.cute cuzins.

Going to school at BYU can be overwhelming. There are a million people everywhere you go.. I went days without seeing a single person that I knew last year. After going so long without seeing a familiar face I would go to the BYU bookstore and find Brother :) He made EVERYTHING better. Then he decided to do something with his life, so he had the audacity to take Baby and Oldest to AZ and left me all alone it P-town...

.... EXCEPT that my cousin Clark started as a freshman this year :) I LOVE being with family.

Last year I had a sport pass with Brother and Oldest which was a blast.. but Clark is as great a replacement as I could ever wish for :)

We go running a couple times a week together-- which turns into relationship or school work venting hour. This way we both keep mentally AND physically healthy!

Last week we planned a double date :) I hosted and we both brought the person that our recent running conversation had centered on.. This was great to put a names with faces haha.

QJ and me ---- Amy and Clark

(SIDENOTE: QJ is in my ward, he's in my dinner group, and he's my hometeacher. I see him frequently to say the least haha. At dinner group I told him to plan on 8:00pm... Then I dunno why but I just figured he would come over. Well I had to go to the store to get pumpkins and I was looking rough so I touched up my make up a little and then just put on a striped t-shirt. Clark shows up and Amy is in an ADORABLE dress with cowgirl boots and Clark looks handsome.. I was like 'Guys you realize we're carving pumpkins right??'. At around 8:15 QJ showed up (also looking nice) and I was brushing my teeth. I said 'QJ what took you so long to get over here??' and he said 'Well I was over at my apartment just sitting on the couch waiting for you to come pick me up since YOU and ME on a date. My roommates were all like 'dude what are you doing'.. so then I figured you weren't coming so I just came over...'. This is the point in the story where Kaylen feels like an idiot for the second time. The first was because everyone looked really nice and I had on a tshirt and skinnies.. and then second because I'm a terrible date. dang.)

Clark and Amy's looked better in the light..

But when we lit them up QJ's and my tree looked pretty sweet!

We didn't have candles so we lit paper towels on fire ha the effect was temporary but that flame coming out of the top is pretty sweet!

Long story short I love having Clark around :)

We are bestest friends.

Funny Dad

This is an excerpt from my my little sister Sass's blog and I HAD TO SHARE:

" ...But this did put a smile on my face:

A stake dance was being held across the street in the pavilion and my dad decided that he wanted to join in. This is him dancing on the porch, where I am sure all those 14-16 year olds could see him, seeing as our porch light was on. Haha! Gotta love dad's dancing! You should see him dougie, or what he likes to call the "doggie." I think I got my dancing skills from him. ;)"

We have the greatest dad ever haha. Thank you Sass for brightening my day! LOVES

*Miss Priss*

*photos taken by Ray with 12 hours notice. He is the best.

{GIRL}

There was a lot of screaming from little sisters as Oldest and Brother announced that their new addition was going to be a little princess :)

{the bump}

I'm debating not eating for a week so I can buy her some of these--

She's going to be a spoiled brat!

Best Christmas Present EVER!

I know this post is SUPER late considering it's 7 days into 2011, but believe it or not I am already bogged down with homework. BYU will kill me I'm sure of it. Anyway I wanted to share the best Christmas moment EVER!

After all the presents have been opened Oldest pulled out the last one under the tree and said it was a family present.. so we open it!

This is what we found :)

OLDEST IS PREGO!!!!!!!!!!!

This is me cheering

This is Sass professing to have known all along (lies!)

This is me crying because I am so stinking EXCITED!*

*except that I KNOW it's going to be a boy. We don't do boy things in our house... but I JUST KNOW it's a boy. :( I guess I will have to settle on argyle sweaters and black nikes instead of pink pumas and 10,000 adorable dresses, headbands, bows etc. Sigh* OH WELL!

T-Dogg (or Brother as I call him lately) wants to name him Billy. Not happening. It's especially funny if you know their last name because Billy _____ has quite a ring to it, but this is a battle he will most definitely lose. He says he never met a Billy that wasn't funny... weirdo. Haha, so we'll see who wins on the name picking. Oldest texted me yesterday and said she heard the baby's heartbeat... and luckily there was only 1 heart beating (she was panicked because Brother is a twin.. she did not want twins haha). The Newcomer is expected to arrive mid July. Oldest and Brother are moving to Arizona for Medical School at the end of July. Aunt Kaylen is NOT happy about this. I may or may not steal the little bugger for a couple months :)

THE END! Happy Christmas!

Have you ever met my family?

Well if not-- you might be missing out ;)

Coolest Kids I Know-

(Cruela Devil & Purple Fairy :)

I claim them any day

In other news: I am not a huge fan of Halloween. Why? Because I am a cheap wad and hate spending money on costumes.. Hence the reason I've been wearing this baby every year since I bought it at a thrift store when I was in 10th grade for like $3 ha--

But the sad news is that I have NO idea where it is. Probably storage :( I have no clue what I'm gonna be. Maybe a bank teller! ha

Update: Midterms are over. They were almost the death of me! SO much expected of you, SO much material to review, ZERO sleep. BUT I SURVIVED! and I'm almost positive that I passed all of them-- but we'll see.

This weekend I will play. I have studied FAR too much lately and eventho it's Halloween and I don't really love it, I'm gonna dress up and par-tay! NO HOMEWORK! (till monday).

Happy Weekend / Halloween.

Deals and Dads

I went shopping this week because I have been saving for a new pair of jeans :) At the bank you get a $60 bonus if you balance +/- $10 for the month.. and for September I was at $9.92+ HOLLER! promise it wasn't rigged, but anyway so that money + my saved money meant good news!

So Kla and I headed to the University Mall and can I just say I got some KILLER deals!! OMGosh I have ZERO buyers remorse today (which is a miracle, because I am my father's daughter and he has the worst buyers remorse I've ever witnessed in my life! lol)

dark wash jeans

AmericanEagle $39

black skinny jeans

Forever 21 $9

(semi monumental because 1-I've never bought ANYTHING at forever 21 because I get TOO overwhelmed by all the clothes 2-they are black! I like um :) AND DID I MENTION they were nine dollars? )

Adorable Eeyore grey button up

Banana Republic $16

(originally 60)

grey sweater thingy

AmericanEagle $20

(originally 40)

carmel boots

Charlotte Rouse $20

(originally 35)

Total= $105 +tax

Total Savings = about $80

it was a miracle to this poor college girl

I'm a happy girl today.

I wore my button up tucked in to my pencil skirt today and it looked SO classy! ha ha (not to toot my own horn or anything lol)

-------------------

Monday Oldest and I went down to RootTown to celebrate Dad's birthday with the whole family! (minus t-dogg, so all the orignals were there says Sass ;)

(I don't have the pics from the dinner but these random ones from my iPhoto are better :)

This is my dad :)

(christmas morning)

(if I was at home I'd scan in pics of me as a cute little blondie at Disneyland with my dad :)

(senior soccer recognition)

My dad is the father of 5 girls. He's been to his fair share of piano recitals, proms, a couple dance recitals, and soccer games as well. Estrogen is no stranger to him :) Even though he knew it meant hours on kiddy rides and pictures with princesses, his favorite family trip is going to Disneyland. He had open heart surgery when I was in 6th grade and then when I was a senior he came to my graduation even though he was sick with a mystery disease that sucked the life and energy out of him for months.

I'll never forget how much I cried as I watched my dad give Oldest away at her wedding. This pic still breaks my heart.

This last year has been tough for me. I have made a lot of difficult decisions and really kind of struggled. I've wondered often whether or not I'm crazy. I couldn't have done it without the loving support that I received from my parents. Even when I doubted myself and the decisions that I made I felt comfort and strength knowing that my dad has ALWAYS supported those decisions. No opinion matters more to me than his. He would text me constantly things like "The future is as bright as your faith" and "Come what may and love it". Or "Hey sis, just thinking about you, hope your doing well. Keep praying" (something to that effect). He has been my emotional rock lately.

I usually don't do these birthday blog speals like others do, but when my roommate Kelsey's dad died it really triggered this overwhelming sense of gratitude for my Dad. He has had more than his fair share of health problems and has given us plenty of scares, but I am grateful that today he is healthy (ish) :) - That at 47 he's still the most regretful, cheap, worrisome, honest, loving, inspired, mostest greatest dad ever!

My dad loves his girls. and we love him back.

(edited to add: my mom just emailed me this. YEAH! and that is IBC rootbeer I promise ;)

Happy Birthday Dad. Love you

New Companion, GC goals, Weekend, +Milestones

New Companion:

This is my newest bestest companion:

I LOVE my backpack :)

Do you think it can carry all this crap?

Oh ya-- it can.

Does it weigh 20 pounds?

YEP

and do I carry it around with me across campus?

... all day long.

Pretty much this thing saves my life and has replaced my purse because I'm so busy with homework 90% of the time that I take it with me everywhere in case I have a spare moment to read or finish an assignment.

---------------------

GENERAL CONFERENCE!

General Conference is honestly THE best. I think that I should just plan on having trauma in my life around the general time frame of conference because that's how it feels like it's been for me-- But I'm SUPER grateful that my trials come around then so that I can get those answers that I need--

(met Kla Bo and Heather there :)

So here are my post-conference goals:

I WILL CONSECRATE MY LIFE (Elder D. Todd Christofferson) BY:

1. Centering my life on the Cornerstone of the Savior (Elder Jay E. Jensen)
2. Utilizing daily personal scripture study (Elder David McConkie)
3. BEING GRATEFUL (President Thomas S. Monson)
4. Finding satisfaction in simplicity (President Dieter F. Utchdorf/Leonardo DiVinci)
5. Trust in God & he'll Trust me (President Henry B. Eyring)
6. Find SOMEONE to serve (Elder Richard G. Scott)
7. Become what I want to be by being what I want to become (Elder Richard G. Scott)

After conference we went up to my Grandma's in Idaho to hang out with my family :D I LOVE MY FAMILY!

(my TWO beautiful sisters :)

the two youngest were having a photo shoot at the feed yard!--

SOOOO Lakyn and I joined in

(I don't think that cowgirls wear coral cardigans, but oh well ;)

----------------------

GUESS WHAT???????

SportySpice is PREGNANT

OMGosh she called me the other day and informed me I was going to be an aunt :D. I am SO excited for her and SO two steps behind her now ha.

----------------------

BYU is TERRIBLE this year in football, but I paid an extra 30 or 40 bones to go to all their games... So we support no matter the score!

I love my cougs no matter what

:)

-----------------------------

Milestones:

Just in case you didn't remember I thought I'd remind you

-

Brazil came home a little over ONE year ago.. which also means I broke up with Brazil ONE year ago

&

I was supposed to be MARRIED to KJo a week and a half ago...

WHY DID ALL OF THESE EVENTS HAVE TO HAPPEN WITHIN A WEEK OF EACH OTHER?

...bad planning on my part I guess.

How am I doing?

--ask me when it actually sinks in

until then I'll be in my bedroom doing homework.