Memory Lane

It was on this night last year when I first discovered the joy of ice blocking.

In the midst of finals week saturday night we convinced our friends to join us on a little adventure. It actually did take a lot of convincing, especially our dear friend Randy Hulet (pictured far right). He was in no way going to join.

Lucky for us Viv put her flirt on, how could he resist?

Just look how good she is with the guys.

It was a night of long trains, crashes, lost keys, and laughter.

I hope tonight is just as good. Oh how I love a good break from finals week!

Happy 11th

Today I was wearing this shirt.

I was with these girls.

And it was sunny!

Happy 11th.

The Five of Fall

School has started right up and hasn't stopped since.

It is a busy time. It is also a glorious time. Fall is on its way. And I can not wait.

So inspired by fall, and my first three weeks of school here are the top 5.

The Top 5 Moments in the first weeks back at BYU.

5. Today our drain actually drained. I know what you are thinking, if this is a top five moment this list is going to be LAME. But consider for a moment what it might be like if your bathroom sink drain did not drain. Hand washing and teeth brushing are automatically minimized. Which is absolutely no good. So when our manager came to our door with his tools today to fix our sink it was a top moment. I have even tried it out since the fixing. Now the water drains. And it is gggggreat!

4. Annual labor day hike to the Y. It is a killer on the way up but pretty awesome once you make it. It took us not so long this year. We were really booking it up if you ask me. I could hardly breathe and felt like dying when we hit the "brier patch" but it was a quality experience nonetheless.

3. Classes. I seriously have some great ones this semester. I am even pretty excited about biology which is saying something... I guess it helps that my TA is quite attractive. Got to love that story. I am just loving going to lecture again. They are so good. I especially love love love love love love love my LDS Marriage and Family class. It reminds me why I am a Marriage and Family Studies major. Because I LOVE it. I love reading about what general authorities have said about marriage and families. I love talking about it. I love seeing perspectives from all angles. It is AMAZING.

2. Blading it to Maceys to get some Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream. It all started when Maddie and I grabbed our rollerblades and hit the sidewalks. When we came home I had this desire to try a new flavor of Ben and Jerry's, and Maddie had no desire to drive. But she was cool with blading. So we got our blades back on and headed to Maceys. Adventure.

1. Best night so far. University of Utah vs. Pitt Football game. Fall means college football, and that was the first game of the season. It didn't disappoint either. A stadium filled with red. Freshly painted Utah endzones. Crazy fans. Even in the parent section. Fumbles, flags, and field goals. Even a couple of touchdowns. One overtime later Utah earned the victory. It was a great night. I even brought a BYU friend who loved the game, loved the atmosphere, loved Utah football momentarily. It was the greatest.

The Qualifications Were Low.

So I signed up to volunteer to be an New Student Orientation Y Group leader.

Let's just say the qualifications were low. They let me come in to have an impact on these new incoming freshman. I am not quite sure what they were thinking.

Last night durning an NSO event I hit all time rock bottom as a leader to the young ones. At BYU we say a whole lot of prayers. At everything we say a prayer. I know this. I know that I should turn off my phone during prayers. But no one really ever calls me.

So last night while we all gathered in the Marriott Center an opening prayer was given. Not two seconds from the point the prayer had started Rascal Flatts song "Take Me There" was going full blast in my hand. I opened my eyes and tried to answer so that it would stop ringing. To no avail. My phone is a touch screen and to was not picking up on my touch. In the moment I was not able to think through the other options like silencing my cellular device. So I tried to stick it under my backpack but that didn't even change anything. At this point all people around me we eyes opened, looking straight my way.

This is kind of how the prayer went down. "Dear Heavenly Father. Where your hopes and dreams and wishes live where you keep the rest of your life hid I want to know the girl behind that pretty stare. Take me there. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen." Followed by a lot of laughter and teasing.

Well I sure set an example for those kids that night. They have made sure that I turn off my phone for other prayers and events. I hope they learned something though. And I hope they remember to turn off their phones during devotionals, classes, and other necessary events.

It could happen to anyone.

Hopefully not in the Marriott Center though.

A Curious Case

Let me draw your attention once again to our bathroom.

This time we will take a look at our high powered toilet.

Something very curious happens every time it is flushed. I mean it flushes well. So that is good. It takes a moment but that is no big deal. And then it finishes. Which is awesome. But after a momentary pause of silence, our toilet will hiss. Which is just plain strange. It hisses like twice. Every time. It is quite curious.

And it kind of makes me laugh.

And I Call It Home.

I moved back to Provo in order to obtain a college education.

Moving day was the 21st of August.

That is when I first took a look of what I now call home. I walked into Apartment #11. . The living room was the first thing I encountered, followed immediately by the kitchen. It seems pretty alright. We decided at that point to buy some clorox wipes. Kind of necessary. Just a few steps later we got to a bedroom. I walked into my what is now my room. Thought about sitting down on what is now my bed, but decided to wait until we put a sheet over it. Passed the other bedroom and before we knew it we were standing in the bathroom. In this small apartment there is a very small bathroom. It was okay. A couple of clorox wipes would help it out too. Then we turned around. Within a minute we had viewed the apartment. It is cute I thought to myself. I had some convincing to do if I was going to believe that.

The next step to this equation was unloading everything I had packed up not 24 hours ago. Then we hit up Target, Wal-Mart, and Shop-Ko to get a few things to furnish our little apartment. After all was said and done, organized and unpacked I truly thought to myself, "This is cute." And I still do think it is really cute.

I have spent two whole days living in it. We have already taken the walk to campus and it is short and sweet compared to our Wyview hike. We found a cupboard for our kitchen. We had Ash's grandpa saw it in half so it would fit. Ash and I have matching bedspreads which is so cute. The living room couches are comfy. Great for a nap. I love not climbing into a top bunk. We can talk to our neighbors in the neighboring building from our bedroom windows. And we can hear everything they say. We don't have air conditioning. And last but not least... drumroll please... this one is really a treat... we have a window in our shower. And it faces the street. The first day of showering was just kind of as awkward as it gets. Seriously if anyone was just walking along on the sidewalk I could easily say hello and start up a conversation. Which would be great in any other setting, but in the midst of a shower it is just not so good. So Ash and I quickly made a curtain out of a rod and pillowcase. Awkwardness=Over.

I love our apartment. And I call it home.

Ice Blocking

Saturday April 17th 2010 was a night for Ice Blocking

A Block of Ice: $2.59

Convincing Randy to come with us: 2 Phone Calls

Finding a Park: 10 Minutes

Ice Blocking at Night: 1 Lost Wallet

Finding 1 Lost Wallet: Ashley Driving Up a Hill

Making and Crashing a Train of 7 people: 7 Bruises

Watching Randy Roll Down the Hill Backwards: Priceless

Ten Things I've Learned Freshman Year #3

Saturday In the Park

What is the best thing to do on a Saturday Night? (Or a tuesday, wednesday, thursday, or friday?)

Date Night.

Spending a Saturday in the Park with a special boy? Yes Please!

Except as amazing as dating is, sometimes it is not the Saturday Night in the Park kind of fairy tale experience that is portrayed in the media.

Sometimes dating is the awkwardest.

But I guess that is what makes it so much fun.

I love doing this new dating thing. See in High School dating is just outrageous. Asking people in extravagant creative ways and going all out. It was fun but this new kind of dating experience is kind of refreshing. I like it when a boy drops by to ask me on a date. Or the old fashioned phone call works just as well. I also like that dates here are just fun. There is no stress. Lie. There is a little stress, but it is different.

Also did I mention that it is sometimes the awkwardest. Because it is. But usually when that happens it just becomes the best of times.

Note: Awkward does not necessarily mean bad. It usually ends up being pretty good :)

Ten Things I've Learned Freshman Year #8

The Returned Missionaries of BYU

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of the title RM must be in want of a wife.

Ten Things I've Learned Freshman Year #10

Nap Time

Let's be honest, naps are for toddlers that need a nap or else they get a little grouchy, and no one wants a grouchy toddler, right?

Wrong.

I mean right, but not complete

A great part of my college experience has come through the participation of a not so regular nap time.

I only take 20 minute power naps though.

Right?

Wrong.

I have learned that 20 minutes turns into 2 hours in 20 minutes, I swear, I sleep for about 20 minutes, but 2 hours later the clock tells me two hours later has come in 20 minutes.

Does that make sense?

Probably not. Maybe you will just have to learn about it one day in college :)