The 5 Love Languages

I'm sure most of you have read this and/or already know what your love language is. The 5 languages are:

1. Words of Affirmation

2. Receiving of Gifts

3. Physical Touch

4. Quality Time

5. Acts of Service

What's my love language you ask? Definitely, hands down, quality time. Of course everything else is nice and most certainly welcomed, because they are all positive things, but I would love nothing more than to share quality time with you. Whether it be a family member, friend, or significant other, my most favorite thing in the world is to do something where I can just sit and have good conversations with you. I was remembering how true this was for me when I was contemplating why I had such a good day the other day. I really hadn't done much. But what I had done, was sit and talk with two wonderful people (both at different times in the day) and had some solid conversations with them. I love people. I love listening to them and learning about their lives. I love everything that each person has to teach me. I also love talking. I love being able to share new things with them. 

I just love good solid quality time. 

You know what I also love?

Frozen Yogurt. 

So if you're ever in the neighborhood, let's go get some froyo and talk :) 

The Last Wedding

Wednesday night at 11pm I headed off (drove) to Sacramento, California to go to my Uncle Mikes wedding. He was the last of all of my aunts and uncles to marry and it was an awesome trip. 

I rode down with one of his friends who lives in Orem. He was way cool. He is from Pakistan and I got to hear him speak his native language a few times. So crazy! We had some good conversations and he told me a lot about his country and some of their customs and traditions. It was a loooong drive. We got McDonalds at 3am and got pulled over in Reno. (And we got pulled over again on our way back. NOTE: I was never the one to get pulled over!) 

We finally arrived at my Aunt Dani's house around 8am on Thursday. The morning was filled with playing with my adorable cousins. 

 The girls were singing and staring at themselves in this mirror for a good 3 minutes. 

I spent the day shopping and running errands with my grandma. It was a blast. We had to go to the Lexus place because her key broke and she had to use pliers to start and stop her car. As comical as it was, it got a little tedious. 

Grandma: "People only listen to me when I speak." 

Gma: "I'm sorry that we didn't have time to go to See's Candies, but that's kind of my life in a nutshell" 

When we got back, I was the chosen babysitter while everyone went to the temple for my (new) Aunt Dana's endowments. It was a crazy house, but tons of fun. 

On Friday, we got up early to help set up the chapel for the reception. Grandma and I went to to Costco (happiest place on earth) and got ready for a big dinner we had later that night. It was all of the family and a bunch of the bride and grooms friends. 

Miss Emmeline

 Guacamole to feed an army

 We had authentic Mexican tacos. They. were. amazing. 

Grandma: "Matt, do you want me to pick up the drinks instead?"

Matt: "Yeah, make sure to stock up on Coke so we can actually enjoy this thing tonight."

Saturday was the big day. We left to the temple in the morning and again, I was designated babysitter. We found a nursery room in the chapel next to the temple. It was the easiest babysitting job.ever. Thank goodness for technology. 

Baby Axel and Jake

 Garrett with an iphone

 Gordon, Oscar, and Maya with an ipad

 Gordon with an ipad

 Brooklyn with an iphone

 Taylor, Emmeline, Eleanor, Annabelle, and Margaret watching a movie. 

Then it was time to watch the new Mr. and Mrs. Ward come out of the temple!!

Her veil kept blowing off. 

 Mike and Dana with the Ward grandkids (minus me).

Maggie (talking to me): "We're getting married today!!"
Maggie: "Where's uncle Dana?"

 I had to get a picture of all the parents trying to make their kids look at the camera. 

 Side view of the Sacramento Temple. Gorgeous. 

 Beautiful couple. 

The reception was beautiful and PACKED. There was good food and good dancing. It was a great evening. 

Bright and early Sunday morning we were back to Utah. Again, longest drive of my life. 

Yay for weddings and family. 

Bring Him Home

Do you like Les Miserables?

I sure do. This love affair all started with my senior high school production of Les Mis. My FAVORITE high school experience. Hands down.
If you were wondering, I was a lovely lady. ;)




If you knew me......you would know that I'm obsessed. And that I can watch the 25th Anniversery movie 3 times in a row and then maybe a 4th and 5th time. And that I tend to sing along with every song I know, but when it comes to Les Mis, I let these incredibly talented musicians do the singing while I do all the listening (i'm a really great listener). And that my favorite song in the universe is "Bring Him Home". And that I have listened to that song on re-wind for 2 hours straight. And that it gives me chills.

Listen to this one. It's Alfie Boe.

And then, listen to this one. It's 4 Jean Val Jean's singing "Bring Him Home". They amaze me.

And finally, (after you have the words memorized), listen to this one. It's John Schmidt and a beautiful cellist. (If you knew me, you would also know that the piano and cello are my favorite instruments........and the hermonica and banjo....but that's for another time and place.)

Bringing Sexy Back

An old friend from Rexburg who is currently on a mission sent me a hilarious quote. Thought I'd share.

"Quote from my companion: in reply to the statement 'Joseph Smith is the maker of your church'  He said... ' Did Justin Timber lake create sexy? NO! He just brought it back... '

 It was super funny, but true! Jesus Christ is the Author of this work!! "

2011. You. Were. Awesome.

Seriously, guys. 2011 was an awesome year and I feel so blessed to have had all of those experiences. It was a much needed year after 2010 which wasn't so hot (besides Redfish, that was pretty amazing).

A year in review:

JANUARY

I was still in Rexburg, not knowing that it would be my last semester in Rexburg. It was basically cold. Covered in ice. I played a TON of volleyball. And I tried Snowboarding for the first time. It was complete fail. 

FEBRUARY
Still played a lot of volleyball and went to the gym a lot because I had no job and no life. 

MARCH

This was the month that changed my life. My roommate and I bought tickets to watch a men's BYU volleyball game in Provo. When I went to Provo that weekend, I felt completely inspired to move to Provo. I had never even considered the idea before. But within a few weeks of getting that "feeling" to move, I had bought a contract and found two jobs in Provo. 

APRIL

I finished the semester out in Rexburg and didn't look back as I drove away from that town. I knew I had much more waiting for me in the future, but I had no idea what to expect. 

At the end of April I moved to Provo. I started working at Sammy's and DownEast. I was living with two friends who I went to junior high and high school with. They were the world's most perfect roommates. Seriously. 

MAY
Still working at DE and Sammy's. Still trying to figure out why I was sent to Provo.
I started dating and hanging out with Jayson again.
JUNE
I turned 20!!! Goodbye teen years. You will not be missed.
Roadtriped to Idaho to go to Skyler's mission Homecoming.
Visited Redfish for a day.
JULY
I quit Sammy's. Hoorah.
I went to parks and read a lot.
I hung out with my awesome roommates.
I worked at DE
I spent one last week with J before he left on his mission.  
AUGUST
I said goodbye to two of my bff's as they entered into the MTC. Riley Ellis went to Denver, CO and Jayson Sevison to San Bernardino, CA.
Alyssa and I flew up to Denver for a weekend and stayed with her Aunt and Uncle. It was a TON of fun.
Moved to the apartment right next door and was blessed with another 3 awesome roommates.
SEPTEMBER
I started taking my last semester of classes from BYU-I, but I did them online. Those classes were amazing and changed my life...or future life. I decided that I am going to be a Marriage and Family Therapist. and I am SO excited about it.
OCTOBER
Just a whole lot of work and hanging out with friends and roommates and co-workers.
NOVEMBER
I got promoted to Shift Leader.
DECEMBER
Christmas in California at my Grandma's with the whole family!!!! It was amazing.

Over-all, Provo has been the best change of my life so far. I have learned so much through work, friends, family, my amazing single's ward, roommates, ect. I have loved every second of living here and will be sad to say goodbye. Hopefully 2012 will be equally as good, if not better! Thank you to all who made my year so fabulous. I love you all!