Brittany's Visit

Brittany came to visit this weekend! It's so fun to see her! We hung out, ate out and talked! ... a perfect weekend! <3

Sunday Dinners

Ok I realize this isn't really that flattering of a picture of a couple of us... however, we LOVE our Sunday dinners. It is so nice to come home from church and cook together... recently it's been Taco Sundays! We're on a kick with that lately. <3

I won't EVER grow up...

Tonight Cami and I went to see Peter Pan on campus. It was SO good I tell you... SO GOOD. All the little kids were sitting on the edge of their seats the whole time. I hope when I am a mom I do fun stuff like that with my kids, all the kids did really well thru the whole 2.5 hours.





The girl who played Peter [it's usually a girl ps] did such a good job. She was like a wild little boy... so much energy, so much fun. I don't EVER want to grow up!!! :) The best part is when Captain Hook poisons the medicine Peter promises Wendy he'll drink. To save Peter, Tink drinks the poison and is slowly dying, her light is fading. To save her, she needed children to say "I believe in Fairies!!" So when Peter asked us, the whole audience answered!! It was fun. I love BYU.





On a little less light note- I feel the same as Wednesday. Whatever this is that i have ... i am SO done with it. Done with achiness, Done with fevers, Done with the engine in my lungs. DONE. But I couldn't stay home another night. I am SO over that. I never get sick like this. I hate it. But... I've got to get better, I have missed 3 days of school and work. I have a lot to catch up on and I have to teach mission prep tomorrow... which means i really do need to GET READY. [i haven't done that in a while!]

A Smorgasbord...

Here is a smattering, a smorgasbord, a collection, random thoughts of the past 5 months.

i LOVE my roommates. love them.

i LOVE my major. MORE than you can imagine. and i LOVE the idea that i finally have one.

i LOVE my family and it is SO hard to be at school and AWAY from them .... but i LOVE byu.

there you go... enjoy!

... Here is a little photo catch up of everything that happended last semester... sorry it has taken me so long to get caught up!!!!



Sammy's... Sammy's has great burger and SWEET POTATOe fries. I LOVE this place!!!



It snowed in Provo, A LOT, in the middle of October!!! Cami and I broke out our mission coats... She went to Finland, I went to Wisconsin... Tara and I went to watch her flag football game, but it was cancelled!!!

These are the icicles that grew on our front porch... aren't they huge?? They just fell off last week... we are currently experiecing a thaw in Provo!

It was snowy and icy in UT, this was my flight home to AZ in December... I lOVE the desert. warmth.

The last day of finals, Cami and I were SWAMPED! I had two of 7 left to take and I had to work that day. Tara was done with hers and made us Christmas Crepes for breakfast! Mmm my favorite!

This deer visits our backyard sometimes. Lots of deer come down from the mountains, some live on byu campus.

Cami overwhelmed with homework. beds make the best desks.

Temple LIGHTS! We attended the 1st Presidency Christmas Devotional. It was fun to go, I've never been there in person before! The SLC temple lights were just as beautiful as always! Thanks Erin for the tickets! It was fun to see my old EFY friend David and his fiance. They get married today! Congratulations!

Cami, Terra, me, Erin.... Merry Christmas! The Christmas Devotional always puts me in the REAL Christmas spirit!

We introduced ourselves at ward prayer [its an activity BYU wards do every sunday night. It's like a little devotional with a song, thought and prayer.] thru a song cami played and terra sang. The rest of us helped out on the Chorus. It was fun. Emily, Me, Ali, Cami, Terra

Emily is really good at baking.

The Recording Studio.

I went on a little trip with Cami and Sandberg to visit Rexburg... I stayed with my sister and it was SO fun. It's cool that she is so close at school at a University that is so similar. I love you Britt! Rexburg Temple.

Sammy's in Rexburg...

We LOVE our front porch... by FAR the best part of this whole house!!!

We went up to Sundance Ski Resort in the fall to take photos in the pretty fall leaves. It's not quite like Wisconsin, but a pretty good subsitute!

Me, Layne, Jenni, Meesh

Lunch together at Kneaders... yum! I was so good to see her, I haven't seen them since their wedding before my mission.

Mission Reunion... one day we went out to eat at this really great place for breakfast in orem, the guy in the middle is the owner and he is HILARIOUS... it SO reminded me of Milwaukee!!!

Amy Brown came for conference! She is a girl I had the great privilege to teach, she taught me the most though. I LOVE her!

We attended most sessions of conference. BUT for one we layed on the lawn between the north visitor center and the tabernacle on temple square. We just had lunch and listened to the sunday pm session on the big speakers. I have always been jealous of people who do that so we tried it... i am a big fan.

Erin, me, britt at the Sunday AM session

Bobby and Sarah Came down too! SO FUN!!! It was Sarah's first time... They stayed with the Wesche's, the parents of one of our favorite elders, who was still serving in our ward at the time. I am so glad you came guys!!!

Britt came down with BK! My two favorite Brittany's are besties. I love it. I like with BK and her family in Milwaukee as a missionary.

Amy and her missionaries. I love ALL these people!!!

Hood trained warner and warner trained little j and I... our trainees are still in wisconsin!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I can't believe this is my first Christmas at home since 2007! When I say it that way it seems like FOREVER since I have celebrated Christmas at home... that's because it HAS been forever!

It was really wierd to have Christmas without Rocky this year. I know my family did it without me but this was the first time I have had Christmas at home without a family member. It was strange, but such a blessing to know where he's at and what good work he's doing. Sometimes I would think about him and think of what fond memories I have of being a servant of the Lord at Christmas time. It is a special feeling, nothing quite like it. Whenever we sang Christmas hymns/ carols in church or in my classes I would think of caroling every single night last December as missionaries. We wanted so badly to shared good tidings of great joy! We became pros, and I LOVED it. [thank goodness others in our company could sing!] President Barrett would always say something to the effect of, "The weather is cold, but the the gospel warms our hearts and those of whom we share it with". I miss that place a lot sometimes, but it was good to be home with my family!

It was nice to be off of school and have a break for two weeks. I didn't even THINK about school during the break. I did a lot of shopping and hanging out with my family. I got to spend time with each person. I really like that. It's so fun to be with Grandma and Grandpa and the whole family together. We don't get to do that very often any more.

Christmas Eve we went next door and did our usual Christmas celebration at the grandparents. It was REALLY fun. Especially since Brittany edited the video from thanksgiving and gave us a debut showing. I was truly hilarious. So much so that uncle jeff asked to watch it again. I'll have to get the link to it, I am pretty sure she put it on you-tube.

Christmas morning we woke up and the jolly old fat man from the north pole came thru again! Chloe and Sophie were SO excited. It's the first time I have been around them when they really get what Christmas is all about. so fun.

Talking to Rocky was wonderful and by far was the highlight of the day. We talked to him for about 2.5 hours. He sounds great, the consensus is... he sounds much older and mature. I agree. I love that boy. We laughed and I cried, I don't think he did... it's been over two years since I have seen him now. I can't believe it. I miss him. He's a great missionary, it's obvious in his stories. He even TALKS like a missionary- cute.

My mom and I made a trip to Thatcher New Years Day to see Regina and the kids. I also got to see Kamala & Chad... but we didn't take a picture :( I am not sure why. .. I think I was too distracted with the little guy. Their baby boy, Gunnar, is SO dang adorable. It was fun to see them and Regina's crew and the great place of EAC... those were the good 'ol days. Nothing but tether ball tournaments to worry about while I was there! :)

It was fun to see everyone. Amanda Monk, well Phillippi was home for Christmas too on their way to Texas for Brian to start school this semester. They are some of my favorite people, hilarious and their baby is cute too... see the trend? The year 2010 was BABY year. Everyone I know that is married, now has a baby!

AND i must say... you can’t beat a desert Christmas! It was wonderful to be outside so much, I think I got a little color too.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

*** Here are some pictures of the highlights! ***

We had breakfast with grandma at the Deer Valley Airport on New Year*s Day Morning. It*s a tradition. They always throw coins on the floor for the kids to pick up... it was really fun, we barely missed the Air Show.

While they were visiting for Christmas Aaron chose to be baptized around all the family! It was so good to see everyone. Barry and Moon Jung*s kids are SO stylish and smart. It was a good sunday activity.



Chloe got Sophie a Justin Beiber shirt for Christmas. Brittany helped her search and search to find just the right one, she was an instant diva upon putting it on. SO CUTE.. Good Job Chloe!

Playing Ladder Ball at Grandma*s on Sunday

Christmas Eve PJ*s!!

Christmas Eve at Grandma & Grandpas... the whole crew, minus Rocky, plus T*s bf.

Grandmas tree... a cactus! I love it.

Annual trip to see the temple lights with my moms side of the family... DQ outside after, I LOVE the desert. I LOVE my cousins.

The temple is so pretty... especially with lights and nativity all around it.

Sophie and my dad are two peas in a pod. She adores him and she has him wrapped around her little finger. It*s pretty cute.

Britt got them these outfits... i love them.

We were killing time waiting for everyone to finish eating in the restaurant. They were so sick of me taking pictures, so Sophie chose this pose. hilarious. Chloe is a pretty good poser too!

It was really important for me to see my family and I think we can say that we saw just about everyone! It was a GREAT Christmas Break!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I really miss these two cute little girls!

I was able to be home for 10 DAYS at thanksgiving this time around. It was AmAzing! I didn't get anything done on my to-do list, but I did get to spend a lot of time with the family. That made it all work I had to frantically do when I got back worth it!

I took the girls on bike rides a lot, Sophie even fell asleep once! It was hilarious. She loves it. We went to the park and various other places. I love those little girls!

This year we had Thanksgiving next door at Grandma and Grandpa's. It was so nice not to have to travel . Tammie and Jeff and their girls came, so did Bobby and Sarah and their girls and Debbie and Jennifer. It was a full house but we had a good time and we had LOTS of good food! Grandma and Grandpa are always such good hosts. Nobody does without, that's for sure. We also celebrated Aunt Tammie's, Brittany's, my mom's and Tatum's birthdays. That was fun. Brittany set up her computer and we all talked to Rocky on a video. She is going to make a DVD and send it to him. I know I would have LOVED that! I love my family.

I can't wait to come home in 13 days! I love Christmas Time!!

i'm back

yes. i know! it HAS been forever since i updated my blog. i actually can't remember the last time I posted something on here! It was long before my mission! thank-you to Brittany, my favorite sister, for keeping it up to date while I was in Wisconsin.

I just took some time to go back and read old emails from the mission. I have a terrible memory these days and that was proven upon reading those emails! They seemed new and exciting to me all over again, I had forgotten! I was a great writer.

Well, So much has happened since I got back [almost exactly 5 months ago!!!] SO MUCH.

Here are the highlights:

homecoming, i returned home from my mission... get that? i had to LEAVE wisconsin. i miss it.
s.warner came to visit, she was there when i got home! she felt like family.
culvers... hiked north mountain.
gave homecoming talk... had a party after. family came. fun.
Britt did a HGTV number on our room=beautiful
got to see chloe and sophie...[they're SO old and even CUTER now, didn't think it was possible!]
taught mission prep... super jealous of those soon to be missionaries!
kent and peter came to take me to dinner, good times.
trip to Mexico with the Stake
britt graduated from ea
got a goat
took over at the king household for a week... like old times! love those kids!
turned 23
went to sonya's wedding, she looked like barbie... but more beautiful!
worked with my dad a little bit
taught fhe at the donnors
tatum graduated from eighth grade
i was called to be ward camp director, went to girls camp with my mom [so fun]
i did 6 sessions of efy all over the west
spent a week in provo, stayed with sister roth, alyssa
taught with the elders from the CV ward a bit, colleen was baptized saturday! YEAH.
went to the GILA VALLEY TEMPLE dedication. [and cultural celebration] best. thing. ever.
best fam vacation to encinitas ever, minus rocky was mia
brodie married a girl from my stake... it was fun to see everyone at his reception
spent time in the woods with my grandparents. love them.
went on tour as a guest speaker w/ the high council... kinda fun, talked about my mission
had a sleepover at the weaver's. they're like family. my favs. i missed them for 18 mos. a lot.
spent lots of time with simba, my newest bff.... never thought that would happen
reorganized every room, closet, cabinet, square inch of my house [stephanie weaver inspired]
spent time with my family, especially mom, dad, britt, grandma and grandpa
made new friends at efy... kris and erin and lots more.
got in touch with old friends [asu institute w/ ryan & caroline]
played with chloe and sophie, bobby and sarah! we laugh a lot.
missed wisconsin.
talked on the phone with moriah, melindy, brady, & melanie. they keep me sane. BFFS.
got ready to come to the Y, packed and repacked. i have a lot of stuff!

and then i moved back to provo... so here we are!

there is SO much more to come... this post will probably change too...

it's good to be back!