the great outdoors

If there is one thing I know to be true on this earth, it is this: throwing rocks off a cliff or down a mountain is really, ridiculously fun. 

Ammon and I went hiking with a couple friends last Tuesday and then we went camping near Flaming Gorge with his family over the weekend. It was during these two adventures that I realized just how satisfying it is to throw rocks. I like throwing them as far as I can. I like watching them shatter. I like the ripples they make when they hit the water. I like the sound they make each time they hit something on their way down. It's so simple. But I love it.

I also like watching my husband throw rocks. 

Provo Canyon:

Flaming Gorge:

The bigger the better, right?

Here's the rest of what I've captured during our time spent in the great outdoors:

About ready to hike up Provo Canyon 

uh...

Provo canyon is beautiful!

 Flaming Gorge with the fam:

just chillin

lots of fishing

and catching crawdads

I did it! I finally held a crawdad! It was my first time ever. {and probably my last}

Caleb was pro at catching crawdads. He took quite a few pinches for the team.

ew...

Ammon caught a fish! 

It was just a little guy, but still exciting!

Well. My skin is fried, my back is achy, (Ammon and I tent camped) but oh man do I feel good! I love the great outdoors and I am loving this weather so I can enjoy it comfortably. I'm grateful for parents who took me to National Parks instead of Disneyland because my passion lies within just a few miles of my front door. 

massage drunk

I have the best visiting teacher ever! 

When she found out I was stressed with finals, she asked if there was anything she could do.

In my head I'm thinking that while I love treats and junk food, I was dying for something a little more relaxing.

Then I remembered that my visiting teacher is a massage therapist. 

Think, think, think. 

I couldn't resist... 

I asked her {in the nicest way possible} if I could get a massage when all was said and done with finals.

 And because she is so wonderful, she readily agreed!

Thursday was my last final! {huzzah!} 

Just before 8:00, I rode my bike quickly to her house, where she pleasantly greeted me. 

Then, for an hour or so, I received my first, official massage.

It was uh-mazing!

The atmosphere was perfectly lit, calm music played in the background the whole time, and my visiting teacher is pro.

When it came time to leave the room, the weirdest sensations came over me.

My visiting teacher handed me a bottle of water and had me sit down on her couch.

She looked across at me and asked how I felt.

Then, with the cheesiest grin on my face, I responded, "good."

"Why am I smiling like a doofus?" I thought to myself. I tried to act more natural.

My visiting teacher then expressed that she was worried for me to ride my bike home.

 I didn't understand. Why was she worried? I can ride my bike just fine! 

She then explained that I needed more time to "come back down to earth" because I was most likely experiencing what she likes to call "massage drunk."

I was so excited to hear this that I blurted, "Is this what getting high feels like!?"

{confession: I have secretly wanted to know what being high feels like}

My v.t. smiled and further explained that most people are constantly in "flight or fight" mode. Getting a massage is a healthy way of temporarily relieving ourselves from this mode. The drunk feeling is also due to the releasing of toxins and from stimulating the nervous system which releases endorphins. I had no idea getting a massage could make a person feel so elated and tipsy all at the same time. 

{Go to this website to read more.} 

After my v.t drove me home, Ammon's brother Nephi was over. The three of us played monopoly. I don't think that game has ever been more "thrilling" than it was that night. Every time I rolled the dice, I just felt really lucky. I was also very talkative during the game; when I'm usually not. 

Thursday was a great day. I did well on my last final. I finally got to experience a tiny taste of what getting high feels like. {a healthy version of it} And I also ended up winning Monopoly. 

if this won't make your day better...

then i don't know what will...

my overdue spring break post

Sorry I was m.i.a for a little bit there. Finals came a wee bit faster than I would have liked and life got a little bit busy. I had a total of 6 finals and now I only have one left! {raise the roof!}

Spring Break was fabulous.

I accomplished all of my goals. 

Well... almost all of them.

 It was my goal to run 5 days that week and I ended up running 4 days. 

It was my goal to spring clean my apartment, but I only mostly cleaned it. (close enough)

It was my goal to finish all of my big projects, but I didn't even start my 12 page paper. 

But I did paint my author's chair! (Pictures soon to come) And I did finish Ella Enchanted. 

And I hiked the Y {with my brothers}, so I definitely spent time with them.

And I made a spring wreath during general conference. :)

ammon and daniel 

daniel and ryan

you can do it! you're almost there!

so proud!

my handsome husband!

my spring wreath!

general conference

General conference is the best. The following picture is not flattering at all. And I had no idea Ammon even took it until just barely while uploading all of my spring break pictures. However, I decided to post it because it perfectly sums up why I love General Conference.

As you can see (on the far left), we've got what I like to call "the good word" playing on the laptop

then you've got me. in my pjs. 

then there's cereal boxes scattered about (organic these days) to snack on

blockus to keep me alert

and my journal to the right for those times I hear something so good and I don't want to forget

yup. that about sums it up.

But in all seriousness, I love General Conference. Everything the profound speakers say bear testimony of things that are true and of things I almost always need to improve on. 

If you haven't had a chance to hear Elder Holland's talk. Watch it here. 

{he's my fave speaker. hands down.}

p.s. spring break pictures soon to come :)

spring break here i come!

oh man. oh man. it's almost here.... 

while you kids were busy enjoying your spring break, i was busy spending 3 weeks in a kindergarten classroom. tomorrow is my last day. which means my spring break starts on monday! can i get a woot woot? i'm so excited, i made myself a list of things i wanna do.  

it's not much, but i'm especially excited for the wreath making one and the hiking one. 

For the record, I am really sad that I have to say goodbye to those adorable kindergartners. Just when I was starting to win their hearts (they let me play cops and robbers with them today) I have to leave them. The good news is that our cooperating teacher, Mrs. Bigelow, said we could come back whenever we want.

I think I'm going to take her up on that offer. 

amanda

This blog post is dedicated to my very good friend Amanda who is leaving on an LDS mission

TOMORROW!! 

I am going to miss her while she is away for a year and half, but I am oh so excited for all the lives she is going to change in Brazil!

Amanda and I go way back. Way back to my first day spent in Hong Kong. 

I remember finding out that we were hotel room buddies

which was a huge relief to me because out of all the girls in our huge group, I thought we would get along the best. :)

Well. As fate would have it, this was only sort of true. Even though we had a lot in common and hung out with the same people in Hong Kong, we just didn't quite grasp the friendship that I thought and hoped we would. 

When it came time to leave Hong Kong and travel with our smaller groups to a new city, I felt really lonely. The two people that I got along with were in a different group and saying goodbye to them was hard. I  felt like I didn't have any friends to share the next 4 months with.

Well. These feelings continued for another month or so.

 But Amanda was nice to me. Here's a picture that means a lot to me:

We were vacationing in Beijing and I felt like nobody wanted to get any pictures with me or cared about me. I think Amanda could tell, so she whipped out her camera and took this picture. It made me feel a little better. (It's a little sad how lonely I felt, but don't worry... this story has a happy ending!)

After about 2 and a half months spent in China, a miracle occurred... Amanda and I communicated! (Oh how I love that word!) We told each other how we felt and we really got to know each other. Then slowly, but surely we became really good friends. I think the following pictures explain why:

Face masks late at night

getting our hair done

family portraits?

hahah. we had WAY too much fun with these

getting ready for a Chinese "cool" party 

Talk-Like-A-Pirate day

Pizza!!

and hosting a birthday party

After leaving China, our friendship and adventures continued.

If you are lucky enough to have met Amanda and be her friend

then you know that she is:

hilarious!

passionate about the people she loves

abnormally gifted at remembering everything about you and anyone and everyone you care about as well

strong (she has overcome some tough stuff in her life)

fun! (I am never ever bored with that girl)

and someone you never want to lose as a friend

I mean it when I say I'm a lucky girl to have her as a friend. 

I'm seriously so proud of her and I can't wait to hear about all of her mission adventures.

here's us at her mission farewell :)

I love you Manders!