Merry Christmas. Love the Ho Ho Homies.

Well here they are, our Christmas card pictures in their full glory. I could seriously stare at these all day and laugh for hours.  The strand of lights got caught in just about everybody's hair and we spent half of our time de-tangling the mess. Someone looked at the pics and made the comment that my legs were probably cold....(i'm wearing pants, thank you.) Our attempt at being serious...(ashes...death...haha) It was also raining the whole entire time so our hurrs were kinda nasty after a little while. And I have figured out that my lack of a mean-muggin face is genetic. It took blood, sweat, tears, and being pulled over to get these lovelies.

enjoy, 

#pvapt18

Merry Christmas!

pictures are worth a thousand words.

Please excuse the cliche title. (I know it's way lame)  It is just so true for the following picture. 

This picture was snapped one year ago....to the week. Gill resurfaced this gem on FB this week and I literally started crying> at the lib> studying for finals> in a public place. It's fine. anyway I just really miss her.

Obviously people like completely freak out about finals. I try not to because finals week is awesome! Guys, you don't have class.  But like the whole brain overload-feeling like mush thing.  It happens. Today after my physics final I needed to take a break and just release.  background: Three weeks ago I told myself I couldn't go to Rio until after finals because it was seriously becoming a weekly thing. I figured that today was perfectly justifiable since I only have one final left. (that is right next to zero on a number line)  My perfect plan to forgetting about school was getting Rio and watching a chick flick. Perfect right? I know. Then my roommate had some weird, scary allergic reaction to the Rio and ended up in the E.R.  Ya know what, finals week is never boring that's for sure!  

Christmas miracle of the day: finding a one-dollar bill under my chair while studying tonight at the lib.  DP? don't mind if I do. 

Get well soon KY.  Rio boycott starting...NOW. actually prob not.  

Deuces 

oh, these nights (Christmas card edition)

Let me try to recreate the scene of last night in written form. I'm gonna butcher it, but I might as well try, right?

We were all gathered around the kitchen table discussing, talking, and laughing. It's pretty normal.  And then we started looking for this one wedding video that makes us laugh at this one part that only lasts 3 seconds long. So we keep rewinding it about a million times till we then happen across new wedding videos and get sucked into those and come close to tears because weddings are just so beautiful. (run-on? i'm not mad about it.)  We haven't done this in like a solid 3 months, honest, so it was much needed.

Then we went to take our roommate Christmas card picture. Eight girls piled in Ky's cute rav with our ugly Christmas sweaters, ornaments, Christmas lights, a poinsettia, glass tree and snowman while singing jingle bells loudly for all to hear.  We could still see the apt when we pulled to the side of the road with those flashing red and blue light behind us.  Amy and I were in the very back of the car and when the cop walked by he shined his flash light right on us. Clearly there was no hiding it.  The true Christmas miracle happened when the cop didn't even question the over stuffed car.  Only a burned out head light.  Did you guys know that in UT there is such thing as the soccer mom law? It really is a thing. As long as all the seat belts are being used then you can't get a ticket for having more people in the car.  OWH OWH. (baby mama anyone?)  And just in case we did get in trouble for three extra people in the car we were ready to give the officer the poinsettia. (but of course we knew we wouldn't because my friends have dads who are cops....pick your friends wisely kids!)

After tweeting the moment and reliving it again and again we finally made it to downtown Logan to take the photos.  Upon arriving my eyes zeroed in on an outlet. I ran to plug in our own strands of Christmas lights. "GIRLS, we have power!"  These pictures are going to be real good, stay tuned!

Last night was one of those nights that was truly what college is all about. Yeah we go to school and we're getting an education but being with your friends and making those memories is just as important.

hang in there, finals week is nearly upon us!

Ferris wheel

Giving thanks is always a pleasure in that it includes family, food, and dodge ball?  You had me sold with the first two...dodge ball was just an excellent added bonus!  We ate, tossed a football around. and played on the nearby school's playground.   Kit and the hubs were the only ones missing and since the absence of the sis I didn't have her to help me defeat the boys at flies up.  I lost.  I'm all talk, I tell people I used to be a tomboy in elementary school, which I was. And then that I was good at football at recess. I honestly thought I was but now I am seriously doubting my skills.  The only throw I caught was a pity throw from my cute dad. And it only counted for 200 points in flies up.  After football we collected a few things to include in a time capsule. We all wrote a few things we were thankful for as well as a letter to our future selves in five years. Mike suggested that I just play MASH and put it in the capsule. So I absolutely did. We'll see how well I predicted my life. ha  Dodge ball took place that evening up North.  It is a new up and coming tradition, I hope.

Also during my break home I finally went to Scheels and rode the Ferris wheel with my little sisters.  It was a good time, except they were way braver then me. When we were just sitting at the very top my stomach was turning inside out and doing flips upon flips. Ken and bee were all fascinated looking around the store from the top so the seat kept tilting back and forth therefore causing my fear to increase in intensity. It was rough, and they just thought it was funny.  It kinda was. 

At least we have cute pictures. Ferris wheels are just the cutest things ever, am I right?

My sis finally came home after the festivities and we made cute things for her etsy shop. seriously check it out HERE.

A wedding on a Monday

Big news! I attended my first wedding ever. It was everything I hoped and imagined. I even got a little emotional, just a tiny bit.  The wedding was beautiful. The bride looked stunning. Smiling faces all around. weddings are just fun!

 

and here are some pics

Love these two! and please notice the DRESS! hand-made by the grooms grandmother. It is so so so pretty! 

congrats Susan and Matt

Hallow and fallish things

Before Halloween came to an abrupt end I was really feeling the Halloween spirit.  And now I'm just more than ready for thanksgiving and Christmas to get here that it seems silly to post about Halloween after the fact.

Halloween was really great though! The weather perfectly warmed up in time for Hallow's eve.  The kind of temperature in Utah when it has already snowed twice and then a week later it's like 70.  It's wonderful because you realize how warm 70 degrees actually is. 

A few weeks prior to Halloween, over fall break, I was at home and decorated/ carved pumpkins with some of my family.  I didn't even attempt to carve mine because it seems like i'm always disappointed with how it turns out. This year my awesome Sis-in-law brought tons of paint and glitter so I had fun going to town with the glitter. (side note: my childhood nickname from my bro was Sparkle girl) And lets be honest you can't mess up glitter and it always looks so good!  Also Aubree painted about 32 different layers of paint on her tiny baby pumpk.  That was entertaining.  And Kennadee painted a spider on her pumpkin that looked WAY good. like really? She's just a newly turned seven-year-old who will, clearly, always show me up for the rest of my life. It's fine. 

My friends and I finally got to the pumpkin carving thing on hallow's eve. They all carved these masterpieces and such while I drew a face on my tiny white pumpkin thingy with a....wait for it.......SHARPIE. The next Halloween morning itself was a party. Getting ready to "This is Halloween" from the nightmare before Christmas. (I kept doing the dance from Just Dance) because that song is always on repeat at my home! 

Oh and I attended like 3 whole costume parties this year with my friends. 

until next year!

*I'm not crazy about Christmas music early but bring on a little Josh Groban and Mariah Carey(and JB). Just a little and I wouldn't even be mad.*

enjoy some pics from my quick weekend home.  So glad I had an excuse to play in the leaves!

Call me teacher...

*basically this is me posting about how I was accepted into the Elementary Ed program in the most annoying way possible. (Photo booth boredom)*

Well it finally happened.  I now know what my future holds. (hah hardly) 

don't mistake the nervous face for anger...okay?

 I had way too much fun taking pics with photo booth while at work.   Oh yeah, you better believe I'm at work right now. I guarantee several students were watching. shoot.

anyways, I couldn't be happier about finally being in the program.

*insert big sigh of relief*

closing time

Fall seems to have come and gone. What once was a beautiful canyon with fiery reds and the darkest of oranges is quickly disappearing.  The mornings are nearing frost and the nights are darkening so rapidly.  No more spontaneous trips to Pine Valley to clear your head.  It's time for winter coats, wool socks, and slight hibernation   Saddle up, it's going to be a cold one.

Mother dear

*This post is going to be a little different then the usual posting round these parts.*

Today marks the birthday of my Mom, Kathryn Jean.  And about a month from today marks the 10th year of her passing. 

I am overcome with joy as I write this because to this day I still feel complete comfort.  My life has been full of extraordinary blessings and I know that it has all been a part of our Heavenly Fathers plan.  And I know that I will indeed see her again.  

I am confident that my Mom has placed other women in my life, at times when I needed them, that I have been able to draw strength from, look up to, and constantly share my current battles with.   It always reminds me that she is in fact still mindful of her baby girl.

She is the most beautiful women and I am crossing my fingers I will look like her one day.  She is so sweet, caring, and the most humble and meek person I can think of.  And, well, by now i'm sure she is near perfect. 

It has been fun today to peruse through old documents and pictures and reminisce my childhood as well as try to envision her wedding day. I came across a birthday card which I felt was fitting because well, it's her birthday and because the things said in the card are spot on.  It came from a primary sister when she was the sunbeam teacher with her twin sister Karen.  She must have been in her early twenties because she wasn't married yet.  I am just amazed at how tender this card is and that the things mentioned were true throughout her life. 

we sure love and miss you.

Happy Birthday Mom 

Winning team

Last Friday Utah State beat the U 27-20. It hasn't been done in 12 years so i'm sure you can imagine it was quite the upset.  Waiting in line for three hours was totally worth it once we all rushed the field.  It was awesome.  Student's started piling onto the field so fast I thought I was going to get pushed off the eight foot barrier. All was well though we huddled, jumped, screamed, and sang koombaya together. Tender? yes. yay for the Aggie victory, those boy's sure deserved it!

alright that's enough about football. 

The next day this cute little Gillster of mine came to Logan.  Along with some other friends we went to this total hipster concert thing at the TSC.  Yeah we didn't fit in, but hey it was still super fun!  The weekend was also filled with some successful creeping.  Logan sure misses having her around. 

Now fast forward to the present day of.....today.

I got to sleep in. Sleeping in 3 weeks ago was 10 AM and now it's 8:20 AM. (School ruins you)  I then went on a leisurely walk around Logan while talking to the sister.(yes, I will have a walking group one day.)  Afterwards I met with my adviser at school to turn in my EL ED application. Finally! 

Now we wait. 

Good thing many great things have happened today because I failed to mention that I have fallen down stairs today and been ignored on campus like 3 times. Oh and those poor kids who notice me saying hi to somebody and then getting ignored. They feel so awkward for me.  Good thing I'm over it.

we be first weekin it

Goodbye summer, goodbye sleeping in, and goodbye to those dear RP's-best-friends of mine.  First time we are all separated? yep. It is a good thing we can all congregate at home every once in a while.

Today is the start of yet another semester. I'm positive that last night was the first night before a new school year that I was actually able to sleep.  Man, those first-day-jitters get me every time! There is something about Logan though, like you can leave for extended periods of time and upon arrival it's like you never left.  

 

Being a student and being poor definitely has it's perks. The amount of free food that is consumed  in the first week should be able to feed you over the whole semester, unfortunately food doesn't store that long in your body. Rats! 

I have the best of friends up here who let me crash at their apartment all the time. The boys across the hall seem as if they will replace the boys across the hall last year just fine. okay okay not replace more like fill in nicely while they are gone.  The ward is pretty huganto if I must say so my self and I couldn't be more excited.

Well kids the looks of this year are promising and exciting. Can't wait to share more as things progress.

Happy first day!

-Meg, reporting from the Merrill-Cazier, my home away from home.

P.S. if you are ever in an awkward situation don't try to mend the silence with the phrase "GO AGGIES"  Never, ever.  

Direction Infection.

baby you light up my world like nobody else

the way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed 

an when you smile at the ground it ain't hard to tell

you don't know (oh oh)

YOU DON'T KNOW YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL!

Alright. I have it. I've been infected with One Direction Infection. Hot. (Yeah, they are!)And I have it bad. As in... If a 1D song comes on the radio, I will be late for a meeting cause I have to at least get to the chorus. Direction Infection parties are a common occurrence in my home. I know all their songs, and I've only been infected for a few weeks. It's love. 

Let me introduce you...

Louis Tomlinson.

Louis is the funny one. 

Zayn Malik.

Zayn is the quintessential attractive "vain" one.

Liam Payne.

Liam is the smart one.

Niall Horan.

Niall is the sweet, naive one.

Harry Styles.

Harry's the flirt. And he's my boyfriend.

I also noticed Harry Styles looks an awful lot like my Newsie crush, Spot. Eyes, eyebs, smirk.

Well, the RPs have certainly been infected, let's just say that! When the boys you're interested are on missions, it's nice to turn to intangible teenage celebrities--and Meg just likes them. She'd probably like them a lot more if they wore specs. 

There you go, Meggie.


I just think this is cool. And hot.

Okay. That's all. I love them.

I want to go to their concert SO SO SO FREAKING bad.

Always a Pleasure,
G. 

Thank you, grandpa Brigham

Pioneer day week /weekend just couldn't possibly be complete without Draper days could it?  Even if that is where every tween, pre-teen, and high-school aged person in the whole valley populates. It is quite overwhelming when you have since moved on to bigger and better things. So Gill and I tried to lay low and enjoy the concerts on the lawn and firework show at the end. 

We sure happened upon our fair share of 50+ PDA.  It was everywhere and it was out of control!! 

ROSE, THORN, BUD:

Took this lovely idea from this blog.  Roses are something good from your day, Thorns are the bad things from your day, and buds are something you're looking forward to. I thought it sounded fun.

ROSE

• Woke up earlier then usual for no reason. Yeah we're talking like 9 AM..... 
• Had 2 conversations with the sister Kit before 3 PM
• Bought new shampoo! I can not wait to hop in the show now!

THORN

• Went shopping! rose? rose until I remembered I wasn't wearing a real bra, smelled, and had stretchy pants on. (i smelled because i was at the gym previous)  It makes clothes trying on impossible i tell you. people come into DownEast all the time wearing workout clothes but I would not recommend it. unless of course you don't want to spend money. 
• I have been craving all sorts of foods today. Like seriously, everything!
• The Bachelorette is over and I finished watching Downton Abbey!! :( Uh.....hopefully my friends remember who i am?

BUD

• I get to see my sis on Sat. we're meetin in the middle for a dinner date and shopping. yay!
• Looking forward to wearing these to class everyday once the temp drops below 50 degrees. Better believe I will have both colors!  Early Morning Lounge Pant  

preview of what sat night might be like!!

 okay that's all.

a mountainous gathering of sorts

1 .A weekend with these friendlies is a real great idea!

2. Just in case you were wondering power-outages in the mountains is no funny business. We pulled through though.

3. I just can't think of anything better than a little R&R at the PV.

We're the kids of America

Today has been a splendid day. I met up with some of my family after work for water balloon dodge ball.  afterwards we headed to my brothers house where we had some all-American hot dogs and other yummy food. My goal was to eat 4 hot dogs hence it's the 4th day of the month. I was one dog short, I'm still pretty worked up about it. (hope I didn't ruin america's birthday) We had just started playing a friendly game of "catch phrase" when the night was beginning to light up.  It was tonight amidst all this newness that I realized I had never actually been home on the fourth of July...EVER.  We are usually at our family cabin but because the fourth landed on a Wednesday we were home.  You guys I went nuts. I never knew what a happening place the city was on such a day like this.  We see fireworks after the traditional rodeo we go to at my cabin, but this, this was crazy town.  Fireworks were e'rywhere, i'm tellin you.  I think I was excited as a child on Christmas morn.  Leaving with a heart full of joy I decided it was time to roll the windows down and enjoy the smoky, firework-filled air. True freedom right there. It was lovely car ride home.

Happy birthday 'merica

full on fierce

Look at my new found calling in life.

You are looking at a one-time-only model for the big D. Uh.. that is DownEast to you. WHOOP WHOOP!

Me and some fellow DownEast-ers modeled new product during a manager meeting today.  I'm practically famous by now. All the Clothing managers are totally jealous I don't work for them. But don't worry Cass, I saved that wink for the best. (oh and thanks for being 1 of the 3 who read this blog!) 

One timin it definitely has it's perks.  Everyone expects the worst of you so do a half decent job and you are golden. You get to wear new clothes, duh given. It really builds your self esteem when women are oohing and ahhing over the oh so carefully planned outfit, if you just imagine they are really referring to your face etc. And you totally have the option of going to Mcdonalds after. (not that I would have/did...but it is still an option ya know.)

AND. I totally understand why people have a gay best friend now. 

This is the story of how my modeling career started and ended in one day. (notice how contradictory the first and last sentences are.) HA

Dear Elder...

So what do we do when one of us is home alone on a sunday night? Have a missionary writing party, duh! SMSG=Supporting Missionaries Support Group :D

Since two of the Reese's Pieces will have pen-pals-with-benefits by the end of the summer... Let's just say we like writing missionaries. Megan and I wrote my P.P.W.B.'s companion. He replied (not unlike a nineteen year old boy), "Pictures, or it didn't happen." So... We had Meg's six-year-old sister draw our portraits. 

Man, oh man are we lookin' hot! And so accurate. I have two different colored eyes. We both have brown in our hair (Megan's portrait has a yellow line, mine has an... orange line...?)You should see our heels in this drawing!

Well Elder, I hope these drawings don't tempt you to unlock your heart. 

Always a Pleasure,

G. 

I think I can

I just registered for a half marathon. Let me give you a little background. In high school I joined the track team when I learned about the 100 meter sprints. I thought it would be perfect because I don't like running but I could still do something while exercising.  Funny because I didn't last longer then a couple of weeks.

My sister-in-law asked me if I would like to run one with her and shockingly I  immediately agreed. Summer is weird in the aspect of not really working towards anything or having any goals. I'm not going to school so I thought why not?

I started training on Monday. The farthest I have run is three miles and all I can hope is that this thing gets easier! Last night I stood up after a long period of sitting and I felt like my calves had just given birth as I was  walking around.

And this isn't even a full marathon!  yow.

sometimes we call him Father Time

 Hey there dad! you are one pretty cool guy.  I always say "you're my favorite dad" (when I want something) and you always say "I'm your only dad" with a courtesy laugh at the end pretending like it's not old. ahhh it's never old! 

I will always remember you pushing me on the swing in the backyard. pinching my sides saying "geeks" You would coach me through rec soccer and help me practice basketball.  You have always listened to me and supported me 100%. You never make decisions for me and taught me at a young age to take control of my own life. I remember feeding the ducks in between conference sessions.  You even taught me how to mow the lawn. (the responsibility has since been repealed) You would take me golfing despite my inability to play. I will never forget the phrases like "It will roll" (for the really bad swings). 

One time you built a cabin...I would hand you screws and watch you put up the drywall. You would give me shoulder rides to bed till I was like eight years-old I swear. I remember you teaching me how to drive in the church parking lot.  When you watched me back out the driveway the day of my 16th birthday you were standing on the porch sporting the appreciative smile. 

I still need you to kill spiders for me.  I still need you to remind me to pray on my food.  I still need you to tell me that it's fast Sunday.  I still need you turn lights on for me when it gets dark and i'm too lazy to get up. And I still need you to laugh at my pathetic jokes. 

You always taught me to be careful with money and to not live beyond my means.

You have taught me many things but most of all you have taught me the Gospel. 

You have shown me through example and Faith. And for this I am grateful. 

Happy Fathers day

Love, Meg

look familiar? refer to this post.

"shhhh, not everyone needs to know"

My parents went out-of-town. So I recruited Kailyn to come spend the night with me. (not like I was scared or anything)  We both agreed that it felt like we were at school again. It was so fun. I definitely miss it a lot.  I'm glad I have Kailyn to come over and eat cookie dough and watch a Disney Channel original movie with me. Those movies are for 13 year-olds you say? wait....what? weird.

 I forgot to mention that while making the cookies we were blasting Josh Groban. I'm tellin you that combo is magical. Try it, I dare you! JG won't disappoint, lets just hope your baking skills are sub par. 

Special thanks to Kailyn for telling everyone at work we had a sleepover. Now EVERYONE knows I'm a little scaredy cat! ;)

my life currently

As of late I feel as if I am in some sort of rut. I'm home, but i'm hardly home. I have friends here, friends there.  Everything is changing it's not like elementary school anymore. No longer when I hear someone say "H-E double tooth picks" do I shutter like I did in the third grade. I truly thought that and getting bubble gum stuck on my face post-bubble blowing was the worst thing ever. Turns out its not? What, weird. 

My guy friends are all leaving soon or have already left on their missions. I got thinking that while they are gone they are going to change and learn and grow so much. Well what about me?  I can do the same, in fact I need to! One day they will come home and I don't want to realize I have wasted two perfectly good years of my life worrying about who I'm going to sit by in math class or what i'm going to wear to impress a boy (they don't even notice half the time). The problem is that I think we get so caught up in all these things that we sometimes forget other things. The things which make us grow as a person and help us become truly happy. We may be doing good things but are we leaving time for the best things? Or better yet are we putting best before good?

I personally feel like I struggle with prioritizing. My attitude is usually to do what I want when I want to. It's time to change that folks. This is me making a goal publicly so I will feel more inclined to sticking to it.  You may even join me or make some goals for yourself. 

I Megan hereby agree to follow these goals to the best of my abilities. I will not justify or cheat my out of any of these items as they are all very important and will make lasting effects on my life now and later. First and foremost I am going to dedicate more time to the gospel daily by personal study of the scriptures. I will be a good family member as well as helpful to my parents and do things without being asked. I will do my best at work. I will exercise and eat  healthy healthier, for my body is a temple!  I will be a good friend, honest and reliable and an effective communicator. I will not procrastinate projects and things I am working on.  I will hold my tongue and refrain from judgement. In the name 

these things and many others not mentioned will officially begin.....Now!

what goals are you going to make? 

St. George called, we answered

There is nothing like a fun weekend getaway, coming home and noticing that your dad totally missed you, and then finding out that Miss USA is on TV.  I can't believe this is all happened in the same weekend.

St. George was calling our names.  So what did we do? We hurried our little behinds and endured the four and a half hour drive.  Mike and Chelsey left a day before the rest of us and settled into that little condo for the gang. With Ethan in stow Ryan, Maggie, and I were finally off. Once there we enjoyed a little night out. Choosing dinner can be difficult for everyone to agree on, so out of the six of us we had three different dinner choices at one restaurant. It seems we weren't the best at communicating. So that made for some laughs where we were all thinking different things and confused for a good minute. I would try to explain it but it was actually decided that on this trip I'm the worst story teller ever,  maybe one day I will not be so challenged with it.

Our daily activities went like this. The park in the morning for Eth so he could go on the freaks. (and by freaks he meant swings!) Then some sports which included tennis, shuffle board, and mini golf.  Then came pool time where my brothers and I watched their wives tan while we all burned. Gotta love this Hewlett skin! And at night we would go exploring the beautiful St G.

Top 15 most memorable moments of St. George 2012 is:

• (accidentally) flinging my pork all over Chelsey. (some would say this is even an understatement)
• (accidentally) throwing a tennis ball right at Chels' sternum causing a temporary loss of breath. (she really took a beating from me.) 
• fryyy.......fryy.....fryy......FRY! (Ethan was asking for another fry as sweetly as possible but was only patient for so long when we were deep in conversation and didn't realize him.)
• Wallgreens outing to buy nail polish with The Sis in laws and having matching nails.
• posing in front of the cactus bushes with Mike and getting some needles stuck in my leg!!
• Ryan and his awesome tricks at anti-gravity. he has been holding out for years!
• Mikes strange obsession/attachment with the mini golf course at the condo. 
• playing shuffleboard and feeling both very classy and like a seventy-year-old. 
• a visit from my beautiful roommate bailey!
• night swimming and hot tubbing. (no sun block required!)
• calling Mike and Ryan "Dad" and Maggie and Chelsey "Mom"
• "I'm glad that nickname didn't stick." -Maggie
• Anti-gravity  where we "left gravity at the door" and also losing to 12 year-olds at dodge ball. Ultimate blow.
• Temple walking and learning lots of neat facts. 
• Ethan saying Amen at church went a little like this. "ahhmen" in the raspiest, growliest, cookie monster like voice. 

a big thanks to everyone for letting me crash this shin dig. 

and Chelsey for taking so many great pics!