mlk weekend p.1

well sheesh.

did you all have as fantastic a weekend as i did?

i certainly hope so.

although i also hope you somehow managed to be more productive than i was.

i mean, is it really tuesday already? 

do i really have beastly homework due at the end of this week?

and it's already tuesday!

but i mean, it's whateves. 

this weekend i was able to spend time with some seriously fun people.

and since my sister has informed me that she's been waiting for me to blog about the trip to logan, here i go.

thanks for the support becksterpenny.

friday evening:

after a brief holdup due to some broken clippers and partly cut hair (don't worry, it all turned out fine. seriously funny.), we said our prayer and went on our way, good ol' caravan style.

the playlist (at least in sneaky) ranged from lion king to michael jackson to high school musical to tyrone wells.

the fact that i REALLY need to modernize my cd library was reaffirmed.

yes i have cds from when i was 13.

we arrived at the house and were welcomed by a homemade meal courtesy of mi madre.

we ate on the ping pong table.

and crowded around the fire.

and short-circuited the lights because of space heaters.

and played games.

and shoveled the iced over, snow covered driveway.

thank you boys.

and watched star trek.

anastasia was outvoted. sad. day.

saturday:

after waking up and figuring out how the heater works, the girls made breakfast.

we were joined by the guys later.

we ate. played more games. finished cutting the previously mentioned hair. went and saw the logan temple. came back for lunch. i taught everyone how to play bohnanza oh boy. challenged the pingpong champion to a match. was subsequently defeated by said champion but at least he was nice of enough to say i was kind of good. "one of the better girls he's played." i'll take it. went and ate a sink full of ice cream. journeyed back to provo.

unfortunately it was realized last minute that i had forgotten the memory card for my camera. 

fortunately bridget pulled through.

photo cred to bridget lewis.

details of the trip that didn't fit into the general outline above, but made the trip memorable:

*me insisting we listen to the same song several times so that everyone in the car could hear the best part. it finally came and...wasn't even that impressive.

why is that always the case?

*singing kumbaya together and having my mom remark on how warm and fuzzy we must all be down at the y.

she went to the u.

*catching a dollop of whip cream in our mouths after launching it off our wrists.

while this was entertaining in general, the pingpong champion's attempts were the greatest by far.

in the first attempt, the whip cream barely made it off his hand before hitting the floor.

in the second, the force used resulted in whip cream stuck to the ceiling.

everyone in the kitchen died as he sat there, looking at it stuck to the ceiling.

funniest. thing.

this photo cred goes to catherine.

*strobe light party in sneaky

we didn't get pulled over.

*personal hygiene jokes

"we don't have to shave if momma isn't showering."

i couldn't tell if they were being serious or not though? 

i mean come on, i don't have to wash my hair everyday, do i!?

*teaching newly returned missionaries what a hashtag is and then allowing them to instagram for the first time.

natural instagram talent right there.

minus the typo.

house? i think he meant hand.

*sharing our fears on the drive back to provo

deep water, moths, needles, and armpit-sweat-marks are serious business.

all in all it was one of the better three day weekends i can remember.

and i haven't even gotten to part two of the weekend.

you can look forward to reuniting friendships, missionary homecomings, cookie making, crashing on skis, and hunger game whistling.

yeah, my family has fun.

but for now i'd like to say to all of my friends that made the time to join me on this trip,

thank you.

i think you're all awesome.

love it or leave it

so i have this thing.

i guess you could call it "state pride."

or "love for utah."

or "my state is better than your state."

i'm sorry...but only kind of

or "defend the honor of the beehive state!"

or "why would i live anywhere else?"

whatever you wanna call it, i have it.

i love utah.

allow me to list a few of the many things everyone should love about this state.

*the mountains: the rockies are in many states, yes, but the rockies in THIS state...

umm...yes,

*the seasons: what do you want? we have it.

*the redrock: just go to southern utah and you will understand.

*the heritage: whether you share their faith or not, you must admit that this state was founded by incredible, strong, faithful people.

*the great salt lake: a remnant of the great and mysterious lake bonneville. i mean, it's like our own little ocean out there for those who prefer spending their time in bad-tasting water to clear, high mountain peaks. but i mean, it's whatever.

i know that comparison to the ocean was a stretch, but like i said, i have this state pride thing BAD.

*the family ties: it seems like almost everyone i know has some sort of relative in utah.

*the olympics: the fact that the ENTIRE world couldn't take their eyes off of this place in 2002 says something about it, wouldn't ya say?

*the snow: our license plates say it best.

and in order for such wonderful precipitation to occur, an extremely necessary ingredient is needed.

what is it? ah yes. allow me to explain.

you see, it's this.

COLD.

now, on a different tangent, but one that will tie in with the above thoughts, i'd like to explain a phenomenon that occurs in utah.

it's call inversion.

when high pressure builds up around the wasatch mountains, it pushes the cold air down into the valley.

while there, this cold air mixes with all our yummy and irresponsible pollution.

now the air is super heavy. 

follow?

this super-heavy cold air has no chance of escaping the valley, what with the with the laws of physics and thermodynamics reminding us that while hot air rises, cold air does not.

so the cold air is left in the valley.

and with snow on the ground, reflecting the small amounts of sunlight that make it through the layer of newly developed "smog," there's no hope of warming the ground.

so it stays cold.

and gets colder.

which is why all our phones say its -1 degree out there.

there are many things to love about utah, one of which is the cold.

it's part of this state.

the thing is, with so much to love, more people keep coming here.

i can't blame them.

but if you're going to come here and drive your car and fly your planes and run your furnace and put all your pollution into the air, then i'm going to have to ask you to stop complaining about the cold.

because just maybe, your pollutants are making it worse.

perhaps this is coming off a little "green" and sounding like a bunch of "hippy talk"

maybe i'll get hired to do a prius commercial

i don't really care if it does. 

i'd be fine with that.

but my main concern is this.

how would you feel if i came into your home, tramping mud and dirt,

breaking things,

using all your toilet paper,

putting silverware in your microwave,

and eating all your oreos,

and then proceeded to criticize you for the fact that your microwave doesn't work.

no?

i don't like it either.

oh, and you're welcome for the crash course in meteorology. 

rrw

well that escalated quickly...

post-seasons greetings to everyone who has stumbled or strolled this way.

my apologies to you (but mostly just myself) for not keeping up with my Christmas video posts.

i just got...busy?

more like i just have had so many fun things going on.

things like...well...why don't we bullet point all this?

i l o v e b u l l e t  p o i n t s

*end of finals!
i also obtained my most liked status on facebook.
small joys.
pathetic.
be my friend?

*the Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Concert...twice.

two words: Alfie Boe

two more words: candy bomber

*helping lil sis get ready for the dance

burned my finger on the curling iron. 

the things i do...

*lights on temple square

third time's a charm

*my 21st birthday

cutest. cakes. ever.

and silver goblets

*sleepover with the girls at the Weiler residence

*skiing with my lil sis

great parking spot, great snow, great out-of-bounds adventures, great fruit roll ups that aren't great under any other circumstances, great string cheese, great defrost on the car, great trees, great running into trees (caroline...), great that both of  the baskets on my ski poles fell off?
great.

*celebrating my brother-in-laws graduation from BYU.

...wait, am i next?

*braving the perils of fashion place mall the weekend before Christmas

that parking lot is humanity at it's worst

where's the Christmas spirit?

*spending the weekend up in logan with padre and lil sis

yes, we really watched snow white and the huntsman.

no, we didnt' like it.

yes, i accidentally referred to Cedric Diggory as Frederick Diggory.

yes, my dad was the one to correct me. 

#shame

*hiking up the canyon in my backyard

i saw a stag elk.

EXPECTRO PATRONUM

*seeing the hobbit with the parentals and lil sis

spoiler alert: it's a trilogy; why didn't the eagles just fly them to the mountain?; now that's a goitre; i'm in love with a dwarf?

*Christmas Day

which deserves a bullet point list of its own but first, pictures of the above.

INTERMISSION

...winter in logan...

...winter formal...

isn't she lovely?

...birthday bash...

 tis the goblet of fire
#iwish

 ...millcreek canyon...

 prince of the forest?

...temple square...  

 

and we're back!

Christmas Day was fabulous, as always.

we did it a little different this year.

we slept in.

we made brunch.

we opened presents.

we were joined by one of the couples.

we opened more presents.

we ate brunch.

no words to describe the feast except for this: happiness

we were joined by the other couple.

we opened more presents.

and then we relaxed.

and then we went on a walk/run up the canyon.

and it was a beautiful day.

and i worked off all the brunch!

psh. whateves.

after washing ourselves come on brother, use the shampoo! we left for dinner at the grandparents'.

we ate.

we laughed.

and talked about the hobbit.

but seriously, why didn't the eagles just fly them to the mountain!?

we "participated" in the musical program

i'm sorry grandma. i'll practice Sleigh Ride for next time.

and we ate.

then the kirk/jennie weiler family headed back to the kirk/jennie weiler household.

we played hedbanz.

and laughed.

i'd try to let you in on the jokes and laughs but let's be honest, it just wouldn't be the same.

and then i'd feel stupid for trying to tell you.

so i won't.

but i'll show you how beautiful it was.

...tight pants...

that's not the beautiful part

is it?

 ...skinny rear...

 the beginnings of a short lived snowball fight.

#protectthecamera!

winter wonderland, no?

  

so many people complain about the snow.

i. love. it.

just drive safe, you hear?

hope your Christmas was as enjoyable as mine.

now, please excuse me while i try to figure out my NEW PHONE

seems like it was only a month and a half ago i was (not) complaining about my brick.

well, mr. brick. 

it was nice while it lasted.

and lasted. and lasted.

peace and pine trees

12.12.12.

it's a great day.

and maybe we're starting to get stressed with everything that needs to be done.

maybe i still need to finish finals and papers.

maybe i need to go Christmas shopping.

maybe i need to do a cleaning check.

and maybe i need to pack.

maybe i need to say goodbye to everyone that won't be coming back next semester.

maybe i should really be studying.

but this is a great day.

this is a great time and season.

so amid all the stress, stores, stockings, and santa,

maybe we can remember what's really going on here.

what we're really celebrating.

the birth of our Savior.

peace

rrw

not quite 25...

i love this time of year. 

i love looking forward to being with my family.

i love finishing classes and finals and feeling like i've completed something worthwhile.

i love christmas music.

i love snow.

i love the lights on temple square.

i love the mormon messages for this time of year.

so, although it isn't quite the 25 days of Christmas, i'll be sharing my favorite Christmas videos from now until the 25th.

so i guess it's more like the 14 days of Christmas.

we'll start with this one.

i have been given so much.

i hope i can be aware of opportunities to give to others.

it's the most wonderful time of the year.

rrw

who says the kirk/jennie weiler family can't dance?

after finishing a beast of a project earlier this morning, i decided i need a little bit of a break.

so i made this.

for your viewing pleasure please click

...

...

HERE.

married siblings: i'm sorry you and your spouse didn't made the cut. 

there just weren't enough spots!

peace and papers

(they are going to be done soon right?)

rrw

from friday to now

i ate cafe rio this weekend.

#porkforever!

i ate wendy's this weekend.

how many items can you get from the dollar menu and still have it be less than a combo meal? answer: 5(ish).

i rocked my test.

thank you little words on the results screen. it was so nice to see you. come again?

i slept in a basement.

#don'thavetoaskmymomforpermissiontohaveasleepover

i burnt a cheese quesadilla.

no comment.

and yet i was still invited to be in a dinner group?

bless you friend.

i scrubbed the microwave.

it's dirty again.

i'm not in nyc even though my dad invited me to go with him.

is education really a blessing? curse you finals.

i got a bloody nose in the middle of a conversation with the coolest guy ever right in the middle of smiths.

and i wonder why i'm single?

i indexed. 

be proud of me elder scott. please?

i enjoyed watching the first presidency christmas devotional with my freshman roommies.

love them. it was good.

such a sad little quesadilla. 

did i still try to eat it?

what do you think?

picture my dad sent me from his meeting in nyc.

it is of the reflecting ponds where the world trade center was.

little bit surreal.

i don't ever say anything about my weekdays because all i do is this.

end of semester joy.

peace and pork

rrw