FALL SEMESTER 2017

I was planning on writing this right when I got home for winter break but I had to sleep for like 50 hours to catch up from this fall semester. Just kidding, well kind of. I slept SO MUCH when I first came home. I would stay up super late and wake up... early-ish. Or my brain was just exhausted and I needed sleep from emotional and mental exhaustion from this semester.

Fall semester was so much fun. I had the best roommates ever and it was just laughs the whole time I swear. There was lots of dancing, back scratches, mini road trips, photo shoots, Kaitlyn singing and playing the guitar, puppies, lots of chicken nuggets and soda vine runs. so many soda vine runs.

One of my first favorite memories of this semester was at the very beginning when Kaitlyn tried to see how many grapes she could fit in her mouth... no joke. She ended up fitting 30 in her mouth.

Of course we saw the National Parks and it was amazing!! It was Natalies first time seeing them live EVER so that was so fun. I had been messaging Megan the violinist, I once went to their Seattle show and it was such a tiny crowd that we got to talk to them after and kept in contact with her ever since! And so, told her I was coming to the Rexburg show, and I wanted to say hi after the show. So, what did we do? We all snuck backstage afterwards and waited for her and the rest of the band to say hi. It was a BLAST.

Another fun memory was on the Sunday of General Conference weekend, Paige, Katie and I went to the Palisades so I could take Katie's graduation pictures and it was BEAUTIFUL. I kid you not- it was like out of a book. The colors of the trees were breath taking and we couldn't get over it. We just kept stopping every time we could to get out and look.

Oh how could I ever even forget... MEREDITH CAME TO VISIT!! I'm so proud of her for going on a mission. She is so awesome! I am so so proud of her. She is the funniest person ever and I love her so much. I'm so glad she surprised me (kind of) and came to hang with Katie and I one last time!

I also went to Utah to go to my nephews first Primary Program and UGH MY HEART!!! I am so happy and lucky to be an aunt :) Scarlett and Jackson are the cutest kids EVER! I know I am biased but they are the best! My heart is so full and happy whenever I see them.

Kiersten, Natalie and I went to the pumpkin patch and took pictures... of course. It was so fun and fall-ey (if thats a word?) and we also went to Mesa Falls the next day and UGH MY HEART AGAIN! i love the trees. love love love them.

Going home for Thanksgiving was much needed. Even though it was short- it was SO NEEDED. Seeing my parents, grandma, dog, and siblings was so fun!

There were so many memories, laughs and tears. There were many tears (from me haha) but I couldnt even begin to list all the fun memories there were just so many! I made new friends and restored the strength of old ones. I am so grateful for the school I attend and the friends I have. School of course was good! I had two jobs this semester, being a TA for Nutrition again and then for BIO264 with Brother Bailey! It was really time consuming but so much fun because I met so many great people in those classes! I also had great classes in general. I worked hard and pulled out the grades I wanted!

Katie graduated this semester and even though I cried the week before graduation because shes been my best friend since I've gotten back from Lithuania at school and just the greatest- I am so proud of her. Im going to miss living with her SO MUCH but I am so excited for her to start her career and see all the wonderful things she will accomplish!

Im so excited for next semester and for the new year! I cant wait for all the new memories I'm going to make and the laughs I will have. Even though 2017 was hard and Fall Semester was hard in its own way and a really great growing opportunity, it was really really great. I love BYUI, I love my friends, I love my family, and I loved FALL 2017. Only two more semesters and then... I GRADUATE?! AH! I've taken longer than planned to graduate but I am so glad I am. Its good for my mental health and also... word to the wise: dont change your major like 5 times ;) Bring it on 2018!!!

 I am sooooo happy I'm living with Natalie again!!! She is the best and so great to have around.

Conference Weekend Sunday Drives

This past weekend was one of my favorite times of the year! GENERAL CONFERENCE!!! I love conference weekend so much! Its where I get spiritually fed and physically fed with amazing food and dont feel guilty about not doing anything all weekend. Its where we can listen to ordained living Apostles and our Prophet, where the Spirit speaks through them and we are able to hear answers to questions and prayers that may have been weighing heavy on our minds.

I was pretty busy this weekend so I wasn't able to hear all of it, but the some of the talks I did hear I felt so much comfort and reassurance from. I loved Elder Bednars talk on the importance of going to church and the temple. I loved President Eyring's talk as well! I cant wait to listen to the rest of the ones I didn't get to hear :) One of my favorite quotes was from Elder Zwick's talk that was, "Remember to put Jesus Christ at the center of your life today."-Beau It was a great reminder for me that when I do, I will not be strayed with any decision that may come may way. One other reminder that was much needed for me was President Nelsons talk on the importance of Scripture study- I find it so hard to get my studying in-I'm not sure why- I think its because I tend to put school studying first when I should be putting my scripture studying first- but he said that when we put scripture studying first and make sure to do it every single day we will find decisions will be made easier, trials won't seem as hard, we will be stronger against Satan's temptations. How amazing of a promise is that?! I've been trying to do at least 10 minutes before homework and I'm going to try to make sure I do it- every.single.day for the month of October, then November, and so forth.

Katie, Paige and I were the only ones home around the middle of the afternoon session so we decided to listen to the rest of it and go on a drive to the Palisades and BOY AM I GLAD WE DID!! I love Fall time- all the colors are beautiful and vibrant. I took Katie's grad pictures cause she graduates this semester (sad dont leave me katie!!) but, it was so much fun! Ah, I love sunday drives so much. It was freezing- but so worth it. I cant believe we will be starting week 4 of the semester here- I feel like we've been here for 7 weeks already. But, its just getting started- yikes!

SPRING SEMESTER

Another semester done and guess what that means...

ITS SUMMER BREAK!!! 

I am so happy to be done for 7 weeks and to really do nothing. I mean, I will be doing some job shadowing and babysitting but that is the most "work" I will be doing. To be honest with you... I find that stuff fun! I mean, I also find school fun.. but going non stop from September - July (with SOME breaks in between) is exhausting and you just need a nice long break. 

Spring semester is always my favorite. People are happier, Karie Anne's is in Rexburg, you can be outside with out a jacket on, the days seem longer, its totally normal to eat ice cream more than three times during the week, the list goes on. 

The only sad or bad thing about Spring Semester in Rexburg is while its nice outside and the sun is shining. Its hot. While I love the heat... you cannot wear shorts on campus!!!!! So, jeans it is. Sometimes I would wear a dress but I don't have enough "casual" dresses where I wouldn't get asked why I'm dressed up if it wasn't Tuesday (devotional day where its totally acceptable to wear church clothes during the week without getting questioned about it). 

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

One fun thing I did this semester was Katie and I drove all the way to Seattle for Memorial Day weekend!!!! It was so much fun showing her my hometown and all the fun things to do in Seattle. We also go to go to our old roommate, Kelsey's, wedding! Kelsey and I actually grew up in the same town so that was a win win for us to come home for that! On top of showing her around, it was BEAUTIFUL weather in Washington! Summer's in Washington are the best. The green in the trees seem more beautiful than before, Mount Rainer can be seen as clear as ever, the breeze feels nice with the sun shining. It was hilarious to hear Katie's reaction the whole time we drove home, but immediately as we hit Snoqualmie Pass. 

"Its so green!"

"OH MY GOSH IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!"

"ITS SO GREEN!!! LOOK AT ALL THE TREES!"

I think I heard "its so green" so many times- but thats what I love about Washington. You've been to green places but when you come to the PNW in the Summer- that green is a different kind of green that you just can't explain. 

Being from the Seattle area, you go to Pike Place market... a lot. I never get sick of it but it is just so exciting taking someone who has never been! We of course went to the Fremont Troll, climbed up top and snapped a picture. My parents were with us too and it was funny to hear them say that they've never visited the troll either!! I was shocked. But, it was fun to try to climb up. 

Then we drove to Kerry Park which if you are planning on going to Seattle soon.. you need to go there. The view of the Seattle Skyline was so beautiful! It was a clear day and so you could see Mt. Rainer perfectly. Then we went to Pike Place and walked around the whole thing. We stopped of course at the gorgeous flowers. It was peony season and they were .... HUGE. I wanted to buy some and take them back to Rexburg with me but I knew they wouldn't last. :( I was so sad. We got lemonade at the juice place and it was so delicious... it was so hot that we drank the whole thing so fast. We also saw the cutest dog sitting in the basket of a bike and it was hilarious cause he had flowers surrounding him and wearing goggles you could barely see him!!

Then later that day we went to the wedding reception and I finally saw Natalie!!!! She had gotten home from her mission a week before and it made me so so happy to see her. It was actually longer than 18 months that I had seen her because she left after I had left for Lithuania. 

The next day after church we drove to Snoqualmie Falls and it was gorgeous again!!! So we walked down to the lower part and go pretty close. Then we had a BBQ with my grandma and parents which was fun and then headed back for Rexburg the next day.

Besides Memorial Day weekend Spring semester was so much fun. Oh and I cant forget about the 4th of July boy was that.... I dont even know. I was so upset about not getting my dang Mexican Corn!!!!! Alyssa, Me and her two friends went to Idaho Falls after we went to Rigby Lake with Katie and Amy too. In Idaho Falls they had all these food trucks and I decided that I was going to wait in line for the Mexican Corn and right as I was getting up there to get mine they stopped taking cards. So I had Alyssa wait for me in line, ran to the mobile ATM and then that was broken!! So I got back and begged them to see if they were actually not taking card anymore and they said no. I had waited in line for over 30 minutes and got no corn. I was so upset and mad!!! But its okay it was still fun. 

Overall, Spring semester was a blast. It was filled with lots of ice cream, pizza, dog snuggles, floating the river, spending time at Rigby lake, Fitness Marshall (its like zumba but I dont even know how to describe it), beautiful sunsets, bonfires for Brooke's Birthday!!! AND lots of laughs. Oh and of course... studying my brains out. It was a really hard semester balancing work, (side note: I got a job as TA for NUTRITION 150!!) and all my studying but I did it. I spent a lot of hours on campus and in the library but it was so worth it! I had the most amazing roommates and I loved all the memories we made together this semester!

Now for summer break and spending all my time outside in the sun and fresh air!! I cant wait.