May the odds...

The next two weeks are going to be crazy! Of course all my teachers decide to have tests the week before the final test...I have a crazy week ahead of me!

Today my FDENG-201 paper was due. I've been researching this thing since the beginning of March. I wrote a paper about students with learning disabilities at BYU-Idaho. Based on my experience working at the Reading Center this semester, I decided to write about how these students are somehow floating through the system paying tuition for an education that is ultimately unattainable. I had a couple people read it over the weekend and I made revisions today before noon when it was due. I was so STRESSED!!! My paper was due at 12:00 and I got done revising it at 11:45. I walked to the library to print it off and NONE of the computers were working. I was freaking out. I barely caught the elevator and on the way to the 3rd floor I was just praying, "Heavenly Father PLEASE let there be a computer open!" Sure enough, there was ONE computer open (coincidence? I think not). I was shaking as I tried to get that thing printed. It was like 11:57 and I needed to get to Rigby Hall! Anyway...it really wasn't a big deal I guess but I was so stressed. I conference grade my paper Friday afternoon so we'll see how that goes.

Meanwhile I have a nutrition test on the vitamins and minerals that I haven't studied for AT ALL because in any free time I've had I've been working on that blasted paper (duh) so I get to study for that all day tomorrow and take it. Procrastination station over here.

Last week was pretty great though! Sunday was fast Sunday for us and it was our last Sunday we meet together as a ward for the semester. I was SO SAD because I have loved being the Relief Society president this semester. I feel like I've finally got it all figured out only to be released! I went into my last meeting with Bishop after church and asked, "So when am I getting released?"

Bishop Kunz: "Released?"

....

"Wait, what?"

Huzzah! Bishop told me I'm not released and he still wants me to serve if I'm still willing and I was like HECK YES! So I'm excited.

Sunday the weather was so nice. I spent my day walking around campus, writing missionaries, and then Joseph and I went to Porter Park and then made dinner at his place and dessert at my place. It was a glorious day.

Saturday was equally glorious. However, I spent my day in the library. It was funny, this guy whistled the mockingjay tune in the hunger games movie and I so wanted to whistle back but I resisted. People are great. I did take an hour break to play ultimate, but then it was back to work. My roommates and I went out to eat and then I met up with my friend Isaac. He and I both worked on our papers and then read each others and said what we could both do better. It was very helpful!

Friday night I went to see The Hunger Games with Isaac and several people from my ward. I thought it was great. I just want Peeta. His looks totally grow on you as the movie progresses. And Katniss was bad-A I loved her. There was a big group of us who went to see it in St. Anthony for $5 so that was sweet. After that we ate at this diner. It was me and then Isaac, Colton, Eric, and Jason...hahaha I feel great about that.

All last week I played ultimate almost every single night. I just never get sick of it! You guys should see my feet. I swear it's like the winter skin is just shedding off but in MASS proportions.

Dating life...hmm...still have a crush on that one guy. I told him he looks like Superman on Sunday. He is SO attractive. And intelligent....and spiritual....

I had the best birthday on Tuesday! I got done with class at 10, then went to the temple, then went to the gym and ran 3 miles at a 2 incline at 6.5 mph steadily increased to 8.5 mph (only for the last part but still....I'm awesome!), got cute, went to devotional, then did homework for a few hours and watched a movie in our lounge where all my friends surprised me. Chase came with his roommates and he got me a $25 gift card to Hollister and I got a solar system bookmark from Melanie and TWO I repeat TWO Snickers bars from Thea! Best birthday ever. Kelsey got an ice cream cake for me and we watched Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Great great times. Not to mention it was my golden birthday--20 on the 20th! AND President Clark's birthday is the same day. =] The whole I-center sang happy birthday to him after devotional...I just pretended they were singing to me.

Well, happy hunger games everyone! May the odds be ever in your favor.

Pics from the week

It's Rainin' Men

Hello all. Pretty lame week over here.

Last Monday I woke up and I was sicker than sick. I had time Monday to type up my blog last week due to my sickness, so I guess that was one good thing that came of it. I have to say, I felt so loved all day Monday. My roommate Thea offered to take care of me and she just got me all the OTC drugs I needed plus gatorade and saltines. Then I had three friends come see me to check up one me: my FHE brother Daniel, my good friend from back home Davies, and a "long-time-no-see" friend from last summer Justin. For FHE we decided to write missionaries which I felt great about because I hadn't written Keaton a letter all week, but then we ended up not doing it. Kelsey M. and my FHE brother Joseph made cookies and then went to Costa Vida. Ha! Happy FHE everyone.

Tuesday I stayed home from classes again. I had so much homework (way behind due to sickness) plus I had a test that closed that day. I studied all day, listened to devotional over the radio, took my test and was up all night doing other homework. It was awful because I had no energy to do what I needed, but I HAD TO GET IT DONE so I was up past midnight...which is not what you should do when you're sick.

Anyway.

Wednesday I was feeling much better. My nutrition class was cancelled, so I decided to spend my day doing all the homework I needed, and then my roommate Kelsey and I had a really fun night. We went to Fong's Chinese restaurant because Mitzi told me it is really good, and then we watched a Star Wars video with Joseph.

Thursday I was a busy body working on my 10 page research paper all day. I was so frustrated because it is due soon and I was behind from being sick and all the pressure was making me have serious writers block. However, the good news is I got to play Ultimate! We played at the stadium from 5:30 to 7:30 with on and off rain but zero wind. It was gorgeous! I did one of the best things ever:

I couldn't find a picture to show this, so I'm gonna try to describe it. I was close to the out of bounds when someone on my team tossed it to me, but the disc was out of bounds. So, I put my toes on the very edge of the in bounds, leaned my body out and caught the disc on my way down. I did a total belly flop on the ground, but it didn't hurt because I was so excited about making the pic catch!

Friday I didn't do a blasted thing. No date, no plans. I went to the grocery store after being out of food all week, I made tacos with my roommate for dinner, and then we did homework the whole night. Yep--happy Friday.

Saturday I slept in and played ultimate at 2 at Porter Park. I had position in the endzone playing defense. I was reading the disc getting ready to knock it down. Just as it got to where I was, I jumped up to knock it down and this IDIOT came flying in at a million miles per hour and hit me right on the side of my face with his forearm by his elbow!! I dropped like a rock and my ear was ringing. Then he was all concerned and said, "Are you all right??!" and proceeded to help me up when my head was spinning. I said "yeah" but then put my hands on my knees and made my way to the sideline to sit out for a bit. Holy cow-my ear still hurts from that one. Thanks again duder! Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't play defense as well as you! Dumboface.

Saturday night some friends and I got together over by this nature park where they have fire pits and had a fire. I had some good conversation with some good tunes and that was a nice chill time.

Sunday I made roast and twice baked potatoes, and my roommates made chicken and mashed potatoes and we had a huge feast with a bunch of friends. There were five girls and five guys and we ate a ton and then played pictionary. Austen and I came so close to winning, but alas, my roommate and our FHE brother took the cake. I want to watch "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" because I haven't seen it yet, but I'm waiting for the right time.

This week is my golden birthday. I turn 20 on the 20th. I want to do something fun, but I don't know if my roommates are planning anything, so I'm making back up plans. If I don't do anything with my roommates then I'm going to go hang out with my sister Trisha in Rigby. If I end up being busy, Trisha and I get to hang out next week anyway to watch the Hunger Games.

That is all my news. No pictures this week--they were taken on someone else's camera, so see facebook later or I'll post pictures on here once I get them from facebook. Goodnight!

Pancake Party

Well folks life here is good besides the fact that right this moment I am sicker than a dog. Last night I thought I was going to die. My heartbeat felt like I had just run 6 miles and I had a serious fever. My body was so hot it made my whole bed uncomfortably warm but I absolutely could not move. I emailed my teachers this morning around 5:30 and told them I wouldn't be in class because I was dying! Now my fever has gone down, but I still feel awful. I need to throw up but it's not happening. This is the first time I have missed a full day of classes since being in college. I haven't been this sick in years!

Moving on...Saturday night I had a big party. I decided the pancakes I had in Las Vegas were too good to keep a secret, so I made pancakes and the buttermilk syrup and had tons of friends over to eat them with. It was so fun! I couldn't believe how many people showed up. There were at least 20 people in my little apartment. Everyone loved the pancakes and the syrup!! Good friends and good food = win win. We played guesstures and called it a night.

Friday night I had a date with an old friend. He took me to the Spori where we looked at art and took pictures. We also went to a musical performance called "Bring Forth My Zion" which was so good! After the music we went to the MC where there was an "Academy of Comedy" show. This was the first time I had been to one of these shows, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. So that was a big night. We had a lot of fun.

Earlier in the week I was able to play Ultimate outside on the stadium TWICE! This weekend we are playing ultimate for a ward activity so I'm looking forward to that (if I can get better!).

School is going well. Next semester I plan on taking four classes which will total 14 credits so that will be H-E-double HELL but I can do it!

Wednesday my FHE brothers had an "Alaska Party" (we use any excuse to have a party over here). They made a cake shaped like an igloo, played Alaskan games, and made halibut! I know, crazy town. But that was a way fun time and the food was awesome.

I love my ward so much. Yesterday I walked up to Bishop Kunz to give him my tithing and he grabbed my hand and started laughing and I said, "Why are you laughing at me?" and he said, "I just love you!" Oh it made my day. The guys in my ward are the best guys on campus; I'm convinced! I went to a fireside yesterday where my stake president told us all how important scripture study is. My friend Mindy posted something on Facebook that I really liked. In her stake conference the stake president said, "Do not pray away your growth: rise to the occasion." I really like that.

That is pretty much all my news. Everyone pray that I get better. Love you all! =]

What Happens in Vegas

Wow so I haven't updated in forever. So much has happened! A couple weekends ago I went to Boise and had a way fun time snowboarding with Hart and his family, Chase, and Gabe. Earlier that week I went boarding with Chase and my roommate Thea at Kelly Canyon, so I did tons of snowboarding that week! It was a really good time even though it was windy like crazy and the snow was so icy!

I went shopping with Mitzi and did my homework all day Saturday while Chase and the other brothers ice fished. I got $130 boots from Macy's on sale for $40! Steal! I met up with my friend Mindy at the mall. It was fun to catch up with her. I liked hanging out with Mitzi all day. I miss that part of my life in Boise a year ago. We went to sacrament with her and Scott and their cute kids. When I got back to Rexburg I had a relief society president's training meeting that was very good.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to go to Las Vegas for an ultimate frisbee tournament. It's called "Trouble in Vegas" and it is legit. There were teams from out of the country!! We played against a team from Pennsylvania. The field was tremendously large. I could stand in the very middle and look from my left to my right and see these tiny figures that were people playing frisbee. It had to be 1/2 mile long field. But anyway...the playing was so fun. During one of the games there was a serious mis match between our girls and theirs (we were WAY better) and on one play all my teammates were crowded by the handler and I decided to take off for the endzone. Our handler saw me taking off and hucked it to the endzone (not the best choice of word but that's what's it's called: a huck). I ran my little heart out and got it!! So exciting. There was another time I probably should've laid out to get the disc (it was too far ahead of me but not by that much I guess) but I didn't want to lay out because the ground was dirt and rock with just a little dead grass! Oh well. It was an awesome experience.

We drove from Rexburg Friday afternoon at 2, got to Vegas at 12, played frisbee all day until 8, then drove back to Rexburg and got in Sunday morning at 7. I drove the 2AM to 7AM block which was interesting. I drove from south of Provo to Idaho Falls, then to Rexburg (we switched cars in IF). The guy who drove before me was making me so nervous. When he pulled over to get gas at 2 I got in the driver's seat because he was not cutting it for me. But I did a good job getting everyone home safe. I prayed like crazy for Heavenly Father to keep the deer off the road, and I was able to talk to one of my teammates about the gospel (the only one who's not LDS) from Pocatello to Idaho Falls so I was grateful for that experience.

When I got back to Rexburg I showered and went to ward council. It was fast Sunday too, so I was running on no food and no sleep...but I felt fine. It was so werid. But the whole deprivation has been hitting me today and yesterday, so that's not good! I had a test today and I am pretty sure I did bad. Good thing I got 100% on my last test in that class! We had Elder Cook come to BYU-Idaho and give the CES fireside which was pretty awesome.

Well...other than that I can't think of anything. I'm rocking my classes, and now I'm working hard on my final essay for my last writing class. We get to pick a topic that's related to our majors, and I've decided to write about whether it's moral for BYU-Idaho to admit students with severe mental disabilities. I am excited!

I helped clean the I-center last Tuesday too. I had a picture on my phone so that's what that picture is when you see it.

The weather is getting nicer over here. I can't wait for the weather to be nice enough to play ultimate outside. The semester is over half way over, so before you know it, it will be spring semester! All right well that's my news: peace out!

New Week!

I can't even remember what happened last week. I don't care to try to remember so I'm just going to write about my awesome weekend.

We had a three-day weekend last week and I was in heaven! I thought I was going to be crazy busy, but I told myself to chill out and take a break. Friday night I watched some Star Trek, Glory, and Gone With the Wind with my roommate Melanie. She and I went to a friend's house that night to play board games. When we went to leave, my car had been BOOTED!!! It was FIFTY BUCKS!!!! Gosh dang people get a life! It wasn't even close to curfew. Whatever.

Saturday I went to the temple. It's been closed for the past couple weeks, so that was nice to go. I read the February Ensign while I was in there and loved just about every article. There were some people from South Korea doing baptisms and I got to see the names written in their language and listen to their language through the glass. It was cool!

After the temple I drove to Rigby to hang out with Trisha. I told her I missed hanging out with her and since I had time I decided to chill with her for the day. We went to Hailey's basketball game and she did great! She was fun to watch. She totally stopped a girl from getting a layup with her awesome defense. Great work Hailey!

After her game we went to Travis's Grandpa's birthday party. He told me I was pretty, and then looked around and said, "The whole damn family's here!"--haha I love old people! We had pizza, cake, and I played a roaring game of "I Spy" with Hailey, Shae, and Cooper.

Monday morning I agreed to take a friend to the Idaho Falls airport. By Monday morning I mean 4:30 AM! My two roommates Thea and Melanie came with us. They are the ones who are good friends with this guy; I'm just the one with the car ;) We raced down to Idaho Falls but didn't know where the airport was! I called Dad (he must've had a freak out getting a phone call from his daughter at 5 AM) and he let me know where to go. After dropping him off we got McDonanld's breakfast and drove back to Rexburg. We slept when we got back until noon. I feel great about that.

The rest of the day I did "homework..." not really. I did D&C homework but still had a big assignment for my education class to do when Chase suggested we go night skiing. It had been snowing all day and I just couldn't say no! He, Thea (roommate) and I debated on going or not and I just told them we just had to go so we did and we were all SO GLAD. We had a blast. The snow was coming down hard and thick the whole time. The lift was chilly, but otherwise it was awesome. I felt like I was the only one there the whole time. We saw Brother Bair there; he's the 2nd counselor in my bishopric, so that was cool!

Thea and I

I finished my Education assignment when we got home at like 1:30 AM...I thought I did an awesome job. Turns out I got a 73%...BLARG!

I guess I should talk about Valentine's Day. My two FHE brothers asked me and my roommate out. They took us to Craigo's and we had tons of pizza plus this cookie monster thing. I don't even know what all the ingredients are inside, but all I know is it was delicious.

Daniel and I

Kelsey and Joseph

We played a Justin Bieber board game after that which we had tons of fun with. You would get points if you could sing 15 seconds of "Baby" or "Somebody to Love" or "You Smile" or any of his songs. Yes, I rocked it! We had so much fun and laughed so hard. This picture says it all.

We decorated their apartment door that day with valentines and blow pop suckers for fun since they asked us out for Valentine's Day. CUTE!

I took a nutrition test and got a 94% which I felt great about, but then she curved it and I got 100%. HUZZAH! I've got another science test I need to take tomorrow that I haven't studied for yet...oh dear. For my job we have to do this "marathon" thing where we apply all these study skills we've taught this semester in two weeks. We have to do so much of all of it to "pass" or whatever and it is taking up tons of my time. Hot dang!

Other than that my life is going just fine and dandy. I taught the lesson on Sunday. During sacrament I realized my 3rd Sunday school teacher was gone and she probably didn't find a sub. So during sacrament I prepared a lesson "just in case" and sure enough, she didn't ask someone to teach for her so I just did it. We had tons of people gone for the weekend so I was nervous about not having anyone for Relief Society. We had about 15 so it wasn't too shabby!

I'm enjoying my time as RS president. I play ultimate frisbee in Vegas in a week and a half so I am way stoked for that. I got Keaton some things for his birthday so I'll send that out soon so he can get that on time. I've been hanging out a lot with Chase lately which has been fun for me. Sunday night my roommate and I played games with him and all his friends which was awesome for me because he has really hot single friends. Yep, that's about it. I've been running at least 3 miles every day lately. I kind of want to run another half marathon this spring. I saw Gabe is signed up for one coming up, so that is exciting! Ok well I'm off to play a game of Settlers with my FHE bros. We might hit Kiwi Loco after; 25% off baby! Peace out!

All my Blah Blah

Happy Sunday everyone!

I had a pretty awesome week. For FHE on Monday we played wallyball and that was a hecka good time. That is the funnest sport! I ran three miles that day too. I think I want to run another half marathon this year. I need to get with my sister and see what her plans are; maybe I'll run it with her. I took my first "Origins of the Universe, Life, and Earth" exam and totally rocked it! I love that class. Nuclear fusion...exciting stuff people.

Tuesday nothing really exciting happened. I sat by a lot of my FHE brothers during devotional which was fun. I love those guys! I did a lot of homework that day, so nothing special.

Wednesday was the same story except I ran three miles again and I played Ultimate! We had a huge group this week, so there wasn't as much playing, but it was so fun. =]

Thursday my FHE group played wallyball again, but I couldn't go because I had Ultimate practice for Las Vegas (it's coming up soon!). We didn't have anywhere indoor and because my coach is a Nazi, we played outside on the stadium! Because it's been such a weird winter (hardly any snow, very mild temperatures) it wasn't that bad. But it looked like this:

I drew that frisbee on a letter to Keaton.

Friday was a pretty chill day. After work I did a little homework, but then at 5 I took a nap! I swear I could've slept all night, but then my roommate Kelsey and I went to Idaho Falls. I got a coupon in the mail for a free pair of panties at Victoria's Secret, but we got to the mall too late so I couldn't use it. Next time for sure! When we got back to Rexburg we watched Mean Girls. That has a lot of trash but holy smokes it's funny.

Saturday I went snowboarding all day to Targhee with my FHE brother Aarick (nicknamed "Buzz") and his friend Jess. He works there one day a week and teaches little kids how to snowboard. Aarick is so good, and his friend Jess is his equal only she skis! I lost them on the first run, so for the next couple hours I chilled by myself going all over the place practicing my carving. It had snowed the day before into the night, and Saturday it was clear and sunny all day with new snow. That was my first time snowboarding with new snow and I loved it!

At lunch I ended up finding Aarick and Jess and tried going with them a few times, but they were just too hard core for me, so after about an hour and a half of that I went by myself again. I met a lot of people by going up the lift with random groups all the time. I ran into a guy I totally had a crush on during the summer and boarded with him and his friends for a few runs.

I also met a guy from back East who was in the area for a work thing and he found out I was Mormon and we chatted about that for a minute--including Mitt Romney's chances in taking the nomination. I was glad I keep up with Bill O'Reilly after that conversation because I was able to talk about people like Marco Rubio and know what I was talking about.

When I got back to Rexburg all my roommates had plans (dates for three of them, and watching Rugby all night for the other), so I decided to make plans with my FHE brother Joseph. We made breakfast for dinner and watched How to Train Your Dragon because he's never seen it. I fell asleep during some of it. I was wiped out! But dinner was so good. I had a bacon, scrambled egg, and cream cheese crepe and it was to die for.

My Sunday was busy busy. I went to bed at 10:30 the night before, so I was well rested (for once). I have ward council every Sunday at 9:45 and then church from 11-2 and then I have a meeting with the Bishop after church until about 3. Then I have meetings with my councilors every Sunday at 4 where we do stuff. Today we searched out all the locals and "ministered" to them individually. It was tough stuff hunting them all down! All the locals in our stake were jammed into our ward, and all of them were jammed into my relief society. I have about 45 girls, so it is crazy town! It's hard work, but it is so fulfilling. I love it.

Well folks that was my week. Next weekend is a three day weekend...I need to make killer plans! Later

This was a sticky note I found on the mirror in a random bathroom on campus. Only at BYU-Idaho!

Kelsey