2010

This year has FLOOOWN by.

I'll be honest, it was a pretty tough year!

I've grown so much & learned so many lessons.

I didn't realize how amazing it was though until I took a look back at all these pictures... And maybe it's just me because I can remember exactly how I was feeling the moment each picture was taken. But I've changed a lot!

I want to take everything I have learned & conquer this next year.

I can't wait for 2011, bring it on :]

This year...

Starting from most recent to the beginning of the year...

I met some of my very favorite people

Melissa & I moved into together, so fun!

I became an orientation leader love(d) every minute of it!!

I had a REALLY great summer with REALLY great friends, doing random silly things

I went to France & Scotland

I SURVIVED A PSYCHO ROOMMATE

I ran a 5k

I got into a food fight :]

I turned 19

I was adopted into a new family, the Washburns. I love them so much :]

I spent Spring Break in Cali for the MDDT dance comp with my old coach & best friends from home

I took a random road trip back home with my buds

My brother came home from his mission

And last but not least, 1 year ago on New Years Eve I was goin to the UVU dance & getting back to blonde (thank goodness) haha. I stayed up till 8am. GROSS! I'll definitely be going to bed earlier this time... I hope!

Happy NEW YEARS!!!!

Here’s to my pen for being the courage

to say the things I need to say;

and here’s to the paper,

for being the only one who listens.

I don't mind your odd behavior, it's the very thing I love.

If you were an ice cream flavor, you would be my favorite one

My imagination sees you like a painting by Van Gogh

Stary nights & bright sunflowers follow you where you may go

Oh I've loved you from the start

In every single way

& more each passing day

You are brighter than the stars, believe me when I say

It's not about your scars...

It's all about your heart

You're a butterfly held captive

Small and safe in your caccoon

Go on you can take your time,

Time is said to heal all wounds

Oh i've loved you from the start.

In every single way,

And more each passing day.

You are brighter than the stars... Believe me when I say, it's not about your scars, it's all about your heart. ♥

Merry Christmas Eve from LAS VEGAS!

It is beautiful here & somewhere in the 50's maybe 60's

Definitely short sleeve shirt weather :]

I jumped on my trampoline this morning for the first time in FOREVER

Last night I went to IHOP with the Smith girls at midnight

(it's their family tradition)

It was a blast & a half.

We had a game night at my house & we played Burn the house down.

I got 2nd place, woot woot!

Like all normal boys my brother & Dad finished/started their Christmas shopping today.

My grandma Zenda & grandpa Marc are here

Gma Zenda is always super funny cause she'll tell you the same thing like 5 times in a row haha. So she told me her life story this morning... It was actually pretty interesting! I have a sweet family.

Oh ya, she's 89.

....

Anyways, we're having dinner in (supposedly) an hour...

Then we will open up one present (pj's, we keep it classy :])

Then we sleep in the same room, all 5 siblings

Let the festivities begin!

I hope you all get what you want from Santa

♥

Don't forget the Christ in Christmas

My brother got in a car accident :[

Car accidents are my #1 fear...

It wasn't his fault so that's good.

You can't see extremely well but the front of his car got banged up

The other car is way worse... his still works... her car doesn't.

There are scrapes and dents all over the front & the license plate was smashed off

I'm so glad he is ok!

Christmas break

I will be home in 24 hours.

Then I will be at the Las Vegas bowl.

Then I will be having a party with the Smith's

Then I will be opening up my PJ's on Christmas Eve.

Then my family will have a sleepover in one room...

Then we will wake up early, line up in order of age (youngest to oldest)

Then we will take turns opening presents

Then we will eat the quiche my mother makes every year

& I love it.

Then I will watch all 3 Anne of Green Gables movies because I love her.

Then I will lounge around and sleep in because I can.

Then I will party with Lauren, Nicole, Kayla, Sarah, Brandee, and Shaylene

Then I will be back in Utah all too quickly

& I will spend New Years with some friends, find something fun to do, and be silly :]

Basically my break is going to rock.

Feeling like a hopeless romantic?

Feeling nostalgic?

Do you miss someone?

I do.

"No need to wonder what's on my mind... it's you."

Tonight I'm going ice skating in Salt Lake City

I couldn't ask for a better friday night.

Pictures will follow :]

I FELL IN LOVE

♥

swoon

Bored.

SO I go home in 5 days... exciting right?

I finished my major finals on monday

so I haven't had any studying to do ...

Thankfully I work everyday until I leave.

Because I AM BOREDDD.

The rest of the world is home or studying like crazy.

Need me to run any errands ???

I finished all mine. :\

Good News: Breakfast with Melissa tomorrow and exchanging presents

Goodish/Bad News: I speak in church on Sunday....

You should know...

in my spare time i am Santa Clause

My best friend is Cori Fox

I LOVE MY FRIENDS

I took pictures of my friend Karen & her friends

Thought of You from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

Some thoughts

- I always need a pack of gum on me. (trident = bad... extra= good)

- Little house & paperweight may change my life... probably already has. feeling inspired.

- I love yoga pants

- I won $100 gift card to Walmart - yesssssssss.

- The temple is the one beacon of light in this stormy life

- Christmas in 15 days. HECK YAAAAAAAA!

- I need to DANCE, asap.

- There should be snow on the ground right?

- My apartment smells like creamy nutmeg :]

- Would I be able to run a marathon? do I WANT to run a marathon? better question.

- I'm really grateful I have a job.

- I feel like Christmas shopping

- FIJI FIJI FIJI

- My best friend is Cori Fox. She RULES.

- I don't really care if I go out on a friday night... WAIT should I care?

- No letters today... Maybe tomorrow. Hope the weather is good in Florida.

- Life is Grand :]

"No need to wonder what's on my mind...

It's YOU."

♥

Winter is here.

Thanksgiving Break

.

My trip home for Thanksgiving was pretty good. The food was delicious & the Summerhays family came over & I got to see my 2 favorite kids Kate & Max :] It's always hard to leave my friends... I love them so much & I haven't laughed so hard in so long... I also miss my family dearly. They are amazing. I love my mom. She really helped me this trip, I needed those mommy/daughter talks. She told me that she knows I can do anything I put my mind to. And I needed to hear that... It's really easy to forget who you are & your potential. I know I did... but I'm ready to reclaim what has always been mine.

It was a great 2 day break :]

much MUCH happier.

a great end to tonight :]

got my zumba on, shook some bootay.

& now off to Hannah's for a sleepover

not so lonely anymore!

goodbye monday!

hello tuesday ;]

Hello? You out there?

I just needed to put this out there somewhere in the universe

It's a quiet empty night in Utah.

& time has never gone by slower...

only 26 & 1/2 more hours till I am home. ughhhh

Gotta figure this out

by Erin McCarley

I separated my heart from my head
to feel out what's inside
I don't like what I see so
I say Goodnight.

Don't wake me cause I'm dreaming
in color black and white is not my friend-
candy coated figures hold me in my bed.

I've never been so deep inside a shadow
I've never been so insecure of what I know
I've gotta figure it out
I need a story to tell.
Where's the feeling I long for
I've gotta figure it out before I lose you love.

Big city streets are calling me loud
the busy keeps me high
But this quite town is weighing me down tonight.

I know that I should stay here for a while,
listen to the sound of my shakey heart
Looking for gold in the ground.
I've never been so deep inside, a shadow

I've never been so insecure of what I know
I've gotta figure it out
I need a story to tell
Where is the feeling I long for
I've gotta figure it out before I lose You
Before I lose you- ohhh

It's not okay to make your way, to make you wonder
Why I can't hold you close and give you hope
and this will be all right.
I wanna make it right
I've gotta figure this out
I need a story to tell
Where's the feeling I long for
I've gotta figure it out
I've gotta figure this out
I need a story to tell
Before I lose you
Before I lose you
Before I lose you love

To Do:

List of things to do while home:

1. Hang out with Lauren, Nicole, Kayla, Sarah, & people

2. Sleep in

3. Golden Spoon with Stacy

4. Shopping with my mother

5. Run

6. Make Thanksgiving dinner with my mom & gma

7. Watch the Macy's day parade

8. Take pictures with the family

9. Play games with the Summerhays family

I'M DYING TO GO HOME!

Sunscreen.

Ladies & Gentlemen ,

wear sunscreen...

if i could offer you one tip for the future,

sunscreen would be it.

the long term benefits of sunscreen have been proven by scientists.

where as the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience

i will dispense this advice...

enjoy the power of beauty of your youth

you will not understand the power of beauty of your youth until they are faded

and trust me in 20 years you will look back at photos of yourself &

recall in a way that you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you

and how fabulous you really looked

you are NOT as fat as you imagined.

don't worry about the future

but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra problem with bubblegum

the real troubles in your life ought to be things that have never crossed your worried mind

do ONE thing EVERYday that scares you.

sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts, & don't put up with people that are reckless with yours. ♥

Don't waste your time with jealousy

sometimes you're ahead... sometimes you're behind

the race is long & in the end it's only with yourself

Remember compliments you receive... forget the insults.

If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters... throw away your old bank statements

DANCE.

even if you have nowhere to do it but in your own living room

Read the directions but don't follow them

DO NOT read beauty magazines they will only make you feel ugly.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

ouch.

the popcorn machine at work burned me again :[

Come, Come, Ye Saints

I love this hymn.

There are a lot of reasons why I love it

& some are really personal.

But I think everyone needs someone to remind them

All is Well.

Take a deep breath & remember the bigger picture.

You are loved.

Come, come, ye saints

no toil nor labor fear.

But with joy wend your way.

Though hard to you this journey may appear,

Grace shall be as your day.

'Tis better far for us to strive Our useless cares from us to drive

Do this and joy, your hearts will swell

All is well!

All is well!

Why should we mourn? Or think our lot is hard?

'Tis not so. All is right.

Why should we think to earn a great reward

If we now shun the fight?

Gird up your loins, fresh courage take.

Our God will never us forsake.

And soon we'll have this tale to tell.

All is well!

All is well!

Babbles

I am in an in-between mood that always follows the end of a work day.

It is a weird mood that has no definition because it's a combination of everything

I'm really really grateful for my friends.

I looooove them.

Harry Potter 7 comes out soon!!!

& I'm seeing it at noon on friday

hahahaha

Cori accidentally bought tickets for 12pm not am

I miss my home EVERYday.

I constantly freak myself out about where

my life is heading.

It is killing me a little bit inside each day I don't dance

I need a creative outlet.

I could cry right now thinking about

how excited I am for Thanksgiving.

Am I EVER going to graduate??

...

i looooveeee Bon Iver, Anne of Green Gables, & my mom

I would love a good mommy/daughter day.

A lot of people I know have been putting other people down

& i DONT understand why. How is that gratifying?

Do you REALLY find your self-worth by making

sure others don't feel happier than you??

LAME. AND BOYS... IT'S UNATTRACTIVE.

Life is so confusing

& I have no plan.

That is taking some getting used to.

blahhhh.

well, my shift is over.

off to Cori's

goodnight to you all :]

I don't know what this title should say??

OK , sooo... this week my friend Hannah had her 20th birthday. We all ate dinner at Olive Garden YUMM!!! Then I got SMUSHED in the car between Brian & my brother. They really did SMUSH me! Ouch. Anyways, it was fun & I love her to death :] I can't wait to be 20. Really I can't ... but then I want to freeze time and not get older. I'll let you know how that goes :] SOOOO. In June the Service program at UVU that I am involved in are taking 20 (what a good # haha) students to Fiji for 2 weeks. The deposit to ensure I am going isn't due until January BUT IF ITS THE LAST THING I DO I AM GOING!!!! So pray for me! haha. ALSO, last night I watched The Young Victoria with Cori & Staci. It was SO good. I loved it sooo much. I had been wanting to see it for a while! & oh my, Prince Albert is dreamy... If you do not melt while watching him then you are crazy. Unless you are a boy then I think you are an exception haha :] Movies in that time period do something to my heart, i guess you could call it swooning. Yes, I like that word ♥ swooonnn. Well, I get off work in 2 hours & 40 minutes. It is a friday so I am looking forward to having some funnnnnnn! Have a great weekend. Adios.

LOOK AT THAT HANDSOME FACE ^^^^ :] :]

♥

Romeo & Juliet:

"These violent delights have violent ends & in their triumph die, like fire and powder, which as they kiss consume."

-William Shakespeare

HE

is

a

genius.

♥

Halloween

I was little red riding hood... NOT a vampire. I spent Halloween working the UVU dance (because i'm on the dance committee) BUT it was fun. The boy in that picture is Wesley from The Princess Bride. LOVE that movie :] k, bye.

FALL

Sorry i suck at blogging lately! Here are some pics of my life in Provo lately. These are pics of my apartment & the pretty trees & such.