It begins again.

I'm so not ready to get back to Logan tomorrow. It doesn't seem real that another semester is here. But hey, here's to my last semester without keat. HOLLA!
The very beginning of semesters are the worst. I go nuts if I don't have a routine so my life is full of to-do lists. Seriously. Sometimes I even put the obvi stuff on like: wake up. Shower. Check email. Eat dinner. It makes me feel accomplished when I get to erase it from my big whiteboard. And sometimes, maybe I need that extra incentive to do the little things throughout my day. It's a win-win if you ask me.

I'm gonna say it. 120 days til summer vacation. Boom.
People keep telling me time will go faster the busier I am. 18 credits, clinicals, work, best buddies and maybe some time to play and maybe sleep better make time freaking fly.

If I'm not living by the time spring break rolls around... Tell my family I love them.

top 12 of 2012

2012 has been a goodie.
here's why:




(1.) Tatum Ruby Close. obvs. Life just wouldn't be the same without my sweet T. she's the funniest, cutest little babe to ever grace the planet. her smile whenever someone says they love her can melt anyone's heart and her tender snug's are what keeps the world spinning. love her almost too much.







(2.) my shewolves. sometimes i feel bad for people who don't know us because we are seriously THAT great. totes a joke, but for real. i love the original bullen's, the CC 62's, and my wolfies. we get each other. we love each other so hard. i am reminded every single day why I chose to go to Utah State. each one of these girls is a blessing in my life and no
matter how crazy our lives will get and how far apart we end up from one another, i know i'll have sisters who will be there for me. i can't wait to be at all of their weddings and kids' birthday parties, and holiday and summer get togethers, and probably like book club or something that i'll go to while mel and lexi actually talk about the book... good enough for me. i'll bring the treats.

(3.) the bombest job ever. im obsessed with weddings, so why not go to some every weekend and get paid for it. sure. i feel really good when i say that this might be a huge part of my future and nothing excites me more. Im truly so grateful for this job. it's something that i love to do, i have a passion for, and hope to become more serious about in the very near future! plus, my own wedding will be a sinch because of all the notes i've been taking. Plus, i work with some pretty rad peeps. Whenever we get shunned to the back closet during a reception or something, we will always find something to do. we keep it exciting at This is the Place. 

(4.) I finally got my very own SEWING MACHINE! (thanks gma Sylv!) Unfortunately, i have completed all of my sewing courses for my degree (tears shed). BUT, this last semester, I have found a passion for it! It was the most stressful and tiring course I have yet to take, but it is the one I have learned the most from. I was able to learn all of the techniques that will help me for the rest of time. I was able to create dresses, make my own patterns, learn how to hand tailor, do alterations...the whole shebang! And now I can face my machine with confidence. Thanks Utah State!

(5.) I became a True Aggie. What what!

(6.) Elder Flitton is still rockin it in the mother land!! And i've escaped with only a few sporadic moments of weakness. But f'reals. This kid is the best, we all know it. He's grown so much and it is weird that he only has a little over 9 months left. He helps me more than he realizes. He is such a rock, such a solid, yet gentle soul and I just really am looking forward to what 2013 has to offer him. I have no doubt in my mind that he will complete this mission with full force and honor. He's changed lives and fell in love with the work. What more could anyone ask for? 

(7.) I went to Harbor Springs, Michigan this summer for a week. My 3 bests lived there this summer so i decided to hop on a plane and see what it was all about. Let me tell you, prettiest place i've ever been. Google Earth it or something because my pictures just wouldn't do it justice. The houses are right on the water, everyone wears polo and sperry's and sits on their docks on their own little beaches. it is heaven on earth and i really really hope to go back there some time. its so peaceful. and not to mention the world's best antiquing! we spent a whole day doing just that and i was perfectly content! it was so nice to escape for a bit and be with my friends! the perfect way to end my summer vacation!

(8.) Abby and Kurt's big day was in May! I was honored to be her maid of honor. (ha, get it?) those two are so in love. and love is a happy thing, so that day was pretty happy! i was thrilled that abby let me be such a big part of the whole planning process and allowed me to throw a bridal shower with her sister lindsey, and be there the whole day! it was so much fun...and not to mention she looked absolutely gorgeous!!!

(9.) Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker concert was on Valentine's day. I went with my mom. we are really cool. It definitely belongs in top 5 concerts i've ever been to! i cried. it's fine.


(10.) I was able to spend some quality time with probably the greatest family known to man. The Flitton's are some of my favorite people. They treat me so well and i'm truly blessed to know them and love them. We have some really great laughs together whenever i'm with them. Katie and Anna are my little sisters and we sure do act like it. Jeff and Christy are such amazing examples and friends to me and i am grateful that they allow me to still be a part of their lives even while keaton isn't here. No matter what happens, these people will always be a part of my life.















(11.) I said Bye-Bye to the Beast. I loved my car. Even though it was so stressful and such a piece, it was really hard for me to fare thee well. I had that car all of high school and the first two years of college and it held a ton of really fun memories with it. But, i did what I had to and let some other poor college student take her from me. i still kinda miss her, but am very very grateful for a reliable car to get me back and forth between my two homes.

(12.) i went on a few really fun little vacations throughout the year. starting with my spring break trip to st. george to visit grandma wendy and grandpa neil with my roommates!! we went hiking and four-wheeling in the red rock and swam and caught some rays that we usually don't see in cache valley. we played some pretty intense games of pictionary and hand-and-foot. we get outta control sometimes when it comes to competitions...















I also went to yellowstone twice this year. once with my fambam in the summer and once with my roomies for our traditional fall break trip! this fall break was the best one yet! i am really hoping that we have at least one more in our future. I also went to Moab with my mom's whole side of the family. It was a week long celebration to remember the amazing man that Wendell J Ashton was. (My mom's step grandfather.) I loved learning about everything that he accomplished in his life, it blew my mind. And i was able to connect with my cousins who i had never even met before, and thats always fun, right? soo many little kids...

#itsover

#youmadeit

#Happy2013

#onemorephoto

#forfunsies

She was my new years kiss this year. i'm not even mad about it. 

I am magic.

So, this one time i got my wisdom teeth out.
I have been putting it off for almost three years now because
lets be honest
i was freaked out.
i dont like the whole surgery and being put under anesthesia and stuff.
but realizing that my teeth were turning into buck teeth and not pretty,
i figured it was about time.
fast forward to yesterday. i thought my appointment was at 2 pm.
my mom calls me at 9:30 am saying my appointment got moved to 10:45.
you better believe I stayed in my pj's.
we go, fill out all the paperwork, do the little pre-op stuff
and i was OUT.
last thing i remember was the doc sticking the IV in my hand and counting to about one and a half.
long story short.
i'm awesome. wanna know why?
because in my subconsciousness, after getting over the bawling because i missed keaton,
(at least we know i must really like him...)
i decided that i was a magician because i didn't remember how i got from the chair to the bed that i awoke on. and then proceeded to come up with a plan to have my own magic show - like they do in vegas.
and make it a singing show, too. with animals. and become famous enough to take it to Russia.
i guess i just wanted to share my talent with my man.
i hate to say it, but even when i am out of it, i am still pretty funny!
right?
unfortunately, there is no video. and thank goodness because i am sure i looked realllly pretty.
but thanks to my sweet sis, we made sure to capture this moment.

i was only a little drugged at this point, which i hate to admit...

one benefit to this whole thing is that i have watched almost the first two seasons of HIMYM.
thanks netflix!
aaaand im probably the cutest little chipmunk you'll ever lay your eyes on.

so, here's to pretty teeth and seeing how the freak HE MET THEIR MOTHER!! i'm hooked.

Christmas on Cloud 9.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday and it was full of love, joy, laughter, food, family, and the Spirit of Christ.
it sure was a happy happy day in the city of Murray.
my mishy boo (yep, i just said that) was able to skype home in the wee hours of Christmas morn!!!
-Keaton is 13 hours ahead of us-
Christy invited me to just sleep over so I wouldn't have to worry about getting up and driving over.
the anticipation was KILLING us. we all woke up around 5 am to make sure the computer was on and skype was working and whatnot. None of us are very technologically savvy so we were a bit anxious.
the clock rolls around to about 6:15 and he eventually calls and we panic. I totally wish we were being filmed at that moment when the computer made the sound because i am about 98% sure every single one of us either fell to the floor or froze from panic or some sort of brain malfunction because it took us all a moment to realize we actually had to accept the request. I eventually clicked accept and there was his handsome smile on the computer screen.
BEST FEELING EVER getting to hear his laugh and just have an actual conversation. PURE BLISS.
He was so goofy and normal, surprisingly.

<---- I'd say that's a face of a mother on cloud 9. 

Am I right?

I'm guessing we've all used skype before and know the quality is just SO the best... psych.

I'm not complaining though. 

Just a random clip. He was saying at the beginning and right before this that Russians don't smile that often...

He wanted to show us his coat and hat. Sorry that I'm annoying, bee tee dubs.

This clip is his Hello to my family, so here you go fam!

again, sorry i am way annoying and loud.

and please notice how he says Merry ChristmAAs at the beginning.

#russianaccentforthewin

Man, oh man i love this kid. 

He shared his testimony and it was emotional. he never ever ceases to amaze me in every little thing. 

Finally, he offered the family prayer. This was the first time we really heard him speak for an extended period of time in Russian. He was crying, Christy was crying, I was crying, it was just a big ol' sob fest. 

It was one of the best things i have ever experienced and I am BEYOND GRATEFUL that the Flittons allowed me to be there and participate. 

It was a great Christmas, to say the least.

Now here's to Christmas 2013 and no need for skyping!!

eeeeeeeeeeeeek. 

And a few more photos for your enjoyment.

               

       Maybe I'll send out my own personal holiday cards...

thoughts?

---->

holidayzz

december has definitely treated me well.

• finishing up the semester with a passing grade in chemistry is all i could have asked for!! even if it did kinda make my GPA suck, i passed. and i thank the Chemistry Gods.
• i finished One Tree Hill. I am not ashamed. maybe a little, when i think about how there are 9 seasons and i started them less than a month ago... cool.
• I'm home for winter break and have been able to spend a ton of time with my fambam. and of course miss T. She is gaining such a cute little personality and is always smiling and coo-ing and slobbering and spitting up. typical baby shiz.
• Her blessing was this last weekend. It went so perfectly!! She looked absolutely scrumptious in her dress and Jordan gave her a beautiful blessing. I can't believe my sweet girl is already almost three months old. sheesh!

• i spent some time with my girls at one of our best friend's bridal showers. She was part of our Bullen Hall love our freshman year. she is home and getting hitched and being all responsible and we miss her every single day. Whitney is just one of those girls who makes you feel like a million bucks and is always inspiring you to be the best possible person you can be. i am over the moon about this wedding and marriage. it's strange that we have been with Whit during the entirety of her fiance's mission in France and we hadn't even met him, and now they are sealing the deal! time sure does fly.

• we spent some time with Grandma Ruby making her holiday cookies! we have done it the past few years and it has become one of my favorite holiday traditions. Even though i kind of just hang out the whole time and watch other people do what they are supposed to, i still thoroughly enjoy myself. it's always fun to see Rube be so excited to share these traditions with her great-grandchildren. She's pretty close to the top of my list of favorite people on the planet. 

• just a few days ago i was pleased to spend some time with my favorite girls from m-town. it had been FOREVER since we were all together and it was about time we made it happen. it is never a dull evening when we are all together. Im so blessed to have such solid groups of friends who are able to pick up right where we left off. Even though we are all doing such different things in each of our lives, we will always have each other's backs. I just love 'em.

Next up: SKYPE SESH WITH PASHA BOYYYY. be excited. videos will be included. 

HOLLA!

Try not to smile.

These girls.

Our Christmas Card. Enjoy.
NOT PICTURED: Lexi Sweat and Kenzi Staples
I love them just as much as everyone else, fyi.

BB4L

Best Buddies is so neat!
If you aren't aware, Best Buddies is a non profit international organization that promotes empowerment to people with disabilities of all ages. College students are matched up with individuals with disabilities around their area and they just hang out with one another throughout the month and then come to the monthly activities that we plan!
I've had the incredible opportunity to be a part of and on the board as an activities coordinator for the USU chapter! Two of my roommates have been directors for the past two years and I am beyond thankful for them for introducing me to this increds organization!!
This year, I was matched with my buddy, Liz. And let me tell you, she is RAD. she is hilarious, smart, just as much in love with volleyball as I am, and seriously one of the best people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.
I've loved getting to know all of the buddies in our chapter. They bring the sweetest spirit into my life and I can't help but be filled with so much love whenever I interact with them!
This last week, Liz invited me to her mutual's Christmas program! It was so touching. I am so happy I was able to go and see so many of the buddies up there singing their hearts out to the best of the best Christmas hymns.
This is an experience I will never forget... These buddies have become seriously some of my greatest friends and I HIGHLY recommend looking into becoming involved in this organization.
You won't regret it.