Tent City

It's that time of year again...and I have a tent just outside the doors of the Marriott Center. Last year Aubrey and I managed to be the second tent up there. Not as close, but still just as crazy, we are the third tent this year. We set up on Tuesday night and cannot wait for 3:00 tomorrow. We have joined with a craze of BYU student, COUGAR FANATICS rather. Our old friends from last year are first once again and this has proven to be a joyful reunion.


<---- Last years group photo. First ones baby!





Yesterday afternoon when I got there, I went into the Marriott with a few people from every other group around us, and we staked out our seats. It was just so much fun...realizing where we will be sitting, who is sitting around us, coming together as fellow Cougar fans! I spent all yesterday afternoon and night in our tent. I was alone for a few hours and decided to watching some Notting Hill. I came out about an hour later, unzipping the tent and poking my half asleep head out. Of course, there was mr. cameraman snapping a shot of me, sleepily trying to get out of my tent. haha Ducked my head back in pretty quick.

Last night Aubrey and I got to sleep in our tent - and it got cold. Nothing like last year, but still, it was cold. Once again we have made new friends, people who are just as crazy about BYU ball as we are. We have been called everything from die-hard fans to insane. We hung out in the tent last night with some of our new friends and it was actually tons of fun. Tonight, though, is the party night. Our new friends are bringing their 10 person tent, we've got cards, movies, music, and last years friends are bringing their BBQ.

Stay tuned - come Sunday I will have TONS of pictures and a description of all the fantastic events and happenings that go down between now and approximately 5:00 p.m. tomorrow :)

Tuesday - and it's already a good week!

You know when you have a good Monday, the rest of the week seems to be ok.

Yesterday was just so fabulous. The weather was a little rainy/wet but come mid-afternoon it was just cloudy and warm. I decided I was going to run and so, I ran! Can you believe it? I ran a lot and far...at least a lot and far for me. I was just going to go down and make a little circle but I kept running to the next block and then that block was blocked off by tons of fire engines. I ran to the next one and thought it would just add another block to my run, but I was wrong. The fire engines roped of like 3 blocks and I had to run like seven extra blocks. BUT I guess I sort of like running, at least when the weather is like how it was yesterday. It was perfect running weather. PERFECT.

Today I have sore sore sore legs, but sometimes that just feels so good. So, I have a new goal to pick up running and hopefully do a 5k here in a month or so. There is something so magical to working out. I get everything done, I don't stress, and somehow I seem to have more time on my hands.


to end this, I have to tell you my new favorite song. It is called "Gray or Blue" by JayMay, Listen to it. (Plus the video is to Serendipity, a very favorite of mine) Also, my favorite part..."I can't keep starin' at your mouth without wonderin how it tastes." This was playing on my Pandora at work and when I heard those words I just had to laugh. It will make your day happy too :)

Happy Birthday BEANS!!

My baby sister turned 10 today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Hannah!!

Why I LOVE her soo so so much:

First though, I have to say that saying goodbye to her is the hardest thing I have to do at the end of every summer.

Next, no on can do crack like Hannah. This is such a classic picture of her.

Make overs all the time. She is all about fashion and beauty. Even to this day she can make any outfit fit her and look cute.

She is the best bus-plane companion ever

No one has loved my babies quite like Hannah has. She would regularly sleep with Bubba and Max. I couldn't get the cat to even sit with me let alone let me sleep with him.

How could you just not LOVE that face?! Pure happiness

I am home for a weekend - she busts in with an outfit like this.

The Thorkelsons would be nothing without her. She has a personality like no one I have ever met.

Mommy and her girls. Hannah loves the sun, just like me :)

Once again, making my clothes look cute on her. I had been studying in Mexico and came home for a weekend for Alyse's wedding. She stayed by my side the entire weekend.

I have taught her only the best in dance moves and she can move better than any 10 year old I know! My sisters are notorious for dance parties around the house.

This is a totally classic, normal picture of the sisters. Hannah is always busting a new pose with a fabulous face to go with it.

Hannah banana. I absolutely love love love you! I love that when I sign onto gmail - you are ALWAYS there to chat with me. Even if I am busy with work or school, all you want to do is tell me you love me. You love everyone and everyone adores you. You are loud, rambunctious, and so incredibly smart. I know you would give anything for me. You are the most selfless sister and such an example to me. I hope you have had a fabulous day and that your class sang to you :) I miss you and I love you. <3

the 5 love languages <3

Is it weird that I have taken both the hfl and religion marriage prep classes at BYU? I just find the whole relationship so interesting, especially with the church. This relationship is one that we will have for all eternity. The whole dating scene here at BYU is also a little strange so it is always great to get some advice or just hints to putting ourselves out there. I have an array of knowledge in this area, and anyone is welcome to pick my brain :) (not that I am like pro or anything, I just had Dr. Barlow and he knows some powerful stuff)

Ok, so about a week ago for Enrichment Night we had Val Baldwin come in and discuss with our Relief Society the 5 love languages. Those consist of:

1. Quality time
2. Words of Affirmation
3. Acts of Service
4. Gifts
5. Physical Touch

The whole time she was going over the love languages, my roommate and I were trying to use examples from our lives to pick apart what we are. She would say something and it was either yep, that describes me or my roommate, or eh, definitely something I don't enjoy. She said quality time was enjoying being with people...that's when I thought, hmmm I hate being alone. I am definitely a big people person. Words of Afffirmation - nice, but when I get too many compliments, it just sort of makes me feel like I am just being stared at...you know? I need it to be interactive. Acts of service are ok, but there are somethings I just have to do on my own. Then gifts. Oh boy, I do not need gifts. I would rather go on a date with the money. And finally physical touch. This is just physical contact in non-romantic times. I realized that is probably the way I most show my love and a lot of the way I expect to receive it. I am always touching people as I talk to them and I love hugs. Just love them.

So I took the online quiz. Yep, I was right. I am bilingual :) haha Split at 10 and 10 each were quality time and physical touch. I got 0 for gifts, 5 for words of affirmation, and 2 for acts of service. I could analyse myself or anyone I know well alllll dayyy with this fun information.

oh snow...

So the snow has come back. We were doing so good! Yesterday morning, early morning, I had to go to Miracle Bowl to bowl with my favorite special ed class. I left while the snow was still falling and the roads were still a little slippery. I am taking this right turn nice and slow when...boom, I was doing a 360. I remember it so vividly. I just kept my hands on the wheel and all I could do was gasp short ooh, ooh, oohs. Really actually very scary. I was so lucky. There were cars around but my light had been green and there was no one turning behind me. I had to reverse and cars sort of just drove around me, like no big deal. But no worries, I obviously made it home just fine :)

Then today, I got out of my English class just before 10 and was walking down to work. The snow! It wasn't coming hard but it was light and kind of just whispy....just annoying enough so that you can't look up and see where you are going.

But I guess it is beautiful.

I am currently watching the basketball game. I know, I know. Why am I not there?! Well it started at 6 today...when does basketball ever start at 6? and I have class until then and then I was in charge of dinner tonight. So here I am, on my couch, with my computer and the basketball game on. I don't think anyone understands how I love this team. My social life and only form of entertainment comes while I am at these games. But, yes, we are winning. Playing CSU right now. This will tie us for second with either SDSU or UofU depending on how their game goes tonight. (That will be a BIG game. Both teams currently tied for first!)

pounding it with max hall. that's how i roll :)

It is time for me to go to bed - but I just want to write. I have to write. I have so much that I want to say, but I am not sure how to say it. I don't know who reads this or why I even have a blog. haha I got it before I went to Mexico, but thanks to Connie, my cute aunt who just loves me so much, I was encouraged to keep it going.

Can I just quickly say that these past few weeks have honestly been full of trial after trial. Worst part is really that I am not the one going through the trials, rather I am watching my friends try to go through these painful things. They are there and I am here and this has been the hardest time to be away from home. I just want my friends to know that I love them and I think of them each individually everyday. They are in my prayers.

BUT on a much HAPPIER note...random happening of today. Max Hall came into work today. For those of you who don't recognize this name, he is the BYU quarterback. I mean, athletes come in pretty often, but today was the first time I saw Max. He walked right up to my desk and stuck his hand out for me to pound it. hahahaa Sometimes I just love my job!!