The First Few Weeks.

     I am approaching the third week of school and I think I am finally getting into the swing of things. I only have two on campus classes and three online so my schedule is a little weird. Its different not being on campus a lot. I have to force myself to actually do my online homework but I think I've got it down now.

     The best news is I got a job!! Having such an open schedule during the day gave me lots of opportunities to find a job and I did. I am nannying for Anna's cousin. I watch a one year boy everyday from about 8am to 2pm. It is perfect and I love it. The boy is so good and easy. I am able to get homework done when he naps, which is great.

     This semester is going to be the busiest one yet with me working 25 hours a week on top of taking 15 credits, but its going to be a good one. I have already been having so much fun!

So here's to a good start to the semester!!

Long Days.

     So Anna and I have always wanted to get involved with a program known as Get Connected here at school, but we never got around to, that is until last semester. At the end of the Spring semester some people came knocking on our door begging for volunteers for Get Connected, and when I say begging they were literally begging, they might as well have been on their knees pleading for us to come interview. They were pretty desperate for volunteers because Get Connected is a huge event each semester. Basically Get Connected is the new student orientation here at BYU-Idaho. I really enjoyed my experience at Get Connected my first semester (that's where I met Anna), so I figured why not interview and see if I make it. And I think you can conclude that yes Anna and I both got elected to become I-Reps. Basically we are set as representatives walking around campus while all of the new freshman are moving in. We didn't really know much else.

     We had to be at school a few days early in order to train for the events. Let me just say I was not prepared for how long each day of training was going to be. It was 9.5 hours of straight training both Wednesday and Thursday. Honestly we got back from it and went straight to bed. We just exhausted in every way possible.

     Well here comes the real kicker... Today we had to be up on campus at 6:30am to get our assignments. I was in charge of checking in new students at an off campus apartment complex where I sat outside in a lovely polo and khakis for 7 hours. Let me tell you I am now rocking a great farmers tan and a sunburnt face. However it was fun to see the excited freshman right as they got here. It reminded me of how excited I was two years ago to start college and be on my own. It did make me feel really old though. It seems so crazy that it has already been two years since I started school.

     And after seven hours of being outside the day was far from over. I had to walk around campus guiding the new students all over. Basically I just felt like a tour guide telling where people to go and where they can find things. In a weird way it was fun. I really liked being looked to for help. So by now its like 8:00pm and I finally have a break (hence the creation of this post). But not for long I am just headed out the door to host the game night. My day won't end until around midnight.

And the worst  best part is I get to do it all over again tomorrow morning starting at 6:30 am again!

I-Rep Get Up.

That One Time I Met Ed Sheeran.

     So last week we went into Chicago and of course it was crowded, but when is the city not crowded on a summer day? However this Saturday was particularly crowded, turns out Taylor Swift was playing at Soldier Field as a stop on her 2013 RED Tour. We saw plenty of girls running around doused in red glitter. I knew that Ed Sheeran was opening for T-Swift and was very jealous of everyone going. I also looked up if there were any tickets left, there were, but at $100 a pop. There was no way that was happening. So I gave up and we went on our way luckily avoiding most of the concert crowd. We had gotten lunch and walked through some stores when we all started to head back to where the car was parked. We weren't sure if we wanted to just go home or if we wanted to go anywhere else so we just pulled over to the side of the sidewalk to discuss what the next plan was.

     As we are standing there talking I just happen to turn my head and I see the one and only Ed Sheeran! He was walking right towards us, no entourage or anything, just him and a friend strolling the streets of Chicago. On the inside I am freaking out because holy crap freaking Ed Sheeran is like ten feet away from me. No one else Im with sees him, let alone knows who he is so Im was in this by myself. He got closer so I just stepped out said hi and asked him for a picture. He was nice enough to stop and take a picture, so I whip out my phone and throw it at my mom. Everyone I was with was so into their conversation to even notice until I was actually with him. Like I said no one really knew who he was and the looks of utter confusion on everyones face proved that they were all wondering who this guy was. So I got my picture and talked with him for a second, it was great! The british accent wasn't so bad either ;) I was in shock that this famous singer/songwriter was just walking around without a care. It just goes to show that fame can affect people in so many ways and it is apparent that he has not let his fame change who he is and how he acts. I was still very jealous of everyone that got to see him perform...but you know what meeting him was pretty freaking awesome too!

     For all of you who haven't heard of Ed Sheeran watch this video and listen to his music. This song is called The A Team and it is off his debut album +. 

I'm No Longer Living Out Of A Suitcase.

     After three weeks of traveling I am finally back home! It has been so fun going all over visiting family and friends. Our three week vacation started out in Utah. I drove down from Idaho after school ended and met the family. We were able to spend time with Sarah, Matt, and Benson. They moved into their own house so Mom, Sarah, and I had fun decorating the place. It looks so cute! Of course playing with Benson was so fun. He is starting to get so much bigger. He is really developing his personality. I loved seeing my Grandma and Grandpa one more time before they moved back to Arizona. Jill and Nana came up too! I hadn't seen either of them in a long time, so it was great to spend time with them too. The whole family came in town for a very special occasion. Benson was blessed. It was truly a great day.

     The next part of our vacation landed us back home in Chicago. Parker, Mom, and I drove from Connecticut to Illinois. We did it in two days so it really wasn't that terrible. Dad, of course, got the great pleasure of flying. 

     Our purpose of going to Chicago was not just to see our friends but my best friend since the day we moved there, Justin just got home from serving his two year mission in McAllen Texas, and Parkers best friend Scott was leaving for his mission to Fresno California. The funny thing is these two are brothers so it was cool to welcome one home and send another off. We were able to do a lot and also just hung out like old times. We played cards, went to all our favorite restaurants, played just dance, Justin and I went to a White Sox game, and of course we went into the city. I was also able to see one of my old roommates Jenny who is serving her mission in Chicago! It was such a great trip. 

       

    

     All of the travel has fun and it was great seeing family and old friends, but let me tell you it sure is nice not living out of a suitcase anymore! I am home for about three weeks and then am headed back to school. I am just going to relax and enjoy the weeks I have at home with my family.

End Of The Semester and a Photo Dump.

      Well I cannot believe yet another semester has ended. It never ceases to amaze me how fast time flies! I will be starting my junior year next semester. That is just weird to me. Well I think I have said this multiple times on here but this semester was honestly the greatest semesters. There were a few ups and downs but overall it was amazing!
     It was a weird semester because so much had changed over the winter. Most all of my friends had left to serve their missions and Anna was leaving for Mexico for the first half of the semester. I was going to be all on my own. I actually really enjoyed it. It was a great way for me to be my own person and really break out of my comfort zone. I was able to make so many new friends and do so many fun things. The Spring semester is definitely harder to stay focused on school because all you want to do is be outside but somehow I did it! I finished off the semester well so thats always a plus. Im excited to get back to school again this fall and see what it has in store for me!
     These are just a few pictures of what I have been up to the last few weeks of school. Of course it was stressful studying for finals and packing and moving my stuff to my new apartment but I still made time to relax and have fun.

The view outside my apartment. Most nights in Idaho end up looking like this!

Day Trip to Yellowstone National Park

Paddle Boarding at Rigby Lake

 

Sunset Hike Up "R" Mountain

Jess's Wedding Reception

     It was truly a great way to end the semester! Now my seven week break consists of travel. I will be in Utah with the family for my nephews blessing and then Im heading to Chicago to welcome Justin home and to send Scott off. It will be so fun to see them all again. Then back to Connecticut for a short break home. And then right back to good ol' Rexburg. It is going to be a great summer!

Color In Motion 5k.

     Over the winter break I noticed that there was going to be a color run in Rexburg. I was so excited because it is rare that something big actually makes it to our little college town. So I called up my roommates and we decided to sign up for our very first 5k.

     So race day comes along and lets be honest none of us actually trained for it. So we decided we would just kind of run/walk the whole thing. It was only a 5k so only about 3.1 miles. We started off the race so clean but once it started every few kilometers we were blasted with colored chalk. It was a blast! We ended up finishing in about 35 minutes. We were pretty proud due to our complete lack of preparation.

Before the race.                                           

After!

4th of July.

     The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. The weather is always amazing, you are outside, fireworks, and of course celebrating the great United States of America! I cannot remember a year when we didn't celebrate. Unfortunately Rexburg is too small of a town to actually have fireworks, so you have to go elsewhere. Last year a bunch of us went to Idaho Falls to watch the fireworks over the river but this year Anna and I decided to do something different. 

Stadium of Fire! The Stadium of Fire is in Provo, Utah and is a huge concert and fireworks show at Lavelle Edwards Stadium. This year the performers were Circ De Sole, Carly Rae Jepsen, and KELLY CLARKSON!

   Anna and I drove to Utah Thursday morning and stopped to see Sarah, Matt, and Benson. It was so fun to see them! Benson has changed so much. I can't believe he is already a month old. Then we ventured into Provo and basically waited around all day until the stadium opened. Finally we were allowed in, we were so excited! It was so fun to see all the performances but the highlight was definitely Kelly Clarkson. Anna and I have both been huge fans ever since her American Idol debut 11years ago! It was a trip hearing her perform a few of her old songs. She is seriously a power house! Her performance was incredible! I am so glad that we got to experience the Stadium of Fire, it is definitely something I would love to do again. It was a great day to remember how lucky we are to live in such a blessed land.

Carly Rae Jepsen

Kelly Clarkson