wake me up when mid-december ends

Um, hi. 

One moment while I bang my head on the keyboard. 

y6y6yyttii 7 7r5r455tttttt 6y77y7y6t6

Whew! Okay, that helped a little. Feel free to try it...

Well. School is officially causing me high anxiety. 

I don't think I was exactly prepared for what's coming. 

I suffer from "if I can't see a list of everything I need to do, then I freak out" syndrome. 

I tried making my own list. And soon gave up. 

So, I'm kinda freaking out and my heart-rate has increased to a light-jog even when I'm sleeping.

Okay, it's not that bad. But these next few months are going to be busy, busy, busy. So, if I don't post on here too often you'll know why.

{can someone please fast forward time and make it Christmas?}

first day of school

Today was my first day of school!

I officially started the Elementary Education program at UVU. 

This day did not come as easily as I had hoped.

Transferring from BYU-Idaho to UVU was no simple task.

(I must have really liked Ammon or something...) :)

After pre-tests, and documents, and $$$$, and taking classes I already took in Idaho, and patience, and meetings, and interviews, and taking tests outside of school, and traveling, and fingerprinting, and some more $$$$...

I am finally in the program!

And to be honest, I wasn't too excited to start. {at first.} I have been told there is a lot of group work {which I loath.} and lots of projects and that I'll never have time for my husband, etc. etc.
 I just want to be a teacher already.

But all it took was my first day of school and some pondering to decide I'm going to like it and I need it. I still have so much to learn and I want to be the best teacher I can be. 

So that's what I decided today: 

I am going to really enjoy the next 2 years of my life and learn as much as I can.

And that's that. 

So ask me if I'm excited to go through the elementary education program and I'll have a resounding answer: YES! It's all about attitude and I'm going to make it a goal to keep mine optimistic at all times. (It also helped that my teachers so far are very knowledgeable and inspiring)

Well, I gotta get ready for work, but I thought I'd hurry and write my new found thoughts on school. Here's me and Ammon on the bus:

my first video ever!

The other day I said to myself, "Self, you should learn how to make a video."

So I did! And you are the lucky duck who gets to see it.

It is a music video
I used a very basic digital camera

I used Windows Movie Maker for the first time EVER

It was late one night when I did the filming.

And... I was by myself.

So if you have a few seconds where you don't really care to be amazed,
but want to be slightly entertained, then this is your movie.

Lights. Camera. Action!
{or lack thereof...}

Just so you know. I plan to enhance these new movie making skills of mine and actually AMAZE you next time!
Yeah. You should be excited. 

family reunion & hiking timp!

I have an announcement everyone!

I, Leah Ruth Lott, have now officially attended (and survived) a Christiansen Family Reunion!

The reunion was in Heber and was so much fun.
I got to know Ammon's family more
They got to know me more
I rode on a zip-line backwards
played volleyball with a soccer ball (ouch!)
ate delicious food
played all the best board games
took first place in the Christiansen family 2012 Olympics
and even participated in the talent show!

Prepping for the zip-line

I love these two

Cousin Love

I have the best mother-in-law

Neeph and dad

Cooking dinner

Besties

Driving to the lake. Haha

One of the Olympic events...

Watching the talent show

Cabin 3D is where the cool peeps stayed

Rummikub 

The boys put on a play called "Hunting for the Squatch"

The Squatch!

My sis Emmalee

 After the family reunion, Ammon's parents took a few of us to hike Timp. It was killer on the body but definitely worth it!

We started at 5 a.m

Watching the sun rise

My feeble attempt at photography

The white specks are goats!

They let us get really close 

The saddle

The boys beat us to the top by a long shot

We got to the top at 10:30! 

dates at D.I.

Ammon and I like to go on dates at D.I. 

Call us weird, but we have found a lot of great stuff there. 

It's the best place to get John Grisham books and DVDs. 

Well. Yesterday I came across these super cute shoes and they fit perfectly!

And the best part is that they only cost $4.oo! 

I'm a happy camper. :)

Oh! Speaking of camping....

I'm going camping next week! Ammon's family is having a familiy reunion in Heber and I'm so excited to get out of Provo! I was supposed to go to Bicknell the other weekend for my friend's wedding, but our car broke the day before we were supposed to leave. That was quite the bummer. But there's no stopping us this time! Goodbye Provo! 

liebster award!

I got my first blog award! from Sara at 

Life of a Med School Wife

(Make sure to show Sarah some lovin at her super cute blog.)

The award is called the Liebster award. Liebster is a German word that means sweet, kind, nice, dear, beloved, lovely, valued and welcome. (Or so I've heard.)  :)

Here are the rules:

1. Post 11 random facts about yourself. 

2. Answer 11 questions the tagger has asked you, and give 11 questions to the people you've tagged.

3. Choose 11 deserving bloggers (or as many as you can) and tag them in your post. (REMEMBER!! The people that you tage HAVE to have less than 200 followers).

3. Tell them you've tagged them. 

4. No tag backs.

5. Display this picture on your blog:

11 Random Facts About Me:

1. I was born in Arlington, Texas

2. I can average about 80 words per minute when typing

3. I love reading Young Adult Fiction books more than any other kind of book

4. I lived in China for 4 months to teach English

5.  I'm pretty good at Super Smash Bros 

6. I love playing sports, but when it comes to Tennis, I'm a complete wimp

7. I get overly giddy when I watch the Olympic 100 meter hurdles 

8. I played flute for 4 years and remember just enough to play Church Hymns

9. I'm terrible at choreographed dancing, but I don't hesitate to bust out my own moves when there's a good beat

10. I'm a descendant of Jacob Broom, who signed the United States Constitution

11. I'm a firm believer in living life the fullest by looking at every situation with optimism. Everything happens for a reason. Trials can drag you down or make you a better person-it's your choice.

Questions Sara asked me:

1. What was your happiest moment? 

As cliche as this may be, it was that moment where I sat across from my husband in the sealing room, where we were sealed husband and wife for eternity. 

2. What did you want to be when you grew up?

I loved building things. So as soon as I learned what an architect was, that was my dream career!

3. Favorite dessert?

Farr's frozen yogurt, hands-down.

4. Who is the most influential person in your life?
Probably my best friend, Rachelle. She is the most loving, humble, and sincere person I know and I still strive every day to have those attributes. 

5. Embarrassing moment?

When I knocked over the dirty sample spoons at an ice-cream store. The spoons landed in a few of the ice cream containers.

6. What is your favorite outfit? 

A baggy t-shirt and skinny jeans. :)

7. Why did you start blogging?

As stated in my first ever blog entry: "I am super excited to officially start a blog. There are too many streams of "ah-hah" moments and creativeness trapped in my head that needed to come out. So here I am."

8. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I see myself done with school. I see myself with at least one year of teaching experience behind me. I see myself with at least 3 kiddies. I see myself living in a house and not an apartment. 

9. One thing you always keep on hand/in your purse?

Chap-stick!!

10.  What is one of your biggest pet peeves?
I uh... have many pet peeves. And one of my biggest pet peeves is when there are two sounds going on at the same time. (i.e. a movie in one room and music blaring in the other room)

11. If you could travel to one place, where would it be?
Anywhere in Africa!

People I nominated:

Rachelle @ Sing Out Loud

Kelsie @ Pocketful of Sunshine

Jessica @ Love, Love, Love

Emily @ It's All About Your Heart

Jen @ Sommerfeldt Snapshots

Now that I've nominated you, don't hesitate to pass on the liebster award. And don't forget to answer my questions. Trust me, it's the cool thing to do. :)

My questions for you:
1. Where are you sitting right now? Describe your surroundings.
2. Do you still own something you've had since you were a child? If so, what is it?
3. Favorite crayon color?
4. When have you felt proud of yourself?
5. What is your favorite physical feature about yourself? (And if you can't think of a favorite, then what do people compliment you on a lot?)
6. What is something you know to be true? (Even if other people try and tell you it's not true)
7. Look at your i-tunes playlist. What is your most played song? (And no lying!) :)
8. Favorite vacation spot?
9. Favorite quote or scripture?
10. What is something you always make sure to grab before you leave the house?
11. Favorite picture book?

Have fun!! And let me know if you have any questions!

x0xoX

taylor

Today is my brother's 18th birthday.
He is now officially an adult and tomorrow he leaves for college.
I sure love him. I hope he has as much fun and learns as much as I did (and still do) while at college.

Dear Taylor,
I remember the day you were born.
Mom tried to have you the natural way, but due to complications, you were rushed to the hospital. You came out very normal and healthy.
You were the cutest baby with the cutest laugh. I remember taking you to get family portraits and I was the only one who could make you laugh.
It was moments like those that I was proud to be your big sister.
As you got older, you followed my every move. Mom warned me to be on my best behavior. Did I ever tell you that I loved having you as my biggest fan?
Do you remember the day when you followed my friend and me all the way to the grocery store all by yourself!? You were only 5! We were so glad you didn't get hurt crossing the street!

I have so many fond memories with you, Taylor.
To name just a few:
 I remember making marble contraptions and stacking books as high as your head.

 I remember sleeping on the bottom bunk and trying to scare you by lifting up the top bunk with my feet. (forgive me?)
I remember taking countless pictures with our new i-zone camera!

I remember going through all the "fads" growing up: legos, Bionicals, Pokemon cards, Heelies, and scooters.
I remember watching all the classic Saturday morning cartoons before tackling our chores: Jackie Chan, Recess, Hey Arnold, Garfield, Ninja Turtles, etc! etc!

I remember Chex Quest, super nintendo games, and Talking Battleship.

I remember being in the Children's Parade with you for 4th of July:

I remember you hating these songs because I always dedicated them to you and then sang them at the top of my lungs just because I knew it drove you crazy:

Taylor
Jack Johnson

Taylor the Latte Boy
Kristin Chenowith

I remember getting your phone calls while I was away at college and e-mails while I was in China. They gave me more strength than you'll ever know. You are always there for me and I hope you know I am always here for you if you ever need me! Love you and good luck out there in Ephraim!

another one bites the dust

Okay. Story time. 

Once upon a time I had a white Mazda Protege. I was driving it home from my honeymoon with my hubby when all the sudden we heard a popping noise and the car stopped working. We were only 30 minutes away from home when this happened. Luckily, we were able to pull over safely and my mom came and rescued us. Here is a picture I took while watching our car get towed away:

Long story short: the car was toast. So we sold it to an auto body shop and that was that. 

A month later (so 2 months ago) we bought another car; a 97 Dodge Neon. This was not necessarily the best purchase, but it was cheap and we were desperate. Well. About a week ago, I was driving home alone from American Fork. The VERY SECOND I pulled into my parking lot, the car made a loud noise and died right then and there. I looked behind my car and there was a huge trail of liquid that went all the way back a block or two. Luckily, my neighbors were cleaning their car and helped me push my car into my parking spot. 

Long story short: this car ended up costing way too much to fix. So we sold it to a mechanic for parts. I'm just super duper grateful I made it home safely!

Here is the history of our cars this year:

I think next time I'm going to get something like this:

Yeah, I wish. :) But for now it's back to walking, biking, and bus rides!