Springing into Fun: Spring Term

So basically I was super excited to move from Liberty Square into a new ward, with a new start and everything. I couldn't wait to meet new people and have new experiences, especially with my roommate and best friend Rachel Bean.  We moved in and met people in the ward.  Decided it would be good and began school and classes.  I took 3 classes: Math Ed 305, VAEdu, and Rhythm and Dance.  I really loved taking classes, even though it involves a lot of work, during Spring.  It was crazy to get used to no one walking from class to class, and also that my classes were double time.  I met cool new people in my classes particularly 3 girls going to New Zealand as well: Rebecca, Abby and Anna.  I love them all already and can't wait to begin new adventures with them.

Rachel and I were bound and determined to have a fun experience though and I believe it was the best.  We attended the annual Lamb and Wool Festival with other good friends including Amy Beck, Tielle, and Sarah Hill.

Us in the Jail.

A sweet llama

Our cool wool bracelets that we made.

Just some great shots of us!

What a blast it was to learn about wool and lambs but most of all to be together as friends!

Another fun experience was Aaron Lindford's Birthday party.  We attended after my birthday meal and it was fun.  We, (Aaron, his roommate Lance, Rachel, Gracie Tielle and I) ended up jumping into the pool with all our clothes on. Interesting what sober college kids come up with to do for someones 22rd birthday.  

Here we are after.  Gracie and I had already changed out of our wet clothing but still look like we got caught out in the rain.  

Another adventure Rachel and I had was attempting to create mini hot air balloons.  This was so much fun.  We never had any success but we did have fun and that is all that matters, well... sorta.

Here is my last and greatest attempt.  I'm really worried because it is about to burst into flames.

Here is another groups attempt to success.  Theirs does look nicer but in reality, they all fell straight to the ground.  Oh well we tried.  Not to mention, I did cut my finger pretty significantly.  It was bleeding pretty bad for a really long time, but I lived.

Well, so this post isn't a million pages longs, I shall end here and begin in another post....

A 20th Birthday: Full of Food and Fun!

I went to bed 19 and woke up 20.  How weird is that.  A feeling that is surreal. It was a wonderful birthday full of good friends and people I love.  It began with 3 girls sneaking into my bedroom while I was deep in sleep.  Then I awake to HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!! It was Tielle, Rachel and Cierra.  They were there to take me to breakfast.  Rachel played it off well with the fact that she had to work and wished she could take me out. With 2 minutes to put on jeans and put my hair in a pony, we were out the door.  We went to Kneaders to have their famous All you can eat french toast. It is SO good! Needless to say, I didn't eat all I could eat because in the back of my mind I had my lunch date in mind.

You got it.  A friend, who I just remet (long story- will be a blog post once we figure it out) asked me the day before if he could take me to lunch.  So I had a lunch date. After dance class, he picked me up and supprised me by going to 5 Guys.  It was so fun to talk and get to know him a little better. Oh his name is Joseph Blanch. Anyway, so I stuffed myself (being a college student- a little food goes a long way) and we sat and talked for another while and realized it was 2:37 and i had to be to work at 3.  We left and he dropped me off at work.  Thank goodness I keep a skirt at work to change into.

I walked in the door to work and got a wish for a very happy birthday and found out the table was out which meant it was food day.  I was stuffed already and I knew my parents would be coming down to take me to dinner just 3 hours later.  I felt like I needed to eat something so I did have a piece of cake.  It was lemon and delicious!

So once work, which was fun because it was Elizabeth's last day, was over, I met my parents and Jill in the parking lot to go to dinner and celebrate.  Once again.... More food! So I chose Good Wood Barbque.  It was so good. Needless to say, I had to take half of it home (not to worry I enjoyed it the next day).  After dinner we came back to my apartment to enjoy delicious Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.  I could not pass this one up.  So before my stomach exploded, I had some cake and continued celebrating.

It was such a FANTASTIC day! I was so grateful for the gifts I received and all the people, who I care deeply about, were with me.

Thanks Everyone!!!

2 years? Time flies when you are having fun...

So this week I officially completed two years of attending college.  I can't believe it.  I finished up Monday at approximately 7:16pm and I was relieved.  I shortly realized that that concluded a two year spree from going to school.  I do still have 5 semesters (4 and 2 terms left) but I feel like I have a lot ahead of me. To look back on the two years... I took some great classes in Freshman Academy with my roommates and ward.  I enjoyed taking Nutrition except for the act I was only a freshman so I didn't intake the knowledge as much as I wish I would have.  

I continued on in the next semester with some Child Development and some Linguistics as well as some other great things.  I learned much that semester about balancing school and best friend (boyfriend)/ social life.  I then moved away from Heritage to Liberty Square.  I worked almost full time at the MTC Bookstore, living the life of working and relaxing. 

Suddenly August came around after a vacation in Arizona, bringing emotional and academic stress.  Who knew having your best friend in the MTC could become so interesting.  In this semester I both learned Spanish and I passed American Heritage.  

After a wonderful Christmas and what seems like yesterday, I started my 4th semester. I enjoyed learning the ins and outs of children's literature as well as another amazing semester from Brother Perkins in D&C.   That class in its entirety has completely changed my life and view of this gospel.  I decided after only one day of being out of school that I really LOVE learning.  I thrive on it.  I am weirdly excited to begin again on Tuesday.  Ask me if that is still true in a month or so but I can't wait to begin fresh and start some Education classes.  

Cheers to a great first half of college.  May the second be just as good, no wait it shall be two hundred times better cause part of it shall be in New Zealand! Oh i can't wait.  That is the only thought that helps me make it through summer school. 

Easter: A realization of Adulthood

So this year we had the annual McMullin Easter Picnic.... although it was in a church because it was snowing.  I got an email informing me of the time, when, where.  This email also included that I now, since I am 18-35, bring a salad to share.  Not to mention that I was excluded from the egg hunt, not that I was included the past 5 years, but I now felt a little left out. This made me realize that I am truly an adult now, can't believe it took until I am almost 20 to realize. I must say that I do have the best sister ever.  I got dressed and I was going up stairs and I found a egg on the stairs.  Yup, I had my own egg hunt.  Needless to say, I am still missing one egg..... I shall find it before we leave though.
Another thing that made me feel like an adult this month was paying taxes.  I loathe taxes, not doing them but when you think you may be getting money back but really have to pay a whole lot isn't the greatest feeling.  Oh well.... Thats life right?

A Kiwi, not just the fruit!

So this week I turned in an application and interviewed for the New Zealand Program Study Abroad.  I forgot to ask when I would find out but I just went along not thinking I would hear about it for a little while.  Well you see, I got on my email last night to look at a picture Melanie, my sister-in-law sent me and saw an email reading like this Thank you for your application and interview.  The New Zealand 2nd Cohort Winter 2011 Selection Committee has met and we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to participate in our program contingent upon your 1st cohort liaison’s signature. (meaning I have to still have one more person say that I can go for sure).  I got so so excited.  I couldn't believe it cause i wasn't expecting to hear back so soon.  I then opened the email from Melanie to find that she is pregnant again! Super excited.  A trip and a new baby all in one night.  Needless to say, My Rachel Tielle and I celebrated with Pancakes, Whipped Cream and strawberries (i'm off desserts and candy til Easter).  I am so excited for the experiences I have a head of me!

Masquerade

So a girl in our ward was having a birthday party and she invited us. it was a masquerade at a pool house. Little did I know that this pool house belonged to Steven R. Covey. It was so much fun. The event was semi formal and even though I have a lot of dresses and skirts, I don't have a semi formal one. So I went to my mother's favorite store, Ross, in hopes of finding something nice but cheap. I must brag, I got the dress i'm wearing for $20. I was so happy. It's one of my favorite colors.

We showed up and they gave us masks (they were really hot to wear on the face the whole night cause we were dancing hence the reason it is on my forehead). It was super fun to get all dressed up and celebrate. Not to mention to see a huge mansion. If you look close in the piture below, there is a mural picture of Steven Covey behind our heads. That hangs above the half basketball court. All in all, this is what college should be. Having a good time with some good friends.

I'm going to be a TEACHER!

Ok so most of you probably already either heard it from my mouth or from facebook but I must blog about it.  So I decided to skip class on Friday to study an extra hour for a test.  I was sitting looking at my notes and i remembered that the mail had probably come.  I ran/more like walked, down to the mail box and opened it and there were two envelopes from the Mckay School of Education.  One for me, the other for my roommate Rachel who also applied.  I went back to my kitchen with no one home to tell and I opened it up.  Of course most people know that 95% make it in but still I could have been that 5%.... Who knows?   Anyway I read the letter and they said they would be HAPPY to have me in the program.  I got excited called my mom and no answer. I called her cell and no answer so I posted it for all to see in my status on facebook. I had to tell the world that my dream since 4th grade was coming true.
Teaching involves a lot of hard work and little pay but as my mom says, I'll be in the business of changing lives and what more could I ask for.  I am super excited.  I'll be doing the arts semester Spring and Summer term and we'll see where that brings me:) I am happy to say I'll be a teacher someday. Pray that jobs open up once I graduate... Thanks to all who have led me to this occupation.