My Day

Wake up, shower, class, class, class, run to work, eat real fast, library till midnight, sleep. Then I wake up and do it all over again. I hate finals. Enough said.

Almost Done! Almost Done!!!

I officially have 10 days left of my semester and then I'm done till January 4th! So excited!!! I still have quite a bit to do, but it's nothing compared to what it was after Thanksgiving break. Wish me luck! If you don't hear from me, it's cause all I'm doing is studying and working!!! So excited to see everyone!

Big News!!!

Dear Family,

Since it is a well known fact that our family is bad at the whole keeping in touch thing, I thought I'd just post this here and now before word spread and feelings could potentially get hurt that I didn't call and tell them directly.

I officially started filling out my mission papers today. I won't be leaving for a while, but I thought y'all should know anyway. I'll be coming home in April and either leaving in like May or working till the end of the summer to save money and then going.

Now you're all caught up in my life.

Love,
Kate

Our Attempt to Yellowstone

This past weekend my roommates and I were making a trip to Yellowstone. Our plan was to drive up in separate cars and then before we entered the park to pack the 6 of us into Carol's car to go through, that way it would be cheaper. I for some reason wanted to stop and get gas (even though I had more than a half tank and we would've been fine), so we pulled off. Carol kept driving for some reason instead of waiting for us. We called and they just said to meet them up there. Once we were done at the gas station, we drove for about 30 minutes and I noticed a truck coming from the other direction. His flashers were on, so I slowed down thinking there was a cop up ahead or something. We went a little further and we saw a car pulled off on the other side and a man standing in the road waving us down, or so we thought. I had almost come to a stop when I looked around the bend in the road and noticed more lights. There had been an accident up ahead. My roommate Amanda who was sitting in the passengers seat immediately started saying, "Don't be Carol's car. Don't be Carol's car." We got closer and it was her car. I luckily saw my 3 roommates running out of a van to come and meet us where we pulled off. The other two in my car just saw Carol's totaled car sitting against the guard rail. They thought they were still inside. Amanda was already in tears and opening the door before I had completely stopped. Our roommates had all been wearing their seat belts, luckily!, and were able to walk away from the accident. They had hit black ice and spun out of control, hit the guard rail and kept spinning until it stopped. Luckily the guard rail was there, because it was a drop off down into the forest. Carol's hand got scraped up from the airbag, Danika's leg and neck are sore, and Jessica got whiplash. Other than that they were okay. We were blessed to have a couple ladies stop and play "Mom" for us when we definitely needed it. They had blankets around girls, coats were being pulled out and they were making us sit down. They also pointed out to us that we no longer had 2 cars to get home. I called our friend/big brother here at school, Levi, and he came to our aid with his lovely girlfriend/our old roommate Katie. They didn't make it in time to see the scene of accident, but they did make it in time so that Levi could help Carol with all the things that have to be dealt with afterwards.

We were incredibly blessed that day and the Lord was definitely looking out for us. If things had been different the accident would've much worse and there would've been more injuries. A few examples...
1. I drive faster than Carol. If I hadn't pulled off to get gas, I would've hit the black ice instead or if she stopped with us.
2. If I had hit the black ice, Carol would've been right behind us and crashing into my car soon after I started spinning.
3. My car is not built for safety. It's a good car, but much like a tin can. The girls in my car and myself would've needed matching ambulances if it had been us. Carol's car is much newer and built better.

Sadly Carol's car was officially totaled. It should've been taken to Salt Lake yesterday for scrap metal. We were all very grateful for the Lord's hand in our lives and for having each other there when we needed each other. The girls that were in the car are all just very sore right now, but doing fine.

Our Attempt to Yellowstone

Catch Up!

Not a lot has happened. Mainly because I spend the majority of my time in the library. When I'm not there I'm having crazy fun times. Here are some pictures to prove it. Oh and I sprained my ankle again! YAY! Not. It's getting better though. Hope you enjoy.

My birthday dinner at TGIFriday's.

Katie's birthday dinner sitting with Amanda. And yes, she really did walk in dressed like that.

Stephanie and I!

Huge fire!!!

On the way to Driggs, ID saw a gorgeous rainbow. Sorry the picture is bad, I was driving. ha.

Tried to take a short cut...ended up in a field.

Tried my first deep fried candy bar. Pretty good. Definitely something to share though. It's very rich.

Went on a farris wheel with my roommates.

Tasted my first giant turkey leg. Not too bad.

Worst Week of My Life

This week was just plain bad. I don't know what happened. It started off amazing. It was my birthday Monday and my amazing friend Whitney made me stay home from the library, my work meeting was postponed till the next day and it was just an amazing birthday. I couldn't have asked for a better one. The my week continued... I got assigned tons of homework. Lots of reading. Lots of time in the library. I was crying because I was so overwhelmed. I was oversleeping. It was just bad. I woke up today at 7:30 for a group meeting for my science class (Yes, we could only do it at 8 o'clock on a Saturday...I'm a little bitter still.) and I still felt terrible. I came back home, went back to bed and woke up at noon. I was even more drained than before. I showered, and was trying to get ready, but had to keep taking breaks to rest between doing my make up and blow drying my hair. Odd huh? Those tasks don't usually ware me out. So I thought for a second and realized, "Hey, I'm anemic! That might be my problem!" I took my iron pill and now I'm fine. Who would've thought? I obviously didn't. Whoops!

It just hit me...

I'm going to be 21 in less than a month! It's weird. I can go to bars soon!!! Not that I drink...but I could still get in! haha. Good news Andy! I don't have to wait for your shows to be all ages! I can just go to them! Awesome huh?

Anyway...I have a birthday list going...on my handy iPhone (It's really that AMAZING!!! See my iPhone post.). If you'd like to know anything about it...let me know. I'd be happy to share. :) ha.

I Need Your Help!

If you happen to be looking up plane tickets that just so happen to be going from Salt Lake City, UT to Hunstville, AL and you find a cheap one...let me know. I want to go to my nieces baptism and see my family before my long, treacherous semester of 17 credits starts. And if you, by any chance, want to donate to the "Help Kate Get to Huntsville" fund...just let me know!

Sincerely,

Kate

iPhone

I'm pretty sure most of the people in my family already knew this, but I'm just restating it. iPhones are freaking AMAZING! I honestly don't know how I got through these 20 years of my life without it. I really don't. It's already been super handy for me. It has my bank account on it, a flashlight (I know what you're thinking...lame. Honestly though, how many times have you used your phone as a flashlight?), shopping list, my budget which tells me exactly how much I have to spend and/or not spend, my errands, an app. that gives me all the shopping deals at grocery stores (I feel so shopper savvy in the grocery store now.), and a few more things. I am constantly finding new things to do on it that make my life so much easier. Thank you Apple for making such an amazing phone.

If you don't see me for a while...It's cause I've gone crazy

This will be me starting in September...

I have determined that I am crazy or at least I soon will be. I just registered for classes today. I am taking 17 credits. 7 classes total. One of which is online. As this wasn't enough, I am also working. I was also given the position of closer, so I'll be at work till 6:30 M-F everyday. I am not sure how I will get through the fall. Lots and lots of prayer I am thinking.

It's official...I'm a football player!

I'm on a football team. We've only won 1 game, but that's okay! We have TONS of fun. I have another game tomorrow...so hopefully we'll kick some butt!!! And hopefully I won't get as many bruises! haha.

Funny Story of the Day

As you all know I work with children all day. Well, today I worked ALL DAY! I was in the baby room from 8:30 to 2:15 then in my normal classroom with my 3 year olds till 6.

Story #1: Tanner, one of my favorites, was tossing a kids baseball (one that is slightly padded) back and forth with one of the other kids. He missed it and it hit him in the nose. I ran over to see if he was okay because he was crying. I scooped him up in my arms, checked his nose to see if it was bleeding (it wasn't at that point) and then he put his head on my shoulder still screaming. All of a sudden he pops up, and in a completely normal tone, like nothing was goes, "I'm beeding." It was so funny. I love that kid. I didn't notice until I got home and had gone to get food that I had blood on my clothes. Good thing I don't wear nice stuff to work usually.

It was a fun day at work, but I was dead by the time I got home. I went to get into my car twenty minutes after I got home from work and I was so tired I just flopped in. I didn't duck my head enough though, and I smacked my eyebrow on the side of my car. I got my first black eye! Luckily it hasn't gone down underneath, but it still really hurts! This is what it looked like the next day.

Coming Home!

I've been gone for almost 5 months. I miss my family! Oh goodness I'm so excited to come home! I'm going be home on the 30th and then leaving the 6th! Can't wait to see everyone!!!

I am single...

Those who know my current dating situation have been telling me to kick him out of my life for about 6+ months. Today it happened. I dumped his sorry butt today. It was hard, but it is done. I'm officially single and I have no prospects. Nor do I want any.

Apartment to Myself...OH! And a Job!!!

First things first. Living alone is AMAZING! Don't tell my roommates I said that, but it's so true. It's nice to have everything exactly where you want it and to not have to worry about who's dirty dishes are sitting out. THEY ARE YOURS! HA!

This week is Spring Break. Yes, Spring Break and I'm spending it alone. My roommates are all gone. One is only an hour and a half away. One in Colorado. Two in Washington (one of which I've never met). And one in St. Louis! But yes. This is my first living alone. It's nice. I can just do whatever. Watch whatever. Walk around naked (If I so choose. I don't think I'm quite at that stage yet. It was just funny to say. HA!). Anyway...I wish BYU-Idaho would let people live by themselves. It would be FABULOUS!

Now, onto the reason I am alone during Spring Break. I HAVE A JOB! Yes...a JOB! J-O-B. Can you tell I'm excited? It's because I am. I have not had a job since my senior year of high school. I know...I'm such a mooch. I have amazing, AMAZING parents who have been supporting me while in school, but I need to not depend on them so much. I got a job during finals week of all times. I know what you're thinking. "Well that was dumb!" And it kinda was. Nothing to too bad. Just a little bit more stressful. Luckily I was very well prepared for my finals so I didn't really worry. It was more of a time issue than anything. My last day of classes before finals went something like this...back to back. Class, homework, class, work, study group, test, study, sleep. Starting at 9 in the morning and finishing at 9 at night. Time crunch! Oh well. I obviously made it through! No harm done.

Now, you are probably wondering what I'm doing for this mystery job. (And if you're not, I'm telling you anyway, so HA!) I work at a daycare! The kids are great! I work with 3-4 year old kids. They are, usually, well behaved. I only have a problem with a couple on a regular basis. The rest of the time they are great. I have 12 of them in my classroom. This job has also made me realize I DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, want to teach 1st grade or higher. They are so much harder to deal with! And they are so incredibly sassy! I actually got told today that "adults don't understand." It was shocking to me! I've never been the lame adult who just classifies kids as kids and then ignores them, but today I was. Sad huh? I'm only 20! Oh well. They were acting younger than my normal class. If they had bedrooms, I would've sent them each to separate rooms so I wouldn't have to hear them cry. They were both in elementary school! Ah! Anyway, that's my job. I love it. I'm learning what to do in the baby room tomorrow! I'm excited. My baby withdrawal is going to be cured through this job. I just know it.

Now you're all updated. (For the at most 5 people that read my blog!)
Love you all!

New Hair!

I have new hair! Yes, it's true. I have gone away from my usual hair cut of just getting layers! I now have swoopy bangs! Here are some pictures. I wanted to get my hair cut shorter after it was done, but she said it would be harder to do that since it was all dry.

*Note: For my family, I apologize because I am not smiling. I hate my fake smile! But I did put a semi-smile-ish one up.

I've Done Something New!

I went rock climbing last night for the first time ever. No pictures sadly...but hopefully I will be going again soon and I will definitely take some! I got all the way to the top and I rang the bell. I tried doing a harder course about a half hour later, but I apparently have no upper body strength. Next time I'll make it to the top though...next time...

Nothing Happening!

Depressing...right? I know, I know. I'm sure there is more happening in my life, but it's not blog worthy. I'm currently on campus working on homework. I really am, I promise. I'm listening to NPR about Sayyid Qutb for my Middle East class. It's a really interesting class, but I'm not sure what I'm listening to. I think I'll understand more tomorrow when I get into class. So see...you can blog and do homework all at the same time! haha.

One thing that has happened...I went to Boise, ID this Valentines weekend. It was way fun! I went and saw one of my best friends, Lance. He's living at his parents right now until the spring semester starts in April. Anyway, I got there right as they were about to do chores. "Chores?" you may ask. Yes, chores. His parents own a bunch of cattle and so they take about 6 hours a day taking care of them. I was supposedly getting Lance out of chores, but that didn't happen. I got to help though! It was actually kinda fun! I was driving around on a 4-wheeler helping. And I was holding Lance's little brother (6 months old) while we were riding around as well. I was so scared I was going to drop him or something, but I didn't. I held the baby while Lance drove and everything worked out fine! It was a lot of fun, and BONUS! I got out of Rexburg for 2 days.

The semester is halfway over! Can you believe it? I feel like I just got here. I'm kinda glad that it's halfway over. One roommate is driving CRAZY! AH! Other than that though, things are great. I'll try and take pictures of things going on here at school. No worries. But, here's one!

College food gets old. Hotpockets, taquitos, and such, so I threw this together one night after one of my friends yelled at me for not eating well and taking care of myself. Turned out well. I was impressed with myself.

And this is my lovely roommate singing. She says she gets bored when she showers...so she sings. Sometimes rather loud....haha. Hopefully she doesn't find out I posted this...she'd kill me.