The college life; a time of wonder.

College has been so full of adventures and memory filled moments that it's hard to comprehend that we are entering into the third month. It is also insane to think that it has only been this long.  

First Sunday together

Time seems different at college. You spend just about every waking moment being busy. Days are so filled that one seems like two or three. 

Nutella Party!

Because of this, you get insanely close to people so fast that it's hard to believe you haven't known them a life time. 

After an insane dance Paint Fight

 And as odd as it sounds, when someone leaves, even for just for two days, you miss them a whole heartful. Something is just slightly off when not everyone is here. 

Setting the fire alarm off at 2 in the morning. 

Being around all these individuals that have such a mix of personalities and talents that are all from such versatile walks of life is one of the greatest learning experiences (if you utilize it) and makes you develop more as an individual. 

Parking is great when you have a wee car. 

As you are with people that are so different from you, you discover that there is no other person to be but you and only you. And people like you for it. Or they don't. But either way it's OK.    

       

Skype sessions

People know when you are real and authentic and they appreciate that about you, whether they mesh well with you or not. You come to love and appreciate authenticity on a whole new level.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

You have parties.

Hickory pulled pork

Lots of them.

Happy Birthday!

                                     
You find the best places to get work done. As odd as they may be.

The Laundry room is where the studyin' goes down. 

And you have many, many adventures.                                           

Cross Country Skiing for the first time

Dance Fight!

First time eating Jack-In-Box tacos

                                             

Mad pizza dough tossing skills. 

Igloo adventures

Injuries. 

 And there is snow....

3 ft in one night. Poor Milly.

A whole lot of snow.    

The ice was INSIDE the car.

But that is Ok. I've actually come to love the snow. I find it enchanting.

However, if I had to pick, I would say that the best part about college is the people. They, combined with all the growing and constant change, are what make college what it should be.

Skeeteers!

Haunted Swing

Fro-Yo, Friday's at 3:30. 

A time full of love, learning, adventures, and discovering whatever it is you need to discover. 

                         
It's a time of wonder.

Awkward.

I would like to declare Monday, January 23, 2013 as the single most awkward day of my existence. Now please mind that I am indeed an awkward person, I know this and embrace it, I would, however, like to say that I generally make things pretty comfortable for everyone and do not believe a situation to be truly awkward all that often (I recently informed my mother that socially awkward adolescents are my specialty. True story.)  So when I say that Monday was so, so awkward--well, let's just say that I am not exaggerating.

The highlights of the day included: tripping on a wall, running into a door, being there for conversations that you just should not be there for, getting really excited when you say hello to someone you thought you knew...only to find out that they either a) do not remember you or b) are not nearly as excited to see you by any stretch of the imagination, walking around with lettuce in your teeth, blocking the whole staircase at the library while telling a friend of your wretchedly awkward day, and then the absolute most awkward part of the day: making a boy cry in the middle of the cafeteria.
    I was sitting in Crossroads eating lunch and informing my lovely roommate, Paige, that I was having an awkward day, when I see my friend’s ex-as-of-yesterday-boyfriend across the room. I, of-course, hope that he doesn't see me and keeping reading the "It Just Gets Stranger Blog" while assuming that, even if he does see me he won't want to stop and chat because they literally JUST broke up and we left on rather...shaky (?) terms. Nope, he doesn't just walk by. He comes all the way across the cafeteria and walks right up. I'm courteous and ask how he's doing (ya know, basic small talk) and we talk for a few minuets. He apologizes for being an absolute jerk during a recent battle of the wits; I say I forgive him after a slightly funny exchange. Then he gets serious and I ask if he's doing all right. He looks at me with this confused face and so I stupidly say "Well I talked to (insert friend's name here) yesterday." He responds with a "Oh, well"...then he begins to tear up really fast. As the first tear falls he literally runs (runs!) away while proceeding tears come pouring down his face. Can I just tell you? I have never gotten that many judgment filled faces sense my last racially off-colored remark at 7-11 (which was bad. Don't do Mexican accents in the ghetto of Vegas. Just don't.) The guy next to me just started with a "why-did-you-just-make-that-poor-guy-weep??" kind of face and the girl across from me gave me a "you-know-how-to-set-them-boys-in-their-place" kind of look. Granted those were the only two I could see that had a distinct phrase presented along with them, the many others were just a mixed looks of confusion and pity (if they did have a phrase it be similar to "what-the??" and "did-she-just-tell-him-his-snuggie-caught-on-fire?"). Then I just awkwardly sat there at my table, feeling like a horrible person for making a newly-heart-broken guy weep in public and attempted to finish reading the blog post.
The rest of the day involved multiple pathetic incidents that I won't be disclosing for some time.

To end the day I actually ran into the weeping guy again on my walk back from the gym...but this time the guy literally ran passed and me and looked down (why he couldn't have done this at our first encounter, I will never know.)...At least I didn't make him weep in public again, right?

A picture Paige snapped of my pathetic "I have been utterly defeated" brushing of the teeth portion of the day.
She said I would thank her one day. I guess today is that day. Thanks, Paigy. 

Granted I entirely understand that anyone of these incidents would not be exactly that mortifyingly  awkward on their own, but put together, that just brings us into a whole new ball park. 

Family Pictures

  

 

My life in five minuets.

    A while back I was mentor/trail guide at an outdoor leadership camp, Elevation, that is affiliated with my old school. At said camp the leaders are supposed to do little camp-fire-story-telling type things such as What was you first love? and Tell your life story in five minuets. I was rather proud of what I came up with for my life story and believe that it is highly accurate. Which means I am now sharing it here. 

You're welcome. 

    When I was about four I found myself taking a bath in the down-stairs bathroom while my older sister, Natalie, was "watching" me (This meant I was enjoying a lovely game of mermaids with my imagination and witty self while Natcat and her friend were watching Backstreet boy clips on MTV in the family room). 
   Before I continue there are two details you should be aware of: 1) I adored my dog, Wishbone and 2) I had just learned to tie my shoes and was pretty darn proud of my self. 
   While taking this luxurious bath/mermaid adventure I decided I was board and figured I would do something to rectify that. Well, next thing I know I had grabbed my dog, and slipped on my white lace-up tennis shoes (ONLY my white lace-up tennies) and ran out the door.

   My life has been about the same ever sense and the story tells it all. I do what I want, remember the important things, and never leave a friend behind. There might be a few spicy adventures and life-changing experiences in there but in all reality, this folks, is just about all you need to know about me. 

Autumn: the highlights

The highlights of Autumn through pictures in a non-chronoloical order:

Getting to mentor phenomenal leaders. 

Sometimes work was pretty exciting

Hair cuts and spicy phone cases

General Conference! Mission at 19 anyone?!

(R) My mother's Romney sign, (L) normal people's sign. 

                                     

I take pumpkin carving rather seriously

Grils Night's with my crew

Way to much Anthropology shopping

To many photos of this guy on my phone

How can you not adore him??

Rainy Days and memory-filled boots

Obnoxious pranks at the office

Being staff at Elevation. Priceless. 

Cheap gas prices (relatively) 

Concerts

The Smith Center, Wicked

Way to much time spent here. 

Wedding Hair

Lovely adventures with the fabulous Steph

Random Runs to Pahrump. Elk jerky anyone? 

Mother trying to figure out Siri

Way to much snapchatting