b i r t h d a y

As of 1:01 yesterday morning, I am now a legal adult. . . 18 woooohoooo!

Remember how I said that I have the best friends??  Well I do.  They planned the best surprise party for me up the canyons and I had no clue whatsoever!  It was the perfect night.  Ashlyn, Carly, Taylor, and Tessa picked me up after lacrosse and told me we were going to dinner, then blindfolded me and completely confused me.  When we got out of the car I was expecting maybe a couple other of my girlfriends at a casual burrito place or something...but no..they took off the blindfold and I was up the canyons with everyone.  I had such a blast--thanks everyone for the perfect birthday!!

(sorry for all of the pictures...I couldn't narrow it down.)

And I apologize for the poor video quality...Blogger won't upload anything better!

Thank you, Katie, for the lovely photo bomb.  <3

My almost twin, Ella (born just two days before me!)

Senior Night

Did I mention...I have the BEST friends???

Hunter, True, Nate, Griffin, Taylor, Ashlyn, Tessa, and Carly all came out to support Hanna, Katie, and I
for our Senior Night...THANKS GUYS!

9 months of writing, editing, waiting, visiting, and choosing

Last August I started working on all my college applications... I spent August, September, October, and November writing, rewriting, and editing essays.  I applied to 11 schools and in total wrote 48 short answers and essays.  I have 74 pages filled with notes, essays, ideas, and editing marks. . .
Finally, by Thanksgiving, I had all of my applications finished!! Ahhh what a relief.

But then the waiting came.
December.
January.
February.
March.
And the letters came.  I received a lot of "We regret to inform you's," a couple of "you've been wait listed's," and those wonderful few "Congratulations!"  Yes, I was disappointed to have worked so long and so hard and get so many rejections, but that was what I knew would happen--you apply to many in hopes of getting into one or two.  The thing is, every time I got a denial letter, I could feel that wasn't the right school for me.  Every day I prayed that I would be accepted to the school that I would have the best experience at.  Whenever I got a rejection letter, I knew all that meant was that it wasn't the right school for me and each time I felt that, I knew my prayer was being answered.

And then April: the month to make a decision that essentially will affect the rest of my life . . . a little daunting right??
A couple weekends ago I went and visited Fordham University.  Afterwards I told my parents, "I am content, but not super excited.  I love New York and like Fordham."  Then the next weekend we went to Seattle and toured University of Washington...and I LOVED it!  It is a beautiful campus in a great part of town, with lots going on both on and off campus.  I could just imagine myself living there and having so much fun.  That night at dinner we made a pro's and con's list of both schools.  As soon as I said "I'm going to UW," I just was so happy!

After 9 long months I have finally made my decision and I could not be more excited!!!

I struggled trying to get a normal picture...I guess that's what happens at 1:30 in the morning.

Taco Tuesday

Six girls, lots of change, lots of tacos...

A Tribute

Today was our first day attending classes in the new building.  It's a really nice school and I'm excited to finally be in after all the construction!  However, everyone is a little bit sad that the school with all of our high school memories is about to be torn down.  So here is a final goodbye to the old school. . . 

Goodbye to the bathroom stalls that are just too short to belong in a high school...

Goodbye to the staircase that leads to nowhere...

Goodbye to the stone that went out of style quite a while ago...

Goodbye to the awkwardly spaced stairs...

And goodbye to the smelly hallways...

Goodbye school... it's been real.

#35

Donald has been called to serve in the Norway Oslo mission, making him the 35th boy in my class to have received his call!

Phase 2

I got home from St. George late Tuesday night, did homework and packed on Wednesday, and on Thursday I was off with Carly, Ashlyn, and Ashlyn's family to Lake Powell!  The water was too cold to go boating or swim, but we loved hanging out on Ashlyn's house boat and getting it ready for the summer.

We braved jumping into the cold water.  I got out as soon as I could...then jumped again.

"This is only Phase 1"

At 10:30 Friday night, Carly asked Ashlyn and I "Do you want to go to St. George with me and my family tomorrow at 6:00 am?"  Hmm...would I rather sit at home and hang out by myself while everyone else is out of town or go to St. George?  I think we know the obvious answer.  We spent every minute we could outside and in the sun.

Dressing up in TJ Maxx.

St. George overlook.

We snuck out on the roof to gaze at the beautiful view of a parking lot.