Homecoming!!

My very last homecoming ever at Cedar High is now complete. It was quite the week thats for sure! Dress up days, spirit nights, royalty assembly, the big game, and of course the dance. But it would be completely unthinkable for the teachers to ease up the slightest bit. It seemed like this week was insanly busy and almost everyday there was something that didn't get done that should have. But it was definitely a memorable week! I was part of the skit for Spirit Night to represent softball so that was fun! Then the Big Game. We played Pine View and ended up losing 26-28. Which we actually played pretty good I thought we were going to get creamed but our boys represented! Then of course Homecoming. I went with Jared Weaver to the dance and had a really good time. For the day date we played on a huge slip n' slip (tarp) ate lunch and played some games. It was really fun to have some close friends in the group which made it alot better! We ate dinner at Jared's house, it was delicious then headed out to dance in the rain. Thank heavens it only sprinkled a little :) Nae and Dot stopped by before he came and picked me up. Thanks so much girls, you two are so darling! It definitely calmed the mood of the usual stressfull, screaming minutes before departure :) Overall it was such a good week and I made alot of memories! I can't believe it is my last,.... well that is, till college!!! I Love CHS!!

Homecoming Game! Christi and Me :)

The HUGE slip n' slide! so fun!

The cutest girls and most amazing friends! Oh p.s. I feel like my hair is saying

Thank you very much for the country music award (Miss Congenitality anyone?)

and don't worry this is after I tried to tame it.

Bounteous Blessings- Too Many to Count!

Well, my dearest friend Lynae Lewis has got me thinking about my blessings lately. She is so darling and is always writing what she is thankful for on her blog or she even has a white board in her room for what she is thankful for each day. Such a good example, she is so amazing. So, I realized I don't often express what I am grateful for so today is the start of something new! (no that was not supposed to be a quote from HSM although I did start singing the song in my head ;)) anywho, I am so extremely blessed I feel so spoiled sometimes. I am so grateful for the most supportive, amazing family that is so strong in the gospel and loves me no matter what. Along with that I am so grateful for my relationship with each of my siblings and my parents. I am very thankful for the most fabulous friends in the world who make me laugh and are always there to listen to me vent. We have so many fantastic memories and make more daily. I am blessed with a healthy body, for the most part, that lets me participate in sports and live life to the fullest. I'm extremely grateful for a testimony of the Gospel and of my Savior Jesus Christ, it honestly gets me through each and every day and continues to make me the person I am today. I am also thankful for my material blessings like a house, Rhonda, food, clothes, technology.... I'm so grateful for the opportunity to get an eductaion, although at sometimes like monday mornings I don't always appreciate it... I am so Blessed. It's kind of crazy. Now it is just my personal challenge to realize something new each day. Oh also I am so thankful for Lynae who got me thinking about it in the first place :)

So Long Sweet Summer....

Well it's official. I'm all registered and ready to be a Senior at Cedar High school. Well, I don't know if I'm ready but I guess it's coming no matter what! Thursday is going to come waaaay to soon, but if my senior year goes by as fast as my junior then it will be over before I know it! I'm kinda nervous... I have some big decisions coming up pretty soon but at least I have one more precious year of high school. I'm really sad to say good bye to summer... it has been the BEST! S'more nights, Lagoon trip, sleepovers, fro cho runs, letter parties, luaus... wow SO FUN!!!! Things have definitely changed over the summer but hey what's life without a little change? And I know that, that change is not over... which leaves me on my toes but I guess as long as I keep a smile on my face life will continue to be great, right? Well, here come more memories just waiting to be made. Bring 'em on!!!

Martin's Cove Handcart Trek

Well I just returned from the trek to Martin's Cove, Wyoming! It was such an amazing experience! I made me so grateful for the blessing I have and even for my trials, they seem so small in comparison to what the pioneers had to go through. I'm not sure I would have been able to do it, it took an imense amount of faith. I often have wondered why Heavenly Father didn't spare them a little more and make it a little easier, but I came to the realization that he did. No normal human being could have made it to the Salt Lake Valley alive if it wasn't for a higher power looking over them. I was able to trek for Elisabeth Whitear Sermon who is my great great great aunt. She was simply amazing. Her husband died during their journey and she had five kids to take care of and make sure arrived to the Valley alive. They lived off of 4 ounces of flour a day. I literally can't even imagine. She cut parts of her childrens feet off because they were so frozen, her strength was incredible. We walked a total of about 27 miles in three days while pulling handcarts. I was able to go into Martin's Cove, cross the Sweetwater River, and pull a handcart without and boys and only my sisters and ma, which was called the Women's Pull. It was so awesome and made me appreciate my ancestors so much more. Without their faith and perserverence I wouldn't be where I am today... They made this life possible for me and I am so blessed.

All of my "brothers" pulling us the last little way :)

Me and Ethan in Martin's Cove- our ancestors were there together

Me and Tanisha made a mean pulling team during the Women's Pull

Me and Ethan crossing the Sweetwater. Originally his great great great grandpa carried my aunt across the river- literally saving her life.

Sister Weekend!

Well before I get started into the weekend, on Tuesday I went on a spontaneous Lagoon trip with Alex Jones and Fry! It was a blast! On Monday night, quite spur of the moment, we came up with the fabulous idea to hit the park for a day! Surprisingly enough all of our parents agreed to the day trip and let us go! I must admit I was quick shocked at how willing they were to let us go with no adults. Any who it was yet another awesome summer memory made! Now on to the weekend! While my parents were out of town I went to spend a few days with my best friend Mara! I can't even explain how much fun it was! I got a little sneak peak at college life with roomates and the lifestyle. Lets just say I can't wait! When I got there on Thursday night we started the trip off with a little visit to YoZone ( a scrumptous frozen yogurt place) and talked the night away. On Friday we went to a George Strait concert!!! It was absolutely amazing! It made almost melting away while waiting in line all worth it! Juliana Hough was the opening act and then Blake Shelton was the next act. They were really good but lets get real they just couldn't compare to George. I knew so many of his songs because his music was pretty much the sound track of my childhood. He is just simply amazing! Also, it was my first official concert! After the concert we were all hungery so we went to Denny's at like 1 AM and met 3 random boys from Cali who made us sit with them. It was fun but so weird, also if Denny's makes you sick in the morning you should try it in the middle of the night.... On Saturday while Mar worked I shopped and then we went to her apt and did glitter toes then went to dinner and visited the Gparents. On Sunday I got my first look at a Singles Ward... wow they really are like on the movie... It was such a splendid weekend! I love my sister sooo much she is the best!

Sisters by fate Best Friends by choice

One of my favorite songs :)

Week of Liberty and Freedom!

Looking back on this past week I have realized a am quite a free person with quite a few liberties I over look! Starting on Monday the parentals let me drive down to the lake with Fry, Alex Jones, and Bean to soak up some Vitamin D. We lounged around on rafts (the ones that actually worked) and had a cute little picnic! It was quite fabulous! Later on in the week we had our A-merican or third of July party hosted by Lynae for which my parents let me ditch out on camping and come home. It was so fun, we had a BBQ (what is the fourth, or third in our case, without some hamburgers or hotdogs, chips, and potatoe salad?) followed by a few rounds of Mafia,(a new fav), and Fireworks provided by the boys. After the hit came to an end, I was home alone so of course we had a sleepover! How can you go wrong with orange julius, homemade chocolate chip cookies, and popcorn at 2 in the morn? We stayed up late talking about everything under the sun and just having a good ole time! In the morning I went back up the mountain to spend the fourth with the fam of course followed by fireworks that evening! I really am so blessed to live in such an amazing country with amazing friends and family where the sky is the limit on what I can accomplish! Freedom in many senses is amazing!

Picnicin it up!

I think only one of the rafts out there stayed blown up...oops!

Just waitin' for the boys so we can eat!

Ammon's professional picture taking... right.

EFY!!

alright, alright, alright alright alright hey! (clapping) E F Y!! Yes I just returned from the wondrous epecially for youth at BYU! It was such a fun week, always is. We had a really small session like 300 people so that was kind of different but fun at the same time as we were able to get to know people better. We stayed in the Riv (Riviera) which was new but actually turned out to be really good. Exept for the part of not having toliet paper, a trash can, or soap. Somehow we seemed to manage. No worries we did hunt down the essentials- after all a week is a really long time! We ate at the Cannon Center which has absolutely delicious food! (quite different from the Morris Center- school lunch style) The only draw back was we had to hike like 2 miles to meet our boys everyday. Which actually turned out to be a blessing because we burned off all the calories we gorged our faces with every meal. Our Counselor was super cute, her name was Morgan she is 20 years old and was really chill and funny. We had 8 girls and 16 boys in our company which was definitely an added bonus! Our girls were really nice however I think me and Rachel were the most normal :p. Our favorite boys were three cousins that were absolutely hilarious and quite cute as well! Of course I had a COW (crush of the week) his name was Josh- one of the three cousins. I also felt the spirit so strong this week it was amazing and I am still on the spiritual high, I need to try and hold on to it as long as possible. Here are a few pics and a crazy video of our companies favorite Wa game! Best week of my life!
Oh ps our boys were darling and on Friday before the the dance they sang us the L.O.V.E. song from parent trap and gave us yellow roses! After we sang a new rendition of I'm Yours and gave them Big Hunks! Priceless!

Service Project! Cheesin it up!

Our favorite sign! Yes, we walked right by it everyday a few times
"I'm trying hard to grow... so please don't walk on me!"

The whole company- "until the end"

The three cousins- Andrew, Josh, and Thomas

plus Conrad who decided to be annoying once again...

The Beanlet and I! Love her- best roomie!