Summary '11

Like everyone else, I wanted to do a reflection post on 2011. It's been a long year but has gone fast actually. Most of the time I can't believe it's over because I can remember like it was yesterday, going back to Snow and only being apart from Brady 1 month.... So, here's to the new year! :)

January - Brady out 1 month; together 7 months. 2nd semester of college; new job. New classes; quilt making and learning about marriage. Feeling the Spirit; finished the Book of Mormon. Missing my family lots, staying with my sister on weekends and crafting. My first "Donut of Misery," hahaha! Special letters, with cute drawings and love notes :) Dog with roommates; Anubis. Manti & Logan Temples.

February - Brady out 2 months; together 8. Comedy Sportz for the first time. Sister-in-law's baby shower (first nephew.) Planned my "dream wedding." Falling in love while creating my quilt! Valentine's package from my mom :) Missing Brady, visiting home and his home. Anubis passing away :( Having my nephew born!! Roberto's mission farewell with roommates in Idaho, spending the night in Logan. Mission calls for three high school friends. Finished my 18 page, single-spaced autobiography of myself for marriage class.

March - Brady out 3 months; together 9. Second donut of misery. Spring break to California with the roommates :) (free Disneyland, knotsberry farm and the beach!) Elder Holland's AMAZING quote book. Got my job at Zurcher's. Missing home and Brady some more. Finished all the blocks on my quilt. Joseph Smith movie. Service; book mark.

April - Brady out 4 months; together 10. Temple block gift for my roommates with family. MoTab easter concert with best friend, dying eggs and filling up baskets for my family. FHE egg dying with roommates and the fellas. Last night at Snow College; bonfire with last pictures and cleaning checks :( Hank Smith cd.

May - Brady out 5 months; together 11. Nephew baby blessing, Aquarium with family. Missionary emails. Studdy Buddy bridal shower. Organizing missionary letters and church stuff. Visit Brady's family. Oquirrh Mountain Temple photo shoot. 3rd donut of misery, and family photos. Quit job at Zurcher's; got new job.

June - Brady out 6 months; :) been together 1 year!! ♥ Temple Square photographs and Conference Center tour. Family pictures back. Made first baby car seat cover. Tie-dyed shoes yellow :) He Is We concert. Kid History 5, live. Studdy Buddy wedding.

July - Brady out 7 months; together 13. 4th donut of misery, 4th of July MG party; visited Andy's grave. 14 day walk with Christ. New phone; HTC sensation. Family birthdays. Finished 1st spire on countdown. Hiking the Y for my first time. Post-it letter. Started posting about my letters. Passing away of good friend Val. Went to JR Temple. St. George trip. Pukey bridal shower.

August - Brady out 8 months; together 14. My birthday/Sandy balloon festival. Balla Followa left on mission. Pukey's wedding. Megan's wedding. First day of new school/campus. "Year marks" started. Birthday package.

September - Brady out 9 months (mission baby #1); together 15. Rascal Flatts concert!! Getting lost to see the UP house with best friend. Babysitting nephew; halloween crafts. First date with Spenser. NUHOPE Walk in Ogden. General Relief Society Broadcast with mama. Nephew finding his voice. 3 farewells.

October - Brady out 10 months; together 16. Brady's birthday. General Conference. Cut a few inches off my hair. Thriller with family. Stake Conference at Temple Square. 2 years for Andy. Carving pumpkins with family. Dated Spenser. MG sleepover; met best friend Jenna.

November - Brady out 11 months; together 17. YSA service project. Jaderade's wedding. Lots of volleyball. Trick-or-treating. Blind date; met someone related but not related to me. Airliner and I are over; heartbreaking letter; know who I love. Grateful November; you can't quit. Babysitting. 11/11/11 @ 11:11. Baptisms. Rock climbed. Hot chocolate Tuesdays. Institute. The Squad's bridal shower. Breaking Dawn. First country swing experience. Year marks. Doctor appointment. Hey Tell. Thanksgiving. Country swing some more; Brady's adorable Christmas package. Letter from President Monson about service project. Festival of Tree's.

December - Brady out 1 year!!!!!; together for 18 months. Rumor Has It. Cousin came home from Marine's. Family dinner. iPhone with Verizon; mean people at T-Mobile. School ended; graduating next fall. Temple Square with best friend Jenna. MoTab Christmas concert. Christmas package from Brady. Family Christmas party. Jenna moved. Andy's birthday. Ke$ha. Delivery to PCMC. Baby time. Inside jokes with Jenna. Toy testing. Christmas Eve buffet. Christmas Day; no phone call. Dear Boys post 1. Ugly Sweater party; family photo's. MG Temple Square night. Gilbert's first, ever car wash. Best mail day ever.

What a crazy year. I'm sure I didn't cover some things, and towards the end of the year I covered too much but I've learned a lot. I remember it being so hard in January to go on without Brady and how I couldn't believe I had to go a whole year without Brady, and look... I have 11 months left!!!! :) I'm so stoked. I've come a long way and have learned so much. So, after all the good times, with laughter and happiness; and after all the bad times with heartaches and tears, I've learned a lot and grown so much. 2011, you did well... But 2012, you better have a lot more in store! I'm ready :)

My 39th Letter

Wow, can't believe I've almost got 40 letters in just a little over a year :) But I will tell you this, today was the best MAIL day EVER! I have never been happier :) But first and foremost, I will share a little somethin' somethin' from my boyfriend's letter, which he wrote with his "pink fountain pen." Hahahahaha

"In a week (this was from last week)  we will already be past Christmas...
Can you believe that? This will be my last Christmas EVER without [you]"

"Hey Babe... Why are you so cute? ;)"

Then he drew me a picture of a small box, and said "A representation of how much you love me (still a lot)." And then he drew a bigger box and said "A representation of how much I love you! (more)" Hahaha that turd thinks he loves me more than I love him. Kids got jokes (;

Anyway, enough of that love stuff... I got a letter from my very best friend, Sam. He sent me pictures! It was so nice! Then I got a letter from my friend Ty who I never thought would speak to me, ever again. Him and I didn't leave on bad terms, we just didn't have any terms when he left. We kind of drifted, our lives were going separate ways, but he is always going to be one of my very best friends. Even though we haven't talked in almost a year, I thought it'd be nice to send him a Christmas card, so I did. He wrote back (totally wasn't expecting anything, but had a little hope.) and apologized for not being the friend he should have been all this time, and thanked me for everything I've done for him (which includes lots of talks late at night, with some tears involved on both ends.) He was so sweet, and told me that his mission is going well. It's amazing to see the change in missionaries once they're out in the field. I also got my nail polish and iPod cover which now matches my iPhone cover :) Hehehe! I'm so excited!! Best mail day ever. Can you see why??

Also, I'm headed out to Orem to party with this gorgeous girl (:

Oh wait, you already know her?

How?

Oh wait,

I've blogged about her before.

Ha, best friend. (:

I can't believe 2011 is over after tomorrow.

Brady will be home this year!!!! ♥

So stoked.

Anyway, hope you all have a fabulous weekend,

cause I'll be partying it up in Orem!

Happy New Year!

Car Wash

I did it. I took Gilbert to get a bath.
He loved every. single. second.
It was pretty neat actually.
I had gone once before with Spenser,
and a second time with Jenna :)

It was cheap, and vaccumming was free! I might have a little leak in the top of my windshield, which made me think of the time Spenser told me he had one in the back of his truck and his brother got wet once! Hahaha (weird that I'm reminiscing.) Anyway, it was all fun and games, and I took some pictures. Gilbert looked hot when he came rollin' out of the car wash :) Cleaned him up nice! Hahahaha I think we'll come back!

2 Days left of 2011,

how are you spending it?

Last MG TS Night

Crazy enough, this is my 6th and last time seeing the lights down at Temple Square. I think that's a record for myself! Lol anyway, we planned a second MG night since some of us couldn't go to the first one. The group was small, but fun! There were a lot of people there, I ran into some that I knew. We took pictures, talked, and laughed. It was fun, wasn't cold at all! It's always fun to meet new MG's!

Ugly Sweater Party

My friend Rachel and her other friend threw an ugly Christmas sweater party after Christmas, so Jenna and I thought it'd be fun to go, and invite the boys. Jenna and I decided to have a photo-shoot in our "ugly sweaters" before we left, which was a blast, and ended up fashionably late! We had fun, and there was more people than I expected! We played some pool, ping pong and then showed the boys up with Just Dance. Afterwhich we had to leave because Jenna and I had responsibilities early in the morning. The boys took us home and went back after! I had a lot of fun, even if we didn't stay long!

Happy Birthday Andy!

Happy Birthday Andy! :) I miss you lots! Today I visited your grave; I brought my dad. First time I've ever brought someone. It was good to see you again. It's been since July that I was last here. Everything looks the same since there isn't any snow. I loved the roses, and the Christmas wreath/tree. My dad has never seen you before so it was neat being able to show something that means a lot to me. I shared some memories, and we talked about a few things. He let me have some private time, and then I felt ready to go; or so I thought. I couldn't help it when the tears came as my dad hugged me and said, "You're a great friend Ash. He is lucky to have you." I really miss you. I think next time I'll just go by myself. I'm glad my dad came to support me on your birthday, but I miss me and you time. Just sitting, thinking and talking to you. I feel like times are changing. I'm getting older, and you'll always be that 16 year old boy that I loved and cared for. It's hard not really being able to picture you here and now. You're not fading from my life, and I'm not forgetting you, you just aren't consuming my every thoughts. Your family is still so sweet and kind and I stay in touch with them the best that I can. Sam misses you too. He's serving a mission and is going to be home in just a little over 10 months! Your daughter is beautiful! I'm so lucky to have met her a few months ago. You truly are loved Andy :) I love looking back on our good times at EFY. I love looking at pictures and remembering the good times or silly things said. I loved that you, Sam and I were best friends; three amigo's; three musketeer's! I'll always love you; you'll always have a place in my heart. I'm grateful I could visit on your birthday. I hope you had a great day in Heaven :)

Christmas 2011

Today has been a wonderful day :) My alarm woke me up at 6:55 so I could wake my parents up to open presents at 7:00. Ever since I was little I was always the child to wake the parents up every half hour to open gifts, and to this day I still am. We got upstairs, and then my brother, sister-in-law and baby came over! It was time to open gifts. First was Evan's new car! The one that Scooter tested out a few days ago. He loved it! He instantly started gabbing and making his cute noises! We then passed out gifts, and just went in a circle, one-by-one until all the gifts were open :) It was so fun! It's always so neat to see everyone's reactions! It seemed like Christmas was small this year, and that we gave out more meaningful things, I loved it.

I've loved every part of this weekend. After opening gifts, we cooked breakfast, played with our new things, watched movies until it was time to head to my uncle's for the tradition of my dad's side, family get-together. I was late, but one of my cute young women was giving a talk in Sacrament, and I promised I'd be there to hear! I got to see my pal Abby too :) After that it was off to family time I go! I got there and the door opened with my mini-me behind it! I love that girl to death! She's like, one of my very best friends :) She's getting older now, and it kind of makes me sad, but it's fun because we can relate a little bit more and we talk about different things. I love seeing the way we've bonded and come close over the years. We played around with baby for a bit, who loved air hockey! Take a look:

We talked some more, planned a day to hangout, and then it was time to leave. I loved getting together with my family :) This Christmas has been one of the very greatest! I've been so happy all weekend! Oh! I guess I forgot to say what I received this year: an iPod (one that won't break), clothes, gloves/coat, book, giftcards, candy, picture frame, money for a new purse and Brady's gift :) It's been a good, content day :) I had one of the best Christmas' ever! And next year, my babe will be home, and I'll never be without him again! So excited :) Here's to a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of you :)