Welcome to Washington:
greener than ever and pouring down rain...

so excited to be home!

Teaching: No Greater Call

I was sitting in the McKay building taking my foundations of education final at 7 pm, way too late to be taking a final if you ask me. Especially if you had just sat through 30 final presentations for a different class right before it. I was watching my teacher interact with the other students in my class as they turned in their test. He shook each one of their hands and had a big smile on his face. He knew all our names and seemed so interested in our future and what we would become. He made sure that all of us would stop by his office next semester to chat and always say hello when we pass in the hallway. One of my other professors was the same way. She told us what great teachers we were going to be and how much she enjoyed the discussions we had in class and the opportunity to get to know us better.

And that's what made me think about what an amazing opportunity I have to be in this program. Being taught by teachers, how to be a teacher. That is unique in and of itself because other students are taught by professors about a certain subject or how to do a certain trade, but not how to teach.

I spent so much time this semester reflecting on how I was going to be that teacher that loved and cared about each student regardless of their circumstances and how everyone would have the potential to be successful. And yet, at times I was that student that didn't want to participate in class or was scared to approach the teacher. I thought that I could slip under the radar and they would never know who I was. But I thought wrong. That might have been possible in a general ed class of hundreds of students, but not in a small class of 30. My teachers knew my name, they commented on my work, they cared about me individually. It's their job to help and they gladly do it.

So even though I had a great semester, essentially I realized I could have done more. But ultimately, I got to see firsthand where both the teacher and student are coming from in a classroom and I think this really allowed me to understand. It changed the way I viewed my education and from here on out, I can't wait to be in these smaller settings where the teachers are there for me. Where I can fully take charrge of my own education and be the successful student by having those personal relationships with my teachers.

There Were Never Such Devoted Sisters

It has been a blast having Kenzie here this semester. We have had so much fun together and I'm pretty sure Heritage Halls is more of a home to her than Wolverine Crossing haha! So many fun memories and I'm so glad she's loving her school and having a great start to her college career!

Rockin' the footie pajamas! :)

Kickoff to Christmas

I was so excited to go up to Salt Lake for the First Presidency Christmas Devotional. It's like all of my favorite things put together...the Gospel, Christmas, and Temple Square :) Oh and my grandma! She's serving her mission up there and she got us tickets. It was so fun to see her after almost a year. She's even been to Germany and back! I loved hearing from the First Presidency and being in the Conference Center. MoTab sounded amazing! It was wonderful to walk through Temple Square afterwards. All the beautiful lights, the Nativity scene, the Christus, and my favorite temple. Absolutely gorgeous. Plus friends and family! Right when we were about to leave, it started POURING down rain! Like raining cats and dogs plus hail! Crazy stuff! It was a blast and a wonderful start to this Christmas season :)

love you grandma! thanks so much for letting us come up!

crackin' up! love these friends!

sisters :)

Thanks Secret Santa!

'Tis The Season

Egg nog and sparkly nails. Christmas is here :)

Love This Girl

On Saturday, I had a blast at the basketball game. Seriously, there is no doubt in my mind that basketball is my favorite sport. I love the hype and anticipation at the beginning of the game. I love the crazy fans and all of their cheers. I love the amazing plays and shots. I love singing the fight song and just living up every moment of the game, as well as enjoying the warm indoors :) And of course, a basketball game could not be complete without some awful ref calls. I'm looking forward to the rest of the season. It's gonna be a blast!

After, Emily and I made ourselves a little dinner and got to work on making some snowflakes. For some reason, I had forgotten my pro skills and could not figure out how to make a beautiful circular one instead some crazy rectangular one haha! So I learned, and experimented, and listened to some fabulous Christmas music. We laughed a lot and of course had a ton of fun!

And now my apartment is a winter wonderland, complete with lights :) love this Christmas season!

Home

Last week, I went to lunch with a friend and he asked me a question. If you hadn't been home in 20 years, where would you go or what would you show your kids? Here's a few that I came up with...

CHAMBERS BAY

I can't believe I get to call such a beautiful place home. It's so fun to go on family walks, play ultimate frisbee in the fields, enjoy the sun, play in the water, take pictures, take kids to the playground. Even though it's a golf course, there's so much more to do! It's so picturesque and I love that it's so close. We are so blessed!

GRANDMA BLACKNER'S HOUSE

Sunday nights just aren't the same if you don't go to grandma's. When we were little, it was always an excuse to watch Disney Channel. Once we got older, we couldn't get enough talking, laughing, and games in. We always have so much fun and it's a great start to the week to be with family and spend time together. We are so lucky to live so close to all our family and I love that I know all my cousins and get to be with them on a regular basis. It can get pretty crazy around that house, but it's always a blast! Sports, sleepovers, movies, holidays, games, talking, this place is always hoppin'!

CURTIS HIGH SCHOOL

The three places I spent majority of my time: the gym, the pool, and the auditorium, all got remodeled while I was in high school. It made for lots of adventures full of traveling to different pools, playing basketball at the jr. high, and having concerts in the cafeteria, but it was all worth it and I got to enjoy the new facilities as well. I made so many memories in high school and had so many great opportunities. I got to explore what I wanted to do with my life and made lasting friendships as well as gained experience that prepared me for college. I had amazing teachers and loved mostly every minute of class haha! Bust 'em Vikings Bust 'em!

SEATTLE

love this place. Pike's Place Market, Safeco Field, Benaroya Hall, Paramount Theater, the gingerbread houses at the Sheraton, the troll under the bridge, the Space Needle, shopping, the Woodland Park Zoo, the Seattle Aquarium. So much fun! There's something about big cities that are just so exciting! I'm glad I live just a short 45 min. away from the Emerald City.

Where do you call home? and what fun memories and places will you always remember? There truly is no place like home and I'm definitely glad that it has not been 20 years, but only 4 months since I've been there. 3 weeks and I'll be back :)

The Weekend

Friday I did a Progressive Dinner with my girls. There were quite a few things I had to get, so Katelyn went with me to the creamery. We didn't feel like carrying all the bags up the street and to my room so we borrowed a cart.

We returned it of course, but it came in handy! We decided that driving a cart around makes us feel like a mom. We don't even know how to go grocery shopping haha! 

The dinner was a success and 6 of the 9 apartments participated. We had some yummy treats and had fun socializing. The whole purpose was to get the different sides of the hall to get to know each other better because we are in two different wards. Here's the recipe for what I made. It was delicious!

Berry Kiwi Summer Salsa with Homemade Cinnamon Sugar Chips

And the drinks we made were hot chocolate, pink lemonade Crystal Light, sherbet and Sprite, and homemade sparkling cider (2 cans of apple juice concentrate and 1 2 liter bottle of Sprite)

On Saturday I took a test and then Greta met me on campus and we walked back to my place. We invited Emily over and enjoyed talking and being together. We did a lot of coloring, listening to music, and ordered pizza for dinner! It was fantastic! Here are my Disney Princesses that will soon be joined by a princess quote in my bedroom :)

Last night, I took a little spill on the stairs outside my building. Here's the worst of the damage but I scraped up my whole arm, bent one of my fingernails, and bruised my foot. It was an adventure.

I am now officially done with class for the whole week and I could not be more excited! I came home and organized all of my drawers and they look fabulous :) I made a list of the things I want to get accomplished this week and I can't wait to relax. Tonight I'm having an apartment over for dinner and I'm making taco soup, corn bread, and some cookies and creme brownies. It should be fun!

A fun-filled Tuesday

After 3 days of class, 3 readings, 2 math assignments, an FHE planned, a hall meeting, 3 large assignments due for one class all on the same day, and a paper written, it is finally my "weekend" and my list is significantly shorter than it was on Sunday night. I love checking things off my list and after next Monday, I will be one very relieved girl. It is still freezing outside, but it is sunny everyday.

Emily and I decided this morning that cell phones are very good at hiding in bed covers. I had seriously looked everywhere in my apartment for my phone. And I had just used it approximately 10 minutes before, but it was nowhere to be found. I tried texting it from my email and I heard it beep, but I was in the living room and the beeping came from my room, so at least that narrowed it down. I then saw that Emily was online, so I asked her to call it. But right after I said that, I found it in my bed. I had already looked there! Sneaky phone...

Tuesday was probably the greatest day ever! It actually started out kind of stressful, but as the day wore on, it just kept on getting better! I had stayed up late working on homework with Alli, I rolled out of bed and went to piano and got to sight read the whole lesson. Definitely one of my favorite things to do haha. Then I finished up some assignments and drew this wonderful picture of my interpretation of gender role, sexuality, and body image.

I went to class and then after RA class was done, I checked the mail.
Side note, don't ya just love surprises? I think when we don't have expectations for things, our lives can be lived more fully and we are more willing to accept things as they are because we didn't have this idea in our heads of how it was supposed to be, so there can't be any disappointment.
Anyways, haha I opened the mail box and sticking out on the corner of an envelope was the written Elder Bryan Robins. NO WAY!!!!! I grabbed the letter, ran out into the hallway and showed Emily and ripped it open as soon as I could. I just wanted to show everyone, I was so excited. I don't think it's even possible to describe the look of surprise and excitement on my face. I was almost crying haha! I think Em enjoyed my reaction while I read the whole 4 pages of wonderful goodness :)

Now you may be thinking, so what, she got a letter. But this was not just a letter. I had heard that this certain Elder was not going to be writing me anymore after he left the MTC. It was kind of disappointing, but I got over it. But three months later, a letter came! And it was so great to hear from him and see how he's doing and just get that confirmation that he's not just this person halfway across the world, but that he's real and alive and doing well! I was "flyin' high" as my mom said haha! And that is why we should never give up hope because you never know what the future holds and maybe there's part of the story that you just don't know yet. But faith, hope, and patience make the journey well worth it and give you perspective.

I made dinner with Kenz and Matt which was way good! I took a short, but much needed nap, and then went to staff meeting. We've been with the boys in our associate group the whole semester so far because they didn't have a hall adviser. But they finally got one, so this was our first staff meeting without them. We were kind of bummed about it, but on the positive side, there was definitely not as much chaos and unproductiveness going on. We had treats, painted nails, and discussed all the information we needed to, all in an hour. I guess that's the perks of being with a bunch of girls, we're good at multitasking haha!

this picture does not even give it justice. my nails are definitely hot pink haha like a billion shades brighter than this

The night ended with the ID fiasco, which you probably already read. What a day!

What are the odds?

I was reading through some old blog posts today and I really enjoyed it! It was so fun to look back on what I had to say about certain things and what activities were going on at that time. Except I realized one thing, I never write like that anymore! So I'm turning over a new leaf and trying to reflect on my day and see what I can find to be worthwhile to write about haha!

To start, I had a little adventure last night. David and I were doing scripture study in one of the activity rooms. As we all know, boys find it really entertaining to annoy girls and pester them. David put my ID card up on this wood trim near the ceiling of the room. When it was time to go, he tried to get it down. Except it accidentally fell behind the trim and was stuck. There was no way to get it out and for some reason I was extremely calm about the whole thing while he was freaking out. We tried to get it out with a piece of paper but it didn't work. I was just planning on getting a new one the next day, however I had to think more about where I went because our ID card is the way we get into our rooms. It was a problem haha. So the next morning I decided to call maintenance just in case to see if there was anything they could do. I'm sure it sounded absolutely absurd as I told my story because honestly, how does that even happen? haha! But they said they would try! So I showed the maintenance guy the general area it was in and apologized for the inconvenience. He just kind of laughed and said, "things happen." I said, "Only a boy would even think of something like that" He responded, "A boy did this to you? I think he likes you..." HAHAHA! And then I went off to class. When I came home, my ID card was sitting on my counter. Frank is awesome! And now I have a great story about how I "lost"/couldn't retrieve my ID card and then got it back. When in doubt, call maintenance :)

I enjoyed another delightful weekend...

It started with a never-ending list of things I have to get done before I can be free and soak up every last minute of my week off for Thanksgiving. So I am slowly, but surely checking them off. Priorities.

Thursday consisted of cleaning, homework, an intramural soccer game, cleaning checks, and a nice chat with Em. (She even tucked me into bed before she left :) Complete with sweet dreams and don't let the bed bugs bite!)

Friday started out raining, but quickly changed to snow. And it didn't stop ALL DAY LONG. I sat on my couch and read my book while drinking a cup of hot apple cider and watching the snowflakes fall.

you should see what it looks like now! this is only the beginning haha!

I practiced the piano and then went to dinner for Keza's birthday! I still can't believe that we're all turning 20. It's crazy!

the group!

happy birthday keza darling!

We then headed to the home opener for the basketball team. So pumped for basketball season! 

The night was finished with a movie and a late night walk in the snow. Filled with snow angels, snowballs, the temple, "liberating trees", a family of deer, and tons of fun!

Today Alli, Emily, Katelyn, and I had an activity for our girls. We invited Women's Services to come and do a presentation about nutrition and body image which was very informative and we ate yummy food and learned some nail tricks. It was a lot of fun and we had a great turnout! 

The rest of the day wasn't as productive as I would have hoped, but the list is definitely getting shorter. This evening, Men's Chorus was doing a free concert and we went super early to get in line. It was fabulous! They are so talented and I'm so glad we went! Definitely worth it. Their sets included hymns, cowboy songs, gospel tunes, and a grand finale of a Jungle Book medley with tons of fun choreography! We then ran home, got more bundled up and headed over for the second half of the last home football game. We were on the front row and it was so exciting! All the action is way more intense and you can actually see how big the players really are. Plus, all the cheerleaders were cheering right to us. And here comes the best part....WE WERE ON THE BIG SCREEN!!!! I don't think you understand my excitement about this. It has been on my bucket list ever since I came to BYU and now my dream was fulfilled! It was so great and we were just there dancing our little hearts out :) It made up for having to sit in the freezing cold. True fans right there. We killed Idaho and it started down pouring snow right after the game ended. I'm still trying to defrost...

I'm looking forward to a great Sabbath day tomorrow and to embracing this winter wonderland that surrounds us :)

The Danger of a Single Story

We watched this video for an assignment in one of my classes. I found it really interesting and applicable in our society today. Too often we focus on stereotypes and rely on the media to get our information and form our opinions. In the future, let's try to get the whole story and really understand people and the way they live.  I think being well-rounded in our information is important. What single stories are you hearing in your life?

I Just Want to be a Ballerina

All in One

Yesterday I finally got my RA name tag! I was seriously so excited and now I'm official :)

And today I got my sock monkey footie pajamas! Best day ever!!! And they came on just the right day because it is cold and rainy and blustery outside and now I get to be inside all comfy :)

I love them!!!! Thanks mom :)

I also got a letter from Spain today. It's fun collecting letters from around the world!

I am currently listening to Taylor Swift's new CD, I have a lovely french manicure done by my awesome sister, and I got to wear my rainboots to school. Today is a good day.

I Live for Weekends

Seriously. Every single weekend is absolutely fabulous and I never want them to end!

Thursday I spent majority of my day adding quotes to my ever growing quote wall while listening to Broadway/Disney tunes. It was absolutely divine and so relaxing.

Here's a few of my favorites:

If you have any great quotes you would like to share, please feel free!

Friday night, I attended one of the best ward talent shows I've ever been to. One of my favorite Jon Schmidt songs is Love Story Meets Viva La Vida. The music hasn't come out for it yet but these two young men figured out all the notes and played it. It was absolutely amazing and I just sat there enjoying every moment with a big smile on my face :) We struggled a little with the cello solo but the rest of the song made up for it haha! They are both so talented! I can't upload the video but I'll try to figure it out because it's a must see!

These girls on my floor played this cute song called I Heart You Online on their ukuleles. 

And here's my new favorite song. This guy played it on his guitar and sang. 

I was so impressed by the musical talent in the boys from my ward! 

I then headed over to the Central Building for the Nerd Dance. It was put on by several of the RA's and it was a blast! 

The night ended by making mini s'mores with two of my favorite people. Emily and I roasted our marshmallows on the stove and turned off most of the lights in the kitchen to try and portray a real fire haha! We laughed and enjoyed being together. I'm so glad she's one of my best friends! 

Then I went over to Kiwanis Park with David and we roasted our marshmallows over a lighter while sitting on top of a rock at the playground. We used our imaginations, sang songs, marveled at the beautiful night sky,and laughed a lot. I thought this quote summed it up...

Saturday morning started with a lot of productive cleaning and laundry. I love a nice clean apartment! Kenzie came over and we watched the football game. Although I don't love my school any less, I've kind of given up on the team. It's just not fun to watch a loss every single week especially when we could have won. We fall apart in the 4th quarter each time. Lame. 

I started making dinner and then Emily, Kenz and I went to the WILK to get tickets to see Brave! We bought ourselves Jamba Juice and were so ready. It was such a cute movie. Gotta love Disney! Then we came home and I finished making dinner: marinated salmon, rice, and corn. So good! Basically it just made us all miss our moms a lot. Kenzie had to go home but Emily and I watched Something Borrowed and had strawberries and nutella. What a lovely girls night. 

Sunday was very relaxing. Great church, great nap, great games, great ward prayer, great friends. Great day. 

Tonight I was reminded of a quote by President Uchtdorf..."By becoming the answer to someone's prayer we often find the answer to our own."

How important it is for us to be close to the promptings of the Spirit and to act on the impressions we have. I strongly believe that we are all here to help each other and the best way to do that is to testify of what we know and live by example. We can all be teachers and influence those around us by our own words and actions. You never know the power that a simple testimony, thought-provoking question, or gentle hug can have and how it truly can answer prayers.

Oh Mondays

I never know what to do with myself on Mondays because I always have to get my life back together after partying for 4 and a half days. I kind of forget that I actually go to school haha! I had a fabulous week(end).

Last Monday: FHE. We made some amazing pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and had an indexing party.
Tuesday: I watched a great devotional. http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2071&view=2 and that night Kenz and I went to watch an intramural soccer game. The Rising Suns did a fabulous job with a 4-1 win.
Wednesday: I sat in the rain and watched an intramural ultimate frisbee game, but had conversation with a super fun girl. And then went for a drive up to the airport, which ended in a super late night. And Kenzie officially moved in for the weekend because of fall break!
Thursday: A super lazy and relaxing day which included some show watching, sleeping, and a trip to Cornbelly's which was entertaining. I'm really starting to love fall and can't believe that October is halfway over!

giant rocking chair!

me sitting in the princess carriage :)

Friday: Movie watching, homework, another trip to the airport, a stray dog, a surprise visit from one of my favorite cousins, and a late night of work.
Saturday: A trip to the temple which included 40 minutes of singing hymns in an overflow room, and then another half an hour of waiting in line for confirmations. Very peaceful and definitely much needed. A football game that started out great and ended horrible. A pumpkin carving Halloween party with some cute kiddos and adorable couples. One of the perks of getting married eventually haha

Sunday: Church with Ben, chicken nuggets and games, a walk to the temple on a gorgeous fall day, good talks, an overabundance of missionaries and a friendly hello to Elder Brown, some playful conversation with a group of RA's, a lovely dinner of chicken pesto spaghetti with two really great guys (candy and back massages were involved), the teaching of how to solve a Rubik's cube, ward prayer, ticket to ride, and studying.

So much happened and I enjoyed every minute of it! Unforgettable memories made with wonderful friends and family.