Oh Christmas Day...yuck

Yes for Christmas morning, getting up super early with Julia's kids, feeling the santa magic in the air, and opening up all of our presents!! We did all of this and had a great time just being with the family and seeing all of the kids get really excited about their toys. They got some pretty cool stuff! But my dad and I unfortunately got a gift we weren't expecting, or wanted at all for that matter...

So our whole family got sick this weekend starting with my mom, then Aiden, Landon, and Julia, Tim got sick yesterday, and then my dad and I got the worst of it today. I had gotten a sinus infection from my mom early on while everyone else got the 24 hour flu. It wasn't until today that we got that sicky too. I felt fine opening gifts and stuff, but after that I was upstairs in my bed for a good portion of the day. I came down every once in a while, donning my plague victim mask, and hung out with the fam, but I just couldn't stay for long. I'm feeling pretty good now, just my stomach is upset a little still. I think I'll be ok though as I fly out tomorrow to go to Oregon.

But yeah, Merry Christmas to us!!! Despite the sicknesses, I'm glad we got to come and spend time with Julia, Tim, and their kids. Hopefully the next time we see them a sickness will not be involved in our visit! I hope you all had an awesome Christmas Day :)

In the famous words of Strongbad...IT'S OVER!!!

Christmas break is here! I never thought this semester would end...it just kept dragging on and on....BUT it's over :) This finals week was different than past ones. Maybe it was because I didn't really care about my classes much so the grades weren't that important to me, or maybe I finally learned how to manage panic! It's probably the first one. I don't think I did that bad on them though...I guess the final grades will tell all.

One thing I am truly grateful about the end of this semester is the change of clinical assignments in my athletic training program. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED working with the women's basketball team here at BYU, but I did not love working with my clinical instructor that was in charge of them. Let's just say she hasn't developed very strong communication skills and it's caused a lot of trouble for us. Not even when my partner, Tyler, and I approached her did she acknowledge the issues. She would just come in the next day and act like nothing was wrong. She also liked to lie to our faces because I don't think she can handle confrontation. Man up and say it to our faces!!! I would rather hear it from her than hear about it from someone else or read how she rated me online later that night. Anyways, Tyler and I are both done with her and moving on to bigger and better things. We both got transferred to high schools, me at Lone Peak, this next semester and I'm pretty excited about it. I'll have a ton more freedom there than I did on campus and the clinical instructor is really chill and willing to work with my crazy schedule. Bonus! I'll let you know how the new site turns out.

In other news, my really good friend Emily got married right before I left for break. I was honored that she asked me to be a bridesmaid and that I got to take part in her wedding. It was fun hanging out with the other bridesmaids and trying to figure out what we really should be doing during the reception, or trying not to freeze our ta tas off when we took pictures outside right after her wedding!! haha, good times. Thanks Emily for asking me to be a bridesmaid!


Also, my "little sister" Kalani surprised me a couple of mornings ago with the news that she is pregnant!!! How crazy awesome is that?! What a week it's been...And now I'm in the beautiful 80 degree Texas weather hanging out with my sister Julia and her fam bam. We are all coming here this year for Christmas and it should be a lot of fun :) My friend Keilani is down here too at the same time and it would be really cool if I could see her too while we're here. After Texas, I'm off to Oregon to spend the week with my friend Janelle and her fam bam for New Years. Lots of traveling and lots of fun!

Struggling...

This semester has been THE hardest one I've had thus far. Who knew getting into your major would be so time demanding and frustrating! I have super early classes everyday, I have clinical that eats up three or more hours of my life everyday, there is no space for me in my classes for my major next semester, I don't know if I should take spring or summer classes, I don't know my assignment yet for next semester and I need to in order to prepare my classes, hardly any of my classes really interest me all that much, I'm tired all the time, rugby takes up a good portion of my life as well, I'm out of town a lot for rugby, I currently am working diddly squat at Sports Authority and not making very much, I have a lot of expenses regardless...the list could seriously go on and on as to why this semester is so rough.

But here's the thing! I wouldn't trade any of it and here's why. I love the people that are in my semester of my major. We got along so well and so fast and we love helping each other out. I love my clinical assignment now and the girls that I get to hang out with everyday. My instructor is also really good at teaching us new things so it hardly gets boring. I also get free clothes from it so who can complain about that? I LOVE LOVE rugby and would never trade it for anything. I often think about what my life would be like if I had never joined and I can honestly say it would have been boring and sucked. Well, ok it wouldn't have sucked but it would have been bland. My job at Sports Authority has been one of the greatest jobs I've had thus far. I wish I could work there more and make the money that I need to, but I'm ok with it right now. I'm glad I kept the job there so that I could work more if I wanted to, and when I want to. The people there are so fun and great that it doesn't even matter that I'm making a half hour commute to work. Earlier I listed off a bunch of really negative things about this semester that have been driving me crazy, but really they are all blessings in my life. I know that if I just put all my trust in the Lord that things will work out. Everything happens for a reason right? Sure does :)

So a quick everyday life update...This last weekend my team and I traveled to Palo Alto, CA to play in a rugby 10's tournament. There were two pools so we entered two teams to see how good we could do and to gain more experience for everyone. We played some really good teams and had a lot of fun. I went in a lot as scrumhalf and it was AWESOME!! I got a few good hits on people, and they got a few on me haha. Even a nice try zone pole got a good hit on me! Anywho, so both of our teams were seeing a lot of success and doing really well. Turns out we did so well that we played each other in the championship game! Haha. So basically we went to Stanford, handed them a good butt whooping game (47-7 loss for them) and then turned around and took first and second at THEIR tournament. haha. It was a great feeling. So yeah, it was a very successful weekend for both teams. Our second team consisted of a lot of our new girls and they did SO well!! I was so impressed with how they played and held their own. I'm so proud of them!
This past Tuesday I had the opportunity to see Lady Antebellum in concert with my friend Janelle! It. Was. Awesome!!! They are such good performers and sound so good live. The girl in the group has some interesting (questionable?) dance moves and we loved to make fun haha, but it was seriously so good. We got there pretty early so we ended up pretty close to the stage, but we had to stand there for hours!!! Playing go fish/war/games you make up while standing can get interesting haha. At one point in time, Janelle left to go to the bathroom and I stayed to save our spots in the crowd. While there, the girls standing to my right got into a fight! It was so funny...but not at the same time. Fighting is wrong. Haha anyways, the girl in the front was mad because she felt like the girl behind her was pushing her and it got all heated, f words were flying, there was a little pushing, but that was it. No fists today! It made for an interesting evening though. To add to the evening, as we were trying to leave the venue and get to our car, we realized we couldn't...because there was a train blocking our way! Somehow and for some reason a train just stopped on the tracks and we had to wait a little bit for it to start up and move off the road. It was great.

Still alive...

I can barely believe it but I've managed to stay alive through this past month of school. Between work, rugby, school, clinical, and the tiny moments of eating and sleeping I was wearing myself out. Every sparing second I was doing something that NEEDED to be done. These past few weeks I realized I needed a change in my life or my grades were going straight down the poop shute. So I had to cut something out, and unfortunately work is at the bottom of my necessary list. I had full intentions of just quitting at Sports Authority, but the managers and I decided to try something out. So currently I am still employed there but I'm only working there a night a week. Hopefully this frees me up enough to bring my sanity back...

In other news...My coach switched me to play scrumhalf which is kind of like the quarterback in football. Yeah, talk about the scariest position I've ever played! My first game playing is tomorrow so we'll see how that goes...

BUSY!!

I can't believe how incredibly busy life has gotten since school started two weeks ago. Let me get you a little updated on my life since the last post...

I finally quit Domino's and got a job at Sports Authority in South Jordan!!! I love it there and the commute isn't even that bad. Way better than Domino's for sure. The people there are way nice and I've gotten the hang of cashiering I think. Then school started and with that came rugby!! We had our first game on Saturday and we won, but it was super ugly! We will probs die in practice today because of it but hey, we gotta learn sometime. School is going alright. I'm trying my hardest to get everything to fit in my life so it's been a little hectic. My classes are going good for the most part and my clinical is awesome!! My instructor is so nice and loves to give us opportunities to learn and grow in this field. It's going to be great! I can just feel it :)

In other news, my computer is retarded currently and likes to freeze on my when I'm trying to use it or the internet, so that's why there are no pictures and why I don't get on here that much anymore. Alrighty, well I'm out!

Stuck...

Yes. I am currently stuck. Where you might ask? In my best friend, Pam's, clubhouse at her housing complex. Why you might ask? Well it's simple...

I wanted to work out and they have a wonderful facility in their clubhouse for me to use. So I borrow their card key and get into the building before the doors all lock officially at midnight. If I get in before that though, I can stay in here as long as I want. So I get in the weight room (which I have to use the card key to get in there as well) and run for 15 minutes, do abs, and then start to lift weights. I go outside the room to get a drink and take the card with me. When I try to get back in there, the door is locked. Are you freaking kidding me?! They didn't tell me that door would lock at midnight as well! And why would it? It's inside the stupid building, so why would someone be able to break into that if they can't even get into the building? Needless to say I was ticked at first because not only was I locked out of finishing my work out, but all of my stuff is stuck in the weight room...like my phone...my ipod...everything!

So here I am now trying to pass the time until 8 am the next morning. Played four games of pool, watched shark week and whose line is it anyways, and am using their computers up to this point. I'll tell you how the rest of the visit goes :)

It's Hard But Then Again It's Not...

It's been a year or so since I've said goodbye to two people that I loved dearly and now life threatens to leave another one soon. It's hard, yes, but it is extremely comforting knowing that this isn't the end. I'll be able to see them again and they won't be in so much pain. The hard part for me is that I'm so far away. I can't be there right now and I wish that they knew how much I want to be. It's also hard because I haven't seem them for about a year I think...and I can't help but wonder if this time around it's my fault that I'm not there right now. I know they have loved ones with them right now and I'm grateful for that...I'm just going to miss seeing them. Miss their words of wisdom. Miss the visits to their house and the delicious dinners. I guess that's why memories can be so bittersweet sometimes. I'm going to cherish mine though, and hope for greater ones in the future.

Love you Aunt Marcie.

New Post, New Me...

So before I left on all of my excursions this summer I was lazy. I complained when I had to go to work and getting exercise and working out, uh heck no. I did every once in a while and it was such a struggle. My days consisted of sleeping in, hanging out, on the computer, movies, and staying up way late. Dumb in my book. After all of the traveling and then finally getting back in to Provo, I was ready to change that. I think just the change of attitude sparked the desire to do things. So here is my life now:



I lift Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I do yoga on Mondays and then do an assortment of running on Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

I'm trying to eat healthier than I ever have in my life.

I'm working more, which is fine because I need the money, and when I do work I love it...for the most part, haha. Some days work is rough and I just don't want to be there and then there are some people I deliver to that just make my day. It's crazy what little things can do for people. But yes, that is my life now and I'm SO much happier than before. A huge plus is that I still have time to do fun things like hang out with my friends, hike, watch movies, go mini golfing and such. Another huge plus is that I'm starting to like running again. Anyone that knows me knows I hate it because of high school track and what my coach did to me, but I'm slowly starting to like it again. I'm actually having the desire to go running on my own and pushing myself to get in shape. That's a big goal of mine. To be in good shape for rugby this next fall. We'll see how it goes :)

The Bear With Me Post...

Sorry for the late updates...


SO I left off at the first few days in Hawaii...I've got to remember now all the things we did in order!! Haha. Jenny took me on an awesome walk around Laie and I was able to see the Temple and BYU-H campus, as well as the famous Hukilau Cafe right down the street! And she had me try a rice cake...not my favorite but not necessarily bad either!




Next on the list was Hale'iwa for the famous shaved ice at Matsumotos! It was a very long line and I had a super eager customer right behind me...the picture doesn't do it justice.




We then went to the Swap meet and got a few things including my much needed lifeguard shirt!! :) Then there were birthday festivities and the afternoon of PCC to attend where we ate Pineapple delight and saw the canoe show of all of the islands represented there. It was awesome!!! We went back another night and saw the night show which was just as awesome!



Over the next few days we did an assortment of activities like jumping off the Waimea rock, seeing the point, eating a lychee, hiking Diamond Head with Jarrett and Hannah, trying musabi --favorite one I tried!--, going to Kylee's swimming lessons, watching the Celtics vs. Lakers games--disappointing in the end--eating pineapple ice cream from the Dole plantation, eating at Kahuku Grill--yum!--going to the 50th State Fair, going to different beaches and playing with Kylee, trying a passionfruit and malasada, and the most important thing of all...hanging out with Jenny, Kylee, and Aaron.



I think my favorite part of the trip was having Kylee follow me to my room every time I went back there so she could jump on my bed or lay on my pillow. She would even knock on my door in the morning so I would let her in to do so. Miss it :)

First couple of days in...Hawaii!

Sooo to start out the trip I had to make two connections in Portland and Seattle before touching down in Honolulu. I got in pretty late, plus Hawaii is four hours behind Utah, so I just went to sleep. The next day we did some shopping errands and then Megan took me to a few beaches on the North Shore! The water was awesome and we found some pretty cool shells.

Early the next day I went with Kei and Megan to hike across the water to Chinaman's Hat. It was awesome!! We walked straight through the water because the water was pretty low and then scaled the face of the mountain. It wasn't that hard of a hike and at some points we had to rock climb straight up! It was sweet. We stayed up top a little bit and then climbed back down so we could explore the other parts of the island. On the ocean facing side there is this little cave that we explored. Afterwards, we came back and were starving so Megan took me to L&L. It was delicious!!! Though not quite as delicious as Kahuku Grill Jenny says...

Let's see, what else did we do...oh! later that night we watched the sun set while snacking on subway, and even got to witness a wedding on the beach! How romantic. Then I got a full lesson on coupons and how to use them from Jenny so who knows, maybe I'll take that up! Sunday we went to church, family feuded and napped on and off, watched the Celtics beat the Lakers, then had dinner over at Jenny's sister Lindsey's house. We had lots of good food!

So far the trip is awesome! I'll keep ya posted ;)

Where does the time go?!

So here it is, May 30th. In a couple of days it will be June 3rd which marks two important things. 1. That's the day I leave Provo to fly to Hawaii!!! and 2. It marks a year since Jeff left for his mission! So crazy to think that a year flew by already.

Anywho, not much has been going on lately. I've spent a lot of time with the rugby girls that have stayed behind. We've gone hiking in the canyons, played touch rugby with the boys, baked here and there, started a James Bond marathon beginning with the oldies, went stargazing, and did some fun night time outdoorsy activities :) It's been great!

I also went on a double date with a boy in my FHE group. We went on a "crepe"spedition! We basically just hiked the Y and then made crepes up there with their portable burner, but the spedition part of it that you don't solidly plan anything out. Which is why we left at 1:30 instead of 9:30 as planned haha. (Here Keaton and I are conquering the Y)

Here comes the summer...:)

School is done! I don't have to worry about that until fall comes back around and I love it! I have to start finding things to do with my time that are productive now, but I think I can manage. Thus far I've had a gum ball eating contest, worked, watched movies, gardened, help people move, and tonight is a bon fire! I'm also getting super excited for when I get to visit Jenny in Hawaii!! :D Oh it feels good to not have to worry so much anymore and just relax...

Complaining time...

So in my last post I talked about how my team and I could possible be royally screwed over in this tournament...well we were. Big time.

It all started a couple of weeks ago when we were "forgotten" when they made the schedule up for the NCAA tournament. For the past two years the games have been scheduled Friday and Saturday, but since this year they "forgot" our team they scheduled them for Saturday and Sunday. Well we don't play on Sunday. We contacted them about it and they gave us three options: 1. We could drop out of the tournament-no 2. Since we aren't technically a BYU sport we can play on Sunday and override the University's rule-NO 3. We could continue to play and if we qualify for the Sweet 16 in Florida, they would switch the games to Friday and Saturday. Obviously, that is the only smart choice out of those three, so we went with it. We played our next games and qualified for the Sweet 16. THREE days before we are supposed to leave for Florida, they tell us that they "tried" all they could but they couldn't switch the schedule around. There went everything we've worked for out the window...there goes the seniors dreams of beating Penn State and getting further in the tournament, there goes the dreams of all of us that believed we could really win it this year, and we could have. Now we can't thanks to USARugby.

But here we are in Sanford, Florida still going to play our last game and make a huge statement. We've gotten huge recognition from this( article in the New York Times, article in the Daily Herald, and numerous emails from supporters) but we won't let that get to our heads. We came here to play rugby, with or without the recognition we would have still stuck to our standards and would forfeit the game on Sunday. So for all of you BYU rugby haters out there that think we should just play because it isn't a big deal...oh but it is, and we aren't willing to jeopardize ourselves eternally for an 80 minute game that we could lose anyways. So we are going to play tomorrow against University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, kill them like we want to, make the statement that we deserve to play in this tournament, but in the end we will walk away with a forfeit to Penn State this Sunday because we understand what's more important. Come what may and love it, right? This was a great experience for us and we will be blessed for our decision. This too shall pass...

My final words are screw you USA rugby...we are coming for you next year!

I'm still ALIVE!!

So it's literally been forever ago since the last time I posted, but I figured with everything that has been happening lately it was only necessary to update.

Let's start with school...There are only two days left of this winter semester and then finals! It's so crazy how fast these last two semesters have gone, but it's also a huge blessing because I probably would have gone crazy if they hadn't. I'm totally checked out of school though which is really bad! Most of my finals will be fine and I'm not too worried about them, but there are two (biomechanics and introduction to dance) that I need to do decently on in order to pull of a decent grade and I could care less about studying for them...I need to focus! So that is my goal this week: to focus on the things that really matter and not screw away my time. Also on the school front is news about my major....I'M IN!! I'll get my official letter and first clinical assignment tomorrow hopefully, but I'm pretty sure I'm in the Athletic Training program here at BYU. So stoked to finally get going with it :)

Besides school, and what pretty much eats up my life and is the main reason why I could care less about school is...RUGBY! Seriously the best thing I ever decided to do here at school. We are currently in the midst of play-offs and have been doing really well. We just recently got back from a trip to Davis, California where we played Stanford (not a fan) and Cal Berkley. We lost to Stanford but beat Cal the next day to clinch our spot in the Sweet 16 this coming weekend. And the Sweet 16 is in...Florida! We fly out this Thursday to play University of Wisconsin Milwaukee on Friday and then the winner of Penn State vs. UMASS. Recently though, I've heard that Penn State is in eligibility trouble due to a player switch mid season, so they are looking at either a complete sever from the tournament or some kind of punishment. It definitely won't go unnoticed, but either way I'm pretty sure our team gets screwed in the tournament this year. Thanks USA Rugby. But this next weekend should be bomb besides the fact that we are missing two days to do finals :/ We all come back Sunday night and have to cram them all in three days with some of us having up to 7 finals! Should be fun :) Another cool tidbit though is that Kalani's cousin plays for UMASS so I could run into her in FL!

So yep, that's it for now