Gingerbread Houses

To get in the Christmas spirit we decided that we would make gingerbread houses and watch The Grinch. Little did we know making gingerbread houses is WAY HARDER than we thought. Kirstin and Tyler's downfall - the hole for them to pipe out their icing was huge.
Mine and Michael's downfall - neither of us are crafty, however, in the end we were both pleased with our outcome.
Mallory and Stockton's downfall - I don't think they had one. They did their's in half the time and I think it turned out the best.... They have skills.
We ended up passing up The Grinch because our houses took so much longer than anticipated. We all had a blast and we are planning on making this a tradition. I think this little converstation was everyone's favorite part of the night:
(Michael let's one rip)
Stockton: You rip in front of girls?!?
Michael: Ha ha yeah!
Stockton: I would never fart in front of a girl... Well, not one that I'm hittin!

Oh Stockton... Thanks for the laughs :) Haha

Kirstin and Tyler creating their house
Michael and I attempting to make it look good

The beginning of Stockton and Mal's marvelous creation

Snow covered house

Utes and Jazz we love em' both

Perfection!

A 5 year old MONKEY!!!!

This sweet little girl is 5!!!! I can't believe it!

I still remember going to meet her at the hospital the day she was born. She was so cute and chubby wrapped up in a softy fuzzy pink blanket. It is crazy to think how many memories I have made with her in the past five years. I didn't think it was possible to have so many because it seems like time has FLOWN by! She is such an amazing little girl and has so much love to give. I absolutely L.O.V.E. nights where all she wants to do is be snuggled while watching a princess movie or reading stories. They make me melt... But I also love nights where she wants to paint nails and dance until we can't move anymore. I love that every time she sees me she runs out to my car, jumps on me and gives me a kiss and sings, "You and me baby we're stuck like glue!" I hope that she never thinks she is too big and grown up to do all of these things with me, but I am so also excited to see the person she is going to become. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONKEY! I LOVE YOU!!!!

The birthday girl and I

Waiting.... (and trying to do so patiently)

There are some things in life that I have so much patience for (kids for one, which I am SO grateful for), and other things that I don't have so much patience for. One of them is this whole being single thing. It's not that I am in such a big rush to get married, it's that I want to be someone's number one. I want to be someone's top priority and I want someone who loves me enought to WANT to marry me one day.

I haven't ever believed that there is one specific person out there who is the only person in the world that can make me happy, however I do believe that there is someone out there that will make me feel like that. Anyone that knows me very well knows that I thought I found that person once and it didn't work out. I'm not bitter about things ending, because it wasn't meant to be. What I am bitter about is that I was willing to do anything for him and his family and allowed myself to love him with all of my heart and to take on his family as my own, only to find out that they could care less about me. I'm bitter about that because now when I do find the person that actually wants me to a part of his family and deserves me and all that I have to offer, it is going to be hard to let him and his family in to my life 100%, but I know that it will happen.

Lots of my friends have gotten married and I often wonder if I will ever find the person that loves me enought to never want to spend one day without me. Every time I go to the temple and do baptisms for the dead I always wonder what it will be like to one day be taken through the temple with my best friend to get my endowments out and then shortly thereafter be sealed to him for time and all eternity. Well to that person out there, I have some stuff that I want you to know...

I promise to be your best friend every single day no matter what is going on in our lives. I will love you and have a deeper appreciation for you than you could ever imagine. I will live my life in a way that will allow us and our future children to be together for an eternity, because there is no way I am going to want to let you go at the end of life on earth. I will be the best mom to our children that I know how to be. I'm not promising that I will be perfect because I know I will make an abundance of mistakes along the way, but not one day will go by that I won't try to be the most amazing mom. I will try to make you laugh every single day, I think I am actually pretty funny. I am a fairly decent cook although I have burned a few things, but I'm sure it will get better as time goes on. I love sports so I will never complain about watching them with you (but please just watch a chick flick or Disney movie with me every now and then). I promise to always be honest with you. I will try to make you fall more in love with me each day. I will never expect you to do anything for me that I can't do for you. And last but not least, I will make you happy and proud to say that I am your wife.

Now for all of the things that I have promised you, I expect the same in return. And I know that if you love me enough to promise me and eternity, that you will be more than happy to do those things for me. I know that your out there and maybe I have met you, and maybe I haven't. But for now I will be here, waiting patiently....

The Most Amazing Woman I Know

Mom's are great for so many reasons and every day I swear I think of 50 more reasons why I love mine so much! If I listed all of the reasons, you would read this post for the next 100 years so I will keep it short and sweet, but here are just a few of the things that I absolute adore and admire about my mom...

-She is ALWAYS happy
-She knows every single one of my flaws (probably more so than me) and loves me anyway
-She is beautiful inside and out
-She is absolutely hilarious
-She takes walks with me
-She is a great shopping buddy
-She is honest
-She can always make me smile
-She is so unbelievably strong
-She comes and visits me at my apartment
-She teaches me daily
-She laughs at the same stupid jokes that I laugh at
-She has girls day with me
-Her faith and testimony are unstoppable
-She has managed to make Sterling and I both feel like her favorite (but I really am)
-She makes sure to talk to me every single day
-She is selfless
-She encourages me to follow my heart
-She is sincere
-SHE IS MY BEST FRIEND

Those are just a few of the things that I admire about my mama. Every day I wonder how in the world I got lucky enough to be blessed with her as a mom. I'm not usually an arrogant person, but everyone in the world she be jealous of me because I have gotten the opportunity to laugh, talk, cry, smile, and so many other things with this amazing woman every single day of my entire life. Whenever people that know my mom meet me, they always say "You are a mini-me version of Ros. You are just like her!" And I always give a little chuckle and say thanks. But from know on when people say that, I am going to give them a sincere thank you with the biggest smile I have in me. Because being compared to her is the greatest compliment anyone could ever give me. She is so amazing and I love her more and more each and every day. If you ever get the chance to know her whether it be for the first time or if it is to get to know her better than you already do, do yourself a favor and don't pass it up! Your life will be better because of it. I love you Mom!

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us when adversity takes the place of prosperity when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."

--Washington Irving

Love These Days

I have said it on here a million and one times, so this makes a million and two. I LOVE THESE KIDS!!! They are the greatest ever. I asked them if they had ever been ice blocking and they said no and so I knew I would have to take them. They all loved it and weren't scared at all to tackle the big hills. I love every second I get to spend with them. This was a great way to spend our last day of Summer together before school started for all of us except Ellie, the lucky little girl still has one more year. These kids are amazing and I love all of the adventures we have together!

Aunt Christie

My Aunt Christie passed away on Tuesday August 3, 2010. It threw my entire family for a loop and we all miss her dearly. She had the most gravitating personality of anyone I have ever met and I don't think that there is anyone out there that didn't fall in love with her the instant they met her. Every thing about her was so fun and happy and you couldn't help but want to be around her. I am going to miss getting massages and going to lunch with her and my mom on a regular basis. I couldn't help but smile every time I was around her. She was such a caring person and if you were ever sad around her, you wouldn't be for long because she would always think of away to make you smile. Her memorial was great and it was so good to get to hear the stories and memories of her from the rest of her family, friends, and co-workers. Whenever she was leaving anywhere she would never say good bye because good bye was too permanent. Instead she would always say, "See you in a minute". I miss her very much and I can not wait to see her in a minute.

Sammy Bear

Sam was one of the most amazing people I have ever met. He had such a big heart and was a friend to everyone he met. He was one of my best friends and we were able to talk to each other about anything and everything. He touched the lives of so many people and I am so grateful that he was a part of my life and that I was a part of his. I will never ever forget him and the memories that we made together. He was like a giant teddy bear that was always so full of love, that is why I appropriately called him Sammy Bear. The second Sam walked into the room the whole place would light up and he always had a good vibe about him. He was the life of the party and everyone always loved to be around him. I am going to miss his smile, his contagious laugh, the continuous jokes that were always coming out of his mouth, and so very much more. I cherish every moment that I ever got to spend with him here on earth and now I am patiently waiting for the day to come when I will get to see my little Sammy Bear again.

Samuel Kinney Jessop

September 3, 1989-June 21 2010

Meagan and Parker tied the knot

On May 21st one of my best friends Meagan married one of my newly acquired best friends Parker. They got sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake temple. I am so happy for them and they are perfect for each other. When they first got engaged I was so afraid that this was going to be the end of one of the greatest friendships I have ever had. But little did I know I was going to gain another best friend, not lose one. Parker is so awesome and he fits in with our group perfectly. As soon as they got married I found out that Gabi (Meg and I's partner in crime) is engaged to her honey Taylor. Taylor is kind of the same story as Parker. He is so perfect for Gabi and they bring the best out in each other. Parker and Tay are such a great new addition to our little group and I am so happy that they are both in it forever! I love our nights that we spend together, even though I am the 5th wheel haha :). Congratulations to my two best friends! I am so happy for you and I love you both! Welcome to the club Parker and Tay! Hang on tight because it is going to be one crazy ride!!!!

The newlyweds coming out of the temple

Meg, Mor, Gab

Bridesmaids

Gabi and Tay

summer and a new beginning

YIPPEE!!!! SCHOOL IS OVER!!! And to top it all off, I got a 4.0! I am so excited that this wonderful day has finally come. This going to be my first summer off of school since I graduated high school and I am so thrilled! I am so excited to spend the summer with my friends and the new people I meet along the way! The greatest part is that my BFF Kirstin is moving home in 2 days and I am ecstatic! We always have the best adventures together and we already have a trip to California planned for my birthday! My summer started off with watching the Stephens kids for a week while their parents went to Cabo. It couldn't have come at a better time because they always make me laugh and it was a great way to occupy my time and get my mind of things! I have a feeling that this summer is going to be one of the best ones yet!

Spring Break = VEGAS!!!

This year for Spring Break, I needed exactly that a BREAK!!! So my mom, Sterling and I decided that we would hit up good ol' Las Vegas. We all had so much fun spending time together. Our first night there we checked into the hotel and then went and hit up the casino. Yes ladies and gentlemen I am a rebel and gambled without being 21! This crazy Asian dealer asked me for my I.D. at my very first table so I had to leave, but after that it was smooth sailing. After some gambling that night we went to a comedy show and we all loved it. There were three guys that performed, the first one was not so great, the second one was really funny, and the third one was absolutely hilarious. The next day was a fun filled day, it was my most favorite because we started the day of with SHOPPING! Luckily for me Sterling is a great brother and put up with it for about an hour and half before he left to go gamble. Ros and I shopped for a few more hours and got some cute stuff. I was so sad because I found this Chanel ring that I absolutely loved but they didn't have it in my size, but I decided it was okay because I can always hit up Chanel.com and find it there haha. After some intense shopping, we went and layed by the pool for a few hours and just relaxed and read our books. When we were done at the pool we went back to the room and got ready to go out that night. We went to dinner and then we went to The Blue Man Group. All of us agreed that it was amazing and we would definitely go to it again. We all were so intrigued with it the whole time and laughed throughout the whole thing. After the show was over we went over to The Stratosphere and got unlimited passes to all of the rides there. We rode them for hours and this sexy beast of a guy complete with beer belly, a bald head, and only about half of his teeth hit on Ros. We all had a good laugh about that one! We stayed out super late that night and made it a good end to the trip. We all had a blast and we were sad to leave but at the same time it is also good to go home.

Shopping at the Bellagio
Waiting for The Blue Man Group to start

After the show covered in paper

Updates of my adventures!

It has been a few months since my last post and I have a lot of catching up to do! I have been so busy with school and the holidays that I didn't have time to breathe, let alone blog! So much has happened in the past few months and I have loved every minute of it. Here is a little recap of what happened...

- Maggie got baptized! It was such a special day and I am so grateful that I got to be a part of it with her. I feel way bad that I don't have any pictures of this. She asked me to talk at it so I was a little bit too worried about that and didn't take my camera.

- I finished my first semester of the elementary education program at UVU. I was so nervous about finals and everything because it was a lot of work with 21 credit hours but I managed to pull it off with all A's except for one B+... dang psychology!

- The week after school ended Zac came home!!! It was the longest day of my life. His plane was supposed to get in at about 8:30 but it got delayed until after 10:00! But after two years of waiting I knew that two more hours wouldn't kill me! Zane and I went and decorated an over pass earlier in the day but it was so foggy on the way home from the airport that Zac couldn't even see it. But it's the thought that counts right? haha But it is amazing to have him home! I absolutely love it!




- Then there was Christmas. It was so much fun this year and I loved getting to spend time with my family! It was great!

- On January 1st Sawyer turned 10! I can't even believe how old he is and how big he has gotten. I remember watching him for the first time when he was two weeks old and I haven't gone longer than about 5 days without seeing him since. I absolutely love him and I am so grateful that I get to be a part of his life and have him be a part of mine. He is just like a little brother to me and I wouldn't have it any other way.



- After the beginning of the year I made the move back down to Provo. I really have had a lot of fun. Thanks to my dad and Jordan for moving all of my stuff down for me and to my mom for helping me get it all moved in. It is a good experience to be down here in a college town (even though I venture home at least once a week) and getting to know some new people down here. I am having a blast and will post more about my adventures as they come along!