Life is a gift, untie the ribbon

Just a few little updates!

2012-01-19T13:22:00.000-08:00

Well. Not much has happened since Christmas, and that is not a lie. I have been somewhat "busy" but with little things here and there. I pretty much just tend to work and hang out with my friends, its a very exciting life that I lead. :) But there are a few little things to report on:
1. I finally finished reading the Harry Potter series! I LOVED them!
2. I have seen 1-4 of the Potter movies. :) Need to finish the rest!
3. I just got put in as relief society president in my ward - SCARY, I will come to this one again...
4. I am going to applying (and hopefully starting soon) to a few online Masters programs for Early Childhood Education

I was hoping to have at least 5 bullets! But my life is just that boring that I could only come up with 4! Sometimes I seriously wonder why I even bother to blog! HA!
My life right now consists of me stressing out about my new calling! I held my first presidency meeting last night, and it was about 3 hours long... OOPS! And I still feel like there is so much to be done and talked about! I am very new to callings like this....I hope people are patient with me! :)

Christmas

2012-01-08T08:13:00.000-08:00

I have started this post like 4 times and then I forget to finish it! Oops! I should have done it while I was on break. That break feels like it was a month ago and its been a week... ha! That is not a good sign!
But anyways! Christmas was so fun, of course! Not only was it nice to be off work for a 10 days, but it was so fun to be with my whole family for that time! I love being able to spend so much time with everyone! It reminds me of when we were all young and the memories that we made during those Christmas seasons. In general I just love this time of year. Everyone seems to be more giving and understanding. AND I think that the snow is beautiful covering the earth. As much as I don't like driving in it... I love looking at it, especially when the sun is peaking out and everything seems to be glittereing...
Enough of my rambling... Here is Christmas in pictures:

Kieden and I just hanging out on the eve of Christmas!!

Joy and the youngest little ones!

Kash. Man he is a cutie!

We had a special visitor!

We attempted to act out the nativity with all the children...

Joelle did NOT like letting go of her babies to be baby Jesus.

Music time!

5 little monkies jumping on the bed!

Christmas morning! :) It was so fun to see Joelle and Jocelyn open their presents and bask in all the things that Santa brought them! Oh, to be a kid again!!

Turns out that I am still a kid at heart... footie pjs AND a pillow pet!HAHA

My favorite was when everyone was over and we opened the rest of the gifts! Especially the homemade gifts! :)

Joelle has the cutest little personaility ever! She randomly decided that she wanted to get into this bag with her doll! Look at the smile on her face! ha ha Love her!!

Erica totally takes the gold medal for being the most excited about her gift! She got a grill, and I am 90% sure that I have never seen her so excited! :)

All ready for church! :)

Well I am sad that Christmas is over and that we have to wait a year for the most wonderful time of the year again! But I have made the resolve to always have a Christmas attitude!

Sledding!

2011-12-28T16:03:00.001-08:00

Well, it is that time of year again! SNOW! :) I love snow! I don't really know why, I normally just stay inside and enjoy looking at the snow from the warm cozy houses! PLUS Logan is so stinking cold all winter long... I am SO glad to be in Colorado to enjoy winter here! There is nothing better than a Colorado winter!
This year we went sledding when Joy and Jason got into town! it was so much fun!! We went twice this time! I loved every minute of it! I had the best snow pants! I was able to go down super fast just by sitting ont he snow! The best thing about sledding is that it was fun for both the kids and the adults! :)

Joy and I!

Joce all ready!

Kitt all ready!

Joelley-bell!

Mom loved it!

First run down!

Joy loved it as well! :) She even went down like a peguin, on her belly!

We went down together! It was pretty funny! Joy didn't want to be in the front because she didn't want to get sprayed with snow, but she put her feet down to slow us down and she got just as much snow as I did! :)

Joelle is just the cuttest little snow bunny ever!

So much fun was had by all!

Sledding DAY 2!!

Love this picture! Erica was so scared! HA HA

What a cute family!

Mom and Joce making snowballs!

Snowball fight...

Kids to Santa and Parties!

2011-12-25T14:57:00.001-08:00

This month has been so much fun! :) I love living in Denver and that I get to go and do fun things with my family. I got to go with my nephews to see Santa! It was so much fun! I loved getting to go with them and experience it! :) Here are a few pics from the day:

This month, being the month of Christmas, I had a lot of parties to attend. :) The first one that I went to was my ward Christmas party. It was also an ugly sweater party! It was a lot of fun! I was able to help out with a bit, and there were quite a few people there. I just love parties! Here are the highlights:

Helping with the ham:

Ash and I:

Linda and I:

The next party was kind of a sad one. My good friend Ashley from work moved. She was such a good friend, it was so sad to see her move. :( We all went out to dinner before she left for Nebraska! I love my work friends!!

All of us:

Ashley and I:

My co-teacher Meghann and I:

The next party I went to was one for my friend Shelly. She graduated from nursing school! So there were a bunch of us that went to help her celebrate!

Jared and I:

Shelly, Ashley and I. :)

Susan and I:

The next party that I went to was for my work! It was a lot of fun! It is so fun to hang out with my work friends outside of work! :) I love all the wonderful ladies that I get to work with!

Meghann, Tegan and I

Tiffany and I

Hollie and Shawn

Wendy and I~ :)

Christmas post is coming soon! :)

Catch up, again! Warning, lots of pictures!

2011-12-11T17:08:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been meaning to do this post for weeks now. :/ Oops! Sorry friends! So Thanksgiving came and went and I loved every minute of it! I love the Holiday season and I feel like Thanksgiving is the start of the most wonderful time of the year! I love November and December!
Thanksgiving was a small one this year at our house. It was just my parents, Blaine, Eggs, Kash, and me. :) We enjoyed a nice, delicious meal and then played some games and just hung out! :) I love days off from work and playing with family! (I can't wait for my vacation in December!) Here are the pictures from Thanksgiving!

Just tickling Kashers!

Eggs and I making some sweet Pilgrim hats!

Kashers waking up from his nap, and Grandpa trying to get a smile from him.

Kash just loves his Aunt Karen so much!

Eggs and I! (Tradition picture)

AND my favorite part of Thanksgiving is getting our Christmas tree from the mountains! For this it was everyone but the Frandsens :(. It was a lot of fun though! I LOVE going to the mountains! We all got great trees this year too! :)

Kash on the way up:

Cute little Kitt~

Rachel and baby Kieden!

I cut down our tree this year! :)

Tradition picture! :)

Kash helping with the tree... I mean "helping"

Kitt made this tiny snowman all by himself! So cute!

Eggs and Baby Kieden.

What a good looking family!

Love this one!

So, Kash and I went "running" and he stopped and decided that he wanted to climb this tree...

The ride home, everyone was sleeping! :)

Utah! H & M and lessons learned!

2011-11-19T22:53:00.000-08:00

So here I am again trying to catch up on my blogging! I know some people (who will be remained unnamed) dislike it when I blog like this... but I don't like posting 3 or 4 posts on the same day... So here we go!

Utah!
I took a day off work to go to Utah to see some friends and family! It was so much fun! I am so blessed to have the best family in the world! I spent two days in Logan with some friends and then spent the rest of the time with my Uncle (who is more like my second dad) Earl, Aunt Virginia, and cousins Marilyn and Phaedra. :)
It was a weekend full of fun and laughter! Marilyn actually took Monday off to spend with me! I was so stoked!! We had a delicious breakfast and then went to see the new movie Footloose, and we both loved it! So much fun! But then I had to come back to reality! :/ AND I don't know what my problem was this trip, I didn't take any pictures! WHAT THE CRAP IS WRONG WITH ME?!

Breaking Dawn
Something else fun that I did. I was able to go to the midnight showing of the 4th movie in the Twilight series! I love going to midnight showing of movies! I think it is so fun! I went with a bunch of my lovely coworkers and it was just so fun! I LOVED the movie!!! I was a little bit worried on how it would turn out, but I was pleasantly surprised! I also went and saw it tonight with Erica. I have seen every Twilight movie twice during opening weekend. I am just so popular that two different groups of people want to go with me! HAHAHAHAHAAHA Just kidding! The movie was just as good the second time! Props to the movie makers.

H & M
So. I had never heard of this store until my sister in law moved here and always talked about it and how she couldn't believe we didn't have one here. I started to look at their website and I fell in love with the store. Erica wrote to them and requested that they build a store here in Denver, and what do you know? They listened!!! Last weekend the store opened, but Eggs and I were too busy to go... so we went this weekend and I loved it! It looks as though I will be spending more time at 16th Street Mall!

We actually had to wait in line to get in!

Erica thought I should get this outfit...

(I considered it for about... 1 second...)

I thought Blaine would like this outfit for Eggs...

(She disagreed)

I secretly love these cat ears and wish I would have bought them...

Oh, we ran into some freaking protesters...

It was a great trip!

We stopped at Target on the way home... We thought these hats were pretty sweet!

Lessons Learned
My thought process on this section is that if I put it last that it wouldn't get read. I just feel like I need to put this out there, but I try not to put too many emotions and feelings on here. So I have learned a few things about myself as of late. I really am very non-confrontational and I need to work on that. It is so bad to the point where I never really tell people why I am being quiet and reserved and I think it can cause more problems... So I have been really working on telling people my feelings, and you know what? It actually makes things better. Funny how that works. I am so glad that I have learned this and I can really work on things. Who would have thought that talking through things is so much better than biting my tongue. :) Slowly, but surely, I am figuring out this thing called life. :)

Dreams come true!!!!

2011-11-07T16:46:00.000-08:00

Some might make fun of this post.... Mock away is what I have to say to those people! Today my good friend Emily Texted me and asked me if I wanted to go to a concert for Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker and Thompson Square. My response: YES!!!!! I have been dying to see Lady A in concert! I heard on the radio that they were coming and I was going to call Emily to talk to her about going, but she beat me to it! To make things even better, Emily is a member of their fan club, so there is a chance that we will get meet and greet passes!!! Wahoo! I can't wait for February 15th! :)

Its pumpkin time!! :)

2011-10-30T17:40:00.000-07:00

Before I get to the pumpkins I must report on celebrating my dads birthday! I haven't been home for my dads birthday in three years! It was a lot of fun to be able to celebrate it with the whole family (minus the Frandsens who were missed!!). We went bowling and then came back to the house to eat and open presents! It was so much fun to go bowling...Eventhough I am terrible! Bowling is always going to be something I stink at... and I am okay with that! Kash and Kitt both did better than me... BUT they had the bumpers up! ;) I just love my family so much!

Kash bolwing!

Kitt!

This is how you give high fives in bowling. :)

Cake and cupcakes!

PUMPKINS!
Little known fact about me. I don't really like Halloween... I believe it stems from me being sick with croup a lot as a child and not being able to go trick or treating... Yes I am apparently still bitter. But this year I have actually enjoyed this time of year! I forgot that Halloween is so fun when you work with little kids and they are so excited!
My class on Friday had a party and I must say that it was a success! A little chaotic, but nothing I couldn't handle! (My co-teacher was out of town!). It was pretty much food and then changing into their costumes for the trunk or treat that was going on outside. But the kids had fun and one of the parents complimented me on how well the party was organized! Wahoo! :)
SO the family, and my friend Ashley (minus the Frandsens :( ) came over on Saturday to carve the pumpkins... I must say I don't like carving pumpkins, but this year has changed my opinion of it! We had the BEST tools to do it. I didn't have to get slim on my hands at all! (Some of you may not know that I don't like having my hands dirty or messy...) And we had a little power saw thing that I used to actually make the face. It was fabulous! I will carve pumpkins every year if we have those!!!

All the pumpkins before:

My pumpkin before:

Scooping out the insides! (Kash did this for like a half an hour... but I had already taken all the pulp out! :) )

Ashley wanted to try to eat it, I told her it was a bad idea.

Kitt "LOVES carving pumpkins". He is so cute!

Tyler carved a big one!

Eggs loved this part! :)

Kieden loved this day too!

Erica carving her Mickey Mouse pumpkin!

Here I am carving mine!

Here is my moms, it was everyones favorite!

Kitt and Ty carving away!

One of Rachels! She is so talented!

Pumpkin shirts!

Eggs mom was in town too! (She is called Grandma Egg-Shell! )

Ashley and I with our finished pumpkins!

Kitt and his finished pumpkin! He is so cute!!

We thought the trunk or treat for church was Saturday night so I dressed up as a nurse or doctor... but the trunk or treat was moved to Monday night. Erica brought Kash over so we could see him in his adorable costume!

Sorry for the long post and lots of pictures!! :)

Am I crazy? Yes.

2011-10-10T21:04:00.000-07:00

SO! It is now time to blog about my crazyness. It came and went in a flash! I completed my first half marathon. My goal was to do it in 2 hours and 30 minutes! AND I am kind of proud to admit that it took me 2 hours and 32 min. I am sad about those darn two minutes... but I did it and I am happy to say that I am planning on doing another one!

My co-workers made this sign for me! It totally made my day! I felt so loved!

My number! At this point I was FREAKING OUT!!!! (We picked these up the night before)

Angie and I about an hour before the big start!

YEP, I want to pay to run abother 13.1 miles... and eventually run a full Marathon! Am I insane? I am in - freaking- sane. :) But I love it. Someone asked me after I was done what the hardest mile was... and my response was, the last one... because I was so ready to be done! My legs were sore, my hands were frozen and I had to use the restroom. It was such a great feeling to cross that finish line and they call out your name! I kind of felt famous! I will say this: Next time I want to have someone waiting for me at the finish line... I think that would have helped me finish a little quicker... motivation! :) I am so glad I did this race.
I ran it with my good friend Angie and then I ran into my other good friend Katelin! Such a small world!!! It was so fun to run 13.1 miles with these girls and catch up on life while running our little hearts out! :) AH good times!

Angie and I at the finish line! Don't we look so cute!?

Katelin and I just a few seconds after we finished!!!

My poor toes! My other foot looks the same! :/

After the race I got to go up to Logan and visit some of my friends from school! I won't lie, it made me miss living up there SO much! It was so fun to go to lunch with all of them and then getting aggie ice cream (my favorite) with two of my other favorite people in Logan. :) Oh good times!

Lunch group!

Roomies! Notice our coordinated outfits! :)

COMD girls! I sure do miss them!

Miss these amazing girls. They taught me so much when I lived with them!

THEN I got to spend the rest of my time with the Johnson's... my favorite family! I miss them so much and I am SO glad that I was able to spend time with them! AND my wish came true, I wanted to have a fire in the backyard and Marilyn made a splendid fire!!! One of the best fires ever!!! There is something so peaceful and relaxing about fires! I must say that I am so spoiled! I don't know how or why I am so lucky! But I am so grateful for everyone in my life!! Thank you to everyone who has supported me through all of this! I know my life turned into running and work!

The PERFECT fire!!

The moon coming up!

I love life. I know that there are so many uncertainties and little problems that I could be frustrated and hate life, but I have really been working on finding joy in the journey... sometimes its so hard! I keep reminding myself of how blessed and lucky I am. :) I keep a plaque by my bed that says "come what may, and love it!" And I am doing my best to live like that... most days I succeed! :)

A few pictures of things that I haven't blogged about:

Dress like a man day at work:

Down Syndrome walk with Ashley!

Dinner with the girls from work:

Flying into Salt Lake I took this picture... we were soaring above the clouds!:)

Just some random thoughts...

2011-09-18T20:59:00.000-07:00

First off I need to admit that I am an idiot sometimes... Yep. I signed up to run a half marathon on Ocobter 8th... Yes you have done the calculations right, its 3 weeks away. Mind you I signed up on Tuesday of this week. It has always been a goal/item on my bucket list to run a half marathon, then a marathon. So why did I make such a rash decision and sign up with such haste? Well my good friend Angie and I had discussed it months ago and since I didn't move back to Utah, I didn't really think about it. Monday it crossed my mind and I texted Angie and she said she was already signed up for one and I should do it with her... So I did. I signed up Tuesday night and bought my airline tickets on Wednesday. WOW. I am insane. I have been running like crazy now and even bought new running shoes. :) I am stoked, but terrified all at the same time. I know it will be such a fun thing to do and I will make so many memories.

If I may talk about myself for a minute, I would like to say that one of the things that I like about myself is that I feel nothing is impossible to me. I know that is not true, there are many things I can't do. But there have been many people who have told me that I won't be able to run the half marathon and they think I am crazy, and to them I say "psh you just don't know me well enough..." I have always been a little on the stubborn side ("I can do it, I know I can. *stomping foot* No one believes I can, but I can") and I feel like this is sometimes a huge blessing to me. I will never let someone tell me that I can't do something that I feel is important to me. (Granted I know my stubbornness gets me into trouble sometimes too, but I don't wanna discuss that right now.) I know that I can do anything, as long as I put my heart and soul into it!

I have been getting frustrated as of late. Why? Let me tell you. I know I want to get my masters and I WILL get my masters. But I have not been able to figure out what I want to get it in. I love speech and I still kind of want to do that, but I also want to do special education ( I LOVE people with disabilities and I have been missing my old job...) and now I am also considering getting it in early childhood education. I just have a lot of things to think about and consider. I just want to know what I need to be doing. But, this is a learning and growing opportunity for me that I am going to take and appreciate it. I know I need to be better at looking at frustrating situations in my life as blessings and chances to grow and develop a better relationship with my Heavenly Father. One thing that I am not good at doing is being humble, I like to think that I can handle everything on my own and don't ask for help from people. I am getting better, especially asking for help from my Heavenly Father. I love knowing that He is always there and he knows exactly how I am feeling! Even when I am upset about something silly like boy "problems". :) I am so grateful for the gospel and that I am lucky enough to have it in my life. I need to Savior in my life. One thing that I have to remember is that there is a plan for me!

Anyways... there is not too much more to report on in my life. It is slightly boring again. I just work and run! I need to get out and play more, don't you worry, its on my to-do list!

A few little things:
1. As I was filling my car with gas I caught myself singing and dancing, don't worry there were people watching. I am awesome.
2. Went on a blind date, and the guy didn't really talk to me...
3. "Come what may, and love it!" is said in my head like 10 times a day...
4. I FINALLY am unpacked from moving back home.

Love you all! :) Sorry there are no pictures this post.

Labor Day weekend

2011-09-06T22:20:00.000-07:00

Well. Seeing as I am an adult and now have a full time job... I can't just leave whenever I want and play. SO I took the opportunity of a long weekend and I went to Utah. We had a teacher inservice day at my work on Friday, we had to work until 11 am.. SO I left strait from work and made the 6 hour drive to Price Utah! I made it in time to let Joy and Jason go on a date and I got to play with my beautiful little nieces!

Saturday I got to spend the day in Scofield at Jason's family cabin. It was so fun! We went fishing first thing, I don't think Jocelyn would have let us do anything before that. I have never seen a little girl be so excited to go fishing! She woke up at 2am ready to go! But of course she got bored about 20 minutes into it! But I caught 3 fish! I think that I really do like fishing, but someone else has to be there to touch the icky worms and to get the hook out of the fish, because I am pretty sure I would not be able to do that. :)

THEN I went on a horse ride with Jason, his dad and two of his nieces. (Joy doesn't ride horses)But I loved it. I love horses and it was so much fun! I was not as nervous this time as I was the last time I went and my horse seemed to like me better this time!

I went up to Provo (after showering and making myself look presentable). I first stopped at my friend Brittany's house and we talked for a while! She was kind enough to let me sleep at her house that night! After catching up with Britt, I went to meet up with my friend Kenny and his two friends. (okay I will just say it, it was a double date). It was so much fun. We went to dinner and then to mini golf... and I am so ticked that I left my camera in MY car, and not in Kenny's. :/ Then we watched the movie insidious... quite creepy! But I liked it!
Sunday was a very relaxed day after church! Just hung out with Britt and her husband for a while and then walked up in Provo canyon. Then a BBQ with some more friends. Then it was time to head back to Price! The weekend went by so fast, I can not believe it! But I am so glad I was able to go and have a very enjoyable weekend!

On a side note: I wish I knew what I was doing with my life... :)

Wake boarding

2011-08-23T20:58:00.000-07:00

Yep. I have tried wake boarding. And I suck. But it was a TON of fun and I am SO glad that I went. It was a ward activity and I was hesitant to go for a few reasons: 1.It started at 6 am, on a Saturday (my sleep in day!)
2. Water is some what scary to me...
3. I don't like bathing suits
But despite all my stupid reasons, I went and HAD SO MUCH FUN! I even got up on my second try! That is pretty much unheard of! But, sadly, I was face planting it more than I was up! I will try it again this summer! :)
A few pictures from the day!

Ashley and I at 6 am!

Holding the flag up is VERY important

Yep thats me!

Also me...

Driving the boat

Finally some excitment!

2011-08-20T22:12:00.001-07:00

SOOO.... When little Kieden was blessed back in May we sat down as a family and discussed a family camping trip for this summer! (Little known fact about us Turnbows is we are really good about talking about camping... but never really going...). SO we wrote down a weekend in August to have everyone go... and that weekend kept coming closer and closer...and the next thing you know... we were camping and having a wonderful time!
Due to work schedules and other little issues we were not all there for the same amount of time. BUT it was a lot of fun! Hiking, fishing, game playing, naps for the lil ones... it all took place. This is now going to be an anual event! I am so excited I can barely stand it! Camping is something that I love!!
Here are a few pictures from our weekend camping adventure!

They are so cute!

I love my family and I am SO glad we were able to spend a weekend together in the mountains! I can not wait until next years!

Boring life

2011-08-10T22:54:00.001-07:00

I haven't blogged in a while... but there hasn't been too much that I have felt the need to blog about. Last week sucked, but I am trying really hard not to be negative, so I haven't wanted to blog about it. Here it is in a nutshell: sick as a dog with the flu Sun-Tues/Wed. Boyfriend broke my heart. Had to miss my first two days of work because of the flu. . . and there were a few other things that happened. But I was full of self-pity last week and thinking my life was in ruins, which of course was simply not true.
Life is funny. I have learned so many things about myself over the last year or so, and I realize how grateful I am for all the trials in my life; they truly shape who I am. :)
Tonight I went to the temple to do Baptisms and I got there super early, so I stopped in at Deseret Book and I got an awesome book! It is a book full of quotes from Jeffrey R. Holland and there are so many I want to share with you all! Here are some that I picked to share:

" God doesn't care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go."

"Everything in the gospel teaches us that we can change is we need to, that we can be helped if we truly want it, that we can be made whole, whatever the problems of the past."

I like these two, because they both remind me that I need to stop thinking about the past and that I need to make sure I am willing to go and do what the Lord wants me to do and more importantly what the Lord has in store for me.

Kasie visits Denver!

2011-07-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

My roommate from my first semester at USU came to visit me in Denver for a few days. She flew in on Monday morning and left on Wednesday morning. We went to Southlands Mall on Monday where Kasie found a fabulous hat and sunglasses!

Then we, with my parents, went to a Rockies game! Kasie loves baseball games, and living in Utah she doesn't get to go to any MLB games! So of course we got tickets for her being in town! It is one of the best summer activities in Denver! :) It was so much fun, even though the Rockies lost! :(

Tuesday we went down to 16th Street Mall and had so much fun walking around all the stores and just enjoying being outside. We had lunch at Rock Bottom Brewery, and it was SO delicious. It was funny because we ordered their huge Nacho plate, with small side salads... all the guys sitting around us ordered big salads! They were all jealous of our selection. Then we went and got our nails done!
Tradition for Kasie and I is to watch the Twilight movies... so that is what we did for the rest of the evening! SUCH a fun trip! We are already planning another reunion.

Kasie is one of those people that we can see each other once a year and its like we have not missed a day. She is such a fun girl and I am SO glad that we are friends and that she was kind enough to come out to Denver to see me!

Steamboat Springs

2011-07-19T22:30:00.000-07:00

Well it turns out that July has been a month of playing! So when we got back from Utah, I had 3 stressful days of nannying and then it was off to Steamboat Springs with Aaron and his family. They go every year for a big soccer tournament (they are all referees). They were gone all morning on both Friday and Saturday. I went and watched a few of the games, but seeing as I know nothing about soccer...I got kind of bored doing that. I mostly relaxed at the condo and waited for them to be done!

We were able to do lots of fun things. We saw the last Harry Potter movie, which I actually enjoyed (but don't tell Aaron). I will admit that it was my first HP experience...I have lots of catching up to do! We went to dinner and explored the beautiful mountain town. It was just a lot of fun. Aaron and I did lots of exploring and enjoying the scenery!

The trip was not without incident! Poor Kyle (Aaron's brother) broke his foot on Saturday evening while playing a game of soccer with the coaches and other referees!I felt so bad for him! Their indoor soccer team starts this week, so now Kyle will not be able to play! :( I also got sick on the last day, which made the drive back to Denver not fun, but I made the best of it!

Dinner at "The Old Town Pub" ... it was delicious.
(when we got to our table Aaron pulled my chair out for me and the waitress was like "that is the cutest thing I have ever seen." It was quite embarrassing because everyone around us turned and looked...)

Aaron and I walking around downtown. :)

More exploring...

Aubrey (Aaron's sister) and I watching the boys play their game!

Aaron's mom was there too. :)

Colorado is truly beautiful!

Grandmas Birthday Party

2011-07-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was able to go with my parents, Blaine, Eggs, Kash and Aaron to my grandmas 98th birthday party! But first we stopped (and stayed) in Price and got to spend time with Joy, Jason and the girls! It was a weekend FULL of car time. But it was very worth it to go and see all the family that I don't ever get to see, and to help my grandma celebrate her 98 years of life!
I can not believe that she is 98! It was hard to see her though, her memory is fading fast and it is hard to realize that she is only going to be around for so much longer. She is such a sweet lady, and I am so lucky to have a relationship with her! I remember going to visit her and she would tell me stories of her and my grandpa for hours. . .

Anyways, here are some of the pictures I took!

Erica, Aaron and I played Skip-Bo on the way to Utah! (Aaron not photographed)

Joy, Joelle and I watching the little kids try to break open the pinata!

Aaron and I just hanging out! Aren't we cute??

Blaine, Eggs and Kash! What a good-looking family!

The fam with grandma!

3 generations! :)

Some of my all time FAVORITE people! (Earl is for sure included in this category!)

Uncle Earl and I!

My mama and I!

Kash moving the ice, and Jocelyn sharing! :)

MMMM watermelon!

Decisions, decisions

2011-07-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

Well, the secret is out. I have made the decision to not go back to Utah in the fall. It has been a hard decision to make, but thing seem to be falling into place and I still feel as though it is the right decision. Within days of me making the decision I sold my housing contract, and I have an interview (for a job I am 99% sure I already have) for a full time job.
Why did I make this huge, life changing decision? Well, there are two main ones. 1. Aaron, my boyfriend. He is here in Colorado and the first really good guy I have dated, and there is just something different about him... and I don't want to give him up! 2. I have decided I really do want to do speech therapy still and not deaf education. I was afraid of this happening... But good thing I realized this before I started the program!
Life is still good. There will always be up and downs, but I am still one happy girl!

A tradition like no other

2011-07-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July is kind of a big deal in our house. It is not just a day to celebrate our country's independence, or fireworks. In this house we like to make breakfast for 150-300 people. Yep. It is called the "Awful Waffle". It really is like my dads christmas, he LOVES it. The rest of us really do it for him. :)
It really is so much fun! It takes a month to prepare for it, and its over in two hours...doesn't seem quite right if you as me! :)

Here it is in picture form:

The set up:

Mom starting to cook!

The jumping castle:

Baby Kieden's first Awful Waffle:

Red Hot Rach cooking up a storm!

Erica and Kash watching the kids jump in the jump castle.

Erica and I keeping the children happy!

Good friends!

Blaine and Tyler cooking all the meat!

Kitt caught red handed in the prize bucket!

My crazy family, minus the Frandsens who were missed dearly!

Then we all normally watch a movie/take naps. But its different every year. We went to some sweet fireworks this year!

I will post again soon on the rest of my exciting adventures of the last month!

Best. Blind. Date. Ever.

2011-06-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

I will just throw this out there, I normally don't let people set me up on blind dates, because in the past they have sucked... So why would I keep putting myself through all that misery? But I felt good about this one. I let my friend Katie set me up with her boyfriends good friend and we did a double date. We planned to make dinner with them (but they were late, so Katie and I just made it). Then we did a picture scavenger hunt. OH I should tell you his name, Aaron. (ha ha laugh it up, Aaron and Karen, we know, its funny)
Dinner:
I am not going to lie. It was SO awkward at first. I was thinking, well crap this night is going to SUCK. The entire dinner there were awkward silences and it was just sooo awkward. I think it is because Katie and Mark know both of us and were trying hard to not have it be awkward... but they ended up making it more awkward. But we made it through...

Scavenger hunt:
SO fun and the best part of the night. Katie made up the list of things to take pictures of, and you got double points if you were in the picture. SO of course Aaron and I had the same idea of making sure we were both in the picture as often as possible. We had so much fun just going around taking pictures and enjoying each others company. Here are some of my favorite pictures:

After the hunt:
We came back to my house for dessert and to play a few board games. It was so fun. I am so glad I let Katie set me up. For those of you who might be wondering... Yes there is a second date. (But don't expect blog posts about any of it... I am a very private person, but this blind date was blog worthy!)

A few other facts about my life:
1. I still don't bite my nails, and they are long and pretty.
2. I still LOATHE moths and can not wait for moth season to be over.
3. I would love for the summer to slow down.
4. I have a very nice tan from going to the pool!
5. Life couldn't get better...

Memorial Day Weekend

2011-06-05T18:17:00.000-07:00

It was so fun to have everyone here for memorial day weekend, and more importantly for Kieden's blessing. I just love it when my whole family is together, there is nothing that I love more. It was so fun to have all my nieces and nephews here running around playing all weekend. They are so fun. Little kids are so fun. I am so glad that I have nieces and nephews to play with since I don't have my own!
Joy, Jason and the girls got in on Friday and it was non-stop fun til they left! Here are the pictures to prove it!

Jocelyn so excited to be at "Grandma Turnbow's" house

Aunt Eggs pushing the kids in the little car/fire truck

Joy and Eggs with their babies!

Baby Kieden and I!

Grandpa and Kash having a little chat.
(I love this picture)

Story time with Grandma. (missing Joelle, Kitt, and Kieden)

Everyone who came for Kieden's Blessing

Kieden in his blessing outfit!

Kitt and Jocelyn playing in the water, I believe they were dinosaurs or something..

Sidewalk chalk!

Joelle and I!

The kids had SO much fun playing in the water! Kash just liked to hold the hose! Jocelyn and Kitt... were a different story!

I can not believe that it is already June! Where the heck did May go? I hope the summer slows down a bit so that I can really enjoy it... before I head back to Logan where I am sure I will have no life! My masters program is pretty intense!

A little trip back to the place called Utah

2011-05-28T22:41:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I got on a plane (which some of you are aware, I actually don't like flying...) and flew to Utah. I was going to get my car, and then head to Idaho for my best friends wedding. It was such a fun, but short trip. I got in on Friday night and was able to spend time with my Uncle and his wonderful family that night! Saturday I got to spend the day with some of my cousins... doing this, and that! SO fun, one of the best Saturdays ever. Then I made the two hour (one way) drive to Idaho for the big event. I knew that it was going to be hard for me to leave and say goodbye to Stephanie, who I now living in Mississippi! It was so worth the travel to see her in her beautiful dress and to see how happy she and Greg are. I wish them the best of luck!

The beautiful bride and I:

The happy couple and their favorite person ... ever! :

Angie and her husband drove to Idaho with me!:

My original plan was to just drive all night to go back to Denver. But, I had not been feeling well at all that week and had several people (cousins, uncle, aunt, parents, second cousins...) talk me into staying one more night at my uncles house. It was so fun! We had a camp fire when I got back. It is so fun to just sit around the fire and talk about anything and everything. I really feel like the I am a part of the Johnsons family, and that is so amazing to me. They love me like I am their daughter/sister and it means the world to me. THANK YOU!

Bad habits

2011-05-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

One of my WORST habits is biting my nails. I can't help it... when I get nervous especially! BUT it is my goal this summer to stop the habit! I figure I won't be quite as stressed this summer and it will be a good time to stop. I am happy to report that I have already gone 3 days without biting! May seem silly to you... but its a big deal to me! Once I go two strait weeks without biting, my mom and I are going to get manicures! The first manicure I will have ever gotten! :)

One week

2011-05-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

Well. One week has a double meaning in this case. One week ago I graduated college and in one week from today I will be at my best friends wedding!
What have I been up to for the last week?
1. Unpacking and organizing.
2. Shopping with my mom
3. "Working" (my summer work is nannying/babysitting)
4. Sleeping
5. Relaxing
6. Playing with Kash
7. Finally met my nephew Kieden (SO cute)
8. Trying to plan the rest of my life (epic fail on this one)
9. Working on a project that I will blog about after I give it to the person! (ha ha)
10. Enjoying life

Really this week has been nice and slow! I don't want the summer to go fast, I know it will though! I am enjoying not having homework! I am loving being home and it has only been a week! (I do miss having my car though....1 week!)

Reasons I am so excited for this summer:
1. No homework!
2. Getting paid to go to the pool
3. Doing crafts with Eggs, Mom and Rach.
4. Spending time with my family
5. Memorial day weekend all my family will be here
6. Shopping with Eggs-a-mania (we always talk about how we need our shopping buddy in the same state...well we are now!)
7. My special project for my Uncle
8. Buying a new laptop
9. Getting my diploma in the mail!
10. SLEEPING IN!

I had lunch with my friend Hollie yesterday and she and my friend Abby were going to fly to Utah for my graduation to surprise me, but Hollie's husband had got her tickets to see Usher and they couldn't afford to get plane tickets! BUT I could not believe that they wanted to do that! I was so touched that they even thought about it! Moral of the story: I have fabulous friends.

I am excited, but not, to go to Stephanie's wedding! I am so excited for Stephanie and Greg, but that is the last time I will see my best friend (for who knows how long!). My new laptop HAS to have a camera in it so Steph and I can skype for hours on end about our new lives! And she has informed me that she has to meet the guys I date to approve! HA I will miss walking around Logan and coming up with millions of inside jokes. Everyone needs a friend like Steph.

No pictures this post... weird I know!

Done done done!!

2011-05-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

Well. The long awaited (5 years) moment in my life has come and gone... pretty much in the blink of an eye! Graduation from college! It has been such a fun 5 years, specifically the last 3 years! I have been at USU for the last three years and it has been so fun! I have made so many great friends and so many fun memories! AND of course I learned tons!
Yesterday (graduation day) was such a busy/fun day and it went by so fast! It started out bright and early so I could curl my hair...which ended up being an epic fail, and also so I could finish packing up my room so we could pack right after graduation. Then the day was quite busy with millions of pictures, memories, degrees, food and time with family and friends. I ended the graduation full of tears... I had to say goodbye to my best friend Stephanie who is going to move to Mississippi after her wedding in two weeks. Life is going to be so different without her.
After all the graduation stuff was done we went back to my apartment and finished packing up my apartment. (Little side note of that, my parents are freaking amazing and I am so glad they came and helped me! I could not have moved without them, nor could I have graduated from college.) Then we went down to Bountiful to have dinner with the Johnson crew! SOOOOOOOO fun.
Next step... drive to Colorado. We left Bountiful around 9 pm and stopped in Rock Springs Wyoming to sleep for the night! We made it to Colorado around 300 this afternoon! ...Now the fun part: Unpacking... :/
My emotions have been ALL over the place for the last week or so... let us hope they calm down!
Here are a ton of pictures from the graduation! Enjoy!

Closer!

2011-05-04T23:44:00.000-07:00

Yep. Graduation is so soon... the stress/emotion has set in! I am super excited! Steph and I took some prelim. pictures! And we had a senior breakfast today! Man life is fun!

We went and took a pole dancing class for Stephanie's bachorlette party! SO FUN!

Last roommate picture!

Some of the pictures Steph and I took!

This is from today!

Graduation

2011-04-27T12:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I am sitting at the library in between two of my classes and I should be doing some sort of school work... BUT motivation is gone for sure... So lucky for all of you I am going to blog instead. Graduation is in 9 days, yep you read that right... 9 DAYS! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I honestly never saw myself graduating and then going on to get my masters degree. That being said I couldn't be more excited to come back and continue my education, turns out I love to learn. I am excited, but scared all at the same time. I have had the same group of friends for three years now and its just not going to be the same. But I happen to love change and the challenges that come with those changes. I am so excited to move home for the summer and spend so much time with my parents and siblings that are in Colorado. Utah is not a bad place at all, but CO is my home and I sure have missed it.

In this time I have been wasting at the library I have also been looking up graduation quotes... here are a few of my favorites:

There is a good reason they call these ceremonies "commencement exercises." Graduation is not the end; it's the beginning. ~Orrin Hatch

Your families are extremely proud of you. You can't imagine the sense of relief they are experiencing. This would be a most opportune time to ask for money. ~Gary Bolding

Don't live down to expectations. Go out there and do something remarkable. ~Wendy Wasserstein

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
You are the guy who'll decide where to go.
~Dr. Seuss

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”
~ Winston Churchhill

I am so blessed. I feel like I don't say that enough and mostly it is a reminder to me. I am so happy with my life and especially for the trials that I have gone through, for they have made me who I am.
For about a month or two I could not get out of my mind that I was the biggest failure in the world. The last 5 years of my life had been an utter waste of time, all because I wasn't getting into the graduate program that I thought was best for me. All I needed to do was have a little faith in my loving Heavenly Father, for He knew all along that this amazing opportunity was going to present itself to me. :)

9 days... lets hope I can make it!

...And life makes sense again

2011-04-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

Big news in my life! Are you ready for it? Are you sitting down? (I am sure most of you can guess what I am about to say... but alas it was not real to me until about 10 min ago) I have officially been accepted to graduate school! But not to the program that most of you are thinking! I am no longer going into speech language pathology. I will be getting my masters in Deaf Education listening and spoken language. Now many of you are probably thinking what the heck is that? Well let me share a little bit about it. I will be working with children ages birth to 5 years old. Now these are not just any 0-5 year olds, they will be deaf, but either implanted with cochlear implants or have hearing aids. My job will be to help them to learn how to use their hearing. Many kids are implanted or fitted with hearing aids but they have no idea what to do with the sound that is coming in, they don't have any of those neural pathways built... and that is why their speech is so far behind in many cases. I will work a lot with the parents and teach them how to help their infant to have normal speech. That is just a brief little peak into my new life goal. ALSO with this program I will have my teaching license to teach special education to the 0-5 population. I happen to love people with disabilities! I am so excited I can barely stand it.

I have been really thinking a lot lately about if I really want to do this program or if I was just mad that I was wait-listed for the SLP program. But, especially now that I have been accepted, I know that everything over the last three years has lead me to this program. I would have never found it had I not come to USU for speech language pathology, and then got wait listed for SLP. I am so very grateful for Dr. Houston, he is the one who told me about this program. Another blessing! I would have never gone to talk to him had I not been prompted to. I know I am doing what I am supposed to be doing and my life makes sense again.

For the last month or so my life has been turned upside down and I had been more confused about everything then in any other time in my life. I can not begin to tell you the overwhelming feeling of peace/joy/comfort I felt when I opened up the email from Dr. Nelson, I knew right then that it was right. I knelt down right away and thanked my Heavenly Father for this amazing blessing in my life and for the trial that I have faced for the last month. I have learned a lot and cried a lot. I am not going to try and plan out every aspect of my life anymore... its just better that way.

This program is going to be intense, but so amazing. I am going to be able to have an impact on so many lives! (not to toot my own horn...)

Now I need to find housing for the fall! OH and finish up the semester! One more thing I forgot to mention... this masters program pays for your tuition and gives you a stipend of $400 a month! Yep, I am going to get paid to get my masters!

Other news in my life:
1. I have an adorable new nephew, Kieden Ryler Smith. Born on 4/16/11 at 615 am. 7 lbs 3 oz. (I can't remember how long... I am a horrible aunt...)
2. 17 days to graduation
3. My dad is a genius and can solve any problem (he has solved many for me over the last month, this is not new news... but he deserves all the recognition he can get)
4. My mom and I can talk for hours on end, and yet when I hang up the phone there are things that I forgot to tell her...

5. My best friend Stephanie's bridal shower was tonight and it was so fun!

6. I love life!

Thanks for all of you being patient with me, for I am still very far from perfect and am learning a lot from my wonderful life. I love you all. A very special thanks to my mom, my best friend, I could not have gotten through this month without you!

Patience

2011-04-14T22:04:00.000-07:00

Patience has NEVER been a "virtue" I have had. I feel it is my time to learn. If you know me well you know that I like to have plans. I am very plan orientated and I like to have my life planned out in years, not months. Well I still don't know what I am doing in the fall and it is killing me. I move in 23 days and I have no idea if I am coming back up here or not...should I be looking for housing up here or for a job in Denver? Should I give up on going to grad school? What is my real "dream" ? I just feel like my life is up in the air right now and it has been killing me. I have cried a lot over the last two-three days and I don't like it. I want to be happy and just accept what comes at me. But it is not easy for me. I have wanted to give up so many times, but I refuse. I know that I have lessons to be learned in this "mess" that I am calling my life, but I don't like it. I am also a "why" person. Why am I going through this and what am I to learn, again back to the patience, I don't like to wait to know... I want to know now. :) I am grateful for everyone and being patient with me and my whining over the last week/month(s). I know that I will end up where I need to be and that everything will make sense someday!

The crying over the last few days was really helpful and helped me to "heal", not that I need to heal, but it let out all of my pent up emotions. I am finally able to look on the positive side of every situation that I am faced with! My smile is back and it is real.

A couple of songs that you MUST listen to. This first one helped me to overcome my sadness over the last few days, be sure to listen to the lyrics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CSVqHcdhXQ

Now this song I just think is quite possibly the cutest love song .... ever! ENJOY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzHpYyB_F3U

Sorry I can't post the actual video... my blog is not letting me for some reason! BUT please watch them both!

Very Random

2011-04-07T20:35:00.000-07:00

I am not wanting to do homework right now, instead I will blog about my random thoughts of the day:
1. I am grateful for power. ( I cam home from work today to no power... it was frustrating to say the least.

2. Big news to come next week (stay tuned) ... :)

3. Snow in April is just annoying, but still very pretty.

4. I wanted this semester to go by fast...and it has, weird how that works.

5. I will have a new nephew soon! YAY!

6. It has been decided, I am growing my hair out, mostly because I want to be able to do this:

(don't worry, I know I won't look as cool/pretty as her, but I can hope..)

7. I am excited that I finally talked Erica into going to a Zumba class with me.

8. I am so blessed in so many ways.

9. I LOVE it when I can understand why some of my trials have happened, and my life seems to make some sense again.

10. My "picture a day" goal is shot... yep I have been doing a terrible job.

11. Getting a letter from my dear friend Becca was the greatest blessing of that day. (The Lord is very aware of us and our needs)

12. Senoritis is very real. Motivation is gone!

13. I LOVE vegetable sandwiches.

14. The letter "E" currently hates me. On my phone it doesn't like to show up when I push it, and now my laptop is doing the same thing, I have to like pound the key.

15. I used the letter E 17 times in the last sentence.

16. Writing two page papers an hour before they are do is becoming a skill of mine.

17. I am a huge fan of hats like this:

18. I need a new laptop, any suggestions?

19. I thought about starting to pack already... too soon?

20. I need to write my paper now! :)

My very best friend and I! She is moving to Mississippi soon.. :(

I hope this was enjoyable to those who actually read my blog!

Reality has sunk in.

2011-03-30T19:59:00.001-07:00

All this time I have been so excited and only thinking of living in Colorado again, and not thinking about what all that means!
These things have sunk it:
1. My best friend is moving to Mississippi
2. My life will never be the same
3. I will be done with my undergraduate degree
4. I have to start making grown up decisions
5. My friends will be living all over the U.S.
6. I won't be close to the Johnson's any more (distance wise)
7. I have to pack and move! YUCK
8. I will be living in Colorado again, after 3 years away
9. I have to go to another singles ward...
10. I will have to say good-bye to m clients that I have worked with for almost 3 years

What I am trying to say is that I have bitter-sweet emotions about moving on. I am SOOOOOO very excited to be moving back home, even if it ends up being just a summer. I think moving from Logan is going to be harder than I am thinking it is going to be. I have established a life here and, although, I may complain about it... I really do love it here. On the flip side, I am getting excited to meet new people again and just have a fun summer with family and working with kids again!
I will end with 37 days until my life is changed! !

Life doesn't suck

2011-03-27T20:03:00.001-07:00

I am trying to be more upbeat and positive... So hopefully this post is more fun to read! I don't have any updates on where I will be for the next year of my life! I will hopefully know for sure about USU in the next couple of weeks! I just want to know so that I can start planning for the fall. I met with a professor this last week and they got me thinking about doing deaf education (again)... I dislike having more things to think about, but I am going to meet with another professor who knows more about the deaf ed program. Hopefully I will have some answers to my questions (about my own life) soon. Thats all I am going to say now about graduate school because I am sure you all are very tired of hearing about it. :)

This last weekend I was able to go down to Price to see my sister, brother in law, and my two nieces! It was so fun! I love going down there to be able to play with my fun nieces and talk/hang out/shop with my sister. Family is so important to me and I truly would be nothing without my family. I can't wait to start my own family someday!

Joelle is getting so big! And cuter by the minute!

My little buddy! I love Jocelyn, she is so fun and can always make me laugh!

School wise... I am struggling to keep focused and hold strong to the end of this semester. I am ready to be done and to move to Colorado. I love Colorado and have missed it so very much!

Just a few pictures from my life:
Birthday celebration with my roommates

I made green cinnamon rolls for St. Patricks day

Stephanie and I just hanging out..

Lunch with two of my favorites!

Dinner with another two of my favorites!

Countdowns:
40 Days to graduation
41 Days til I move home!
I have lots to accomplish in 40 days! Pray for me! Ha ha

The most delicious cookies ever, you must try!

2011-03-27T19:35:00.000-07:00

I made these a while back and my roommates keep BEGGING me to make them again. They are quite delicious, if I do say so myself! When I made them I didn't put walnuts in (I don't like them) and I used milk chocolate chips, not semi-sweet! ENJOY!

Walnut-Orange Chocolate Chippers

1.5 Cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1.5 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter, softened
2 eggs slightly beaten
2 cups (12 ounces) chocolate chips
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons grated orange rind

Combine flour, sugars, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl; mix in butter and eggs. Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly (batter will be stiff). Drop tablespoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in preheated 350 oven for 9-11 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets;transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Contemplation

2011-03-19T21:08:00.000-07:00

Well I apologize for those of you who read my blog because this is not going to be an upbeat, fun and lively post. So if you decide to stop reading at this point... I completely understand and I don't blame you.

So far in my life there have only been a few things that I have been CERTAIN on that I know the Lord wants me to do : go to school at USU and major in communicative disorders to become a speech therapist, move back home this summer, and go to the temple. These are the three things that I have really felt that I have had personal revelation about, and yet two of those things just don't seem like they are going to happen. Obviously I did/do go to school in Logan, BUT I don't think I will be going on to get my Masters and its very discouraging right now. I did not get into BYU, CU and I am on the waiting list for UNC and I haven't heard for sure yet from USU, but I am 90% sure I am on the waiting list for them too (I spoke with a professor of mine who is on the selection committee, and he said the only thing holding me back was my GRE score...). I was certain that I would be going to get my masters so that I could be a speech therapist, I love doing it and I have such a passion for it. In the words of my three year old niece maybe "it's not for me". Now, I realize I may be jumping the gun with all this discouraging talk, but I can't help but feel this way.

I know that whatever is supposed to happen will, and that the Lord has something special in store for me... but I feel like my life has gotten flipped upside down... If I don't get in anywhere, it will not be the end of the world, but it also won't be easy for me to handle! I am a planner, and for the last four years I have planned to graduate and then go strait into getting my masters degree. I think Heavenly Father likes to remind me that I can't see the big picture and I need to stop planning 4 years in advanced and to have faith in Him and the plan that he has for me.
I have been trying to weigh out all my options over the last few weeks, just in case I don't get in anywhere... I will have to play it by ear until I know for sure. I will try to work as a Speech Therapist's aide for a year and reapply for a masters program somewhere... OR maybe I will just find a job I love and move on (I doubt that one! I love speech therapy...).
I have been so stressed over this for the last 4 months! I haven't been sleeping (which makes me one big ball of emotion), I have been keeping to myself more and more, and I just not been the same. A line from one of my favorite songs sums me up to a "t" right now.
"Most days
I try my best to put on a brave face
But inside
My bones are cold and my heart breaks
But all the while
Somethings keeping me safe
And alive
But so many people are looking to me
To be strong and to fight
But Im just surviving
I may be weak but Im never defeated
And Ill keep believing
In clouds with that sweet silver lining"

I can't wait to move home this summer and be surrounded by people that I know love me and support me, even if I seem to be a failure.
I do want to thank my family for all the love that they continue to show me daily and the prayers that go up on my behalf. (family including the Johnsons who do so very much for me, I don't know what I would do without them!)

I am not angry, mad or even upset. Just very confused and feeling like an idiot and or slightly like a failure.

Spring Break and countdowns

2011-03-13T20:18:00.000-07:00

Well it is Sunday night and spring break is officially over. It is always hard to go back to class after a fabulous break. This spring break was great because it was my birthday, I got to go home, AND it was a break from Logan! Don't get me wrong, I love Logan, but sometimes I need a break from the daily grind. When I got back from Colorado I had to work a lot, but it has been so nice to sit back and relax. I did get some homework done... not as much as I had planned to, but I kept saying it was spring break and I didn't need to spend a ton of time doing homework.

Last picture before heading back to Logan:

My friend Scott always asks me why I don't take a "real" vacation during my spring and fall breaks. . . my response was simple, I love Colorado and that is my vacation!

My countdowns as of today:
Days till I see my sister, nieces, and brother in law: 4
Days till I graduate: 54 (CAN'T BELIEVE IT)

23 Years

2011-03-07T22:22:00.000-08:00

I am now 23 years old. What a fabulous 23 years it has been! There have been ups and there have been downs. I am overwhelmed with how lucky and blessed I am. My birthday has been fabulous, my family came over yesterday to help me celebrate with dinner, cake, ice cream and presents. It was so fun! I love that I was able to come home for my birthday! Today I got to hang out with my mom and Kashers! We went shopping (most of you know that is my number one addiction!) and just had a fun relaxing day! Dad came home and we went to dinner at Old Chicago (one of my favorites) and went to pick up my new ipod!
Thank you to all of you for the Birthday wishes and love. I am so lucky!
Pictures from my trip thus far! :

Stephanie and I hung out at the airport!

Pink Berry frozen yogurt! DELICIOUS!

Football:

CAKE!

Candles

Presents

2 months... I can do it!

2011-02-27T09:14:00.000-08:00

I realized yesterday that there is (pretty much) 2 months left of this school year = two months til I am DONE! WOW. I know I have blogged about this a lot ... but I am just so dang excited about it, I can't help myself.
The last couple of weeks in my life have been pretty blah... just lots and lots of school work and lots of work. AND I am sad to admit to this, but I have been slacking on my picture a day goal...:( I just don't feel the need to keep taking pictures of me studying! I will try to be better.

For those of you who know me well, you know that I tend to freak out when things turn out differently than I had planned or if something unexpected happens... It was one of my new years resolutions to try and not do this by always remembering that everything will work out... IT ALWAYS DOES! Had a little issue with my professor this last week and my initial reaction = freak out, but then I remembered that I KNEW it would all be okay and freaking out does nothing.

I also just want to just let my parents know how grateful I am for them and for all they do for me. When I moved away from home 2.5 years ago I realized just how much you do/did for me. I thank the Lord everyday that you are both here and both healthy. I love you!

Also, I did something that I don't like doing: I let someone help me. Yep, I did. We got slammed with snow this last Friday and I was slightly worried about getting to work at midnight! My neighbor/friend offered to take me and pick me up from work! Normally I would have said no in a heartbeat, but I was scared that my car and I would not make it to my work, and Matt has 4-wheel drive. THANKS MATT!

Lastly I got to see my brother and his family this weekend! We went to dinner, it was just so fun to see them! Kash is getting so big and is just SO much fun! He is walking all over the place!
Lastly, I get to go home this Friday!!! 4.5 days, yes I have added half days into my countdowns now! After my trip home I have 2 months before I will be moving home! WAHOO!
Here are a few pictures that I have taken...

Kash and his favorite aunt... well in my mind I am his favorite, but in reality I am not..

Erica didn't want out picture in to be in front of the Nuggets poster! :)

Father and son! I love this picture!

This is my car about 30 min before I had to go to work, and about 4 more inches fell after this picture was taken...maybe even more than 4!

I went to the last home basketball game, it could have been my last one! Kind of sad about that!

Life is GOOD!!

2011-02-19T18:29:00.000-08:00

I just love life. Nothing has happened really to make me remember how much I do love life. This picture sums it up: (don't mind Stephanie hanging out in the corner of this picture)

I love candid pictures like this one! It is so fun to be in college, and I love it... But I am also very excited to move home this summer! I love my roommates, don't get me wrong, but I am ready to not have roommates.
On Friday of this week I got to go with a bunch of my friends to UCUR (Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research). It was so much fun! We had a blast! It was a long day for sure, but so fun! All of us COMD girls did research with Dr. Sandi Gillam and it was fun to spend a day away from campus with all my girls! Here are some pictures of the trip!

On the bus!

Made it!

Just a photo shoot...

Ran into my cousin Megan!

Our Poster! Isn't it beautiful?

My team!

We had such a GREAT time!

Prior to UCUR these are my "pictures from the day"... yes I am still taking one every day!

I go home in less than 2 weeks! WAHOO! Which also means I will be 23! ha ha
Till next time!

Valentines day...

2011-02-15T21:39:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me well knows how much I dislike valentines day, and its not just because I seem to always be single... its more a long the lines that it is a commercial holiday and "forces" people to show their love for the ones closest to them. I grew up in a house where my amazing dad would bring home flowers and such to my mom all throughout the year, just because he wanted my mom to know how much he loves and appreciates her, he does that all on his own, not because it is February 14. Just sayin. My dad is the best.
This year I actually have to say that this little holiday has grown a tad on me. . . and I am still single. HA It was just fun. It started with the package my mom sent me, full of fun things that she knew I would love! I also got a valentines day card from my grandpa and that was SO nice and thoughtful of him...it made my day for sure. My roommates heart attacked my door while I was at work...they are so sweet. Then I went to a ward valentines day party with my good friend Stephanie and it was SO much fun! It kind of hit me, this holiday is to just show those you love that you love them. Doesn't have to be a "love" love relationship, but family and friends... like when we were in elementary school and we made cool boxes for all of our cool valentines from our friends!
Here are pictures from the last little while:

Finishing up a research project that we have been working on for over a year!!

V-day package from my mom

Hanging out with my two little second cousins (my cousins were there too, but I slacked on taking pictures)

Tender mercy of the day... being heart attacked

The next few are from the V-day party:

Stephanie and I took a walk down to the temple!

I want to end this post with saying that I know life is so great. I know my last post was kind of a downer. I allowed myself one day to feel bad for myself and cry for hours, yes hours. But I know that whatever is supposed to happen will... I will get into the program that I need to be going to, or I won't get in anywhere. Whatever happens I will embrace it and love it. Life is too short to be sad all the time! Thanks for all the love and support!

Where can I Turn for Peace?

2011-02-12T23:53:00.000-08:00

Where can I turn for peace?
Where is my solace
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart,
Searching my soul?

Where, when my aching grows,
Where, when I languish,
Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who, who can understand?
He, only One.

He answers privately,
Reaches my reaching
In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
Constant he is and kind,
Love without end.

Today I received my first (and last, I hope) rejection letter into a grad program. It was a school that I was hoping to get into, so this news was not easy for me to take. I am fearful now that I will not get into any that I applied to! That will be very hard for me. I know that I need to have faith and keep in mind that Heavenly Father knows what He is doing with my life and there is a reason for my rejection today. . . I just wish I knew why. I knew I should not have got my hopes up for this school, but I did and that made the news even harder to bear.
I will say I am lucky that I was not by myself or in Logan when I got the letter (I had my poor roommate open the letter, full on knowing it was going to be bad news), I was with my Uncle, Aunt and my cousin Phaedra who did an excellent job at consoling me, while I was holding back tears the whole time. I am so lucky to live so close to people who love and care for me and I am so glad I was here with them, they made it so much easier to handle.
I will be the first to admit that I don't take rejection well, at all. I tend to cry a lot and try to figure out the "whys". I may never know the "whys" so I just need to knock it off. But being rejected from a graduate school was a direct hit on my self esteem and self confidence in my intelligence and a slap in my face to all the hard work and time I have taken in my undergraduate schooling.
Where can I turn for peace? Well I know where, but sometimes I am stubborn and I choose to wait for a while and pity myself. He knows just how to comfort me and let me know that everything will work out and life will go on. He knows me and my wants and my needs. I just need to have faith in Him and trust Him. I also have to remember that I can cry to him and he will be okay with me crying and my disappointments in myself and in my life. He will remind me of His love for me and that there is a plan for me.
I know this post is not much of a positive one, but I needed to get my feelings out before I bursted. So I am sorry to those of you who read this negative post. . . But tomorrow is a new day and I will have a new outlook on life. Thank you for all the love and support, I am truly blessed.

Only 5 weeks in?

2011-02-08T21:07:00.000-08:00

Yep. Only 5 weeks into the semester and I am already in need of a break? That can't be good... But I am still trying very hard to be optimistic... sometimes it is hard though, I won't lie... But life isn't meant to be easy, so that is why we are here, to learn and to grow. ( I do love every single one of my classes though and I am learning SO much, its just VERY time consuming!!)
I have been thinking a lot lately about how different my life could be right now. There are many different roads that I could have chosen to take and I just wonder where I would be right now if I had chosen any other roads. Not sure that it makes sense to anyone else, but it made/makes sense in my head. I love my life and I am so blessed that I get choked up thinking about how blessed I am. I have the best family in the world who have supported me through my schooling (and they continue to do so), they listen to me when I am moaning about how hard my life is (but really it isn't), they love me unconditionally and I know they do because I can feel it, and they are the best examples for me. I go to college and I live on my own, to some that may not seem like a blessing, but to me it is. I have a car that runs and gets me all the places that I need to be. I have 3 jobs, yes 3...when there are people out there who are struggling to find A job. I have been and am healthy, I have not had a bad cold in almost 4 years! I have the knowledge of my wonderful Savior and my Heavenly Father and I know that they help me every single day. The sun has been coming out more and more this winter (which is a miracle in Logan during this time of year). I have an amazing apartment and amazing roommates. I get to go home for my birthday. I have tons of clothes and shoes. I can read/write and learn new things. I get to work with the most amazing people in the world... I could go on, but I don't want to bore anyone.
Another thing that has been on my mind a lot is this: when I was in high school I always said I would be married by the time I was 21, and well I turn 23 in March. I am not upset that I am still single, I love it! It is just funny how life doesn't turn out how we think it will. I know that I would not be able to handle dating and or marriage right now, my life is busy enough with 17 credit hours, 3 jobs and graduation right around the corner = me moving home for the summer. BUT there is a small side of me that does wish I was married, when I look and my sisters and brother with their amazing families and how happy they are with their kids, and it makes me kind of sad that I don't have that yet. I love my nieces and nephews with my whole heart and I can't wait to have a husband and kids of my own. On occasion Satan gets into my head and I think "what is wrong with me, why am I not married or even date.." But I know that I am not supposed to be married at this point in time and that is just great! I can make all my decisions for me...ie which graduate school I will attend.
Enough of that! My mom told me today that my graduation announcements came in the mail yesterday! It is happening. May 7th I will be a college grad, who would have thought! AND next month is the month that I will start to hear back from graduate schools and my fate will be played out. SCARY. I just hope to get in somewhere, at this point in time I do not care which school it is, I just want to get in!!
24 days from today I will be in my favorite state of all: Colorado, and I can not wait. A much needed break from school and from Logan, it will be short lived though, only like 5 days... But they will be glorious.
I have not been doing a good job of the picture a day thing... Who was I to think that my life was interesting enough to take a picture everyday... but here are a few pictures from the last week.

Stephanie and I wore the same jeans

Logan was freezing for a few days and my mom picked this headband out for me and it kept my ears warm the whole time! THANKS MOM!

Caitlin and I made DELICIOUS cinnamon rolls (we talked about doing this for at least 2 weeks!)

Allison and I went down to Ogden for some retail therapy!

I supported Sam in her calling by talking to her while she made soup. HA I should have helped, but I don't know if she trusts my cookies abilities...

Random, but this is my favorite picture of my niece Jocelyn!

95 days.

2011-01-30T21:06:00.000-08:00

I just thought I should point out that I graduate from college in 95 days. Yep, only 95 days. I can not believe it! I am SO excited that I can barely stand it! I got a thing in the mail about ordering announcements and I nearly peed my pants.

Here is what I have been up to since the last post:
I totally ate it on some ice! The bruise is about 8 inches long and still hurts very much so!

Made dinner with my roommates/ was the DJ while they made dinner

I spend a lot of time studying in the front room studying with my roommates.

Friday night trip to the temple with my roommates

I gave a talk in sacrament on Humility. AND Allison was so sweet and came to hear me!

Made cookies with my roommates to take to a guy in our ward who broke his back!

I love the view of the temple from my apartment

Blueberry Cookies

2011-01-27T18:31:00.001-08:00

My new favorite:
MINNESOTA BLUEBERRY COOKIES

1 c. sugar
1/2 c. mixed shortening and butter
1 1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind
1 egg
2 c. flour
1/4 c. milk
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 - 1 c. blueberries
Pecan or walnut halves (optional)

Cream sugar, shortening and lemon rind until well blended; add egg and beat well. Sift dry ingredients together, add with milk. Fold in blueberries; drop on greased cookie sheet. Top with nut halves, if desired. Bake for 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees. Yield: 2 dozen.

Not the best picture, but they are SOOOOO good. :)

Should be doing homework... but blogging sounded like much more fun

2011-01-25T16:50:00.000-08:00

In the last week I have made the decision that I am going to take more pictures this semester, since I noticed that I did not take that many pictures last semester. AND this is my last semester of undergrad so I want to live it up and remember every minute of it. So my poor roommates have been getting sucked into taking pictures with me! But I am proud to say that I have done it since Thursday, but I do not know what I am going to do for today... I still have 6 hours!
This last week was just splendid. I have been having fun and truly enjoying life! There is no reason for me to not love life. Don't get me wrong, I have had my moments of eh... whats the word... I have been down and or having a pity party for myself (today being one of those days). But then I think about all the amazing things that I have going for me! Although I will say that it took me a while to snap out of it today. But I came to the realization that the world does not revolve around me. . . :) AND If someone tells me something I need to believe them and not instantly doubt them. I am so blessed to be able to speak on Sunday... I say blessed because it is my 4th time speaking during this year (not 2011, but 2010 to now). At least they have changed my topic this time. I am still nervous... I haven't even started yet! Anyways homework is calling my name! Here are my most current pictures!

Allison and I made brownies for our research meeting!

We were very productive..

My roommate Amanda taught me how to make delicious bread!

Aggie basketball

Going to church with my roommates

Gave blood... which made me faint twice while I was at work... pretty hilarious. I wish I could have seen it!

And so it begins... MY LAST SEMESTER OF UNDERGRAD!

2011-01-13T18:29:00.000-08:00

It is bitter sweet. Mostly sweet! I can not believe that it is here. I don't feel like I am old enough to be graduating from college... but I will be 23, so I assure you that I am! Coming into this semester I was assuming that I would be a HUGE stress case... I have 17 credit hours and 2 jobs! But this week has been, surprisingly, stress free. I just know that I can handle it all, and that I won't be doing it alone. I love every single one of my classes! I learn so much in each and every one, and it makes me SO excited for graduate school. I actually found myself enjoying the textbook I was reading today... I think it is safe to classify me as a nerd. :) I am VERY excited about my two "PE" classes! They are going to kick my butt! I can't wait! I have spinning, which I have taken before and LOVED it! And today was my first day of ZUMBA... my new favorite work out... and I love it! I probably looked like an absolute fool, but I do not even care because I felt great after! I highly recommend this workout class to everyone! I have both my PE classes with good friends from my major and I just can not even tell you how fun it is going to be.

I am getting so excited to move on to the next chapter of my life. I am not sure where I will be in the fall...which if you know me at all you know that this is driving me insane because I can't plan out everything! I am patiently waiting for the graduate schools to get back to me... March will not come soon enough. I know I will get into where I am supposed to go, and I kind of hope it is just one school so that I don't have to make any decisions. :)

Just this week I have made the goal to ALWAYS be positive. It has always been a goal of mine, but I intend to this time. It was brought to my attention that I can sometimes be too negative and I don't like that. SO positive it is. I have put reminders all around my room and in my school things. They are nothing corny, just things to remind me that I am SO blessed and I have NO reasons to be negative. If I really pay attention during the day... tender mercies are present every single hour of every single day!

This semester I have also decided to play more. Every single semester I have not had as much fun as I would have liked to and then I would say I will play more the next semester... well this is it! I know I won't have like any time to play while I am working on my masters. I have been moved to only graveyard shifts at work... leaving all my nights open, so I DO have time to play!
Shout out of the week: HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY to my sweet niece Jocelyn Joy Frandsen! (Jan. 14)
Sorry there are no pictures this time!! My internet is being too slow!

The time has come...

2011-01-11T20:50:00.000-08:00

I have decided to make my blog private. :) If you would like to keep reading my blog just send me your email address! karen.turnbow@gmail.com

--I will post about my first week of school this weekend--

3 Times in one week?

2011-01-07T16:14:00.000-08:00

3rd post this week, don't get excited Phaedra, once school starts I won't be able to do three posts in one week! This one if for Joy. I told her I was trying a new recipe for White Chili and if I liked it I would share it with her. Well I decided that I would share with everyone. Enjoy!

White Chili
2.5 cups Water
1 tsp. lemon pepper
1 tsp. ground cumin
3.5 cups chicken breast
1 cup onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced or crushed
2 Tbsp. butter
2 19oz cans of white corn
2 4oz cans diced green chiles, undrained
2 15oz cans white beans, undrained
2-3 Tbsp. Lime juice

Bring water to a boil with the lemon pepper and ground cumin. Add raw chicken and cook 20-28 minutes. Remove chicken and cut into bite-size pieces. Put chicken back into water. In a frying pan, cook onion and garlic in butter until tender; add to soup. Stir in corn and green chiles. Bring to boil. Add beans and lime juice. Cook until heated through. This chili is delicious served with chips, sour cream and cheese.

I have a new cookbook and it is one of my goals to try a new recipe each week! Lets see how long this lasts! I feel it will depend on how busy I am. :)

Count downs

2011-01-05T10:20:00.000-08:00

As some of you know I happen to LOVE doing countdowns. I always have the number of days until the exciting event that is coming up. My dad had me for homemade gift this Christmas and he made me a SWEET countdown thing out of wood. I love it.
Here are my current count downs:
1. Days till my last semester of undergrad start: 5
2. My birthday (I will be going home for this, but not sure on the day yet..): 61
3. Graduation (May 7th! WOOOO) : 122 short days!
I am sure there will be more countdowns, but as of right now, these are the most exciting ones! :)

Happy New Year!

2011-01-02T16:47:00.000-08:00

2011 is going to be a year of great things, I just know it. 2010 was a great year for sure, many things happened that were both hard and a huge blessing all at the same time. Some of my favorite things from 2010 (this was a hard list to make! There were a lot of things in 2010):
Kash Turnbow and Joelle Frandsen being born
Kashers!

Jelly Belly

Dr. Seuss birthday party with my good friend Stephanie!

Spending Easter with my Uncle and his family (camping! SO FUN)

Flying an airplane

Buying a brand new car! (had 178 miles on it)

Going to Price Utah to see my sister and niece(s)

The many jazz games my cousin Phaedra took me to!

Going on the crazy HCG diet!
-- No picture for this one! :)--
Finishing graduate school applications!
--No picture for this one either! --
The many trips home!

Making a wood truck for my dad! It was fun to work with wood!

Shopping with my mom!

2011 is here and will be over before we know it. There are so many things that I am already excited for... and I am sure that there are SO many other great things in store for me in this new year.

Christmas!!

2010-12-26T18:46:00.000-08:00

Well, I have had a fabulous break this far! Any break from school is sooo great especially when the last semester was SO stressful. I have been enjoying all the time I can spend with my family. When I come home its mostly to see family and to see a few good friends that I keep in touch with.
I love the Christmas season so much! From the time I have been home I have been shopping like crazy (MY FAVORITE), baking and helping my mom get everything ready for Christmas. One of the days Rachel and Erica came over and we decorated the gingerbread house... well I will admit that I didn't do THAT much on it... but I was excellent moral support. This is one of my favorite things to do for Christmas, but Rach just seems to be more creative then I am. (I also had to leave to help my dad get a last minute present for my mom that only I knew she wanted.) Christmas was a little different this year in our family... It was just my parents and I opening presents on early Christmas morning and the rest of the family came over around 9. It was a good different... :) I did miss getting to see the little kids get all excited to open their presents! I am so lucky and blessed! I can not believe all that my parents do for me.
For those of you who have been wondering... "What in the world did Karen make her dad for Christmas?" Well now I can tell you. I made my dad a semi out of wood. I will be the first to tell you that it is AWESOME and took me a lot of time. He loved it! I had some help from a former boss of mine, Stan, and he will tell you I did all of it, but he is just being nice. I did most of it, but he helped me tons!
This next week is already getting busy, which makes me sad because that means that I have to head back to reality! This next week will be so fun! I get to see my friend Cassidy Grigg who just got home from his mission last month! It has been over 2 years since I have seen him! Joy,Jason,Jocelyn and Joelle will be joining us on Wednesday to celebrate the new year. AND of course my mom and I already have planned shopping trips!
I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! Here are a million pictures!

This is the truck!

Stan and I with the truck!

Dad opening the truck

Temple square the night before I flew home!

Phaedra and I!

Kash LOVES to do this!

Kitt helped us to decorate the sugar cookies!

Working on the gingerbread house! :)

The final product!

Just doing some reading on Christmas Eve!

Baby's first Christmas! So handsome!

Little Santa! Too cute!

Just doing some reading on Christmas eve!

Such a cute family!

Matching jammies for Christmas!

Done done done!

2010-12-14T21:54:00.001-08:00

WAHOO! I am officially done with this semester! And i am very happy to report that I have finished with all As(no ' in this... just for Phaedra). I won't lie, this was a hard semester, so those As are not just mine... I had A LOT of help from up above! There was so much going on this semester! 3 jobs, 16 credit hours, grad school applications... But I have loved most of my classes this semester and have had amazing professors. I am truly blessed in so many ways. AND I love my major. I can't wait for graduate school... I know it is a lot more work and won't be easy... but it is the hands on stuff that I have been waiting for!
I am excited to leave Logan tomorrow! I am in need of a break from here! I get to spend the afternoon/night with my aunt, uncle and cousins! We always have the best time! I am planning now that next semester I will be going down to Bountiful at least once a month! It will be planned! Then on Thursday I fly home to Colorado! Man I just love that place! I started packing on Sunday... and haven't touched it since! It is slightly daunting... I made my dad a REALLY cool homemade gift (can't post pics or say what it is yet!) and I am trying to figure out how to pack it. I just may have to bring 2 bags! Good thing southwest is awesome!
Here are the things I am most excited about for Christmas Break:
1. NO school work at all
2. Spending time with my family
3. Hanging out with my friends who have recently returned from missions
4. Baking with my mom
5. Shopping with mom and sisters
6. Seeing my dads face when he sees what I made him (I am telling you, its REALLY cool)
7. Seeing old friends who I haven't seen in forever
8. Christmas of course!
9. Pinkberry
10. Taking way too many pictures

My audiology professor conducted Handle's Messiah this last Saturday and it was amazing!

Things in my life are just great! I am so very blessed! If I don't post before... MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Season

2010-12-05T16:47:00.000-08:00

There are several songs and videos that I like to watch to help me get into the right mindset for Christmas. All too often I get caught up in the buying of presents and decorations and forget about the real meaning of Christmas! (Don't get me wrong, I love the decorations and presents, but it is not the true meaning of the season).

Christmas spirit

Kids and Christmas

Mary did You know

The Nativity and "Breath of Heaven"

I hope that everyone has a fabulous Christmas season!

Thanksgiving Break

2010-12-02T20:41:00.000-08:00

I was SO lucky to get to go home this year for my Thanksgiving break (and a break was MUCH needed). I have loved every year that I have been able to stay here with my Uncle Earl, Aunt Virginia and my FABULOUS cousins, so I missed them dearly this year as they spent it in St. George in the warm weather! I decided about two months before that I would go home for this holiday and I am so glad that I did! My whole family was there! My week was full of nieces, nephews, shopping, eating and spending time with the ones I love. Here are some of the highlights!

Bundled up Kash to go to Southlands!

Helping prepare for the big dinner

The babies first Thanksgiving!

Sisters!

Looking for a Christmas tree

A bear and a hunter...

Grandma with the little ones!

Matching pj's on the cousins! SOO cute!

My VERY favorite part! My whole family being home!

We took the children to see Santa Claus and none of my pictures turned out.. so here is Eggs and I with Frosty.

I have about a week left of school and then finals! I can not believe that the semester is already almost over! I literally feel like it just started! I can't wait though! In January I will start my LAST semester of my undergrad! YAY! Come March I will know about graduate school... SCARY!
But coming sooner than that... I go home! December 16th - Jan. 1st! YAY! I love this time of year!

(Random note: LOGAN is FREEZING!)

Baby Joelle

2010-11-13T08:50:00.000-08:00

First off I should be studying... but I have lost my motivation and I am waiting for it to come back... in the mean time I will blog about last weekend.
Last weekend I was able to see most of my family for my niece Joelle's blessing down in Price Utah. It was so fun to be able to see everyone and just have a good time. When I got there my family was at the dinosaur museum that they have there and the the guys, and Jocelyn and I went shooting. My first time shooting a gun... ever. I have a bruise to prove it was my first time. :) I was not very good at hitting the targets in the air, but I wasn't too bad at hitting them on the ground. (Today I am learning how to shoot handguns... I have heard they are harder... so wish me luck!) We all had dinner afterwards and just hung out for the most part.

Joy entertaining Kash! I love this picture

Jocelyn so excited... to see me of course

Hearing protection is a MUST!

First time shooting! WOO! Wish someone would have reminded me about the recoil...

Jocelyn was our "puller"

Jason and Blaine

My nieces and nephews are growing up so fast and I feel like I am missing it all. I just love them all so much and hate missing all the awesome milestones!
On Sunday we were there for her beautiful blessing! It was such a great day! Joelle was perfect all day long and was just the sweetest baby ever! I was able to stay longer because Logan is not as far away as Colorado! I got to go to the Frandsen's house to see the new horse, and Niel was kind enough to saddle it up and let me ride it! I still get way nervous though... so I made Jason lead me... Soon enough I will be a riding pro!

Kash and I! Isn't he just the cutest little boy ever?!

Joelle in her blessing dress! Beautiful

Jocelyn had a new dress too!

Cute family! Jocelyn likes to be difficult in pictures!

Eggs, Kash and I!

Kash loves dogs.

Jocelyn on the new horse!

Jason leading me around on the new horse.

What a great day.

2010-11-04T15:27:00.000-07:00

This will be a super short post, but I must tell everyone my exciting news. I HAVE TURNED IN ALL MY GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATIONS! What a load of stress that has been lifted off.. it is now a waiting game...that I can handle, no direct pressure on me to get things done. And there is like only one month left of school. . . :)

Halloween

2010-10-31T09:47:00.000-07:00

Well most of you know that Halloween has never been my favorite holiday... but I must say this year has been my favorite! I went down to Bountiful to my cousins Halloween Costume party and it was so fun! I brought my friend Megan with me, needless to say she wishes she was a part of my amazing family. :) My cousins, Marilyn and Phaedra, sure do know how to throw a wonderful party. There was delicious treats, and fun activities! Thanks for making my Halloween a great one! Here are some pictures!

Meg and I were M & Ms

Phaedra and Marilyn were the BEST Witches Ever!

Julie was a Flapper girl and Emily was a Jazz player! (not sure why I didnt get a picture of Julie and Emily, i thought I did... Sorry EM!)

All the yummy food!

Prize winners (for costumes)

Youngest children. :)

M&M Family

Fall Break

2010-10-17T11:13:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been so much fun! We had a "fall break" this week... we mostly just had Friday off from school, but since I have a sweet schedule I have been off since Wednesday! I went to aerobics on Wednesday and then got into my car and drove to Price to spend a few days with my sister, brother in law, and my two wonderful nieces. It has been so much fun! I just love spending time with my family! I was also able to see my parents and Erica and Kash!

My nieces and nephews are just growing up way too fast! Jocelyn has been making me laugh every day! She has such a sweet littler personality! Some of the funny things she has said:
1. Um I was kind of sitting there.
2. Piles... (you had to be there)
3. So.. (she says so ALL the time and its so stinkin cute!)
4. Wanna come in my room? <5 seconds> Wanna come in my room? <7 seconds> Wanna come in my room? <5 seconds> Wanna come in my room and close the door?
5. Super listic

Joelle is now 2 weeks old! She is such a peanut! So precious!

I have to head back tomorrow, stopping in Provo to meet with the BYU graduate program that I am applying to! Yikes! I am trying to do as much as I can do to make sure I make it in to at least one school!

Life back in Logan is pretty much the same as usual... class, homework, work, graduate school applications and very little play. I am happy to report that I didn't do any homework this whole time I have been in Price.. and it has been nice. (I may be regretting this next week, but oh well! It is called fall BREAK for a reason.) My graduate school applications will be mostly done by November 1st! I feel the last thing that will need to be submitted will be my transcripts, but I have to wait til the end of the semester to have them be sent! :) Then it turns into the waiting game! In the end I know I will end up where I am supposed to go! WOO!!

My first football game of the school year!

Tut tut looks like rain...

2010-09-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

Well. 4 weeks into the semester and I am alive! During the past 4 weeks I have had my fair share of ups and downs. I am trying to always stay positive, and most days I am.
The things that keep me busy:
1. Perfecting my resume (for graduate school applications)
2. Going to class (duh)
3. Graduate school applications
4. Writing letter of intent
5. Homework
6. Working
7. Research for professors
8. Studying
9. Hanging with roommates
10. Did i mention homework?
As you can see I lead a very boring/nerdy life. I am okay with it, I have been told it will pay off someday. Graduate school applications are super stressful, that's all I have to say! AND I am not sure I will even get in somewhere! I have to just know that whatever is supposed to happen... will! :)
I loved the General Womens Broadcast last night! It was so what I needed to hear. I sometimes feel that I am too busy and stressed to help others and am in my own little world a lot of the time. I am really going to work on not being like that anymore! :) Life is so short and I need to focus more on the positive side of life and the things that the Lord blesses with me daily.
As to the Tut Tut it looks like rain title, my roommates are currently watching winnie the pooh. I felt I could tie that saying into my post, so here is my pathetic attempt: A lot of times in my life I feel as though everyone else's lives are perfect and that I have a cloud just over me and my life. (hence the tut tut looks like rain). But this is not so. We are all at/in different stages in our lives, and we all have trials seen and unseen. Anyways, I hope all is well for everyone else!

I lOVE Sundays.

2010-09-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

I have now been in school for two weeks and I am about ready to quit. :) Not really, but I just wonder what in the world I signed myself up for!! This will be a hard semester! But it will all be so worth it. I do school work and work stuff ALL day everyday and at the end of the day I feel like there is still so much to be done! :/ But I love it. . . Kind of. I know that this is what I am supposed to be doing and that I can handle it all!
I love Sundays. I no longer work on Sundays (which is so nice) and I DO NOT do any school work on Sundays. It is my day to relax and sleep in! (Catching up from the week of no sleep!) It is my day to go to church and ponder on all the things in my life and realize how lucky I am. I am so blessed and sometimes I feel so undeserving of it all. But I just know that my Heavenly Father loves me and wants the best for me. This week this scripture has showed up in my life (EVERYDAY): Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." I feel like the Lord is trying to tell me something... I need to trust in Him, and not worry so much about what is to come, He will guide me and direct me.
I now am feeling like I want to work in a Hospital when I am done with school... I would work with baby's that are in the NICU and are having troubles eating and such and then also with people who have had strokes and such. That is my most recent plan. But that could change for sure. I love the idea of working with babies in the NICU though. Everyone knows how I feel about babies!
I have no social life... maybe one day when I am done with school... ha I do have a social life, meaning I have friends, I just am having a hard time finding time to go and do tons of fun things! Oh well.
I have picked the four graduate schools that I am going to apply to! 1. Utah State 2. University of Colorado in Boulder 3. University of Utah 4. University of Northern Colorado. My GRE scores are still very low... so I am hoping to get in at one of these!If I don't that just means the Lord has something else planned for me... and I will just have to accept it! :) I apply at the end of this semester and then I won't find out til March or April! YIKES!
Last bit of news.. I PICKED UP MY APPLICATION TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE ON FRIDAY! I can't believe it. I, Karen Turnbow, will be graduating from college in less than a year. I do not feel old enough, but I am SOOOOOOOOOOO excited!

And a few other things... My parents came into town for Labor day and then we went to see my grandpa in Idaho, it was such a fun weekend! I love them all and it was so nice to see them!

That time of year is upon us again.

2010-08-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

On Monday I will begin my senior year of college! Wow I am beginning to feel old, and I'm only 22 years old! I think growing up that I never really thought I would graduate from college... but alas here I am starting my last year...with plans to continue on to get my masters degree. I am very excited for school to start. I love to learn and I can't wait to have a consistent schedule again (yeah yeah, mock away... I do better on schedules). There are so many things to look forward to in this semester:
1. I will apply for graduation!! WOO.
2. I will apply to graduate schools... that one is scary.
3. Joelle will be born October 1st!
4. My parents are coming up to Logan to see me.
5. Halloween party with my cousins on Oct. 30th.
6. All of my classes, yep I am excited for all of them.
7. My 3 jobs... more to come on that one in a bit.
8. I'll get to see Erica and Kash in October as well. (pretty much October is gonna be the best month.

I normally like my lists to be 10 long, but I couldn't think of 2 more things, but I am sure that there are still plenty of things that I am/will be excited for this wonderful semester.
Now to the three jobs. I just need to say that I am so blessed and the Heavenly Father really is watching out for me. I was planning on having 3 part time jobs this semester... but the way my schedule is, I'll still have more time. But earlier this week I was walking through one of the buildings that my professors are in and I ran into one of my very favorite professors from last semester and he asked me if I was okay money wise and I was like yeah.. why. He offered me a job that pays $15 an hour. :) So I couldn't turn that down. I told one of my jobs that I had lined up that I couldn't do it, and that my friend Meg would take my spot. Then I am just cutting my hours at the house and doing research. I have been worrying so much about money and how I was going to do it all... with a car payment now. My stress level has gone down.
One last thing in this post. Faith is going to have to get me through my graduate school applications. I took the GRE for the 3rd and final time this week... and my scores are still very low. :/ With tears in my eyes I talked to my adviser (whom I trust deeply) about it all, and he said I didn't need to take it again and blah blah. I talked to both my parents (holding in the tears, I don't like them to think I am wimpy) and it was decided that no more GRE for me. What a relief. But I am still very nervous that I won't get into graduate school... thats where faith comes in. I have done all that I can do ( I studied my little butt off for that test! and I get good grades, I volunteer... list goes on) and if I am supposed to get into graduate school I will. This is hard for me, because in my life plan for myself, I will be going to graduate school so that I have have my own practice someday. . . but that may not be the Lords plan for me. FAITH will get me through.

Zucchini Brownies?

2010-08-20T23:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, so for those of you who have ever planted zucchini know that you get tons of them and you try to give them away all the time. WELL... I have never had a plant of my own, but I am always blessed to receive them. :) I love to make zucchini bread, and now brownies and cookies. I have decided to venture out and try new things. SO today I made zucchini cookies (which were delicious for sure!) and I also made zucchini brownies, which you wouldn't think would be good... but my goodness, I don't know that I can eat regular brownies now. :) Here are the two:
Cookies:
Mix these all together and drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheet. 375 degrees.
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp clove
1/2 salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup grated zucchini

Brownies!
Same deal.. mix together and then bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
2 cups flour
1.5 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1.5 tsp soda
1/4 cup coco
2 cups grated zucchini
1/2 cup oil
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Please enjoy!

My one addiction

2010-08-10T16:05:00.000-07:00

So if there is one thing in my life that I am totally and 100% addicted to... its shopping. I don't know what it is about shopping, but it always makes me happy... even if I don't buy anything a trip to the mall (even Logans SUPER small one) can always get me out of my slump. Well this last week I was able to go home for a few days and shop my heart out! I saved my money all summer (not really...) to be able to buy new clothes during this trip home. It was so much fun. I love shopping with my mom, and my sister in law Erica... my top 2 people to shop with, so when I am home shopping trips with them are an absolute must!

The other fun things that I did... I made a quilt with my mom, and I think its SUPER cute. I got to babysit my nephew Kash, I just love that little boy. He is growing up so fast and I am missing it all. :( the downside of being in school, I miss my nieces and nephews growing up and all their milestones. ALSO, driving back to Colorado was also fun because I got to drive it with my dad, and it is always fun to have some one on one time with him! I just have to best parents. I also got to go to lunch with my sister and her husband and my nephew! So much fun. It was so nice to be home for a few days to relax and just play.
Kash just jumping around!

My quilt!

I am a huge nerd. And I don't even care. I already have bought all my books, and got really excited when I bought a new backpack. I also already paid tuition and am totally looking forward to the semester starting. :/ I am not sure why, I know this semester is going to be stressful! I have to get ready to apply to graduate school and I have 16 credits and will be working 2 or 3 jobs! Oh well! Love life!!!

Daunting Task

2010-07-28T10:17:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to look into which schools I am going to apply to for my masters degree. I kind of wish I would have put that off longer... but I didn't and I am not dreading the task of applying. I knew it was not going to be an easy task, but now I am terrified. I know that I will get in where I am supposed to go, if I am supposed to go... But its so scary, and I want to get in somewhere! I can not wait to be a Speech Therapist, my world would be turned upside down if I don't get accepted somewhere...
Anyways! Sometimes I just do not like being a grown up.

Health Nut

2010-07-13T22:06:00.000-07:00

When I graduated high school in 2006 I weighed around 160 pounds. I am SO happy to say that I now weigh around 128. It has been a long time coming, and let me tell you it was not easy to lose those last 20 pounds. For the last like three years I weigh 146, NO MATTER what I did... Without going into details I needed to try and fix a few hormonal problems... and I went on a strict diet that has changed the way I look at eating and food. I have started to really be careful of what I eat... Organic foods, yep I have a whole new look at them, and I love them. Fruits and veggies... also love them... ANYWAYS.
My good friend Sarah and I have been eating healthy together and we try to cook together at least two times a week, it has been so much fun!
I know this is kind of a weird post, but I just am so happy to finally be down to the size I have always wanted to be.. that I had to share with everyone! It may be a bit prideful... and for that I am apologize!
Here are some of Sarah and I's creations!

Grilled chicken pineapple sandwiches

Not the best photo, but simply delicious! It was vegetable chickapea curry!

Sarah and I enjoying dinner!

Tonight we made the best mac and cheese, but i don't have the camera cord to upload a picture! :) I have turned into a little bit of a health nut, but I am okay with it!

Fourth!

2010-07-08T15:16:00.000-07:00

What a good 4th of July I had. I was able to go home and spend time with the family! We of course had the Awful Waffle! It was so fun to play with family and friends! Lots and lots of pictures! Here you go!

Kash... my goodness he is cute!

My brother and his cute wife and baby!

My beautiful mom and I!

Rachel and I before it all started!

Kash and his new girlfriend Nevaeh!

Aren't they cute? Apparently I love Kash.

Kitt! Too cute!

Kitt and Blaine playing catch

Eggs and I in our 4th of July outfits!

My adorable niece Jocelyn! Love her!

Some of my best friends came to the breakfast, it was SOO good to see them!

Joy and I on our way to fireworks!

Aren't they so cute playing together?

Jocelyn does not like me taking her picture.

Kitt lets me take his..

Tuckered out!

Blaine plays well with others!

Sisters! Minus Eggs a mania :(

Kitt and myself!

Jocelyn... I made her take this picture with me!

My good friend Dana and I!

Cousins! They do love eachother!

Sorry for the million and one pictures! I literally took over 50 pictures this weekend! :)

Brand New!

2010-06-22T14:25:00.000-07:00

Well. Life is SO busy for me this summer! I had no idea I was going to be this busy! But I do love it! I don't like to be bored. This last week was ULTRA busy... I was probably home a grand total of like 12 hours all week.. Including sleeping!
NO TIME TO CLEAN.... :/

(Don't worry, it has been cleaned!)
What didnt help was when my jeep decided he wanted to not start when I was at a conference for my new job. It was very stressful to have him towed and then fixed. The bill was 569, and I was not happy about paying that considering I just put 2000 into it to fix the stupid transmission (ON a side not, the transmission was still having issues!). Here is the kicker, the mechanic said that I would need another 900 to fix another problem. To that I said NO WAY. I will trade him and put money into a car that is not (hopefully) going to have as many problems. So that started me on my search for a new car. I looked around some of the places in Logan and found a few, and then went down to Ogden to continue my search. I found a few that I loved down there. I, of course, am a sucker and car salesmen can sort of pick up on that... so I wanted every car I looked at! :/ None the less, the last place that I stopped I test drove a 2009 Nissan Versa with under 1000 miles for a pretty good price. I told them I would come back Monday afternoon for it. WELL I did some research over the weekend and discovered that I could get a 2010 Nissan Versa for about the same price ( a little cheaper), so I tried to talk the price down on the 2009 versa and they wouldnt. SOO I went to the Nissan dealership here in Logan and got her! She is a 2010 Nissan Versa, very basic... no power windows/lock (which I don't care.. I HAVE CAR!!), and my favorite feature is that she is a stick shift! YAY! I am a grown up now. I have made my first big purchase!
Last Picture of Homer

And here she is!

Anyways I am so excited... I get to go to Salt Lake tomorrow and shadow a Speech Therapist!! :) More to come on that!
AND I get to see my sister in law, brother and nephew on Thursday! What a good week!
(I couldn't find a picture to steal that had all 3 of them... EGGS, take more pictures with YOU in them!)

I almost forgot! Last weekend I got to go to my good friends, Amber, bridal shower! It was so much fun to hang out with all my girls! I use to live with them my first year up here! They are so much fun and friends that will last a life time. Her shower was in the morning and we spent the rest of the day shopping (and preparing my talk.. boo). So fun! Here are some pictures from that!
The bride to be and myself eating frozen yogurt!

Just pigging out...

All the girls reunited!

We tried "oiling" with coconut oil.. NASTY! I will not be posting the after pictures..

Just so happy that I am SOOOOOO blessed!

I LOVE summer!

2010-06-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

I have discovered that I love summer. I have never really had a super fun summer because I have been taking classes most summers or working.. or blah blah. I have three jobs this summer, but I am still finding lots of free time to play and have SO much fun. I love it! Last weekend I took the opportunity to go down to Price Utah to visit my sister Joy and her family. It was SO much fun...I am not sure what was wrong with me, but I only took like 5 pictures... 1 of which I am not allowed to post (I told Joy I wouldnt, even though I think its a cute picture!) I loved being able to spend time with my them! Jocelyn was my little buddy the entire weekend and I miss her dearly. The first morning I was there I heard her asking Joy when i would be getting up (at 730 am), finally around 8 she came out and said "please wake up". It was so cute! We spent our time going to the pool, playing in the sandbox, making flowers for Jocelyn and Joelle's hair, and much much more. Jason was recovering from his eye surgery, and was a bit out of it (poor guy!). I am going to plan another trip down there soon! Jocelyn was cute after I left and kept asking Joy for "my karen". Gosh I love being an aunt!

I have started my new job and I LOVE it. I am going to learn so much from it, and lets be honest.. its more money for me to save to spend on housing and books! Ah the wonderful life of a poor college student!
Things I am looking forward to for the rest of the summer:
1. Going to Colorado July 2- July 6! HAPPY 4TH!
2. Going to a shooting range.
3. Lagoon
4. Possibly a San Diego Trip!
5. St. George
6. Shadowing a Speech Therapist
7. Bonfires!
8. Hikes
9. MUCH MORE!
I love everyone and hope all is well!

One Lucky Duck

2010-06-03T07:36:00.000-07:00

As it turns out I am a very lucky girl. But when I think about it, I know it is is not luck. It is my Heavenly Father looking out for me. :) I have been trying to find another job for the summer, just to make some extra money for the next year. I have been having no luck in finding something. Well I applied for something at the assistive technology lab on campus about two weeks ago and they said they had already filled the position. My new boss emailed me and said she would like me to come in for an interview (the person they hired could not take it..). At the end of the interview I was hired! I am so excited. This job is perfect for me! I will be working with the speech language pathologists who do early intervention... which is what I am leaning toward doing when I graduate! So its perfect! Heavenly Father was just holding this job just for me! I can not express how grateful I am for the billions of blessings that I am blessed with daily. Life is truly amazing!
I get to go and see my sister Joy, her husband Jason and my adorable little niece Jocelyn... in just a few hours! I love summer!!

See... So happy! :)

I have been trying to be more crafty... its a goal this summer! So my first thing was little flower clips for Jocelyn and Joelle ( my niece that is on the way! ). I personally think they turned out SUPER cute!!

Step one

I was going to take a picture of each step, but i forgot... here are the finished products

I also love my friends here as well! We had a big bonfire the other night.. SO fun! here are some pics!

Two of my roommates and myself!

Getting the fire started!

MMM Roasted Marshmallows!

Kash talking

2010-05-22T14:34:00.000-07:00

Don't mind my talking... Just listen to Kash!

Summer Fun

2010-05-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

My summer has officially started. I have been loving not being busy ALL the time. It has been needed. I started it off by spending a week in Colorado with my family. We did a lot of shopping and spending lots of time with my little nephews who are adorable! I just love spending time with my family! I also was able to see Robin Hood as well as Letters to Juliet. I was a huge fan of Robin Hood, and Letters to Juliet was also cute!

Cute little Kitt cleaning up his sand!

Cute Kash with his toys!

Kash just taking a snooze

Kitt playing with Lincoln Logs!

Since I have been back in Logan, I have been working, and preparing to take the GRE. Boo on studying during the summer, but it must be done!
Fun times are sure to be had.. SOON! Love you all and Happy Summer!!

Love Becca! She enters the MTC on May 26!

Oh I almost forgot! I got to fly a plane before I went to Colorado! My friend Toby is a pilot and he took Megan and I out on a flight around Logan. By far the coolest thing I have done! He let me take us off! It was so fun!

The Plane!

Meg and I before the flight

Truth be told, I was super excited

Logan temple from the air

My wonderful Pilot Toby

I am DONE! :)

2010-05-06T22:31:00.000-07:00

It is such an amazing feeling to be done with the hardest semester of my undergrad (says the seniors in my program). It was a rough semester, but I pulled through and I am 99% sure that I have all A's!!!! We will see on Monday... but nonetheless, it feels so great to know that I can have a summer full of work and fun! No more homework! I get to spend a week at home, and I can not wait for that! :) Life is such a gift.

Almost there

2010-04-24T11:25:00.000-07:00

The last month or so of my life has been a little bit on the crazy side. School is winding down and life is just busy! I find myself spending more time at the library and work than I do at my apartment. But I am just fine with that. I can not believe that I am almost done with my junior year in college! :) This next week will be busy, but i like being busy. The last month has been full of fun things too though:
Easter with the Johnsons, we went camping and it was SO much fun!!

On the way up we were able to stop at my grandpas grave.

Jazz games with the cousins!

Double or Nothing concert at USU.

Road trip home with Megan to get my car.

Relay for life.

Birthday fun... A little late

2010-03-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

I have not been blogging as much this year, but I lead a boring life, so why bore everyone else? My birthday was March 7th, and what a fun birthday I have had! I had a Dr.Seuss themed birthday party with my good friend Stephanie (her birthday is March 7th as well), it was a lot of fun. :) Then I went down to bountiful and my cousin Marilyn took me to see Avatar ( so good ), and then went to dinner with my uncle, aunt and cousins. Sunday was way fun! We went to church and then had a delicious dinner and I was spoiled by my family! I didn't expect any presents from them, but they spoiled me. :)
Then I was able to come home for spring break (still here!!! Not sure when I am going to be able to go back.. thanks to snow and my car giving me troubles...). I love being able to spend time with my family! I got spoiled again for my birthday! :) I am not looking forward to going back to reality soon..... Wish me luck!
Here are some pics!
Steph and I!

My good friends

The delicious cake my aunt Virginia made me!

Opening presents!

The most exciting part of being home :KASH! I had been waiting for almost 7 weeks to meet this little man, and he has successfully stolen my heart. I love this little guy so much! I am lucky to get to spend so much time with him!

Meeting Kash for the first time! Jocelyn is holding him for the first time

Jocelyn and I hanging out! love her!

Best shirt ever!

Birthday cake made by my mom!

Getting help from Jocelyn and Kitt to blow out the candles!

Happy Blessing day KASH!! :)

Kitt and his bed head!

Kash looking at his mama!

Fun times!

2010-02-27T18:32:00.001-08:00

Last weekend I was able to go down to Bountiful to see some of my family! I got to see my sister and her family and my uncle and his family. I love having family so close!
It was fun to see my sister, her husband and my nephew! We just had dinner at my uncles house and it was so much fun. It is so nice to just get out of Logan sometimes! But mostly I get excited to see my family! I am so blessed and I have the best family in the world!

School is going great! I have balanced my life out perfectly! I get the amount of sleep I need (less than 6 hours a night), get all my homework and studying done, and still have a small social life! I have the best friends up here.
So much of my life is school... so I don't have much to blog about! But exciting things coming up:
1. Birthday Party with Stephanie on the 5th

2. Celebrate my birthday with my Uncle, aunt and cousins on the 6th and 7th

3. Going home on the 12th and not coming back to Logan til the 19th!

4. Getting to meet Kash Anderson Turnbow! (12th)

5. Two of my best friends are getting married! (Brittany and Kasie)
(brittany and I at Christmas):

Kasie and I before she moved!

I hope you all are loving life!

Boring

2010-02-13T14:23:00.000-08:00

My life is boring, but I love it. Right now I go to class, workout, do home work, do research for my professor, and work. That is literally all I do. I like to be busy, but some times I get a little overwhelmed, but then I remember I will be done with school before I know it and have a "real" life. I have taken tests in each of my classes, and one of my classes.. its going to be rough... but I am still planning on getting an A! :) I love my classes and I find them to be so interesting and I really don't mind studying for them.

I can not believe how fast the time is going. It is already the second week in February! HOLY COW! It will be May before we know it! Craziness, then I will have 2 more semesters and I will graduate with my BS!
I have done a few things here and there.. I hang out with my friends Becca and Stephanie a lot... but we have to study too... so the hanging out is in between our studying. I also had the opportunity to go to the Jazz vs. Nuggets game with my friend. It was a good game and I was able to see and talk to my cousins Phaedra, Julie and Emily!

I, of course, have some count downs of exciting things to come:
1. 23 days until I turn 22
2. 28 days until I get to go home!
Love you all! :)

And this is my adorable nephew Kash... CAN'T wait to get to hold and see him!

Tender Mercies

2010-01-30T15:43:00.000-08:00

Well. I knew this semester was going to be rough... but I had no idea how it was going to make me go crazy. We have finished three weeks of this semester and I already find myself asking when it is going to be over. I have had 2 major break downs this week, yep 2. I do not want this post to be negative at all... so I'm not going to go into any details. What I do want everyone to know is that life is so great, and that I am so blessed. My dear friend Megan writes at least one Tender Mercy daily. I have adopted this into my life, and what a blessing it has been. Here are a few from this week.
1. Kash Turnbow
2. Becca Pitchforth
3. Megan Milkanin
4. Priesthood Blessings
5. the sun
6. My boss and the February schedule
7. Reading the scripture that I needed to at the exact moment that I needed to
8. Music
9. Being able to serve others
10. A phone call from my sister
11. My grandma,uncle, aunt and cousins
12. Pictures/memories
... the list goes on and on from just this week. When we take time to think about our days I am sure you will be able to count at least 5, even if you feel like you had the worst day of all time. Heavenly Father is always there for us and loves each of us.

This picture is called "Security". The caption written by the artist says : "One of the greatest human needs is a sense of security. In all aspects of life, we naturally gravitate towards anything that makes us feel safe. In this piece, I wanted to convey a sense of complete peace and calm like only the Savior can provide. It's a security that allows us to rest assured, without fear or worry, when we put ourselves trustingly in His arms. Little children have that inherent kind of trust in their parents, so it's fitting that the man and girl who modeled for "Security" are actually father and daughter. They generated the exact feel I was looking for."

I would love to have a huge version of this because when I look at it, I remember the caption and that everything will be okay. Check out the rest of his art.. SO amazing. I want to buy it all. www.bowman-art.com

Holy Busy

2010-01-16T07:21:00.000-08:00

The first week of the semester is officially over and I am sitting here thinking... why did I do this to myself? This semester is going to be SO busy/hard/great. I know that I am going to have tons of studying to do with my 16 credits, but I am excited. My classes are going to be awesome. I can not wait to get deeper into them. The more classes that I take, the more I see that I KNOW I am supposed to be a Speech Language Pathologist. If you know me well... you know that I am a list person so...
Things that I am excited for this semester:
1. Spinning class
2. Being able do a real assessment on a child
3. Doing research for my professor
4. Making new friends
5. Believe it or not.. Working :)
6. Learning so much more about my profession.
7. Turning 22
8. My new nephew to be born
9. At the end of this semester... I will officially be a senior! :)
10.The trials that I will have.

Things that scare/make me nervous for this semester
1. My car needing a new transmission (possibly)
2. The massive amounts of homework I am going to have
3. Not being able to go home as much as I would like
4. Trials...
5. Money. :/

I couldn't think of any others that I am nervous for.. but I am positive there are more! I just know that I am probably just having what I call first week syndrome... professors give you everything for the entire semester in one day and you realize that you have no time! But as the semester goes on you realize that its not as bad as you had expected it to be! So as of now I am going to stay on top of things and get all A's this semester!

High note, low note

2010-01-07T19:27:00.000-08:00

So this is the cutest video of my little nephew Kittridge. His daddy taught him this, and I laugh every time I watch it. I think he is so cute! ENJOY!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-27T14:04:00.000-08:00

Well this has been a very fun Christmas, and I am sad that it is over! :( I have been home now for 16 days! It has been SO much fun! I just love being home, but I am DREADING January 9th! That will be a sad sad day for me! I love Logan, but I am so use to being home and I just love Colorado winters! :)
Christmas was so fun! We had everyone here and we all just had a good time together. I got everything I asked for... YAY. AND I am making a quilt. I can not wait for the final product. We started the top yesterday and now we have to sew the top together, and then there are more steps..... Who knew quilts were such a process? HAHA
I take the GRE on Wednesday and I have not really prepared for it at the moment... so there is a good chance that I will be taking it again, but I have given myself plenty of time to do so. I do not apply for graduate school until Fall of 2010. BUT I am still pretty nervous to take it.
Life is just so great. I can not believe how lucky I am. :) Break has been so relaxing, even though I have been baby sitting and dog sitting quite a bit, but the cash is always nice. I am excited for this next semester. I know my classes will be tough, but I am going to Love all of them!!
Here are some pictures from Christmas!! :)
Mom and I with the Sugar Cookies!

Erica, mom and I getting ready to decorate the gingerbread house!

The final product!

My cute nephew Kitt with Santa

Rachel and I with our Sugar Cookies

Mom and I with our Sugar Cookies

Jocelyn and I!

Kitt and Jocelyn Playing so nicely together

Jocelyn all ready to go sledding!

Sledding!

Kitt hated sledding

Erica loved it!

Jocelyn and I!