Moving day

Moving is kind of sad. I hate saying goodbye to all of my friends and having to leave whatever awesome life I've created. Moving this time has been especially hard because I'm leaving the Wathens who have been my family for a year now. Well, we've always been family. But, living with them has brought us so much closer. Even though moving is sad, it's awesome too. There's something exhilarating about going to a new place where you hardly know anyone and where you get to start all over with everything. So on to the next new adventure!! Hoorah!

Let me go home

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to take a short trip home to Provo and it was magnificent! Because my family was in Arizona most of the weekend, I had the house to myself for while, which was lovely, I got to hang out with the best friends in the world, and then I got to see my family before I went home Sunday night. It was so good to see everyone! I miss them all so much. But, there's only a month before I'll be back in Provo for the summer. So crazy! Here a couple pictures from the few minutes that I got to see my adorable little sisters.

Check it out!

I have some pretty cute sisters.

Visit from the fam!

So, yesterday morning, a glorious thing happened. My family called me and told me that they had just loaded the car and that they were on their way to visit me for the long weekend. And four hours later, they were walking in my door! Basically, it's been amazing having them here! I have missed them so much already and it's so fun playing with them. We've spent the majority of our time so far partying in the pool/hut-tub at my parents' hotel, taking SUPER long drives through beautiful Idaho country and looking at the Tetons, and just chilling. And, though my parents are staying at a hotel, the little girls have been experiencing true college life (AKA staying up until all hours of the night) at my apartment and having a party! Though we were all really tired and made it obvious to our parents we'd stayed up all night, we've had a lot of fun together!

Unfortunately, Brooke couldn't be here because she's partying in Disneyland and Palm Springs for the week. I don't really feel bad for her... But, here's a picture of her too since she's pretty cute. 

Thanksgiving with the fam!

I loved being home with my family for Thanksgiving!! It was so good to spend time with my parents and my little sisters and just to be home. I am so glad that I'm going to be home again in only 3 weeks! I can't wait!!!
Here are a couple pictures I took while we were working in the kitchen getting dinner ready:

   

Daddy, I love you.

So, basically, this post is about how much I love my Dad. (Yes,  I know it's not Father's Day). I have always loved my Dad. He's my best friend. But, since I moved up here to this frozen university, I've realized more and more how much I miss him. I miss punching him in the gut when he got home from work. I miss teasing him about his swiss-cheese t-shirt. I miss laughing with (at) him while we watch School of Rock together. I miss teasing about him being an old man and having a daughter old enough to be in college. I miss being able to run to him every time I wanted my back popped or my neck adjusted. I miss his mastery of the culinary arts and being able to eat his delicious Papa Stew or whatever else he cooked up on any given night. I miss our fly-fishing outings and the times that I almost caught his eyebrow with my line. I miss wrestling with him until my mom started yelling from the kitchen "You guys! You need to stop it before someone gets hurt!!" and completely ignoring her until we both really regret it. I miss coming home from a friend's house late and being scared out of my pants when he jumped out from behind the counter in the kitchen. I miss already being in bed and then running downstairs to give my adorable Pops a hug and a kiss goodnight.

This is a little tribute to the times my dad has played with me or done things with me that may not have been his activity of choice. Okay, let's be honest. It's the other way around. I always went fishing and camping with him instead of him sitting down for me to paint his fingernails. But, that's the way we both wanted it! I just like this video anyways.

Basically, my Dad is awesome and I love him!!! Oh! And, he has a blog. Read it. If you like or are familiar with Prairie Home Companion by Garrison Keillor, you'll love it!! Check it out here! I love you Daddy!!! I miss you!

I'm Goin' Home

This past weekend my roommate Rachel and I drove home for General Conference. Oh man! I am so glad that I got to go visit my family and friends that I have been missing like crazy. Coming back to Rexburg was a lot easier after I got a little refresher time with everyone. I realized on the way to Provo that I had brought my camera but not the charger so forgive me for only having this one picture from my phone... I really had such a great weekend though. Driving there and back was a blast partying in the car with Rachel. We spent most of our time laughing at each other or listening to our favorite songs over and over. Seeing my little sisters and parents was so good too! I missed them so much. And, getting back together with all my friends was awesome. I almost forgot that we were all in college and that we never actually see each other. It was so much fun to spend a night chilling with them. And, of course, General Conference was fantastic! I'll probably post more thoughts on that later. Also, I got my hair cut. I feel a little less positive about that event from the weekend but, it's not anywhere near as bad as it could be!

This is my one picture from the weekend :)
Even if you can't tell, I cut 3 or so inches off my hair.

If you didn't get a chance to watch General Conference yet, you should watch it here.

More photos of the girls!

          

#10- Check!

Last week I went through one of my "sewing moods" where all I want to do is sit down at my sewing machine and design/make something cute. So, I got to cross #10 of my summer bucket list but I'll probably keep at it for the rest of the summer because I love to sew and doubt I'll find much time to do it when I'm back in school. Here are the results of last week's frenzy:

This was also a great opportunity to take a bunch of pictures of my precious little sisters (and their adorable friend, Carley).

You Should All Be Jealous

Because yesterday was Mother's day, I've obviously been thinking about my Mom a lot the last little while. And, as I have, I've started thinking, "You know, the rest of the world is really missing out and they don't even know it.". So, I thought, I'd share a little bit of my mom tonight to remind you all (and her) how cool she is.

Here is why I think my mom is so dang cool (not in any particular order). First, she makes the most dang delicious cheesecake. In reality, everything she makes is dang delicious but cheesecake is just on my mind because we had it yesterday. Second, I know I can talk to her about whatever I want and she'll give me the perfect advice. And, when I don't want advice and I just want a shoulder to cry on or someone to laugh at my life with, she's just that. Third, my Mom doesn't give a hoot what anyone else in the world thinks about her. She's who she wants to be and that's that. Also, my mom, even with her own job and three other kids to worry about, does her very best to support me in all the extra things that I do. She was always at every cross-country meet (except the out-of-state one) she could possibly make it to. She's come to all of my choir concerts since freshman year. And, she even rearranged a trip the family was going to go on so she could see me get picked up for my first dance-date. And, my mom is weird. I used to run away from her when we'd be shopping at the grocery store because she'd be singing "zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay" or some other random show-tune at the top of her lungs. But, I've come to love it. Sometimes, I even find myself doing the same thing. Another thing about my mom that just blows my mind is how much she does for other people. She stays late after school every day giving her students extra help and stays up late every night grading their papers. And, every time she meets someone new at church or work that she thinks is in need, she can't sleep until she's done something for them. Serving other people is like sunshine for my mom. She get's depressed when she doesn't get enough if it. Also, I love that my Mom starts to tear up when we talk about college and me "growing up". I'm going to miss her when I move up to Idaho this fall. But, let's just say there's not going to be a shortage of phone-visits between us.

It would take a post this long or longer every day for the rest of eternity to really explain how amazing my Mom is but at least you got a little taste. I love my Mom so dang much and I know she loves me too. If any of you are ever feeling left out because I have the coolest Mom in the world, just come on over because she really mothers all of my friends that come over anyway. 

Little Girls

I think that everyone can imagine that having eight girls in the house at one time can definitely be a miserable thing. But this Sunday afternoon, I experienced one of the perks. It's called a Tay Swizzle and Hannah Montana concert and a rockin' dance party in my very own living room!

Christmas PJ's

So, I definitely think that one of my favorite Christmas traditions is matching pajamas. In my cute little family, we always open our lovely pj's on Christmas Eve before my Dad reads us a story and we all head to be in my bedroom but after we've stuffed ourselves full of the most sugary, fatty, and bad-for-you food possible. Here are some pictures of this year's pajamas.

 Traditional "lets try to look cute" pose

Standard Forever 21 model pose

I promise we're not always that weird.

Well, it's off to bed to wait for Santa to come!