"Hey, watch this."

Granite. Snowmobiling and swimming combined. Heaven right? Usually yes. But today, no.

Sometimes I'm not the wisest or skilled snowmobile driver (only sometimes though). Exhibit A: today.

There I was thinking that I would be brave and take on the challenge of a big hill right off the bat. I figured it would be a good start to the day. So I take off, I swear I was hitting the gas hard enough. But I felt like my tracks just weren't digging in, I was fishtailing all over the place. Then the machine jerked to the right and before I knew it, I was sitting sideways on the mountain. I couldn't turn it back up the mountain, and I was scared that if I tried to turn it downhill, I was just going to just roll it down the mountain. So I stopped where I was. I waited for a minute, and finally my dad came back over the top of the hill. Together we dug it out, and rotated the machine enough for me to take it down the hill. It took a while to accomplish all that though. It was not fun. And it totally scared me to death.

I know it doesn't look that bad, but it was really steep, and the machine was really lopsided.

Oh wait. It gets better. This is where I turned really stupid.

There we were, driving around the open meadows, having a grand ole' time. I followed a set of tracks over a little hill, then towards some trees. I didn't realize how thick the trees were, or how much powder was there. I just thought the tracks would turn and head back towards the open range. A little too late, I realized that it wasn't looking good, but the powder was too deep to deviate away from the trail. Finally the tracks led off of a HUGE drop-off. There was no way I was doing that, so I took my only other option. I took off into the powder. I knew immediately though that I wasn't going anywhere. So I cut the engine and started hiking towards the open space so I could wave my group down as they hopefully drove past again. But the powder was so deep and so soft that I couldn't even walk. I had to crawl most of the way out. My group found me waving my coat in the air, and they came to my rescue. We were there digging the machine out for probably 30 minutes. Just me, Dad, Cortney, and Cortney's friend. Finally we got it turned around for my Dad to drive it off of the big drop off, then he was able to bring the machine back to where we started.

Moral of the story: Think about where you're going before you go. Also, if you're going snowmobiling with me, you should probably bring a shovel, and a couple strong men. There's a good chance that I may do something stupid, and having those things may help undo stupid.

Kool-Aid, Hair, and Lots of Fun

Remember a few years back when Jashley and I dyed our niece's hair blue with Kool-aid?

Well things haven't changed all that much. BUT I have moved onto bigger and better things!!! Now I dye my own hair with Kool-aid! :)

Yes, our fingers got a little messy...

But the end result was really cool.

Here's the trick. Put a little bit of powder on your fingers and rub it in with a little bit of water. Then rub that onto a lock of wet hair. Let it dry, and BAM! you have colored hair. A few warnings though. 1) It dyes your fingers. But don't worry, it should come off in a day or two. 2) It makes your hair really difficult to brush through, and your hair may be prone to snapping off while you try to brush it. So I would not recommend doing this to children with soft heads. But mostly, It was pretty awesome. I won't lie.

Adventures in Love

Here is a post-Valentine's Day blog post. These are fun stories that I made up about my friends. It kind  of reminds me of the movie "Valentine's Day".  I had a lot of fun writing them today, and just for the record, I did get permission to post them.

Jade was in love with a boy at school. Every day when she walked past his desk, her heart would flutter and long to be with him. This went on for at least a year, and finally she couldn't take it anymore. She decided that Valentine’s Day would be the opportune moment to do something. She planned it all out and made sure that she looked especially cute that day. She arranged to have notes delivered to him throughout the day giving him hints about her identity. On the last note of the day, she left him instructions to meet her at the Tandori Oven (This sketchy little Indian restaurant that definitely wouldn't have been my choice of a meeting place). She got there early and positioned herself directly across from the door. When he walked in, she caught a whiff of his cologne over the overpowering scent of the curry. But that whiff of cologne was enough to overpower her. He walked over and she said, “It’s me. I am the one who loves you.” To which he replied “I wanted it to be you so badly, but I didn't think you knew I even existed.” Then the two of them embraced and spent the rest of the evening staring into each others’ eyes in perfect bliss.

When Cortney woke up on the morning of Valentines Day, she thought the day would be like any other day because she didn't have any special someone in her life. But her world was about to be turned upside down. When she checked the mail at noon, she found that she had received a letter from one of her old friends. She was surprised when she read the letter. Her friend confessed his love for her, and asked her to wait for him to return from his mission. She didn't know what to think. She called her sister, Kelsey, who was thrilled at the love confession because she had been scheming for years to get the two of them together. Cortney returned to school in a daze. When she ran into her new best friend, she wanted to tell him what had happened, but before she got the chance, he asked her out on a date for that night. That night while they were eating dinner at Fong’s Chinese restaurant, this boy confessed his love for her. He said “Cortney, I know that we are just friends, but I feel like we could be so much more. When I am with you, I feel like I am complete. When I am with you, I feel like you are the person that my patriarchal blessing describes as my wife. Please, be mine.” Cortney was stunned. How could this happen?! Her typical day had turned into her having to choose between two very good guys. She told the boy that she would need time to think about it. He took her home, and as far as I know, she is still trying to figure things out. (Personally, I’m rooting for the missionary friend.)

Janel was so excited for Valentine’s Day. She knew she was going to spend the evening with her one true love, the Utah State basketball team. She was especially excited to watch Spencer Butterfield play. She got there early to claim a front row seat, right up close to the action. It was an emotional game. The score was close, and the lead kept changing. But in the final seconds of the game, Butterfield scored a 3-point shot to win the game 87-89. As he did, the fans rushed onto the court. Butterfield was so excited about the basket, that he grabbed the first person that he saw and kissed them. He took them, and he kissed the crap out of them. And do you know who that person was? It was Janel!!! And when their lips met, there were fireworks. The whole spectrum lit up and everyone disappeared but the two of them. For a moment, the whole world revolved around them. They gazed into each others’ eyes and they knew they were meant for each other. But then they came back to reality and were pulled apart by the rush of the crowd. Now they are trying to reconnect with each other, but it is hard to do. He doesn't know her name or anything about her, and she can’t connect with him because he is such a celebrity and so his personal contact information is well guarded. But they were meant to be together, so I’m sure that love will find a way to bring them together.

Spencer was expecting a low-key Valentine’s Day. He was just going to go to a friend’s party for an hour or so, and then go home to watch a movie by himself. When he got there, he headed to get some food. As he reached for an éclair, his hand brushed the hand of a pretty girl. They apologized quickly, and then began talking. They talked for nearly an hour. Then the girl told him that she wanted to go have some fun on the town, and begged him to come along. Well Spencer was really interested in this girl, so he agreed to go along. First the girl wanted a Slurpee from 7-11, so they stopped by KFC and got a big bucket and then filled it up with Slurpee. Then after the sugar rush, the girl wanted to explore the underground of USU. So they climbed down a man-hole and explored the tunnel system below campus. When they came up, they ran into the university police. They ran and got away from the police. But then they were worried about being caught again, so they left their car at first dam, and walked to second dam where the girl convinced him to do a polar bear plunge. They lit a fire to dry off and warm up then she wanted to hike to the wind caves. So they hiked to the caves in the dark, and that is where they stayed to watch the sunrise in the morning. Spencer isn’t sure if he will ever see the girl again, but he says that it was one memorable night.

*Remember that none of these stories are true. They are all made up.

Loving All Day

Happy Valentines Day!!!

I am still undecided about how I feel about Valentines Day. I kind of love it, I kind of hate it. But today I feel like I am just in the mood to love everyone. Who needs a boyfriend/girlfriend when you are surrounded by so many wonderful people who love you like crazy anyway?

I feel like I want to skip around campus singing love songs. Songs from Moulin Rouge about how all you need is love. And Ingrid Michaelson and how everybody wants to love, and everybody wants to be loved. Or Michael Buble and how you're his everything. I mean doesn't it just make you happy, and make you want to run around giving people hugs and confessing your love for them? Maybe it's just me that has that problem. So today I'm putting aside my usual cynical and anti-cliche attitude aside, and am embracing cheesiness. So here are some great things about people and love.

1) everyone is special, and everyone has someone in the world who will love them for their specialness.

2) there are all sorts of love. You can love your dog, you can love your best friend, you can love your sister, or you can love your other half, your perfect match, your soul mate.

3) think of all the different ways you can express your love to those people. You can give them a hug, or buy them a present, make them cookies, plan an activity for just you two, or just say the words "I love you".

4) you don't have to have a boyfriend/girlfriend to feel loved.

5) whether you are in love, or just love the people around you, love is the happiest emotion ever. And it should be. I mean, it is one of the human instincts and needs. "It lifts us up where we belong..." (I couldn't resist throwing that in there)

See, isn't love great? Now here are some of the best quotes, lyrics, etc. regarding love. But I dedicate them not to a boyfriend, but to family members, friends, and random strangers who just need a little lovin'.

"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return." ~ Moulin Rouge!

"I love you to the moon and back, forever and ever, to infinity and beyond."

"I love you like a fat kid loves cake."

"I love you like you are my brother"~ Jashley

"It's alarming how quickly we forget that nothing's bigger than love. All you need is love." ~ My Favorite Highway

"God gave me you for the ups and down. God gave me you for the days of doubt. For when I think I've lost my way, there are there are no words here left to say. God gave me you." ~Blake Shelton

"It seems like everywhere I go, the more I see the less I know. But I know one thing, that I love you." ~ Michael Franti

The Start of Something New

Do you ever get the urge to break into a super cheesy song? I do. "Because it's the start of something new. It feels so right to be here with you. ohhh. And now, looking in your eyes, I feel in my heart the start of something new."

Ok, so that doesn't fit my situation exactly, but I this weekend was the start of something very new to me. I got my mission call!!! So this post is for anyone who I didn't send a personal message to, but who is still interested and cares enough to want to know about it.

So I have been called to serve in the Texas, Dallas mission. I have been assigned to speak English, and I will enter the MTC on June 12. Now let's break it down.

June 12th. Perfect timing! That will give me time to finish the semester and then have a month to tie up loose ends before I leave. Then I should get back in December of 2014, just in time to start school again in January of 2015.

English speaking. Hallelujah!!! I was alright with the idea of learning a language, as long as that language wasn't Spanish. I've never been terribly fond of Spanish ever since high school Spanish class. I didn't learn it then, and I didn't want to have to learn it now. I'm sure I'll pick up some of the language while I'm there (I mean, I am going to be in Texas), but I'm glad I wasn't assigned to learn it and speak it fluently for 18 months.

Dallas, Texas. So awesome! I got my wish. I didn't get called to Asia. When I read the words "Texas Dallas mission" I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I know that people joke that Texas is like it's own country down there, and it's got a culture all it's own, but it's relatively safe compared to some of the places that I was imagining. And I think I will actually like Texas. For one, they eat real normal food. They eat lots of beef, and steak. I may have to get over beans and onions, but I can do that. Second, they're part of the Bible Belt. I've always labeled the Bible Belt as somewhere that I thought it would be fun to serve a mission, and I got my wish! I am so excited to go be a part of the good church-going, Jesus-praising, Christian-values community. It will be tough, I know, but it will also be so awesome!!!! My favorite teacher is from Texas, and I want to be just like her when I grow up, and I feel like this could only help my cause. And maybe if I'm lucky, I'll come home with a cute southern accent. I can start saying stuff like "y'all". People keep saying that Texas will be perfect for me, and I'll fit right in, and they can totally see me there. That makes me happy. I sure hope they're right!!! Just five more months and then I'll find out!!!

Why I should not be allowed in public

*Names have been changed for the sake of everyone's dignity.

One time my friend Topanga became friends with a whole bunch of kids from Star Valley. She often asked me questions about them, so I didn’t consider it odd when she texted me one night asking if I had dated Landon’s little brother, Thomas.

I replied “Oh my heck! I WISH I had dated Thomas! He’s a great kid. He’s a total stud, and he’s one of my role models.”

Then like the fool that I am, I proceeded to tell her that I had also been in love with their older brother Cody since the beginning of time, but that I had always wanted him to marry my sister. But that was a secret.

She wrote back and said that she was sitting on the couch next to Landon. I was mortified.

I said “Oh please tell me that you did NOT just read him everything that I’ve just said.”

But no; she had definitely read him everything that I had said.

Then Landon texted me and said that he would be alright if I married into his family, and I told him he’d have to convince his little brother of that. He said he would.

This would have been a good time for me to put my foot in my mouth. But just wait. It doesn’t end there. Oh no, it only gets better. So then I told Topanga that I was so embarrassed and she said not to be because Landon said I was cute and sweet.

 To this I replied “No I’m not. I was the dorky kid that the other kids called ‘Magpie’!”

Then Topanga freaked out because she thought that Landon had been a bully, and I had to do damage control and convince her that he hadn't been the one to call me names. It was the other kids we used to hang out with.

Anyway… So in less than half an hour, I managed to tell someone that I once loved two of his brothers, and make his friend think that he was a bully. Moral of the story is that I should not be allowed to be in contact with any other human beings, because nothing good ever comes from it.

My Bilbo Moment

Remember at the beginning of the Hobbit where Bilbo is just hanging around his Hobbit hole and suddenly all of these random dwarfs show up at his door?

I had a Bilbo moment this weekend.

There I was sitting around thinking about what I was going to eat for Sunday dinner (as hobbits often do). That was when suddenly my friend Jade came knocking on my door. When I opened it, I was surprised to see not one friend, but five friends!!!

One by one, they walked into my apartment and gave me a big bear hug before making themselves at home. But unlike Bilbo, who would have been disgusted by this surprise, I was absolutely thrilled! I got to see cute Jade, awesome Ben, sweet Bryson, my new friend Jacob Hall, and my secret lover Gary.

After a few minutes at my house, we went and terrorized Janel's roommates for a few minutes before we went to campus. While on campus, Gary proposed to me. Now our fake engagement has a real story, and pictures to prove it. Hooray!!!

Yay for surprise visits!!!