Happy birthday, Aubrey!

Remember those cute girls that insisted I be their friend after that one time snowshoeing? And then they invited me over for Sunday dinners and to the midnight showing of Hunger Games? Yes, they're wonderful. And today happened to be Aubrey's birthday! (in the middle). She's such a cute girl. So kind to everyone and always happy. I'm so glad I got to help celebrate! Even if I'm still getting to know these guys.

We started off the night getting dinner at Applebee's! Delicious, for sure. We had planned on going to Divine Comedy, but it started at 8 instead of 7 like we thought. So we just headed back to Aubrey's apartment and had cheesecake and chocolate cake, took pictures, played with streamers, and started watching She's the Man. It was such a fun evening! With great company, too. I'm glad to know such kind people!

Happy birthday, Aubrey!

yet another nighttime adventure

My first nighttime adventure up AF canyon consisted of a 10 hour hike in the dark with my best friends. This time was slightly different yet just as cool! As a ward, we went showshoeing under the moonlight! It was absolutely beautiful. Even though no camera could capture the beauty, just imagine this: snow laced on the ground, trees and bushes all around, silence, a clear sky, seeing all the stars, then being pleasantly surprised and excited when the moon comes up and lights everything up. Man, something everyone must do in their lifetime.

I'm glad I got to go, even though it was VERY last minute, because I met some new friends! I'd been having a hard time getting to know people in the ward, but I just clicked with a few girlies. They're really great. And live in the same building as me! Hopefully we become good friends.

Here are some pictures of the evening!

The group at the top of the ridge. It was a gorgeous view!

Bishop literally plopped right on top of us! It was funny.

L-R: Aubrey, Kelsi, Amber, and me

Then Soo decided to pop in!

"i get by with a little help from my friends"

Food for thought:

If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you.

Although friends may be miles (and even countries) apart, the images of memories made will always stick.

And even if those friends return for a short time, it's like they never left.

Friends are the people that stick with you through thick and thin. They're there to see your successes and failures. They're there to share in incredible experiences. The way you make memories is by making an effort to do so.

It took effort to plan a way to ask boys to a dance over a 1 week period, 2 months in advance. It took effort to practice hard and participate in a music festival under the direction of our Church's most famous music director. It takes effort to practice and take first place in competitions in Disneyland. It takes effort to have fun. It takes effort to mend broken hearts and fix relationships. It takes effort to find the perfect dress. It takes effort to get together and have Star Wars marathons. It takes effort to ask a friend to borrow a dress that would make you feel stunning. It takes effort to get past your fears, audition, make it, and play with 9 other friends in the top orchestra in the state. It takes effort to study calculus and help others understand. It takes effort to bring milk and cereal every Thursday. It also takes effort to put on a Star Wars shirt and parade around the school with your best friends beginning a tradition. It takes effort to bring a lightsaber to school and battle on the front lawn. It takes effort to make it to the end of high school, sit on the stage with your best friends playing the best music in the world, then walk across the stage to conclude the best 3 years of your life.

But was it worth it?

Oh yes.

If you haven't played a game of miniature croquet, I highly suggest you do. Because 1. you don't get penalized for the amount of strokes you use (hallelujah) and 2. it's a great activity to do with friends and much less cliche than miniature golf.

After making the mistake of watching Dear John with my roommate last night, I texted a dear friend asking him if he wanted to do anything cause I was extremely bored (having already done my homework for next class). He immediately called me:

"We're going to play miniature croquet at the Riverwoods in Provo, do you want to come?"

Oh boy, did I. Afterwards, we got Little Caesars, came back to my apartment, and played Phase 10 for like 2 hours. I'd forgotten how much fun I can have with friends that I don't see as often.

And for those friends that aren't with us, there will come a time when we will reunite again. We have to. I mean, we have to make new memories. Even though the experiences of high school are gone and fading, we can remember them. And we can have more.

We just have to make the effort.

goodbye

With a rather anticlimactic ringing in of the new year, I said goodbye to 2011. A huge part of me is upset and sad. 2011 was probably the best year of my life, despite one major thing. In 2011 I accomplished great things and made memories that mean everything to me and that I want to keep with me forever. I feel like a huge part of me has just been ripped away only to have a new year replace it. I had the greatest experiences this year. The most sad part about leaving 2011 is leaving behind my high school days and the friends that were there through it all. We're all going our separate ways, most likely not to see each other a whole lot in the future. But, although I may feel melancholy and upset that 2011 is gone, I know that 2012 will only bring me the freshest start anyone could ask for.

In 2011 I:
Played in the Utah All-State Orchestra in Abravanel Hall {January}
Played in a district honor choir/orchestra under the direction of Dr. Ryan Murphy, director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir {January}
Went to my senior prom with my best friend in the best dress anyone could dream of {March}
Toured with my highschool orchestra to Disneyland where we took first place and I was asked to receive the award on the stage where the play Aladdin takes place {April}
Scored a 5 on the AP music test and a 4 on AP calculus {May}
Wrote my first 12 page paper {May}
Graduated American Fork High School {June} and said goodbye to the incredible memories and friends that I made there. I cannot even begin to describe the magnificent experience I had at that high school.
Traveled to the West Coast and stayed at the longest beach in the world {July}
My best friend received his mission call to the Belgium Brussels/Netherlands mission {August}
Started college at BYU {August}
Finished the entire Book of Mormon in 3 months {August-November}
Said "see ya later" to my best friend {November}
Completed my first semester of college with one A-, 2 B+'s, one B, and one C-. {December}
Celebrated my birthday and Christmas in the most chill way possible {December}

In 2012 I will:
Move out of my house
Make new friends
Go an entire year without seeing or being with my best friend
Become a junior in college
See my uncle and cousin from Germany for the first time in over 10 years and his new wife and baby for the first time ever
Travel to California with a friend
Celebrate my 20th birthday. 2 decades, baby!

Goals for 2012:
Go to New York City for New Year's
Take a picture every day
Document more
Write in my journal at least once a week
Read the Book of Mormon twice
Be more careful with what I say
Be less criticizing and more forgiving
Serve more
Let go of my pride
Practice my violin more
Attend the temple at least once a month
Write a letter a week
TRAVEL
Learn how to budget my money
Waste less time and study more
and BE HAPPY.

Happy New Year's, all. May 2012 bring you everything you could ever ask for. As for me, I'm ready to take it on.

yesterday

Yesterday was a very fun-filled day. I awoke and was busy from the start. First a lesson and then off to Amber's to create this:



This is us drawing on a big piece of butcher paper. We made Elder Stoddard a poster!


The finished product... I am dang proud of my Star Wars logo btw.


And I just love these girls so much that it really isn't funny. Words can't describe how much I love them. They are some of my best friends!




After this little adventure, I headed over to his house. While at Amber's, his sister texted me saying they had a present for me. SAY WHAT? So I headed over there on my way home to pick it up. And needless to say, I spent about 4 hours there. I just have too much fun with his little siblings! And we talked (his siblings and mom) for about 2 hours. It was so nice. That was the very first time I had been to his house and hung out with his family since he left. And honestly, it made it feel like things hadn't changed. I love his family as my own! They make me feel at home. They make him feel close and make things feel like they are bearable. I am grateful for them.
Except I'm not so grateful for his little brother, Wilson, for setting an insane high score on fruit ninja on my ipod. Just kidding! I still love him anyways.



Following this party, I headed home. About 10 minutes after arrival, Kari Kane (blog here) called me and said she was at my house to pick me up. The reason? This:

AN EPIC DECADES DANCE PARTY. Observe:






Kari and Lindsey (blog here) dressed up as 80's punksters. Dylan is, well, from the "cowboy" era (no one knows). And I chose to dress up as my most favorite era, which is the 40's. But really, I could be anywhere from the 20's to the 40's. Anyways. Here's us, just before we headed to the party.


And this is my getup. I couldn't help but snap a few pictures because I found myself to be very ridiculously good looking. Am I right?



What a day! Seriously one of the best yet. I got to hang out with pretty much EVERYONE that has a big impact in my life. From 2 incredible girls to my best friend's family to plenty of friends from high school. It was an outstanding day. And ending it with dressing up and dancing the night away was perfect.

a goal.

Maybe it's a little late for this.

But better late than never, right?

Sometimes I think I'm better than everyone (and my family is the first to remind me).

But then there's some times when I'm sitting alone and realizing:

"I'm not all that."

There's so many more people who are better, smarter, kinder, more cool-headed than I.

For example.

My sister.

B.

We need to be better friends.

4-0. yeah you heard me.

Today, BYU Women's soccer CRUSHED the University of Utah.

We scored 4 points.

And one of their players got a red card.

All in all?

A pretty awesome game if you ask me!

To top it off, the gang (consisting of Ben, Jenny, Trevor and Jason) headed over to the creamery for some laughs:

Ben's pick-up face. Which is obviously the next best thing to pick up lines.

"HE'S GONNA DRIVE AWAY! NOOOOO!!" Then realizing the door was unlocked.

Checking out the new Heritage Halls apartments and watching Robot Chicken and then finding out that the boys read my blog. (wth?)

And much more.

I've also decided on something.

No matter HOW hard it is going to be to watch my best friend leave me behind to serve his mission, I've got something incredible to do and keep my mind off his absence.

I've got Brigham Young University. And everything it has to offer.

While it may be the absolute hardest thing I've ever done in my life (and it won't help that he'll be less than a 10 minute walk away from campus for the first two months...dang you MTC), I know I have something to look forward to that will keep me entertained, busy, and uplifted.

Today was absolutely crazy. Not to mention barely making it in time to get my student ID before the place closed at 6 so I could then get my all-sport and guest passes so we could make the game at 7.

The end result?

I'M OFFICIALLY A COUGAR!

And it doesn't get any better than that.

I conquered a mountain.

Well, almost.

I guess if you hike Timp in the dark you're bound to lose the trail if it's covered in snow.

Ha. We did!

I was rather upset we didn't make it to the top because that was my goal all along.

I pouted about an hour after we decided to leave.

I mean we saw the sunrise and all (and witnessed an engagement... so cool!) but I wanted to summit. I had never done it before. And I wanted to see the other side.

On the way down we noticed where we had gone astray and it would have been so simple to take that trail for another 10 minutes and make it to Emerald Lake. But it was 6:00 AM and everyone was too tired and wimpy to continue.

So we headed down.

I calmed down after awhile and enjoyed the rest of the hike.

Because I did, in fact, make it to the top of A mountain... just not Timp ;)

For those of you who want to hike Timp: Go at night! We started at 1:15 AM but it would be better to start at midnight because you would have enough time to actually make it to the top to see the sunrise.

DO IT!

It seriously was the most fun I've had in a while :)

*Pictures coming soon! Once I find my camera cord...*

Missing you.

No, this post isn't about him. It's about another guy. A guy I've known for way too long. A guy I've laughed at from a distance and eventually laughed with as we sat next to each other in orchestra.

Four years is a long time to sit next to the same person.

But honestly, I wouldn't have wanted to spend it with anyone else. I miss everything about it. I miss orchestra.

I miss watching him walk aimlessly around the classroom and eventually make it to his seat.

I miss him grabbing chairs for us.

I miss his "Wait, when is state orchestra?" or "What time do we have to be at the concert?" questions that made me grin.

I miss his insane talent. I always felt small sitting next to him--that he was leagues ahead of me in skill levels.

I miss his awkward personality, his excellent and witty comments, and his half smiles.

I dunno. Maybe this is weird. But I have loved spending 4 years as stand partners with this kid. I've learned to love him and be his friend. I learned that that's what he needed; someone to understand him and be kind to him.

All of a sudden, a few hours ago, he texted me randomly. He said he had issues and was "glued to his phone right now and needed to let off steam and be distracted." The best part? He texted me.

We talked for a while. It was absolutely pleasant.

I'm gonna miss him next year at school. But hey, maybe we'll end up as stand partners sometime along the way :)