2009

2009 Highlights

2009 was absolutely amazing- I can't wait to see what 2010 has to bring!

My word for 2009 was "STRETCH" and I feel that it fit very well!

Cute, huh?!

Last week I got together with Miss Tiffany to make cookies, hang-out, and catch up!

It was so fun- thanks for everything Tiff!

I could not resist taking this picture that is in their driveway.

My Lucky Dad

A few years ago I found this advertisement for an investment firm that had 3 sisters and the following text:

"Three car payments.

Three college tuitions.
Three weddings.

I think I'm having chest pains

How are we going to pay for all this?

Invest?

Invest in what?

The market is more unpredictable than our daughters."

I put it on a picture 4 years ago for my dad and he loved it! A few months ago my dad mentioned that he wanted an updated picture- so that is what I gave him for Christmas!

Alpha Phi Christmas Party

This year some Alpha Phi Alumni hosted a Christmas Sweater Party! They made the cutest sweater invites and everything! I made the delicious mint cookies for my dessert!

Jacie and me!

Alumni and actives!

My gift from the gift exchange-- how cute is this?!
It will look great in my new place!

I realized how much I love Alpha Phi- I am so glad that there are so many Alpha Phi girls in the Salt Lake area!

Christmas Morning!

My family agrees- this was one of the best Christmas' ever! All the gifts we gave each other were gifts people really wanted or really thought through!

Me opening my awesome gift from Miss Em.

She has wanted this for a very long time- thanks Aunt Karen!

Emily and the sheepy sheep!

Mom opening the Sheepy sheep.

Schpoopy opening my gift to him!

Merry Christmas

It's good to be home...

I flew home Christmas Eve Night! Just in time for our traditional pajamas and Christmas story!

December Randomness

These are some pictures off my phone... I have been crazy busy but I want to catch up!

Surprise visit from Derwood Maryland Friends in SLC.
Delicious chocolate mint cookies for the funnest Alpha Phi Christmas Party!
Lots of cold weather clothes.
{I have lived in UT for going on 4 years now, and each winter I act like I'm surprised with how cold it is!}

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Cara loves chippymunks

Sisters at Thanksgiving!

Kareoke!

Sushi!

These are just a few of the fun memories...

Love and miss you all.

Being Free, Being Wild and Bulletpoof

19 and crazy.

{song by Bomshel.}

Happy happy Birthday Cara!!!

We can't wait to have you home.

One Week From Today...

We will be beginning McJanes Palooza 2009.

{I think we will all have made it to Winter Suites!}

Can't even begin to describe my excitement!

A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes...

When I got an email telling me that Disney Princesses on Ice was coming... I texted my Aunt Elisa to ask if I could take Miss Miriam! We met after work on Friday at California Pizza Kitchen and then Miriam and I headed over to Energy Solutions!

Waiting for it to begin....
Prince Charming was really attractive.

I realized the following things:

• I have not watched a Disney princess movie in a very long time
• I still know the words to every Disney love ballad
• I have never seen Sleeping Beauty
• Disney Princesses are classic- the same stories I love my daughters will love!

My New Theme Song

I heard this song the other morning on my way to work... and fell in love.

Lunch With The Aunts...

Uncles and Cousins!

My Aunt Cristin was in town for a few days for the coolest thing ever {I am keeping my fingers crossed they do it next year, because I want to go}! She invited us all to lunch- and I felt so special because I am not a sibling but I was still invited! I guess I have graduated into being an adult!

It was great seeing everyone! {It made me miss my mom so much!}
I love her.

I Want My Stomach to Flop.

You know that feeling when you are on a roller coaster and its about to drop and your stomach feels like it is in your throat, and your heart is beating like crazy and you think its going to burst out of your chest? Or when you talk to someone you like and get this smile on your face that won't go away?! All of these feelings mixed together are what I refer to as a "stomach flop". It's a good kind of flop- you know, like the good kind of butterflies, the good kind of nervous. Not everyone is capable of making my stomach flop {I guess I am kind of picky-but the good kind of picky}.

All I want is my stomach to flop- just so I know it is still capable of flopping. I really do not think it's too much to ask for.

Is it?

Some Things Never Change...

and I'm okay with that.

Ever since I can remember my G'ma Cheryl has sent us Halmark cards with $1 every single holiday! Prior to graduating college I also got cordinating stickers! I am happy to report that I still receive a sweet holiday card!

G'ma- if you read my blog... I love you! I have many fond memories of you that involve you sending me awesome mail {book of the month, weekly cross-word puzzles, quotes in college, and many, many more}!

Be A Flu Fighter

I am.

I get that H1N1 is bad. I get it.

I agree- extra precautions should be taken.

But, I also think that people need to ALWAYS practice good hygene and cleanliness.

Last staff meeting we talked about being as germ free as possible. We also got Antibacterial Wipes to wipe down our desks, computers, and phones. We are also no longer allowed to use each others computers/phones/etc. We were reminded to wash our hands often, wipe down the door handles, etc, etc. I honestly felt like I was in 1st grade again.

I have to go now- its time for my hourly wiping of my desk.

Too Soon?

I think not.

Let the countdown begin. {Mine began mentally in September- maybe even August.}

Happy List

For the Week of 10/18

• Sent postcards

• Talked to my bff Elaine

• Surprise visit from Kady

• Ricki turned 18

• Stayed busy at work

• Sore from the gym {the good kind of sore}

• Breakfast/lunch with Tiff

Surprise Visit!

On Thursday afternoon I got a phone call from Kady- I don't always pick up my cell phone at work... {since I'm at work} but this time I did {and am soo glad I did} because she said, "what are you doing for lunch, because I am in Salt Lake." I was so surprised! She was on the waiting list for a field trip, and was able to come up! It was great to see her-we laughed, talked, and crammed months worth of not living together in one hour.

At lunch.

Nice boots.

In less than an hour we met both Santa Clause {he told us he was SC and then asked us for $$} and also a comedian {well, more like he thought he was hilrious}. It was awesome!

Gardeners Village

Thanks Kate for going to Gardeners Village with me!

Stone Soup and Fro Yo

I was able to go see Miss Miriam in her dance performance in Stone Soup. She was a great little bean snapper! Thank you Darin and Elisa for inviting me! We ate Frozen Yogurt after- it was delicious! You chose the kind of frozen yogurt, filled up your own cup, put whatever toppings and the amount of toppings on that YOU wanted! {It does not take much to impress me!} It was great.

See You Again Soon...

Where on earth did October go?! Seriously.

At the beginning of October I was able to meet up with Kady, Shar, and Matt {Shars then boyfriend- now fiance}! We met at Chipotle in Bountiful. I have not eaten there in forever- I am glad that they are making their way to Utah!

It was great to catch up- I am glad that we were able to get together!

Wake Me Up When September Ends

{Those are lyrics from a song- if for some reason you haven't heard that song in the past 5 years.}

Where the heck did September go?!

Seriously- this month F-L-E-W by!

September meant...

1 trip to Cedar City

2 Dinners at Cafe Rio

2 Breakfast dates

Going to the Utah State Fair

2 trips to Logan with Ricki

Making my iPhone my work/personal cell phone- no more family plan :(

4 books read

Spending quality time with grandparents and cousins

Seeing a bunch of Alpha Phis

Season Premiers of The Office, Parks and Rec, and Greys Anatomy {I heart DVR}

1 Football game

My first internet purchase with my own credit card

1 new hair cut

1 Round Trip ticket home for Thanksgiving

3 Auto-Cad training sessions

1 pair of new running shoes

Losing all my pictures and music on my laptop

1 awesome long convo with BFF Elaine

Paying my first credit card payment

Nicest guy at work fixing my computer for free

Going from a high of 85 degrees to a high of 49 degrees & rain in 24 hours

October will bring...

Fall Weather

General Conference

Sweaters and boots

Haunted Forest

1 month closer to Thanksgiving

and much, much more!

USU vs. SUU

Ever since I was born- within days of entering this world I was put in Aggie Blue USU apparal. I was going to go to Utah State. I had a plan. I was going to live in my Grandparents basement and go to USU and become a teacher. This was my plan from a very early age. I also learned the cheer,

"Utah State hey Aggies all the way

go aggies go aggies

hey hey hey!"

Obviously plans change!

I finally had the opportunity to go to a USU football game- SUU was playing them for their Homecoming game {it was a definate way for USU to win their homecoming game}! Ricki, Kade, and I went up to Logan Saturday afternoon for the game. I was able to meet up with a bunch of Alpha Phis and other SUU friends! We were also able to spend sometime with our grandparents! They are always soo good to let us crash with them.

I of course cheered for SUU- but when they did the "Utah State hey Aggies all the way..." cheer I said it in my heart. I have a special place in my heart for USU!

Who is the random guy in this picture?
Mandie and I!

Timian, Mandie, and I!

Presh.

Don't I have gorgeous friends?!

I was invited to a Birthday Dinner at Rodigio Grill last Friday for one of my Alpha Phi sisters {not in this picture}. It was soo fun getting to see these amazing ladies. This was the first time I had seen these ladies since May! It was great to catch up with them.

P.S. Schpoopy next time you are in town I want to eat here!!

Trip to the Cheese Factory...

Ricki and I went up to Logan {2} weekends ago {we forget to take pictures together} to see friends! I got to spend time with one of my dearest friends Kate!! We could really do anything and have fun. Friday night we met up and got our traditional dessert... and Saturday we ran errands and laughed. We laughed a lot.

Things to remember...

Running Shoes

32 countires, Law School, and his dads salary

Cheese Factory

"You put the 'to' in attitude"

How you doin' in there baby?

I race motorcycles

and hunt turkeys

Dairy intake

"Hurry up- I think she was really into you"

Cheese and ice-cream {not together}- YUMMY

"Did you know that all the pictures we have we are eating?"

We were trying to take some awesome awkward photos... I think we suceeded.

I LOVE the Fair!

Oh Funnel Cake... you were so delicious at 9pm... not soo good at 2am. Next year I will be prepared for deep fried food.

Until Next Year....

Me on the Ferris Wheel!

Randoms from the fair!

Fairs are awesome. Need proof? See below...

You can swim with the sharks.

See all sorts of animals. I am a city girl- so animals still are weird to me. You may be asking yourself, "Why is Alicia holding up that skunk skin?" I took this picture for my dad- because he calls his girls, "his 3 skunks". It took a lot of bravery for me to pick it up, and then this guy comes up to me and purposely startles me and I screamed. Loudly.

" That should have been my bale of hay."

Yes- I did pay .50 to see Al the Aligator. He was huge.