Cali Lovin'

I have been going through Utah withdrawals. Already. I have not even left yet, but the thought of leaving makes me sad. So, I went to San Diego to get away and have time to not have to think about anything. Sunshine is my favorite accessory, and I am pretty sure that heaven is an endless beach with lots of chocolate. So many beach days. From Mission Beach to Ocean Beach to Pacific Beach. I love them all. I could spend all day there and just forget about eating and sleeping and everything. Also, we swam so much! After the beach we just had to go swimming to get all of the sand off. There was no other way. One day we went to Seaport Village. There are lots of little stores, statues, and and a carousel! We of course went and saw all of the above, and there was a hat store. Add that to the list of what heaven has. One day we went to Sunset Cliffs to hunt for crabs. It was fun to climb around on the cliffs even though Ami told me we were going later that night so I was wearing a dress. Another night we watched the sunset on the beach. So many colors. So peaceful and absolutely beautiful. The last day I was there we were swimming and the cutest boy was swimming too. All we said to each other the entire time was hi, but boy oh boy was he attractive. Perfect tan, perfect teeth, and blue eyes. We probably didn't say anything else to each other because he scared me to death when he dove in right after I did and came up right in front of me at the same time I did. Bummer. So, back to my love for the beach. I am a beach bum. I didn't choose the beach life. The beach life chose me. I love the soft warm sand (even when I have to walk in it carrying a sleeping almost 2 year old and thought my legs were going to fall off), the beach curl the salty air gives my hair, the blue water against the light brown shore, the sound of the waves, the seashells, the sound of kids playing, the colorful umbrellas lining the beach, and the surfers. Oh my! One more thing to add to the heaven list. So tan. So attractive. Someone please get one of them to teach me!!! I learned how to boogie board. That's one step closer to surfing, right?! It was so fun. I have been doing it wrong all these years. I think one of my favorite things at the beach was when I was going out to the deeper waters to boogie board and I would turn my back before a big wave hit me. As it crashed against my back if I opened my eyes there was a rainbow right there seemingly just for me. There was just so much beauty in one place! My drive back was a long one. There was an insane amount of traffic. But although there was a lot of traffic, I did finally get to see the Las Vegas strip! I do not think my eyes could get any bigger. I just wanted to see and experience it all. So many things to see and do! So much shopping, so many people, so many amazing buildings, and Hershey and M&M World?! Also, Treasure Island... Love. I have wanted to see it since Miss Congeniality 2. Mission accomplished. Although I miss sunny San Diego, seeing the Y on the mountain in stormy Provo was a welcome sight. Now I just have to wait a week and a half for my family to be here! Graduation is well on its way. Also, my mom and dad said I could get a puppy, and I get to redecorate my room when I get home. I am just so excited!!

Sun's Out Fun's Out

Sometimes you end your day in the best of ways. You get to go eat s'more after s'more in all kinds of varieties. Rolos, Reese's, cookies in cream Hershey's, original Hershey's, Hershey's with almonds, colored marshmallows or plain, cinnamon, chocolate, or honey graham crackers. Seriously. Why not try them all and maybe a roasted Starburst or two? Going along with all of that spend time with a friend the whole time, play with a baby, and pet a Siberian Husky. Maybe even flirt with a couple guys a little. Leave smiling and on a sugar high with the top of the car down and just laugh when a guy hangs out of the window and yells how much he loves you all the way down the street. When you turn the other way and he is still yelling think of things you should have yelled back. Why not say you love him to? You will never see him again. Just say you're never getting back together. Like ever. Because, again, you will never see him again. Laugh until you get home, and to wind down watch a favorite Disney movie and fall asleep to it. 

Sometimes your day begins in only the best of ways. You get to sleep in. There is not much better. But, not only do you get to sleep in, you know when you wake up you will be able to go to Seven Peaks with one of your best friends. So, we go to Seven Peaks and play on all of the slides screaming and laughing on the way down. We carry the tube from ride to ride, take ridiculous selfies, lay out on our towels soaking up the sun, and lounge in the lazy river making it live up to its name. When we left I drove straight to work and got to park in the graduate parking garage right by where I work. I changed in the bathroom out of my swimsuit and immediately had things to do. All the while I am smiling because I am going to California in two days. When I got home I made a good dinner only putting me in a better mood, and  when my mom called she told me about how a lizard fell out of a tree and landed on the spotted dog who proceeded to completely freak out. I was crying from laughing so hard. I watched my favorite show, and when I thought my day could not get any better... It did. Sometimes the prayers of a young girl are answered within a few minutes when she prays to find her puppy who has run away and he is there when she turns a corner. Sometimes it takes a little while longer. I guess the point is, they are always answered. 

Just Around the River Bend

When Julie Anne asked me if I wanted to go camping I was more than a little hesitant. The last time I camped I was a senior in high school. When she asked me if I wanted to go camping and hike up a river I said yes for some reason. I know why. It was because I love adventures, and the ones including water always win. So, on the day we would be leaving I was pacing my apartment and feeling really anxious about the adventure I was about to embark on. When we finally got there and set up our tent we decided to go on a short hike. Guys! The lizards... They are massive. More than one I froze because one was right in front of me. Julie Anne had to go ahead and get them to move. On our hike, we ended up getting in the river and ultimately having a mud fight. When we got back to camp I am pretty sure I had more sand in my shoes and clothes than there was in the river. When I dried off and wiped some of the sand off of me I fell asleep on the picnic table bench.  Julie Anne had to wake me up to go to bed. It was nice and cool in our tent. It felt so good. I will say that with the drunk guys in the camping site next to us I did not get much sleep, but it was still a good night. Now, if you want to hike the Narrows let me tell you that you have to scale boulders, climb over fallen trees, slip on rocks in the river, go against the current most of the time, go through waist deep mud pools, and your muscles are so sore by the end. Let me also tell you it is beautiful. At the very end, there is a waterfall and with all of the ginormous butterflies it is almost like you are in a different world. There are also little springs along the way, when you climb the big rocks they are nice places to take a water or snack break, and you don't really get too hot because you're in water the whole time. I loved our trip even though my leg didn't quite clear a fallen tree and a scratch turned into a giant bruise. What is an adventure without a battle scar? I fought long and hard for my bruise. The hike up the river is 10 miles round trip not including the one mile hike there and the one mile hike back. I am thankful to be back and clean, but I really did have fun. Going to Zion National Park was on my Utah summer bucket list. I did not get to it last summer, but I can check it off now!

The Cold, Hard Truth

Well, maybe not the cold, hard truth. Maybe it is the burned, blistered truth. Let me tell you why. So, over the weekend I was feeling a little sorry for myself. I had a wonderful day shopping with Kaitlyn, but I just wanted more out of life. So much more. I wanted to rush through stages and catch up to all of my friends. Even after the rough and somewhat stressful weekend Kaitlyn, Julie Anne, and I made the courageous decision to leave the lush valley and go to Arches National Park in the desert. It was on my summer bucket list last year, but I didn't make it there. Trekking to southern Utah was an adventure in and of itself. When we got there we were first enthralled by the frogs. I don't think I have ever seen an actual wild frog before. It was exciting. We even decided which ones we wanted to be. We are four years old. Then, we decided to hike to the delicate arch. I wore a tank top and my running pants. Not even thinking we started the ascent. Let me tell you... Not far into the hike I thought I was going to die. It is steep, and there is simply no air. And, even though it was just under eighty degrees it was HOT. After we made it up that initial hill I was fine. We climbed all the fun things and made it to the delicate arch. It was beautiful, and the view was well worth it. I finally got to see the arch on the Utah license plate. I got to see a part of Utah I had never seen before, and I loved it. We hiked to and saw other arches as well such as Sandy arch, the broken arch, and a few other unnamed arches. Utah truly is beautiful. It was even more beautiful to be with my friends and not worry about anything. On the way home I realized my shoulders were a little burnt. I wasn't worried. It wasn't the first time I got burned, and it certainly won't be the last. Later that night I realized the severity of my burn. Ouch. Eating my lunch on a rock under the broken arch I felt like I left all of my worries and misery behind. A different kind of misery set in at this point. Blisters galore. It took a few days for me to be able to wear an actual shirt. Progress. Slow progress. I loved my long weekend, although going back to work and school was a little difficult. I can't wait for my next two long weekends. I will be going to the Narrows at Zion's National Park over the Fourth of July weekend, and I will be in California for the Pioneer Day weekend. I have a fun summer ahead of me! My visiting teachers came over on Tuesday. After their initial shock of my red glow they gave me a wonderful lesson. I love them. With Blythe in her red and white striped pajama pants and Brellis with her top knot, I always feel the spirit and can just laugh. We planned a day to go and get pie at a little restaurant that is supposed to be really good. I trust their taste. Last time we went out they took me to the Provo bakery which is divine. Anyways (I get easily distracted by food. Can you tell?), Brellis shared a talk about being grateful in your circumstances. I am not always the best at that obviously, but I am so glad she shared that. And yesterday... Yesterday Julie Anne and I had a crazy whim to go see Maleficent at 10:45. We didn't get home until one in the morning, and I regret nothing. I really liked that movie. It is hard to go wrong with Angelina Jolie, a tub of popcorn, and one of your friends. I love summer so much! Also, my blisters are all gone now!!

Our before picture. 

 This is us under the first arch we came to which was on our way to delicate arch.

And then we finally got to delicate arch!!!

 After we all climbed a cliff. 

I went up even further and felt like a beast.

So, along with all of my pictures from arches I will also share a few of my favorite quotes right now. And... maybe a song.

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This is my "some days are just hard" song.