happy days.

After just getting home after being on campus since 8am I've decided I complain too much, so in order to perk my own spirits I'm focusing on what I'm happy about today : )

*Grey's Anatomy!! season premiere was last week and I loved it(minus the bailey part)! so excited and so happy to watch it in T-1 hour.

*Neighbors- living in a family oriented complex/neighborhood is so fun sometimes to come home to seeing all the kids out playing in the yards, and all the cute creative decorated houses. I love it. Also besides the families our buddies that live close by are great. did I mention that they made us dinner one night? Justin in hilarious and Mind and I were lucky enough to run into him twice yesterday, it was awesome.

*Diet Coke-cure to any bad day as well as a great way to begin any day that you see going badly.

*Sunshine! with fall on it's way I'm soaking up all the days I can to wear shorts.

*weekends. I live for them and love them.

*only one more week left doing 4:30am wakeups to drive to Dixie for clinicals.

*memories. Been on lots of trips down memory lane this past week, and I've loved thinking about old times, inside jokes, and great times.

*life! after an experience this weekend I've learned you need to be grateful for everyday and always make sure that you tell those you love how you feel.

*sleep! I'm happy about any hour I can get these days.

*I'm sore from Zumba last night. that means I got a good workout : )

*My nursing pals and for moments like:
"Disorganized infant, couldn't keep his womb clean", "Subtractions, Detractions...you mean Distractions!", "I'm a working woman", "saw that on Grey's one time", and "Turn!...Turn!.."


love you guys!!

*talking to my momma last night. talk about a self-esteem booster.

*adorable pictures of my niece on facebook. I love that little girl!!

*finally getting a visor CD case for my car. so long scratched CD's!!

and probably some more things but studying for a test in the morning calls my name : )

have a great day ya'll!! find something to smile about.

Called to Serve...

My brother, Taylor, got his mission call on Wednesday. I wasn't able to be home for the grand opening but I was lucky enough to be able to watch him do it via skype. He's going to Tijuana Mexico, spanish speaking and reports January 26. I'm so proud of you Bud!! The people of Tijuana are so lucky to be getting you! but man we're gonna miss you.

My first reaction.... put on my sombero he gave me : )

Thanks for always being a little brother I can look up to! congratulations : )

cowboy up.

last weekend was a weekend that the country girl side of me loved and greatly appreciated.
Friday: saw Easy A(loved loved loved it!!) then went and visited the good land of Piute and my favorite group of cowboys. Always a great laugh and good time, as well as memories and quotes worth talking about for days.

Saturday: Dinner at Olive Garden then over to the Dixie Stampede Rodeo down in St. Geezy. Nothin like a great rodeo and a big arena full of cowboys!! although worst part was that we didn't think ahead with it being st. george and only planned for bad weather and shady arena, stupid! we sat for two hours before the rodeo to get seats and almost melted to death. of course the day of the rodeo it's in the 100's.

Turns out it is possible to have a repulsing diet coke. the worst I've ever had!

how about them cowboys?? gotta love them. I know I sure do! thanks for a fantastic weekend.

bucket list.

yeah I have one. I love it to be honest with you, the idea of making a list of things that you probably wouldn't do on a normal day to day basis but come up with crazy idea's or random things you've always wanted to try but never have. The idea of living like you're dying and taking risks and accomplishing goals is so awesome. hence why I love my bucket list : )

hiking mt timpanogoes was added to my list the year that I moved to Provo and found out that people could actually hike that massive mountain that seemed to be within eye's reach from everywhere in Utah County. Had I ever done it or think that I could done it? no. so it was added to the list. and on Sept. 11 I conquered that mountain and crossed that off my list!!! to say I am proud would be an understatement.

I've always loved hiking, I guess growing up in a small town will do that to ya-that along with having a best friend named Stephanie Flinders : ) however not many people like doing it. Let's just say my two hiking companions for the day fit right into that category haha.

We began the hike at 8:30am after much debating over times and actually getting packed up and on the trail. We signed in our names in the registry of who's on the hike starting from the Timpanookee trail head. We were all feeling good still for the first hour and it was all down here from there. we all had our fair share of complaining, some more than others(haha love you both!), snacking along the way, as well as deep conversations. quick side note I think the reason I love hiking so much has to do with the happy friendly hikers along the way. this particular couple, and their dog, that we started the trail head with were so nice and so talkative, turns out their 2 oldest kids go to SUU. who'd of thunk it? small world.

Anyways the trail was awful, the hike was awful, I wanted to die!! The view was the only worthwhile thing. I've never ever experienced a hike like that before. You can imagine how we quickly found ourselves wondering and questioning out loud, "what the heck were we thinking!". After some helpful people gave us the discouraging news that were at least 2 miles from the top and even another hour or so from the saddle I decided that I had drug Daphnee and Jacqui up the mountain for too long and continued up the mountain flying solo.

I reached the saddle thinking my legs were going to fall off and the view was incredible. it was then that the advice that another fellow hiker had given me popped into my head, "no matter how tired you get, you have to go to the top". there was no way I was going to get this far and not go to the top, besides for it to count on my bucket list I needed to sign my name in the register. So I snapped a few photos and carried on the trail.

I was in my SUU get up and hiking solo which apparently means I had a stamp on my head that meant talk to me because the last mile everyone on their way down commented on my shirt or SUU or the view, or the fact that I was a trooper for carrying on. see what I mean about the friendly hikers?? That last little stretch was the worst part of the whole hike, rough terrain, no company, switchback after switchback and actually being able to see the tower on the peak.

To shorten this ridiculously long story I made it to the top. The view was incredible, the weather was freezing!!! My legs were shaking and just wanted to rest and I wanted to eat but due to the weather and needing to find my friends I signed my name took a few pictures once again and headed down the mountain to find Jacqui and Daph sound asleep on the saddle. hilarious! so proud of you two for making it there though!!

We made it down the mountain at 5:30pm, and I was sore for days. worth it? yes! do it again? not anytime soon : )

Don't mind the beautiful self shots : ) had to document my solo portion

WAHOO!!! made it. so happy.

See what nursing school has done to me.....

One of the best parts of the whole day was when we were resting taking a break from my "shortcut" which was killer hard when all of a sudden we see horses headed down the mountain jacqui was about to offer to pay them to turn around and take us to the top when suddenly we noticed just what these horses were doing on the mountain....look closely.....closer....see the dead animal legs??? needless to say jac our anti-hunters lady was not impressed and no longer wanted a ride : )

Back down at the bottom. man what a hike!!

thanks for the memories and for putting up with my bucket list requests : ) can't wait for our next adventure!!