Birthday #22!

This year's birthday was one of my best by far! I told Lindsey and Courtney, jokingly, they should throw me a surprise party about a month ago. Court got really excited and said alright. Then, I got really excited about it. Court said it couldn't be a surprise because I was already telling people about it, so I helped plan it with her. Linds and Court decided it should be Jungle/Safari themed, which I loved! We went to Elephant Bar a couple months ago and I told them that that restaurant is how I want my wedding to be because it is Jungle themed. I think that is where they got the idea. Pop made my invitations, Court and Mom bought the food, and we had the party at Courtney's gram's house. I invited about 55 people to the party and probably 25 showed up. No one swam because it was too cold, but we barbecued, played the Wii and had a lot of fun just hanging out. The party started at 6 and I got home at about 11:30. When I got home I went bowling with Jen, Eric, Chris, Josh, and Preston. The bowling alley took my picture and put it one of the tv screens. It was seriously one of the happiest days!

Me

The Cake

Playing the Wii

Opening presents

Me, Derek, and Linds

Judit, Me, and Maria

Linds, Me, and Court

Sunday, we had everyone over for dinner. Mom made beef stroganoff, my favorite. There were no left overs either, everything was eaten! We had left over birthday cake from my party and ice cream. I had to leave early to go study with some friends from my Ultrasound classes, but it was really fun having everyone there! Especially Kara and Hallie. Thanks for coming down this weekend, it made it even more special!

Sarah, Me, and Brynn

Mom and I

Me and the cake

Tuesday, my actual birthday was really laid back. I slept in and went to get my TAM card for my new job. I will post about that once I pass all my tests. I had class that night and just went home afterwards. I got a ton of messages from friends and family all day telling me Happy Birthday. I was happy all day long. It was a really good day!

Tonight we went to Claim Jumper for my Birthday dinner. It was really good as usual. Thanks Mom, Pop and Emily!

Me and Emily

Mom and Pop

Mom's buggin' me to update...

I no longer work at the pool and am trying to find another job. I have 4 one day a week classes so the rest of the time I have to find something to occupy my time. It is really hard to study because my classes are super boring. On Tuesday this week I went to a spin class that a boy in my ward teaches. It was really hard! Then, at the school gym I went to a boot camp fitness class. That night, I went indoor skydiving with two guys in my ward. I think I over did it a little too much that day and when I got home at 1am I had a fever of 101.4. I missed class the rest of the week and was in bed most of that time. Mom took me to the doctor because she though it might be Strep. I didn't have the strain they test for, but the doctor gave me Z-pak anyway because he said it could be another strain. But over all I'm better and loving life in Vegas!


Emily and I now share all of our clothing, shoes, and jewelry. It is just easier than fighting over stealing each other's stuff. We still drive each other nuts on occasion though... and we miss Kylie!!!

I have been dating a lot lately. Pop told me the other day he was disappointed in me after I finished telling him and mom about 3 different boys that had taken me on dates. I was surprised and asked him why he would be disappointed. He said because it had taken me four years to finally date like this. I just laughed at him, but it was true. I am finally experiencing dating like I should have along time ago. One of my dates the other night took me to get a Henna tattoo on the strip. It was really fun! I got my name in Arabic on the back of my neck.

LAKE TRIP 2008

My friend Jen Chatwin asked if I wanted to go with a bunch of people to the lake on Saturday. I had been sick during the week, but told her I should be good by then. I was really excited because I hadn't been wake boarding since last summer with Katie's family, and wanted to see if I still had it to get up on the first try. We went with Chris Rodarte, Josh Wood, Preston Day, and Sam Tielemans. We met at Chris's house at 7 am and headed out for the lake. We wake boarded and tubed til 2 in the afternoon. The boys had priesthood session at 4 for stake conference, so we had to cut the day short. When we got back home we all went to Firehouse subs for lunch. Jen and I decided to go to a young single adult bbq later that night. Megan Miller, Eric Forbush, and Josh Wood came with us. After the bbq we decided to go to Red Mango and hang out for awhile. Then, we went bowling at Sunset Station. It was one of the most fun days I have had all summer. Thanks for inviting me Jen!

Me, Jen, and Chris

Jen and I

I got up the first try!

Just Hanging out

Megan, Jen, Eric, Me, and Josh

My knees after the lake...

End of summer

The summer has gone by way too fast! I worked at the pool all summer and tomorrow is my last day of summer school. It has been a great summer so far, despite all the bad going on lately.

UPDATE: I got a call from my insurance company yesterday, telling me that the girl's company that I hit is accepting full liability and I dont have to pay for anything on my car now. That made me pretty happy. Later that day I found out that I will be the lead guard for private lessons at the pool. Not the best reaction came out of my mouth and things have not been good at my job. I also got a speeding ticket today. Hope everyone else is having a fabulous summer!

Not what I needed...

On the way home from California, Courtney and I got in a car accident. It started raining about a mile from Hodge Road, right outside of Barstow. I hate driving in the rain since it scares me, so I got in the middle lane and started to slow down. I was probably going about 60 mph, maybe less, and we saw a car speed past us in the fast lane. Courtney made a comment that that person was stupid and was going to get in an accident. Not more than ten seconds later, that car fishtailed and swerved across all three lanes to the right. Then it came back to the left through all the lanes. I knew I couldn't slam on my brakes or I would start swerving and I could not get in the other lane fast enough or I would start swerving. I told Court that we were going to hit this car. We slammed head on into the driver's side, behind the passenger door of the other car. All I kept thinking was why did this have to happen to me again? I started crying really hard and shaking. The other driver never got out of their car to see if we were ok. Two men stopped and made sure that we were ok and waited until the Highway Patrol arrived. The girl in the other car was eighteen and a stupid driver that had no idea how to drive in the rain. Her back was hurting and her car was halfway in the fast lane still so she came and got in our car. It was so awkward and definitely not what I needed right then. Then again, no one ever needs this to happen... Courtney and I are doing alright. My neck and back are hurting pretty badly today and Court's back hurts, but other than that we are just lucky to be alive.

We called our parents and mom and pop were going to come get us. It would have taken then a lot longer to get up to Barstow than normal, though, because of traffic going to California, so pop suggested we take the bus home. The tow company dropped us off at a Denny's that was about a fifteen minute walk from the bus station. We were not thrilled about having to take a bus home because we just wanted someone from our family to be there for us. We walked to the bus station and on the way mom found out that a lady in our ward's parents live in Barstow. Their son was actually on his way back to Vegas and was going to be able to give us a ride. We were so lucky that we were able to find a ride. Thanks Warren, you were were a lifesaver!

I went to class today and had to run out of lab and throw up. I have not been able to stop crying all day and I know I am still in shock. My body feel likes it is shutting down. I had pop give me a blessing early today, but right now I am pretty messed up.

Cali Weekend

Courtney and I decided we needed a vacation weekend this summer. We both want to go to San Francisco, but since gas prices are so high and we don't know anyone that lives there, we decided on Disneyland instead. I called Aunt Leslie and she said it would be fine if we stayed at her house while we were down there. We left Friday night around 7:30 pm for Irvine. I drove the first half and Court drove the second half. I fell asleep and when I woke up we had missed our exit and ended up in Newport :) We always seem to get lost at least once when we go to California. We got to the house around midnight and went straight to bed because we were both so tired. The next morning we left for disneyland at 9 am. I told Court I think that is the earliest I have ever been to Disneyland. The weather was beautiful and in the seventies. The reason we wanted to go to Disneyland so much was to ride the new Nemo submarine ride. The line for the ride had at least an hour wait all day long so we waited until the firework show to get in line. It still took about an hour to get on the ride, we at least had fireworks to watch while we waited. We stayed at Disneyland for 13 hours and our feet hurt so bad by the end of the day. We got back to Uncle Mark and Aunt Leslie's around 11:30 pm and passed out. The next morning we went slept in until 10:30 am and headed to Newport Beach for some fun in the sun. Unfortunately the sun was not out until the last ten minutes we were there. We left Newport around 2 and on the way home got in a car accident because it was raining. It was a much needed weekend away and there is no one else I would have rather spent it with than Courtney. She is my best friend and soulmate. That may sound weird, but I know we were destined to be friends. She has a twin sister, but we always joke that I am their fraternal triplet. Thanks Court for a great weekend, love you boo!

Court and I

Teacup ride

Toon Town

We got soaked on splach mountain!

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

The Mickey lit up for the year of a million dreams

Ariel's shell

Nemo's submarine

Newport Beach

Life in Las Vegas

I don't understand, sometimes, why people find it so much fun to go to Vegas for the weekend. Maybe because I have lived here for 15 years, or maybe it is because I barely go to the strip, that Vegas just seems like a normal place to live to me. I do love living in such a big city with so many attractions, but for me life in such a busy city is boring most of the time...

Currently, I am still working at the pool as a lead lifeguard. I need a different job that pays me well and works with my school schedule, but right now it seems impossible to find just the right one. I start summer school next week and I am looking forward to it, but I know that will change after the first week. Not much is going on in my life, but I am just fine with that. I am grateful for good friends and family that build me up and never bring me down. I am grateful I have this life to live and that through all the trials and mistakes I make, I can still reflect and see that life goes on and each day is a blessing.