on a lighter note...

...I have done a lot of great things (just kidding. just wrote my first bullet. Not much great about it...)this last week.

• Not so great game - but Mel and I went to a football game and got to spend time with our fellow cougar fanatic fans.  Our seats are normally pretty amazing, but it was terrible to see Romney get hurt. ahhh ya, let's not talk football.  Oh but we did get to see the Potters!

• Apartment housewarming/dance party!  I love my roommates and we just felt the need to throw a party. So our good excuse was that we wanted all of our friends to see our new place!  Brilliant right?  It was pretty fun - minus the face that I was in such a bad mood thanks to the band game.

• Sushi with mom, dad, and Michelle.  Yes!

•  We got to see poor Romney in the hospital.  That poor man.  But it was fun to see him and to talk.

Oh! and I put air into my tires all by myself!  Makes me feel all grown up.

a birthday

Today is my friend Robi's birthday...

This is not just a normal birthday.  I am not sure how to put into words the feelings I have or really say this the way that I would like to.  Last October, I kept thinking about my friends Robi and Sam.  We had been good friends for a few years and of all my friends I have made at BYU, they are definitely the ones I have stayed closest with.  So, I texted Sam on October 22, 2009, telling him that I wanted to get together and see him and the boys.  That was when I found out that Robi had been hurt in a longboarding accident just prior to my text.  I instantly knew this wasn't just a regular Robi injury and since that day, I have missed one of the greatest men I have had the privledge to share my life with.  I have thought a lot about that day.  Thought about why I had texted Sam instead of Robi.  Why this injury unltimately took Robi from us.  Why it even had to happen to Robi.  But, I can say that Robi fulfilled his mission on this earth and did an amazing job at living life to the fullest.

This is Robi's first birthday that we are celebrating without him and it has been far harder on me than I thought it would be.  He has been brought up in my life a lot lately.  I will see things that remind me of him or for some reason, he comes up in conversation.  It is amazing how he is still everywhere and I really wouldn't want it any other way.

My commute to work has provided lots of thinking time for me and I have taken full advantage of it.  I start my drive by praying out loud, which is so nice, and then I get to listen to a few General Conference talks.  Today, I mentioned Robi, his family, and friends in my prayer.  I also mentioned that I needed a little extra comfort.  Then I turn on the talk that I was on and it happened to be President Monson's talk from last April's General Conference.  Read it.  It was the comfort I needed.

Yet, with all of this comfort, I cannot say that I have not spent a good amount of today crying.  I am so proud of Robi and the life he lived and I know that he is only doing more important things, but I do hurt because I still miss him.  I am not sure how to say this in a way that makes sense,  but I was looking at pictures today and when I look at his face I feel like I have seen it recently.  It is like he really is still a huge part of my life.  He was an example of service, selflessness, and true charity.

I hope this makes some sense.

All in all, I love you Robison Sundell.  I miss you more than I thought I could miss someone.  I see your goodness in so many things.  You have made me a better person and I am so grateful for our friendship.

p.s.  We are going to Wingers tonight - all to celebrate you!  What an impact you have left.  Thank you.  <3

i LOVE my job

I know, I know.  It's another one of those posts...one that just talks about how much I love my job, but I just love it so much that I cannot stop talking about it.  My poor roommatest hear about it all of the time...

Today we went on our first field trip for the year.  It was truly an adventure and we had a messy beginning with one student, yet, it didn't bother me one bit.  That's a good sign, for sure.  We just had a blast together.  They just make me happy.

Though, I did get a text from Mijken with a picture of Adaptive Aquatics poster for this year.  Two of my boys from last year were on it, plus a girl that was in the younger unit at my school.  It is amazing how much I still think about them and remember all of the things they taught me.

After school, the other Life Skills teacher and I went on a run to WalMart.  Of course, I run into a student there.  It totally threw him off to see me outside of school and it was fun to see.  While at WalMart, I got a text from a sister of a former student, inviting me to his soccer game tomorrow.  I am so excited.

My job is the best.

Babysitting and NEW YORK

As I mentioned before, I went babysitting last night.  I caught the cute two year old with my gum, having obviously gotten into my purse.  I took the gum and put it back, then went to get some food.   While I was sitting there with my friend, Jared, mr. cute two year old came to the dinner table waving my tampon in the air, asking what it was and if it was a toy. AHHH. hahahaaaaa.  It was hilarious.  This could have potentially been humiliating and created a very awkward moment for the adults involved (just me and Jared).  It's a good thing he has a sense of humor and that we have known each other long enough to just laugh at what had happened.  Gotta love kids!  May I also brag and say that I got the baby to stop crying and even fall asleep?  Yes, thank you.

BIGGEST NEWS FLASH in the Life of ME!

hint.... (view picture)

I can't wait to see HER!!

I cannot believe I didn't say this TWO days ago...but on TUESDAY I bought a ticket to the great NEW YORK to visit Aubrey.  I have never been, but, as most of you know, my best BEST friend in the whole entire world, Aubrey, is there, right now, working for the NBA.  She left me on June 18th and I haven't seen here since.  It is seriously killing me, so we (Me, Mel, and Lacey) are fixing that and heading out there on October 12th.  That's right.  Be jealous.  A reunion is about to take place and maybe I cry everytime I think about it...maybe.  Ahhhh I am so excited.

locked out

I went with a friend to babysit his nephews right after work today...Literally, I walked in the door, threw my stuff on the floor, and walked out to leave. In that "stuff" I threw on the floor was my keys. I told Mel that I would be home in like an hour and to leave the door unlocked.

We babysat for a little more than 2 hours. No big deal. The kids were darling and we had a really good time! He was running late for his intramural volleyball game though, so I just told him I lived close enough to walk home from the RB. I walk home. ladeeda, minding my own business.

My door is locked. Some kids from the ward are sitting in the grass next door. They say hi, but that's all. I call a friend. He's already home. I am locked out. People are sitting by me, witnessing this, but I don't feel like I can just knock on someone's door and wait there - though I am sure they would all be disappointed that I didn't say anything.

Of course I call Chatsworth kids, but none of them were answering! One was at a frisbee game, another was at the KISS concert...blah. So I call some friends at the TAJ and end up there. Then a girl from that ward called me and when I answer she was like, "Hey, Tati. Mel is with me. She is locked out." Noooo way.

We both tried to get into our apartments, minutes apart from each other, with the same people watching, and both ended up with the Chatsworth crew. She joined me at the TAJ until we found out that Jen had been in the shower and didn't hear either of us at the door. hahahaa

Roommate Love

I have the greatest roommates. I have always been blessed with really wonderful roommates, but I normally know them before we live together. This year I had two randoms and they are just what I need in roommates. We have already had so much fun together.

(This is the move your face a whole lot until the picture takes type of photo...)

We talk (a lot), we dance (like no other apartment of girls you have ever met!), we are social, and we are ready for adventure. We are putting on a housewarming, but more importantly, DANCE PARTY! this weekend and we all have so many friends we had to invite. It is going to be legit.

Anyways, I love them.



Photos are thanks to our first photobooth photoshoot. We had to put a picture to our facey housewarming/DANCE PARTY event so that people could see how obviously attractive we are and want to come!

And though you never know all the steps...

you must learn to join the dance.

I watched The Prince of Egypt today. I remember seeing this movie in the theater a few times. I was 10 years old. It came out right after I had gone to Egypt and I was obsessed. 1. It was Egypt. 2. Such an amazing Bible story. 3. The soundtrack is amazing. 4. It is a movie I could watch every Sunday and love it only more with each viewing. It's a classic and it made me happy.

Elder Groberg gave a fireside tonight. It was wonderful and was a great motivation to start this week on the right foot. He asked us what was most important in out lives and how we knew those were the most important things. We know what is most important by the things that we do. He talked about the Savior, the temple, family, the prophet, and service. He told us that the world needs more light and that we can bring in more light to the world as we do these important things.

I also got to sit with some of my favorite people at the fireside. I am really lucky to have such amazing friends and this week it has really been all I can think about.

Oh and I might have given a talk about scripture study...or mostly just how blessed we are to have them. I think it went alright. It's always hard the first time you speak in a new ward. But this ward is certainly growing on me!

Sundays are wonderful.

friends, dancing, and dumBies.

Friends.

Alison came to visit last night! Oh my goodness, it was SO good to see her. She is getting married in November and recently moved up to Riverton. It had been way too long. Alison makes me happy.

Dancing.

Yes. I love to dance. Tonight we had a stake dance party...Sounds like it could have not been so fun, but my roommates and I hit it up and shook our hips until they hurt! It was so much fun and I am so grateful to have roommates who love to dance as much as I do! We also found some Chatty ward friends and it was a blast. I don't remember the last time I really enjoyed myself quite so much or even felt so confident that it didn't matter what people thought. Sooo good.

Then Dumbies.

Not like dummy. But Dum-Bee, that is what my old roommates called them. I don't have much to say about it but just sometimes we run into them and we want to yell it to the world. So...DUUUUUMMMMBIIIIEEEEE!!!!

the good ol' wilk

I went up to the bookstore today.

This is why. My student's APE (adapted physical education) teacher came in today and pretty much ripped BYU apart. Is amazing how many Ute fans there are out in Eagle Mountain. It is a whole new world and I am not at all used to it. So, I came up with this idea to stick BYU stickers all over mr. APE man next time he comes in. :) And I just want to deck my room out in all things BYU.

SO this took me to the bookstore. Walking into the Wilk for the first time since graduation was sort of hard...all of the sudden I was home and it was comfortable, but then at the same time, I felt like my parents when they would walk through the Wilk with me! ahhhh.

How I miss being a student.

my hero

I love my dad. Today is his birthday!

Reasons why I love my dad...

1. He loves his family more than anything in the world.
2. I KNOW he loves my mom.
3. He works so hard for us.
4. He is basically the funniest man on earth.
5. He is always giving.
6. He takes the most wonderful pictures.
7. He would do anything for me.
8. He has such a strong testimony and he loves the Gospel.
9. I remember his band back in the day. He plays the bass. I remember trying to run away, to get that bass beat thud out of my chest. I love it now.

1. BYU sports. SO glad he is now close enough to come to all games.
2. Our different Monday night activities: Tennis, Beach and in n out, etc...
3. The way he could embarrass me beyond what I thought was possible.
4. The day he bought me Ray Ban sunglasses for my first day lifeguarding with the sweetest note on a napkin.
5. Charades.
6. When he joins in on the dance parties :)
7. How famous he is at MHHS. JTHORK!
8. When high school friends use his pictures as their profile pics on facey. Seeing that jthork across the bottom always makes me smile.
9. The time he was Porter for Halloween. It was legit.
10. The way he spied on me on my way home from Orange County to see how fast I was driving...it was too fast...
11. Or the time he filtered my AIM conversations and got to know all the dirt (meaning who likes who and boy drama) happening in the lives of a few 14 year old girls in San Marcos...
12. The way he can never stay mad at me. I am a daddy's girl.
13. How he used to take me everywhere with him when I was just a toddler. Rock climbing. fishing. all the fun stuff.

1. How he surprised me with the most adorable puppy for Christmas one year. And then took care of me after my sweet puppy was hit by a car...
2. His constant support of me and my dreams. He would do anything to help me succeed in life and he has done everything to help me get to where I am now.
3. The words he will make up when his gets frustrated
4. How he thinks he can slap dance. haha guess that's what happens after growing up in Santa Ana with the Tongans and Samoans?
5. How he can always make me laugh.
6. The advice that he gives me. I didn't get accepted into the SpEd program right away (got put on the waiting list, but came to find out a few weeks later that we all got that dreadful letter...). He called me while I was crying in the library. He made me feel like I would be ok, that life wasn't over. He told me about the doors that have shut and open for him in his life. It all works out.
7. He doesn't do anything without praying about it first. He is so close to the Spirit. I admire him for that. And then how confidently he goes forward with life.
8. The service that he is constantly giving.
9. The way I can push his buttons :)
10. I'd get in trouble, go to my room and lay on the top bunk to cry my life away. I am sure it was always my fault, but he would always be there a few minutes later to tell me he was sorry and that he loves me. I cry thinking about it...

Ok. I could go on for forever and over.

I love you dad, so much. I am so grateful that I got blessed with such an awesome man as my father, the man that sets the bar for all other (potential) men in my life. My heart overflows with love as I am thinking about you and the amazing things that make you you. I am so proud to be your daughter! I love you. I am still your kukiluki!

in memory

of September 11th.

My school did an amazing job remembering that day that happened 9 years ago tomorrow.

This week my students and I collaborated to create a letter to send to the soldiers fighting overseas. Actually, they did it all, I just wrote it big so they could copy it. It was really moving to see what they thought of those service men and women fighting for our country. This is the letter:
Then today a firefighter came in and gave them some safety tips but tied in 9/11 and the firefighters who became heroes that day. Then Amazing Grace was played on bagpipes up and down our hallways. It was all very moving.

I will forever remember that day. I was in middle school. For some reason, I would wake up at 5:00 am everyday. I remember listening to 9.33 and them talking about airplanes flying into the Towers. I had no idea what that meant but it was all they were talking about so I figured it was important and I went to tell mom. She didn't believe me. Told me that the radio was just saying things and since I didn't know what the World Trade Centers were, she didn't know what building I was talking about. Then my aunt called her a little later and mom ran downstairs crying to turn on the news. All day at school, our teachers were disappearing into their little offices to watch the news. We were living history they told us. It is amazing to see the United States come together the way we did and continue to do every year. The firefighter told the kids the story of the firefighters holding up the flag at ground zero. How proud I am to be an American, to call that flag mine, and to look to it as I say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning with my students.

the best day in all of fall

BYU's first football game is today. Now, I am not sure if you could tell or not - but I LOVE BYU football.

• Walking the six/seven blocks to LaVell Edwards Stadium with hoards of fans. The stadium becomes its own little city for a few hours.
  
• The smell of cougartails and those delicious roasted almonds.
  
• The excitement of finding your seat for the first time, especially when you know you are third row!
  
• Sitting with the best people to watch BYU sports with in the whole world. These are the kids I camp out for basketball games with. True cougar fanatics.
• Getting to see my family at the games!
• Watching the team warm up!
• Watching them run out to the field for kick off!
• The noise of the cougar crowd!!!
• Sitting on the east stadium, facing the sun all game long
• Being recognized by friends from my days in the SAB
• Knowing every football player, the number, where they are from, and relationship status
• that's another cougar....FIRST DOWN
• Cosmo running onto the field while Blur, Song 2 is playing!
• THE SONG AND COSMO
  
• The cosmo videos shown at the end of the 3rd quarter.
• Standing for 4 hours
• Finding ways to stretch your legs while still standing (like propping it funny on the bench in front of you or some how using the bench behind you, not much to choose from)
• Sitting so close that not only do we know the face of all the players but also cougarettes and cheerleaders...
• Meeting everyone during half time
• Hearing what the coaches are saying to the boys
• Singing the cougar fight song 100 times in one day!

I will add more after today...this is not the last you'll hear about BYU football :)

Senior year again (1st and 2nd rows, 40 yard line!)

Junior year with the one and only JACKIE! (2nd row, 30 yard line)

Sophomore year (2nd row, 20 yard line)

Freshman year (rotating seats...)