Novemberish Things

I have been avoiding ever even looking at my blog since its been so long since I last wrote. This way I pretend its not a big deal, cause I never see it so it doesn't matter which maybe it doesn't.. I hate it when I put stuff off like this. You know like when you have to do your laundry and you really don't want to, so you just don't think about it cause that way it goes away. When really you could do it so easily and its not that big of a deal. If you can't tell, that is also what is on my mind. I should use my time wisely and while watching "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" and blogging, I would have a load going. That would be much to easy, I think I'll just sit here and think about it instead.
All the November birthdays in the family except Cory.

The month of November was such a good month! I am sad I haven't written in here every day to tell you all about it. Not only was it the birthday month of many people I love...it was MY birthday month. My birthday was on November 16th. A Sunday. I don't actually love Sunday birthdays as much as I probably should. You just don't get to do as much as any other birthday day. Although its nice and relaxing and you can take all the naps you want. But I didn't do any of that. On Saturday Megan planned a birthday dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, Mi Ranchito. I loved every second of it. Although I wish I could say the same for the rest of the group who came. It was the talk of the night of how awful it was. So if any of you reading this know how great Mi Ranchito really is, please reconfirm this to me because I was starting to doubt it, I just don't know why they hated it so much! Sunday we went to church as usual and then I went to my sister Heather's house for dinner and cake and a combined birthday for Heather and me. We had one of my favorites broccoli soup and Jeremy made clam chowder...not so much my favorite, but since I haven't tried it, I can't say I hate it. Then we sang the song, opened presents, and ate cake and ice cream...all good things. Then I went home in time to make treats for friends who were coming over. It was so fun to see all my friends who I don't see as often as I like to. Well planned by Megan...Thanks megan!!

Bethany me and stephanie

I don't exactly know how this happened, but megan and I didn't get one picture together during my birthday activities. So sad.

So then came Thanksgiving. Sadly I don't have any pictures to document this day :( But it was such a great day. I was in charge of the potatoes beit mashed, baked or fried? I chose to do the mashed, standard for thanksgiving I thought. I followed this blog my friend Jenna showed me. It was just what I needed, directions with picture by picture of what was supposed to be happening ot the food along the way. I promise one day I will learn all the tricks of the trade but until that day comes, I will just have to cook at Heather and Jeremy's so that Jeremy can show me them. I think they turned out pretty good to be honest, as least I didn't hear any complaints about them so I will take that as a success. Dinner was at my sister Lisa's house this year. It was so so good. Stuffing is my favorite...too bad I didn't try it til 2 years ago, I have really missed out! But I know how, and if there was one thing that I would choose to have for thanksgiving dinner it would be stuffing. Later that night Lisa and I went and saw Australia. I had no idea what it was about, and thats the way movies need to be for me. That way I have no expectations and I won't be disappointed. It was a really good movie though. Long, but very good :)

On Friday morning I woke up early and flew to Vegas. I went ahead and bypassed the dreaded black Friday. Unless you know exactly what is on your list and know the deals that are out there its really not worth going anyway. I figured Vegas would be much more fun. A couple of my friends, Kelene and Jenna moved out there to dance in some of the amazing shows they have. Friday was filled with lots and lots of shopping, eating, and then going to Kelene's show. She dances in the Donnie and Marie Osmond Show. Luckily it was Jenna's night off so she got to come to it with me. Kelene was amazing in it. I wish I would have known more of Donnie and Maries songs..but they did a lot of covers so it was still entertaining. On Saturday we did more shopping, eating and then I went to Jenna's magic show. She is in Steve Wyrick's show at Planet Hollywood. This time I went by myself and the seat that I had was next to this old lady who would not stop looking over at me. I think she was more sad that I was alone, than I was. I just pretended I couldn't see her staring over at me for an obvious 5 seconds at a time. The magic show was cool and I kept trying to figure out if I could see how they did things, but I couldn't. I had my suspisions, but didn't know for sure. After the show I talked to Jenna and she told me a few of the tricks. Lets just say I knew that magic wasn't real, but somehow I believed a little in it but after the show it sort of ruined magic for me althought it was my fault and I should have never asked how things were done!On top of my Thanksgiving week, I got asked to give a talk on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The topic was the obvious one of the season, Gratitude. I hadn't spoken in church since I was about 13 and suddenly I have talked twice in the past three months?? When I was asked, I didn't know what I was actually going to be doing that weekend, so I told them I would. When I planned the trip to Vegas, I talked to Kelene and luckily she was going to drive home late Saturday night after her show. So I wrote it before I got to Vegas and decided I would practice in the car driving home. We didn't leave until about 10pm vegas time, which was 11pm Utah time. Probably not the smartest idea we came up with. But we made it home at about 4am which was just in time to get in a quick nap before my 9:30am church.

Wow I am really lacking in pictures here... I need to better. and I will. Overall November was a great time. This post has gotten pretty lengthy so I will end it here..but there are more stories to come...

everyone needs a heather..

Seeing as I am doing this new thing with birthday shout outs, this is one that couldn't be missed. Heather, my second oldest sister, had a birthday on the 10th. Here are a few of my favorite things about her...
**She always takes care of me. She was going to have me get a bike just in case there was some disaster and my car wouldn't work or I couldn't drive on the roads, I would still be able to make it to her house. and she would wait there til I got there.
**She is such a good friend. I can call her up any time and she will talk to me and listen to me vent.
**When I was 10 she bought me a pair of shorts and a blue t-shirt from old navy that I couldn't have been more proud of. We share the same fashion sense.
**She always gives very practical advice on things I should do.
**She would do anything for anyone especially if she knew it would make their load a little lighter.
**She cooks me dinner all the time and they are always great home cooked meals and I love them...so maybe its a lot Jeremy too...but she helps a lot!
**I have always looked up to her as an example. She has such a good attitude and perspective on things.
**She is so crafty.
**She always supports me in whatever I am doing. She used to always come to my dance competition solos and it would make me so happy.
**so as you can see, everyone needs a heather..there are so many more things I could list off about her that are so great. She is really so amazing and I am so so grateful that she is one of my sisters. I don't know what I would do without her....I don't even really want to think about it. I love love love her.

Lily, Cohen and Sean's birthdays!

So I'm pretty sure I have the cutest nieces and nephews ever. Lily was born on November 2nd, 2008, so she still not even a week old. She is adorable and it kills me that I can't be out there to be with Lori and see her! I can't wait to go meet her when she is blessed. Sean and Cohen were born on the same day, November 6th. Its crazy how fast they are growing up! I don't feel old, but when I think about how old they are, it makes me feel old. Sean turned 8 and he will be baptized next month and Cohen turned 2.

Yep they are adorable. I love them!

It's good to be back

Living with a personal trainer the past few years has really made an impact on me. I think I am lucky to have began living with her when I did because it has made me much more aware of my body and how I treat it. Anyone who knows me would tell you I am a junk food addict. I seriously love it. Most days I don't go without having at least one little piece of chocolate or a treat of some sort. Growing up I did a lot of the grocery shopping and it had the following staples: chips'a'hoy cookies (at my dad's request), grapes the only fruit, chips (a few different kinds), ElFudge cookies, fruit snacks, anything snacky, top romen, frozen pizzas, anything but vegetables...you get the idea. It was litterally a kids dream. But one thing I didn't learn to like was anything healthy. I have since aquired a taste for tomatoes and love them, and tried most fruits I think now, and I have been much better at trying something before I tell whoever is making me that I hate it. I have been pleasently surprised how good healthy things really are too! So I have been trying to be better and eat healthier and Megan always shows me little things to make treats better for you which is something that I really needed help with along with many other things to switch out to make things healty. I still have a long way to go and I really struggle with cooking so most times I still eat out...I just try and go to healthier places - its a start right??
Another personal trainer roommate inspired activity..going to the gym. I have really tried to make going to the gym part of a daily habit - at least for most days of the week. When I go it's mainly for a release of everything that is going on in my head. I think it helps me think so much more clear and lets me let go of the problems that I have had that day because when I get home really don't even think about what happened earlier. I hadn't been to the gym for two weeks until today. I seriously was so excited to go. I was driving home from running errands and decided I couldn't not go to kickboxing. So I went home and got my gym clothes on and off I went. I know this probably sounds so weird, but not being able to go for so long made me really miss it! I don't know if it was being away for the 2 weeks or still trying to recover from my surgery that killed me..but something did. I figured now that I gotten the nose surgery and I could close my mouth and still breathe, that I would be able to exercise and breathe with it closed too. I was wrong. I hope that it's just because it was too soon and I am still healing and that in a few more weeks I won't look like I'm so I don't know blank faced? bored? I don't even know how to describe it to be honest.... but its unattractive. Needless to say, it felt so good to be back! I'm going back again tomorrow with Megan - best personal trainer ever and I can't wait.

On the way to recovery!!

So today is day 8 post surgery and things have been going so well. Everyone I talked to said it would be the most painful thing I would go through so the whole time I have been waiting and waiting for it to get worse. The worst days were supposed to be days 3-5, but to be honest they really didn't feel any differently then the rest of the days. Don't get me wrong, it has has it moments, but for the most part I think I have been very lucky to not be in so much pain. I think My surgeon was Dr. Beus for anyone who is looking for a good one, I highly recommend him.

Heather has taken such good care of me and making sure I had all my medicines and food and ice and water by my side at all times. I have never been with her and the kids for a week straight without being on vacation so I got to see exactly what it took to be a mom and WOW it is work! Heather is an amazing mom and so patient, I don't think Cohen ever stops! But once you hear his cute little voice and see his big smile you can't help but love him. The kids are so cute and tried to be so helpful to me. Livvy continued to feed me ice any time I asked. She would come into my room (her room that she so nicely shared with me) and would ask, how much better are you feeling today B? I would show her with my fingers and say a little bit and she would say okay, but I think the main reason she was asking was because when I am feeling a lot better then Curtis, her puppy could come back. I felt so bad, they sent him to Blanding with Jeremy's mom so that I would be able to stay with them since I am allergic to him which was so so nice of them.

Nicole Oldroyd and Hilary Peterson came to visit me today with their cute little babies Kade and Camry. It was so so good to see them. I love hanging out with those girls. It's always so fun when we get together!

ohhh megan....

Okay so it was Megan's birthday on October 21st, not to be confused with the 23rd which I seem to often do with anyone's birthday who is in the beginning of those 20's. I just thought it was a good spotlight to a blog about her and let everyone know why she is one of the most amazing best friends a girl can have!
***She is the best consultant when going shopping
***She is a music addict which is so great for me cause she shares all the good music she finds and uploads it to my ipod.
***She always write nice little notes and leaves my favorite treats on my bed and makes my day.
***She will meet me at any of our three favorite restaurants at the drop of a hat - Bajios, Pizza Factory or Hello Yogurt.
***She got me addicted to diet dr pepper. - Doug does not like that one - still thinks it causes zits, weight gain, migraines...etc.
***She is an amazing personal trainer and is so nice to share all her skills with me
***She pushes me to my limits - even when I think I need to give up and can't go any farther, she tells me otherwise.
***She is a great running partner and always stays with me - see above.
***She is a great cooking teacher and is so patient with me when I ask her even the stupidest questions while cooking
***She is always up for a good road trip no matter where it is to
***She has great fashion advice
***She is beautiful
***She has such a strong testimony and is such a good example to me
***We can stay home on any given night and talk and laugh our heads off for hours thinking we are so funny
***She loves the same movies as me
***She is always up for a good big bowl of popcorn with her doing the spray butter and me salting it...
***She always has the cutest shoes
***If she wants some thing and she can't find it anywhere she will just make it herself! so crafty!
***She is so determined
***She is so self motivated
***She has a dan in real life family :)
I could go on and on about this girl, but as you can see she is quite an amazing girl. This is the first time in 4 years where we haven't shared a wall as roommates and we are three flights away, but at least we are still under the same roof. I think that there are people put into our lives at different times for many different reasons, and I know that I am so lucky to have Megan as a part of mine because she has influenced it in so many ways for the better :)

Surgery...

About 3 weeks ago I got another sinus infection. I get that, bronchitis, or some other relating sickness multiple times a year. I constantly lose my voice for weeks at a time and it was starting to get old. So I went into the Dr and he said my tonsils were huge, which he always says and that it would be best if I saw a speciailist to get them out. So off I went and a couple days later with my dad and saw the surgeon to see what he thought. As I explained my history he asked me to breathe for him, so I did and he knew something wasn't right. He asked to take a ct scan to see inside of my nose/sinus. Ten minutes later the results came back and they weren't good. He said I had air bubbles in my maxillaries and up all these cavities which there should be no air. He told me that I had chronic sinisitis and all these other words I didn't know. He said my tonsils should come out, but if I didn't want to go through with that, I definately had to go through with the other surgery. We decided the best option would be to do both at one time. Each surgery separately would take me out for about 2 weeks, but it was necessary and needed to be done as soon as possible. I can't tell you how good it felt to hear those words. The fact that knew things weren't normal in my nose, but there wasn't anything I could really do about it because you don't find out things like that until you are looking for something else. All growing up my mouth seemed to stay open while doing physical activities. I remember watching dance videos and seeing my mouth open, but litterally I couldn't breath if it was shut. I went to Cabo with my friends in August 2006 and they were trying to teach me to swim with my head under water breathing from my nose but it was completely impossible for me, and no one not even me, could understand why. I just start to panic. So in that sense, I am happy to find out that I needed this surgery and that my breathing would improve. So yesterday, October 23rd I went in for surgery. I was in such a panic because I was supposed to be to the surgical center at 7am and I didn't wake up until Megan came down stairs to take me at 6:50am. So just going in I was all flustered and wasn't sure I had everything. I hate that feeling. I got into the surgical center and after doing a few things necessary all the sudden I was being wheeled into the OR. I was so scared and I felt like it was so fast. If you don't know me, you have to know that I have to mentally prepare myself for things. I don't like things being surprising or sprung on me. So I didn't get to say goodbye to Megan and thank you for all her help and my dad was on his way and he wanted to see me before I went in, but he didn't make it in time either. So here I am texting on my way into the OR and the dr's are laughing but they don't know how annoyed I am that I don't have any time to say good bye! And then the anistheisologist is talking and thinking he is so funny saying that I only have about 20 seconds before I won't have a clue whats going on. He was right. I woke up serveral hours later to my dad feeding me jello and ice and tears streaming from my face. I could hear talking, but I didn't understand anything going on. So the surgery went well. The surgeon told my dad it was such a good thing that I had it done. Apparently it was pretty diseased up there, who knows how that even happens, sick. Tmi? But I'm so glad its over. My dad drove me over to my sister Heather's house to stay for the remainder of my recovery. Cohen kept running around trying to figure out what was wrong with my mouth. B's Mouss! B's Mouss! yep... kind of a disaster... Olivia was so sweet and fed me ice cubes my dad got me from Sonic. She kept calling me Ariel from the Little Mermaid and tapping her throat. She thinks I need to find a boy to make it better. One of the best things...Heather told me that when she would wake me up all last night to give me medicine that I WASN'T snoring!!! yay!!! That enough is reason for the surgery :) I should give it more time, test out my no-snoring on more people, but for now, one opinion is good enough!

The Wedding Planner

So another one of my best friends just got married. Megan and I flew out to Seattle with Jenna's sister Shay on Thursday just in time to have the bachelorette party. Jenna's mom picked us up from the airport and within 20 minutes being in Seattle we stopped for a little shopping. That night we went to "The Pink Door" and had dinner with all the bridesmaids. Then we went to some place Jenna somehow found downtown Seattle and sang karaoke. It was so much fun to be with all the girls. We then went to check into our hotel in Belvue at Embassy Suites. The hotel was so wierd I felt like I was roommates with all these people I didn't know. All the doors faced inside and it was sort of this big square and there were huge windows into everyone's rooms. A very personal hotel. Now that I am typing this out it seems normal, but trust me, if you were there you would have felt the roommateness. So Friday we woke up and went and had lunch with the wedding party. The thing I loved about this whole wedding - among many other things, was that everyone that was there came just for the wedding. They all took off a couple of days and they were there to have a good time and be with Jenna and Swavek (the groom). After lunch we all went sailing around the harbor by Pike's Place. The rest of the day was spent shopping and going to dinner. By the time we got back to the hotel we were spent and knew we had a long day ahead of us so we basically turned in for the night. Saturday was the wedding day. Jenna looked so so beautiful. She was glowing all day long. She and Swavek looked adorable and so happy all day long. All the bridesmads wore different black cocktail dresses and they were all so cute. The crafty Megan and her mom made her dress. It was adorble. Jenna's wedding turnd out so beautiful and there was no doubt in my mind that it wouldn't.

Halloween is going to suck this year...

My sister sent this to me this morning and I thought it was so funny. So I had to share with all of you :)

sniff sniff

I'm sick. I get sick about 5 times a year like this. Its miserable. Except I don't remember it ever really being this bad. I don't like to lay down cause all the pressure goes to my head, but I'm so tired its all I want to do, but when I actually lay down to go to bed, I can't sleep! and you want to know the worst part? I can't taste anything. I ate my favorite candy..kitkat...and I could have been eating asparagus for all I knew. I couldn't even taste the chocolate goodness. I hate it. I was going to go to cafe rio for dinner, but then I decided not to because I wouldn't be able to taste the amazing pork anyway, so I settled for 2 tacos at del taco cause it would fill me and it was much cheaper, and I wouldn't have known the difference anyway. My dad has always been so insistent on me going to the Dr, which in this case I really really am grateful for (not that I'm not every other time). I'm going to Washington next Thursday for one of my best friends weddings and it would be so awful if I felt the way I do now. So it turns out that its a sinus infection aka...worst thing ever. I sound ridiculous, like I just woke up all day long, can't breathe unless my mouth is open, and my nose is stuffed up. My back has been hurting pretty bad for a long long time so I brought that up to the dr too. He said that a rib is out of place and I need to see a chiropractor, but he also told me not to let them tell me to come back a thousand times, it should be a pretty fast adjustment. so i went in today cause with my sinus infection its already hard enough to breathe, but when I take a deep breath it hurts even worse. He wants to take me in a few more times, which is frustrating because I thought it would be a one time visit and apparently its not. I'm pretty sure I'm making this sound worse than it is, but its not fun. Also I probably have to get my tonsils out. According to everything I read online and everyone that I talk to that has had it done, its basically the worst thing ever. My dad is coming to the specialist with me on Tuesday to figure out if its really necessary, but according to my Dr he thinks I should. I am not looking forward to that. Sorry for being debbie downer...the next post I do will be a happy one. I promise :)

1 Year Older and Wiser too....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! Jolynne's birthday was on Thursday October 2nd. I have been so sick for the past 4 days that I couldn't even go to her birthday party :( I was so sad. I hate when my family all gets together and I can't be there! Here are some things I LOVE about Jolynne...
1- she is so generous. she will always try to give you everything or do anything she can to make things easier for someone else.
2- She has always protected me. one time we were driving to Reno and I got a ticket and I was so scared and didn't want to tell my dad and I didn't have the money to pay for it. She said that my dad would never have to know, and that she would pay for 1/2 of it. I mean who does that??? My foot was on the pedal, but she just didn't want me to be so upset.
3- she always is up for shopping. no matter what if i want to go shopping, i know i can call her and she will be right there. she used to always buy me clothes when i didn't have money too.. i wouldn't let her, but she wasn't even kidding she just loves doing nice things.
4- She is always so good at listening to me. She will call and listen to everything that is going on in my life and she is always so supportive.
5- she lets me borrow her headbands.
6- she has always trusted me - She started out by letting me always drive her car while my dad was gone - starting at age 14...i'm pretty sure this isn't the first time dad has heard of this... i hope. She knew i would be just fine driving up to the gas station to get a drink with some friends.
7- she has great music before most people - her and megan come in close together. but i remember she used to always listen to dashboard confessionals in high school and i thought it was so annoying and i would get so mad when she put it in. now i am obsessed. i love them. and i am not happy that tickets to their concert are $80. but i wish i would listen to her more often and faster...
8- she calls just to say hi. i need to be better about that. even if she doesn't have much to say, she just says hi and it makes my day.
9- she is very creative. if anyone has ever been to her house you would see how adorable it is. I know she gets mad at me for this one because I don't make it out there as often as i should, but i am working on it...
10- she is one of the best sisters in the whole world. I am so blessed to have a sister like her and a person like her in my life. LOVE YOU JO!!

Ps...livvy asked if i was even invited to your birthday party. It made me sad. I told her I was too sick to come. How does a 3 year old know what that even means??
also... we have GOT to take more pictures together. this is ridiculous that i couldn't find any, it actually makes me sad...

Megan tagged me about oh a week or more ago... Sorry so late..but here it is :)

The rules are: List 6 quirks about yourself and then tag six people. Leave them a message on their blog letting them know they have been tagged.

1-Well this is one that I learned about today and finally admitted to. I think I am, well I thought I was, good at cooking. I'm not. I don't know how much of something to add, my friends convinced myself that "soda" is club soda to add to my cookies, and that baking soda is just out because the recipe already called baking power, and you wouldn't have both in one recipe. I can't make 5 minute rice without it being completely soggy... I could actually go on and on that is just what happened in the past week. So quirk number 1 - most people can follow a simple recipe...I can't.

2- I like things to be the same, especially when it comes to food. I will have the same thing for weeks straight until I get sick of it. A few weeks ago it was all Subway for lunch, which I never actually ever get sick of, but the kid at the counter said "you come here...like...everyday." So I stopped. I was really annoyed I just looked at him and said... yep... The next couple of weeks were PB and J's straight everyday. The next few weeks were easy mac. I just do things until I run out of the ingredients or can think of another great idea.

3- I eat popcorn most days of the week. I love it. And it turns out that its actually healthy. My personal trainer, Megan said it was, and whatever she says is healthy I don't question.

4- I pop my knuckles every twenty minutes. I don't think that will be a surprise to any of you. I am sorry its so annoying, and I apologize ahead of time if you happen to be sitting by me in church (that is when it seems to be most annoying). I went to the chiropractor today though and he said it was and old wives tale that I will get arthritis. I am going to go with him on this one. I knew the whole time it was just air passing through my bones. I'm not saying that I'm not thinking about ways to quit, but seriously its addicting. I have been doing it since I was about 7 years old I am guessing.

5- I am also addicted to kick boxing. I love it and I would do it every day if I could, and some weeks I do. I have been doing it since high school and I never get sick of it. I am getting certified to teach it in a few weeks and I am so so excited.

6- I love watching the news. I love all the politics that are going on right now. I could sit and watch the news all day. I even love local news, but we all know how boring Utah news is so I have to look elsewhere. Bill O'Reilly is my favorite, oh and so is Nancy Grace, I know she is a little annoying but for some reason I love her!

So here are some new things for you all to learn about me :) I tag: Kellie, Teresa, Tia, Ruthanne, Jolynne and Holly.

And I'm Proud to be an American...

Today, every time I got in my car there was a tribute to September 11th on the radio on the local country station, kbull 93. I heard their tribute about three times, and each time by the end tears were streaming down my face. I was thinking about where I was when this day happened seven years ago. I was in gym class my sophmore year and we were playing volley ball. Over the intercom we could hear someone speaking but since it was in thy gym, it was all muffled and we couldn't understand a word they were saying. When I got to my next American goverment class, it was on tv and no one said a word through the whole class. This went on all day long, we watched it on the news in all of my classes. I was in shock, I couldn't believe something like this could ever happen. I am so grateful for all the Soldiers who are out there serving our country or have served. I really think about how lucky I am to living in this amazing country with all the freedoms that I have. I wish I could find the same cut of the tribute for you to see, but I can't find it anywhere. So here is another really good one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctVI5baftFo copy and paste..

You learn something new every day

okay so this is almost embarrassing for how long its taken me to write on here, but in my defense I moved apartments in the middle of August and didn't have the internet until about a week ago... but these are a few things i have learned over the past month or so...

1- when going to walmart or target, or anywhere else for that matter- always, ALWAYS get a cart. you will wind up with much more than you came for, and your arms will just get too full and tired of carrying everything.

2- after many years of living in the top floor, three stories up, its finally nice to live on the bottom level and not have to carry up many many boxes of things to my bedroom.

3- when your car shakes because you are driving on the freeway over 65 miles an hour your tires are off balance, and you need to start taking your car in regularly for tire rotations..every 6000 miles to be exact... oops...

4- sarah palin was a great choice for mccain and after some research i actually like her a lot.

5- after all these seasons/years of putting off grey's anatomy i have come to terms with it and am now obsessed!

6- ever since last thursday when i actually gave sushi a try, i have cravings for it daily.

7- as long as i don't go to the mall at all, even if i am bored, i don't have to have a new shirt. i actually can find something in my closet just fine. just keep me away from the mall...

8- i need a road trip. bad.

There are many more things that i am too tired to list. but i promise i will be better about writing and being more up to date.

Hike Timpanogos...check...

So for the past 5 years my goal every summer has been to hike Mt Timpanogos. The best time of the year to do it, I have heard, is in August, and every August has come and gone faster than any other month and made it impossible for me to accomplish my goal. My friend Phil mentioned that he was hiking Timp earlier in the week and by my maybe a little over reactive excitement he had no choice but to invite me. So he picked me up at 6:30 AM Saturday morning ready to go. I really didn't know what was in store, I hadn't heard much and definately didn't do my research. So we start out and the hike is going great. The mountains were so beautiful, there are basically no words to describe. I love being outdoors and really being able to appreiciate what we are so lucky to have here in Utah so close to us. I went with a couple of Phil's friends who were each 6'10 and 6'9 so you can imagine how long their legs were..about the lenght of my body.. So for every 1 step they took, I was taking about 4. I kept up for a bit before I would fall too far behind and refused to run up Timponogos Mountain. Phil was so nice though and stayed with me the whole time. I hate being that girl who holds everyone back, but under the circumstances I really couldn't do anything about it! On the way up I saw Stephanie at Emerald Lake. I was so jealous that she was on the way down...and I still had 7 hours left.

So I'm pretty sure you can't see from this picture, but this is from Emerald Lake and the very top where there is a little white shack is where we were going. I litterally thought it was going to be impossible. That other picture was the crew at the top of the mountain. It felt sooo good to be finally at the top!



The picture above on the left is how we both felt aout going down the glacier. I thought it was the worst thing in the world when I was looking at it. There was a steep slope of rocks that I thought would be a much better option. I couldn't have been more wrong. The rocks were all completely loose and I basically slid all the way down them dragging my hands trying to stop myself. I came to a stop and just started crying! It's funny to think about how dumb I was being now, but in my head I was like I don't even know how I got here, and why I am doing this, and my hands are getting all cut up! I slowly moved my way over to the snow of which I was afraid was just ice and I would break a bone, or hit my head or some other disaster would happen. But once I got in the little trail of the snow where people slid down, I finally realized there was nothing other to do than slide down on my butt and get completely wet. Once I got over that fact, I was just fine and actually enjoyed myself...a little. Phil was so patient though I felt so bad cause I know that boys are so different and that for him it was just going to be so fun sliding down so fast, but he wouldn't go unless I was down first. Once again, I hate being that annoying 'girl'. The picture of the glacier is turned sideways, but I couldn't figure out how to fix it...sorry. And the picture to the right is Phil and me at the top. I was so so excited. I had no idea how windy or cold it would be up there! Once again, I was unprepared. Overall it was sooo much fun and I am so glad I did it. It's not something that I want to turn around and do tomorrow, but maybe some other day in my life. Did I mention that it is probably the best butt work out of my entire life? Seriously I thought I was going to die! I still am so so sore, but it was well worth it!

utah symphony in the rain...

So last night I went on a blind date with this boy named Darryl and Megan and her date Johnny, to the Deer Valley Resort outdoor amphitheater and I don't know how it happened but it went down 20+ degrees up there at least, and it was POURING rain. I'm pretty sure that the entire valley was under a big black cloud and Darryl just kept saying, "it will pass, its just a little cloud.." and all I could think was are you serious?? are we looking at the same sky?? its SOO black and i don't even see anything other than that. We went to see the Utah Symphony to Beatle Mania or something like that, to be honest the weather was so bad that I only heard half of the songs anyway. So in case you were wondering, yes we stayed... The people that we went with had just gone camping or something and he had a tarp in his car. He layed it out when there was a break in the rain for 5 mintues and when it started again we folded it in half and were under it like a tent.. I was a little closer than I would have liked to have been to my date the entire time.
e are some photos.



This is when Darryl said it was just a little black rain cloud... we were still smiling...




This is when the rain was getting old and I was wondering why we weren't going home because my entire left side was completely wet from holding up the tarp and if I let my arm fall at all there would be a flood coming down my arm or right into my shoe, or down my back.




This is our make shift tent. I don't know what we would have done with out it. I would like to say go home, but I am not sure if that would have been the case.



When we finally got back into the car, we could laugh at the situation and say we had a good time, but during it all I could think was why are we still here?? haha. I'll be honest I don't usually document my first date, let alone with a guy I have never even met before, but this was just too good to not have pictures of. All in all it was a pretty fun date minus the part where they picked us up at 5pm and didn't take us to dinner. I really don't understand that, I mean they had to be starving too right? Or was it just me and Megan who had a piece of bread and a jamba juice for lunch and that was about it for the day.

i have been tagged...

So my sister Jolynne tagged me in one of her posts to answer the following questions...so here they go...

3 Joys: going on roadtrips and any trip in general, being with my family, making treats.

3 Fears: spiders, having someone break into my house, not going on a trip by the end of year.

3 Goals: be better at cooking and planning my meals at home, learning how to cook, learning how to frost cupcakes - can you tell i am really into cooking lately?

3 Obsessions: going to kickboxing, eating popcorn every night, shopping.

3 Random: I want to be laying out in the sun right now in somewhere far away (don't worry Jolynne, I would lather the sunscreen on..), I am moving into the cutest condo ever in about 3 weeks and I couldn't be more excited and I wish that when I had taken Piano lessons for 4-5 years I had actually learned something.

3 Tags: Megan, Hilary, Teresa

4th of july = favorite holiday

So I have come to the conclusion that the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. i love christmas and thanksgiving, and of course my birthday, but the 4th of July just brings a different kind of favorite. Its a time to celebrate the independence of our country and to thank all of those who fight for our country. I am so honored to be an American and I feel so fortunate to live here and to have the freedoms that I have. I love that its a time to be with your family and friends and do things all day in the sun. Ever since I was little it has been tradition to go down to Provo and stay the night on the street to save the spot for the parade in the morning, but for the past few years I have been boycotting the parade and just staying up all night. I think parades would be a good time if I had some of my niece and nephews around me, but they all seem to do their own thing now so this year I didn't go. I went and floated down the freezing overcasted Provo River. It was seriously so so cold, which I competely expected the water to be, but I thought the sun would shine just a little bit to keep me warm...I was wrong. My tube had a hole that was covered in duck tape and the entire way down the river I could hear a whistle coming through the tape and it was slowly deflating but luckily I made it to the end without it popping. But my advice would be - if you leave to go down the river and its cloudy...don't think its going to warm up when you get in the water... This 4th I didn't get to have a bbq which I was a little sad about, but me my dad, holly, heather, jeremy, olivia and cohen all went to Brick Oven which was still very good, at least i got to be with my family :) after Brick Oven I took Olivia and Cohen and watched the fireworks on the provo temple grounds so that Heather, Jeremy my dad and Holly could all go see the Stadium of Fire. I was so surprised at how well they did Cohen was so good and didn't complain one bit staying up so late. The fireworks were amazing and Olivia and Cohen loved them. Cohen kept saying "horray" So cute. Overall I would say the 4th of July was a success.

mr and mrs davis...

one of my bestest friends heather got married on July 1st and we got to go to see them come out of the temple and go to her luncheon. and then me, megan, jenna, rob, and brad drove up to Boise together to be at her reception. it was so fun to see how happy she was. Heather and Josh are so perfect for each other they were so in love and i just love them both!! Heather looked so so beautiful!

Kayla is growing up....

So this is so crazy to write about, but my little tiny baby first neice Kayla is 12!!! what?? I was 10 when she was born so it has always been like she was my baby sister more than i was her aunt. It's weird for me to even say i am an aunt, it makes me feel old... haha. Kayla and I share a special bond that we can always joke around and play and have a good time. It seems like just yesterday she was a baby and i was carrying her on my hip which was stuck out of it's socket just about, thinking i needed the support. I just barely went with her to her 12 year old birthday party which i must say was about 10 steps above my scavenger hunt for a party. The big pink limo picked all her friends and Lisa and I up at her house and took us to Sweet and Sassys. Its a cute little salon that you can get facials, finger nails painted, get your hair done, have a fashion show and on and on. It was crazy to see her be just like i was at her age except much more girly. I was still into the nike t-shirts and not washing my hair.. :) Kayla loves horseback riding and gets to start competing soon! I am so excited to see her! She used to dance and I loved going to see her. She is so cute. I love her!! She is growing up so fast - i sound like i am 50 but its true!!

strawberry days...

Stephanie, Bethany, Amber and I all ran in the 5K race for Strawberry days. I have ran twice since i ran in the half marathon in April, and decided that i kinda like not running... when you start training for a long run like that it seems to consume your life and its all you think about after work is how you are going to fit in the long runs. It's crazy how much stamina you lose when you quit running so often. It was only three miles but i thought i was going to die! Stephanie and Bethany were great partners though. I guess i should still kinda keep running so I can enjoy these little fun runs a little more... here is a little post race picture.

So after the race it was of course on to the usual Saturday pool side at the Avenues. I have been trying so hard to wear sunscreen cause its way to painful and i have learned my lesson too many times not to. So i lost my sunscreen and used some old bottle with nothing in it and i was so paranoid about getting burnt before going to lake powell that i for the first time that i can remember placed a towell over my body to protect myself and then quickly called it a day. poor megs didn't get all the sun she wanted but i figured it would be better to go in then for her to hear me complain for the next week. right?? We then hit up the local DI and picked up our outfits for the Strawberry Day's Rodeo. I really don't know how i walked out the door in my outfit but i did.. it was so much fun though. trevor picked up the best outfit - a real genuine cowboy shirt, he fit right in. Stephanie looked so cute as always, Cami had a classic rodeo princess which was amazing, and megs and I went with the shorts and fannell shirt with boots. megan looked really cute, i just looked like a disaster here is the proof...

at the rodeo there was a guy who i asked to take a picture for us. he couldn't have been more upset. i promise i didn't know that the guys with the cows and the ropes were coming out, there was no need to yell at me. he ended up taking the picture later, awkward, but he was really happy to see we were too bored to sit through the entire rodeo when we left early.