LIFE equals PURE HAPPINESS!

2012-01-09T12:01:00.000-08:00

Hmm...How should I begin this post???
Happy New Year?!
Bring it on 2012?!
I'm in love?!
I'm a new aunty?!
I'm getting married?!

How about HI!

Well my friends, a few things have changed and developed since the last time I blogged and I guess now is the time to bring you up to speed. Life is good! I feel very blessed and continue to see the Lord's hand in all aspects of my life.

Let's back up to the end of 2011... I finished another season with UVU Volleyball where we ended with the best win-loss record since we became Division I, 23-9. It was a great season, honestly the best I have had as a coach. They were the best group of girls and I'm so grateful to be around such wonderful people all of the time.

Life always slows down after season, so I was able to go home for Thanksgiving and enjoy time with my family. Then December was just typical work stuff and spending lots of time with my wonderful boyfriend, who is now my fiance!

During the fall, my dearest Daniel, who I have been dating on and off since summer for 2008, and I got back together... and as it turns out it's for the long hall. We decided that we should FINALLY take our relationship to the next step, and he propsed on December 20th. He had instructions and sweet poems on the back of puzzle pieces that were strategically placed throughout my morning routine. They eventually brought me back to my apartment where he had a path of rose petals and candles lighting the way to my room where he was kneeling with a gorgeous ring. He asked me to marry him and I said YES!!!! It is definitely a day I will never forget!

We then were able to spend Christmas break down in Vegas with my family. My brother and his family came, so I finally was able to meet my littlest nephew! It was so fun spending time with my family and having Daniel with me. He got an even better taste of what the Koelliker family is all about, and so far we haven't scared him away!

After the New Year, I made a pitstop back in Utah and then I was off to Ruckersville, Virginia to babysit my niece and nephew whilst my sister brought another baby girl into the world. I just have say, being an aunt is definitely the best thing ever! I love my little kiddies!

And after 5 days in Virginia it was back to reality... Spring season is well underway with team workouts, practice, recruiting, trying to spend every spare minute with my cute fiance, and planning our June wedding.

Life is great! I'll try to do better with more consistent blog posts, but hey, life gets busy right!

Here are some pics from the past few weeks... engagement, Christmas break, and Virginia.

CHRISTMAS BREAK...

VIRGINIA

LIFE IN UTAH...

yeah we love eachother!

peace out homies xo

picnik...

2011-12-12T13:48:00.000-08:00

i think lauren introduced me to the wonderful picnik website awhile ago, but i rediscovered it and have enjoyed "enhancing" some Christmas pictures...

just a few pics from our visit to temple square. i love the lights but it is oh so cold! i love this time of year!!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

sunday deliciousness...

2011-10-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

i heart sundays, for oh SO many reasons...

a. the spiritual aspects... i really do enjoy going to church and being spiritually rejuvenated.

2. the huge amount of relief i feel after i've finished teaching a gospel doctrine lesson... love my calling, but i freak out about it sometimes!

d. it's a day of rest... is anything better than a sunday afternoon nap?!

7. no volleyball aka work... though i tend to find some good games on post afternoon nap.

m. sunday dinner... i absolutely love making dinner on sundays for any and all who want to come! yesterday we had allyce and ryan over and ate delicious lasagna, salad, fruit-yogurt salad, and bread sticks... almost as good as mom's!

12. i get to bake! i don't know what it is, but making some kind of treat is so theraputic for me, not to mention pleasurable to my tastebuds!

21. i get to spend time and relax with my loved ones!

anyways, the purpose of this post was to share this heavenly goodness with you... sorry for the tangent!

cheesecake cookie cupcakes...

2 blocks cream cheese (i used one regular and one fat-free and it worked!)

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

*mix well. pour on top of cookie of choice (oreo, chips-ahoy, whatevs) in a cupcake liner. bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. cool. top with pudding, whipped cream, and whatever toppings of choice (oreo bits, cookie dough bites, etc.)

ENJOY!!

flowers just for fun...

2011-10-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

i was surprised with these beauties at work yesterday. yeah, i'm one lucky girl!

green river ordinance...

2011-06-22T20:54:00.001-07:00

my little bro introduced me to this group tonight... love them! just wanted to share my current favorites.

On Your Own

Endlessly... jakey seranaded me with this song and he is soo good!

yay for music :)

sixth month. sixteenth day. two thousand eleventh year...

2011-06-17T14:46:00.000-07:00

wow... it took some serious thought to spell out the date in title. this girl needs to go back to school!

yesterday, aka June 16th was a GREAT day. let me tell you why.

A. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! it is my parentals wedding anniversary! they were sealed in the st. george temple 33 years ago. that's kind of a long time, right?! and they are still so in love and just the cutest couple and bestest friends. i love watching them interact and show their love for one another. they are the greatest examples to me, and i'm so grateful for the special bonds i have with each of them. they are the BEST!

2. happy an"KNEE"versary... get it?! yes, i hit my 1 year mark post acl surgery, and man am i grateful this year is over with! it has been a pretty crazy recovery. i was doing so great and was even back into playing volleyball and running long distances, but rehurt it about 5 weeks ago playing in an outdoor tournament. i can still bike, ellyptical, work out, and kind of play indoor ball, but with some more time and rehab i should be able to get it back to where it was. needless to say, i've officially retired from outdoor tournaments! i'm just so happy to be moving and active and somewhat normal again.

post surgery.

six months.

one year.

D. HP 7 Part 2. yes, i bought the tickets and i seriously couldn't be more excited. call me a dork, obsessive, crazy, weird, whatever, i don't even care! it's going to be legendary and i can't wait!

new trailer!

7. when the boss is away, the workers will play. my dearest boss has been in samoa for the past 2 weeks, and i have been taking full advantage of it. i went to virginia to visit the sister last week. this week i've been catching up in the office and enjoying the beautiful sunshine and summertime. i've been one happy camper, and i'm not really looking forward to the boss-man returning next week.

M. hope. i have had more peace, hope and faith this past week than i have had in a very long time. i think the sunshine, relaxed schedule, spending time with great friends, and working out like a fiend has all played a significant role in this newly gained hope, but i know that Heavenly Father has truly blessed me through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He has lifted my emotional burdens and literally taken away my fears. it has been an incredible blessing and just sheer relief. i don't have to hurt, feel hopeless or alone, and ache anymore, and it is so liberating and has strengthened my testimony of the atonement and my relationship with my Savior. i am so grateful for tender mercies and the blessings of the atonement.

happy day :)

nba crush...

2011-06-13T09:09:00.000-07:00

i may or may not have a secret crush on this nba all star...

yeah, dirk nowitzki not only won the championship ring and mvp award last night, but he also won my heart :) haha, i think i have a thing for foreigners! it was awesome to see him finally win the finals and beat the big 3.

here's an interview with him post championship... he's such a classy athlete.

**i think my dad would be so proud that i watched the game last night and even blogged about it! gotta love sports, and sexy athletes :)

movies as of late...

2011-06-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

i heart movies... especially chick-flicks and action packed films with attractive men :) here are the ones i have seen lately...

THOR... i actually really liked it and yes, he is a sexy god of thunder and australian man.

I AM NUMBER FOUR... this wasn't my favorite and i feel like i can't talk about the good-looking main actor, Alex Pettyfer cause he's a bit young for me, but it was fun to watch it with my fam.

PIRATES 4... AWESOME! i totally loved this movie along with the other 3. Johnny Depp is one attractive pirate who makes me laugh. definitely entertained!

THE KING'S SPEECH... one great thing about utah is that they turned this R-rated movie into a PG-13 film. all it took was covering up some f-bombs during his speech therapy, but me being the swear-word lover that i am thought that part was pretty funny. seriously though, i was completely enthralled and the acting was phenomenal. i understand why it received so many awards.

X-MEN... this is next on my list to see. thanks to my amazing and comic book obsessed brothers, i love X-Men and pretty much anything marvel comic or superhero. thanks brothers :) but i heard it was pretty good, so i'm looking forward to seeing it!

the ULTIMATE summer movie comes out on JULY 15...

HARRY POTTER 7 PART 2... so freaking excited! i honestly forget to breathe and even start tearing up whenever i think about seeing this movie! love it so much! be ready for the midnight showing... 40 days!

yay for summer movies!

onward and upward...

2011-06-03T22:33:00.001-07:00

all i said was "onward and upward" and this is what Lauren came up with... priceless right! and yes, i'm blowing it up to put on my mirror.

i really do have the greatest friends and family. thanks for all of your love and support during the twists and turns of this emotional rollercoaster that is life. it has been a "spectacle of commotion" but it is onward and upward from here!

much loves ;)

girls' weekend extravaganza

2011-05-31T20:54:00.001-07:00

best weekend of the summer :) you can check out Britt and Bekah's blogs for the day to day, or my facebook album entitled "girls just wanna have fun".

but seriously, it was so FUN to play with my girlies and get away from the stresses of life (since my life is so stressful... not :) i'm so grateful that they sacrificed a weekend away from their husbands and adorable kids to spend time with me in california.

my highlights were the late night girl talks... facials... getting ready together... sleeping in... packing ca adventures, the beach, deliciousness, and disneyland all in the same day... cuddling with britty... yogurtland... chronic taco... sunshine and waves on the beach... roadtriping it with britt and not even needing music cause we talked the whole 5 hours... newport temple... the giddyness of being at disneyland... umm just the pure awesomeness of everything!

here are the pics...

such a wonderful time... and yes bekah, probably the most pictures and best documented weekend i've had in a long time!

LOVE YOU ALL!

Coolio...

2011-05-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

I had the greatest privilege to listen to this blessed song during spin class this morning. Nothing like listening to a bit of Coolio at 5 am! It brought an instant smile to my face and i've been singing it all day! Love it!

Gangsta's Paradise.

ENJOY :)

preparation purchases...

2011-05-17T18:04:00.000-07:00

so girls weekend starts on friday and i'm so excited, i can't breathe! yay for beach time with the besties!! but i decided to take a little shopping trip in preparation for it which totally just adds to the excitement!

yes, i finally gave in and got some toms... cute huh?!

and i went a little funky and bought some new sunglasses. they're so different for me and i'm not sure what i think, but they were super cheap so i thought i'd be a bit daring. what do ya think?

capturing random moments of my life...

2011-05-16T11:51:00.000-07:00

thought i'd share some pics of the past little while. pretty random, but good times :)

"this is the place" monument... i've been in utah for how long now and decided to finally venture out to some of the "must see" places. jess and i spent a saturday hitting up the sites.

ensign peak...

my parents went to the chruch history museum a few weeks ago and said there's a picture of Christ that looks like someone we know. this is what we found... Daniel Jones, perhaps?!

jessie poo lovin her some jcw milkshake!

triple layer cookies and cream crunch... need i say more :)

best time of day... getting ready for bed!
yeah, i look good... ha!

my new bed and bedding at home...
thanks jake and dad for picking it out! yes, i'm 5!

today at work... when the boss ain't happy, ain't nobody happy :)
and i have some serious bags under my eyes. time for a nap, i think!

happy monday!

near death experience...

2011-05-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

on my run this morning, yes i actually ventured outside to enjoy the views and get some good mileage. well as i'm on my way home, i'm running on the sidewalk along these tall fences. i hear some scurrying behind the fence and am expecting to hear some barks. i keep trotting along and lit-trally, all of a sudden, a ginormous dog head comes lunging for me from over the fence. bless that fence for being too tall for him to jump, but seriously i thought he was going to rip my head off. naturally, i swerve and duck out of the way which takes me right onto the street... and of course there are cars there. thank heavens i didn't get hit or eaten, but i'm glad i could give some drivers a good laugh early in the morning with this crazy lady freaking out. yes, i'm a spaz and drama queen! and after the initial shock died down, i couldn't help but laugh at my idiot self all the way home!

this is a picture of what my canine attacker looked like... i'll be ready for him next time!

music of the day...

2011-04-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

just some songs that i've been LOVING lately...

Lifehouse- It Is What it Is

The Maine- Into Your Arms

Rob Thomas- Mockingbird

Lifehouse- Falling In

Train- Marry Me

The Avett Brothers- I and Love and You

Taylor Swift- Last Kiss
... the whole album is awesome!

Bruno Mars- Marry You
... in honor of the Royal Wedding :)

Michael Buble- Hold On
... he is so attractive!

Taylor Swift- Enchanted
... still waiting for this feeling :)

Matt Nathanson- Still

disclaimer... i promise i listen to more than just lovey dovey songs! and wasn't the Royal Wedding just wonderful?! i love weddings, drinks all around!

april 6... a special day!

2011-04-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

*i was supposed to post this a few weeks ago, so just bear with me :)

I am so grateful for blessed and beautiful temples! I was able to receive my endowments four years ago today (April 6th), and it has been one of the greatest blessings in my life. Here's a few of the many temples I've been able to visit. Thanks for letting me reminisce on a sacred day in my life...

PS... I loved President Monson's conference talk all about the temple! It's right HERE if you want to watch!

happy monday...

2011-03-14T23:14:00.000-07:00

new shoes equals excitement and a must-use new shoes attitude

new shoes plus excitement of having new shoes equals extra gym time...

extra gym time plus aging and aching body equals laziness and makeshift ice bags of frozen cheese and corn!

but it was so worth it!

great day and good night!

true friends and oreos...

2011-03-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

so i got a message the other night from my dearest "BMKF", and all she said was...

"do you remember how we used to eat oreos?"

best message ever! i seriously couldn't stop laughing! A. who leaves a message asking a question like that... 2. it's been like almost 10 years since we've eaten oreos together (yeah, we're getting old)... and D. just plain random!

our way to eat oreos was practically perfect. she likes the cookie and i like the frosting. so i'd eat the inside, she'd eat the outsides... we get the best of both worlds and don't have to waste any part of the cookie. a perfect match huh?! that's just one of the reasons we've come so far and will be friends for ever and ever :)

yes, this is completely random, but just remembering silly details of the past always brings a smile to my face!

a true soul mate...

2011-02-25T09:15:00.000-08:00

"People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.
A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.
A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master..."

Liz Gilbert… Eat Pray Love

song of the week...

2011-02-14T21:46:00.000-08:00

umm... i love it when i find songs that put my feelings and emotions into words. i listened to this song tonight, and it just goes perfectly with how i've been feeling for the past week.

Where I Stood
by Missy Higgins

I don't know what I've done
Or if I like what I've begun
But something told me to run
And honey, you know me, it's all or none

There were sounds in my head
Little voices whispering
That I should go and this should end
Oh, and I found myself listening

'Cause I don't know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cause she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood

See, I thought love was black or white
That it was wrong or it was right
But you aren't leaving without a fight
And I think, I am just as torn inside

'Cause I don't know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cause she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood

And I won't be far from where you are if ever you should call
You meant more to me than any one I, I've ever loved at all
But you taught me how to trust myself
And so I say to you, this is what I have to do

'Cause I don't know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cause she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
She who dares to stand where I stood

thank you Missy Higgins... you can listen to the song HERE!

this will be a Valentine's day i never forget.

happy day of love xoxo

the end and the beginning...

2011-01-20T10:05:00.000-08:00

here's what's been going on these past couple months...

-volleyball season ended (play hallelujah chorus here)
-put on a bridal shower and a baby shower... not for the same person ;)
-saw the brilliant christmas lights at temple square and drank hot chocolate that truly changed my life
-got a pet elephant... haha maegs gave me the sweetest elephant figurine, i'm in love with it!

-spent 2 great weeks in stanardsville, virginia with my parentals, jake, and malia and her adorable family... it was so much fun!

-ate as many christmas treats and tim-tam-slams as possible!
-threw out my back (i know, what else is knew), but with some help from modern medicine my back and knee are doing quite well
-received a calling as gospel doctrine teacher... my first lesson is on sunday, so maybe if i teach enough false doctrine they'll take it back :)
-attended lauren and trent olsen's sealing... amazing couple, wonderful sealing, gorgeous bride, perfect wedding!

life definitely equals pure happiness. i really can't ever thank my Father in Heaven enough for the incredible blessings and amazing people he has blessed me with. i am humbled and amazed by His unconditional love and power.

onward to 2011...

day 21... day of rest

2010-11-21T23:14:00.000-08:00

i don't know if you can call a day of travel, restful, but i got to sleep in til 10 am and that was literally the greatest thing ever! so i know i was and still am upset with losing, but to look on the bright side of things, not having to be anywhere til noon today was pretty much a slice of heaven! those extra hours of down time definitely made our flight delays and getting home at 1 in the morning not so bad.

i am thankful for a much needed day of rest and being able to spend one last day with this group of girls in wonderful chicago!

day 20... sports center

2010-11-20T23:45:00.000-08:00

today was the semi-final match of our conference tournament, , but we did not expect it to be the final match of the season. the girls were playing so well and completely dominated sets 1 and 2... but our lack of mental focus and toughness set in and we just couldn't finish. we ended up losing in 5 sets, and it was such a bummer to end the season like that. some of us were a bit more upset than others, but we put our game faces on and put on a happy show at our team dinner to hide the frustrations.

instead of going straight to my room and to bed after dinner, i went and hung out with scottie and nate. we watched espn whilst we mourned the loss and did some minor venting. they are such fun guys and great friends, and today i am thankful for them!

thank you Heavenly Father for blessing me with such great friends who give me comfort and perspective, and who bring out the best in me!

day 19... magical surprise

2010-11-19T12:09:00.000-08:00

i am so thankful for sam and his super surprise of the morning! he told the girls to come down for a "bus ride" this morning instead of doing study hall. we got on the bus, and i slyly directed the bus driver to the amc movie theatre... yes, wonderful sam took us to see HP 7! the girls freaked out and were jumping up and down with excitement! it was priceless! and the movie was AWESOME!

thank you sam for giving in to the not-so-subtle hints that we all gave you. thank you for the fabulously phenomenal harry potter series. thank you for my truly amazing team who i love so much! great beginning to a great day!

day 18... hp trivia and christmas carols

2010-11-18T18:17:00.000-08:00

we are in freezing cold chicago for our last trip of the season, hallelujah! where we are staying is right between the city and the gym, so we have long bus trips to and from wherever we go. today on the bus our activities varied from movie watching, telling stories, and in honor of the season and harry potter 7, we did harry potter trivia and sang christmas carols.

i love that i have so many things in common with this wonderful team! i'm so thankful for them and the crazy fun that we have together! i'm so blessed to have this job where i get to hang out with friends and be around the sport i love!

thank you Heavenly Father for these great girls and memorable experiences!

... so bummed i'm not at the midnight showing! i promise i'm still a super fan!

day 17... patience

2010-11-17T21:58:00.000-08:00

i screwed up our itinerary for our trip to chicago today. i had that our flight left salt lake at 3:20 and it really was supposed to leave at 3:02. i know it's only 18 minutes off, but my boss can be somewhat anal. i thought i was in for a stern lecture and disappointment, but we made it to the airport, checked in baggage, and made it through security with time to spare.

so today i am grateful for sam's patience with me and my minor mix-up. i'm thankful that the girls made him laugh whilst checking in bags, we were having some issues with making the 50 pound weight limit. it was pretty hilarious, and we made it all fit, thank goodness!

thank you Heavenly Father for giving me this awesome job where i get to work with amazing people. thanks sam for your constant patience with all of my mess ups!

day 16... run and not be weary, walk and not faint

2010-11-16T22:34:00.000-08:00

i had the wonderful opportunity to go to the temple this evening, and because i was a bit low on time i only got to do initiatory. that in itself was such a great blessing, just to be able to listen to the incredible blessings that Heavenly Father gives us through our endowments. i love the temple so much!

on this specific day, exactly five months since my knee surgery, i couldn't help but think about how great it is to be able to walk and run. i took being able to move and be physically active for granted, and even though i'm not 100 percent, i am so grateful for how far the Lord has let me come. i still have some limitations with my bend and strength, but it's coming a long and i am so happy about it.

thank you Heavenly Father for helping me get better and giving me the health, strength, and motivation to move and be active.

day 15... i love weddings, drinks all around!

2010-11-15T20:50:00.000-08:00

today i am grateful for weddings! ha, not any wedding in particular, especially not mine! but i got home today and my dearest roomie was watching "say yes to the dress" which is seriously one of my favorite shows! it was so fun to come home and watch it with her. i love the emotion, excitement, love, creativity, and style that goes into picking out wedding dresses and planning the celebration of a life time... and i'm totally a sucker for a good love story! they just make me happy.

whilst watching that blessed show, one of my besties came over to discuss wedding plans for her big day in january! she tried on her dress, which is gorgeous! we talked photographer, location, center pieces, colors, and everything else... and i get to throw her a bachelorette party!! i'm so excited!

so yes, i am thankful for weddings, not just cause i love a good party and dressing up, and that they are fun and beautiful, but what they represent is absolutely priceless! they are the beginning of eternity for two special people, and i don't think many things can beat that!

... and yes i'm excited for the day when i'll get to start my forever with my special man... someday right :)

day 14... airplanes

2010-11-14T20:55:00.000-08:00

today, i am thankful for airplanes. we travelled back to utah today, and even though we were delayed a few hours we still made it back safely. i'm just grateful we didn't have to ride a bus which could have taken days and days to get home... so i'll take a few hour delay over that, anyday!

needless to say, i am so thankful to be back in my warm apartment! i love being home! one more volleyball trip and the season is done... blessed day!

day 13... kelsi miller

2010-11-13T19:42:00.000-08:00

today i am thankful for my dear friend, kelsi carlston miller. kelsi was one of my assistant coaches when i played college ball, back in the day, and i just love her to death. truth be told, my bond with her really didn't start til i was finished playing. it was one of those, you don't know what you got til it's gone, and i really didn't. i definitely took her for granted. she is one remarkable woman who i look up to very much. kelsi is really a one of a kind gem, who is the most fun, personable, deep, friendly, loving, caring, and exciting person i know. she's always out to have a good time and just loves to talk and know what's going on. there are so many qualities that i really admire about kelsi, and i can't fully express the love and gratitude that i have for her.

the reason why she's on my mind today is because she came down to watch the team play in chicago. she is stranded out in wisconsin with her husband, so any chance she gets to see friends from the west she will drive the 2-3 hours, each way, to come and visit. so we got to spend some time with her today, and even more exciting, is that she's coming to the tournament in chicago next weekend and will stay over night! yay for quality time with kelsi!

...random pics of kelsi and the team from back in the day...

anyways, she is awesome and i am truly so blessed to have her in my life. thank you Heavenly Father for the blessings of such incredible people in my life.

love you kels :)

day 12... utah randomness

2010-11-12T23:13:00.000-08:00

we made it to chicago today for our second match of the trip. we play chicago state tomorrow, and since sam is all about "the experience", he let us spend some time in the city this evening. it just so happens that the university of utah plays notre dame tomorrow, so there were many ute fans roaming around chi-town too. we went to giordanos, a delicious chicago pizza joint, for dinner. we were in one of the back rooms and the jazz game happened to be on and a group of ute fans came in... so green and red hung out in chicago, ate deep-dish chicago style pizza, and watched the jazz beat the atlanta hawks. it was night of random coincidences and just so much fun!

thanks for the delicious dinner, exciting entertainment, and fabulous friends to spend the evening with. i seriously love my team! they are the greatest girls!

day 11... pure happiness playlist

2010-11-11T21:10:00.000-08:00

so today I am thankful for my "pure happiness" playlist. this is a simple compilation of some music that brings simple joy to my life. i just love music! i'm really grateful that it helped get me through my first long run since my blasted surgery today.

here are a few artists who made the cut...

thanks for being my motivation today :)

day 10... pink comfort

2010-11-10T20:51:00.000-08:00

yes, today i am thankful for my pink neck pillow! it has changed the way i travel and just brings comfort to my soul :) we flew across the country to new jersey today, and with this pink goodness i was able to sleep comfortably for a majority of the flight! for all the places we go and airplanes we ride, i am very thankful that i can be comfortable and catch up on some much needed rest!

these pics are from our 13 hour flight to new zealand in may... seriously, this pillow is great and i never go on a plane without it!

day 9... temple date

2010-11-09T23:11:00.000-08:00

i got to go to the temple this evening with my adorable little brother! i don't think this needs much explaining, but...

A... i love my brother and am so thankful for him! i love that he is up in utah with me and that we get to hang out together. i'm so grateful for the special bond and friendship that we have, and for the love and support he constantly gives me. i love that i can be "me" around him and he puts up with it. he is just awesome and such a great example to me! we are enjoying our single lives together, but someday soon, he is going to make some lucky girl eternally happy! he's quite a catch!

2... i love the temple! it is one of my sanctuaries! i'm so thankful for the covenants and endowment i've received in the temple, the peace and hope i feel when i'm there, the beauty of the temple, the many temples that are all around me, and that i am sealed to my family forever! the temple has always been a part of my life because my wonderful parents have always placed temple attendance as a priority, and i am so grateful for their examples.

D... thank you Heavenly Father for blessing me with such an awesome brother and the incredible blessings of the temple... and thank you for letting us spend special time together in Thy Holy House!

day 8... visiting teachers

2010-11-08T18:29:00.000-08:00

well, today started off as a beautiful rainy monday. it was such an awesome morning even when i got attacked by the lotion bottle. but the joy and pleasure ended, as sometimes it does. after being reprimanded, having the unwelcomed feeling of not being able to do anything right, and just feeling quite confused, i walked to my car after work cold, wet, and in the dark... that's sad enough that it gets dark so early. so yes, i was in a debbie-downer mood which i hate. but thank heavens for wonderful young women who are truly the instruments of God in my life.

today i am so thankful for my sweet visiting teachers who stopped by and gave an awesome lesson based on Elder Russel M. Nelson's talk in priesthood session titled "be thou an example of the believers". it was such a blessing to review Elder Nelson's counsel, share our testimonies and experiences with each other, and it just gave me hope and peace. the church is true!

thank you Heavenly Father for blessing me with fabulous visiting teachers who are such great examples and friends, and who came at the right time!

happy monday!

day 7... sunday dinners

2010-11-07T22:03:00.000-08:00

i love sundays! by far, in my top 3 of days of the week :) i love sundays not just because of the great spiritual upliftment at church or the wonderful naps (when they don't get interrupted) but because i actually get to cook a real meal and wonderful people will come and share it with me! so today i am thankful for the awesome crockpot that my mom gave me, the yummy cafe rio pork and dressing recipes that my grandma gave me, and jake, jess, and ryan who shared this delicious meal with me. there's not many things better than having a great meal with excellent company! sundays are usually the only day i get to see my little bro too, so i'm glad he comes to hang out with me... he'll have his own post later in the month, i'm sure! but nothing beats a blessed sunday!

thank you Heavenly Father for having a Sabbath day! i heart sundays!!

week one of november, done!

PS... congrats to my bestie lauren for her engagement to the man of her dreams! i'm so so SO excited and happy for you! love you!

day 6... my father

2010-11-06T23:50:00.000-07:00

yesterday mom, today dad! i can't have one without the other! i am such a daddy's girl and absolutely love my "fetchin" father! he is such a stud and works SO hard at everything that he does! he is always so willing to help out and gives up so much of his time for others. today i am especially thankful for my dad because of his thoughtfulness. he called me up randomly today, while i was stuck in a gym for forever, just to check up on me. he just said that he had been thinking a lot about me after i talked to him and mom last night, and just wanted to make sure i was ok. it was just a simple conversation, but it seriously made my day. i am so blessed to have such a great dad who is constantly worrying about his family. he is a worthy priesthood holder and has such a strong testimony and knowledge of the gospel. i love that i can go to him any time, and he is always willing to give me cousel or a special father's blessing whenever i am in need. i love him dearly!

thank you Heavenly Father for giving me such an incredible dad! i love you daddy!!

happy november!

day 5... my mother

2010-11-05T23:42:00.000-07:00

today, and everyday and moment of my existence, i am thankful for my mother! there really are no words to express my love and gratitude that i have for her. she is the most incredible example of charity, service, love, and she truly lives what she believes. today i am specifically grateful for her because she puts up with me! tonight when i called and just vented and cried to her, she just listened, loved me, and knew exactly what to say to calm me down. she is always so patient with me, even when i am constantly making the same mistakes or being completely ridiculous. she is awesome! i really feel so blessed to have such a close relationship with my mom. i know it's kinda weird that i call and talk to her at least once a day, but she is my best friend and i love and miss her all the time!

thanks Heavenly Father for giving me the greatest mom ever! love you mom!

happy november!

day 4... the team

2010-11-04T08:46:00.001-07:00

i am so thankful for my team! i get the joy and privilege of working with 14 awesome student-athletes, beautiful young women, and great friends! my job can be pretty stressful and strenuous sometimes, but the best part of my day comes when i get it spend time with these great girls. they keep my life fun and entertaining. each girl has their own personality and spirit about them. i really have learned special life lessons from each of them and are so grateful for the examples that they are to me.

thanks girls for being so wonderful... you may make me crazy sometimes and gave me my first gray hair, but i am so blessed and grateful to have each of you in my life!

much loves :)

day 3... random institute class

2010-11-03T23:00:00.000-07:00

i wasn't sure what i wanted to blog about today because there was 50% off halloween candy at walmart today, and i was pretty excited about that! but i decided to go a little deeper than that, so today i'm thankful for tonight's random institute class. i say random because this is the first class all semester that i have gone to... yes, i know i'm a slacker! i'm so grateful that Heavenly Father pushed me to go cause it was an awesome lesson. we went through about 4 sections in D&C which i absolutely love because a lot of D&C is written in first person, so it's like God is talking directly to me... yeah, i know the scriptures are written to us already, but it just seems more personal. anyways, the lesson like all institute lessons was great. i especially liked how she not just taught about the happenings in D&C, but how to apply them in the here and now. but what i'm specifically grateful for tonight is that the teacher held us accountable for what we learned. none of us were allowed to leave until we shared something we learned from the lesson that will change our life. so she forced me to say what i was thinking and feeling instead of just keeping it to myself, which is always a good thing!

this is the scripture that i chose to talk about... D&C 45:9
"And even so I have sent mine everlasting convenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me."

i'm so grateful for the incredible people i have been blessed with in my life who have been a standard, a messenger and a light to me. and i need to be better and have the confidence to let the light that Christ has blessed me with shine and do all i can to share the goodness of the gospel with others.

great night!

day 2... the social network

2010-11-02T23:00:00.000-07:00

yes, i did see the movie, "the social network" tonight, which was pretty enjoyable, but i'm not using one of my days of gratitude for the movie. today i am thankful for yes, the internet and the great social networks it provides. i can get updates about friends, look at pictures, journal, and communicate with my family and friends with the click of a mouse. i'm so grateful for the easy access i have to get on skype and video chat with my favorite sister and niece who are on the other side of the country. even though there are tons of terrible things on the internet and these social networks are used in the wrong way all the time, i am grateful for the good they provide in keeping me connected with the people who matter most!

day 1... banana bread

2010-11-01T20:05:00.000-07:00

today i am thankful for my mommy and her banana bread recipe! i got to spend my evening off doing one of my favorite things, baking! it brings peace to my soul and yummyness to my belly, and i love sharing it with other people! so thank you friends for humoring me by eating what i try to make. and thank you mom for sharing your recipes and answering all my random "how to" questions!

happy november!

halloween...

2010-11-01T19:34:00.000-07:00

here is a little preview of halloween this year. i spent all weekend in the gym watching volleyball... we had 2 matches and the 1A, 2A, 3A State tournament was Thursday thru Saturday, so i was literally there all day, for 3 days, with no time to think about a costume... but jess and i had a moment of creativity at 8 pm on saturday night as we were putting together our costumes. i was either going to be a lumberjack or a ninja, and we came out of target as batman and superman! so we went out on the down and got our groove on as superheroes! it was way fun!

more pics to come... and this picture makes me miss summer, cause i need a tan!

sorry, i need a vent session really quick... why do people who are endowed think that the "g-force" rule doesn't apply on halloween?!?! whether it's girls wearing scandalous outfits or guys with no shirts and spandex, i just don't understand the reasoning behind it and it really makes me sad for them. just a thought.

four months and counting...

2010-10-19T16:33:00.001-07:00

four months ago (june 16, 2010) i had reconstruction surgery on my acl that i tore in an outdoor volleyball tournament on memorial day... not the way i wanted to spend my summer, and i seriously do not wish this upon anyone EVER!

... taken two days after surgery

... koelliker family gathering 5 weeks later... my best friend/enemy during the summer was that blasted brace!

now, four months later, after many hours of therapy, stretching, icing, strengthening, pain, sweat, and tears, and not a lot of patience on my end, i almost have full range of motion and strength... give me some more time and i'll get there!

... four months later and my knee is starting to look a bit normal... i don't mind the scars, but hopefully the swelling will go down eventually!

... the greatest blessing of being this far along in my recovery is that i get to be more active! this is a picture from the alumni match. no, i didn't get to play, but i did get to pepper and warm up and that in itself just warmed my heart!

it's true what they say that, "you don't know what you got til it's gone". like the simple things of getting out of bed or kneeling down for prayer, sitting on the toilet were all challenges at some point. i'm so grateful for the doctors and trainers who worked with me... my mom who waited during the surgery, gave me medicine, slept on my floor so she could get up with me in the middle of the night, helped me "shower", and still puts up with my complaints, she's the best!... my brother and dad who are worthy priesthood holders and used that sacred power to help heal and comfort me... my wonderful family and friends who's prayers, encouragement, and care helped get me through one of the hardest times in my life. i really cannot express the gratitude and love that i have for them... THANK YOU!

the worst is hopefully over and i still have a long way to go, but i'm so grateful that i am getting back into the swing of things. i feel very blessed for the smooth recovery thus far and the AWESOME people that are always there for me!

always a step behind...

2010-07-29T14:58:00.000-07:00

As usual, I'm always the last to get my hands on some of the good books.

I finally finished "Eat Pray Love" a few weeks ago. I read it on and off for a couple months, but overall I really enjoyed it. I could relate to some of her feelings and thoughts (not that i've ever been a 'lover' or divorced or married for that matter), but I really liked the way she wrote and explained herself, and of course all of the amazing place she went!! I'm not gonna lie though, I'm really just excited for the movie!

I've heard all of these great things about "The Hunger Games" series, and so when I got it for my birthday, I felt a bit inclined to read it. I'm happy to say that I am almost through "Catching Fire" and am completely enthralled!

So even though the whole world has been ready and waiting for book 3 to come out for ages, I'm just grateful I finally got to partake of the goodness... Better late than never, right?!

a quarter of a century and counting...

2010-07-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

believe it or not, i made it to my 25th birthday and was ready to party! ha i'm usually anti birthday celebrations for myself, but for some reason i was looking forward to some summertime fun with friends and family... i think after a week and a half of surgery recovery/couch-time, i was in need of some happiness! so i braced myself, literally, and with the help of my wonderful parentals and friends, we had a joyful birthday bbq...

thanks to all of you who made my 25th birthday celebration a memorable one!!

much loves :)

wishes, wants, hopes, and dreams for year two-five...

2010-07-05T20:58:00.000-07:00

i like to think that i'm a goal oriented person, so i've decided to list the things i want to accomplish during this year of my life... here goes nothing :)

25 goals for my 25th year...
1. make a new friend
2. go to 3 new temples
3. do something spontaneous
4. break a bad habit
5. travel to 5 new places
6. have a snowball fight
7. go to a "show"
8. make dinner at least once a week
9. find a new hobby
10. don't threaten to quit my job halfway through the season :)
11. be active in my ward
12. kiss in the rain
13. visit my sister in Virginia
14. do something i've never done
15. read the Book of Mormon
16. run a half-marathon
17. win an outdoor tournament!
18. attend the temple regularly
19. lose some weight... 25 lbs for my 25 years??
20. commit some players for 2011... this seems to be an issue at the moment :)
21. open my heart and not be scared or ashamed to share myself with others
22. find a "home" to live in
23. be more assertive and decisive
24. fall in love!
25. be happy with me :)

... game on!!

the end of another year... so long 24...

2010-07-05T20:26:00.000-07:00

24 things learned/relearned during my 24th year... (in no particular order!)

1. there are no "little" things
2. being an adult isn't always fun
3. KNEEL to pray whenever possible
4. plan to be surprised
5. institute and scripture glue-in's are awesome!
6. my team makes me happy
7. i love having my little brother home
8. star gazing in Park City is heavensent
9. getting a mani/pedi makes me feel pretty
10. i need to be more sincere and show my true gratitude
11. i love america
12. someone is always in a worse situation, so be grateful and optimistic... i will always have to work on this one!
13. Jillian Michaels is legit!
14. utah is beautiful
15. patience is never fully learned
16. a head coach can make or break a team... Sam is incredible!
17. just when i think i have it all figured out, think again!
18. i NEVER EVER EVER want to tear my ACL again
19. my family is my everything and i can't wait to add to it and start my own family!
20. i thrive on being active and productive
21. no matter how much i hate being in the center of attention, having my friends and family serenade me with "happy birthday" is pretty sweet
22. i love sunshine and summertime
23. those who love me really do want to know my thoughts and feelings... i need to open up!
24. i have sooooo much to learn about love, life, and myself... here it goes for year 25!!

the summer must go on...

2010-06-07T11:48:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and life couldn't be better right?!?! Ha, it's truly amazing to me how quickly things can change... but I'll get to that later!

I got to spend the first 2 weeks of May gallivanting around the beautiful land of New Zealand and the breathtaking beaches of Samoa with my team... I heart my job! It was my second time visiting these amazing countries, and I really couldn’t be more grateful for the incredible experiences I had whilst I was there. It was definitely a life changing experience that I will remember and cherish forever.

Here are a few of the hundreds of pictures that were taken!

...New Zealand...

...SAMOA...

Simply incredible, right?! If you want the full update and day-to-day play-by-play, go to our team blog... uvuvolleyball.blogspot.com

Life after the trip has been pretty great! Just catching up with work, enjoying the crazy Utah weather (snow to sunshine... go figure!), and enjoying time with my friends and family!

I've been pretty pumped for this summer and have been looking forward to so many fun activities like... running my first half marathon, running the Ragnar Relay, (ha, running just in general), playing in outdoor volleyball tournaments with the bestie, hiking the beautiful Utah mountains, just doing anything and everything I can outside... I just love summer!

Unfortunately, my summer dreams have been cut short. Maegs and I played in our first outdoor tourney on Memorial Day, and about halfway through the day I went up to hit and my knee gave out when I landed. Long/emotional story short, I blew out my knee and am scheduled for surgery on June 16th. Kind of a bummer... but life and summer goes on!

-complete ACL tear - Partial tear or strain of PCL - tear of lateral meniscus - partial tear of MCL - partial tear of LCL - serious bone bruising... yeah, it's just a bit sore :)

So yes, it is amazing how quickly plans and life can change, and all it takes is something small. I'm grateful for the help, support, and prayers of my incredible friends and family. Even amongst the challenge, I feel so blessed and I'm excited for the lessons Heavenly Father is trying to teach me (apparently, i didn't learn enough with my first surgery... i struggle!) Needless to say, this summer will be a time of learning humility and patience, getting back on my feet, and of course FUN... BRING IT ON!!

UVU Volleyball Has a BLOG!

2010-04-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

OK friends... I know I'm already not the best blogger, so why I'd take on another one of these suckers, I'll never know! BUT... with our team going on our foreign trip next week I figured I should set one up so everyone can see the havoc we're creating on the otherside of the world! I've volunteered the girls to help me out with a lot of the postings too, so it'll be fun to read their insights and just get a deeper glimpse into UVU volleyball. Lots has changed since my day as a player, and I'm so grateful that I still get to be a part of it.

check it out...
http://www.uvuvolleyball.blogspot.com

GO GREEN!

one week countdown....

2010-04-25T21:13:00.000-07:00

four years have come and gone, and because i'm still around the UVU volleyball program, this is where i will be in a week...

NEW ZEALAND...

SAMOA...

i'm super excited that i get the opportunity to visit these amazingly beautiful countries with my awesome team again! i'm ready for some new experiences, grand adventures, and priceless memories! we leave may 3rd and return to america on may 18th, and pictures will come shortly after! until then... KIA ORA and TOFA!

the dark side...

2010-04-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

i decided to change up the hair color... say goodbye to blonde! (these are for you britty!)

these are just random pics i've taken to show the new hair. i haven't done anything too spectacular lately, that is picture worthy at least, but the adventures of summer will begin soon... two weeks and counting!

Jake, the RM!

2010-02-18T09:33:00.000-08:00

the missionary has returned and he is amazing! here are some pictures of jake's homecoming week. i was so lucky and was able to be at the airport when he arrived and hang out with him for the week! i love him!

Welcome Home Jake!

R2D2... what?!

2010-01-14T11:23:00.000-08:00

so i guess a great thing about blogging is that i can record all of my random thoughts and findings... this will come in handy considering i love to "people watch"!

i saw someone at school today with this backpack... and when i say school, i'm not at an elementary school, this is a university! it was completely out of the ordinary and just brought an instant grin to my face!

thank you random girl for making me chuckle today :)

simple pleasures of the day...

2010-01-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

i love the little things in life, and i think that a lot of times i take them for granted. here's a list of few things from the past couple days that just make me smile!

- getting a disney song stuck in my head :)
- hanging out with my crazy girls during training

- having so many institute classes to choose from... bom 2 this semester ... ps. there's a whole other list for the "tender mercies" of the gospel

- cooking something new

- having the energy to run an extra mile or 2

- watching the office... it's on like every channel now

- my blessed roomie watching one of my cake shows with me

- being able to call my precious mother anytime... she puts up with a lot of randomness from me, and i'm very grateful for her!

- texting... instant communication!

-not having to scrape my window the past few mornings, that just is the perfect way to start a new day... and how about just having a car to drive, that's a great blessing!

- skype... i get to video chat with my favorite people for free!

- little jakey gets home from guatemala in 4 weeks!

- sleeping in til 7 am on a weekday! love it :)

- the majestic snow-covered mountains of utah

- coming home after a long day to clean kitchen!

- finding a parking spot when i'm totally late

... it's all about the little things, right?!

*and yes, i had "a whole new world" from aladdin stuck in my head one day, hence the picture... i heart disney!

they sealed the deal...

2010-01-11T16:17:00.000-08:00

i was blessed with the great opportunity to attend my best friend's sealing this weekend! maegs married her sweetheart, christopher alme (a recent convert to the lds church) last may. on friday chris went through the temple, and on saturday, january 9th, chris and maegan were sealed for time and all eternity in the salt lake temple! i absolutely love going to the temple, but its even better when i get to go with people i love.

wedding day... take 2

gotta love the kissing pictures

the almes...

the start of an eternal family

yeah, maegan's gorgeous, and a bit crazy...
it was freezing outside!

i couldn't think of a better way to spend one of the first weekends of the year! congratulations maegs and chris! i love you guys ;)

So Long Sweet 2009...

2010-01-08T09:05:00.000-08:00

Another year has come and gone, and apparently I need to make a resolution to be better at this whole blog thing! Life just seems to pass on by, not to mention, fall happens to be a "busy" time for me. Here are the highlights from the past oh, seven months...

JUNE...

home for grandma's birthday... four generations of girls

funness with the grandparents :)

picture time with Mylee...

one year older... 24
it was a great day of volleyball, friends, food, and yummy dessert :)

JULY...

we celebrated the 4th with a trip to the airport to pick up our long lost kiwi, daniel!

the gang reunited for the summer... happy 4th :)

happy birthday daniel...
a typical summer celebration... outside all day long!

happy pioneer day!
another day spent outside... vb, soccer, bbq, friends, tree climbing... absolute funness!

DAVIES FAMILY REUNION

mylee and kai poolside :)

enjoying some chocolatey goodness... time for another bath in the pool

if we weren't in the pool, we were playing some
kind of game or performing stupid human tricks...
thank you zach

my precious nephew

zach and kai post wrestle-mania

kiddies living the dream in the pool

malia, kai, and me just messing around...

there was some spiritualness whilst we were all together too...
tyler received the priesthood

AUGUST...

miss maegan alme came for a visit and we got to play in an outdoor tourney in park city... i miss not having this girl around all the time and am grateful her hubby let her come play :)

a beautiful summer day playing volleyball in park city... does life get any better?

busing it around park city...
post volleyball we went to the art festival and saw some pretty crazy creations...

the X factor...

our last volleyball tourney for the summer... not the best conditions, but we finished with a bang!

quick 24 hours at home...

my favorite niece :)

everyone was home for our cousin's wedding (minus the missionary)

lanny's family

my wondeful grandparents... oh i just love them

the cousins all together

SEASON...

my summer ended with that quick trip to vegas, and volleyball season was already in full throttle! it was a very successful season, and we were fortunate to play some great teams at home (utah, oregon, usc, missouri, washington state) we got to travel all across the country, literally... south to texas, north to the dakotas, and east to chicago and nyc. on the way to chi-town, i got to make a recruiting stop in wisconsin where i got to catch up with kelsi, one of my former coaches. it was a great little adventure!

my first time in wisconsin

kelsi coaches at an all girl catholic college, so i got to see her new stomping grounds

i got to see their "ski resort" which consisted of a hill...

it made me appreciate the glorious mountains of utah even more!

lake michigan

the team in chicago

season ended in november with an upsetting loss in houston, but we pressed forward and looked onward to happier times, like CHRISTMAS! i do have to say that i'm grateful that volleyball is played in the fall because it is finished in time for all the good holidays :)

CHRISTMAS BREAK...
i got to go home for two weeks, and it was bliss! everyone (minus the missionary) was home for christmas, and it was perfect! i love my family and just being home!

guitar hero... kai rocked this game! he didn't play all the right notes necessarily,
but he had the talk down, would rock out, and even choose the song

kai stealing the life-savors

the "make-do" swimming attire for an evening in the hot tub

kai modeling in the hot tub

asher being his cute self...

mylee and ethan... ethan wasn't too fond of getting his picture taken

mylee and me on christmas eve

dad lovin him some turkey!

just messing around, waiting for lanny's family to get there

they got there just in time for the nativity... mary, joseph, and the crazy wise man

all together before santa got there...

isn't she gorgeous?!

it was an early morning in the koelliker home,
but christmas morning is so much better with kids around!

grandpa great and mylee loving it up on christmas

present of the year goes to the snuggie... so classic :)

it was so much fun having everyone together... i love my family!

we got to talk to our missionary too which was definitely a highlight!
he gets home on february 9th, and i can't wait!

well, that's the end of my 2009 in a nutshell. life is good and i constantly feel the blessings and comfort from my dear Father in Heaven.

bring on 2010 :)

i love to see the temple...

2009-06-07T21:19:00.000-07:00

one of my dearest friends got married on thursday and i had the privilege of going to the sealing in the salt lake temple. the ceremony was absolutely amazing, and it put everything into perspective for me, yet again... yes that is what usually happens when i go to the temple, but some of the things the sealer said were just incredible and exactly what i needed to hear! he really made me think about the potential that all of us have and all of the incredible blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for each of us in this life and in the eternities to come, according to our faithfulness. there is definitely a different spirit and power in a temple sealing that is just out of this world, literally! and ya know, that's what this life is all about! i'm grateful for temples and the blessings and light that they bring into my life! and yes, i can't wait til i get to be sealed to that special someone (whoever it is??) for time and all eternity! ha, but as for now, i'm lovin me some singleness and i'm learning a ton!

anyways, allyce and ryan looked absolutely stunning and were just perfect on their wedding day! it was so awesome to share that special day with them and i wish them the best in their new life together!

Presenting Mr and Mrs Ryan Jones!

they're so in love :)

typical pic at the SLC temple... love it!

we are friends!

the beautiful bride and me... i love this girl!

some of the team

it's party time at the reception!

... to the happy couple!

the "Y"

2009-06-06T22:49:00.000-07:00

Jess, Kay, and I decided to take a little hike up the beloved Y mountain one night. I've lived in Utah for 6 years now, and this was only my second time up the mountain. It was definitely a fun adventure on a gorgeous summer night...

we made it up that blasted mountain!

yeah, we think we're cool!

this is a precious little boy we found on our hike... he's a heart breaker in the making... and maybe too girl crazy

the view is quite AMAZING! i definitely take the beauty of utah for granted...

it's starting to grow on me :)

ha... and this is the view on the otherside of the camera!

I HEART SUMMER!!

and summer begins...

2009-05-27T14:33:00.000-07:00

Summer officially started for me two weeks ago with a trip to the great desert of Mesa, Arizona! My dear friend of the best, tied the knot, and as the maid of honor I just couldn’t pass up a week of fun!

wedding week began with fun on the lake…

Jessica and me battling it out on the tube.

My little friend Kaia and me livin' it up on the boat.

My first experience wakeboarding... CRAZY and not the best form!

the wedding day...
"i love weddings, drinks all around!"

After a relaxing morning and an early afternoon stop to QT, it was hair time for the bride! It looked so good, as you can see!

The hours of getting ready paid off... She looked absolutely stunning!

The Newly Weds... Christopher and Maegan Alme!

I got to steal a picture with Maegs post ceremony and pre reception (aka party!).

Jessica and me... we love the accent color feature on our cameras! Pretty sweet!

We got to dance the night away!
Yes I know it looks like my face is smashed up against a window.

I caught the bouquet!

day after wedding...
after dancing the night away, i said goodbye to Maegs which was totally surreal, and it was time for a sleep-over at Kayli's! we stayed up too late and woke up early for a perfect day at the lake!

On the road to Canyon Lake.

Playing on the boat.

Wakeboarding take 2... looks a bit better right?!

BIG HORN SHEEP!! We saw a herd just chillin on the mountain!

a quick stop in vegas...
i just figured, ya know, since i'm so close to vegas, i might as well spend a day at home! i'm so glad i did, cause i can't get enough of these little kids!

Mylee's soccer game!
I'll just say she hasn't figured out the whole competitive aggresion aspect of the game yet!

Mylee's #1 fan decided to take a little break on the ice chest.

This picture by Mylee captures the essence of summer... what an artistic photographer.

SUMMER 2009... bring it on!

Step 1... Recognizing My Mistake

2009-05-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

For so many years I've stood on my soap box and proclaimed to the world that blogging was solely for married people because life of marriage and kids was supposedly so much more entertaining and worthwhile than the life of a single wanderer… BUT as I have come to find, this lone nomad “gets around” and has just as many fun and valuable adventures to share with her friends! So along with all of your wedding, pregnancy, first-steps, and new house stories, I think I’m ready to document some of my journeys throughout this time we call LIFE!

DISCLAIMER… I’m totally new at this and thought it would be a fun way to journal my different experiences! Please don’t expect anything too profound or exciting!