I Voted (red checkmark symbol)!!!

I finally got my ballot all filled out, and have completed my first voting experience!!! Dawn asked if I'd taken pictures with it, and I thought it was the best idea. Unfortunately this is the best picture, mug shot style. But still, it's pretty dang cool!

This is a picture of John Deere and the infamous phone call with Mommy. Aparently he's camera shy or something. =)

We crashed the 84th ward Halloween party, and here are a few classic shots of my roomies and I from that night.

Dear Pirates:

To answer the comments on my last blog...
BS, you stink. If your name is BS, then YOU need to find a new way to name things!
And Scott, here is the story of Boom Shadow.
My friend in high school was trying to get into film school, so he had to make a movie. He had all the fancy equipment, the location, the script, and all he needed were some actors. I volunteered, and had a wonderful time filming. One day during shooting, the boom mike's shadow fell into the shot, so my friend turned off the camera and said, in a very monotonous voice,"boom shadow." My fellow actor friend turned to me and asked, "Is that a good thing?" So after every successful take of a scene, he would go "BOOMSHADOW!" in celebration. I thought it was so hilarious, I adopted it as my own exclamatory phrase. To this very day, when something is truly praiseworthy, I will shout boomshadow. If that won't even cut it, I'll have to add a "boomshadow eternal!" The end.

And to the rest of the world: BS= Brandon Michael Smith= John Deere, one of the Pirates

OK, today was such a funny day, but different than I had planned it. I got up "early" to get a jump on my day, did some laundry, and got my books out to study. It was a beautiful day, so I went on the stoop around 10 to eat breakfast and read. BUT THEN, John Deere came over to talk to me, and he just stayed. I told him that I didn't have a sense of smell and he didn't believe me. So I handed him my phone and said, "just call my mom and ask her." Then he actually did it! They talked for like an hour, it was so funny! So I spent all day outside with John Deere and a mixture of other people coming and going. Like really all day, from 10 to about 5. It was so so fun, but I got zero homework done. Brandon threatened to find my blog, so if you've found it... bon traville.

Hope everyone's having a fantastic day!!!

Leesa's hard day

When Leesa was having a hard day due to boy issues, I decided to mourn with her, in the form of watching movies, eating food, and cuddlin' up with her. Have you ever seen the Mormon Pride and Prejudice. The picture below is an undoctored photo, which exactly resembles a scene from that movie. Shades down, jammies on, cookie dough in hand. Beautiful!
Then to make her feel better, all the roommates wrote love/hate letters to our own person of choice, went behind Matt's house, and burned them.
It was actually very clensing.
This is just a picture of the pumpkin I carved. It's shriveled here. When I did it, it didn't look so Nightmare before Christmas. But I still like it.

Random fun pics!

Date night Fall Festival style


Random friend pics

Miriam's birthday celebration

Roommate temple trip

Fort night
Conference


Lot's of cool stuff happened lately, right! I pretty much am living the life. I love my friends, and I'm thankful they worship me! (just kidding Kellie!)

Secret Night

I went to a Postsecret night at Holly's house, and it was so totally fun. It was my best secret night, too. They were good ideas, they looked very postsecrety, I made a lot of them, and I had fun doing it. I put up some of them, and I hope you like them all. I feel just like Frank, if he were to only put up his own.

Mom, I hope you're crying right now. =) And I hope you don't mind that it's pictures of a little boy, instead of a girl.

Also, shout out to Shelley: I miss you!!!

The First Day of School...

Was Awesome!!! Actually, nothing really extraordinary happened, but there were no calamities either. I went to work, then classes and studying on campus, came home to watch an episode of "Numb3rs" with the roomies, went to class again, and came home. I got some school supplies, ate dinner, and avoided doing my homework by writing this post. I finally loaded my pictures from my camera, and I shall now put up the highlights, at least in my eyes. Fine, Blogger, I won't. It's not letting me do pictures or spell check right now, so I'm sorry for the non-excitement and the misspellings.
PS: I got a birthday present form Elliot Claire, and I almost cried it was so wonderful. He sent me a CD with voice recordings of him singing me a really sweet happy birthday, then he told me about the first time we met and other memories of our knowing each other. He said some really sweet things and bore his testimony. Then he put on this song by someone (I can't tell who) and it was such a cute song. OH, he is so great!!! Now I have to think of something equally as awesome to get him. He'll be up here in the MTC in ten days, so I think I'll wait til he's in, then make it all flowery and heart-y, with delicious smelling body spray on it or something. Elliot! Love!

Provo sweet Provo

OK, I'm back in Provo, and it's been pretty chill, yet I've gotten a lot done. Leesa and I got books yesterday, paid tuition, and went shopping, among other fun things. Today I got my background check started for the El Ed application process, which includes getting my fingerprints taken. It was fun, and it was the guy's first time doing it, so he had a bit of a rough time getting the machine to read my prints right. It was awesome. I also got free breakfast at work this morning, leftovers from a staff thing.
I wrote Tim last night, which I haven't done for about a month. It was fun, and I think he's a nice boy. Today Lord Hecklepeck wrote me, and I wrote him back, but it was intentionally boring. I'm trying to make it so he won't want to write me back, because the only way I'll stop is if he stops first. Is my logic faulty? It's fun to talk to him, but it's hard, you know? So I figure I'll wait until I meet all the guys in my ward, then see what happens.
Shout out to Shelley. My first day back in Provo, I already missed you. Tickets for the World of Dance went on sale, and my cultural events buddy is gone. =( But you were totally right about John Mayer's Contiuum. Boomshadow!
I got a haircut today, and I love it. Pictures shall follow shortly.

Home sweet Home

Well, everyone. I'm back in good ol' Redlands. It's been very exciting, going to church, chillin at home, getting my teeth cleaned. Oh, and beginning the Twilight book. I can't really talk about it with Carlie yet, because I tell her where I am, and she asks me if I've gotten to this part yet, Which inevitably gives something away because I have in fact not gotten there yet. Silly Carlie. I mostly just tell Mom where I am and she makes her crazy excited smile at me. I like it.
The drive down with the Mackelprangs was perhaps one of the funnest rides ever. We laughed talked slept ate listened to music told secrets and stories and had many other adventures. The trade off to Dad was a little rough on me, because Dad just wanted to whisk me away, maybe not realizing that it was making me so sad. Eric felt the dad fear too, and gave me a quick hug and a see ya later. In the car with Dad I was holding back tears the whole time. I came home and cried it out to Mom who was lovely and made me feel better to just have someone to tell it all to. I was fine after that and ended up having lots of fun adventures with the fam. Long story short, all can breathe easy. I'm not engaged.
I've been trying to load my pics from birthday-baby James- Eric day-Miscellaneous, but the computer is having some arguments with my camera right now, so we'll try to get that resolved soon.
I can't wait to start the major adventures of this trip. And I'm excited to have Shelley and Rick coming, and truly devastated to not have Holly and Caleb coming. I Know! Holly and Caleb, just jump on the scoo-scoo and come up for the weekend! Perfect. =)
Anyways, the Olympics are awesome and fun as always. Michael Phelps and team's second gold medal was so so so so so dramatic. I loved it. I just feel so magical about the Olympics.
I shall end on this note: I love home cooked food.

fun with the fone

As you may know, I got a new phone yesterday, and can't stop playing with it. Although Boomshadow I was a terrific phone, Boomshadow II is going to be fun too! It came with a headset, which is nice while at work. And it plays music like an iPod. I put some music on it last night, and I thought it would only play it through the earphones, but it'll blast it through the speaker too.

Here are some pictures that Dad was nice enough to let me download from my old phone. They are silly, but awfully sentimental for me. And if I can, I'll put some videos up too.

I love the Provo city library. It is cool on the inside, and has many wondrous things to choose from. Not just paper books, but books on tape and CD, movies of various kinds, DVDs, CDs, and other neat things. And you can check the books out with this cool checker outer doodle that I love to use. I also love my bright yellow library card with a cute froggie on it. Lovebug!

I'm already beginning to make plans for hanging out with Eric Mackelprang (Hecklepreck) in LA when I come home in August. I want to do so many things like go to the Getty, visit the Disney concert hall, but I don't know what he wants to do yet. What other fun things are there to do in LA besides the normal stuff like the Chinese Theater?

My birthday is less than a month away, and I cannot wait to be 2o years old. None of my greatest friends will be there, some being a couple states away, others being 9000+ miles away. All the same, it will be an adventure because it will be my first one away from home. And being on the road or on vacation does not count. I want to have a huge party, but I'm remembering that I don't really like huge parties. What a predicament...

Tim is on my mind as usual. And I realized that if he does get his extension, he'll miss three of my birthdays. Lamebrain. I thought he could be around for my 21st so he could take me drinking. Oh, well.

BTW, has anyone seen this shirt. I realized it was gone, and I miss it. Polo's are my favorite!

I have these random pictures of Holly on my computer. I just thought I'd share with the blogging world.

Four places I go over and over:
-outdoors and nature location
-Crabtree and SAS
-Colony street to frolic
-Disney Land

Four people who e-mail me regularly:
-the parents of all my missionaries
-Grandma
-Mommy
-ads

Four of my favorite places to eat:
-in a park (picnic style)
-the Old Spaghetti Factory
-Subway
-Grandma's House

Four places I would rather be right now:
-Partying it up with all my Colony buds
-on a run through a wooded glen
-dear ol' Redlands
-in a state of REM

Four people I talk to on a daily basis:
-LEEEEEEEEESA
-My flavor of the week boy
-My stylist
-Any various member of my family

Four TV shows I watch over and over:
-M
-A
-S
-H

Four people I’m tagging:
-If Mom hasn't been tagged, than I choose her
-I think everyone I know has been chosen already
-So I'll just stop here
-Wait, maybe Roxy ... Yes, Roxy.

Delights

This was created on Saturday, but due to technical difficulties, posted on Tuesday.

Oh, man. I got like 10 hours of sleep last night, all in a row and I am feeling good! I went to the canyon last night with Leesa and the Mackelprangs for a birthday of Eric's friend. He kept introducing us to people as his best friends. I couldn't tell if he was serious, but I thought it was cute. People also thought that Leesa and Clark were a couple, and Eric and I were a couple. Funny biz. Here's Eric with the spoon he just broke in half!

Here's who is really a couple.

Our ward is going to the Manti pageant tonight, and I am way stoked. I can't wait to build memories and experiences with my spring friends. People will be leaving sadly in about a week, like the Mackelprangs and Stan. It will be more lonesome without them. But at least I still got the roomies! (going clockwise: Julie Leesa Trisha Sarah Amanda) (I just realized that I'm the only one that doesn't end in -ah)

Shout out to Mom for sending me the cutest reading prize ever. I was so confused but excited when I first opened it, but then I read your cute letter and now I'm just excited. But you didn't have to do that. Hey, maybe I can have a grand prize of coming home, and being able to fly back to Provo!

So I hiked all over Y mountain on Thursday. I didn't make it to the top of Y mountain because I took the wrong path, but I went even higher and farther than that. My legs were really hurting yesterday, but I'm a lot better now. I took some fun pictures, that I shall post.... Now.

This is no trick of the camera. I really did get this close to the butterfly. I just have a way with living things, I guess. There were zillions of bugs on the trail, and it was fun to walk though them and watch them fly away.

Here is the fork where I took the wrong turn.

But here is where it took me.

PS: I went to Manti on Saturday and had a blast!!!!! 14 person van filled with all the coolest kids, a nice cheesy pageant, and faux tattoos.

FHE last night was totally awesome! It ended in a huge all-out ward water battle. Numerous people were thrown in the pool, and lots of tricks were played. I love this ward!!!!

Reading Wormie!

Here he is! I'm counting the books I listen to on CD, but not for pages, just for hours. I can't wait to put some more bodies on him, and I hope all of your wormies are doing well too!!!

Fun at the Park

So my new job is going well, and we're going to be having a breakfast party on Friday, which also means I have to go at 4:30 which I'm not too excited about, but it'll be fun. I don't have to talk to the annoying girl too much. I feel a little bad for not trying to make better friends with her, but it's too early for that. We work well together, though, and I think I already know more than her, because she's beginning her third week, and whatever. Makes me feel in the know.
When I got home from work last night, I walked in to find Clark, Eric, and Creg all talking with Leesa. A little later, Eric, Matt, Aaron, Leesa and I went to the park to draw in chalk, and do some general playing. We played the lava monster game, chicken, gladiator on the balance beam, and sat on the jungle gym for a while. I got to know Eric pretty well, and we all had lots of fun. I hope this becomes a trend!
Also, I got two letters from Tim, which were really great to get, and a package from Mother, which was also amazing to get. Also, for all those who know him/care, TLK or Kyle as he is sometimes called, came into work a couple days ago, and I think he's coming back to work for Gayle. He looked great, and you couldn't even tell anything was different. By the way, Mom, I think I should start arranging my trip home for August so I can get time off, and get a ticket back to Utah. Love to all!

Video Tour

Here is a video tour of my house. I find it's a lot better than just a photo tour, because you get a better idea of what it looks like. I forgot to mention the sweet moss color of my door and house, and the awesome Strawbetty Shortcake poster in our room. I hope you like it!

Happy Birthday and Mothers Day!

Carlie, you're 17! That is totally blowing my mind!!! I hope 17 is a great year for you!

Happy Mother's Day Mom!!! I was thinking about you all during church today because it was the underlying theme. The real theme was service, but motherhood fits into that pretty well. There was a post secret that said

And I want you to know that that goes for me too. I love you so much, and I am so lucky to have you in my life!

Other news, I got a library card, and a nasty sunburn yesterday. We had a dinner party with a bunch of random people over, and had a great time. My new roommates (Amanda and Sarah) are super cool, and it's going to be fun living with them.

I'm Back!

After an absence from the Internet, I've made my glorious come back. And thank you to all those who were going to harass me for not writing, and remembering that I couldn't. I hope this satisfies you.

Today was my first Sunday of the BYU 84th ward, and it was pretty awesome! I've never had Relief Society first, so this will be interesting. My bishop is a former NBA player, and he is 6'10. He is also super nice, so I can't wait to get to know him. We walked home with a guy named Robbie, and we ended up just hanging out on our part of the sidewalk. As time went on, more and more people congregated with us, so we had a group of like 12 random people from our ward. It's pretty awesome. We have a break the fast at 4:30 and a ward prayer at 8:30 that I think I shall attend. There are a ton of cool people in our ward, so I'm way excited. I also got to know my roommate Amanda better today, and she says Y'all really often, and it's really cute. I have a feeling we're not going to get very well acquainted with Sarah and our kind of roommate Trisha. They are dating brothers who live at the Colony too, and we haven't seen much of them this week. It will most likely become a trend. But they're cool.

I'm going to get a second job this week, and I hope to start working it by the end, whatever it may be. I'm going to start running every morning around 7:30 or 8, because this whole sleeping in thing and never leaving the house is a drag. I'm going to go give plasma with my friend David on Tuesday. I tried to make him promise to drag me home if I faint, but he said he'd just leave me. I guess I'll just have to not faint, which I can do.

A digital tour of my apartment will follow shortly. Now I must go bake rolls.