An early second date

So remember Seuss Contemporary from last night? Well we went on our second date tonight. Ha! Crazy huh? Yet again it was a total blast! We went and saw an animated movie at the movie theater and then just walked around at talked for a bit. *In case you were wondering, he did NOT hold my hand. Honestly I'm glad because taking things slowly isn't a bad thing. I want to make sure that I know what kind of a guy Seuss Contemporary is before I hold his hand or any of that.* Anywho! So I guess its 4 dates this week! The blind dates should be fun, but I'm looking forward more for the opportunity to do baptisms at the Rexburg temple. ;) I've never been inside!

Finally heard back from my friends and all is well. This week is going to be awesome! I can feel it.

The beginning of the best worst week.

So honestly this week could become the best or worst week thus far this summer. I took the weekend off to go visit friends in Logan and Rexburg (mostly Logan because my old roomies told me to take time off to visit so I did) and guess what? My old roommates won't return my texts or phone calls and my one friend in the Burg will actually be in Salt Lake this weekend! It's obviously too late to tell my bosses to schedule me to work the weekend so I'm going up north anyways. "Luckily" I have some plans with family and some other people this weekend so it should still turn out great. I say "luckily" because the plans are 2 blind dates! So "lucky" could be one or two awesome dates that maybe turn out to be more than just a first date or it could be "lucky" in a sarcastic, dreading, my-date-turns-out-to-be-a-creeper kind of lucky.

So to start off this interesting adventure I went on a date! Yup, 3 (possibly 4) dates in one week! Probably a record for me but I'm not sure. All I know is that I am going on more dates in one week than I have so far for the past 3 months or so. Pretty excited and not in the I'm-just-excited-to-go-on-a-date-in-general kind of way, but in more of a I-could-see-any-of-these-dates-having-great-potential way.

So anyway, back to my date that I went on tonight. We will call my date...Seuss Contemporary (something to do with the date). We had a great time together and honestly my cheeks kind of hurt from smiling and laughing all night. In the future, after all of my dates this week, I will be comparing all of the gentlemen I went on dates with so I'm making a list of the great things about each guy.
-Seuss Contemporary-

• returned missionary
• great listener AND contributes to the conversation
• teaser
• likes ice cream and frozen yogurt (yes I find that important ;) )
• through much hardship he still chose to be strong and active in the church
• furthering his education
• and something I learned on this date - - On my way home I realized that I was my complete self with "Seuss Contemporary" and I wasn't afraid to bring out what I find are the best parts of me AND he seemed to like me even more for it. That is how I want to feel all of the time; like I can easily bring out the best in myself and be appreciated by it, respected, and admired. This isn't the first time I've experienced this, but it just hit me today. 

Even though I ended up driving tonight for certain reasons I would still rate the date a 9 :) And I really hope Seuss Contemporary lives up to his word and I hear from him again and we go on another date.

Most likely my next date will be a blind date on Thursday.

To be continued....

Dear Boys :)

Dear Prince Philip,

I still think about you sometimes. I hope life is treating you well and you've found someone even more amazing to be your princess.

-Al


Dear JW,

I loved getting a letter from you the other day. I hope Brazil is treating you well. The people are in my prayers.

AJ


Dear handsome teller-who-probably-took-the-job-I-wanted,

For once my dad is the once trying to help me find guys to date. Hope it wasn't weird that I recognized you. And I hope you weren't hoping to see me again, but as much as I love my dad its a little of a turn off to date someone he "found". :)

-Random girl who came into a credit union with her bank uniform


Dear Squishy,

Yes I'm writing about you and yes I realize that you will read this and know its about you. Its been really good to spend time with you. I'm proud of you for deciding to serve the Lord...finally ;) And I think its adorable that I can still give you butterflies even though its been years.

Love,
"hey Lady"


Dear Rexburg-Logan-St.Anthony man,

I'm really nervous and excited for our zoo extravaganza. (And I think after meeting you in person I'll think of a better name for you.) I keep hoping you're going to call me even though we already have the date planned for next week. I hope I'm not a disappointment and you are genuinely excited to meet me.

-Riverton-Logan-?Rexburg? girl

BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay so maybe its not the VERY best day, but it's pretty close! I was just accepted into BYU-Idaho!!! I literally was jumping up and down when I read the email. Totally made my day!

Just thought you would all like to know :)

And they left me all for a mission.

So lately I've found out about a large group of my girl friends have handed in their mission papers. I was way excited for them, but now, just weeks later, I found out that even more of my girl friends are going on missions! And I found out about another friend who is leaving! My goodness, it seems like the only friends not leaving on missions are the ones that aren't old enough (or married I guess haha). But all of it has got me thinkin'...

...is Alex going to serve too?

The beginnings of summer

So this summer so far has been insane and its only the beginning. I currently have 2 jobs and most of the time work more than 40 hours a week. Its nice living at home, but it has taken some getting used to.

WARNING: Pictures are out of chronological order and can cause confusion, sorry I was just too lazy to switch them around ;)

Made wontons for my family the first Sunday I was home, I think. They turned out pretty good actually. Thanks to my dear friend, Dora, I had a great recipe. 

I'm in the process of making a quilt. This is just all the pieces put in pattern I wanted. Believe it or not, but my mom and I made this pattern ourselves (okay actually it probably is believable since its not that great haha). I just had all of this left over fabric from 3 years ago so I cut them into pieces and tried to organize all the different patterns so it would kind of work. Oh and I set the quilt pieces on our rug, that's why there is a formal-ish background haha

 I drove up to the temple after a fireside this week and just took pictures. I wish these pictures could turn out as beautiful as it was in real life.

After shopping at City Creek my friend, Marc, and I drove up past the capitol and it was so incredibly beautiful.

 One night I got to babysit my nephews and niece. They are all so cute! This is Isaac. Love that kid!

 Marc and I went to the zoo. It was really fun and well just funny obviously.

 LOVE LOVE LOVE elephants!

The exhibit with the sea lions was really cool. I wanted to go swimming so bad after watching them.

 This is Derek, Talin, and Jake at seminary graduation. So crazy.

 Jake and Garret after a soccer game. Its hard to watch a friend play against your brother because you want to cheer for both of them.

 Oh-this is seminary graduation again. I think this is one of the very few pictures I have of all 5 of us. Love it.

 This is me holding Alaina. She is such a beautiful baby.

 This is mommy and daughter at Alaina's baby blessing.

 Oh the same day as the baby blessing, Jake received the Melchizedek priesthood! He even got to stand in the circle as Alaina was blessed. Such a tender moment.

And this is Alaina with her older sisters. I can't tell you how hard it was to get this picture. Wiggly, giggly girls don't sit long. 

Its been such a bittersweet summer. I only hope it keeps getting better.

Goodbyes

Jake left just an hour ago. He's gone. I can't believe the day finally came. I guess I couldn't expect him to be 15 forever.