Home Again, Home Again

So I moved home for a few weeks. First of all, I'm just very proud that I was able to fit all my stuff into my room. Usually it takes me the entire summer to get this room to look semi normal.

Here are some other things that have been going on.

The night I came home, Rachel's birthday part was happening. It was quite the camp out themed shindig. I don't really know how to describe the creativity that goes into a Rachel party.

Here's Rachel's camp fire cake with a sparkler on the top. 

The six of us sisters slept in our giant tent in the backyard. They're pretty cute.

The next morning it was time for the Great Strides Walk! We have been participating in this walk for cystic fibrosis for the past few years and it's always a good time.

This year they had a bunch of carnival-type games going on as part of the walk.

Family time.

I loved walking around downtown Ogden with my family....so many fun things to see and with my favorite people in the sunshine...winning.

I started working at my aunt's for a couple of weeks. Here are some of the sweet people I work with out to sushi together!

And of course I've been mission shopping. I had a lovely day with my Mom at City Creek! Shopping is not one of my most favorite activities, but it's so much better when I can do it outside in the sunshine next to pretty fountains and green things. Plus, I would highly recommend lunch at the Blue Lemon in City Creek! Just the best.

Another important event was going with my sister Abbie for her first time to the temple! She chose to go through the Bountiful Temple, which was beautiful.

After the temple we got dinner at Chili's and had a sleepover with the rest of our sisters at our Grandma's house. Like the good old days.

My mom and I go on adventures sometimes. This week we headed up to one of our favorite spots, Pineview. This time we drove up to the monastery. You know, just to visit some monks. But really, it is breathtaking up there. The pictures don't do it justice at all. It's so Sound of Music.

We spend some time sitting on the beautiful beach. Had the place to ourselves for once!

And we stopped at the sweetest little diner afterwards for raspberry shakes, then ate them while driving through the beautiful canyon. It was perfect outside and we saw some gorgeous waterfalls. Perfect day with my mom!

And...I couldn't stay away from Logan so I spent the night there earlier this week.

 I am really sad that I never had a Logan summer! Lauren and I went on the river walk in the canyon and it was lovely. I just spend a lot of time in canyons lately.

There was also some spontaneous running through giant sprinklers...

...and sidewalk chalking in the tunnel. We sidewalk chalked every square of the tunnel, and had some pretty good summer scenes. I was quite proud. Thanks Lauren for letting me crash at your place!

I'm trying my best to have all my favorite foods before I head off. Namely Mexican food. Rachel and I partied it up at Pepperbelly's for fried ice cream, and my cute friend Chloe took me out to Bandido's. Gotta have my tacos.

I'm glad I've had a few weeks at home before going on my mission. I've been reading a lot, and I love just reading in the living room while I listen to my sisters play their guitars and pianos, and always hearing everyone singing and laughing. I am really very blessed!

Images From Apartment 21

I have moved many times during my life, but it's hard for me every time. I have to remind myself that I love going to NEW places and trying new things, and I can't have that unless I leave some things behind. I am very sentimental about place. There are so many places that feel like home to me and each one has their own feeling because of the things that happened to me there.

It was hard to leave apartment 21! For one thing, the people there are really funny. Here is our quote board:

Here is our living room wall....

Here is our cat picture. Alicia won it at an ugly sweater party and the cats watch over the couch.

Here are some leftovers from our Christmas wish list from Santa.

Leaving a place is a big deal to me, especially since I did so much growing up this year, in this place. But there wasn't a lot of time for me to feel too sad about it because so much was going on. On top of finals, cleaning, and packing, I also had to teach at the middle school and spend two whole days there.

This is the book I made for the 8th graders I worked with there. I actually love middle schoolers, so even though it was a rough week to have to teach, I enjoyed it.

I also had to wrap up my service learning projects for the year, and plan some for Spring 2015 which was crazy! I'm going to miss my projects from this year, especially this kid!

My favorite thing about finals week (I mean there are so many to choose from, right?) is having an excuse to eat out every second. I mean you're out of food and your dishes are packed up right? This week I went to Herm's Inn (again), Tandoori Oven, Charlie's, Logan's Heroes...all my favorites one last time with all my favorite people!

When I wasn't eating or studying, I was trying to cram some fun in. Utah State had a drive in movie night which was pretty cute. If Jurassic Park can be cute. I liked that they handed us a bowl of popcorn and candy on our way in...even though Lauren's shoe ended up in ours which kind of tainted the popcorn experience.

Alexa and I took a nightime walk and played in the campus fountains the night before she left. Miss her already!

I had a grand last night in Logan. After a last trip to Logan's Heroes (I will miss my conversations with the owner so much!) we made the mature decision to go play at the Jump Zone. Then we HAD to have a sleepover, watch Gilmore Girls and make homemade popcorn and hot chocolate right?  It was a little bit of a crazy morning getting to my last final after accidentally not sleeping in my own bed, but I feel good about it!

After my final alt breaks sold leis at graduation which was more fun than it sounds! I was so sentimental already because it was my last day in Logan, so listening to people's stories about how proud they were of their graduates really got to me. I can't wait until I get to walk, but I'm going to have to.

Saying goodbye to so many people in a matter of a few hours was rough! Can't wait until I get to do it again in a few weeks...not! I can't handle all of these emotions.

I'll miss you Apartment 21! It was a great year.

Highlights

I have some major catching up to do on this blog because so much has been going on! Here are some of the highlights of the two weeks leading up to finals week.

Some things that happened in between studying like a madwoman:

Elizabeth Smart came to USU! She was amazing!

That was always something random going on on the quad. Mechanical bulls were happening on my way to work at least twice.

I went to the Senior art show at Herm's Inn on a beautiful rainy night!

Had a girls' night with my cute roommates! I love them.

I taught relief society for the last time. I have really liked having that calling.

Lauren, Leah and I went on an Earth Day walk to the temple. We made flower headbands for our hair because we are hippies.

I met Garrison Keillor! If I had more time I would do a whole post about this event. I absolutely loved it.

Alexa was always willing to take a study break with me to spend some time in the sun!

I had my last day in the writing center! I've been so lucky to work there and it was weird saying goodbye.

On my last day, Alexa came and watched The Voice with me at the front desk. I do what I want!

Parachute and He is We came to USU for the end of year bash! Loved it.

My last Saturday in Logan was great. I volunteered at the triathlon with my dear Alicia, and went to lunch at Herm's Inn with a bunch of people from my major. We've had almost every class together this year and I'm gonna miss them! Afterwards and I went on a spontaneous nature walk and said goodbye to Logan canyon! And that night was PoBev which I will miss so much. Followed by fire pit time at Aubree's!

That Sunday I was able to spend the day in Layton for my sweet Delanie's baptism at Elevation Church. I'm so glad I was there because it was such a special day!

I got to spend a few hours with my family afterward. My sisters had the idea to anonymously send a random pile of jokes to each of the missionaries serving from our ward. Sundays with them are always interesting.

Next up, my final finals week!