, you can dibs and label all you want, but doesn't matter if the person who ate it couldn't read. or was Mom.

we're the family that matches. we match for photos, sometimes matching dresses, ties, etc. we pretty much always coordinate for other outings as a family.

we're the family that has the girls do the boys hair. its just always worked like that.

we're the family with nicknames, ridiculous ones especially for the littles. Ryan = RyRy, Jr., Spartan, etc. Brenna = Chippie, Chip, Bren-dog, BD, etc.

we're the family that always gets a real, giant christmas tree.

the best thing? we're all best friends. literally, totally, 100 percent, each to one another in our own way, but all best friends. and I absolutely adore it.