"Where are you and jo crew at?"

Two weeks ago, I had the lucky privilege of picking up my best friend in the whole world, Teresa, from the Salt Lake airport and bringing her to live the dream life in Provo...ha. I'd been getting pretty homesick, so having my best friend come to me was exactly what I needed. I welcomed her with a list of foods that one can't experience in Minnesota like In 'n Out, Yogurtland, Cafe Rio, J Dawgs, and of course the classic Provo dessert party. We got to sit front row at the BYU vs. Idaho State football game which was fun especially since we dominated.

We went to an outdoor party with two llamas, much to Teresa's surprise.

We got to nap on Sunday and eat delicious food that I made because I'm obviously a professional cook. Teresa also wanted to experience the mountains up close and personal so we took her to a nice look out spot aka Squaw Peak aka nice make out spot, Teresa really wanted to get the full experience so we sent her up there with a random boy....okay total joke, Hanna and I took her up there and it was beautiful of course.

look at that hottie...

I have to be honest, our apartment was absolutely out of control when Teresa came, we were probably the sassiest we've ever been, so Teresa definitely got a good taste of everyone's personalities and was probably a good, calming presence in our home, ha. Dropping her off was so sad but it's okay because Christmas is only two months away! 

you can live under the stairs

So I know it's been a really long time and I apologize to all five of my blog readers. I wish I could say it's because I've just been so productive at school that I just haven't found time to do this but that's not the case, even though I really do try. School has been in session for almost a month now. Classes are rough, work is early, but friends are wonderful. I honestly have been so blessed with the best roommates, best friends, and best family. Last year was an amazing year but I think I didn't allow myself to have as much fun as I could have. I don't think I've laughed more in my life than I have in the past month. Yes, life is kind of stinky sometimes, I miss important people to me every day, but also, I'm so happy. I have the friends that I want. They make me laugh and they listen.

In the past month I have:
been to a Lupe Fiasco concert
gone shooting
gone to a rope swing
gone off-roading
jumped off a bridge
played on intramural football and soccer teams
fallen in love beyonce's album "4"
danced my heart out
taken a million stats quizzes
3-step ding dong ditched
slept on a trampoline
been happy.

hot as hades

Well it's been an awesome week. I was lucky enough to be able to go to Texas for the wedding of two of my best friends, Sarah and Chad. Even though I have never been more hot in my life or sweat more in my life, I'm still so glad I went. I couldn't believe that this relationship we had joked about in the beginning of the year actually ended up turning into a real life marriage, but it has and I am so incredibly happy for the two of them. I couldn't ask for better friends and I absolutely fell in love with their families as well. 

sarah looked absolutely beautiful

Also, more great news. My niece, Vivianne Jackson was born on Thursday morning and she's beautiful, I cannot wait to hold her in my arms tomorrow and be able to play with Liam again. The two loves of my life. I'm Utah bound in the morning with mi madre and I am so excited. Life is good, I'm feeling very blessed today.

I'm grateful for a mother that listens, friends that care, and a heart to love. 

So I have to admit that my post a couple of days back that was agonizing over my awful wisdom teeth experience was probably a little bit dramatic. Everything that I said was entirely true, but I survived. I'm back to solid, normal foods and could not be happier. And really, I couldn't. Even though this weekend I didn't hang out with my friends which any other weekend would probably make me really crabby and complain a lot, this weekend was honestly perfect. I got to hang out with my family and laugh our heads off and dance and talk and just be together. It's crazy to me how much Quinn and Caroline are growing up and I can't call them little anymore. I am overflowing with gratitude for the amazing family that I have been blessed with and am so lucky to be able to call them my best friends. 

rufioooo

Today is a very special day for our family. Our little pup Rufio turned two years old today. Or a whopping 14 in dog years. Some things that I love about Ruf are:
1. He is so stinking cute. There is no way you could hate Rufio because he is just the cutest dog in the world and that's that. 
2. He thinks that everyone is his friend. Everyone. He loves to give a warm welcome to all that come through our front door.
3. Rufio is always happy to see me. Sometimes I think he's the only one that loves me.
4. Rufio loves car rides more than anything in the world. I love driving with my boy in the passenger seat.
5. Whenever something strange happens at night, Rufio is sure to let us know something is going on, especially when the bulldog down the street gets taken on a midnight walk...
6. Rufio is basically a human being. He sits in chairs like people, he is loving, and he is a best friend.
7. Rufio is also the strangest/quirkiest dog I have ever met. He does some pretty strange things but they only make him cuter. 
8. Rufio loves to play. Even if you don't want to play, Rufio will make sure you do by continuously throwing his nasty rope toy onto your lap. 
9. Rufio loves peanut butter. I love peanut butter. Match made in heaven.
10. Rufio has the biggest heart and lets me cuddle with him when I'm lonely and I just love him. 
So thank you Rufio for coming into my family's life. We needed you. Wish you could read....

man's best friend.

just some laughs for ya'll
UCB Parents Jokes & Quotes: 
Great Truths About Life That Little Children Have Learned

1. No matter how hard you try, you cannot baptize cats.

2. When your mom is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair.

3. If you sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the
   second person.

4. Never ask your 3-year-old brother to hold a tomato.

5. You can't trust dogs to watch your food.

6. Reading what people write on desks can teach you a lot.

7. Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.

8. Puppies still have bad breath even after eating a tic tac.

9. Never hold a dustbuster and a cat at the same time.

10. School lunches stick to the wall.

11. You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.

12. Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.

13. The best place to be when you are sad is in Grandma's lap.

pale...

my only question for today is....where did my tan go?..take me back to the utah sunshine please and thanks.

MAC, L'oreal, yep cause I'm worth it

Last night I decided to teach Mama-ji and Caroline how to play my favorite card game, oomph, and add to my winning streak. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time, Caroline and I provided Mom with some wonderful (terrible) harmonies to America's Top 40 Hits on the radio as well as some classic throwbacks like Lip Gloss. We quickly realized that getting lyrics right is not our greatest skill but toot and I were seriously bawling we were laughing so hard. And no stress, I dominated this game even though I was accused of cheating the entire time. I would never do such a thing...but love me some sista time.

"Isn't that the good life is a simple one,
Sittin' in the yard watching' the leaves go by,
Reading good books and playing songs,
Watching the wind blow through your front yard
Don't follow your head,
Follow your heart."

--The Head and the Heart

am i dead?

So I'm not going to say the past week has been a blast because it hasn't. I have:
-spent more hours in my bed than should ever be allowed
-watched more LOST than a human should be able to handle
-hung out with zero people
-been in more pain than I can really remember
-missed people desperately


All because of my blasted wisdom teeth. Okay, I can't blame it all on my teeth, but seriously worst thing ever. Dry sockets are painful, that's not a myth. The dressing they put in the dry sockets to help them heal, the stuff with cloves on it=MY WORST ENEMY. When this whole thing is over I never want to smell or taste cloves ever again. EVER. It makes everything taste gross, which leads to a hatred of eating, which leads to a lack of eating, which leads to nausea, which leads to throwing up, which leads to feeling disgusting, which leads to being exhausted, which leads to spending hours upon hours in bed with no one around. Feel free to call me a baby, I understand that I am horrible at tolerating pain and at not throwing up in the first place, but seriously? Not an okay situation. Wisdom teeth, I hope you're happy. Thanks for ruining my last full week in Minnesota.




On the bright side, I have been able to spend some more time with Mama Ji and take lil' Rufio on evening walks to get ourselves moving after a day of netflix, make brownies, and have proceeded to eat some more solid foods. Progress.

xoxo

This past week has been really hard for me, I've let myself get pretty down about Mitchell being gone. It is definitely the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with. But I've also realized how lucky I am for so many reasons. I can hardly wait to go back to Provo and start school and move into my new apartment with my amazing roommates and go to football games and have Teresa come visit me and spend time with all of my friends that I haven't seen for what seems like forever. I'm really ready for a new year, to experience new things, build stronger friendships, welcome a what I assume will be beautiful new niece into the world, and spend time with my older siblings again. The other night I seriously couldn't fall asleep because I was getting so excited about Fall semester finally rolling around. By the time school starts, I will have had almost a five month summer and I am ready to get back in the swing of things, start working again (need me some monaysssss), and feel productive. I will be devastated to leave my friends here in Minnesota again but I still have a few weeks to get in with them. I also cannot freaking wait to go to Texas soon and see two of my best friends getting married. Sarah and Chadsie...so excited. I'll leave you with some picture updates of muh lyfe. 

was finally reunited with zachy and tore up valleyfair

celebrated em's big 19 (or 61) birthday

went to Matt Nathanson show with jordy, reesie, and al

became a bowling pro 

caught up with some rugby ladies

And last, but certainly not least, I got my wisdom teeth out yesterday and have had the pleasure of feeling disgusting for the past 24 hours. If anyone wants to see a cute snapshot I took of myself while on drugs, you can just ask Melissa....hahahah

xoxo e

"It isn't always as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. If we put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."

--Gordon B. Hinckley

i can do it.

The Civility Experiment

willing to help

"I firmly believe that the sweetest experience in mortality is to know that our Heavenly Father has worked through us to accomplish an objective in the life of another person--to help make someone whole. Extend the hand that helps and the heart that knows compassion."

--Thomas S. Monson

just some thoughts

Being home I've had a lot of time to think. Not even about anything in particular but there's just a lot of time to think. I've had a lot of time to miss people, to learn why I don't miss others, and to reevaluate myself and the past year I've had. I didn't realize how much I had changed while being out at school until I got home and was back with my high school friends. No major changes but just in the small things. I'm grateful that I've been able to see these things and kind of figure out what the good changes are and what things could go back to the way they used to be. I think it's important to remember that you can always be better. There are always changes that can be made and things that can be worked on. I love that about life. 


If there's not charity behind everything we do, it's not worth doing.

#lakelife

So I've now been home for over a week and it's been nice. Once again, I have nothing to stress me out, no work, no school, no agenda. Netflix has become my new (not really new) best friend, along with being able to be back with my amigos from high school. Fourth of July was spent at a family friend's pool and then the evening on Lake Minnetonka on Papa Dee's boat. #lakelife

It was an absolutely perfect day and the sky was unbelievable as the sun set. So beautiful. 

I got my first letter from Mitchell on Tuesday which probably made me the happiest girl in the world. I am loving the carefree life aka #lakelife

see you soon

This has been a pretty rough week. Mitchell leaves to the missionary training center tomorrow, which is insane. I can't believe it's already that time. He'll be going to the Chile Concepcion South mission, and I couldn't be more excited for him.

Good luck Mitchy, you are going to be an amazing, amazing missionary. 

See you in two.

these are my confessions pt. 2

You could say that the past two weeks have been the best and the worst. Mom and Quinn came to Utah and have been here for almost two weeks. I have obviously loved being able to see them. Quinny did the rugby sports camp at BYU so I was able to embarrass him and hang out with him a little bit which I loved. Being a sports camp counselor has seriously been the greatest blessing for me. After having a pretty boring spring when I wasn't with Caitlin and our King Henry boys, sports camps has brought a much needed energy to my life. After having done it for almost two weeks, I am seriously bummed I'm not doing it more weeks. I have met some amazing amazing people, some hilarious kids, and had so much fun. Getting down on the dance floor with my not-so-skilled dance moves has most definitely been the highlight for me. I got second place in the dance contest the other night (Maura would be so proud) but I don't think it was because I was a good dancer...But honestly, I couldn't have received a better answer to my prayers than being able to have this experience, it is exactly what I needed.

good luck elder taylor (and keith in the backgroundsies lawlzzzzzz)

missionary farewells for my closer friends have begun...wish me luck.

mmmm

nothing like this

I was given the wonderful opportunity by my parents to go home to Minnesota this weekend. I could not have loved it more. I was able to see my family and my very best friends in the whole wide world which was much needed, I have missed them dearly. Right off the plane I headed to the Armstrong girls' rugby game to support my little babies. 

thank you jordan.

I was really lucky to be able to see a ton of events that I wouldn't have been able to see due to living in Provo. I got to see Caroline's 8th grade choir concert and she had a solo in Michael Jackson's, "We Are the World". She rocked it obviously. I got to see one of Quinn's rugby games where he's an all-star. So proud. Caroline's piano recital ended up being on Sunday so I got to go to that and hear her play which was good. Then the adventure of going to the airport on Monday night, getting to my gate, finding out my flight was delayed, and ending up having to come back home just to take a flight very early in the morning the next day. But the lucky thing that came out of that was that I got to see the freshmen/varsity spring choir concert at Armstrong, so I got to see Quinny sing. It really brought last year back to me and just how significant spring concert was in my life last year. I'm really sad I couldn't be there for Concert Choir's.

Most important event of the weekend and the one that I'm most proud of is that Mom graduated! She got her K-8 teaching license and her master's degree from St. Thomas University. She has worked so incredibly hard to achieve this and I'm so happy for her. She is going to be an amazing teacher and her students are so lucky. Thanks for still being such a wonderful mom while being a straight-A college student! We love you.

reesie ree, here is your blog post...

it's been awhile, i apologize. lots has happened since last i checked in. i finished my freshman year of college which was quite the accomplishment for me. my grades improved immensely and i actually believe im smart again. i moved out of the dorms which was a bittersweet experience. holler to my roommate melissa, i shall miss those late night great times we had...

now i live with sarah passey and she is wondrous. leaving the dorms meant having to say goodbye to really amazing people in my life because they're going off on missions.

i will miss these boys a little too much.

but perfectly, my family came about a week and a half ago because my oldest brother, ian, had his graduation ceremonies. he's graduating in graphic design and we're all really proud of him and all the hard work he's done. 

lil lee is seriously getting way too cute for his own good. oh! i don't think i've made this a public blog announcement but katie is pregnant again but with a girl this time! super exciting, she's due at the end of august. but liam is just growing up so fast and loved getting so much attention from his grandparents and quinn and caroline. 

okay grown up

as wonderful as it was to have my family here, they left all too soon. it hasn't been all fun for me this spring, i'm definitely bored more than not with only working 8-12 so i'm trying to find ways to occupy myself and not completely waste my time. i'm lucky enough to have parents that love me enough to fly me home for a visit in a week and a half! i need to go home and see my friends and be at my house and drive MY car (not quinn's) and just soak in the lovely minnesota for a little bit. it's been a little bit lonely here and i am needing a break and a refresher. i'll get to see caroline's choir concert, quinn's rugby game, and my mom's commencement ceremony so it will be well worth the trip.          

Adieu, adieu, adieu

this weekend i had the pleasure of going to my friend's cabin up in who knows where. but let me tell you, it was a blast! i found out that it was strange for me to have lived in minnesota my whole life and never snowmobiled, but apparently that's not normal. the group went up saturday night and it was raining and sleeting and the snowmobile ride up to the cabin itself was hysterical. poor liv...ha. but all was made better with a hot tub, a burning hot furnace, and correcting karli's lyrics and melodies to "i say a little prayer for you" and "so long, farewell". sunday included watching general conference, becoming snowmen through snowmobiling, and having some spaghetti dinna. 

brooke and her parents are the greatest for letting us come and hang out with them this weekend. thanks bby!

libros

Want to know one of the number one things that I hate about school? Not having much time to read for pleasure. Now I know that many college students hate reading and claim to haven't read a whole book since fifth grade when "Poppy" by Avi was all the rage and you were a complete loser if you hadn't read the entire series, but for me, reading has always been such an amazing escape. I think it's incredible that simple words can come together on paper and create a world in the reader's mind. My love started at a very young age when I would take stacks of books from my huge bookshelf in my room, turn on my bedside lamp, and read until after midnight while Maura snoozed in the top bunk.

I think that after reading Ella Enchanted, I was pretty dang excited to get my first kiss and determined that I too would have a beautiful forest green, velvet dress like Ella did on the cover of the book one day. To Kill a Mockingbird and The Poisonwood Bible introduced me to issues of race and deeper underlying issues going on in the world. Looking back, I'm pretty surprised at the books I was reading in middle school. My mom is the one that I think I got the reading gene from and I would (and still do) go to her whenever I'm in need of a new read. She definitely challenged me with the stuff she gave me, but now I am so grateful that I was encouraged to read so much. Bringing a book around like an accessory is nothing new to me. Spending hours (actually....) in the bathroom because I couldn't put my book down long enough to get out is a pretty funny way for me to demonstrate my love for books. Reading on the beach is something that I am dying to do. There is nothing better than the combo of sun and literature. Mmmm. 

i like my peanut butter m&m's...

This may seem like a pretty boring blog post and I apologize for that but I just wanted to let out my appreciation for the things that books can teach us and even the opportunity to experience the worlds we can through the stories told by others. It amazes me. The Help by Kathryn Stockett is an amazing book if anyone's looking for something new. 

liam decided to try on my uggs...

i feel bad at how much i have been neglecting my blog lately....so i shall now attempt to redeem myself with possibly multiple posts. update on my actividades de febrero? yes.

went to the nickelcade with mitchy, sarah, and chadsie. obviously dominated.

snuggled with my bby

had a wonderful birthday--consisted of dinner with the girls, dinner at tucanos, breakfast with grandparents, and a pinata

katey k8 came to visit and come back to the americas! 

spent time with this gem of a child who is getting way too cute for his own good

thursdays

Thursdays have now become my favorite day of the week because it's when I get Maura's letters, which, as soon as I read "bby gurl!" at the top of the letter, make me feel about a bajillion times better no matter how crappy I've been feeling. I've never really been super excited or hugely motivated to go on a mission, but just seeing how much it's helping Maura grow and how amazingly happy she is definitely motivates me to think about it. I am pretty dang lucky to have been blessed with such an amazing sister who has always loved me no matter how much we've fought. Sorry, this is kind of just me rambling about Maura, but having her leave definitely has helped me to appreciate her so much more, and really think about how I'm living my life and how to improve it. I want to serve the Lord and whether that's just be being an example and serving others around me or by going on a mission, it doesn't really matter to me. This gospel is true and I am so grateful for it.

weekend away

I would just first off like to apologize for my absence, I just have not been feeling inspired lately. But here I am, with some pics and stories to share. 

I talked to my mom a couple weeks ago while I was feeling pretty frustrated with school and stuff and as an antidote, she suggested that I head up to Salt Lake for a weekend and hang out with my cousins. So Friday, Erin let me borrow her car and I drove up to Salt Lake and made it to Sammy's basketball game, which I've been wanting to go to for forever. It was awesome to be able to see him in his element playing for Olympus High School. It was also hilarious to be back in the high school atmosphere, with everything and everyone being dramatic, and with cheerleaders that are actually good....unlike my high school's...ha

i got to see brinny boo, which was not expected! and spennie bug with all his lady friends...

after the game, Meg and I headed out on over an hour's drive into the middle of the West desert to a bonfire that consisted of supposedly 300 Christmas trees, but I'm not quite convinced that's accurate. But still, there were SO many trees that were brought there by trucks and trailers. The line of cars following each other seemed to be never-ending. My toes just about froze because it took forevsies to start the fire but as soon as it started, you couldn't stand within like, 15 feet of it because it was so big and hot. 

before

after

not going to lie, it was super sick. 

Then the weekend just got better because yesterday my dad came into town just for a couple of days so I got to go back to Salt Lake for dinner at grandma and grandpa jackson's, which was so nice and hang out with my family. I have just realized how much I love my family lately. I really have taken them for granted through high school, but now they really have become my best friends. I love spending time with them and am so glad that I have my three siblings and a nephew so close to me. 

 cutest child in the world