Clue #11 that your life is great:

You're brushing your teeth with your new singing Justin Bieber toothbrush and forget to press the button that makes the Biebster serenade you with your choice of two of your favorite JB songs (Baby and U Smile).

All because you're too busy thinking about how darn happy you are :)

Sort of terrified this is going to happen to me. This is why I'm afraid of giving Christmas gifts!

It's been one of THOSE days.

You know, the kind of day when:

-Your teacher tells you not to come to first period

-Your mom lets you skip second period

-You're excused for third and fourth period

-You drive to and from Salt Lake TWICE (once in traffic!) and don't get lost or kill anyone

-You get a perfect score on your AP Stats free response practice

-You find the PERFECT parking spot at the Conference center and get to park for FREE

-You get to spend all day with your Xela/Phoenix family singing at Temple Square

And to top it all off:

-President Uchtdorf listens to your choir and says "I didn't know we had angels in Bountiful."

Yep, pretty much a fantastic day :)

I take it back.

Harold is having battery issues. He only turns on if he's plugged into the wall. . . so. . . yeah.
Back to Hermana Regis's phone.
Dang it.

IT LIVES!!

My phone - yes, you remember Harold. He sent random texts to people and went swimming in the sink last Thursday - IS ALIVE!!

Now this may not sound like something to be excited over, but I'm actually really really happy! Now I have all my pictures and contacts and locked texts.

Yayyy!!

And....yeah. So it's back to the old number for those of you who updated your contact information. Sorry :)

Once upon a time

A clumsy girl dropped her phone in the sink while the water was running.

Oh well. I needed a new phone anyway. . . . . .

Sometimes your day just sucks.

It's no one's fault. It's just life.

And really, the only thing to do is cry a little, eat some ice cream, and listen to Justin Bieber.

And be thankful that you're blessed with amazing people in your life.

This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for:

Just a few things that make me happy:

1. My dog :)
2. Christmas music
3. Popcorn
4. Getting random thoughtful texts :)
5. My sisters (aka my best friends)
6. Pandora - especially my Hunter Hayes and Joshua Radin stations. Perfection.
7. The little twerp named Thomas :)
8. Cookie Dough
9. Making exact change
10. Holding sleeping babies
11. My Canadian brother-in-law
12. Making hair mustaches. Don't judge me.
13. My boss, Miss Jacque, and the kids in the daycare.
14. Disney movies
15. Family Home Evening
16. The color purple
17. To Make You Feel My Love by Jon Peter Lewis.

And. . yeah. Happy Tuesday :)

In other news....

{no, this post is not about Kevin and thermal underwear. thank heavens.}

Stella is officially bumpered!! Not gonna lie, I kinda miss being able to recognize her easily in the parking lot. But I'll take a bumper over a few minutes of searching any day.

Kate leaves for the MTC tomorrow. What?? Where the heck did those eight weeks go? She gave an AWESOME farewell address on Sunday. She's going to be an incredible missionary.
Also, a little scary fact for ya: in the last two months, 5 -yes, I said FIVE- missionaries have been hit by cars in her mission {Texas McAllen, Spanish speaking}. Two of them died. Yes, we're worried as heck, but if that's where the Lord needs her, that's where she'll be!

I donated blood for the first time on Friday! And I didn't even pass out!! Plus I got a really cool t-shirt and snacks :) Thank heavens Steph is HOSA president and was there to hold my hand :)
Apparently my family thinks I'm bad at giving hugs. Rude.
It's partially because of this picture:

and partially because last night I accidentally shouldered Trav in the throat and elbowed Andrew in the nose while trying to hug them.
Okay. So there might be more truth to that statement than I'm willing to admit.

The best part of my sisters coming home? Puppy piles and group naps :)
Thanks Bailey {Lucy's roommate} for being willing to Dilley up and snuggle.
{pic from last thanksgiving. boy was that comfortable}
also. listen to this song and don't smile. I dare you.

Sometimes....

You have a really rough day. Like REALLY rough.

But then you read the beautiful, inspired words of a hymn and it all seems somehow okay.

Lean On My Ample Arm {LDS Hymns, #120}

Lean on my ample arm,

O thou depressed!

And I will bid the storm

Cease in thy breast.

Whate'er thy lot may be

On life's complaining sea,

If thou wilt come to me

Thou shalt have rest.

Lift up thy tearful eyes,

Sad heart, to me;

I am the sacrifice

Offered for thee.

In me thy pain shall cease,

In me is thy release,

In me thou shalt have peace

Eternally.

So yeah.

It's not going to be easy.

But I'll get through this :)

Three things. . .

I'm grateful for:
my incredible family
my awesome friends
the gospel


I love:
getting enough sleep
seminary morningsides with Elder C. Scott Grow
Ingrid Michaelson and Mindy Gledhill


I find pointless:
computer technology with Coach Boog
making your bed (I'm just going to get back into it in a few hours. . .
locking my car doors (it's a pain to unlock them all, and trust me Mom, NO ONE is going to steal this car.)

I'm looking forward to:
state 4a football semi-finals (go braves!)
sleepover in my brand new bedroom with my girls!!
11-11-11 (that wish better come true)


I need to do:
start my Dante imitation for AP Lit
apply to BYU
write letters to my missionaries!


I wish I had:
time and money to go shopping in New York and fill my new closet :)
healthier hair (these split ends are REALLY out of hand)
bad eyesight so I could wear these glasses:

www.bonlook.com. adorable, right?

Happy Tuesday :)

Because I'm a slacker and never ever blog

A few Top Things that happened that I haven't gotten around to mentioning:

#1 Awkwardly Fantastic Thing - Halloween Dance with Derek Marsden {yeah, I know. What is it with me and asking sophomores?} We went as "Christmas" and I had a blast. Thanks Derek!

#1 Bitter Sweet Thing - Dallas {one of my best friends and the most genuine person I have EVER met} left for the MTC on Wednesday. I'm so excited for all he's going to do, but I'll miss that kid more than I can say. He's going to be one incredible missionary :)

#1 Choral Thing - First choir concert of the year! We're not exactly the incredible choir we were last year, but we'll get there :) And afterwards, I went on an awkward date-type thing to Pace's with KevKev {not really.....but really} and kicked Tyler and Kendall's butts at Halloween Bingo {we won't mention the Lego Harry Potter board game}.

#1 Terrifying Thing - Halloween means scary things. . .such as junior high choir concerts. 'Nuff said. {also terrifying: this picture. It has "archives" written all over it}

#1 Brave Thing - Football games have been a party and a half! Even though it's getting WAAY too cold to be outside. I must really want to support Hayden Call {#70} or something. . .

#1 Splendid Thing - I really have the best friends in the whole world :) Wouldn't trade these girls for anything

#1 Frustrating Thing - My phone is completely spastic and decided a few weeks ago that it would be a good idea to send texts to people they weren't intended for. A few of the weirdest:

"But then how would you kill me. . . .?"

"I'm just trying to flirt with you, nbd."

"Ew. I don't want to date you. . . "

". . . You know me too well."

All perfectly normal in context of my conversations, but a little sketchy if you get them out of the blue. So if you get something strange, you've been warned.

#1 Spooky Thing - Spent Halloween at Tyler Jean's marathon watching The Twilight Zone {doo-doo-doo-doo} A great night spent with my best friends :)

I forgot how much I miss. . .

• Falling asleep in a bed by myself and waking up to find I'm sharing it with my mom, Katherine, Anne, and Lucille.



• Waking up at 8 a.m. but not leaving bed until almost 10 because I'm busy listening to Melissa tell me about her boy :)



• Fighting with three sisters for the shower (yes, I'm surprised I missed that too)



• Blowing a fuse in the bathroom because there are WAAAY too many straightners/blowdryers/curling irons/iHomes plugged in. Oops.



• Shopping ALL day EVERY day with my three best friends.



• Asking "Is this cute or gross?" and getting the honest answer of "Gross"



• Blasting music in the car and belting at the top of lungs, most of us out of key :)



• Borrowing clothes and lip gloss and hair ties and body sprays :)



• MY SISTERS!!!!!!!

Having sisters is like having best friends you can't get rid of :)

Just a few reasons why my life is completely great

Hometown Glory

So last weekend was Homecoming weekend, and basically the greatest weekend ever.

First, the Homecoming game vs. Highland (who everyone thought was going to destroy us, but we ended up beating 27-3. Atta baby Braves!)

Then there was the dance.

The asking? He covered my driveway with construction paper feet. Yuck.

But one of them had this cute little poem asking me to the dance, so all was forgiven :)

(Plus I got really pretty flowers: sunflowers, my favorite!)

So to answer, I did this:

Times like ten.

Hey, bub. You were asking for it :)

The day activity (no pictures, sorry) was going to Boondocks! Super super fun!

Even though EVERYONE in our group (a total of sixteen people) teamed up again me and Kendall on the bumper boats and we got soaked :)

Then the dance!

Theme: "Hometown Glory"

Okay, I was totally in love with my hair! I've never done up an updo before, so I just felt all classy and grown up and stuff. Loved it :)

Plus I really liked my dress! (and please take note of the black glitter toms. tacky? maybe, but I liked them anyway :)

Then I got to go to the dance with this kid:

One of my very best friends and an absolute gentleman. He was the perfect date and I had SUCH a fun time!!

Thanks for an incredible night Kendall!! By far my favorite dance. You're the greatest :)