Can I Brag Just a Little?

My little sister's name is CAROLINE... She... is a master of legos and ripsticking. She... is a future rock climbing master. She... plays the piano, the clarinet, and the alto saxophone. She... is first chair in the Wasatch band saxophone section. As an 8th grader she... made it into the school jazz band and currently wakes up early every day in order to attend this prestigious musical group. She... receives straight A's. She... can do a perfect impersonation of this guy...

 

...and... is always ready with a witty comment. 

You'd think this was enough. You'd think that she has exhausted her talents and could now continue at a steady pace. BUT NO. This year Caroline, as a ninth grader, joined the Skyline High cross country team and willingly put her body through vigorous training that would have killed her sister. (not me of course, the OTHER sister) Not only is she going to school early, but she is now staying hours afterwards so that she can run up mountains and stuff. We were all proud that she wanted to be on a team, no one more proud than my dad. Personally I thought she would be mediocre. 

I WAS WRONG.

As a freshman, Caroline just participated in the State Cross Country meet. Out of about 120 girls who ran, CAROLINE CAME IN SECOND. (3 miles in 19 minutes 7 seconds)She was in the newspaper the next day, a feat none of the other siblings have achieved. (except Rebecca apparently)

Caroline, in white, to the right of the girl in yellow, who finished first.

Although her face is blocked by an elbow, there she is.

And once again.

Good job Caroline. I'm proud of you. Wish I could have been there.

Never Know a Good Thing 'til it's Gone

I like Provo. I like BYU. I like living on my own and meeting new friends. I like the fun social life that exists here. I like my ward. I like working with my sister. I like learning new things. I like my independence. I like my calling. I like my roommates. I like my FHE brothers. I like the quote wall in our apartment. I like laughing really hard with Amanda, Ariel, Bridget, Catherine and Kate. I like our neighbors. I like pulling pranks on people. I like the library. I like campus. I like BYU. I like Provo.

But I miss my family. I miss my home in Salt Lake. I miss my MOM's ability to make everything in our home look good. I miss my DAD's humor. I miss making fun of him with Caroline at the dinner table. I miss quoting Brian Regan while SPENCER laughed so hard. I miss practicing piano duets with REBECCA. I miss being able to walk across the hall to talk with CAROLINE. I miss bothering Caroline.

I know they aren't very far but it's the everyday things that I miss. Things that I never really realized were so great.

Dad, Me, Caroline, Rebecca, Mom.
Spencer was on his mission.

Dad

Slot canyons with Mom

Me, Mom, Caroline, Spencer, Annie, Rebecca, Wes
Yosemite National Park

Caroline, Rebecca, me.

Dad and Mom

Rebecca, Caroline, me
Spencer lounging on the bench.

 Glad for the memories.

Could-be Calamaties

I recently had an enlightening conversation with a good friend. As we were walking around campus attempting to complete our Geology assignment (which consisted of identifying different rocks used in the buildings at BYU) we were forced on many occasions to quickly readjust our line of walking by jumping backwards or running forwards or s l o w i n g down to an alarmingly slow pace in order to keep ourselves from colliding with other students. These students were either deeply immersed in what could only be utterly important conversations via texting/talking on their cell phones, quickly studying last minute notes from a binder, speed racing on their bikes to destination B or pulling a Belle from Beauty and the Beast and walking with their nose in a book. I felt as if we were in a game of Frogger walking from the JFSB to the HFAC. During all of this I was momentarily taken back to a high school class we all know and love...

DRIVERS ED.

The SKYLINE HIGH Drivers Ed teacher was also the head football coach. My fellow Eagles can relate to the fact that between clips of football games, conversations about past football games as well as upcoming football games, we might have struggled to really grasp concepts which could have turned us into the best drivers Utah had ever seen. However, I think Mr. Dupaix might have taught us something that not only applies to our lives on the road, but that can apply to every aspect of our lives: Defensive Driving.

In this case I will apply Defensive Driving to my FROGGER experience on campus. May we all take a turn being Defensive WALKERS. This way, could-be colliding calamities which would only end in awkward situations can be avoided.

The best defense may be a good offense, but A GOOD DEFENSE COULD SAVE YOUR SOCIAL LIFE.


*special thanks to Pheobe Romney for being my Geo. buddy

Prepare for the Ice Age...

For those who didn't make the immediate connection, the title of this blog is taken from a classic movie, Ice Age. If you have not seen it, please change that fact.

Anyway... FHE.

We went ice blocking.

We had fun.

Here is proof.

 Monday, Sept 27, 2010

Family train. That's whats up.

Catherine is always up for trying new and daring feats of impressive MAGNITUDE.

PARENTAL FIGURES

 

Left:

Paul, Jason, Josh, Chris, Gil

Below:

Catherine, Amanda, Ariel

P.S. Thanks for the shout-out Rebecca. Always looking out for me.

 

Horses are my favorite animal...

Since I was a child I have always thought that horses had a certain majesty about them. They seemed wild and yet friendly. Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron soon became a film held dear to my heart. I had little toy horses which I would painstakingly name in order to get the feel for the horse just right. I admit that I more than once asked my parents for a horse for Christmas. Still waiting on that.

I still like horses, but the FETISH for them which I once had has passed. That doesn't mean they don't still hold a special place in my heart.

This place inside my most vital organ is reserved for horses (and horses only) which is why I was extremely interested in a band that was mentioned to me by my older brother. I decided to check them out and came to the conclusion that the sound they produced was amazing. The special place mentioned before grew to comfortably enclose them.

I give you...

BAND OF HORSES
Sept 28 2010, The Venue, SLC UT

Not only great music, but great company too-
Lindsay Lamoreaux everyone

Ben Bridwell

         

Some of their greatest songs:

*The Great Salt Lake (total shout out to my hometown)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMHu6PjK5UU

*Older

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

*Dilly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BwuCHZM9Z0&p=A81624FF918F4B2E&playnext=1&index=26

*Marry Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4uNSMRMR8U&feature=related

See side playlist for *No One's Gonna Love You and *Our Swords

Fulfilling Expections

This post will contain FOOD, FRISBEE, AMUSING SITUATIONS, and more FOOD. Viewer discretion is not advised. I mean come on, this is what you're supposed to do in college...right? We're just living up to the great expectations placed on us.

First, FOOD.

Catherine was supposed to keep me from eating all of the SKITTLES.

She didn't do a very good job.

Thanks Cash.

 _______________

Second, FRISBEE.

(or to be cooler, 'friz')

Monday night usually brings about fun activities.

This week it was frisbee golf.

Some of us are really good, some of us aren't.

 

Needless to say, one got stuck in a tree.

_______________

Third, AMUSING SITUATIONS.

Thursday night around 12:30 a.m. I received a phone call. After debating about whether or not to answer, I decided to see what these people had to say, and chose to answer. Not wanting to disturb my slumbering roommate, I meandered into the kitchen, closing my bedroom door to diminish the noise I would be creating while chatting. I was surprised to find that ALL of my roommates were sound asleep. (see, we have some good habits) Not wanting to disturb them either, I closed the kitchen door as well and continued on with my conversation.

At the end of what was a quite pleasant chat, I hung up and went to my bedroom, looking forward to getting back into my comfortable bed and being reunited with my pillow. To my astonishment and dismay the bedroom door had locked while I was gone, making the reunion with my pillow impossible. Knowing my roommate was still in the room I decided to attempt to get her attention. My resolve was not very strong for Catherine is a sound sleeper. After knocking and calling her name for a few minutes I gave up and resigned myself to the fact that I would not be sleeping in my bed that night. The result?

That wonderful night was spent on the kitchen couch which is about half as long as I am tall.

I did not have a blanket so I made do...

with a damp towel from the bathroom.

Mmm, sweet dreams.



The best part was the following morning when I related the nights events to my well-rested roommate. We both agree that we have never laughed so hard at 6 a.m. in the morning.

-There's a first for everything.

                                                                _______________

Fourth, (and fifth) more FOOD.

I know that a common concern for college age students is that they never get enough of the right nutrients. Their food pyramid becomes quite obscure and rarely  represents a pyramid in the slightest. The girls of 2312 Whitney Hall realize this and I would have you know that we are keeping ourselves very healthy. We make sure to have almost all of the major food groups:

*Dairy-

We have lots of dairy.

*Grain-

(and *meat, *vegetables, and *fruit)

More *grain (scones)-

A major part of this balanced breakfast.

 

As you can see,WE'RE DOING GREAT.