Being 20!!!

What is it like being 20?

Its. Like. Heaven!

Its like sleeping in...
Its like showering in a shower with two heads! (Which by the way is very luxurious.)
Its like going to the pool and tanning.
Its like going to the beach and tanning.
Its like taking fun roadtrips and listening to my favorite music!
Its like playing card games with my mom all day long!
Its like WINNING card games all day long! (hahahaha)
Its like watching TLC and Chopped!
Its like going to the spa!
Its like being on vacation! Oh wait, its exactly like being on Vacation!!!

On my 20th birthday, my parents had planned to let me go to California with some of my best friends. I had been planning on the vacation of a lifetime since about April... but some things changed last minute. It ended up being just me and my mom, and let me tell you, it was the BEST VACATION EVER!!! My mom and I had so much fun! We got there Friday evening and just took the night to chill. Saturday we went to the Outlet mall and got some fun things! Then we went to the movies and saw The Help! Sunday we just chilled, we watched a lot of Chopped and just hung out and played games. Monday we went to the spa and the beach, Tuesday we spent a lot of time by the pool, Wednesday the beach again, and Thursday the pool again! It was all about spending time in the sun! I really didn't even get all the burned, just tan! (kinda!) Thursday afternoon we drove back and my mom is on her way back to Cali right now for a cousins wedding. I am just chilling in my parents house right now waiting for Kyle and his daughter to come over! This morning I went out by our pool and finished reading my book! Even though I'm not in Cali, I'm still on vacation!!!

I have a feeling that being 20 is going to be the best year for me! I am super excited for two main parts of this year. 1) I am going to get my bachelors degree this year. 2) I am going to get my MISSION CALL this year!!! Like I said, I think being 20 is going to be the best year EVER!!!

Two Weeks Notice

Here is my two week notice!

Dear Rexburg, you have 2 weeks to get all this crappy weather out of the way. When I come back next semester it better not be here. OR ELSE! (jk, how do I threaten the weather... really!)

Dear male population (and some females too), you have 2 more weeks to talk about this Madness that goes on in March. Luckily now that BYU is out I won't be hearing as much about this Mr. Jimmer guy. I have gotten to the point that I pretty much zone out when I hear his name... lets be honest people, I DON'T CARE!!! And last night, having to watch him with his weird band-aid on his chin OVER American Idol... well that was just the last straw. No more Ms. Nice Girl.... American Idol takes priority over Jimmer. Sorry Jimmer but it just does. (side rant... I CAN'T BELIEVE the judges saved that weird leprechaun Casey! Saves are meant to be used when there is a really good top 4, not when the bad person gets kicked off during the top 11! Crazies!)

Dear classes, you have 2 weeks left! And yet inside of me I feel like you are never going to end. I hate you. Honestly, I have never hated a group of classes more so than this semester. Usually I have one or two classes, Accounting, or Business Communications, that I can't stand. But having a semester full of stupid classes is just about killing me! 2 more weeks, and I will never think about you dumb classes ever again! :P

Dear current roommates, we only have 2 weeks left together. This really does make me sad, and I'm sorry for bailing out on you and moving to American Manor. Its not personal I promise, I just desperately need a change. I will miss you dearly and promise to still hang out with you.

Dear future roommate (Tamazine) - ONLY 2 MORE WEEKS UNTIL WE ARE ROOMMATES!!! Literally I am thrilled at the thought of this! We are going to have the most fun EVER!!!

Dear Arizona, in 2 weeks... I will be with you! :D

Dear Mortensen family, 2 (and a half) more weeks until I'm with you! I have not wanted a Spring Break to happen more so than I want this one to happen! I can't wait to spend time with my favorite older sister (and the fetus inside of her) and my favorite nieces! We are going to have a blast! I especially can't wait until I watch American Idol with Angell and my mom, because that just sounds like the best time ever!

Dear Greys Anatomy, I just started watching you in the middle of the 3rd season last night, but I suspect we have a good next 2 weeks in front of us. Once I move out, I will no longer be able to watch you with Brittney's netflix, so lets make the next 2 weeks count!

Best Break Ever!

I have absolutely loved everything about this week! Spending time with my family, enjoying the 60 degree weather, eating food I didn't pay for! Everything has been so wonderful!

On Saturday my parents took my to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the ASU Gammage theater, and it was so much fun!

On Sunday I got really sick at church and almost threw up during Sacrament meeting, so I came home early which was super depressing because I was really looking forward to going to Vintage Ranch Ward and seeing all my old friend.

Monday I went to ASU with Kyle and went to his Kinesology class and then went to Institute. I was so excited because I got to see my old seminary teacher Sister Brinkerhoff teach again! Then Kyle and I went out to lunch and then played games with my mom.

Tuesday my mom and I went to the movies, and then Keri and I went to the temple. Then we went to Bahama Bucks!

Wednesday I hung out at Kyle's apartment! We also went to Bahama Bucks! I love that place! Then I went to the store with my Dad and we picked out a bunch of new lights to put on our house to change up the lighting display a little bit. Then my BFF Amy came over and we went to Sonic and then went to our other friend Janessa's house to watch her open her mission call! She is going to Warsaw Poland!

Then Thursday my dad and I put the lights on the house (and missed the entire Macys Day Parade... I'm not bitter though!) Then my cousins came over and we had the best day ever! We ate dinner from 2 to 3, talked from 3 to about 4, went to see Unstoppable at like 4:30, then we came home, ate some pie, and played games!

Friday was really fun because I went shopping with Keri and completely finished my Christmas shopping. Then Friday night, all of my high school best friends came over and we talked forever! I don't know how I would have survived 8th grade and all of High School without the help of my best friends Amy, Alix, Morgan and Staci! Oh how I love them!!!

Today was supposed to be it. I was going to hop on a flight and get into Salt Lake about right now, and then drive to Rexburg. But I guess there is a big snow storm that my parents didn't want me flying home in, so instead I will be coming back first thing Monday morning. And I mean 1st thing, my flight is at 6am. So I have to leave at about 4:30 am... YIKES! Thankfully I got someone to teach my relief society lesson tomorrow, and I got people to cover all my hours at work on Monday. So I just have to make it back for my classes! And if I miss those, I'm not going to be too heartbroken!

I LOVE THANKSGIVING!!!

Battleship!

Rememeber in the spring when I posted about how much I love playing Softball! Well I have found something else to take its place while the field is covered in snow. Battleship!

Imagine... an indoor swimming pool, 8 to 10 canoes in the pool with 3 to 4 people in each canoe flinging water at the other canoes. Its basically the coolest thing EVER! I heard about this at the beginning of the semester, so I went to the meeting for the captains, and I made a team. My team has my roommate Gaby Judd, our FHE brother Zac, and the EQP, Jimmy! And basically... WE DOMINATE! There are three rounds of 15 minutes each. Whoever is still standing after the 15 minutes gets 3 points. If you get out in the first 5 minutes you don't get a point, 5 to 10 you get 1 point, and then 10 t0 15 2 points. I think thats how they do it. Anyway, we lasted the entire first 2 rounds, and got out towards the end of the 3rd round, becasue one team totally cheated and pulled our canoe down... what the heck people! We ended up getting 2nd place, 1 point behind the cheating team! haha

Gaby and I sit at the end of the canoe and we hold big sleds as shields. Zac and Jimmy are in the middle of the canoe with little garabge pails that they fill up with water and chuck at the other canoes. Eventually the other canoes will get off balance and tip over, or they will just get so full of water that they will sink. Basically it is the funnest thing ever! We have played two games already, and only have a couple more weeks of it.

Best part of the whole night, after we got sunk during the 3rd round, we were pulling our canoe up from the bottom of the pool and decided to pull a Pirates of the Caribean and get under the canoe and talk to each other, and OH MY GOSH, it was the funnest thing ever! Everything echoed like crazy, and we were laughing so so so hard. I wanted to talk, but I couldn't stop laughing! So we just stood there in the pool under our canoe laughing for like 5 minutes, and finally Zac started pounding on the outside, so we got out and pulled our canoe out of the pool.

After the game was over, Gaby and I got out of our wet clothes and bundled up to go outside in the below freezing, I think it was like 23* or something, and then we went and got ice cream! haha, thats how awesome we are!!! So ya, I love Battleship!

Its The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Well it happened... it is winter time. And not like according to the calender Winter, because that is still a while away. I'm talking about big coat wearing, snow falling, nose freezing, hot chocolate drinking, crying when you walk outside... winter! Today was the first snow fall of the season. So to celebrate, I went and got myself a hot chocolate from the Crossroads! Perfect!
Here are things I am looking forward to this season...

Drinking more hot chocolate, from the crossroads and from Cocoa Bean!

Going sledding, ice skating, having snowball fights, and SNOWBOARDING!!!

Taking pictures with my roommates in the snow!

Seeing the Temple with the grounds as white as the building!

Watching Elf, a Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and How to Train Your Dragon (I know its not Christmas-y, I just really love that one!)

Now for all of you that think I am a little too optimistic, here are some things I'm not looking forward to.

The day that it is too cold to even snow...

The feeling you get when you walk outside and your nose hairs turn to ice (sorry if thats too descriptive for you, it really happens though.)

The snow that I will have to scrap off my car every time I get into it, and then driving in that snow!

And the slippery ice that makes me slip and fall, (I remember thinking, Hey! I am predominately slipping, and then you tripped, ya, we don't do that!) hahahahahahaha

Anyway, I am excited and scared for the snow to be here for real!

You know you're busy when....

You know you're busy when....

You wake up, get ready, go on campus, and its dark.
You stay on campus all day and when you leave, its dark again.

When you get to school, the Presidents car isn't there yet, and when you leave, his car has already left. Dang it!

Your meals start consisting of a bowl of cereal for breakfast, a slim fast shake for lunch, and a piece of bread with peanut butter on it for dinner.

You no longer have time to just sit down and enjoy a meal, everything has to be multi-tasked with something else. Like eating lunch while you take a quiz or eating dinner while walking to FHE.

You start to feel guilty just for watching a 30 minute episode of The Office on Thursday night because you should be doing something better with your time.

You HAVE to do homework or study or do something else while you watch a movie (How to Train Your Dragon is the best movie to do Statics Homework too! :D)

You want to ask a guy to hang out with you, but then realize you have no time to hang out anyway! :(

You have homework due in an hour and you still haven't started it.

On Saturday, instead of enjoying a day off, you prepare a treat for a ward activity, a talk for sacrament meeting, and a lesson for Relief Society, both to be given on the same Sunday!

Yes, all these things have happened to me, pretty much in the last two weeks too! This is the way I stay sane when I am as busy as I have been this semester....

President Uchtorf gave the best talk, at least for me, this last conference.
Of Things That Matter Most

He said, "Therefore, it is good advice to slow down a little, steady the course, and focus on the essentials when experiencing adverse conditions..... May I suggest that you reduce the rush and take a little extra time to get to know yourself better. Walk in nature, watch a sunrise, enjoy God’s creations, ponder the truths of the restored gospel, and find out what they mean for you personally."

My new thing is to take at least an hour each day just to enjoy living! These hours have consisted of going out to ice cream in the evening with my roommate and then going on a walk, taking the hour in between my classes to go to the Gardens, lie down in the grass, and talk on the phone to family or friends, play sports (softball is over again, but Battleship starts next week, there will be a post on that soon!), and just spending time not stressing or doing school work! It has been amazing how happier I have been since I have started this little experiment. I literally had days a few weeks ago where I woke up at 6, went from work, to class, to the library, to another class, back to work, to another class, home for 10 minutes, to FHE, and then went to my room to study until 11 when I went to bed, and then woke up the next morning and did the SAME thing!!! I was so stressed and not having any fun at all! Even though I did have a minor melt down yesterday, my roommates helped me to calm down, enjoy life, and to have fun! I am so thankful to have amazing people in my life to help me!

I love that I didn't schedule anything on Fridays, because today is my catch up day, I have a huge to do list that I didn't quite get to during the week, so I'm gonna go get started on that, and when I am done, my roommates and I are going to go shopping in Idaho Falls! yay!!!

Clean Christine

The first thing my mom did when she got her new Volvo was road trip us all the way to the grand canyon. When my dad got his new BMW, we went on multiple road trips, up in the superstition mountains, down to Bisbee, and then he went (WITHOUT ME) to Yellowstone! Well now it was my turn! Christine was begging me to take her somewhere outside the little Rexburg area. And since I love her so much, I agreed! It was supposed to be a big roommate trip, but 2 of my roommies backed down, so we had room in my car for more people. So I invited my friend Thomas to tag along. Then my other two roommates backed down. So it ended up just being me and Thomas and Christine! We went to Jackson Hole Wyoming, and it was such a fun trip!





BIGFOOT!!! AAAHHHHHH............



It was such a gorgeous drive. I should have taken more pictures of the trip but my battery was pretty close to dying on account of leaving it in the living room and having my roommates take multiple pictures of themselves! haha

Anyway, after we got home, Christine was pretty gross looking. She probably, no joke, had 50+ bugs die on her. Did I care about the bugs, NO! I cared about her poor windshield. Also we broke my rule of no eating in the car. I was getting pretty hungry on our way into the town, so we ate some crackers, and some Sour Patch Kids. Both leaving lots of crummys on the ground. :( I wanted to give it a carwash the second I got home, but it was pretty cloudy. The next two mornings I have woken up to tons of water spots all over her. Dang it rain! But today was a really pretty and clear day, so I decided after FHE to give her a car wash! I went to this place on the outskirts of town, I mean, it was like past wal*mart... crazy huh! But anyway, it was all very exciting. My roommate Heather and I had a blast! I got the deluxe wash, which was only the 2nd out of 4, I didn't think Christine was dirty enough for the $7.00 one....





After that fun adventure, we went to the little vacuum machine, put in a dollar, and vacuumed out all the crummys. I did my side and then I handed it to Heather and she did her side! Right after that we went to Wal*mart and I bought some wipes, it was in a package of two, and it was like, wipes for the window, and wipes for the dash! I'm pretty sure I am spoiling her, but Christine has been nothing but good to me! She deserves it!

Oh and guess what else, she has just gone over 500 miles.... they grow up so fast!!!

*BTW, if you didn't already know, Christine is the name of my car!!!

One Whole Year

I cannot believe that it has been a whole year since I graduated high school. Looking back at it it seems just a few weeks ago. So much has happened since then! One of my favorite things to do at the end of a year is go through and make a little diagram of the huge events that have happened in my life since then! So I thought I would do that again.

After I graduated, the next biggest thing that happened was Summer '09. I went to Ohio (twice) and California. I saw Wicked (which was the best show ever!), and the David + Demi tour. Then I turned 18! WOOHOO! Yay for being an adult! Shortly after that, I MOVED TO IDAHO!!!

While in Idaho, live moved super duper fast. Before I knew it, it was November. I went home for Thanksgiving. In a way it was like I never left, but at the same time, I knew that AZ was no longer my home, and that I was supposed to be in Idaho. Like right after that, I got hired at the health center, and then after that, I MET DAVID ARCHULETA! And then it was Christmas! And oh what a glorious Christmas that was! My favorite part was definalty the after Christmas shopping that I got to do with Keri and Natalee!

Right after that I was back for my off-track Winter semester. I worked a bunch, took classes at night, and snowboarded all the time! Basically it was one of the best 4 months of my life. I was kinda board during this semseter, but now that I'm busy again, I look back and wish I had done more with my life then sleep in and snowboard. (not that I regret either of them, there was just more I could have been doing.)

This semester included some fun memories, like meeting Brooke White, going to Park City with the family, and surprising Keri for her birthday! What a great time! After that semester I got to spend Spring Break at my grandparents house and I got to see my sister Angell and her little kiddos. I love them so much!

And then before I knew it, it was Spring Semester, and I'm half way done with my sophmore year at college. I am crazy busy, and working all the time, but life has NEVER been better. I can't remember a time where I have been happier in my life. Like honeslty, I'm not just saying that! My roommates make me happy, my classes are going well, I get along with EVERYONE at work, and life has just been amazing lately! So ya! Thats basically it!

1 year since High School and life is going good!!! :)

Saturday is a Special Day!!!

What a wonderful day! It started with me sleeping in until about 11:00!!!! Amazing! Then I jumped out of bed and ate some breakfast, got all dressed up, and went to the temple with Aubrey! Then we got home and did a little homework. I wasn't crazy busy this weekend since I had 2 tests and a quiz to take this week, so I had less homework! I was originally planning on taking both tests today, but then I decided not to put them off, so I did my business on Thursday, and my accounting quiz and science test on Friday. I did great on both my business and accounting exams, unfortunately, someone ticked me off at work and I went into my science test with a really bad mood and ended up not doing so great. I have never gotten a C on a test before, and was SUPER upset when I saw that as my grade. Stupid C.... Anyway, back on track here, so since I didn't have a ton of homework or anything to do today, we went and spent the day at the park. It was an amazing day, the weather was PERFECT! It was the kinda day where if I was living in AZ with this weather I would wear a sweatshirt, but today I wore shorts and flip flops and laid outside in the sun! I loved it! We decided that we need to go to the park at least once a weekend! And we also made a list of things we need next time we go. Like today we had sodas from Horkleys, but next time we are also going to get a pizza from Little Ceasers, and a Frisbee. Also we need more blankets, because there were 5 of us trying to fit on 1! haha. But ya, it was the best. I need sunglasses though so I can lay down and have my face in the sun without my eyes dying. Aubrey let me use hers for a bit, and that was way nice of her. I just layed there for the longest time! I loved it! While we were at the park I crossed the street and went to Jimmy Johns for lunch/dinner! It became a picnic! So much fun!

After this we came home and went to Stake Conference where we were blessed to hear some AMAZING talks, and tomorrow our Stake Conference broadcasted from Salt Lake for the entire eastern side of Idaho, so that should be good too!

After that we went to our FHE brothers place and played some games! It was such a great day!

So ya, here are some pics from the park!



This funny little boy was just standing there staring at the girl taking a nap. She woke up and he still just kept looking at her. It was so funny!



Aubrey eating her Jimmy Johns day old bread, its only 60 cents for a whole loaf! :D



A few of my favortite things, my old navy flip flops, my soda cup, and Jimmy Johns!



Me and Lauren!!! Squishing faces is so much fun!!!!

Learn Something New Every Day!!

Fun new Life Fact I learned today!

Umbrellas are used for something other than providing you with shade during a soccer game and the beach...



They do a very good job at keeping you dry when its raining outside!!!



Well at least they should do a good job when they are not turning upside down and flying off like Mary Poppins...

I hate the rain!

Another fun fact for the day!

People that say they love this kind of weather must clincally be insane! Who would love getting all cute in the morning and walking outside just to get soaked. NOT FUN!
Who loves waking up to a gloomy, cloudly, dark day. ALSO NOT FUN!

We don't sing a song called, There is Cloudy/Rainy/Yucky in my Soul Today... We sing that There is SUNSHINE in my Soul!

I can't WAIT for the sun to come out again!!!

Snowboarding!

Today was my last day snowboarding for this winter. If I wanted to I could go up again on a Saturday because I do have a season pass that lasts for another month, but unless the temperature drops and a ton of snow comes, I don't think I will. It was a good last day, except for the weather was not the greatest. I am used to boarding in the teen weather, one time it was even like 5 below at the top, and I was totally fine with that. Today it was in the 40s, and it was so gross. It did not feel like snowboarding in Wyoming, it felt like I was playing soccer in Pheonix, in August. Okay, maybe thats not the best comparison, but it was really hot. But the best part of my day was when I saw a sign that said photographer, and I saw the person take a picture of me. At the end of the day I went to see my pic, and they were selling them for like 20 dollars, and I was like, no thanks! But they put them online, so I kinda took some them from that!


So ya, this is me doing my most favorite thing EVER!!! Thanks again parents for getting me into this fabulous sport. I can't wait to have kids of my own and take them on ski trips! Best part of the year for sure!!!

Confused

• Where is all the snow going? It used to be all snow, and now its like... gone!

• Also... I lost an hour of sleep the other night, and I DID NOT like it.... what the heck is wrong with the world, changing the hours on us. Arizona knows how to do it!

• Was the weather man lying when he said it was going to be 50 tomorrow? I hope not!!!

But ya, I'm not really confused, I understand that snow melts, and daylight savings time is normal, I guess... but whatever!!!


:D love ya!

Amazing Weather!!!

Today has been some of the best weather we have had this whole semester. The sun was up, it was in the high 30s, and some of the snow was actually melting. I was so happy that it was such a nice day, but at the same time I was worried because I haven't had enough of the snow! Not all of it melted, but I realized that soon enough it would, and I need to soak up all the snow I can. So today I went and played in it and had my roommie Kalie take pictures of me in the snow, so that I could remember the amazing weather! So here are some of my snow-photo shoot pics!








So I know I look fat in these pics, but my jacket is just really poofy! haha... So ya, that was me having fun!!!