sdsu tournament

Cassie and I's friend from high school, Sam, plays club water polo at San Diego State University. Their team made it to Nationals which was conveniently held in Kearns, UT, about an hour away from us. 

We decided to make the trip out to watch him play. 

They were doing so great and 

ended up in 2nd place. 

It was so great to see him and 

catch up since high school. 

It made me miss high school and water polo and all my friends. I'm excited to see them come Christmastime. 

family

Recently, my great Aunt Barbara came to Provo to visit all her grandkids and great grandkids that live in the area. 

She took us all out to Tucanos. 

yuuuuuumy. 

There were 20 of us which took up two tables, and this isn't even a quarter of our family.

 It was so fun to see everyone, especially my cousin Rachel who just got home from her mission in the Philippines. 

I love my family. 

missions

I recently read this article and just had to share. 

It's the story of a girl who shares 6 things she learned from not serving a mission.  

http://jennkofe.blogspot.com/2014/10/what-ive-learned-from-not-serving.html

It's definitely different being at BYU with the wave of girl missionaries returning. 

It's been tough, to say the least. 

I've been in situations recently where I'm in a group of people chatting, getting to know each other. Then the mission topic comes up. 

The girls around me start telling us where they served and experiences from their missions. 

I don't have much to contribute to these conversations and feel left out. 

I've never regretted my decision not to serve a mission. It was right for me. 

But that doesn't mean I don't feel the effects of that decision. 

member when all my friends got married and i'm the only one still single? me too. 

Anyway, here are some photos as a tribute to my two best friends and their new husbands. 

 This is Kristen Cagle Schaat. Kristen and I met our freshman year in college at BYU-Idaho. 

She was rooming with my good friend Jamie and we instantly became friends. We lived together that next year and that's where she met her husband, Gavin. He was in our ward and we quickly became friends with him and his roommates. Since the first day Kristen and Gavin met, our friend group was trying to set them up; not so subtly, I might add. But eventually, our schemes worked and they're happily married today. 

 Now this is Mallory Merrill Wolfgramm. 

I met her through a mutual friend, Allison, last year at BYU. We were both looking for a place to live and decided to just move in together. And what a great decision that turned out to be! We became best of friends and it was in that ward that she met her husband, Stranz. 

I have to say I was responsible for this relationship because I forced Mallory to write him a nice-note at ward prayer. So, you're welcome, Mal and Stranz. 

Friends are one of the greatest gifts we have in life and I've been abundantly blessed.

summer is over

Before the fall semester started, I went home to California for 2 weeks. 

It was bliss. 

I hiked the hill behind my house, laid out in the back yard, snuggled with Frankie, ate wonderful home cooked meals, went to the movies with my parents, and caught up with some old friends. 

 (my dad's sweet new wooden cane)

 (Jackie, Cassie, Caroline, and I)

(bbq ribs are always a good idea)

all in all a successful trip. 

I was so so sad to leave, but it's good to be at BYU again (at least while it's still warmish...)

lake mary

I spent the weekend with Nell and Josh at their new place in Holladay. 

We went to the Dodo Friday night to celebrate Nell's 27th birthday! 

All I've ever heard is how good that restaurant is and how I just have to go. 

Well, I have to say, I wasn't impressed. 

I know, I know, shame on me. 

Doesn't change that it wasn't that good. 

The next morning, we made our way to Brighton ski resort to do a little hiking. 

We got to Lake Mary and it is honestly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. 

The mountains were so lush and the lake was perfectly crisp and mountain blue.

Also, there were little chipmunks that came up to us and just ate out of our hands. 

so stinking cute. 

weddings galore

My two roommates and two best friends got married this past weekend. 

Weddings everywhere!

Friday was Mallory and Stranz.

They got married in the Bountiful temple which was BEAUTIFUL. I had never been there but fell in love with it. They both looked stunning and so so happy. 

The reception was held at the Brigham Young Farmhouse that night. 

Yummy dessert was served. Bouquet toss. Garder toss. First dance. you know the drill. 

But, because Stranz is Polynesian, there were all sorts of dances, including the haka. 

It was surely a party. 

Then on Saturday, I drove to Idaho Falls and barely got there in time to see Kristen and Gavin come out of the temple. 

They were glowing! I've known them separately and together, and I must say, they are perfect for each other. 

That night, they had a small reception in a backyard in Gavin's hometown-Menan. 

It was beautifully decorated and simple. 

Bouquet toss. First dance. The exit. 

What a wonderful weekend of marriage! 

Congrats to the Wolfgramms and Schatts! 

girls night

the laurens, kathryn, and I got together for a little girls night. 

We ate at CPK, 

reminisced about Jerusalem, 

caught up on the latest gossip, 

and did a little shopping.

I miss spending all day everyday 

with these girls. 

they're pretty fantastic. 

mona pond

summertime is for refreshing water, sunshine, and good friends. 

a.k.a. mona pond. 

 it's complete with a few rope swings, 

a beautiful view, 

and water that is much dirtier than it looks. 

 some were more successful than others. 

i mean, look at that view? 

i live in a pretty place.  

wiscaansin

my trip to wisconsin was pure joy. 

meeting Leo for the first time was the best. 

he is the cutest! 

Our week was filled with fun things everyday...

...we went to the pool... 

...gave him a bath...

...and even took a day trip to chicago.

complete with the Bean and deep dish pizza. 

but my favorite part was 

hanging out with Leo, 

making him laugh and just being with him. 

I just love being auntie amy

the birth of spike ball

joshie mufasa had a birthday. 

so nell threw him a party. 

a surprise party. 

We had it at Liberty Park in salt lake and his present was the infamous spike ball. 

now I hadn't heard of it before then either, but let me tell you, it is one of the best games in all of history. 

It's like volleyball, but instead of a net, it's a trampoline on the ground. 

you have to play it to truly understand how great it is. 

our whole family is now obsessed and look forward to every opportunity we can play it.  

notice his birthday boy ribbon 

lucky 13

the reedster came up to Provo to visit his mission president and, of course, his kids. 

The night we picked him up, we went to dinner at a bar in Salt Lake. 

Like, I had to show my I.D. to get, kind of bar. 

It was legit. 

and delicious. 

They're famous for their burgers, so we all ordered and devoured them.

easily one of my favorite burger joints in utah. 

(besides the habit)

 i mean, come on, look how good that looks. 

rexy

my dear friend Kristen Cagle is getting married 

to my other dear friend Gavin Schaat. 

So I threw her a bridal shower in sexy rexy. 

the girls who made this marriage happen: me, kim, and sars

So funny story: 

When I was on my study abroad in Israel Fall of 2012, my main form of communication to friends and family was email. Kristen and I had emailed back and forth a few times about school, traveling, and whatever else we were doing at the time. 

Kristen mentioned Gavin-a lot.

She talked about how good he looked, how much she wanted to kiss him, and their future together. 

So fast forward to today. I was going through my old emails to get rid of junk. I came across the ones Kristen and I shared and just HAD to read it at the bridal shower. 

I won't give details for Kristen's sake (they weren't even dating at the time she wrote me all those love letters about Gavin) 

but she turned brick red when I read it at the shower. 

I would say it was a success. 

mallory almost wolfgramm

mal and stranz are engaged! 

and that is really neat. 

 we can take normal pictures, i swear. 

i just love them. so much. 

mark your calendars for august 16th folks! 

chop chop

i did it. 

i cut my hair. 

and i love it. 

after four years of growing out my hair, i finally got the courage to cut it all off. and i am so glad i did. it's perfect for summer and so much easier to deal with. 

and i donated it. so that's pretty cool. 

tucker man dingo

Tucker was the best dog in the entire world. 

and i'm not just saying that. 

he slept in my bed at night. he snuggled with me on the couch while watching tv. he ran with me up the hill. he walked with me around the park. he was happy to see me every time i came home. he gave me dog kisses anytime i wanted. he loved me. and i loved him. 

i'm going to miss petting him and playing with him and just having him there. he was a part of our family and i'm going to miss him. so much. 

best dog ever.