Cara and Emily,

Hope you BOTH have amazing 1st days of school- {9th grade and Sophomore year of College}!

Love,

Alicia

RHS 3

Emily,

Seems like just yesterday you were going to Kindergarten...

You are going to be walking the halls of my High School Alma Mater in just a few hours! Forgive me if I become a little nostalgic! I am so excited for you. I loved my years at RHS. You are going to do FABULOUS. Just remember to take it a day at a time, be your self {but be your very best self}, and if all else fails, cry {use this sparingly}. Before you know it you will be making your own memories. Eating lunch with your friends, scrambling to finish homework in the hallway before class, waiting to walk down the hall with friends because walking by yourself is boring, making out in the hallway {not. this is disgusting and its pda- and you may think its cool, but its not- and you will be made fun of}. Apparently my HS memories all took place in the hallway/cafeteria.

My final word of advice: If the AP Lit teacher asks you what you feel the theme of the book is- do not say "circle of life" even if really do feel that is the theme. This is not the answer she wants- all you will get is an eyeroll and the response, "How about something a little more cliche?"

I love you Em. I can't wait to hear about your first day.

P.S. Did you get the RHS3- like HSM3?

Fashion Show. Fashion Show. Fashion Show at Lunch. And other Back to School Memories.

My cousins was showing me her clothes from Back to School shopping the other day and I was brought back to a time when it was okay to wear sunflower themed outfits {I had a love for sunflowers- sunflower wardrobe-skorts, shorts, skirts, shirts, and probably a scrunchie or two}. This was also a time when clothes were not associated to money or work appropriateness. Those were the days.

My favorite Back to School memory is going Back to School shopping! My mom would take us each out individually to shop. Thank you mom- I know how much you do not like to shop. Along with getting new clothes, we also got to choose a place to go out to lunch. Once again, thank you Mom for eating at Applebees with me- {I am not sure why I liked that place}. For a few years we went up and stayed at my Aunt Cristins to do our Back to School shopping! This is the best part of it all... we would come home with our purchases and wait for Dad to get home from work and then we would put on a FASHION SHOW. We would show him every single outfit we bought- and my mom would describe each of our outfits. Maybe she didn't describe them all- but in my childhood memory she did. Thank you Dad for sponsoring the fashion show and all of the clothes worn. Then the saddest thing happened. We moved to Maryland and we did not have the full fashion show. We only chose our favorite outfit to model. Sorry to Miss Em who never really got to experience the full effect of a Back to School fashion show.

Other Back to School Memories: Memory 1: We always got Fathers Blessings the night before school started. I would always look forward to these and I am so grateful that I can continue to receive Fathers Blessings. Memory 2: Mom would always make us breakfast on the very first day of school. I was always really nervous though, so I never really ate it. Memory 3: Supply shopping. The teachers would always say "you need 3 different colored highlighters this year." I would always get 3 different colored highlighters every year- but never used more than 1. In college, I did need 3 different colored highlighters, but refused to buy them so I used a Crayola Magic Maker instead.

There are obviously more memories... I will have to save those for another day!

Back to School... Not so much.

Today was back to school for almost everyone around me... and for the first time since I was 4 years old I did not go to school. I honestly did not think I would care but I did. {I know I was so ready to be moving on from college, I was counting the days... } But today was a bittersweet day. I got a text message yesterday telling me about a dinner that was going to be after Alpha Phi and skit practice, and for half a split second I thought, "Oh, perfect I can totally go, because I am free tomorrow night." And then I realized that no, I would not be going because I am not going to be at Alpha Phi tomorrow night because I am no longer a college student. It was sooo werid. Don't get me wrong, I love my job and the direction I am going in life, but its just all of the sudden it hit me that the college chapter of my life is done.

I read lots of facebook status updates about school, and got funny text messages from friends; I almost felt like I was there! I hope everyone had a fabulous first day back to school. I miss you.

"This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know up front, this is not a love story."

This was such a good movie. It was not your "happily ever after" kind of thing- it was real... because sometimes relationships do not have happy endings. Its life. Yes it sucks- but eventually if you let yourself, you get over it. {It is maybe a good thing I didn't become a counselor.} I reccomend seeing it- but not if you are going to be all upset wtih real life.

Also- the soundtrack is bomb.com/awesome

I thought we were going to have to eat microwave meals all week."

Psh. We also ate cake pops. Not even- I cooked this week! We were on our own for a few days. We had fun! We had some good times and learned a lot- like she can survive having a snake in the house, and she learned that I can cook! {Do I not look domestic or something?!}

We also learned how to make cake pops. They turned out tasting really good, and looking alright. I definately will have a better idea of what I am doing next time I make them.

Yum. They are low cal- because they are smaller than a piece of cake, and smaller than a cupcake! Ha ha.

My Wedding Date

This was the summer to get married. Who knew?! Weddings either make me want to get married or never ever want to get married. This one was a good one- I totally walked out wanting to get married to the first person I saw. {No. Not really.} It was a nice wedding though! My old roommate Tess from my first year at SUU got married. She was a beautiful bride.

Kate and me at the reception!

We were all roommates!
Her colors were pink, orange, blue and yellow! Cute, huh?!

Happy Birthday Miss Kady

I wanted to do 20 of something... 20 quotes, 20 memories, 20 stories, etc. Here are 20 little pieces of awesomeness {mostly favorite memories} for your 20th Birthday!!!!

1. Big/Little Sis Reveal- SURPRISE it was me!

2. Wal-Mart and printing pictures

3. Starts with an S ends with an N and has awkward written all over it.

4. Taking pictures on the side of the road.

5. "This is the college experience."

6. Togetherness Tuesdays aka Pasta Tuesdays

7. Going to the hospital on numerous occasions {thanks for the crash course in motherhood}

8. W.O.W.

9. Sharing clothes

10. The Earths crust

11. "Listening to you impart wisdom to me." Direct quote from Kady

12. Mom school

13. Making videos on your laptop

14. Degrassi

15. "Oh hey."

16. Sitting on your bedroom floor talking about everything.

17. That time you cleaned my room for me- you are the sweetest person ever.

18. Getting an extra dose of naughty

19. Pastry Pub Date- you telling me your life story. We have been connected ever since then.

20. You are an absolutely amazing friend and little sister. You are sopatient, caring, genuine, and have such a HUGE heart. I know that you will always be there for me no matter what {and I hope you know that I will always be there for you too}. We have had some great times in a short amount of time- its like we crammed a lifetime of friendship into 1 1/2 years. There have been some not so great times- but lucky for us they have been far and inbetween. I am sooo proud of you and all that you are doing. You are doing such fabulous things in school, Alpha Phi, and just life in general; please do not forget that! Do not settle for less than you deserve- remember that you deserve a lot. I love you.

I hope your day is bomb.com/awesome. I wish I could celebrate with you. Your gift will be in Cedar shortly.... {no- it is not me in a box. sorry.}

Love and aoe.

Cousins, awkward flirting, and caramel apples!

Yep. That about somes up the afternoon at Lagoon. I was able to meet my entire family there after work. It was fun... we went on a water ride first. Why? I do not know. I kept standing up to avoid getting wet and then that caused dad to got soaked- it was hilarious. Maybe not so much for him. Emily wore white shorts... brave soul. It was some good times.

Please note my dad is behind the pole... I don't think that was intentional.

My sisters... Sorry Cara I had to use this picture to represent the caramel apples.

At the end of the night I gave hugs to my own little family and then left to go home with another. That is when it hit me that everything was changing...

Randoms from the Rays

G'pa and G'ma were so nice to let us stay with them! I am lucky and get to stay there whenever so I feel like I can just open cabinets and drawers. Darin and Elisa came up on Sunday, which was so fun. Bub and Miriam came into my room when I was waking up from a nap. It was so cute. What a good way to wake up! Maybe I will disagree when I have my own children waking me up?!

Saying "goodbye". She is such a rockstar.

My mom got 2 cookies- she thought she was sooo cool.

Picking raspberries. I want a raspberry tree too. I mean raspberry bush. :)

Janes Family Reunion

The Janes cousins- Minus Cam and Danielle.

Awkward yet beautiful at the same time.

The Brothers.

Playing Pounce.

It was sooo hot. Elaine if you are reading this-- Serious swum. It was fun to talk to extended family... like 2nd and 3rd cousins.

Temple Open House

After the picnic we drove to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House... it was hot and a little bit hectic as we were getting there but as soon as I even got in the tent for the welcome video I was at peace. All of my worries were pushed out of my mind and I felt so much better. I realized that everything that was going on was going to work out- even if it was not how I wanted it to work out it would all be okay. It was neat. The Sealing Room was beautiful- and I was so happy that I was able to be there with my family.

In front of the Temple. I think I look like I am 32 in this picture.

The Temple is beautiful. I loved being able to walk through it. I am so grateful that I am able to have the Temple in my life. What a wonderful blessing it is.

Picnic at the Park

This was a fun day... busy but fun! We woke up in Zions and drove {Girls car and Parents car}to SLC for a picnic...

My dad and Miriam... he is such a tease.

This is such a cute picture of him and Bub.

Us taking a picture of them taking a picture of us.

Miss Miriam and me!! I love her.

Oh! And mi abuelo in the background. I really thought my Grandpa was hispanic until I was like 14.

Just when I thought I had it all together

Hair girl: "How old are you?"
Me: "22"

Hair girl: "So are you like married or anything?"

**what fits under the category of anything?"**

Me: "No I'm not married."
Hair girl: "Oh. Are you like even dating anyone?"
Me: "No... not really."
Hair girl: "Oh."

Yeah... I guess graduating from college and being employed doesn't mean what it used to. Ha ha.