It's still weird.

It's been a year since I graduated from high school. A whole stinking year. 

Freaky how fast time flies without you realizing it. 

I posted this picture on my instagram account for my #tbt post of the week, and it made me think about how much has happened in the last 12 months. 

-I ran my third Ragnar relay (and my fourth happens in 21 days. I've already resigned myself to the fact that I'm dying on the trail). 

-I turned 18, and celebrated my birthday with 12 of my favorite people over a weekend in Park City.

 -I moved up to school with five of the best friends I've ever had...and have now sent one on a mission, one leaving in just under 70 days, one home to go to a different school, and found an apartment for the three of us left. 

 -I started hanging out with these boys again, and have watched my best friends leave on their missions (four months down today!). 

-I made USU's A-Team, changed my major twice, and survived a whole year of college on my own. 

It's weird to look back over a year and see how much has changed and how much I've accomplished in what seems like such a small amount of time. 

Girls my age are getting married, some of the boys have been gone almost a whole year, and I haven't seen some of the kids I grew up with in months. 

High school was great--for the most part--but I'm loving this whole "real world" thing. That doesn't mean it's necessarily all fun and games, but college definitely has it's perks; and I love every single minute of it. 

That said...here's a list of things I want to do by the time I'm 20 (which is about a year from now). 

What are some things you'd add/want to do? 

The perfect beginning.

Do you remember daydreaming as a little kid about being in college? All the fun you'd have, the friends you'd make, and finally living on your own? I think I did it probably every second for a majority of my life. 

But even as independent and spontaneous as I am, I've learned that being a grownup isn't all fun. We do have to work, try hard, and things are tough sometimes--but this year has been, in a word, unbelievable. 

I've been in college for a whole year now--and I've learned a lot. 

I've learned that I'm a wizard at baking, but cupcakes and cookies only do so much for a starving college student. I sincerely appreciate vegetables now. My mom laughs when I come home, because I will load the biggest bowl we have with salad and eat probably three servings. I could probably eat a bag of snap peas in a sitting, and I know probably a million and a half ways to serve a chicken breast that's been grilled on a George Foreman. I'm ten times more grateful for my job, because I eat whole meals there; and I'm a thousand times more grateful for my mom's food when I come home. For the times I'm not at work though, I've learned that peanut butter cupcakes and chocolate chip applesauce cookies go a long way in bribing people into dinner. 

I've learned that sometimes, the job of your dreams turns out to be your worst nightmare. A month into my first JComm class, (Journalism Communications, or Japanese Communications if you ask Bronson and Jackson) I realized that journalism was NOT what I wanted to be doing. I loved every second--or almost every second--I spent working on a broadcast and newspaper staff in high school, but professionally, it wasn't for me. One of my favorite sayings says something like, "Find something you love to do, and you'll never work a day in your life." I absolutely hated my journalism classes, and I would have rather dropped out of school than take another. This semester, I'm taking two English classes, and I'm registered for three more next fall. I absolutely love every second of them, and I actually look forward to doing the readings and homework. College has taught me that even if you've spent years of doing one thing, don't be surprised when it doesn't seem to work. It's OK to change your mind. Just find something you love.

I've learned that college really does change everything. I used to think I'd be so excited to go back to high school football games, and when we went to Viewmont's prom our junior year, we even talked about going back this year. Yeah....NO. Don't get me wrong I loved high school, for the most part at least, but that time has passed. And I finally understand what people mean when they say "I wouldn't relive those days for anything in the world."

I've learned that you should give everything a try. I can't think of a single time I regret doing something that I originally questioned. Try EVERYTHING. Whether it's camping on the Quad, intramural volleyball, or a time out game during an Aggie Basketball game...DO IT. You're only going to regret the things you don't do.
Most importantly though, I've learned about myself. That's what these few years are for, to find out who you're really supposed to be and what you have to do to get there. So take chances.  Stay up til three a.m. every night for a week and make memories. Take classes you never thought you would. Fall in love with someone. Jump in First Dam. Sleep on the Quad. Wait in line for six hours for a football game. Stay in the library for sixteen million hours. Talk to that really cute kid you pass every morning. Whatever it is, just do it. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, because we only have one chance to make this experience the best it can be. The most important thing I learned, though? "Be in love with your life, every minute of it." 

As we move out this week, and everyone we've met heads out on missions, gets married, changes schools, or just goes home for the summer, it's hard not to think about how much is going to change and how much I'm going to miss. 

I'm going to miss midnight McDonald's runs, orange chicken dates, 2 am prank wars, and all night long conversations with the 106 boys. Those boys give new meaning to the term "love/hate relationship" and as much as it drives me crazy when they knock on the door at 1:30 in the morning, I know I'll miss it when they're not living next door anymore.
I'm going to miss Cookie Wednesdays, First Floor socials, and Sunday dinners in 103.
I'm going to miss my first single's ward, running to ward prayer, and visits from the bishopric during finals week.

I'm going to miss bagel dates, Lundstrom study parties, and Taco Tuesday with my favorite people.
I'm going to miss our endless pile of dishes, our perpetually disastrous bathroom counters, our crowded fridge, and my closet that doesn't fit a quarter of my wardrobe.

I've made a million and a half memories these last nine months, and I'm going to miss this apartment more than I think any of us realize right now. We're all off to a thousand places, headed on and up in the things we're doing...but I can't think of a better place to be, or better people to be going with.

So here's to our freshman year, for being the perfect beginning to the rest of our lives. 

Every good thing.

I've come to the conclusion that life likes making me emotional. 

This week, as we've been registering for the next semester, applying for new apartments, and packing up everything we own for our move home, I've realized once again how absolutely incredible this school year has been. 

In the last nine months, these girls have become my best friends, my sisters, and my go-to's. 

We've gone through break ups, finals weeks, and funerals together. 

We've sent off missionaries, opened mission calls, and been accepted to other schools. 

We've shared each other's clothes, dyed each other's hair, and made each other cry (ONLY ONCE, THOUGH).

You couldn't find five better people anywhere in the world. 

These are the girls who offered input on a letter to grandparents I hadn't seen in years, and then drove with me to find their house in the middle of the night. 

These are the girls who listened to my pointless rambling and endless whining about boys, and then got as excited as I did when things started working out. 

These are the girls who had Dr. Pepper and letters waiting for me the day I said goodbye to Bronson, and the ones who cried with me when I realized that a vast majority of my friends were leaving. 

These are the girls I stay up with all night talking about the future, doing homework, and thinking about life. 

They're the ones I go to for everything, the ones whose closets I share, the ones I hurry back up to Logan for. 

They're the first people I call when something good happens, and the ones I go crying to when something is wrong. 

They know what to do when I'm having a bad day, and how to knock my ego down a few steps when I'm being a brat. 

And I honestly don't know where I'd be without them. Kenzie makes fun of me because I say that everyone is my "best friend." But when it comes down to it, I really only have five of those. 

They've changed my life more in these last nine months than I would have ever imagined, and I am grateful for them every single day. 

Grateful for the fact that I've been able to call Emi my best friend for the last six years. 

Grateful for having Kenzie there with me every step of the way these last few months. 

Grateful that Adrienne thinks I'm worth living with another year. 

Grateful that I found another twin in Lauren. 

Grateful that Kelsey knows how to always make me laugh, and helped me survive last semester. 

But mostly, I'm grateful that somebody realized how much I needed these girls. 

So here's to us, 102. 

For making our freshman year the best it could have been, and for giving us the best friends a girl could ask for. Because even though all good things come to an end, we've got years ahead of us. 

I owe you the world, girls. 

Getting a little crazy.

Sometimes, my family goes on vacation without me. So I get to make Aubrey's birthday cake while they're all driving home from Vegas...and I make Emily come help me. Chocolate chip cake and cream cheese frosting...it was divine. That's all. 

Having all these friends leaving on missions means that we attend farewell after farewell after farewell, and you start losing track of how many sacrament meetings you've gone to in the last month. Sunday was no different, until we got to Danny's and remembered that he was part of a Spanish-speaking ward! Talk about cool. We were the headsets for his talk, but I listened to the rest of the meeting in Spanish. This church is so true, friends. You can feel the spirit so strong in Sacrament meeting, regardless of what language is being spoken. 

We had a game night on Sunday night with just our roommates--after we finished watching the Bachelor of course--and somehow that turned into Kelsey telling our fortunes. Emi's was good, Lauren's was even better....but it all went downhill from there. 

Laur and I have a problem with dying our hair, and it may be starting to rub off on Emi. We did a lot of red in Laur's hair, and Emi decided she wanted some too. An hour later, she's got a whole layer of Ariel red and a bunch of random peek-throughs of platinum blonde and red. And it looks cool. 

Wednesday, we all drove down to Bountiful so we could watch Miss Kelsey open her mission call. I don't think I've ever seen Lauren so stressed, and none of us could hold still all day long. Kelsey will be leaving May 22, 2013 to serve in the Knoxville, Tennessee mission. She's going to be an incredible missionary, and I'm so grateful for her testimony and her example. :) Sadie's going to Taiwan, Spencer's going to Hong Kong, and Boston's going to Seattle. I couldn't be more proud of my friends and believe me when I say I'm so blessed to be able to call them my friends. 

These next couple of weeks are going to be crazy with all my best friends leaving/getting their calls, and I couldn't be happier. I hate saying goodbye..but I know they're headed where they're supposed to be going. 

The church is true folks, and I know it with all my heart. 

We've been changed for good.

Even though we've all said goodbye once, the goodbyes are suddenly becoming more and more real. Because now? It'll be years before we're all together again, instead of weeks or days. The future is a big deal, and it's weird to think that there's a large part of my life that these kids won't be a part of.
But honestly? There's no other reason in this world I'd rather have them leaving for. Two years may be a long time, 700ish days in reality, and even though it terrifies me, there's nothing I'd rather them be doing. They're making the right decisions, and going to all the right places.
I owe a lot to these kids; Bronson, Sam and Jackson in particular. And even though a million and a half things have changed in the last little while, I will always consider them my best friends. Sam's farewell was today, and it was completely surreal (more so than Blake's, if possible.) and slightly heartbreaking to realize that these kids are going to be gone for a relatively long time, but words can't describe how good it felt to finally be together with everyone again for one of the last times.
And in regards to the girls? I couldn't ask for better "sisters." They make me laugh, keep me updated on what's happening, and listen to just about everything I have to say. And even though we don't see each other every day, I know that they'll be the ones cheering at my wedding and the ones I call for baby advice.
I guess what I really want to say is that when it comes to friends, I'm really really lucky. And I've missed them.

Good luck, Sam. We're gonna miss ya kiddo. But you'll do great things, and those Guaminians are real lucky to have you. :)

All grown up.

Twelve hours from now, I'll be on my way up to Logan with my best friend. We're almost completely moved in, and the rest of the roommates join us tomorrow. (Family Home Evening? Be prepared. Snow 102 is the coolest dorm on campus. Just wait. ) Since I'm all grown up now, and it was my last weekend home, we went on a few adventures. 

Last night, we went to Johnny Rockets with the SSMT (figure it out.) after we'd shopped and explored Centerville all day. Then we went up to Kyle's to watch a movie. Considering the fact that it was Hailee, Haley, Emi, Maddy and I there, he got out-voted pretty quickly on the movie. Our bad. The night before, Hailee, Kyle and I went up to Mueller Park to build a fire, and realized that we would in fact survive in the wilderness if it ever came to that point. The things I learn with these kids. 

I spent Monday-Thursday babysitting the three girls while Ryan, Brittany and my parents were on Trek. We school shopped, went to Zupa's, and played at the pool. I'm gonna miss these hooligans. 

And last but not least, my baby sister is a psycho. She decided that since Mom was gone, she could drive her car with her eyes closed and no hands, and backwards. Weirdo. 

Pointless post, but the moral of the story is, I definitely won the friend lottery. Also, my siblings are the best I could ask for. And even though I'm only going to be an hour away, I'm going to miss all of them like crazy. Yay for Skype and Google+ Chat and FaceTime. 

Be prepared for some epic intro to college posts. Seriously. It's going to be the adventure of a lifetime. 

I can do it too.

This whole moving out thing has done wonders for my creativity. [Just kidding, it's really just motivated me to get a start on the projects on my "Someday When I'm Creative" board.] I have a rather large collection of earrings, and there was no way I was going to have room for a jewelry box in my dorm room. So using a post I found, (you can read it here) I made my own earring-display-holder-thing-a-ma-jig. It was super easy, and only cost me around $10--which could have been way less, I was just OCD about having colored wire, and that ended up being more expensive.

I bought a frame, mine's 9 by 13, and removed the glass, backing stuff, and everything that was around the wood. Then I took these little eye screws and spaced them down the sides of the frame. 

(The other tutorials had staples or nails, this is just what I had on hand.) 

Then came m multicolored wire. I cut a length of wire that was double the width of the frame, plus a little bit so that I could twist and knot the wire. I twisted the wire in between hooks to allow "slots" for the earring posts to go in, but you can always do a single wire and just hook them over it.

Finally, I just had to narrow down my collection to the "bare essentials" of my earrings. Ummm, yes, I may have a problem. It's alright. Really. Super easy to make, and it coordinates with my jewelry tree that will be holding my bracelets and necklaces. (No, that collection isn't any smaller. Yes, I'm aware it's a lot of stuff.) 

So basically, contrary to popular belief, I can be crafty! Also, the fact that I'm moving in a week is weirding me out. My "college corner" is rapidly growing, and the amount of stuff in my room is shrinking, drastically. I still have to write my essay for my intro class, and finding a job would be nice. Any suggestions for awesome places that are hiring, let me know. Because I need a job. 

My parents are leaving on Trek on Monday, along with Britt and Ry. Which leaves me home with the babies, and we've got adventures aplenty to go on. Stay tuned. 

It's not that serious.

BIRTHDAY. I'm 18. Which means I can sign my own release forms and vote and stuff. Yay. Also, it means I have to do grown up stuff, like work 12 hours on my birthday. But it's okay...waitress lesson 208: If your coworkers sing Happy Birthday to you right as the dinner rush comes in, people tip way better. Just keep that in mind. Also, it doesn't hurt if you're outrageously happy because you just ate a massive slice of chocolate cake. In other words, I'm alright with work. We--meaning Emi, Kyle, Hailee, Morgan and Max--watched the Dark Knight that night as well, in preparation for...

a private screening of the Dark Knight Rises. Where of course, we had to be the psycho teenagers..adults?...that we are, and dress up. Well, Kyle did. Complete with fake scars, a velvet purple blazer, and green hair paint. The looks we got were priceless. If you're not planning on seeing that movie, I would highly recommend that you change your mind quickly. It was incredible. The Dark Knight was, well, dark, but this one was just downright awesome. A little jumpy, and definitely intense. I'm pretty sure I have an ulcer from the last 30 minutes. So worth it though. The ending will keep you thinking for basically ever, especially after you realize that Batman is a trilogy, and this is the end. So. GOOD. AND! I got a Macbook Air. Best half purchase I ever made. Thanks Mom and Dad for pitching in. :) 

On a completely unrelated note, my friend Alayna Brian is getting married tomorrow. I've looked up to Laynie since we went to youth conference at Snow College when I was barely 14. She's basically one of the most wonderful people I've ever met, and I want a love like her and Brian's someday. They epitomize the phrase "a match made in heaven." So, Miss Laynie. Thank you for being such an incredible example to me as I grew up, and for letting me tag along with you through various girls' camps and youth conferences. Someday, I hope to be able to perform Ingrid on the ukelele around the campfire like you can, and have as fantastic of a wardrobe as you do. Also, I'm fairly certain I'll never forget the lessons you gave us in kissing...strawberry bubblicious and rock stars, anyone? You're incredible, my friend, and I wish nothing but the very best for you and Brian as you start your life together. Congrats, lovebirds. 

This will always be home.

Sundays are usually long to me for some reason, but today? I've never been more content. The "bike gang" invaded our driveway and we showed our beach cruisers off to the culdesac. We visited Stella, and saw the coolest--and only--collection of owl figurines I've ever seen. And to top it all off, we had upwards of 20 people in the "social circle" in our front yard until 10:30. Your neighbors may be fun and all, but mine are something else entirely. I've got multiple sets of parents, and uncountable siblings. And I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
Two years ago, we moved from our house on 1250 into the culdesac next door, just a few months after my grandma passed away. Big changes were a huge part of life that year, and leaving a house that I'd grown up in was really weird, especially since we now live less than 500 yards from it. To top it all off, the next summer we moved my grandpa and aunt out of the house that my mom grew up in. I drove past it last night to watch fireworks, and that was weird. It made my heart hurt--and I know I say that all the time--to remember everything that happened there and how much of my life revolved around that place. But situations change and things happen. We all move on.
Not many people can say they've lived in multiple houses in the same neighborhood, but we're just one of a few in our ward that can. We're stuck here, for good. This is the neighborhood I'll bring my kids home to someday, and these are the people I will always say influenced me the very most. I may be moving away in a month, but that won't change much. We all come back in one way or another, and I know I will.  And no matter where I go, I know that this place? It will always be home.

You could be my favorite.

Since it's only been approximately twelve years since I posted, I'm running low on pictures and stories. Oh wait. Fourth of July, Girls Camp, and all the random adventures that come with being the only child in a world full of adults have been happening. What of it. 

On the Fourth, my family went on a hike up Waterfall Canyon with the Smith's. We found a little cave--that I wouldn't go into...SPIDERS--and Mary stuck her head through the little opening and...posed. Of course. What else would we expect. 

After our hike, we went to breakfast at a little diner called Moore's Cafe, and ate enough food to sell them out of their special. Our bad. But seriously, this was the best pancake I had ever eaten. So thick and fluffy and full of whole, fresh blueberries. Mmmm. 

I'm the world's best babysitter (maybe, not really, okay.) And so I get to spend everyday from 8-5 with Monroe, who's 5 and Elly, who's 2. They're adorable, and they let me do whatever I want. Which usually involves whatever will keep them laughing and happy. Today? That was a fort that stretched across their whole living room and up the stairs. They played for hours, and gave me a chance to finish my book. WINNING. 

I saw the Katy Perry movie last night...and it was incredible. Like, Hailee-and-I-were-giggling-the-whole-time-and-squealing-like-four-year-olds incredible. Poor Kyle was so sick of us. Oh well. So tonight while we waited for Emi, we baked a cake. Which was supposed to be turquoise and coral...but ended up looking like a fantastic mix of Katy's greatest hair colors. It's probably fine. 

In other news, my mama is starting a cake business. And she's good. If any of you are interested in buying a pretty--and yummmmmy--cake, she'd be happy to do it. Check her website out here. 

Four days left in the 18 TIL 18 COUNTDOWN. Yay for the last few hours of being a child. 

It's all a little underwhelming.

While I was laying Mary--Baby Rapunzel--down for a nap today, my Utah State planner fell off my desk. Serving as a not so nice reminder that not only do I only have six weeks left here, but I only have SIX WEEKS LEFT HERE. I freaked, just a little. Hmmmm. [deep breaths. in. out. in. out.] It's kind of like one of those moments where you just keep thinking, "This can't be happening. There's no way this is happening. This is really happening."
Let's just say it's a very good thing that a vast majority of my best friends are moving up with me, or else I'd be in trouble. But Hailee, Morgan, and Maddy aren't. And I'm a little distraught about this whole thing.
While I'm all overwhelmed and stressed and such, I'm still not quite sure what's going on. Girls' Camp is this weekend, and it still hasn't quite hit me that this is the last time I get to go. I have an assignment due for my first class on the 22nd, and I'm not even thinking about starting it yet. I'm still 17 people, I'm still a child. And yet...I'm not. It's mind blowing, really.
In other news, I'm bored with my mane again. Like seriously contemplating some new ideas. Any suggestions? They'd be much appreciated. I'm thinking new hair will count for a lot of the 18 TIL 18 BABY countdown....yes. Yes, it will.

I really, really, really like this one, but I don't know if I have the guts. Do I go lighter again? Cut some of it off? Or keep it the same? Let your ideas flow kids, because I'm up for anything. 

Also, I've got to start packing up my life soon...and I want your thoughts on what's essential. Any of you stayed in Logan? Fill a girl in, would you? Any thing you wish you'd had your first year of college? Let me know. Comment here, tweet me, or FB me kids, because this is a whole new road for most of us, and we need all the help we can get. 

It's only happened once.

#PC2012

An excellent adventure with my best friends. We ate a lot, shopped a lot, swam a lot, and laughed a lot. Highlights of the trip? 

Massive jacuzzis in both hotels. Which required all of us girls to take tool pictures, and take group showers in order to fully use up our available resources. Bubble bath beards like we were three? Check. Shower rotations, rather than waiting our turn? Double check. Tool pictures in the mirror? Triple check. (I left off the duck-face one, because I do have some dignity.) 

The boys were just down the hall from us, but we had all the food. So rather than being kind and giving them breakfast, we rationed them grapes and a carrot and made them fight for it in the first annual Utah Hunger Games. The response was underwhelmingly entertaining. 

While the rest of us girls were being game directors, Emily kicked me out of our bed and managed to take up an entire king by herself. Stay tuned for round two, which involves her in the same position, in a different hotel and bed. I'm still the one that gets kicked out. 

Slightly out of order, but this is when we tried to go to bed for the first time, around 2 am. Slowly, all of us girls reconvened in the main room until 4:45 am, laughing over nothing and taking all sorts of pictures. Friday morning, we got checked out of one hotel, and headed over to the outlets. Where we literally shopped until we--or the boys--were so sick of shopping they wanted to die. So we checked into our next hotel (we're not going to talk about the adventure we had finding it) and got ready for Emi's birthday dinner.

WE SAW BANKSY. Four Art History nerds meant that the rest of the group got dragged up and down Main Street while we tried to find the crazy cool art work left by this famous graffiti artist. I honestly don't think I've ever seen people so happy, and others in the same group so completely un-thrilled. Also, J. Kelly Oram commented on my picture on FB, so life is good. 

This isn't the best picture we took, but it accurately captures our excitement, and Kyle's...less than excitement. The difference was even more exaggerated Saturday when we dragged them through every gallery on Main Street in the 100 degree weather. Yay, art?? 

Part Two of the "Emily hates waking up and gets mad that we didn't tell her breakfast was ready" saga. It's enthralling, really. 

These two were meant to be friends. Really. 

Kelsey gave Emi and I sleeping masks for our birthdays, and this is our modeling picture. It's also at two am, so don't judge. And yes, we all slept in the same bed. What of it. 

When I say we went through every store in the outlets, I mean every store. We even made the boys go through Claire's. Maddy and Kyle really liked the hats in Columbia...and they went on an adventure, according to Maddy's face. 

I deleted the picture, but both mine and Emi's cars broke down in the space of three miles. Hers overheated in Parley's canyon, and we went to pick up Trent and Sadie to go in my car. As we were loading, I made the mistake of saying, "My car's working fine!" and three miles later, we were pulling off at 2100 South in SL because mine was overheated. Carma's a...wonderful person. (Hailee reference.) 

Long story short---AND I WANT DETAILS PEOPLE---this weekend was fantastic. Despite being completely sleep deprived and extremely exhausted, it was one of the best ways to celebrate a birthday we could have ever done. Thanks kids, for being the best friends a girl could ask for. 

Also, the countdown til I'm an adult (18 TIL 18 BABY) has officially started. Day One and Two? Spend a weekend in Park City with your best friends. Day Three? Plan the last girls' camp you'll ever attend. Stay tuned for days Four-18. It's an adventure in the making. 

It's all the same to me.

It's days like today that make a girl think. One of my friends gave his farewell address this morning, and it was just another one of the many surreal experiences that have been happening lately. Watching Blake on the stand, Emi and I just kept looking at each other and saying, "Blake, OH Blake." in some weird voice or another. But as I listened to his talk, and heard his testimony, I couldn't help but be proud to call him a friend. Then, as the (super attractive) RM giving his homecoming address spoke, there was this almost overwhelming feeling that came over me that that is what I want these boys to become. Not that the boys I hang out with now are anything short of amazing, but this kid had matured in ways that aren't possible outside of the mission field. He knew where he was going, and how he was going to get there.
And while it's hard to comprehend sending these boys away for two years, seeing the "finished product," so to speak, makes it all seem worth it in the end.
There's a quote I've seen that says something along the lines of, "missionaries leave their families for two years so that other families can be together for eternity." When you think of it that way, it's hard to not say goodbye. 

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and ^^^ this little beauty is completely true. Blake's parents were called to serve as mission presidents in Detroit, Michigan, so he moved out there the summer before our junior year--which will be two years this August. (?) Those two years flew by, which gives me some sort of crazy hope that the next 2-3 will go just as fast. I know it's wishful thinking to hope that we'll all be friends and still around by the time these kids all get home, but it's what every girl thinks right as the boys leave. And who knows, it just might work. Blake will be one of the first kids our age to leave, but Trent leaves for Ghana in October, and Matt leaves for Arizona in September---which is so not OK---and while it's weird to think that these are my best friends heading out there, I know it's the right thing for them to be doing. And I couldn't be more proud of them.


In other news, tomorrow, the entire Bell clan is invading Lagoon. And by Bell clan, I mean....
Me, Brittany, Ryan, Emily, Aubrey, Mary, Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Jo, Maddy, Carrie, Clint, Evan, Owen, Amy, Brent, TJ, Brevin, Davis, Ian, Melanie, Dan, Kenzie, James, Breanne, Laura, Zach, Hyrum, Sheron, Branden, Megin, Dallin, Lolly, and Addy.
AND, I'm in a walking boot for my leg. It's going to be an adventure, to say the least. Today, when we were talking about it, I told my aunt Amy that I was going to wear a swimsuit all day because of the water rides. "Ash...there is no way you're getting married in the next year then, just saying." Finally, someone that is on my side.
Park City in four days. Be prepared for pictures, summer flings, and lots and lots of stories.

All good things come to an end.

Well. We did it. Twelve years of schooling, teachers, homework, tests, and social circles are finally over. We graduated. I didn't even trip. And they played the school song for the last time--it sounded like a funeral march. Fitting? or eery? Anyway. (Sidenote: Only at Davis High could you graduate and not know the person sitting right next to you. Seriously. I'd never seen--or heard--of her in my life. Better late than never, right?) The class of 2012 accomplished a lot. Multiple state titles, record breaking academics and test scores, and we were the first class in all 98 to ever get kicked out of a dance. I'd say we're winners. But the those things are all good, and fun, but the things that matter most are the people we met and the people we've become. Conveniently, those two subjects are directly linked. These girls survived nearly 12 years of school with me, except for the couple years they decided to be smarter than I was and go to Spectrum. But we all make mistakes. ;) But really, we've been through a lot. And in less than two months, we'll be two hours away from each other, and leading separate lives. It's a little odd. 

So as my favorite ginger heads off to Europe for a month,and the lone blonde betters the lives of underprivileged children, I just want to say thank you. 

In other news, I had a massive dinner of sushi with my parents. Mmmmm. I could eat that stuff all day, everyday. My husband better like it, or we could have some serious issues. Also, the all night party was fantastic. However, I wouldn't recommend doing Flowrider and iRock early, because then you're exhausted. Also, don't let your best friend belay you on the rock wall...I almost died. But that's another story. We bowled more than I ever have in my entire life, climbed walls, earned ticked, and won the sickest t-shirts in existence. (It has a giraffe with a mustache on it. Is there anything better??) I got home at 4, and slept til noon. I'm sore, tired, and not wanting to go to work tonight. But it was so worth it. 

We did it, kids. We really did.