rise and shout.

I got a little emotional during the final home basketball game Saturday.

This video for the seniors gave me chills.


There's a lot of love in my heart for this team, espeically these guys who I've been cheering on for years. "Shimmer for Jimmer"? Yeah, we created that when we (and Jimmer) were freshmen. "Woosh Cecil" after freethrows? We were the pioneers. Now everyone does it and he gives us a thumbs up each time and its sweet.

It's hard to pick a favorite moment from this game, let alone this season. But on of the most epic things was getting all 5000+ students in the student section to dance, flash-mob style during a timeout. We practiced, we stretched, we were pumped. It was awesome! A standing ovation from the entire crowd, even President Samuelson and Elder Nelson? even better.

Watch this one to get the epic magnitude:


and this for the detail:


it was a rough week for Cougar fans, but today made it all better!

so proud to be a Cougar!

on the honor code...

I forget how much of a bubble Provo is until things like this happen and suddenly the nation attacks and questions the standards I so strongly believe in.

It may seem odd to people that 33,000+ college co-eds actually want to come to a school that restricts their language, dress, curfew, relationships and just about everything else. But these students would be living most of these standards even without the Honor Code. We chose to come to BYU and live the Honor Code.

In nearly four years at BYU, I have had more memorable experiences, learned more, grown more, built stronger relationships and had so much more fun than I would have had at any other university because of the Honor Code, not despite it.  I have seen in my life and the lives of others that living the Honor Code makes people better.

Yes, campus has been in a comatose state for the past 48 hours. Yes, I too am devastated at the loss of a great basketball player. But I am so proud of my school for how they handled the situation and taught the world that honor and commitment is more important than winning championships.

(And I still believe BYU will have a great March)

man...

I'm an adult.
(but I think I'm part of the system)

this week I...
ordered my cap and gown
filed my taxes (correction: got accounting students to file my taxes), and thanks to one internship, now have to pay over $400. thanks.
applied for jobs like there's no tomorrow. like real people jobs where I had to declare what I wanted my salary to be.
took the shuttle from the airport to airport parking with old people. I think they thought I was a sophisticated business woman. Well, I like to think they thought that
Used the bread maker to have dinner ready when I came home from a long day
complained about an aching hip.

how old am I?

but at the same time, part of the job application was done with the Disney Channel in the background. and now High School Musical is blaring through my apartment

not to brag, but...

...sometimes we do exciting things for valentine's day.

  

 

like spend forever at Tucanos, eating copious amounts of meat.

 

and go on carriage rides around temple square and through memory grove

 and go to the dinosaur museum

and get flowers delivered to my work.

but seriously, I hate being one of those my boyfriend is so great type of people. and for the record, I had other Valentines festivities including an old roommate Sunday dinner, roommate cookies and a Divine Comedy trip. Not too shabby, I would say.

shout hooray.

it was my birthday. I feel like 22 is an inexplicably big jump in ages. you go from being young and fun, but not too young at 21 to being young and responsible, that weird in-between, why aren't you married or on a mission age.
oh well. my birthday was still great!

we partied with pancakes on Sunday and it was a jolly good time. Thanks roommates and Andre for planning such a lovely get-together! (and thanks lauren and kylie for the pictures)

  

the answer to the riddle is cakes on the griddle (thanks sabrina, season 3!)

 

Lauren made cute hearts and made everyone write nice things about me on them. I came away with some of the funniest and sweetest notes!

checkup

Remember this list from 6 months ago? 22 things to do by my 22th birthday? well, it wasn't as easy as planned. an update (completed are in bold)

1. Do baptisms in 4 new temples
       accomplished: 2, Mt Timponogos and Draper

2. Host a swanky dinner party
          accomplished! Halloween murder mystery, fakes-giving and a few more

3. Ride a roller coaster
4. Read the Book of Mormon
5. Meet someone famous
     accomplished! Alex Boye
6. Sew a piece of clothing and actually wear it
     accomplished! a headband. cop out, I know
7. Visit 2 new states 
     accomplished! with a bonus.

        colorado

        south carolina

        texas

8. Make 5 free-throws in a row
9. Go on 3 new hikes
       accomplished: 2 new hikes and some repeats

10. Make a movie
11. Go geocaching
12. Try a new mode of transportation (segway, sailboat, mule, whatever)
      does driving a rental car count?
      but I met a camel. and I would have totally ridden it if I could. I give myself half points.

13. Paint a picture (on a canvas like a real artist...hello Van Gogh!)
14. Go on a roadtrip
       washington to utah and colorado to utah
15. Run a 5k (distance, not actual race)
16. karaoke to cheers, not boos
17. make Cafe Rio pork (bonus points for selling it on the side of the road)
      accomplished. delicious. inspired a massive apartment dinner the next week and Kaiser family dinner a few weeks later
18. Bowl over 200
      didn't realize how difficult this would be
19. keep a plant alive for more than 3 months
20. crash a wedding (doesn't count unless you get food)
21. learn to whistle
22. have a movie-worthy kiss 

Grand total: 8 for real, 3 more almost there. lots of room for improvement for next year's 23 by 23!

reasons february is the best

it is national grapefruit month. shout out to one of my top 3 citruses.

 

 build up to march madness. college basketball in full gear

valentines day and all it brings (hearts, chocolate, parties, dates)

start of spring training

Oscars, which really just means dresses to critique

3 day weekend (thank you america)

my birthday (come on people, obviously this is number 1)

welcome, february! I'm excited for all the festivities you bring.