Hahaha sooo.....

So, I know its been well known for a while, but I guess its time I actually blog about it (schools been crazy!) But I'm ENGAGED! YAY! To Jared! (aka The Boy in some of my previous posts..yes I'm weird like that). He proposed on by birthday, Oct. 8th, by taking me out to breakfast (I don't have class till 12 on fridays) and there he began to give me my birthday present.

First, he made my think I was getting my ring at the restaurant (I knew he had it), but I actually got a different jewelry box which contained a fresh water pearl bracelet! It is so pretty and I love it :) Also inside the box was a key and a note. The note read:

Go to the church on First and Center

Take this key that you may enter

Go up the stairs and take the first door

check the windows I implore

So after we finished eating we went on our way to the church and I followed the instructions and subsequently found the box that holds the ring box sitting on a window sill. I gave Jared a 'oh my gosh, is this it look?' and walked towards it. I have to admit that I was checking the room out, seeing if the ambiance was what I always imagined. I deduced as I reached the box that it was adequate and reached down and opened the box. To my surprise, disappointment (and

relief...my judgment on the room was very forgiving), the box was full of chocolate and another note. Now this part is one of Jared's favorite because he says (and is probably correct to day that) my face fell when I realized it was just chocolate, which I ha

ve to say, I am not a avid eater of. so the next note said.

Go to the temple

To the south side we'll flee

Between two aged ones

Find our Noble tree

Now this one was a toughy. We went to the temple as directed and I just sat there and looked around. I thought the aged trees might mean olive trees since they look so old but I could only

see one and you cant have anything between one, so I was back to ground zero. Then, while looking at some younger trees, I saw something black in one of them. I then suddenly remembered that Jared once pointed out to the trees that his brothers planted at the temple for the Eagle Scout Projects. I asked him if those were the same trees and basically he answered 'yes' (he was trying not to help me) so I walked over there and lo and behold the ring box was in one of the trees! (he had been texting his father, so it had just been placed there). the only problem was, was that it was place rather high up and the blouse I was wearing made it especially hard to raise my hands. So Jared promised to catch it when if I poked it out (he wouldn't get it for me) so he did and in one fluid motion went down on one knee and proposed!

And naturally I said 'yes'!

Jared and I (with my presents and notes)

Quick Update

Hey everyone! Just checking in so you know I'm alive! School is challenging and keeping me busy! And when I do have time, I usually spend it with Jared or Mom, so basically I have no free time! Ahhhh. Haha its all good! I'm just excited my birthday is coming up so I have a excellent reason to not do homework for a day! YAY!

Well see you all around!

9-9-2010...what a day!

So yesterday my world almost ended. And it didn't only because I received many blessing and with some coming from my the most wonderful friend and boyfriend ever. So what happened you might ask...well here is my story:

Yesterday I had a test in my 7:30 class. (Statistics) But also yesterday my homework in the class was due. On my way to class I remembered that I hadn't printed out some graphs I made for my homework and so thus my homework was in complete. I didn't have enough time to go to the computing commons and print it out as this was like 10 min before the test so I went to class and explained what had happened and asked if I could turn it in later that day. Blessing #1: He said yes and was super cool about it. So I took my test.

I then went to my next class, which is immediately after the first, trying to figure out what to do. My graphs were on my laptop and half way through class I realized that I had left it at home because I wasn't going to need it that day since I had no breaks to work on stuff in. And then I realized, though I had enough time after school to go get said laptop, I realized that the institute parking garage gets full on Tues/Thurs and if I left I wouldn't be able to get back in. I texted Annessa to see if she had class after our mutual institute but she did and couldn't take me because she would have been in the same situation as I. And Mom was gone in Cali visiting Melissa and Craig. 'Twas then I realized I had a boyfriend. So I called him after class and told him my problem. He was so wonderful about it. I told him how to get in my house (haha) and he had that laptop at the Institute in like 20 min! Blessing #2

So I haven't really had to print at school before cuz I usually don't forget so I didn't know what do to and how to pay for it because I don't have any money on my Suncard either. So my wonderful friend Annessa escorted me to a place where I could print and walked me through the steps (well really she did it pretty much all for me and even paid the 30 cents....haha well I know how to do it know...did I mention I'm a junior? hahaha) and so lo and behold I had my completed homework. Blessing #3

So now I hopped on my bike and rode to a far away place on campus called the Brickyard to where my Professor's office is. Well actually he is an adjunct prof (so he has a real job and just teaching my class on the side) so I actually had to go to his business. But the door was locked and no one would answer the doorbell! I didn't know what do! I knew he wasn't in his school office but I had no idea how to find him. So I was about to go riding around to look at his school office anyways when I had a distinct impression that I should look at my syllabus to see if he left us his work number. Blessing #4: I looked and lo and behold it was there and he answered and he opened the door and thus my homework was successfully turned in.

It may of been a very small thing (even though it was our biggest homework of the year) but it was important to me and I an very thankful for the wonderful people around me and for the Spirit and for the subsequent promptings I received.

I had a very trying yet blessed day, wouldn't you agree?

An End of Summer

So thus ends my summer. Twas a fun and eventful one. Lets see...since I last I wrote I have started shadowing at a place called McCleve Orthotics and Prosthetics where they 'dun dun dunnn' fit and assemble prosthetics and fabricate orthotics. Its pretty cool. I really like how although it seems like things get repetitive, each patient brings a unique twist to each order so nothing is really repetitive about it.

In my spare time I have been rereading the whole Harry Potter series because I wanted to get a feel for the whole journey. I'm halfway done with the sixth right now and its been fun! (its also been great to catch alot of foreshadowing that I've never even realized!) hahaha good times :)

Other than that, I'm just doing my usual: hanging out with Mom and helping around the house, getting ready for school, going to the office, and spending time with the Boy. (and yes I realize that I actually named him...I thought I proof read my last post but not well enough I guess :) )

But anyways, thats all for now. I will see you next time with an exciting recount of my new classes! YAY! so exciting huh?

Utah with the Boy and his Family! (dunn dunn duuuunnnn!)

So earlier this month I went to Utah with a certain boy for his family reunion, and I really had a good time. I had met this side of the family before but still to spend like 4 days with them...I was understandably just a little anxious, but, like I said above, it was great. So lets see what went down: (get ready for some picture overload ;))

So first we visited Sunset Crater by Flagstaff, and it was awesome! The lava flows were soooo cool!

There were plenty of large crevices for the boys to play around in...

And I joined in a bit as well ;)

Us.....:)

After the crater we went and visited some old Native American ruins and they were awesome and educational.

Then we went to the Grand Canyon (which, though I am a pure Arizona Native, I've only been there once). It was beautiful and very, very windy. This is one of the few pictures in which my hair is not all over the place! PS we visited the North Rim.

He took my sunglasses....

Us again...I had to take another pic cuz I was tired of taking them at the edge where my hair was crazy.

After the Grand Canyon, the next major destination was Zions National Park. There we sight-saw a bit and hiked the Narrows.

There is just something about caves.......

.....that just makes you act all feral! hahaha

There was this quaint waterfall...

...though small it was very pretty

So hiking the Narrows is basically walking up a river as the surrounding canyon gets steeper, more narrow and more smooth.

It gets pretty deep sometimes...I got wet all the way up to my belt line and I was careful (I've heard that water and cameras dont mix well). Jared swam a bit just cuz he wanted to and some people floated down the river on the way back.

The canyon was gorgeous!

And when it got narrow it was even more breath taking!

But we still managed to goof around ;)

**RANDOM TANGENT!**

there were like a million squirrels in the park!

And they were not shy either!

Quite the opposite in fact! I think I was around 5 inches away form this one! (I think he was posing for me)

** **

So after Zions we did some stuff in St. George (where we were staying), but then for the last two and a half days we retreated to a lodge near Zions. I didnt take many pics here but there was a large pond out the back were you could canoe, a volleyball net, a ramada with games, and tarps that you can make a slip-and-slide with.

the pond

A Noble celebration about our Nation's founders and stores how they were inspired and also prophecies of our nations by ancient prophets. (Jared played Moroni)

Us reading (although you cant tell, we are matching and all I have to say about that is that I got dressed first!ha!)

Well thats all folks! Im sorry about so many pictures but I couldnt think of anything I could cut (besides the squirrels but that was fun). It was a fun and exciting trup! YAY!

California Sun, Anyone?

Its strange really....I really wanted to blog about the beach RIGHT after we went, I even put all my pictures up in a post but then just saved it because I had serious writers block issues. So here I finally am! YAY! And let me tell you it was a great vacation. I love my family so much and it was fantastic having them all there (along with a certain someone as well...).

So here you go: the pictures! Im kinda sad I kept forgetting my camera so I dont have a whole lot...poo but what I do have are awesome memories and sisters that take a million pics anyways ;)

Volleyball was a staple of our entertainment at the beach

Emily has mad volleyball skills...

Me, soaking up some sun. Everyone knows I could use a bit ;)

Cory and Em. Acting like Chinese tourists. Never a dull moment with them for sure.

The boys out in the wild blue yonder...

The waves were either the practically nonexistent or throw you to the ground variety. It was great fun.

Oh what could make a Grandma happier than being with her grandbabies!

Oh Ruthie and Craig...'nuff said

Us after a fun, yet tiring trip.

I told you we were tired didnt I? hahaha

So it was great. 'nuff said really. So stay tuned for my next update cuz it will be about my vacation with a certain someone's family..... ;)

The Impossible Puzzle

So I like puzzles. I used to do them all the time as a little kid. That and read and play make-believe by myself. So, sometimes I like to challenge myself now that I am a little older with more difficult puzzles.

Naturally.

So a Boy and I decided to do a puzzle one night to mix things up instead of the usual movie or TV...etc. The Boy brought two puzzles over, a 3D and a 3ft-er. Naturally I didn't think we would have time to do the 3D puzzle, so I chose the 3ft-er.

And thus our travails began.

See this puzzle didn't have very original pieces, so naturally many pieces could fit (and look valid) in the same spot. To compound our troubles there was a large amount of sky and ambiguous rocky mountain terrain that changed colors so gradually its hard to differentiate.

After three days, we finally succeeded. (And this three days was not straight neither was the puzzle all we did, but still....3 DAYS?!) Almost no words can express how relieved, accomplished, and joyful we felt upon our completion.

So behold. Our puzzle:

Now remember folks: it my not look like much, but the non-uniquely shaped pieces add a real twist.

The Battlefield (and Boy)

Yes, for reals, we are done.

Straight A's with two Bs ;)

Oh wow, I didnt realize its been over a month since I last updated....thats kinda sad. I've been thinking about what to post for awhile now though... so here I go.

So this semester was very (VERY) crazy but it ended very well! For the first time in college I got straight A's! It made me so happy and really helped my GPA. Not that it really needed a whole lot of help, but I'm trying really hard to keep it high so I dont have to worry about losing my scholarship, because if I did...well... that would be bad. haha

So you might be wondering (if you read the title of my post) what I meant by two Bs. What you might be thinking to yourself is "Didnt she just say that she got straight A's? ". Well let me clarify: Any normal semester is crazy in and of itself but this one was above and beyond. And 'Why' you might ask. Well if you havent been around heres the scoop: during the duration of this semester alone, I had two boyfriends (2 Bs (haha I'm so very clever huh?)). An

d due to that my life's crazy levels went off the chart!

I donno how much Im gonna write about them though, because I bet most of you know the story and that this is just very old news. I guess the new news is that my current boyfriend and I have been going out for 11 weeks, which is the longest I've ever been in a relationship so its scary but exciting at the same time.

Well enough about boys...even though they obviously are a good portion of my life. So other than spending time with him, I've spent my summer so far camping, cleaning, helping my mother, playing softball with my father, working at the office, trying to find a prosthetics job, babysitting nieces, and playing with family. Wow...haha its been fun, but luckily there is still a lot of summer left to go! Yipee!

oh I totally got this new swim suit and it makes me excited for the beach! (so cute!):

An Evaluation

So, I've been thinking lately. Wow, thats amazing in and of itself, i know. But something has just kinda struck me: Even though its been great fun to revisit old trips and fun things, this blog hasnt really been about my musings....though that is not bad in and of itself. And you know, (though it would be nice) I don't really care if anyone reads my posts, its just kinda fun to say what I think without feeling super judged....hahaha I donno. I guess I'm rambling now.

But now I do wanna say how awesome the Michael Buble concert I went to with Annessa was. And it was so completely awesome! First off, the group who opened for him was so cool:

And yes they were making all those sounds with their mouths.....they are awesome. They are called Naturally 7 and some of the sounds they could make were violin, drums, bass, trombone, horn, and electric guitars. And it was good too! Look 'em up!

So here he is:

And he was awesome too. And way funny. Although, I'm kinda sad he didn't sing all the songs on the CD, he did catch a couple other favorites from previous CD so its all good in the end :)

But ya, all is well (except finals) in my land so peace out everyone.

TLC: Episode 3

The Lost Chronicles:

Untold Stories in Jennifer's Life

-Episode 3-

So, after my finals (and I mean right after), I had the most fun and awesome opportunity to fly out and spend a couple of days with Melissa and Craig before Ruthie came. Where they live is SO pretty and we had a ton of fun hanging out and, of course, shopping. I would have to say though, one of the highlights of my trip was our day at Disneyland!

First off, I must say, it was so fun to see it all decorated for Christmas....the lights were awesome!

Here is a picture of "Its a Small World"...

And the castle was just sooo pretty...

We had so much fun, even though Melissa couldn't go on all the rides, but really, the ones I really wanted to go on were not the huge-over the top rides, they were the more...i donno, just classic ones that we didn't have to wait too long for ;)

We (as in I) got a Park-Hopper Pass so we were able to go to both parks. And so here I am in front of the classic (but with a holiday-ish twist) C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A letters for California Adventure...and I couldn't really resist taking a picture with a letter in my name...even if it is the letter 'F' and for some reason...I find it kinda silly that I'm standing next to a giant 'F'...but whatever... I guess I'm just strange like that :P

(So I totally made him do this) But basically my bro-in-law Craig is amazing. He is so..just awesome and funny. Example: I was laying on the floor when I got there talking to Melissa when I first got there and just chillin, when I think I asked for a pillow from the couch. So a couple of seconds later, Craig appears with a bed pillow with a chocolate on it and then throws a blanket on me. I donno...it was pretty awesome/nice/funny...but maybe you just had to be there.

So here is the classic 'pic in front of the castle'

And here is the classic 'pic in front of the flower Mickey' :)

Over all it was really fun day, and an extremely enjoyable (and much needed...remember it was after finals?) trip. Thanks Sissa and Craig for having me!....all those months ago ;)

TLC: Episode 2

The Lost Chronicles:

Untold Stories in Jennifer's Life

-Episode 2-

Last November my wonderful sister Emily got married to an equally awesome guy, Cory Heal! It was a wonderful day, both in things going smoothly and us enjoying beautiful weather! Emily bestowed upon me the title of maid of honor, which I bore happily! The whole thing was pretty much awesome and I wish I had more pictures on my lappy (from which I am writing) to show you all, but alas I do not! I even don't have a picture of Cory! (sorry!) So I guess enjoy this stunning (if I do say so myself) picture of my sisters and me!

Update on my life (currently):

A new semester has started (well actually it is half was through) and though it is extremely busy and right now I'm quite stressed and tired, things are going well. (so far) BUT beyond school, I've been making more friends and hanging out more....basically enjoying life more and not being as much painfully responsible as I used to be. Don't get me wrong, I'm still responsible, but not to the point of excessiveness. Well thats all for now! Ja ne!

TLC: Episode 1

The Lost Chronicles:

Untold Stories in Jennifer's Life

- Epsiode 1

On the 23rd of Friday, October, 2009, my father and I departed on a weekend hunting trip. Our destination was the northern edge of the Superstition Mountains, right south of Roosevelt Lake. It was there that we were assigned to hunt. We spent most of our time looking for our elusive foe, the white tailed deer. Hour after hour, we tirelessly trudged on, pausing ever so often to look with our binoculars and listen. Up hills and down valleys we went, experiencing hot dry sun, and wet cold depressions in the shadows; whipping trees and stubborn cat claw hindered our movement. All too soon, the day was almost spent, and hope seemed to the waning along with the sun. I sighed as my father panned the nearby mountains with his binoculars. Was this going to be another fruitless hunting trip like before? Was I ever going to even get to see a white tail in these mountains? All of the sudden my father tensed and called to me too look too. After a couple of tense moments I saw it too! Two deer! But alas! They were practically four hundred yards away horizontally, with that being across two gullies, and about four hundred yards straight up a very steep side of the mountain. But we had to try. So across we hurried, up, down, up, down. Rolling through every brush we couldn't avoid. Then we quickly marched up, and up, but not so fast that we would tire too quickly or alert our foe. The going was once again tough and slow. The side of the mountain was loose with rock and shale and for every couple so steps forward, I would side back at least a foot, at times. Finally, we were at the top, overlooking the valley where we were camped. But where were the deer? Despite all our efforts, we failed to make it up the mountain fast enough before the deer moved somewhere else to bed down as it got hotter. Tired, we continued to walk along the ridge hoping to see them on the other side but to no avail. After resting and then hunting some more, we returned to camp to sleep in the back of our truck, under the stars.

The next day was more fruitless than the first, as we saw nothing. So by mid afternoon, we packed up and headed home. It is true that we were tired and disappointed, but during my hunt I caught something even more elusive than my prey, alone and quality time with my father! What is better than that!?

The view of Roosevelt Lake, from the top of a ridge.

Me, in all my hunting glory!

My dad and me, during one our our breaks.

A look at what we what we went up and down :)