Farewell to 2009....

Well the survey I took yesterday kinda sorta summed up my year.. in a way... but i wanted to do one more special farewell to 2009.

This year......I really dont have words to describe.... it started off to be what seemed like the WORST year of my life. I have a previous post that describes this point in my life pretty well. I broke up with my first boyfriend, I was beyond stressed with school and feeling SUPER intimidated about continuing on to do my student teaching, my grandma passed away (I took it much worse then I thought I would. I went a week that I cried at least once a day... and good HARD cry), and to top it all off my Dad was diagnosed with Oral Cancer.

By April of this year I thought my life was in shambles and I was pretty much miserable. I decided to take a job at the Day Care that i worked at the summer before (I hated it then... I think i was determined to make myself miserable) But it ended up being on of the best things i could have done. I LOVED working there. There were a bunch of new girls mostly my age and we all got pretty close! I actually enjoyed going to work because it was the only time in my life that i could forget about my worries and focus on something else.

All in all I really did have an awesome summer! Katelyn and I made a big trip to Seattle. I want to go back SSSOOO bad!!!! I also drove back to Milwaukee with my sister and her two kids. Three full days in a van packed full with a 5 year old a 2 year old and a pregnant lady.... Doesnt sound like much fun but believe me it WAS!! I will NEVER forget some of the memories we made on that trip!

Since the beginning of this year i knew, more than anything, i just really needed a BIG change in my life. I hated Idaho.( I still do) I had a lot of bad memories there. A lot of things that kind of haunted me if i was going to stay there. I knew that my life in Idaho wasn't going to go any where. I felt like I wouldnt get any where near the goals i wanted to accomplish if i stayed there.

In August I packed up all my junk and moved to Utah. I can HONESTLY say it is the BEST decision I have ever made! I had felt like I needed to be in Salt Lake ever since my friend got married here over a year before. I still don't really know why I need to be here but I know its what I need. I love it here! I love all the fun stuff there is to do, the friends i have made, the ward I am in and most of all the growth i have made as a person.

Also...something important to mention is my GRADUATION!!! I walked in Graduation in July so that I didnt have to go back to Rexburg when I was done. BUT i am now an official college grad!!! official official! Like my degree is posted by BYU-I and everything! My name was in the program this time! (It wasnt when i walked cuz i hadnt finished my student teaching)

2009... what seemed to be the worst year of my life turned out to be one of my favorite years of my life so far. It was HARD. There were very miserable times... but I think I have done the most maturing and learning i have ever done. I have grown closer to my Heavenly Father and allowed myself to trust him so much more. And realized how much he blesses you align your life to what he wants for you. Good-bye 2009!!! I will never forget you!!!

Random side note... when I realized today was New Years Eve I kinda panicked because in my brain its like the wonderful year is over... And everything is going to change tomorrow!!! Which is silly because it really is just another day...haha

bored...

WHAT WAS YOUR:
1. Last beverage: Hot Chocolate
2. Last phone call: Brad
3. Last text message: Berkley
4. Last song you listened to: Would you go with me - Josh Turner
5. Last time you cried: um... i dont remember....

HAVE YOU EVER:
6. Dated someone twice: nope
7. Been cheated on: nope
8. Kissed someone & regretted it: nope :)
9. Lost someone special: Yes
10. Been depressed: mildly...
11. Tripped on your own feet: hahaha more than most people

LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:
12. greenish blue
13. black
14. purple

THIS YEAR HAVE YOU: (2009)
15. Made a new friend: yup!
16. Fallen out of love: no....
17. Laughed until you cried: Yes! but thats not hard
18. Met someone who changed you: YES
19. Found out who your true friends were: um... kind of?
20. Found out someone was talking about you: no
21. Kissed anyone on your friend's list: Nope

MISCELLANEOUS:
22. How many people on your friends list do you know in real life: all of them
23. How many kids do you want? any where from three to five
24. Do you have any pets: nope
25. Do you want to change your name: No i like my name
26. What did you do for your last birthday: i went to work.. and skipped class and watched a movie with Tamara i think...
27. What time did you wake up today: noon! yes!
28. What were you doing at midnight last night: playing basketball
29. Name something you CANNOT wait for: warm weather!
30. Last time you saw your mother: day after Christmas
31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: how much money i make
32. What are you listening to right now: the TV
33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom : Yup! quite a few times and quite a few Toms
34. What's getting on your nerves right now: nothin really...
35. Most visited webpage: Facebook
36. What’s your real name: Kelsey.....
37. Nicknames: Kels, Kelso, legs, mama legs,
38. Relationship Status: single as ever
39. Zodiac sign: Gemini
40. Male or female? um...what am i? which do i prefer? i am confused....
41. Primary School? Metcalf and Rivergold
42. Secondary School?: Coarsegold and Star Valley Junior high
43. High school/college?: Star Valley and Stevens High
44. Hair color: brown
45. Long or short: short
46. Height: 5'11"
47. Do you have a crush on someone? hmmm.....
48: What do you like about yourself? I think i am funny... :)
49. Piercings: ears once
50. Tattoos: nope
51. Righty or lefty: righty all the way

FIRSTS :
52. First surgery: wisdom teeth
53. First piercing: ears...first and only
54. First best friend: Olivia Pogue
55. First sport you joined: Volleyball....
56. First vacation: Oregon coast on my fourth birthday
57. First scar: I dont remember
58. First pair of trainers: I dont remember

RIGHT NOW :
59. Eating: Nothin
60. Drinking: nothin
61. I'm about to: Fall asleep
62. Listening to: The TV
63. Waiting for: a text so i am not so bored

YOUR FUTURE :
64. Want kids? Yes! Some day!
65. Get Married? Yes! Some day!
66. Career: teacher

WHICH IS BETTER :
67. Lips or eyes: in a boy? EYES!! :) lips can be an added bonus though...
68. Hugs or kisses: dont know if i can choose
69. Shorter or taller: Taller
70. Older or Younger: Older
71. Romantic or spontaneous: spontaneous romance! :) im not usually a fan of the planned cheesy stuff...
72. Nice stomach or nice arms: My question for you is when is that an either--or? its usually both or neither....
73. Sensitive or loud: depends on the situation
74. Hook-up or relationship: relationship
75. Blond, brown, or redhead? i tend to like the blondies or light brown but it really doesnt matter

HAVE YOU EVER :
76. Kissed a stranger: nope
77. Been in a fist fight: Im a lover not a fighter. :)
78. Lost glasses/contacts: Never had either
79. Written a love note: mmm not a serious one... hahahaha
80. Broken someone's heart: I'm afraid so..
81. Been skydiving/other extreme sport: I want to try skydiving!!! that would be sweet!
82. Been arrested: nope
83. Turned someone down: guilty.... but you probably would have too!
84. Cried when someone died: yes...
85. Fallen for a friend? ........too many times i think.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
86. Yourself: most of the time
87. Miracles: YES
88. Love at first sight: no
89. Heaven: yes!
90. Santa Claus: No...
91. Kiss on the first date: No!!!!
92. Angels: yes!

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
94. Had more than 1 girlfriend/boyfriend at a time: nope... thats just wrong
95. Did you sing today? yup! :) i dont think i go a day without singing!
96. Ever cheated on somebody? Nope
97. If you could go back in time, how far would you go? hmm... some where cool and historical like Christs birth!
98. If you could pick a day from last year and relive it, what would it be? probably one of the days on my trips to Milwaukee! Or maybe a day that i was in Seattle
99. Are you afraid of falling in love? VERY
100. Have you missed somebody? i am almost always missing SOMEONE

Christmas?

I haven't necessarily been a scrooge this year but I haven't exactly been spreading the Christmas cheer. It just hasnt really connected with me and my brain that its Christmas so soon! Usually I have all these things telling me its Christmas and I have reason to be excited but this year its not really happening.

Before (even when I was a kid) I had winter break to look forward to. In college it was finishing all of my finals in order to go home and begin the Christmas festivities. I also always decorated my apt and my house in Rigby right after Thanksgiving. I didnt have ANY of that this year. No Finals... Not that I am complaining. I was too lazy to decorate at my parents house this year. My roommate decorated for Christmas before Thanksgiving.... So my brain just hasnt registered that Christmas is in a little less than two weeks. I am going home in like 4 days so hopefully once I am home it will start sinking in.

I think another reason my brain isn't regisitering it is because this year has gone so fast!!! Its been so crazy busy and so crazy good for the most part. My year as a whole is saved for another post... :) Merry Chirstmas my one lovely reader!

DASHBOARD!!!!!!!!!!

Yes you read correctly!!! Berkley and I went to see Dashboard confessional here in Salt Lake this weekend! It was SSSOOO awesome! Theres not much I can say other than it was awesome!!! We got these little shaker things that He passed out. We were pretty close to the front as well. I tried to upload a video but it was taking too long. I didnt have patience to wait for it today! HAHA Yay! I also went to Jon Schmidt. He was way cool as well! It was in Furniture Warehouse and we got to sit on couches while we listened to him! It was a fun weekend full of Berkley! I just love her! She is so great! We had too much fun together probably!

Cuz I know Heavenly Father loves me.

I just want to express my gratitude to my Heavenly Father in every possible way that I can. He has really blessed me SO much lately. MUCH MUCH MUCH more then I could ever deserve. It seems like just when I think I am gonna have to patient and worry he blesses me with what I need. I am especially grateful because I know it is rare to get what you want right when you want it. I dont mean to sound prideful. Its actually very humbling. I have been learning so much about trusting Him. Ever since I moved here it has just kind of been complete blindness and I have been trying really hard to let Him guide me. Things have turned out awesome so far! I feel like I really have a purpose for being in Salt Lake ( i have felt that i needed to be here for over a year and everything that has happened since being here is just confirming that.) I am getting a HUGE lesson in aligning my will with the Fathers. I am in no way perfect at it but I have definitely learned a lot and hopefully I will find out what my purpose in Salt Lake is. So this is just another way that I have been thanking Him for all of the amazing wonderful things that he has helped me with and given me. I have NO doubt in my mind whatsoever that my Heavenly Father loves me and he is watching out for me. He has a plan just for me and I am trying my hardest to follow that plan.

Yeah... im pretty cool...

I am an official college grad!!! BOO YEAH! I have a bachelors degree! WEIRD! it hasnt had time to sink in so it doesnt feel quite real. Oh but it most definitely is!!! THANK GOODNESS!!!! Time has flown! I am so excited to start work at my new job and get settled in to my life officially in Utah. It still hasnt sunk in that im staying in Utah either...even though that was the plan all along. I think i am just so used to moving that its what i expected. haha any way.... YAY! IM DONE! now i get to be a grown up.....

At the peak of random ramblings...

This very well maybe be the most random post ever...but no one really reads this any way...

First.....Shout out to my one true and faithful blog reader Mrs. Valerie Stewart! Thanks Val! Love ya! Miss ya! you make me realize maybe people actually care about what random thoughts go through my head...

Second..... I will be a college graduate in approximately 5 days or about 120 hours or about 7200 minutes... time has FLOWN by and i cant even believe that i am almost done. It feels good to think i may never have to do homework again...only thats a lie because teachers are always taking classes to stay certified or get paid more etc etc... And in a way it kinda sucks because i think i have realized that i cant be a teacher. I love teaching and its what i want to do....but teaching takes over your life. I know that it will get better the longer i teach but i just don't want a job that i have to take home with me. I want to stop working when i punch out and leave. I have a job as an aide which really is what i would like to do. i LOVE working with small groups or even one on one with students. I just wish it paid as well as teachers.... i would totally stay doing that the rest of my life. I think i am going to really enjoy my new job.

Third... I hate dating... i hate it with a passion. Pretty much the only reason i do it is because i know i am supposed to and i know if i dont i will never get married. But that doesnt change anything. i still hate it. I havent been on a date in a long time that i have thought "oh my gosh that was so fun i hope he asks me out again" I honestly havent been REALLY attracted (my attraction stays for more than a week) in like 9 months. Dating is just lame to to me..... i would so much rather go on a date with someone that i have gotten to know already and that i can be more myself with. I have probably just gotten bitter and cynical....but i really dont care if i have a date or not... it used to crush me and now when im on a date the whole time im thinking....i would rather be out with my friends. So i have a bad attitude.....yet another reason its gonna be a LONG time before i get married.

Fourth..... I need to find an apt. I havent ever really hunted before i have just said this one ready go. but this time we are actually looking around. and honestly in salt lake there are SSSOOO many options. Its overwhelming. Im sick of looking i just want to be done now.

Fifth.... Im really excited to go home for Thanksgiving. I have been missing my mom and dad lately. I cant say homesick because Rigby isnt home to me. But i am excited to go and be with my family. The Fall season is definitely my favorite time of the year! From like Halloween to Christmas. It rocks my world.

Sixth.... I hate snow. It snowed today.... a lot...... and i shut myself in my apt all day so i wouldnt have to think about it. I live in the basement and cant see it unless i really look hard so i could live in my own delusional world. But then i remember i had a date tonight and i was supposed to meet and my friends apt... so i had to trudge out side and scrape the six inches of snow and inch of ice off my car.... my hands were numb. I am so not looking forward to this winter.

Listen to me being Debbie downer. hahaha just remember my happy point. I graduate in 5 days! woot!

Seventh..... on a much happier note.... I went to the Utah symphony and they did Bravo Broadway... I! LOVED! IT! it was SSOOO awesome! they had three of broadways stars come and sing the songs while the Utah symphony played them. There were a few times i caught myself with my mouth just hanging open. The tenor was like all that is good and holy in the world. I was in love with him just because of his voice.... It seriously like put me in a trance....he gave me chills.... i dont know what it is about tenor voices but it just fills me with this love.... while i was listening to him it mad me think there is nothing wrong in the world.... his voice cannot even be described in words. My favorite thing i have done in Utah so far! BY FAR!

The End....

OVERWHELMING JOY AND GRATITUDE!

I HAVE A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My school offered me a job today!!!!! I am so excited that I get to stay with my kids!! Plus this is a great way to get my foot in the door!!! I feel SO SO SO SO SO SO blessed!!! i cant even describe in words......

Bittersweet!!!

So.... I only have two and a half weeks of teaching!!!!!! This is my last full week of teaching! Starting next week I start handing the classroom back! Its gone so fast! There have been so many times that I thought I was going to die! And still others that I thought all was well and things were going great! I had my last observation from my supervisor today! I got all fours but one... and it was a 3 plus.. for what i thought was kind of a silly reason.....but i will take what i can get i guess. I am very excited to be done student teaching and not have to worry about getting my degree... but i am going to miss these kids SO much!! For some reason it really hit me today how much I have seen them grow just in the short time i have been with them. I love each one of my kids so much! I feel so proud of them! I just want the very best for them! Its kind of ridiculous how crazy I am about them. But at the same time how much they drive me crazy! HAHA Like i said...its bittersweet that its the end.

I really CANT believe that this means i have a bachelors degree!!!! I will have an official diploma in like 17 days! well...it probably wont be in my hand by then...but you know what i mean! I dont feel old enough to be a college grad! It feels good though! I actually feel like i accomplished something unlike my high school graduation... Hooray for jumping a life hurtle!

More Kid Funnies

Here are some of my most recent funny stories.

Today a little boy raised his hand and showed me a picture of a Jazz game that was in a book about the Jazz. Our conversation went as follows...

Hunter: LOOK!!! Miss H!!! There I am!
Me: Really?
Hunter: YEAH! and my grandma and grandpa! and theres Roby over there!
Me: Um...Hunter are you sure? What year were you born?
Hunter: 1999, Why?
Me: This pictures says it was taken in 1996....
Hunter: oh....

Then all the kids started joking and saying they were born in 1996, 1993, or even 1990! (They said 1990 like NO WAY THATS SO OLD!) Then one little boy piped up and said "OH YEAH? I was born in 1987! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA" all the kids are laughing... and then i said Hey... I really was born in 1987!

They all froze. Jaws on the floor. Eyes wide....

Then one little boys goes "HOLY COW! Are you like 80?!?!?!?!?!"
I made them all do the subtraction (2009-1987) on a piece of paper to see how "old" I really am.


Another one....not quite as funny... I have my students write sentences using out vocabulary words and one of our vocabulary words was plunged, like he plunged off the cliff into the water below. I tried so hard to steer away from any other meaning of plunged and make sure they understood it meant falling.... I had the students pick 4 of our vocab words and write a sentence using them. I was checking their work at the end of the day and one little boy wrote "I plunged the toilet." I just thought it was funny.....

Another vocab word was vast... A little girl wrote "I have something vast in my pants"... I dont want to know.....

One little boy always writes "Miss H is cool" or "Miss H is nice" or any variation of that ALL over his papers that he hands in...This kid is already trying to butter me up...

Yesterday we were lined up next to the bathrooms waiting for students still in there. We were on our way to lunch and i always make them be really quiet because there are other kids still in class. Well all of the sudden someone in the boys bathroom burps...but this was like the loudest burp in the history of the world i swear! NOT to mention the echoing from the bathroom. I just kinda gave the kids lined up in the hall a look and then they all burst out laughing. Here I am trying to keep my composure and tell them its not appropriate to laugh at something like that and the kid that did it comes practically rolling out of the bathroom laughing his head off.... I tried everything in my power to stay composed and not laugh... i bit my lip, i turned around, i tried to think of something else....but then i couldn't take it! I burst out laughing too....It was HILARIOUS! and all the kids laughing about it made it even funnier! I was probably laughing the hardest out of any one... One of the guys that does in school suspension walked past and just looked at us really weird while me and 26 ten year olds are laughing our guts out.

I was walking down the hall by myself to lunch and this random little boy came up to me and said "Hi Miss H!!!" I was surprised but said Hi back. Then he said "Do you know who I am?" and i said "well.... no actually I don't... whats your name?" and he said "Its Tony! Remember? You hit me with the door! Oh! and my sister is your class..." I had no idea who this kids was...but apparently i hit him with the door... hahahahaha I felt really guilty that i didnt remember hitting him with the door or remember who he was...

I love my job most days! Its pretty great to work with these adorable kids. I love their perspective on life and friends and school. They help me keep my focus and remember what is important in life.

Remind me again why I wanted to be an adult?

My life is really pretty unexciting. My parents call and say whats new and I really struggle to come up with anything...the best I can think of is...um.... I watched a movie and didn't fall asleep! HA anyone that knows anything about me know that is a pretty exciting thing!

Any way... I feel kind of obligated to update my blog... so I guess I am just gonna ramble (I dont know if thats anything new though). Lately I have just been realizing more and more how stressful it is to be an adult. Right now my life is kind of nuts.... It's like this:

plan 4 lessons a day for student teaching
while you put together a work sample of a unit you taught (it takes a lot of extra work)
while you teach those 4 lesson plans every day
While you have tons of energy to keep the kids involved
WHile you look and apply for jobs
WHIle you have no money
WHILe you try to be social
WHILE running on 5 hours of sleep
WHILE you have a cold or some kind of sickness
oh yeah...and you need to do it all with a smile on your face!

It just piles up. Its a bit overwhelming to think about, especially all at once.... but one day at a time...thats all I can do. I hate to wish my life away...but i just wish things were a little bit more settled right now. My life is kind of in a giant upheaval. I cant wait til I have a job that i actually get paid for. Can it be January? haha

Deep breaths

So....student teaching is HARD!!!!!!!!! I wish you could in some way feel the emphasis i put in every letter when i typed HARD!!!!!!!!!!! Its funny though...because its not hard like i thought it would be. I can write a MEAN lesson plan! I can plan like no other... I can mostly do the stuff they taught me with no real problems.....

The problem now is all the stuff that they tell you about....but (maybe this is just me) can really only be learned through experience. Let me tell you what... trying to make ONE lesson work for 26 kids on 26 levels of learning..... Its a HUGE task to be faced with. And sometimes I feel like I couldnt be more direct when I am planning and then it turns out that I am totally and completely WRONG! Not to mention... I dont know if they really make you understand what its like to control 26 kids.... they get like mob mentality...its SO hard sometimes to keep everyone attention..keep everyone (including the district, parents, principles, the teacher next door) happy. Teaching is freaking stressful!! Its an art! it really is! I hope i get the hang of it soon.....

No wonder I am so tired...

So this last weekend I had Friday off so Thursday after school Kelcie Dickson and I headed up to Idaho.

It was kind of a CRAZY trip. We were both a little apprehensive to be back in Rexburg now that everyone else was back in school. I was super busy the whole weekend. I had been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. My dad came and woke me up early Friday morning because i needed to get my tires rotated and oil changed. Off we went to get my tires rotated. We werent there five minutes when the guy came out and said theres no point in rotating them because they are bald. You know what that means....new tires.....OUCH! thankfully my dad paid the $450 it cost to get them. Then they said that the recommend i get new front brakes as well. Another $130 plus tax... I havent done that part yet...but I need to do it soon. I got my oil changed as well....so pretty much I spent like $600 getting my car good to go. :(

After I got my car all fixed up I went to see all my Day care kids! It was SO fun to be back! there werent very many there...and my babies werent there... :( but one of my favorite little boys Elijah has changed SO much! He used to be this little CHUNK of a kid... kinda short stubby, round kid. He was ADORABLE! and we always joked that you lifted Elijah too much if your back was hurting. Now he has really grown! He has gotten tall and skinny! It was so cute when I saw him and got his attention he ran right up to me. I scooped him right up and he laid his head on my shoulder! I loved it so much! I have missed my little babies and toddlers!

After work, i went to Rexburg. It was way weird to be there but it was fun to hang out with Katelyn just like the good old days. We went to Jason Hewlett. He was really funny! I missed Rexburg in the past and the memories and the people...BUT i am VERY glad i am not there any more.

Saturday Kelcie and I got up around 9 and headed back to Utah. We drove straight past our houses and drove all the way to Provo. A friend of mine is in the marching band and invited me to come watch the game and see his half time show. So, we met Allison at her house and then walked to the football stadium. We went to a tail gate party with some of Kelcies family and then headed over to the game. Walking to the stadium we ran into a guy in our ward. He was joking with us saying that he hoped we didnt get seats on the east side of the stadium because we would be in the sun. Unfortunately we most definitely were on the East side of the stadium.... We were SWELTERING! it was SSSOOOO hot! and we were squinting the whole time. BUT it was SSSOOO fun! we got all into it and had a lot of fun! I would love to go again!

After the game we walked back to Allisons apt and the went to get something to eat. We didn't even leave Provo until almost 11. When we got home we threw our clothes in the washer (they were SUPER sweaty and nasty) took showers and went to bed.

It was a really fun weekend but I was SO busy its no wonder I am so tired lately! And the suckiest part is that i havent slept much even though i have been so tired. It was worth it though! I needed a fun weekend to forget i was a teacher and be young again!

Toto.....We're not in Kansas any more....

So being in Salt Lake has totally been amazing!!! I have LOVED being here. But something that I have been thinking about (especially after last night) is the fact that I am DEFINITELY not at BYU-I any more... But don't you worry! I see that mostly as a good thing!!!! :)

Example number one: Stake FHE last night turned into a sort of dance thing on the lawn. They played songs other than 70's classics and techno! They played songs you could actually dance to! Songs that are actually still played on the radio.

Example number two: The way some of the girls danced/were dressed was not exactly BYU-I standards. In a way that is good! You dont get scowled and shunned if you wear shorts to a church activity! which is amazing! But I don't think I need to go into how it could be bad.

Example number three: This one is kind of silly but OH SO true!!! and you may only agree if you have gone to BYU-I but after the stake FHE we went to get hot chocolate and the ratio was 3:7......as in 3 girls 7 boys!!!!! That would NEVER happen at BYU-I thats almost always flip flopped.

Example number four: 11:00 pm is a late night for me. In Rexburg if I made it to bed before midnight it was nothing short of a miracle!!! It's really nice only having one roommate because I CAN go to bed!!! I dont have 5 other people tromping around the apt while I'm trying to get stuff done or sleep.

Example number five: I AM YOUNG HERE!!!! HOORAY! in Rexburg I was like the old maid....22 and not married whats wrong with you??? Unfortunately I still get oh..are you 18? but then once they find out how old i am its like 22...oh thats pretty average...or even young.

I can think of an example six involving snow and ice....but i dont want to curse myself because it hasnt snowed yet.

Well there you have it! There are about a million ways i can tell i am not at BYU-Idaho any more!!! and most of them i am very grateful!!! Rexburg-- i love you, but I'm glad to be moving on to bigger and better things! As my wonderful roommate Katie put it "Rexburg is great if you are 18"

Early 90's flashback!

Last night, Boy II Men were in Salt Lake! Kelcie Dickson and I really wanted to go but found that it was sold out. We decided to take an adventure to the Utah State Fair any way! We took our time getting there and then wandered around for a while. We stood outside the auditorium to try and get a peak of them. If we stood on our tip toes we could see over the giant crowd of people. In all actuality we didnt have a TERRIBLE view but we had to stand on our tippy toes.

So there we are standing in this crowd of people listening and this random group of like 4-5 people came up to us and were like "HEY! do you want our tickets? We had people cancel on us!" We were so excited we practically ran into the auditorium. As we were squeezing past all the people around us we could hear jealous cries like "What? thats ridiculous! I would have paid you for them!" HAHA we got so incredibly lucky! We got there probably about half way through the concert. It was awesome! and lots of fun! I am trying to download videos and pictures that I took on my phone but we will see how it works...


When the concert was over we started walking around again. Then next thing we know we ran into a few people from our ward! We decided to stick with them. The five of us went on the ferris wheel and then walked around some more. Then we ran into MORE memebers of our ward. One of the girls had heard about deep fried oreos and was dying to try them. They all got an assortment of random deep fried things like peanut butter and jelly, oreos, and brownies. They werent bad, but definitely not worth the hype.

All in all my night was GREAT! Im so glad that Kelcie and I decided to go and get out of the house! Probably one of the funnest nights in Salt Lake so far!

Here is a link to the video I took. I put it on facebook.

Elementary Funnies!

So working at an elementary I get some pretty funny stories. Here are a few of my favorites so far.

- This little boy came up to me and said Miss H... You look nice, but your not! HAHAHA I laughed out loud in his face! It cracked me up.

- Today the kids were asking if I had any kids....then one little boy kept going....Do you have any kids? Why not? Do you need to get a boyfriend? Or you need to get married first? The other little boy (mentioned before) says WHOA WHOA WHOA!!! Don't ask so many questions! You are getting too personal!

-This little boy mentioned in both stories before is so funny!!! He always says the most random things that just crack me up.

- I LOVE LOVE LOVE when they call my Miss H. I dont really know why but I just love hearing it! That sounds really self centered... HAHA! One little boy in my reading group saw me in the hall and was so excited! He said HI MISS H!!! and then when i said Hi back he got all shy...haha

my kids are so cute! they make me so tired but im already so crazy about them.

Do you realize the impact you have?

Just as a warning, I may sound kind of angry....but thats because I am! Well maybe not angry....but frustrated. This is something that has been on my mind a lot lately. Do you realize the impact that you have on someone else? I mean if you think about it, really, I'm sure none of us TRULY realize the impact we have. We may not realize what smiling at someone else will do for them. It may not connect with us that when you held the door for someone else it totally made their day. That is connected to, but is not my point.

For Example, there is this adorable little boy in my class. He really has a hard time in school, its not something that comes easily to him. Not to mention the fact that he has a really hard home life. While he is in school you can tell he has a million other things racing through his head and can't focus. He often mentions how much he loves his dad and loves spending time with him. I came to find out recently that his dad is in prison. Then everything clicked for me. I can tell that this little boy is ACHING for his father. He wants nothing more than to come home and be able to be with his Dad. Not having that is really taking a toll on the rest of his life. I ask again, Do you really know the impact you have on someone?

It completely and utterly breaks my heart to see this little boy. Now, don't get me wrong. I dont mean to say that his father is a terrible person and doesn't care about his son. That is not my judgment to make. I just wonder if this boys father knows how important he is to him. Does he see that this little boy needs a father? I think a lot of us (especially me) take or took advantage of having both parents there all the time. I never had to feel the way this little boy feels. The mother/teacher/woman in me just wants to fix it for this little boy and make it all better. I know that his academics would improve so much if he had a good solid roll model that was THERE with him, pushing him towards the ultimate goal. I know for a fact that this little boy has people in his life pushing him and loving him and helping him, but I just see what an important roll parents play in their kids lives.Children are pretty much my life, if you can't tell. I have this unexplainable love for them. They make me happier than anything else in this world. It just kills me when I see they are having a hard time.

Random side note, it makes me think about my future children. It makes me realize (even more so) the importance of being involved in your kids life. It makes me realize how important it is for me to find someone that will be a good father to my children. Someone that they can rely on and someone that is a big part of their lives.

Secondly, it makes me appreciate my wonderful parents. They have supported and do support me in everything! It's a little different now that I am older, but knowing I have their support still gives me that much more confidence to achieve. Everyone needs that from one person or another!

Now to parents, YOUR CHILDREN NEED YOU! Coming from a teachers perspective, kids do 100 times better when they have home support! I really can't express the importance of parents in a child's life!!!

See Title of Blog...

So, I dont really have anything in particular that I want to blog about...but I was just noticing that I can seem to make a short post any more...So that is the main purpose of my post. I am going to make it short and sweet so that people don't have to take a nap to finish my posts.

One thing that has been on my mind lately is N'Sync! HAHA yes your read correctly!! Katie and I went to Orem to watch the BYU game at her cousins house and on the way home we were rocking out to N'sync. Ever since I have just loved listening to them again!!! I miss the good old days of boy bands.

Another thing.... I went to change my blog background... I hate that on cutest blog on the block only shows you a tiny picture of what the background is and you cant really read what it says. So you pick one that looks cute and when you apply it as your background it says something like ITS A BOY! or BEACH PARTY when its the middle of December. Has any one else experienced this? Maybe I am just not smart enough to work cutest blogs on the block...

Any way...this blog is short remember? I cant start rambling... Those are two things on my mind...can you tell how exciting my life is? :) Life is good!

Loving Salt Lake!

Well I have been student teaching for officially two weeks now! I can't believe how time has flown already!! I have begun to realize what a crazy job teaching is. It is SO much work!! A lot times I don't think people realize how much work it is! Including me!!

I started teaching math this last week. It has been SO hard for me! My students are extremely low. It was a ginormous struggle for me to get on their level. They really need SUPER simple and SUPER entertaining or they don't get it and don't pay attention. I spent the whole week trying to figure it out. My lesson on Friday was simply amazing! I really took it down in to pieces and did about half of what the book wanted me to do in one lesson and i made it interactive. My kids LOVED it! I had so many kids that were being apart of the discussion and interactions. It felt SO amazing to have done a lesson that they actually understood and could handle! I felt like a good teacher! I just hope my lessons keep going that well!

Other than that my student teaching has been a wonderful and amazing experience. I seriously LOVE Salt Lake so far. Its great! The boy selections is about 10 and a half million times better then that in Idaho.... Parts of me do miss Idaho...but I KNOW I'm supposed to be in Salt Lake! I was so ready to get out of Eastern Idaho and now that I have it has been AMAZING! Other than that I really dont have too much that is super exciting in my life. I have gone on a couple dates since I have been here. One was much better then the other! but yeah! Life is good!

Utah: Week one!

Well I have officially been in Salt Lake for just barely over a week. I dont know if I realized how accurate it would be when I used the word adventure! It has definitely been interesting

The first few days I was at my apt alone. My wonderful roommate was in Greece. The first night I was so exhausted I just crashed. The next night my very active imagination got the best of me for a little while, but then I eventually got so tired I didnt care any more. I stayed pretty busy at first getting all of the odds and ends together and unpacking. Saturday morning I woke up and had a bowl of cereal. My milk was warm...but i didnt think much of it and just turned up the temperature and went about my business. That afternoon Millie came over. We went to see Time Travelers Wife (good by the way! I LOVE her wedding ring!) when we got back to my apt I opened the fridge so that we could start making dinner. The smell was pretty bad....and all the food was still warm! I looked in the freezer to see all the meat in there completely raw! everything was at minimum room temperature! Katie and I had tons of meet in there ranging from Salmon to chicken. All of which was completely runied and starting to smell. The freezer was dripping with all kinds of meat juices. Millie and I made a joint effort and cleaned out all the meat hoping to salvage the rest of the stuff in there. I called my land lord but he didnt answer. I e-mailed him, which thankfully he got later. I went to church the next morning and when we got back everything in the fridge and freezer had gone bad....my apartment smelt SSSOOO bad! I finally got a new fridge the next day. It took my landlord and like 3 other guys to haul the old one out (which started leaking all kinds of smelly juices as they did so) and bring the new one in. I made several futile attempts and making my apt smell better in the mean time. I bought like 12 air freshners, lysol spray, and all the ingredients to bake cookies. Once the old fridge was out life was good.

The next part of the adventure is driving in Utah.....I had always heard how terrible Utah drivers were but now I am witness! They are pretty scary! I dont think they really know what a red light means...they only stop if someone in front of them is smart enough to stop. I almost have a nervous break down every time i have to drive any where.... Besides the other drivers, I am not used to city driving. One minute you are in one lane and then suddenly that lane ends...or theres a median and you cant turn when you want to, or some idiot guy is driving down the turning lane so you can't get into the turning lane so you miss your turn and you cant turn around for another million blocks.... its stressful. Im sure it doesnt help that most of the time I have NO idea where I am going. I probably make the Utah drivers even worse.

Getting into my school had been a really FUN adventure! I finally met my cooperating teacher on Wednesday. I sat through a forever long faculty meeting, but it was really awesome to see how everything works. I got to meet some of my students and take a look at my school. From the outside Redwood looks really kind of sketchy. But its WAY nice on the inside! There is a computer for every two students on the desks. My teacher said she uses them all the time! I have this official badge that I have to have to get pretty much any where in the school as well. I feel pretty important! haha! My teacher is really sweet! She has been teaching for years but is the type that says we are going to learn together. She knows that both of us are learning from each other. She even went as far as calling it OUR classroom today! It makes me feel like the last 4 years of my life actually mean something! It really makes me proud of what I have accomplished! School starts on Monday and I am looking forward to getting in and meeting the students and start teaching!

Kelcie, my friend that was in the EL ED program with me, and i are going to the Salt Lake Temple tomorrow! I am So excited! I have always wanted to go inside the Salt Lake Temple! I used to want to get married there! It should be really fun! So far I am loving Salt Lake! There have already been a few ups and downs and moments where i am scared out of my mind, and I'm sure there are PLENTY more to come. But, overall, I feel like this is really where I need to be and the Lord is blessing me! More to come later I'm sure!!

Adventure: Part Two

Well, Im not gonna lie, the time from graduation to now has FLOWN by! I can't believe it! After graduation I worked and played with my niece and nephew for a few days. Then I quickly packed all my junk. (I never realize how much stuff I have until I get it all in one place) After a few days of packing and getting ready to go I started on my major adventure. I packed up my car and drove to Utah. I left my car at my Aunt Liz's house where my sister picked me up. That night I saw my apt for the first time ever! I will get to details of my apt later. I spent the night at my sisters in law's house and the next morning we started on our journey to Milwaukee. Before we left I had this feeling to check my flight information. I looked in e-mail, travel sites and anything I could think of and I couldn't find any proof at all that I had a flight home. Needless to say I was panicking. My sister couldn't make it to Milwaukee with just her and the two kids...but buying a new plane ticket was more the double the price i payed before and completely not an option. Luckily we finally got a hold of the company and they finally confirmed my flight home! Here are some highlights of the trip.

*Whitney (my sister) and I managed to quote our mom at the same time. Scott was jumping on the bed. We told him to stop but he wouldnt and fell and bonked his head. At the same time we said "that's what happens" just like our mother would say to us.
*One of the days I handed Grace a granola bar to eat for a snack. I glanced back a few minutes later to see she had some granola in her lap. Then I saw it was even down in her crotch area. She was in a dress and when I went to wipe it out I noticed there was chocolate on her leg! I started laughing so she looked then screamed (sounding almost exactly like her mother) "What the heck is on my leg?" I was still doubled over in laughter when I hear " IS IT POOP!?!?!" I tried to clean her up but I was laughing way to hard. I have a picture...but its a little too revealing to share... haha
*I accidentally taught my nephew how to say 'Puke'. He kept repeating it the rest of the time i was there....oops
*I was official navigator for most of the trip. The bridge over the Mississippi was closed so we had to go the long way around. The maps were small and hard to read but luckily Whit saw a sign and swerved across a few lanes to get to the exit. It looked like we were in the middle of no where but luckily it took us right where we wanted
*When we got to Milwaukee we went to the Jelly Belly Factory and got free samples. On top of that I think I bought enough Jelly Bellys to last a lifetime....
*We went to the Milwaukee Zoo. It was a way good Zoo! I liked it a lot! There was a new jaguar that came running at the glass and gave me and my niece a heart attack until we remembered there was glass there. It was a little scary to have a huge cat running at you...
*One night my niece and I had some pudding. My sister asked how it was and I replied "Well... you know that taste you get in your mouth when you're sharpening your pencil?" It had an after taste like when you smell pencil shavings and you can kind of taste it. (Yes I realize how ridiculous it sounds now...) Whit just looked at me like what??? and then burst out laughing. The funniest part is that at the Jelly Belly factory there were jelly bellys that were pencil shaving flavored! haha I wanted Whitney to try it so that she knew what I was talking about...for some reason she declined. haha
*Best of all I got to spend a ENTIRE week with my sister and niece and nephew. Three of my favorite people in the whole world! I dont get to see them much, so to spend so much time with them was PERFECT. I loved it so much!

My flight home went smoothly in that I had no problems, but there was a WHOLE lot of turbulence. I was super tired when I got in to Salt Lake and still had to move ALL my junk into my apt. My mom tried to follow me to get my brother and we got separated and lost. I was getting so frustrated and scared etc....I had like a mini panic attack. To make a long story short i ended up driving around a lot. I got on the free way to see my hood wiggling around. It had popped open and I was driving down the freeway! Not to mention my phone was gonna die any second and if it died I would have no hope of finding my brothers apt. When I finally found my brother I was a giant stress ball.....Then we didnt get to my apt til almost 6. Luckily both my studly brothers came to help me move it all in. Then we had to go get my bed and desk. Then for some random reason we decided to go to a movie. Keep in mind ALL of my stuff is sitting still packed in my apt. After the movie we went shopping for a sec to get me a little food and then I came back to my apt and crashed. I ended up sleeping on the couch because all my stuff was still packed.

This morning my mom came back and we went shopping. I spent a butt load of money getting odds and ends and food that I needed. When we got back from shopping my mom took off to go home. I spent the next few hours doing some unpacking and setting up. I put together my desk with no problems. Then i tried my hand at the bookshelf. I did pretty good at first but the majorly screwed up and didnt have the tools to fix it. I gave up unpacking for the rest of the day. I finally showered and went and hung out with my brothers.

All in all Salt Lake is pretty good so far! I have been kind of a giant stress ball the last few days but i think i am starting to calm down a bit. There are lots of stressful things going on in my life right now. Last week the doctors said that My dads cancer was officially in remission. We were all so excited! My dad has been feeling SO much better and much more himself. He couldnt wait to get rid of the trac and feeding tube. They told him he could get it removed today, but after doctor appointments they decided that the cancer is not gone. They are not 100% sure but they think it is back, and that they will have to take the rest of his tongue and who knows what else. I dont think my dad will do treatments again. They are doing tests this next week to make sure and see what else they can do. So who knows what will happen. Moving to Salt Lake has also hit me like a ton of bricks. Thankfully my brothers are both pretty close and they have been so good at helping me and hanging out with me. So far so good. Driving is a bit of a stress for me. I think all of this Salt Lake stuff is just a matter of adjusting. I am making some major life changes. But I'm hanging in there! The Lord is guiding me and I just have to really put my faith in him. He has a plan for me and i really have to remember that right now.

Life is good! stressful but continuing onward! Salt Lake adventure: Begun!

The beginnings of my wonderful adventure!

So this week was the beginning of my adventure. I think I should probably clarify and say something more like the beginning of my chaos. I have been trying to stay pretty busy to make the time pass, but I kind of over scheduled. I don't even know what I was doing most of the time but i just felt so busy.
Monday an Tuesday are boring same old same old stuff so i will skip over them. I was pretty busy in that i had one thing after another but good none the less.
Wednesday my sister and her kids got here. Its been so fun having them here! My niece and nephew are hilarious!
Thursday I worked in the morning and then as soon as I got home from work my family had a BBQ in my honor. It was so nice! My grandparents from both sides, and my aunt Terry came. (my sister and her kids were there too along with my parents) My brothers came a little bit later. I had to be in Rexburg at 5:30. I walked into the Clarke building and wound my way through what seemed like miles of people. I actually saw my friend Lauren! The guy next to her was actually nice enough to switch with us so we got to stand together in line. We roasted alive! it was so hot. We finally got going and walked all the way from the Clarke to the Hart slowly but surely. When we got there we walked through the faculty lined side walk and they all clapped for us. It was a cool experience. Once we got into the hart we realized that our lines were splitting so Lauren and I didnt even get to spend the sweltering hour next to each other. Bishop Richard C. Edgley spoke and Im sure it was good I was SSSOO hot i could NOT pay attention.
After commencement we had to book it up to the Hinckley building so that we could make it in time for my convocation ceremony. I thought it was funny because I knew more people in other departements of my college then I knew in my own. I sat by pretty much the only girl in my department I knew. The ironic thing about Convocation is that the person that handed me my diploma cover was my most disliked teacher at BYU-Idaho.
All in all it was a good experience and went very well. It actually went really fast and didnt seem real at all. It felt almost like I snuck in to the ceremony and someone was gonna catch me and kick me out any minute! haha. But it was real! My brother said now you are officially smarter then me, and you can prove it! haha. Adventure is well on its way! Even though it doesnt quite seem real.

Step one of my New Adventure: Complete

looking into the distance, but remembering what is behind me....

You know, its funny to me how life changes almost in an instant. Most of the time its for the worse when it changes so fast but this time i think its for the better. It seems like all of the sudden something has just clicked with in me. I have spent the last year avoiding the topic of moving on in life and graduating and and and.... but finally i feel "ready". I put quotation marks because its ready in a round about way. I dont know if i am prepared enough... but i know this is what i need and where im supposed to be. Im still scared out of my mind, but everything has just come together. I have known since last summer that I needed to be in Salt Lake and now that i am finally going its like everything in my life is just kind of lining up just right. I feel like its where the Lord wants/needs me. Who knows what will happen! Who knows what I will do while I'm there, or how long i will stay, but for now its what I'm doing! Even a few weeks ago i was really dreading having to let go of certain friends, and while im still not thrilled about saying goodbye, i know that its what i need! And i feel like i have finally finally finally gotten a bit of the closure i needed with someone in particular. It may not be what i want....but Im ok with it now... we both have so much ahead of us. There is a time and a season for everything (and probably everyone). Thank goodness for such wonderful memories and the wonderful people in my life! I cant wait for the many more to be made!! One of my favorite Rascal Flatts songs is called My wish....this is to all the people that i have to say good bye to.

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

Student Teaching!!!!

I got my placement!!!! Hooray! I will be student teaching in:

Redwood Elementary - West Valley City - Mrs. Berrio's 4th grade class

I am really excited! I am also really glad that it is NOT 6th grade! I was really nervous for 6th. I knew it was going to be 4-6 so 4th is what i was hoping for. I looked it up and found out that the school is about 7 miles from my apt! The map quest thing I used said it would take about 15 mins to get there. That is very nice because I thought it was going to be out in the Sandy/ Jordan area, which is a bit further. Well thats all for now! I have a ton of homework to catch up on so I can be SURE to graduate! :)

Rexburg Memories

As my time in Rexburg is quickly coming to an end I wanted to write down a few of my favorite memories while I was there. I have been working on this for a while and finally decided to publish what I had. So here they are. If you have any you would like to add feel free!!! I hope they make you smile and or laugh like they made me!!! Enjoy!

Winter 06

• Trashing Katie and Vals room for their birthday's and then spending hours after they got home dancing, singing, taking pictures, and cleaning.
  
• Destiny's Child - Kelly, Kristi, and Deidre. Enough said.

Fall 06 (i had a hard time remembering much about this semester)

• Making Horkley trips with Ashley all the time. Especially the one time she slammed on the breaks and the lid to my pop came off and spilled all over my lap so that it looked like i peed my pants. Then when i got out of the car she played a really mean joke and was like oh hey rob how are you??? Rob was the boy i liked....he wasnt really there but i panicked for a sec...haha
  
• Making our roommate slide show!
  
• Val's engagement party!

Winter 07

• Meeting Emme! The first time I ever met her she grabbed my butt. I knew it was the beginning of a great friendship! :) We spent every waking moment together that semester.
• Going to Adams apt with Emme.
• Walking to Broulims with Emme and Allison. I wasnt paying attention and walked into a tree branch. They both laughed the rest of the way home! Emme and Allison have never let me live it down. Emme still cries laughing if you even mention it to her.
  

Fall 07 (probably one of my favorite semesters)

• Our FHE brothers!! Mike, Drew, Matt, Mark, Joey and. We all got so close and had so much fun!
• Bonfire night with all the roommates the first weekend together. We got all dressed up and ended up driving around the back roads of Rexburg/St. Anthony/heaven knows where trying to find the sand dunes. We finally got there and rolled down the hills and got SUPER sandy!
  
• Spice girls reunited. :)
• Cajun Bob and all his craziness with Emme.
• Shattering the display case at Dillards by dropping a perfume bottle an inch above it with Matt. HAHAHA
  
• Climbing to the top of the Snow building with Emme, Mike, and Drew. Drew lifted Emme and me to the top with one arm....AND Drew scaling the side of the taylor building. Mike, Emme and I all thought he was going to slip and die.
  
• That same night sneaking around the construction sight where the new auditorium is (it wasnt built yet, they were just digging up the ground around where it is....) We had to sqeeze through this gate to get out and my pants got stuck on it... i thought they had ripped.
• Breaking curfew to walk Mike and Drew to the bus at 2 in the morning. We drug their suitcases from Alpine to the Hart in the snow...down the middle of the road! Emme, Mike, Drew and I were the four amigos....we spent like the whole day together just being bums...
• Once Emme and i dropped Mike and Drew off we walked home and waited on the corner by our apt for the bus to drive past... we saw it coming and then it went a different way. We went home and sat on the floor and cried. Then we stayed up the rest of the night taking pictures, eating chocolate and talking when we were supposed to be packing and cleaning!
  

Winter 08

• Krystal sleep talking! "OH CHAPTER 11!!!" I had to leave our room because I was laughing so hard.
• Reading Junie B Jones with Krys as our bed time story!
• Meeting Salena and Katelyn! Two of my favorites!!!
• My first time ever snowboarding! I was SO sore the next day i couldnt get out of bed but it was AWESOME!
• Our door knob breaking and being locked in our apt until we found a screw driver. We had a dish towel as our door knob the rest of the day. Our managers yelled at us for taking the door knob off! HA we wouldnt have gone to class that day if we wouldnt have...maintenence requests take about 95 years at Colonial....
• All my alpine boys!!! I was over at Alpine at least twice a week hangin out!!! Thats when i started hanging out with Chris Austin Mitch and Jared and Adam (vicarious alpine boy), our crazy premi FHE bro's, Alex, adam once in a while etc etc

Fall 08 (a tie with Fall 07)

• Mitch, Chris, and Austin moved into our ward and were our FHE brothers! Which means we just hung out that much more!
• Going to Krystal, Shane, Chris and Mitch's softball games with Katelyn "He's such a good kisser! I mean CATCHER!!!"
  
• Driving around the first time it snowed with Katelyn, Austin and Sean.
• Going to the Hart with Katelyn and always watching Sean Austin Mitch and Chris play basketball
• Reading scriptures and deep conversations over hairballs in the hall or vanity with Katelyn because our roommates went to bed SUPER early!
  
• Going to the haunted house with Emme, Mike and Sean. Sean was such a chicken he made me be in the back....Im still a little bitter
  
• Going to Seans football game in the BLIZZARD outside and Austin hogging all the blankets in the middle
• Cocoa Bean with Sean
• One time when i was walking to class i had my i pod in. Austin saw my from a distance, came up behind me and grabbed my hand. It scared the crap out of me and he just laughed.
• Walking home from class with Austin
• High School Musical 3 with Matt and Katelyn!
• My amazing Physical Science class!! loved the girls at my table, my teacher, and everything we learned! especially about the stars!
  
• Oh man.....i have too many memories from this semester....i could go on forever....

Winter 09 (worst semester EVER)

• Allison being my saving grace! I would have died if she werent my roommate!!!
• The Late night bonding time with my roommates. "OH, stupid jokes? like the banana is yellow??"
  
• Erica falling and getting a concussion. Its only one of my favorite memories because the paramedics put her on a stretcher and when they were strapping her down they told her they were gonna put a strap under her arm pits and she stopped with all the babble of being confused and stated very firmly "THEY'RE UNDER ARMS!"
• High school musical 3 and getting Tamara addicted!!! BOO YEAH!
• Tamara dancing every where she goes.
• Nichole saying "i hate (insert anything here)" all the time!
  
• Having my first official date on Valentines day....but it was the last date with my ex boyfriend and i had already broke up with him....Im sure you can imagine how that went....
  
• My Ucon kids!!

Summer 09

• hanging out with Tamara and Nichole and all the incredibly random things we did.
• Skipping school to go to Seattle with Katelyn
• hangin out with the amazing girls at work! especially our watch party!
  
• These arent quite memories yet....but GRADUATING!!
  
• getting my student teaching placement.
• MOVING TO UTAH!
  

Finally! Some Adventure!

So as of right now, my life is still not very adventurous. I get up, I go to work, every Monday Wednesday Friday i go to class, I come home, eat dinner, sometimes i do my homework and then i go to bed. BUT my friends, that is soon coming to an end and i CANT WAIT! I am getting so excited (but nervous at the same time) for my adventure to begin! This is what the rest of my summer looks like!

Wednesday of this week I pick up my cap and gown! WEIRD (maybe this time my cap will actually fit my head...when i graduated high school they placed my order as a boy so i had to use an extra cap and gown so i could be white like the other girls, not red like the boys. The extra cap was much too small for my rather large head so i had to use like 57 bobbie pins to keep in on my head, which i then forgot about when i had to take my cap off to throw it in the air at the end of graduation...needless to say I didnt end up throwing my cap.... any way... thats another story....)

Wednesday of next week I find out my student teaching placement!!! I am so excited i can hardly stand it! I just want to know! I have been like stalking out the elementary schools in the Jordan district.

Wednesday in two weeks I have my final for my class and after that I will be DONE with classes in an actual classroom. At least where I am the official student. The very next day (thursday the 23rd) I GRADUATE!!! I havent decided if I am going to commencement or not yet. But i am for sure going to my convocation! You are all invited to come! If you didnt get an invitation already it is at 8 pm in the Hinckley Chapel. The part I am probably most excited for in graduating is the simple fact that probably at least 2 of my 3 siblings will be there!! None of my siblings where there when i graduated high school and i was really bummed! but hopefully they can be there for when i graduate college! Plus My mom said that a lot of my extended family is trying to come too! YAY! The next few days i will probably just hang out with the family that is still in town.

The week after graduation is my last week at work. I am actually really sad to leave work. Probably the only thing i have actually liked about my summer. I LOVE the girls i work with and the kids are so fun and sweet! A lot of them make my day! I have like the perfect job for me. I will be really sad to leave, but SO excited for my up coming adventures!!

After my last day of work on the 31st. I have 3 or 4 days to finish packing up ALL of my junk! (i have a TON so it will probably take me the whole time!) and THEN I am going on a ROAD TRIP to Milwaukee with my sister Whitney and her kids. She wanted someone to drive back with her since her husband is flying back and i very willingly volunteered! I love road trips, and i love my sister and my niece and nephew! How could i resist??? so 3 days on the road to Milwaukee with my favorites! We will get to Milwaukee about the 8th or 9th and then I will spend a few days with them in Milwaukee before flying back to Salt Lake on the 12th of August.

I get into Salt Lake around 2. Hopefully I am feeling human enough to move into my new apt. I found out today that my one and only roommate Katie will be Greece until the 17th!! So I will have the first few days in Salt Lake all by myself! That is a little intimidating but all part of the adventure right???

After i am in Salt Lake a few days I start my student teaching!!!!! YAY! like i said i wont know what school or grade until the 15th...but as soon as i know i will post it on here! yahoo!!! Adventure HERE I COME!

Boondocks.... HAHA

A friend did this and i thought it would be fun! Plus im bored and avoiding homework! YAY!!! HAHA a lot of them turned out pretty funny

Rules:
1. Put your iTunes, iPod, MP3 Player, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS.
4. Tag at least 10 friends, if you include me that'd be nice. :)
5. Have fun!

IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?
Hard to say - Hootie and the Blowfish (HA!)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
80's Joint - Kelis

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Brass Bed - Josh Gracin

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
I Feel Bad - Rascal Flatts (HAHAHA thats funny)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Don't wait - Dashboard Confessional (interesting....)

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO?
Dont 'cha - Pussy Cat Dolls (thats right...you wish your girlfriend was hot like me....)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Catch My Disease - Ben Lee (i have a disease??)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
The Nicest Kids In Town - Hairspray

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Here Comes Goodbye - Rascal Flatts (a little too true right now)

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Wasting my life - Hippos

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Back Home - Yellowcard

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Sunshine in my Soul - Mormon Tabernacle Choir

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
We're All in This Together - High School Musical

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
You'll be in my Heart - Usher (Tarzan) ha :)

WHAT WILL/DID YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Good Will Hunting by Myself - Ludo ( i dont think so...)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Irreplaceable - Destiny's Child

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
She'd be California - Rascal Flatts

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Take A Bow - Rihanna

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Mix Tape - Brand New

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Wouldn't it Be Nice - Beach Boys

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
No One Mourns the Wicked - Wicked Cast (apparently that they are wicked)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Bookdocks - Little Big Town

Songs!!!

So this is just lyrics to a song that i love right now. It fits! Its called Fighting by Yellow Card

Said I'd move on and I'd leave it alone
But before I walk out there is something that I need you to know
I got lost in the blink of an eye
And I could never get back, no I never got back …

You were not there when I wanted to say
That you were everything right
And it wasn't you but me that changed
Now I gotta go it alone
But I will never give up, no I'll never give up.

What am I fighting for?
There must be something more
For all these words I sing
Do you feel anything?

Said “I'm ok”, but I know how to lie
You were all that I had
You were delicate and hard to find
Got lost in the back of my mind
And I could never get back, no I never got back

You were not there when I needed to say
I hit the bottom so fast
That my head was spinning ‘round for days
Now I gotta go it alone
But I will never give up…
No I'll never give up…

What am I fighting for?
There must be something more
For all these words I sing
Do you feel anything?

What am I fighting for?

What am I fighting for?

Never give up….. on this
Never give up…. Up on this
Never give up…. On this
Never give uuuuuuuuuuuuuuup on this

Said “I'm ok” but I know how to lie
I will never give up, no I'll never give up

What am I fighting for?
There must be something more
For all these words I sing
Do you feel anything?

What am I fighting for?
No, I'm never gonna give up, give up

What am I fighting for?
No, I'm never gonna give up, give up

Said that I'd fight for the one that I found
I'm gonna stay here while I wait for you to come around
I'll fight, you're a part of me now
And I will never give up, no I'll never give up

Here is one that i keep listening to trying to make it my theme song right now...its called No Reins by Rascal Flatts

She left that loser in a dust cloud
Heart in his hand, chin on the ground
Cried her last tear for that clown
She can see a little clearer now
She said, "Oh, oh, I gotta go and find me"
Oh, oh she found the strength to break free

[CHORUS]
Like a painted wild mustang
Flyin' out across the open range
Finally gets to live her life that way
No fear, no fences, nobody-no reins

No reins

All she's ever felt is held back
She says, "It's kinda nice to hear myself laugh"
She's gonna do a lot more of that
She's makin' plans and makin' tracks
She said, "Oh, oh I gotta go and find me"
Oh, oh she found the strength to break free

[Repeat Chorus]

Oh, oh she's learnin' how to let go
Oh, oh whichever way the wind blows
Oh, oh she's learnin' how to let go

[Repeat Chorus Twice]

No reins

Come back to me, I cant get you out of my lonely mind!!

Holy Moly.... i know this is like all i ever talk about any more but it just feels so unresolved and i feel like i am making like NO progress. Its like the only thing ever on my mind.

I want so badly to move on. In more ways then one. I am just clinging to the past. To something that I know will never be the same, but just cant seem to let go of, for no good reason! I think I am making horizontal progress.... i am realizing more and more....but i dont feel like i am actually going any where in actually moving on. Part of me thinks its still vaguely the same and if i just made more of an effort it would be the same again. It's like im trying to justify it. And it just frustrates me to no end because i KNOW with out a doubt that the Lord has bigger and better things in store for me if i can just let this go, but for some reason i cant seem to. I have read all these things about get rid of pictures, get rid of songs that remind you, etc etc but i cant do that!!! i want to hold on to those things! They remind me of the good times! If i am ever going to get over it, i just need it to be gone but i want to savor what is left. Its not completely bad, but im just so stuck on it. I really need to get out and meet new people, but at the same time i dont see a point because i am leaving for Utah in like a month and a half. It just really makes me want to move to Utah that much more. At least that way I wont have the option of having it around. And i will be busy and keep my mind off of things. I will be able to start a new life for myself. Right now its not really what i want, but its what i need. Any way, more later probably...but i really need to go to bed.

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

Yay! its my birthday! It was actually a pretty sucky birthday but thats ok. I had a party on Saturday but no one came... everyone had pretty legit excuses....but a bummer none the less. Thanks to the few that did come! :)

Then today I had to work. It was just kind of a sucky day at work. No particular reason, but it was kinda crazy because of t-ball and I didnt really sleep last night so i wasnt in the best mood ever. It was cute though cuz the kids sang me happy birthday and i brought them brownies so they were all excited! I was kind of glad to get out of there just cuz i was in a bad mood. The girls at work and I are gonna start hanging out more hopefully so im excited for that!!!

After work i had to go to class. i dont know why but the whole time i was just super anxious and pretty much the last thing i wanted to do was sit there...but i did. I skipped my study group because i didnt feel like studying on my birthday! I went back to Tamara and Nicholes. Tamara had a root beer float ( i dont really like them) and then we watched Real genious. Pretty much i slept through it.... like usual... its hard for me to make it through a movie any more unless im not tired and it keeps me genuinly interested...after that we just kinda sat there. I left cuz i was bored. I could have gone to my FHE but i didnt feel like playing stupid games that i hate with people i dont know on my birthday so i just came home. Pretty much im just in a really bad mood and its probably my own fault i had a sucky birthday because i was/am in a bad mood.

The weird part is that i am 22. i do NOT feel like im 22. I still feel 18... and i probably still act 18. Everyone always thinks im like 18 or younger. For some reason i didnt really feel old til i had to say 22....like 21 you are still young....but for some reason right now 22 just seems old... haha its silly...its not old....but there ya go... haha

I think too much...

For some reason, lately I have been thinking a lot. I kind of hate when I get in these moods because everything else in my life kind of goes out the window. My brain like zones in and just wants to figure out whatever my mind is on. But another problem is that my brain is thinking about so many things that it cant focus. I end up getting no where because I can't organize my thoughts. Here are some more random ramblings in an attempt to organize my thoughts.

The boy I talked about earlier... I have been struggling with what I was supposed to do. I talked to a friend and she told me that I should just step back. I came to the conclusion that he is either trying to or has moved on, and I should do the same. I guess there just comes a time in life when people grow apart. i wish it wasn't that way, but maybe its the way is supposed to be. I have really really restrained myself in how much i talk to him. Its been hard but i think its necessary. There's a song by Kelly Clarkson and it says, "whenever i see you i swallow my pride and bite my tongue, pretend im ok with it all, act like theres nothing wrong." Which is what i am trying to do.

Another thing on my mind is moving. I really don't like Rigby and cant wait to leave. I have actually gotten to the point that i enjoy going to work! The girls i work with are SO awesome and fun that it makes it totally worth it to me. I think that we work together very well and we have become good friends. They are all about my age too! So, i will be sad to leave work, but excited to go to Utah. My mom gave me my birthday present early because it was big and she couldnt hide it once she bought it. It was a really nice luggage set. It was not was i was expecting but i actually loved the gift! at the same time it really made me sad. She told me i figure you are moving on in your life and you need some real luggage for when you move. Number one, it kinda hit me that ---Im moving on----- im leaving home....probably for good. Number two, with my dads cancer stuff going on my parents have literally no money. I know it was a huge sacrfice for them to get me such a nice gift. It really made me realize how much my parents love me, and how much i love them. They want what is best for me and have always given me nothing but support in all the things i wanted to do, no matter what. Which in turn, makes me even more sad to leave them.

I have just really realized how incredibly blessed i am lately. I have an amazing family, and wonderful people in my life. The Lord blesses me so much and I can see now how he has done things just when I needed them to help me become who he wants me to be. Things that may seem like something I didnt want, turn into something that is for the better. The Lord knows what hes doing. I have to remember to trust that and leave it up to him. Example number one....last semester. At the time it seemed like my life was falling apart and everything that i dreaded was happening. But looking back, I wouldnt trade that semester for anything. In the end i really loved the semester. It was by far my most challenging but possibly most rewarding. I created friendships that im sure i will never loose.

After President Eyrings talk at Devotional on Tuesday I have been looking back on my experience at BYU-I. It went so incredibly fast!! It's so crazy to think how much i have experienced since i got to Rexburg January 2006. Each semester brought new people and new fun! All of which will have a special place in my heart for many different reasons. I kind of think of each set as a new chapter in my life. Each one helped me grow a little bit more and in a little bit different way. All of them were so different and completely unexpected. I have also been thinking about how privlidged i was to attend school where i did. I had a temple so close and a school made it easy for me uphold the standards i knew i wanted to follow. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for me. I just really need to be patient and trust him always.

Can you tell I have a lot of free time lately?

Im really bored and i just did a different one of these on facebook... but i find these things entertaining and kind of interesting....not to mention i like procrastinating my homework....haha

what color is your tooth brush?
white and turquoise

Name someone that made you smile last night?
Tamara and Nichole...they are funny....

What were you doing 45 minutes ago?
chatting with my friend

What is your favorite candy bar?
Reeses

Have you ever been to a strip club?
uh... no! it worries me that this is even a question

Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
The last person i remember kissing was Fisher at work...and heck yes i would kiss him!!! Hes SO adorable!

What is the best ice cream flavor?
cookie dough, or tin roof

What was the last thing you had to drink?
milk

What are you wearing right now?
sweats and a t shirt


What was the last thing you ate?
wheat thins


Have you bought any new items this week?
shoes!

When was the last time you ran?
uh.... its been too long

Who is the last person you sent a comment/message on myspace?
i dont remember...i dont check my myspace that much

Do you take vitamins daily?
no

Do you still talk to your ex?
sometimes

Do you like Chinese food over pizza?
depends on my mood

What do you want to be when you grow up?
nurse, lawyer, judge, physical therapist, teacher

Do you like beer in a can or a bottle?
neither!!! i have never tasted it....but it smells so gross i never want to

Are you someone's best friend?
i hope so

What are you doing tomorrow?
work, school, FHE

Where is your mom?
in the other room

Look to your right, what do you see?
lotion

Is there someone you want, but can't have?
yes

Do you have a dog?
i wish! i want a cute little one!

Last guy you talked on the phone with?
uh probably my brother

Last girl you talked on the phone with?
my mommy

Do you dye your hair?
i have....but currently no

What were you doing at 7:45AM this morning?
sleepin

Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
homework

Who is the last person to send you a text, what does it say?
Olivia, Hey sry just got your text. Im good. how have u been? heard your sister is expecting. u must be excited.

Do you have a tan?
yup! im getting one!

Do you use chapstick?
yes!

Are you jealous of anyone right now?
no not really...

How do you feel about tattoos and piercing?
eh......

Missing someone?
yeah.....

Do you smoke?
no way jose

When was the last time you were on an airplane?
June 07....to see my new baby scottie

Who can you blame for your bad mood today?
well im not in a bad mood, but you only have yourself to blame for a bad mood.

Did you ever waste too much time on a certain boy or girl?
um.... i havent decided. I dont think it was a waste though.....

What do you prefer skittles or starbursts?
skittles

How was last night?
fun!!! i hung out with my Salena

If you're being extremely quiet, what does it mean?
Im upset, stressed or tired

What is your mom listed under in your phone?
Yo mama

Have you ever kissed someone and never saw them again?
cant say that i have

How are you feeling right now?
bored.....

What was your last argument about?
i dont remember

Have you ever stripped for money?
no......again a little worried....

Last nap?
today!!! yay!!!

Who were the first 2 people you heard this morning?
um....probably random people on the TV my dad was watching

Have you ever liked anyone that treated you like crap?
too many times

What are you listening to?
david archuleta

Have you ever stayed in a hotel?
lots of times

Ever been told you were loved by someone who didn't mean it?
not that i am aware of... i hope they would always mean it

Do you think someone is thinking about you right now?
uh....sure?? who can know for sure

Who's the last person you talked to on the phone?
some random lady that called for my mom

Are you a big fan of snowstorms or thunderstorms?
thunderstorms yes!!!!! snowstorms HECK NO

Could you go the rest of your life without smoking a cigarette?
absolutely positively

Would you ever live with anyone on your top friends?
Um yes.... i have lived with some of them, thats how we became friends

How do you feel about chocolate covered strawberries?
yum!

How do you vent anger?
run, cry, listen to music, write in my journal or my blog. sometimes all of these things

Best thing you did for yourself today?
slept in!

Do you have a best friend that knows you inside and out?
yes i have a few i think

Do you plan on moving within the next year?
Yes!!! August!!!

Is there someone you wish you were still close with?
Lots of people

What do majority of people in your life call you?
Kelsey or Kelso

Do you currently hate someone?
no

What's something that bothers you about girls?
drama drama drama

What was the first thing you thought this morning?
i should download the song i had stuck in my head. I have this weird thing that I always wake up with a completely random song in my head.... sometimes its a song i havent heard in a while...like this morning....

Last time you danced with someone and where?
um Katelyn and i dance in the car a lot hahaha

What were you doing at 12:00 this afternoon?
i was in church

Who was the last person you texted?
Olivia

Do you think two people can last forever?
absolutely

If you're sleeping and someone calls you what do you say?
hello..... if i answer at all that is....

What do you have planned for tonight?
sleeping

Who was the last person you cried in front of?
um.....Allison? or maybe Katelyn? i dont remember

When’s your birthday?
June 15th

This time last year, what was your love life like?
nonexistant.... just like it is now....no summer flings for me....

who knows....

Well this post is just to remind all of you why I call my blog random ramblings. This blog is often really helpful for me to think about things. There are many times that I write this huge post and then think about what I wrote and im like uh... i dont want people to actally read that... haha any way.... i dont really have a plan of what this post is gonna be about so its just gonna be whatever comes out...Here ya go....

Life very rarely changes in an instant. I read this quote the other day that said something like... Life seems to be the same every day until one day you look back and its completely different. This is something i have been realizing more and more every day. I feel like im in this routine but all in all life is always slowly changing. Im the kind of person that doesn't like change....but at the same time i reach points in my life that i know i just need a big change to move on in my life. There are parts of my life that have changed and i really really really wish they wouldnt have. I wish i would have (or maybe could have) done something to make those parts stay the same. Or maybe that I would have taken advantage of those opportunites more when I had them. I guess that is what makes you appriciate what you have. My problem now is that im having a hard time letting go. I know that its over, and its time to move on but i dont want to! its so pathetic but im like clinging to the fragments that are left. In all reality its pretty much just making me miserable.

There are a few things contributing to this but there is this boy....in particular. I used to have a crazy big crush on him....its kind of a complicated story....any way.... i dont have feelings for him in that way any more. BUT i have always just felt this like certain attatchment to him. This sounds creepy and weird but i still vividly remember the first time i ever heard his name i just knew.... i dont know what i knew....but i just knew. Maybe that we were supposed to be in each others lives or something. I love talking to him. Its not like we are best friends or that we are even like super close....but for some reason hes always kind of in the back of my head. like i said its not that i have "those" kinds of feelings for him. Sounds crazy but it almost feels like we were supposed to be friends. I always felt like there was something i needed to teach him or help him with and there was something that he needed to help me with. I dont really feel like i have had much of an impact in his life but i hope that i have. Ok i just sound crazy.... but there you go... random ramblings.... Its just frustrating to me because hes leaving in July and going on a mission....im moving to Utah and moving on in my life. We dont talk or hang out any where close to how much we used to. Im just having a hard time letting go of it for some reason. i want to like cling to the little time that we have left as friends. this is so jumbled... i dont even think my brain knows what its thinking.....

On another note....kind of related in a round about way....One thing that I love doing is finding a song that relates to my life and then I listen to the song OVER and OVER and OVER. It's like what i do. I have a few that are my favorites in particular right now. Most of the time its not really the whole song..but just a line or two! and i just fall in love with the line or so in the song. I love music! its proof of a higher power in more ways then one. I feel like music is one way that i can truly explain, or think about my feelings. It says things that words can't. Especially for me because i can never really express how i feel in words. The worst feeling for me is not being able to find a song that fits my mood or life at the moment. Music is awesome!

On a random side note I waxed my eye brows for the first time tonight. I thought about doing it before church today but i decided against it. Now i am thankful that i did. It doesnt really hurt too much when you rip it off....but my skin is still like tingling and stinging! Im praying the reddness goes away by tomorrow!!

Another thing on my mind is how much of a Debbie Downer i feel like i am being. i am so whining and ungrateful lately. Its pretty uncharacteristic of me. I need to actually give Rigby a chance but i just dont want to. Im pouting because i want my life i had in rexburg back. I want my Rexburg friends and my Rexburg life. I'm sure if i actually gave Rigby a chance i could have a very similar life but im being stubborn. which is crazy.... Who would have thought that?? im never stubborn... haha yeah right.... any way... i need to stop wishing my life was different and Find joy in the Journey like President Monson said! I need to trust the Lord and let him guide me and stop thinking i know whats best.

Seattle!!!!

Katelyn and I are back from our amazing trip to Seattle!! it was so so fun! I LOVED like all of Washington! (except like two of the four hours between Spokane and Seattle....BORING!) Its so green and full of trees!!! its beautiful!!! Warning...this could be a long post...but deal with it! cuz i just wanna gush about my trip!!!

Day One we left about 4 o'clock and drove to Spokane. It actually went pretty fast and wasn't near as bad of a drive as i was expecting. We slept on Katelyn's sisters floor that night in Spokane and then headed out to Seattle the next day.

Day Two was probably the worst of the whole drive. Well only two hours of it. Eastern Washington, after Spokane, is almost as bad as driving through Southern Wyoming. Flat, and boring.... but then it gets really pretty really fast! We went over this cool bridge that goes over the Columbia River. I was gonna post a bunch of pictures but they take forever to load, so i will only post a few. The views were amazing! We were gonna stop at the temple first but missed the exit, so instead we went to the hotel first and check in. Our hotel was REALLY nice! probably one of the nicest I have stayed in. It had 2 flat screen TV's, 2 beds, granite counter with a sink, mini fridge and microwave, it had a couch and all that. It was way nice! and we got it for $74 a night!!! It smelled like they had just re-painted...one downside. Here is a picture of the bed part, just to give you an idea. When we got settled into our hotel we ate dinner and then we decided to just drive around the area of our hotel a bit. All of the sudden we turn the corner and there is the HUGE mall!!! probably one of the biggest i have ever been in! it was awesome! We walked around a bit and then bought some super sweet sun glasses for like $5. Excellent! When we were done at the mall we went back and went to the temple. We took a few pictures and then Katelyns camera died. She wanted to see if we could find a wal-mart so she could buy a new cord to charge it. We found out there was a Walmart in Renton but we didnt know where in Renton....but well well well what do you know we practically drove right to it again! We had SUPER good luck the whole time we were in Seattle! We didnt get lost a single time! Any way, then we just went back to the Hotel and watched some randome show. We thought about doing the paper view thing but they were like $12 to watch a movie once!! geez louise!!!

Day Three is where it gets a little more exciting! We woke up and ate a WONDERFUL hot breakfast of hashbrowns, eggs, and sausage. Then we got ready and made our first adventure into the heart of Seattle! The first thing on our list was Woodland park Zoo. It was pretty fun. Pretty much like every other Zoo you have been to. The views from North Seattle were pretty cool though! And i loved the feel of the houses up there and the steep hilly populated part of the city! I loved it!!! here is a picture across from the Zoo. After the Zoo we made our way to Downtown Seattle. We were kinda worried about parking so we took the first one we saw....kind of a bad idea just because we ended up paying a butt load for two hours...and we found about a million other places closer and cheeper.... but it ended up being ok. We then made our way up to the top of the Space Needle! I dont know what it is about it but i LOVE city scapes! i think they are so cool! i wish i could have seen it at night. I took about a million pictures up there. When we came down we asked these two random guys to take a picture for us. They very willingly did and then one decided that he wanted a picture with us and the space needle. He said "I want to stand in the middle of you girls. Then we can make the bars!! Like verizon!" He meant like the signal bars for cingular or whatever because Katelyn was so short and i was so tall. He was just a bit shorter then me. HAHA i thought it was funny... Then the other guy decided that he wanted his picture too... He was like 15 and he jumped in and put his arms around us. I bet he thought he was pretty cool. I wish i woul have got a picture with them too but we didnt think about it til after they walked away. After the Space Needle we went to the experience music project. They had this cool thing that looked like a tornado with guitars, keyboards drums, all that stuff it was way cool. The featured artist was Jimi Hendrix. Neither of us are too into him, but it was cool to see some of his costumes and music and all that. They also had a place up stairs with individual booths that teach you how to play the certain intruments. We did a keyboard one for like two seconds and they it froze up but it was fun. After we were done there we had to go because our time was up for where we parked. After Seattle we drove back to the mall by our Hotel and ate Panda express. A luxury we dont have in Idaho. We both snarfed it! it was so good and we were so hungry and tired after being on our feet all day! Next we went to the hotel and just chilled. Our feet hurt and we were way tired so we just laid in bed and watched TV. We fell asleep SUPER early....like 10-ish and it felt SO good to get some rest!

Day four was probably the most exciting! We woke up and ate another wonderful breakfast at our fancy hotel and then got ready. The first stop on todays list was the Aquarium. We actually took our time to find good parking and got a way better deal. We walked down to the water front and took some pictures and then made our way in the Aquarium. They had some way cool features and it was very educational. There were lots of very different things and kept you entertained. They had this part where you could touch them. A lot of the Star fish were slimy...it was kinda gross. The aquarium has some good views of the Olympic mountains and Elliott bay. After the Aquarium we did a cruise of Elliot bay. The captian of our boat was hilarious. Katelyn and i were bustin a gut! We actually got to learn even more about the history of Seattle which was pretty fun! The very first picture is from the boat. Here is a picture of Katelyn and I on the boat. After we rode the boat we just walked around downtown Seattle. Specifically Pike Place Market. It was cool to see all the little shops an all the things you could buy. I think my favorite was the rows and rows of flowers!!! I hated the smell of the fresh fish though! Katelyn was so disappointed because i HATE seafood! We could have got some really good stuff there but i am not a fan. Pike Place and downtown was cool but a little bit of a culture shock for me. There were TONS of homeless people....tons of creepy people that made me really nervous....especially the way they would look at you. Katelyn and I had death grips on our purses! We went to this super creepy store called Ye old Curiosity shop and it was freaky!! there were SO many people in there and most of them were way freaky. They sold kinda weird stuff that i was a little too nervous to look too closely at. It was kinda fun though once we got out alive. Plus also... i didnt feel like pike place was very sanitary. I didnt want to eat anything there. It made me a little nervous. Im sure going on a mission would cure that for me. It was still really cool though!!! After all that we got into Rio and made our way back to Spokane. By that time we were so so tired and kind of sick of traveling that we decided to skip touring spokane Sunday (today) like we were supposed to and just come home.

All in all the trip was AMAZING!!! i loved Seattle! I loved being away from home and having a little adventure of my own. Being in Seattle really made me excited to get out of Eastern Idaho and start a real life! Im excited to graduate college and live my life! I had a lot of time to think on the trip and it was just all around SO good for me! I really loved Washington! i definitely wouldn't mind visiting again soon! or who knows maybe even living there some day! its so beautiful!! Well thats all for now. Im gonna work on posting a few more pictures on facebook if you wanna see more!