Tyler McKay

Today is Tyler's birthday! Happy Birthday!!

He is my older brother, by 2 years.

I shall share some favorite memories I have of Tyler.

When we were really little, Tyler and I would lay out a sleeping bag and get our mittens for the snow and box like we were in a rink. I know Tyler doesn't remember doing that because I asked him once.

But I remember it and it was fun.

We also used to go hunting for money so we could buy pool toys.

No, we didn't have a pool, but we would always get the Leslie's Pool catalog and want the cool pool toys.

And one Christmas we got a laser tag game, which recently we found! (Except my laser tag gun which is lost in the mountain of toys in Jacob's room). It was so fun we ran all around the street playing laser tag!. I know you're jealous.

Tyler is my big brother. He's funny and quiet. I've never heard anyone say they don't like Tyler because he's nice to people and loving.

In June he married Jessica, who is awesome!!

Last October they came to Provo for my birthday party, and stuff. And it was fun! We went to Bridal Veil Falls together and it

was awesome.

We had to go because Tyler had come up the weekend before and we couldn't find it (Jenna was driving and missed the turn...). Haha

In short I love my brother, he is awesome. Happy Birthday!!

And in our family we have big heads but not that big usually. I don't know what happened in that picture to make his head appear so large. But I love it!

Christmas YAY

So Happy Christmas Eve!! And Merry Christmas!! I probably won't post anything for you guys tomorrow so that's why I'm telling you today!!

Man sorry I haven't posted in a long time, school gets crazy near the end of the semester you know? Of course you do.

Anyways, I actually did ok this semester, Mostly B+'s with a few A's...ok only 2 A's. Well 3 if you count my pass/fail class that I passed...

I don't count it.

I'm really worried about my Geomorphology grade. I have no idea what that will be. I tried hard so I'm hoping for at least a C- because that's all I need to fulfill the requirement right. I hope so.

I know I'm going to have to retake Chemistry though because I got a D+ ah oh well. C'est la vie, non?

Anyways back to beautiful Christmas (you know i get distracted easily)

I love Christmas! I love the crispness of the air, I love how sunny it is in Phoenix at Christmas, I love leaving Provo for Christmas, I love the music, I love the lights, and the food, and the friends and the family! I love it all. But what I love most of all is the reason we celebrate this holiday.

The birth of our Savior! I'm so grateful that he was willing to come to this world to atone for our sins. I'm grateful for the opportunity we have, because of him, to live with our families forever (eternity)!

I love Him the most!

I love to tell people this great news too. I love sharing the Christmas Spirit with those around me.

in short I love EVERYTHING about Christmas! Woot

In another post I will tell you about my visit home, but I'll do that later.

Oh and if you don't know what I'm talking about spending eternity with our families, you can go here to contact someone who can come and tell you about it. Or here just to read about it.

Merry Christmas my dear friends!! I love you all and wish a safe and happy season (with New Years and all).

aiops aspasdfjop

I just took my frustration out on the title of this post.

I'm very frustrated and unhappy. So I probably won't post a lot I just wanted to let you know that I hate I Hate I HATE Peter Pan. And by Peter Pan I mean the end of this semester and school.

Please pray for me.

:(

Roonil Waslib and Batman

IF you are unaware Roonil Waslib is what Harry's mates call him...look it up in the 6th Harry Potter book.

See he's other people's hero too!

So I'm going to go see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows tomorrow night at 10:10pm which is extremely appropriate for me since that is my birthday. And this year is 2010...Too bad Harry Potter didn't come out on my birthday. Well actually not too bad because my birthday was on a Sunday so I wouldn't have gone to see it anyways.

Anyways I'm sooooo suuuuper excited!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now what about Batman you ask. Well there's this guy who I know and in my head I call him Batman. He pretty much is like Batman from Batman Begins only not as creepy as Christian Bale.

Yes I find Christian Bale creepy...the whole American Psycho thing really scared me as a child and I've never been fond of him since. Except for in Newsies. I think it's because that's before is American Psycho days...

Anyways Batman is quiet but hilarious. And he actually talks to me first sometimes...or all the times we've talked, because I don't really know him and find him quite mysterious actually.

I think he would fight crime at night if he didn't live in Provo. Maybe he should move to a more dangerous city, but then he wouldn't be here for me to have funny interactions with. I would say conversations but we don't really have conversations, more like 3 line dialogs that always end really awkwardly.

I guess you're wondering why I never have real conversations with people. I guess I'm wondering that now too.

And I guess now I'm going to have go do some introspection to figure out what is stopping me from actually creating these conversational connections with people.

Oy vey.

My 22 List: An Update

So it's been a month since my birthday, you may be wondering how my list is coming along.

I think it's been going quite nicely.

I have written in my journal everyday!! Ok so one of the day's was when I started writing at 11pm one day and finished at 1am the next. But it counts I decided. And it's not long either only 2 little pages. It took so long and yet is so short because I was watching a lifetime movie. I would write during the commercials.

It was a good movie well as far as Lifetime goes. It was "Accused at 17" and it's about this girls and her murder friend who blames it on the girl. It was crazy.

I digress, I just have a weakness for those Lifetime movies.

They're just so intriguing.

Ok enough about Lifetime

So yes the journal is going well. The picture a day thing...sometimes it's inspired and sometimes it's like "Dang I need to take a picture before I go to sleep!" and I end up taking a picture of something in my room.

ok here's a cool thing I can cross this off the list.....I made a telescope!! And it didn't cost me anything!! Unfortunately I am dumb and didn't take a picture of it. And I couldn't keep it, and it wasn't in a tube either. SO you're like "wow sure you made a telescope."

But don't be so skeptical. I made it for my Physics class. We were learning about lenses and we had to use these lenses they gave us to make a microscope and a telescope. So my group let me do the telescope and focus it and stuff. So it was awesome. It was a telescope, It let me look at something far away magnified. Also it was inversed which you were expect. It was TOTALLY AWESOME!!

I've been reading the Bible too. I'm only in Genesis still but give me a break I'm still in school and have a lot of reading to do. I figure that over Christmas Break I won't have a lot to do all the time so I can read a lot of the Bible then.

I didn't get to eat sushi yet...but I did buy my ticket to see Harry Potter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes all those ! were necessary.

And my family may go to the East Coast this next summer and I might convince them to drive through DC. My Daddy said we could go backpacking next summer too! And I went to the Provo Temple, which is in Utah, and I'm planning to go to Timpanogos soon!!

So I feel like my list is going well.

I love you guys. You're awesome!!

Shopping WOAHS

I went grocery shopping this weekend. I only spent $15. Would you like to know what I got? Of course you would :D

• 2 bananas
• 4 tomatoes
• 1 head of green lettuce
• 3 or 4 apples
• 1 bag of brown sugar
• 1 gallon of milk
• 1 8-pack of turkey hot dogs
• 2 canisters of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
• 15-16 chicken legs (can't wait to fry them)
• 1 frozen juice concentrate
• 1 box of margarine

And more things that I can't remember...

The point is that I have proven to be once again a most excellent shopper. I don't sacrifice quality to spend less. I just spend smart and shop around. We went to 3 different grocery stores Sat night in order to save.

One annoying thing people keep saying is, "but was it worth it in gas money?"

Then answer is yes. Think about it. The combined total of driving was less than driving out to Walmart and back. Plus we had a strategy. We just went in a circle; first Smith's, then Macey's, then Buy Low, and then we stopped at the Creamery at Wyview on the way home to pick up milk (3 gallons for $5!! What a great price).

View our shopping route in a larger map

This is a map I made of our journey. I think you'll have to zoom in to see it better.

And after comparing prices I'd just like to say to all you people who believe that Macey's is cheaper: You're Wrong, totally wrong. A thing of Oreo's at Macey's is over $4!! At Smith's it is $3.12. And at times you can even get them for $2.50. We also compared prices of other things we buy at Smith's to Macey's. Most of them were the same price or even more expensive at Macey's. Obviously some things were cheaper otherwise we wouldn't have gone there. But those were special sales that Macey's was having from the ads. So ie not normal prices.

And lastly why Smith's and Fry's are my all time favorite grocery stores: They carry Kroger store brand which is far superior to the ickiness that is Western Family.

GRRRR Bears

Nope I am not going to write about bears except that little bit I just wrote about them.

I'm mad at my English teacher. Right she's not even a professor because she's a grad student.

This class is ridiculous. We have to spend so much money to get things printed and bound on nice paper and in color, and then she lost our projects. A project I put many hours of effort into and spent over $6 on printing, and binding. A project I actually wanted back, because I spent so much time on. It's seriously the most annoying thing ever.

And so now I have to e-mail it to her. And she said the file isn't opening. Annoying.

Ok sorry for complaining.

In other news I went to El Salvador today with my amigo Matt. We met in geology. Anyways we went and got Pupusa's. Those are delicious El Salvadorian food things. Yummy. and they are fairly cheap too. You can get one for $1.60. 2 is filling enough. Anyways...

Matt and I had never really had a real conversation before, I think this is because we are both hilarious...probably. Well I told him we had to have a real conversation because we were going to eat. So we did...although he still hasn't told me what he would do in the case of a Zombie-Utah Raptor apocalypse.

When it was time to go Matt paid for my food! That was very nice. Thank you Matt.

Frank

Frank would be the best blog title.

Because for one thing it's a real name.

And for another thing, it tells us how you will be writing, which is 'frankly.'

I rest my case.

Anyways, this semester is creeping up on me and causing me much anxiety. You know what else is giving me an ulcer? My job.

I should be getting up at 3 everyday so I can get ready and then get to work on time. But lately I have been late a lot. Waking up at 4:34 when you should be there at 4:30 at the latest is not a good idea. I apologized to my boss for being the worst employee ever and she said "You're not. You get extras done that I can't ever get anyone else to do. And I walked through your area today. It looked good." She's the best. I love her.

This doesn't mean I'll be waking up late everyday still. That's just not how I like to be. But it does make me feel a little better.

maybe if I had this alarm clock then I wouldn't have trouble waking up on time.

A Weekend

This weekend was a bit unusual.

I spent a some time cleaning (ok that's not the unusual part people), some time falling asleep while doing homework, mindlessly flipping through channels while eating something, (and now we get to some unusual things) spent hours talking on the phone, and going to three parties!

I am not a party person unless I am throwing the party and will know every person or close to every person at the party. Being in a large crowd of people I don't know makes me uncomfortable. It stems from my shy past, which I am slowly trying to get over.

But you're thinking the most unusual thing about this weekend was how much time I spent talking on the phone aren't you. "Don't you hate talking on the phone Alicia?" The correct answer to this is "Yes, unless..."

Here's a list of exceptions to when I hate talking on the phone

• It's with my family
• It's with a very, dear, dear, dear friend
• It's someone telling me I won a billion dollars

this is the happy phone I love to talk on. When I win a billion dollars they'll call me on this phone.

This weekend I was able to talk with the second option a lot! And it was very good and so it will continue for past the weekend. I also was able to talk with my family too. And it was very good so I will still be calling them on a regular basis. As well I expect calls from them. Especially from my little sister now who apparently has a cell phone even though she's not even 16 and has no job...haha I'm just kidding. I often think "Man I wish MadJoy had a phone so I could tell her something right now." But even then she's still in the high school and so she should not be texting during school hours.

Anyways I digress...

I'm still waiting for the third option to happen.

Well I guess it's just really good to hear from people you love even if it has to be through a form of communication you aren't really fond of.

Madalynn!!!!!!!!!

Madalynn, today is your day of birth. YAY Happy Birthday now stop growing. There's no way you can be 15 already. I still think of you as a 7 year old.

You are so awesome the best little sister ever! You have become so funny and smart and knowledgeable. It amazes me how much you know. It's only because I still think of you as 7 not because I don't think you can know things.

I remember when you were a baby and you would tackle us and choke us and say "So they can hear you." Haha it was so cute, funny, and life threatening. But mostly cute and funny.

I love how you can make so many friends and everyone loves you! It's because you are awesome!!

You're also so beautiful. I've never told you this but I was always jealous of your nose. It's a very cute nose and suits your face nicely.

I'm so proud of you and how much you are able to do and how much you have accomplished. I love that you're so loving. And that you have a strong testimony of the Gospel. You are an inspiration to me and bring me hope for the future. Thanks for being a good example.

I love you!!!

Lindsey!!!!

Lindsey I'm sorry your post is a day late, I was busy since 4:38 yesterday morning. But I did text you a lot to tell you about Happy Birthday so that means I was thinking of you.

Anyways... I have an older sister named Lindsey. She is the best ol

der sister ever (even besides me I'm the second best older sister. She always takes care of me and we laugh together a lot. That's because we are both so hilarious, but especially Lindsey. She's very quick witted.

Ever since I was little I always copied Lindsey and would follow her around. That must have been super annoying, so I'm sorry. I took all the same classes Lindsey did in high school except choir because she's got the voice not me. Haha.

Here's a list of why Lindsey is the best:

• She would always pretend to be my dog when we played house type games
• she wouldn't let our older brothers pick on me...most of the time
• If some one told her they didn't like me she would defend me, even if we had just been in a fight (yes this actually happened) (probably more than once)
• She would let me come over all the time my first summer in Utah and stay with her.
• She would always make me food too.
• She's awesome HELLOOO Just talk to her for like 5 seconds and that's totally apparent
• She made me live in P5 where I got to meet Shirley on of the best roommates of all time.
• She is in Law School. I know you're jealous that my sister is smarter than yours.
• the moooooooooon (bahaha)

Oh there's so much more. But you'll just have to believe me that Lindsey is the best. And I love her vair vair mucho.

Also I always thought it was awesome that Lindsey and I had our birthday's the same month. Actually I rememebr when I was very young and I could never remember what day my birthday was so I would always ask Lindsey. I always thought my birthday was closer to hers than it really is but that's just a funny story.

I think I've already told the story about how we got beat up by the girls at the ice cream truck, so I won't tell it again. But it's a funny one.

Anyways we've had so many good times together I wish I could relay them all here but I can't. I'll just end by saying... "You got a blimp with you right now. Sasquatch"

Dreaming...INCEPTION

By the way if you haven't seen Inception, you need to because it is one of the most amazing movies I have ever seen. I have a whole list of reasons why but that's not what this post is about. This post is about how I'm not sure If I'm in a coma and dreaming all the things that are happening to me lately.

Because first of all I was really sure that my friend had deleted me off a Facebook. And I was sad because I kinda have a crush on him but then when I got on Facebook today we were still friends. And Like yesterday I missed class because I was sure that my class started at noon. It doesn't, it starts at 11. When I got there everyone was leaving, and I told them what happened and they all laughed because they thought I was joking but then they realized I was serious...Yeah it was super embarrassing

And then I've just had this overwhelming feeling the last two days that things are different some how. IDK it's just weird. Not like deja vu, but just that these weird and sad and bad things can't be happening. . I think I've just had my mind preoccupied with other things lately.

I want to write something.

I love you and I always will. I'm so proud of you.

That wasn't it but I think it will suffice.

Good Thoughts

So I have some good things I want to share with you guys.

I had what I'd like to call an Abraham moment today. I wasn't told to sacrifice my son but I think it was about obedience. And a thought came to my head and it was like "Alicia, you know sometimes it's not about what will or will not happen if you don't follow the Spirit, sometimes it's just about obedience." And what I think it means is that I need to listen more carefully to promptings and be obedient to them without worrying about why. Nike that's all. (well if you don't get the whole NIKE thing it's in reference to their slogan "Just do it")

I guess you're wondering about the story. Well ok I will tell you. I work as a custodian on campus very early in the morning (from 4-8am). At work we get a key, a master key to the entire building. Doors that you would need a code to get into , I can just unlock and go right in. It's a pretty huge responsibility if you think about it. That's a lot of trust they put in our hands.

SO yeah, they keys are on chains with a key ring on both ends so you can attach it to a belt loop and you won't lose it. Which is what I usually do, but this morning I was wearing sweats and they didn't have pockets or belt loops, so I just would hold it in my hand or put in a pocket on the trashcan bag. I had to take the trash out 2 times today and when I would go I thought I would put the key in the pocket of the trashcan bag.

But I had this thought that I should hold the key on my person. And so basically I questioned why I should do that. And then I realized it didn't matter did it. Like right I don't know what's going to happen or if anything will happen at all I should just do it because God does know. So yeah that's that story. I thought it was cool

And I'd also like to say that I believe in the power of prayer! I love it!!!

Make 'Em Laugh

Lately I have been laughing a lot and that is nice. I love laughing. I love it when other people laugh. And I love it when other people smile.

I want to make you smile. What can I do to make you smile or laugh?

For me it's easy. I'm very easily amused so a lot of things make me smile and laugh.

Like my favorite line in the classic disney song "Part of your World"

"What's a fire? and Why does it- what's the word?- BURN"

bahahahaha

Excuse me sir, are you a magnet?

Oh my goodness, I have never laughed so much in Physics as I did this morning. It was fun. A good start to my day. A day where all day I've been extremely tired. I feel bad because I was sitting in the front row of Geomorphology and I kept nodding off. Super embarrassing.
Well anyways I'm probably just procrastinating right now and I shouldn't be.
Tomorrow I'm going to Death Valley. When I told the boys in my physics group that one of them said "I'm afraid for you." haha so funny.
Here's a joke they told: Why was the skier crying? Because he got hit in the face with a snowball.

It's funny because it's not funny and dumb that someone would actually publish that in a joke book. Hahaha.

Ok and when that guy left he was like "Bye Alicia. Don't die in Death Valley."
I said I would try not to.

Pie Shakes and Pizza and Karaoke "OH MY!"

My birthday party was fun. We didn't end up eating sushi because it is expensive. But you already knew that. Instead we had pizza and pie shakes. Here's how you make a pie shake. Take a piece of pie and put it in a milkshake in the blender. I would make it a vanilla milkshake but to each his own. We made pumpkin pie shakes and they were delicious. Pizza is also very good. Yum.

Um there was a bit of drama at my party because well, we almost ran out of pizza but it turned out to be just enough.

I'm very glad my friends could make it. and very sad that some couldn't. And super sad that none of my family could come. :C <--- baby frowny face or the Bolton chin whichever you prefer.

Then we went to karaoke at Guru's and it was fun. I like karaoking. This is because I can act all crazy and it's ok.

On my birthday we watched Newsies. It is a great Disney movie that teaches you to Seize the Day. It has a young Christian Bale in it. He already acts like Batman in Newsies. We is Shirley, Jenny, Adrienne, Tim and I. It was a nice little get together. And I made a chocolate cake without frosting because I don't like frosting. Well actually Shirley made it, well I put the water in. :) And Jenny and Adrienne made me cherry chip cupcakes with Almond flavored frosting on top and it was delicious! Yum. If you don't know Tim is my co-program director at the Y-Serve office. Except he might stop doing it. But we are friends so it's ok we can still hang out de temps en temps.

I really want a shower. So I'm going to go. I wish you all could have been at my party. IF you weren't there and you were not doing anything on Sat night...I'm sorry we missed your presence.

Love always, Me

Realizing What You Already Know

So do ever have those moments where you realize something and it's just so awesome to you! But you then realize you knew that all along you just didn't have it hit home for you until that moment. ?? I feel like I have those constantly during conference time. It's like "Duh Alicia it's so simple and amazing!" or "Of course! If you love Jesus keep his commandments! SO simple!"

I actually had one of those moments on my way to class the other day. I don't know why I was thinking of this but I was. So I thought about how grateful I am for the Atonement because with out it i would be utterly hopeless. I'd have no hope that I could live with my family for eternity, and no hope to see my Heavenly Father's smiling face. But we do have the Atonement and I'm so happy for it. It gives me hope by allowing me to repent and correct my course through life. It helps me to live through trials. Knowing that our Savior has born our griefs and sorrows is a great comfort. We can pray and be comforted during times of confusion and hurt. And it is such a great thing to know that and be able to feel it everyday. It brings me hope for my future and the futures of my kids (which I don't have but will someday). It Let's me be a happy person over all. (because I still have momentary bouts of sadness or anger)

I am so happy for the Hope and Joy that my faith brings me! Yay!

Oh Dear

I love this part of the movie, and this song. Just so you know, I have no idea what the sound is like on this clip because I'm at school, in the library.

I named my Chemistry class Linda after his ex-fiance, because they're both lame.

It's Coming....

Soon so many things will be here. Like General Conference, and October, and Halloween, and all my sister's birthday's, and my birthday, and Thanksgiving and Christmas.

But what am I most excited for?

The end of my adolescent development class. It ends October 19. YES! I'm so excited. I decided I don't like psychology.

Why?

Well I'll tell you, it's because there's no definate answers, no always, no most of the time, no nothing, and yet psychology tries to make there be a one way or no way answer. Our text book will say one thing in one paragraph and then completely contradict itself in the next.

So confusing.

It also may be that I don't like this class so much because it's 4 hours long...maybe...

Drums Keep Pounding a Rhythm to the Brain

La di da di dee La di da di daah

Funny story I had to sing "The Beat Goes On" for a music program when I was in the 4th grade I think it was. I also sang "Let's go to the Hop" (oh baby) and "Eddie Cootchacatchakamatosanearatosanoka Sammy Kammy Wacky Brown" (correct spelling? probably not but you get the point...).

Anyways...school is going and time runs faster than I can or even want to since I hate running. I was looking back at my grades and my best semester was the one where I had the most emotional roller-coaster. Because when my social life goes to pot I throw myself into my school work.

Is it bad to wish that my social life goes to pot? Probably is...

I'm in this adolescence development class. I don't really like it that much because it forces me to think about my adolescence and I don't like to.

Yesterday we talked about bullying. They had me share a time when I was bullied or had an experience with it and all I could think at first was "Which should I tell?" Because kids loved to pick on me when I was little. I'm not saying this to make you feel bad for me because I actually find these stories pretty funny now.

so I find this picture hilarious because the kid bullying doesn't seem to be that into it

I shall share one with you.

In the 5th grade I would walk home from school. One day this girl comes up to me and starts threatening me and yelling and stuff.

I was confused I didn't know what I did to her.

And then she tells me to leave her brother alone. I was even more confused. She said her brother's name was Jesse. I didn't even know a guy named Jesse. I said "I don't know your brother!" This girl is in the 6th grade I guess and taller and stronger than me. Though, I'm pretty sure I could have taken her because I was a bit more round than she and I could have used my momentum to overtake her.

I digress...

Anyways I told my mom of course and my mom said I couldn't hit her first, but if she hit me then I could hit her back. Self-defense you know. She unfortunately never hit me and never got what was coming to her. Because, yes, I really wanted to punch that girl.

It turns out that Jesse had either made up this story that I was bothering him at school or that she got the wrong girl to torment. And Jesse and I later became "friends". But not real friends.

Oh adolescence you were so strange to me.

the 22 list

For my birthday this year, my friends and I have decided to go out and eat sushi. This is the plan because I have never eaten real sushi before and most my friends really like it. I hope you can make it to the party. Afterward, we're going to Guru's to sing karaoke.

I actually wasn't very excited to turn 22 because really it just means you're officially an adult. After 21, there isn't anything legally I can't do because of my age, (that I'm aware of) except maybe rent a car. But that's not a big deal really.

22 was promising to just make me feel old and lame.

Well this sushi thing got me thinking, "what could I do to make 22 seem better?" And I came up with this idea:do 22 things I have never done before. Make my 23rd (technically) year of life full of adventures.

I made a list. It's epic. Some things are still under construction and such, and I actually haven't picked a 22nd thing because I don't want to be too hasty. Here's my list:

1. Go kayaking
2. LICK a Tootsie Pop to the center (possibly count the licks)
3. Build a telescope
4. Design and Make my own article of clothing
5. Tour the East Coast (from Florida to Maine)*
6. Sit in on a session of Congress
7. Go to Harry Potter World/ Watch the entire (both parts) 7th Harry Potter Movie
8. Hike Mount Timpanogos (not sure of spelling)
9. Walk on a Glacier
10. Do 100 hours of service
11. Bike some significant distance (like a century that isn't mountain biking)
    
12. Visit all the temples in Utah
    
13. Read the Holy Bible cover to cover
14. Build an Igloo
15. Eat sushi
16. Take a picture EVERYDAY
17. Write in my Journal EVERYDAY
18. Leave the country
19. Take a backpacking trip
20. Catch a fish
21. Surf
22. ?

What do you think I should add as my 22nd thing? Or maybe some help with 11... Awesome!

Break it Down

Well life has been shall I say crazy!

Ok since I last posted I...

• quit my job at the MTC (sweet freedom)
• Got a job doing early morning custodial on campus
• Started the semester with 20.5 credits
  
• Started today by dropping a credit (goodbye Chem 107)
• Went on a two week geology camp for one of my classes 2 weeks before the semester started
• Applied for a tutoring job (fingers crossed)
  

But all of that is beans compared to the most exciting thing that happened.

My brother Aaron (mentioned in the post before) Got married!! On me mum's birthday!
It was super awesome and exciting and now I have a new sister (Korina) and a neice and nephew (Shiane and Kyle). Yeah!! They are awesome and such a cute little family.


Now for the bad news...Pretty sure I'm having a nervous breakdown. How can school already be so stressful when we've only been in for a week? It's totally uncool. This is part of the reason I dropped Chem 107. Another reason being that they wanted me to pay $40 to join a website and guess who doesn't have the money. Um oh yeah, me. Not working for a month and a half but still paying bills will make you poorer than Anne. (probably no one will get that joke but it's from french class in high school; "Pauvre Anne").

Cha I need a big huge chocolate cake please. With Reese's baked into it. Oh my that sounds too good to be true.

Ok Imma post something happy now.

Cha Bye!

Mon Frere Aaron

So my brother's birthday was the 16th. But since I pretty much don't have responsibilities right now I lose track of the days and things. Don't worry I called him and told him happy birthday. But I don't know what day it is today actually... But my sister wrote a wonderful post about my brother you should read here. And then keep reading her blog it's good.

But I wanted to add to that blog post she wrote.

Aaron is my big big brother I say big big because I have to big brothers and he's the oldest, not because I think he is fat or something, because he's not.

Anyways I thought I would just share some memories and things about Aaron with you.

When I was younger I always thought Aaron and I had a special bond because both of our names started with the letter A. Also for 7 years we were the bookends of the children in the family.

You may have read Lindsey's story about when I had the chicken pox and Aaron bought me a cd. What Lindsey didn't include was that Aaron not only bought me a cd he bought me a COUNTRY cd. Aaron hated country then (he tolerates it a little more now) It really meant a lot to me because I thought I was dieing. Though it seemed like I wasn't grateful at the time because I was so sick, I do remember asking him to put it in my discman for me though.

Some of my favorite memories are with Aaron. I liked that we could just chill and it was nice. Aaron would take me with him to see movies and out to eat. Even still he does when I come home from college to visit. Quite fun.

Yeah, I remember too this one time I was really young. I don't even remember what mall we were at but I got lost from my family and Aaron came back and found me. Pretty sure I was crying, but I was so happy to find him. And he was just happy to have found me. Probably no one remembers that but me.

Also my brother is very overprotective of me. Which is nice to know.

Anyways I'm not very eloquent but I just want to say, I love you Aaron, you're the best! Thank you for always being there for me and for caring. Thanks for the example you've set. I love you so much and I'm excited to come home for your wedding!
Love, Alicia

The Return of the Blog Friends...Meet My Friends Wednesdays

1.

Ok sorry for this not being every week but here it is the whole shebang about my friend Shirley. Her answer is bolded and when Allan tried to answer for her it is italicized. Also thanks Lindsey for your help. Also it won't let me upload any pictures right now so sorry your blog post is not as cool Shirley.

What is your full name? Shirley (she told me her whole first name but for safety I will only put her first name)

2. When is your birthday? June 7

3. If there was a zombie velociraptor apocalypse what would you do? I would cry, I’m not gonna lie. I’d freak out.

4. What is your favorite color? Green, definitely.

5. Favorite movie? The Princess Diaries, or Josie and the Pussycats

6. Favorite Book? Um… the one about artichokes… Allen- goodnight moon. Shirley- Fox in Socks!

7. What is your favorite food? Allen- beans Shirley- no, chicken sopes. You can’t just eat one.

8. What was your favorite TV show as a younger person? Allen- Saved by the Bell Shirley- Oh yeah. I don’t think there is an episode I haven’t watched, and both movies. I like how Slater was Italian and then he became Mexican.

9. What is your major? Math Education

10. Where are you from? Originally Azuza, CA. A to Z in the USA. (Aztecs for life!)

11. What do you like to do for fun? Laugh, and cry when I laugh. That is pretty much the funnest thing ever. And play Harry Potter Clue.

12. Favorite Band? I have a top three. Not in any particular order: Coldplay, Dashboard Confessional, and U2 surprisingly.

13. Favorite Sculpture? (Weird confused look.) Sculpture? The one on campus with the kids. Or the Indian, that one is pretty weird.

14. Favorite Architecture? The Getty Museum Allen- I thought you were going to say the San Diego Temple. Shirley- I like it, but I’ve never been so mesmerized by architecture until I went to the Getty Museum. It’s so aesthetically pleasing. When you look at it, it makes you happy.

15. Which Ninja Turtle Would you be? Which one had nun chucks? (Michelangelo) Him.

16. If you could be a character on any TV show who/what would you be? Either Phoebe just because she is so funny or Pam just because she has Jim.

17. If you could date any celebrity who would you date? Chris Pine

18. Two historical dates? The day my parents met, I think that would be interesting to see; and, what else is interesting about history (Lindsey judged her)? I would go to… I don’t know, I can’t make a decision… when Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech. Or when they sign the Declaration of Independence.

June Brides and the June Challenge

My brother is getting married Sat. His fiance his flippin' awesome! Her name is Jessica and she's really cute and cool and she went to BYU and graduated and is a teacher now in AZ and she came to my 21st BDay party with Tyler in Provo so it was awesome. And now we are going to be sisters forever (wahahaha yep you're stuck with me Jessica)..SO here's a list of things from our childhood of things that are either funny or good. but after rereading the list I think I just wanted to take a stroll down memory lane since we're all growing up now... But it's a good thing because I get a new sister! :)

• Umpire
• TMNT
• Aloe Vera and the neighbor's house
• Boxing with mittens and sleeping bags
• clown makeup (with the horse...)
• "MMMRRHMM" (whilst shaking fist)
• "Mom can I use my new shampoo?"
• "Mortos, You Die!!"
• Scott Kills
• Lehi's Vision
• New Years FHE
• Our copy of the illustrated Book of Mormon from which we would put on scripture plays for our family
• Penny Hunting so we could buy things from the Leslie Pool store
• Teaching me the 9th Article of Faith
• Death of a Tyler
• "Dance do do do do Dance..."
• Punch
• ironically named laughing contests
• "ya ya ya big baaby"

There's more but It would take 21 years to write everything down. But I love you Tyler, Happy Marriage!! Don't be dumb! :D Love Alicia

Ok and the challenge for this month is two letters to someone you don't normally write to (could be like a parent or a sibling or a stranger...you decide :)) and tell them how much you appreciate them and how they've influenced you in your life. It doesn't have to be long and you don't have to tell me to who or what you said.

Challenging Posts

Oh yes I remembered last night as I laid down to go to sleep for a second time about my monthly blog challenge and how I hadn't done one in 2 months.

I think though that's ok because April being the last month of school was extremely busy and May I was trying to get my footing on this whole summer break thing. It still seemed foreign to me for some reason.

The challenge for April was going to be that you could only drink drinks that didn't have added sugar (limiting your choices to water, milk and 100% juice, maybe other things but you know what I mean). This stemmed from the idea of "Drip, drip drop little April Showers" but of course it pretty much snowed here all through April (and May) so I wasn't really thinking of April Showers that much.

(This is how Utah works, seriously, only with snow)

{via}

I digress, so anyways and the "May flowers" thing came to my mind for the May challenge. In May it was going to be give someone flowers, of any sort; real, fake, weeds with flowers, paper, drawn, virtual, etc etc. Get the idea. It would have been perfect for Mother's Day.

But I've missed the mark on posting those...So here's what I'll do: Everyone gets two free points for April and May, but if you do the challenges you'll get 5 extra points! OF course April will take longer but just keep track.

Ok and next week I'll post June's challenge so be on the look out!

Mucho Love!

I'm Back Mommy

I'm back my vacation was fun. I will write about it soon. But I thought I needed to pay tribute to me mum for today is the Day of Mothers.

My mommy is awesome, better than yours and she is so hilarious (that's why all her children are so hilarious too). I know you're jealous but that's just the way life goes.

My mom was born and raised in California (round abouts the Clovis area). After high school she went to BYU where she met mon pere. My dad fell madly in love with my mom at first sight. But the girls in my family know how to play hard to get. Don't worry they got married and had wonderous adventures in Germany, and Kansas and Arizona where they finally settled. Mother became a substitue teacher and is quite often the sub kids hope to have when their teacher will be gone.

Some things I'm really grateful for that my Mother taught me:

• The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ
• To take responsibility for my actions
• How to fold fitted sheets
• etc

I have to go now because I'm at work, But I love you Mommy. You're the best!!

Meet My Friends Wednesdays?

(she made meat for tacos)

Shirley G Escobar...postponed until after finals and till I can get this awesome picture with her.
So actually my blogging is postponed until after finals and such because I'm super busy. I know you think I'm lame for starting a weekly thing and then not even doing it two weeks in a row. Well get over it it's my blog and I can do whatever I want with it. People have thought I'm lame before and they will think me lame in the future I just don't really car though. Wish me luck on finals and such. (Especially the 10 page paper I have to write tonight!) Love etc, Alicia

Meet My Friends Wednesday

So you're all excited aren't you, to meet my friend Jenna Perry!? Well you should be because this will be awesome.

First of all the Basics:

• Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
• Birthday: February 3, 1989
• Major: Humanities with a Minor in French
• Hair: Red

Favorites:

• Color: Green ... no Blue! (actually it's green)
• Food: Samoa Ice Cream and Orange Sherbyt (bahahaha)
• Movie: Casablanca and A Streetcar Named Desire
• Book: Les Miserables
• Band: Muse
• Sculpture: Michelangelo's Pieta
• Architecture: the Brooklyn Bridge

Other Random Questions

What would you do if you woke up from a coma to find the world in a zombie/velociraptor apocalypse?

Jenna said she would buy a soda pop. I think she said more but this was her main thing and the very first thing she said. Now I wonder if she would have to even buy a soda in such an event...

Which Ninja Turtle would you be?

Jenna said Raphael, because he is moody. (but I think it's because of the red he wears and Jenna is a redhead)

Jenna would like to be a doctor on M*A*S*H*.

If she could date any celebrity it would be Matt Damon (for once I approve of her choice...haha)

If she could visit any 2 historical dates they would be the Storming of the Bastille, and Washington Crossing the Delaware.

So there you have Jenna Perry in a nutshell, how did she get in there?

Oh and here's our story in case you were wondering, we met at girls camp when we were both 12. I was talking about how I might just swallow my gum rather than leave the line for food. That's when Jenna turned around and told me it would take 7 years for me to digest gum and then turned back around. Needless to say I thought she was insane. So of course we became BFF's carved in a tree later in Jr High and High School.

(my absolute favorite picture of me and Jenna She might get mad this is up though oh well)

oh and...

This morning I decided I wanted to do something like a weekly reoccurance on my blog. And I decided I would do it about my friends. So if you would like to participate let me know, otherwise I will just be going through my phone and picking some one at random each week. I would do it in order of my favorites but I don't want your feelings to be hurt if you thought that you were my favorite and I didn't pick you first. Probably I'll start with my friends who don't even read my blog. This will make them read it. HAHAHA...yes well anyways. I'm going to call it Meet My Friends Wednesdays. You may be thinking why not Monday or Friday for the whole alliteration thing, but if you are thinking that you don't know me very well. I hate alliteration. The End. I think first I will spotlight Jenna Perry, it should make for an amusing post. (Not because Jenna is crazy but because we are crazy when we're together).

impossible to get ahead

It's impossible to get ahead when you're just trying to stay afloat and failing miserably at that too.
That is all.

The Challenge: March Madness

The challenge this month has nothing to do with basketball. In fact it's anti-basketball.
Because when I think of March I think of Saint Patrick's Day and when I think of good ol' St Patty I think of Flogging Molly which makes me think of 2 things; awesome music, and dancing!

So the challenge this month is to dance. Yep Dance. It's one of the funnest things ever to turn on music when you are alone and just dance by yourself in a room. I've been enjoying this activity as long as I could remember. I would dance to the soundtrack of "The Women in Red." I've never seen that movie but for some reason my family had the soundtrack, and I had a whole dance worked out to the main song. I would also dance to my mom's tapes she used to sell, I'm not sure what they're called but they were for kids and there were fun songs to dance to like "See Me Run" and the ballet one. I was also quite fond of Sesame Street ABC's.

Anyways more specifically the challenge is to dance for 15 minutes a week. I really don't think that's hard. So pretty much you have to do it. You'll see it's the most fun thing ever.

Anyways I succeeded in my February challenge. But some of you didn't. That's ok because I epic failed January.

All right now I have to go study for Chemistry...

Gratuity

Tricked you this isn't about tipping. It's about my other blog. I'm taking it in a new direction. So check it out.

here is the url: http://adventuresofajoyousnature.blogspot.com

Below is the post of my new direction:

I decided I want to take this blog in a new direction. I'll turn it into a gratitude blog, where I'll try everyday to post one thing I'm grateful for. I won't necessarily write something about it but there it will be. Maybe a picture too from time to time or a video.

Relief Society



click HERE to watch a video about why Relief Society is AWESOME!

What are you Grateful for?

so true

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NM5B3obqEc




i'm not in the depths of despair because of love but the song had good quality on this vid.

Fillin' the Blanks

I stole this from Kelli Who Stole this from Lauren

1. If I could medal in an olympic event it would be the ski jumping one. It looks so awesome, but I don't know it's actual name.

2. If I was stranded on a deserted island I'd take a boat.

3. Moths are my most irrational fear.

4. I'd rather starve everyday, than work 8 hours at the cafeteria everyday.

5. I am a Lady in Spain. (Kelli I kind of copied you) (PS I'm not actually in Spain)

6. I should really be working on my research projects .

7. One of my favorite things in all the world is seeing people I love be happy .