Hey guys

So I'm back for an update. On thee greatest Christmas break! Seriously though, I am SO blessed. 

Reunited with two of my best friends.

Dyed my hair dark. And got pedis with the mom and sisters! (Sadly, we didn't get a pic with all of us) Just look at my cute prego sis.

Became re-obsessed with my 2 nephews and 2 nieces. 

Yeah, I love them.

My brother Devin got married! It was way too fun to have all of the extended family from both sides gather together. Best feeling being home.

Love him so freaking much. We are the weirdest together and I love it. And I miss living at home together and being so ridiculous. He has always been a good example to me. Love you dev!

My entire fam went to bbucks and it was yummmy. I have missed working there!

Holy DELISH Christmas Eve dinner. (yes I have gained a thousand pounds over break, it's fine)

Christmas Eve is always my fave.

We went on a hayride, looked at Christmas lights, and sang too loud.

If you tell him to say "cheeez" this is the reaction every time. I love my Branson boy!

Brynlee with the speaker! Check out her cutest hat.

I couldn't snap a picture fast enough, but all four grandkids were tackling Braden over and over again at the same time. They were all screaming and dying laughing. Cutest sight I tell ya.

Christmas morning was a blast with all of the kids. And we also received the greatest news that my other sister Jennica is also pregnant:) 2 on the way! Being an aunt is the greaatest I swear.

Many many park trips. Love this picture and love my reesey girl.

We went to the train park in Scottsdale for Branson's bday! It was the cutest place and so much fun. I look up to both Jen and Mitch so much. They are such great examples of parents and hope for a good, fun marriage.

My gorgeous sister Camille. And Brynlee refusing to look at the camera because we couldn't get on her color of train car....

birthday boy!

cutest cousins.

This munchkin would not stop hiking her skirt up.

New Years Eve was spent with these two lovely ladies at the YSA iceskating thing. It was a lot of fun! Minus the fact that I still can not ice skate. Don't judge. Oh and wanna hear how embarrassing my friends are? I was completely reliable on them to get around the rink and they kept asking random boys to help me and I couldn't ever get away fast enough. So one kid literally dragged me around forever and they took off. cracking up. my friends rock..

Just yesterday I went snowboarding with Jules, Brade, and his friend Breanna. So much fun!

Like I said, thee greatest break ever! I had a blast. And the best part was being with my family constantly. I didn't capture some of my favorites with them but almost every night we played games and always stayed up late, laughing hysterically. I love them so much.

Now it is on to new adventures. I don't quite know what to expect at Dixie, but I do know that's where I am supposed to be at this point in my life. I leave Friday.. wish me luck!

bipolar yes.

 Not kidding when I say I am screwed for my finals tomorrow. I attempt to study and my mind immediately wanders to the fact that I will be home in 2 days/I will be leaving in 2 days. I have never been more reluctant to leave something behind. Yet, at the same time I have never been more excited for something! I am going HOME. And I won't be coming back.. Yeah call me bipolar?

 Seriously, Hawaii has been the greatest experience. I miss it already..

Wowzas.

Today was my last Sunday here. I am going to miss this soso much, it's not even funny. And yes, I did tear up when they made everyone who's leaving get up on the stage in sacrament meeting and they sang to us this aloha song (not sure what it's called). They had us stand in a line afterwards and the bishop, followed by a bijillion members of the ward, put necklaces around our necks and smothered us in hugs and kisses. (sidenote: I LOVE it here when the boys from other cultures kiss you on the cheek as they go in for a hug. Definitely still catches me off guard, but it is the sweetest) And then again they sang to us in relief society "God Be with you Til We Meet Again". Hawaii has been the most amazing experience and it will always hold a place deep in my heart. 

 Love my sweet neighbor.

 Paige!

By the way, Mele Kalikimaka! (Merry Christmas) soon.

Oh and I went to my first surf comp! It was soo sick.

 Kelly Slater paddled up right next to us!

I seriously miss this already.

ps funny freaking story. LINDSAY LOHAN went to a BYUH house party last night.. and got her purse stolen? Haha I SO wish I had been social and went.

http://m.tmz.com/article_head.ftl?id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tmz.com%2F2011%2F12%2F11%2Flindsay-lohan-hawaii-purse-stolen%2F

Cheers on every runner!

"Brothers and sisters, I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other."

Jeffrey R. Holland

April 2002

B E A utiful

It is a Friday night and wanna know what I'm up to? Just jammin out to Christmas music, eating my lunchable, with my hair on top of my head, in my room. Christmas music makes me so incredibly happy. Lunchables are childhood in a box. Yes I spoiled myself and bought a lunchable and an apple for dindin because the caf was BEYOND foul tonight. So I made Chanel come to foodland with me. BTW, don't feel bad for me that I am not out partying because it is by choice.... and maybe I'll go out later, maybe not. Haha I am so lame whatever.

Today's funnies:

-I am just getting over a cold and you know how your voice will randomly disappear post-sickness? Wellll, today I held the door open for this kid that was right behind me (mind you he was really attractive) and he said "hey thanks!" and I said "....squeak" yeah all that came out was a squeak. He smiled and went his way.

-This morning in biology, this girl came in SUPER late and tripped over the piano bench (I am a terrible person and find humor in injuries and embarrassing moments)

-When we had just got to the beach we hadn't seen anybody laying out, Chanel let out the most obnoxious screech and  "AHHHH BEAUTIFUL" and then we realized the soccer girls were like a foot away and acted so annoyed (oh the SOCCER GIRLS...they are the only people at BYUH that I've met and aren't very nice. Trust me I have made a goal to be on good terms with everyone and they have been straight up snobs. No offense ladies) But anyways, we smiled and went our way. And BUSTED UP LAUGHING afterwards.

-Coming back from the beach, Chanel and I always ride our bikes opposite ways and yell our next plans as we are departing. Soooo I said (too loud) CHANT LIBRARY TONIGHT! She didn't answer so I said CHANEL LIB TONIGHT K SEE YA! I forgot it was Friday and everyone in the courtyard was probably thinking losers. And our friend Jon was RIGHT there (who had made us pinky promise to come to his party tonight) Friday night schmiday night, I'll go to the library when I want to people. (Or I will stay home, eat my lunchable, and blog..)


-I like to sit by myself in the caf. Trust me the "meeting new people every single meal small talk" gets old FAST. So for lunch I went to sit down at my usual table and this guy I've never met was like "hey will you sit with us?" Strong accent btw so it took me a minute to understand what he said. I went and sat with him and his friend and within two minutes of talking to him I was majorly creeped out. After finding out I was transferring next semester, he asked "Will you stay if you get a boyfriend?". (He had already directed the conversation to marriage mutiple times also) I just laughed... He then would not leave me alone. He walked me back to hale 3 and would not leave. He said we are going out before I leave. Oh joy! He looks like he is 45 in case you were wondering. Oh and he is from New Guinea. (you meet people from the raddest places here. I LOVE IT)

Wellp my lunchable is gone and I have written a great deal more than I had anticipated. So I better get on fb, listen to more christmas music, and POSSIBLY make plans. Good night!

Patience

I think one lesson I have learned in college is PATIENCE. I must apologize for my last few depressing posts. Yes it was Thanksgiving, yes I was homesick. But, I have learned to be patient in tough times. I learned to be patient when I had no friends, no roommate, and was too homesick to call home. I learned to be patient when I felt alone. I learned to be patient when all I ate was granola all week because the caf food SUCKS. Patience is required, even living in paradise.


"Patience is a virtue"

Thanksgiving was an interesting one.. I woke up (emotional wreck thinking of home), packed for the weekend, then I went to watch Pirates with the ward. After that, we walked over to the stake center for our Thanksgiving dinner! To be honest, the food was much much better than I expected. (It was catered by the caf).. The weirdest part was that the majority of the people there, were people I had never even met before (people that aren't really in my ward). So basically I was with my friend that was visiting and a bijillion strangers. I had to force myself not to think of my family and the yummy foods we always have. (Couldn't help but criticize the mashed potatoes as I compared them to my Uncle Ken's).. Interesting first Thanksgiving away from home.

I'm embarrassed to admit that throughout all of that I just kept thinking "I can not wait for this day to be OVER". But my day was turned around as we left for Waikiki! 

 FOREVER GRATEFUL for this shopping cart.

 Bus, bus, and more bus.

 More waiting for bus!

 Black Friday.

 Massage train.

City

 

We got to shower with no shoes on! We slept in comfy beds. We ate real food. We laughed the entire weekend. We shopped. I am forever thankful for these girls for inviting me! BTW the girls that went were Blakely, Sam, and Roxy. (and Chanel came Saturday night). I have made such good friends here and have had soo many good times. Only 2 more weeks.... bittersweet.

Busy busy!

My schedule is anything but busy busy. But I have some advice for those away from home. I have learned the only way to stay away from intense homesickness is staying busy.. The other night after my depressing post, I could NOT stand just sitting in my lonely room doing homework, so I went for a bike ride. Whenever I start getting homesick I distract myself. Tonight, I went for a jog and listened to music. And whatever you do, don't  let yourself dwell on home for too long.... trust me.

 I absolutely love these bike rides.

I'm doing a lot better from when I posted! (Even talked to the madre today and didn't cry- step up from Sunday..) I went to my favorite beach all yesterday (Sunset), hitchhiked all over, ate yummy food, and thought less about home. 

Today after classes, was LAUNDRY DAY. Yes I said day. Laundry ends up taking forever here after you collect your stuff, make it down to the laundry room, and wait for a machine. Then you're gonna have to switch machines a couple times until one actually works. Then you wait in the room to watch your loads (people do weird stuff here like throw in a random thong..or steal one thing from your load). But it's whatever. The feeling of clean laundry in college is my all time favorite! Seriously. My room smells divine afterwards and everything just seems so clean. Even coming outta this place........

 Just had to snap a picture for memory's sake. I mean if the floors weren't so nast, or flooded 24/7, or if there weren't hairballs flying around the room, or if every other machine didn't break every 5 seconds, then this place would be alright.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I am going to watch a movie with my ward in the morning, then have the ward din at 1 PM. Then at 3, I'm heading into Waikiki for the weekend with some girls! I know if I didn't have all these distractions I could easily hide out in my room and bawl my eyes out. But I won't. I will be strong. And I will have a good weekend! And I wish all my friends and family one as well. I am truly blessed.