Happenings

Happy LATE Halloween!

Halloween 2010 was rad. Costume #1 Foxy Cleopatra. Costume #2 biker chick.
It was a success and a lot of fun... and yes I know I look a lot like Snookie.

Quick family stuff update... Elder Hyer is doing very well in California, still waiting for his VISA but not wasting any time. He is serving his little missionary heart out, perfecting his Spanish, and learning to love beans. Gross. I am happy for him and soooo proud of him. He stays so positive and I'm really grateful for his example. Bless his heart.

Uncle Mark was diagnosed with stage II colon cancer and has began chemotherapy. Wow. It was scary at first but family is staying strong and we are all praying lots. Thank heavens we have such a strong and wonderful family, the older I get the more and more I appreciate each of my family members. Not many people have as strong as a bond with their extended family members as we do. I feel so blessed and also to be so close to so many of them. I love them all and am so excited for the upcoming holiday events... party at Aunt Nancy's!

I have learned some major life lessons lately...
  1. Life is more about helping others than ourselves.
  2. People disappoint you and no matter how bad it sucks for you, there isn't much you can do about it, the Christ like thing to do is to forgive, but you don't have to forget.
  3. Trials are given to us to learn patience and we become strengthened as we strive to be our best and grow closer to the Lord.

So on a lighter note, I have discovered Zumba. It is awesome! I have also been running my butt off, literally. Tri-training starts again in January, can't wait for that. Lots of great things coming up including trips to the north, south, east, and farther east.

Life is good. We are too blessed to be stressed.

Aloha

So I got back from Maui a couple weeks ago. My friend Kerri and I had a great time! It would be a lie to say it was easy to say goodbye to fresh pineapple, tropical sunshine, and hot sand. We did a lot of fun stuff including laying out, beach hopping, laying out, snorkeling, laying out, eating, laying out, went on a submarine excursion, laying out, boogie boarding, and more laying out. It was so nice to have a real vacation and to be somewhere warm. I hadn't been to Maui for a few years and it was Kerri's first time so we made sure we gave her the REAL Hawaiian experience. Here are some more pics of our trip.

(Sorry to those of you who may have already seen these on FB)

In other news. Since my last post I got a NEW car. Yay! 2005 Black Mazda 3 hatchback. I love it.

Also, my brother is now an Elder and is in the MTC. Andrew will go to Mexico October 11th. He is loving his mission so far, thinks he knows Spanish but that could change when he gets to Mexico. He is having fun meeting people, learning more about the gospel, and playing soccer on P-days. He is spoiled by his sisters and Mom with way too many sweets, ties, and other various items that he probably doesn't need.

The next few months I am SAVING my money and rearing up for an awesome Holiday Season. I plan on doing another 5K in a few weeks right before Halloween, which is going to be great this year, I already have plans for my costume... haha just wait, you know it's gonna be good! December is what I'm really counting down for. Laura is COMING again and we are heading to CANADA for the annual Whistler Trip. Boarding, shopping, dancing... and all with one of my best friends! I am so lucky. Then later on in the month I get to go play in Idaho with family and some peeps. More boarding to come and REAL live SNOW. Yay!

I need to say how grateful I am for good people in my life. For those of you I am close to, you know the last several weeks have been really rough (ok ok Maui excluded) but all at once I have been extremely blessed with great friends and family in my life. I have been learning some great life lessons lately and have grown closer to my Heavenly Father because of it. Thank you for all your love, support, and encouragement. I feel so very blessed to be surrounded by so many great people.

Aloha! More to come soon!

July

4th of July was great this year! I ran a 5K at midnight in downtown Seattle to bring in the 4th with friends... it was late and all uphill but I survived! A year ago I never would have guessed I would be running races and finishing triathlons. It is a great feeling!

I also watched fireworks downtown Seattle with friends. It was pretty rad. Seattle puts on quite the show.

So summer has been horribly cold this year. It makes me so sad. I love the sun and the heat but I get neither in Seattle for 9 months out of the year so the 3 summer months come and go way too quickly. I still love it here and don't plan on going anywhere... at least for a couple more years.

Even though it isn't record breaking heat like last year it is still boating season! We took the yacht out for the first time a couple weeks ago. I love that thing and my Dad for taking me and my friends around all the time. We saw a seal, a porpoise, and did some shrimping, but no whales yet. I will be going out a couple more times this summer so I am keeping my fingers crossed! We will also get to go crabbing next time, yay! I like catching them more than eating them haha but it is still fun. The San Juans are so beautiful and there is nothing better than laying out on a boat while you cruise around in a gorgeous place with great people. I was made for the water.

And this last weekend Nichole and her family came to visit Western Washington. They played on the yacht during the week then came to hang out with me in the city for the weekend. I took the kids around to Seattle Center, the Experience Music Project, the Seattle Aquarium, Pike's Place, and the Gum Wall. The kids also got to see where Aunt Sara lives and works. I think it is safe to say they were quite impressed. I love my family.

Andrew was the only one missing from this trip, but he leaves in a few weeks for his mission anyway, so we will have to adjust to him being gone soon anyway. Hah. He leaves August 11th so it is getting close.

The next month and a half will be insane. My weekends will go a little something like this... Andrew is home from college party in ML, Laura comes to visit and we go yachting, Andrew's farewell, Emillie's wedding, some more yaching and camping and whales, John Mayer/Keith Urban concert, MAUI, possibly my 2nd triathlon (still deciding if I am up for it). This summer is going to be gone before I know it...

Taylor

Once upon a time there were two girls. One southern gal from Atlanta and one farm girl from Washington. They were both energetic, happy, BYU-Idaho students. One beautiful summer the two girls became roommates. Little did they know that they know that that was the beginning of something wonderful...

The girls laughed and laughed and laughed.

The girls stayed up way too late, ate way too much cookie dough, skipped class together, played in the water way too much, stayed out past curfew together, caused mischieve together, went to church together, shared secrets, listened to music together, cried together, and even prayed together. The two girls had the best summer of their lives and somehow managed to pass all their classes!  

These two girls were best of friends even when Fall came. Then another wonderful thing happened, one of the girls fell in love and got engaged. The other cried tears of joy for her friend. And just when you thought the story ended there...

Both moved on and started to grow up but never apart. The girls still love each other very much. They still laugh and laugh and laugh, share secrets, and share stories about their separate lives plus they have some really great memories that neither one will ever forget! These girls know what friendship is all about. They got it right. 

And they both lived happily ever after!

This is dedicated to my friend Taylor. She is an amazing person and such a blessing in my life. When we were roommates she was there for me for fun, support and encouragment, a prayer, anything I needed! She is one of the most compassionate people I know. She believed in me when I didn't believe in myself and has always been such a positive influence in my life. Taylor is talented in so many ways, she is such a great example and has such a strong testimony, she is creative, artistic, soooo fun, and a great wife AND mother! Even being a country apart, we still keep in touch and I just love her to death. I miss her tons and hope she knows just how special she is! Love you Tay!

(One last thing... OUR SONG)

Triathlete

It is official I am a Triathlete! My very first Triathlon was two weeks ago and I still can't believe I did it! It was such a great accomplishment! Who knew that I could even do it? I have never considered myself much of an athlete until now. I feel great and look forward to doing more of these events in the future. My time was 1 hr 43 minutes... not bad for my first time. Next time will be even better.

Thank you to all the friends and family that came out to support me and especially to my Aunt Debbie for doing the Tri with me. I look forward to next year's!

The Countdown

Life has been pretty chill lately. There has been less rain, more sun. Less shopping, more saving. Less lazy, more exercise. Less chocolate, more vegetables. Lots of good things happening in my life and I have a lot to be grateful for. I am really anxious for summer. I love Seattle and am thankful for the rain... yes it is the price we pay for all the green here BUT summer time is where it's at! Boating, yachting, whale watching, summer soccer (hopefully no black eyes this year!), sun bathing, white water rafting, camping... This really is the perfect place for me. I can't wait for all the fun I'm going to have...

In anticipation for all these wonderful things in the coming months, I have created a countdown. And since I have been lame and haven't added pictures for ages, I will make up for it by adding pictures for each of these events as they occur. I'm so ready.


THE COUNTDOWN


4 Weeks until Memorial Day Weekend... Boating season kick off in the great ML!

6 Weeks until my very first Triathalon

11 Weeks until Nichole & Ryan & kids visit me in Seattle! Yes!

13 Weeks until Laura visits me... Yachting in the San Juans! Yeah!

14 Weeks until Andrew's farewell... I'm going to sing...and maybe shed a tear or two.

14.5 Weeks until Andrew enters the MTC... go Elder Hyer!

15 Weeks until Emillie's wedding... I'm a bridesmaid.

18 Weeks until Maui... Aloooooha!


Now I gotta hit the gym or something. Here's to summer!

Update

Just thought I should post a quick follow up. I started Jillian Michael's work out program a few months ago. I have seen some results... hoping for even more. Some weight loss and lots of new muscles. It is definitely a journey. It has really helped jump start my training for the upcoming Triathalon this summer too. I am a big fan of JM. It is a little sad how much I love her... I feel like she really is my personal trainer!

So as for the traithalon. I register this week. This IS happening. I know I can do it. It is going to be great training for something. I've never done anything like this before. It's going to be a great start to a healthy, bikini wearing summer too haha.

Speaking of summer... I can't wait. I'm over the rain and ready for the heat to kick in. I need some vitamin D people! This summer is going to be busy with lots of family stuff, the tri-training, and the occasional yachting on the family boat. Can't wait for that... oh then comes fall which means HAWAIIAN get away!

Oh and in conclusion... I have been watching LOST I'm in Season 4 right now... this show happens to be my new obsession and mostly because of him...

Andrew's Call

Andrew is going on his mission to... Guadalajara, Mexico! He leaves August 11th.

It took less than a week for his call to come... sooooo crazy. I can't believe little Andy is about to go off and serve the Lord. I'm so proud of him. He really is a great kid and will be a fabulous missionary. Ambitious, hard working, smart, fun, stylish (thanks to his sisters), considerate, and compassionate, he is all of these things. He is going to have a great mission! Andrew is such a blessing in our family and I am so grateful that he without a doubt is happy to go and serve.

When Andrew was little I was totally the mean older sister. What can I say, I wanted a little sister not a little brother?! I just loved teasing him, dressing him up like a girl, and fighting with him. Then all of the sudden I came home from college and he was bigger than me. It all worked out and now we get along quite well. Andrew def grew up in the same family as me, we like to have FUN. The kid knows how to play. He does all kinds of fun stuff, dirt bike, build stuff, wake board, snow board, ski... he does it all. I suppose you could say growing up on a farm he knows how to work too but I am thinking the mission thing will help him in that area.

Love this kid. He is going to be great. And I think it's safe to say he will be spoiled by his Mom and sisters while he is out there serving.

24

Yes I am getting older but I am convinced life only gets better. My 23rd year was pretty good but I feel real good about my 24th year. It's going to be a good one I can feel it.

This year I felt extremely spoiled. Well, I was. Aside from all the fabulous gifts I received...
I was treated to a several meals during the week, my sweet roommates decorated our house, and I had my own personal chef make me delicious chocolate dessert on my bday! Then on the weekend another great friend treated me to a ceramic painting place and dinner again! Saturday was the luau, which I worked with a couple other people to make happen. We had a great turnout and people had fun. It was a long week of partying and totally worth it.

Special thanks to all my dear friends and family who made me feel ever so special on my special day! Love you all!

2010 Winter Olympics

I was able to visit Vancouver where the Winter Olympics were being held. Didn't get into any actual events because it was all TOO expensive but we did have a great time. The energy up there was awesome and we def showed off our American pride and represented up there in Canada.

The Olympics have always inspired me and I am so glad I got to go up there and be a part of it!

Dream fulfilled.

Go USA!

Snookie?

Some of you may have heard of the show "Jersey Shores" on MTV... I wouldn't recommend it if you are looking for any kind of wholesome entertainment, or really recomment it at all. BUT there is a character from the show that goes by "Snookie".

My friend had a "Jersey Shore" themed get together this weekend where all of us conservative LDS kids dressed up like Guido and Guidettes from this show. I dress up like Snookie and there was a striking resemblance. Not necessarily proud that I look so much like her but I def did an excellent job with my costume.

It was a lot of fun and these pics made the extreme hair ratting and inch thick orange bronzer all worth it.

Triathalon

Time for another adventure...

I will be doing my very first Triathalon this summer. Ok so a Sprint Triathalon... the "beginners" version. Race stats include Swim - 1/2 mile, bike - 12 miles, and run 3.1 miles. Training will begin soon and I am very excited. I know I can do this. I love swimming and am have always been a strong swimmer, my abnormally muscular legs were made for biking, and I can already run 3.1 miles easy... shout out to Jillian Michaels! Not sure I can do all those things in a row BUT not to worry I have some time and with a little training I will be ready! Never thought I would ever be signed up for one of these but I am really excited about it.

I also have to say I'm not alone in this. My Aunt Debbie who is AWESOME is doing this first one with me! She will be a great training buddy and I can only imagine how awesome it will be to finish the race with her! I also have some great friends here in Seattle that are a great support and keep me motivated. So here I am all positive, we will see how my attitude changes when training actually starts.

So with Jillian's help, the triathalon, and swim suit season coming up... I better be looking good this summer or else!

He's back...

Jerry came to visit me again... It is kind of his annual trip now. What a wonderful tradition!

We went shopping, Jerry climbed a rock wall, we went to a laser show downtown (twice), we visited the Flight Museum, we ate lots of yummy food, we visited the aquarium, we saw and hiked to the bottom of Snoqualmie Falls, listened to some monks, and had a really great weekend!

Whenever I have visitors it always reminds me of how much I love it here! I am so grateful to live in such a beautiful place where I feel so at home. I'm also grateful for sweet visitors and friends!

I have no doubt that Jerry would fit in around here...

New Love

I thought the title might catch your attention huh? Sorry, I'm still single.

The holidays were amazing this year! I had the greatest Christmas at home. We even had record breaking numbers at my parent's house on Christmas Eve. It was especially fun to have my sister's family there. Christmas just isn't the same without them! This Christmas also happened to be Andrew's last Christmas before he goes on his mission later this year. Crazy! It's funny because everytime I go home all I want to do is be with my family. It hasn't always been like that. I just value them so much more now and feel like I can't express just how much I really do love them.

I also had a fantastic New Year! This year I was downtown Seattle at the LDS dance which was at the Seattle center. It was a lot of fun to be downtown, the energy was awesome and we even saw the fireworks that went off the Space Needle! I adore this city and the people I have met here, and I can't think of a better way to welcome in the New Year than with all my Seattle peeps!

As soon as I get a new laptop I will upload pics from both holidays... it could be a while. So as you might have guessed it was quite possibly my most favorite holiday season of all time! It was perfect. I am looking forward to all of the exciting things and challenges that 2010 will bring! I'm ready for it!
Also, quick update on the Jillian Michaels thing. It IS working. With her at my side I'm feeling real good about this year as far as progress in that area goes. Everyone should join her program because I love it and you will too!

Here are some of my new loves...

1) Thanks to AubRee for introducing this to me when I was in California visiting. Now I can snack healthy and happy.

2) Santa Claus brought me this beauty.

3) Hot Yoga. It is amazing! Yoga in 105 degrees of heat! Sweat everywhere but tons of calories burned. I def recommend.

4) John Mayer's new album. Fav song - "Edge of Desire"

So there is a little update... Oh by the way... the trip to Whistler this year was once again amazing! I will be sure to upload pics when I can.

Lots of fun things coming up... Jerry is visiting again, I'm moving into a house, the Winter Olympics are only a month away, Lakers game in Portland, 24th birthday, and Disneyland again. I have a feeling 2010 is going to rock!