UCSCP

Ugly Christmas Sweater Cheer Party... yep that's a mouthful but over the holidays some of my really close friends from cheer were all home for christmas so i decided to throw a party so that we all could get together. we try to get together as often as we can but it's difficult to get 9 girls all back at the same time. it was so much fun to see everyone and catch up.  my mom made us some soup and then everyone brought different things for dinner. we also had secret santa and exchanged gifts, watched some old cheer videos, and chatted A LOT! i'm so glad we've all stayed close and can't wait till we get together again! 

the table 

 the host

 the guests

 the ugly christmas sweaters... so glad we all got together! love you all!

grandpa earl

a week after thanksgiving my grandpa earl passed away. he is one of the greatest men i know and he lived a long and fulfilling life.  i'm so proud that he was my grandpa! he was always such a great example and did so much for everyone! i'll miss you grandpa. we love you!

the viewing and funeral services were full of lots of tears but for the most part we were happy for my grandpa. it was a day to celebrate his life. he did so much during his 94 years. what a great man!

 my aunt janalyn brought balloons to let go in the air because my grandpa always loved to party. the kids loved it and it was fun to watch the balloons disappear into the sky. 

 my whole family was able to come out for the funeral. it was good to all be together again. 

 my aunts and my mom wrapped up all these different things from my grandpas house. this was so much fun to watch as we went from youngest to oldest grandkid/great grandkid and open up the different trinkets that we all remembered from his house. 

 there were lots of laughs

 and we scored a lot of neat treasures!

there were a lot of great memories and it was so fun to all be together. we will sure miss our grandpa earl and so thankful for him and the life he led! love you grandpa!

celebowling

after i finished my finals thursday night, me and my roommates megan and amanda went bowling. it was celebratory games of bowling for finishing another semester. it was a lot of good laughs and horrible scores but nonetheless we had a good time. overall it was a really good semester! love you girls and i'll miss you amanda!

megan amanda and me

right in the middle of victory move... STRIKE!

 can you say... dwight?

such a good night!

the FINAL struggle

i am just finishing up my 3rd semester at BYU-I and it was a rough one. i took 16 credits plus worked 13-15 hours a week on campus. so i was definitely busy. i even had a struggle with 7 finals. Right in the middle of finals my grandpa passed away so my mind wasn't totally focused on finals but i luckily made it through. i had my anat/phys lab final on thursday then that following tuesday i had my medical terminology final, wednesday advanced first aid, thursday communications, medical law and ethics, anat/phys lecture, and doctrine and covenants final. By 6:30 thursday night i was completely done and all i had left was cleaning :(! i had clean checks on Friday at 4:30 so i cleaned ALL day then went home that night. so good to be home for 3 1/2 months now.

 ha so every time i study for my labs it makes me laugh because i sit on the floor so i don't get tired and i have a million things spread out so i can concetrate and memorize. it seems to work though so i just had to post all my stuff and some things that i had to memorize for my lab final. respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system.

 the kidney... 

cheesey pic buuuuuut... i earned my first aid and cpr certificate. i am now trained in both, first aid for 3 years and cpr for 2. ha it was a pretty sweet day! and good news. i did good enough on my finals to keep my good grades! yay! another semester down!

my grandpa earl

the things i loved most about my grandpa earl... gave the greatest hugs, has the cutest smile, was the most amazing organ player, ventured to lake powell with us at 94, would always send a wonderful birthday card even if it was a little late ;), made the best sourdough waffles, made sure we always had ice cream to eat at night, had a neat house, never worried about the spiders in the basement, always made sure we slept good, very generous, worked a hard and fulfilling life, served many years in the church, had an unshakable testimony, loved this gospel, cherished, loved, and took great care of his amazing wife, taught his children well, raised a great son, and loved his grandchildren very much! to the 19 years i got to spend with my grandpa earl... what a wonderful man! i love you grandpa!