End-o-Year Stats

So I guess, technically, it really isn't the end of the calender year, but with only 1 final left to take, the end of my sophomore year at BYU is quickly coming to end. As I was searching through my blog for a quote that I know I used sometime last year, and I came across the blog I wrote at the end of my freshman year. Was that really a year ago? It honestly feels like I was just checking out of Heritage Halls and going to Wingers with my dad and brothers. Sometimes time seems to be going by so slow, but when I think about it as a whole, it's going by a lot faster than I even realized.

It's crazy how much has changed over the past year. I feel like I'm a better person in a lot of different ways. I've gained more confidence, I've made more friends, my testimony has grown sufficiently, and I'm a lot more self-reliant. I obviously have a lot more areas to grow in, as I often get down on myself for silly things and struggle with understanding exactly what direction my life is going in but overall, I think this has been a very good year

When I signed up to live in the Riviera, I wasn't completely sure why I was living here. Sure, I've been friends with Cortney forever, and Rachael just about as long, but I was still not entirely sure why things ended up with me living with them and some of their friends from the previous year. During one of the first Sacrament meetings of Fall semester, my wonderful, very intuitive Bishop told us that all of us were living here in the Riviera, in the 88th ward, for a reason. I'm a big believer that everything does happen for a reason, so I was curious to find out what that reason was. As I look back on the year, I can see very specific experiences, where had I lived somewhere else, never would have happened. I've met some amazing people, and experienced some wonderful memories as a result of living here, with the people I did. I mean, had I not lived here, I more than likely never would have met Hilary, who became a wonderful friend, and always was willing to go over with me to hang out with Kristian and Ammon . . . and had I not developed that friendship with them, I never probably would have met Forrest, therefore my life would be significantly less joyful than it is right now (because, in case you couldn't tell, Forrest makes me rather happy). I doubt that my being here has really affected anyone, but there have been a lot of people that have affected me. There's obviously been some ups and downs, but overall, this has been one of the best years thus far. So, without further adieu, here are my "end of the year stats"

About 25.5 credits (don't worry, this year was my year to get back and track and get better grades with less credits. I will be taken on a heavier load next Fall!)

About 15 essays/writing assignments

About 40 issues of New York Times read (or rather skimmed)

About 20 tests taken

8 cleaning checks passed (okay 7, but I am highly anticipating that I will pass my check out one)

About 2520$ in rent paid

About 4800$ in tuition paid

About 596 hours worked

Numerous amounts of pizza eaten

About 4 total weeks that I lived on tortillas (not consecutively, of course)

2 dates went on first semester (I kind of failed at that)

Many wonderful dates second semester :)

1 boyfriend (and I'm definitely content with that number!)
5 trips to the cupcake store

Billions (okay not really) of times walked up Helaman Hall's hill to campus

4 trips to Salt Lake

3 phones.

About 20 trips to the Provo Temple

About 15 movies fallen asleep in

15 pounds lost

Countless memories made

. . . and I can't think of anything else, even though I'm sure there are many things I could go on about. :)

But, no "summary" blog such as this would be complete without a ton of pictures that I feel describe this year. Sorry if some of them are repeats, but they have to be included! :)

And these pictures aren't in any order. I just went through my facebook pictures and saved them, so whatever order they come up in...you better enjoy!

Olympic Opening Ceremonie's Party!

One time for FHE, we finger painted. Hilary drew a picture of the ring she thinks I want when I get married. Psh. I don't even want a ring. All you need is love (enter Moulin Rouge song). Plus, I am never getting married.

Hometeacher/Friend Marty. He was pretty much awesome. But then he got a girlfriend and never talked to us again.

We were pretty much the best Zombie's on the face of the planet. I'm pretty sure everyone was really jealous of how good lookin' we were.

Topaz. This was the greatest adventure of my life. I can't wait to go back.

Thanksgiving! I like this picture cuz it's so candid and fun. This was probably our most successful party to date!

Oh the Riviera...This is the place that everyone loves to hate. Their motto is "live, laugh, play". None of those things happened here. Just kidding :)

I'd say this picture probably encompasses our relationship rather nicely.

Holding Lyla D for the first time. What a bundle of joy she is :)

Kristian. Read my blog on him to learn more. But I love this guy. And I owe a lot to him. I will definitely be missing him when he leaves on his mission!

My other new niece, Kacianna! I love her, she gets cuter and cuter every day!

I went home for Christmas break. And it was super duper fun. I don't have that many pictures on my facebook from Christmas, but this was from our super fun New Years Eve party. haha.

Hare Krishna festival! Oh the memories . . .

Football! Even though we left usually at halftime . . . there was always good memories to be had.

So this one time, Hilary, Cortney, and I had a bet. Whoever lost, had to die at least a portion of their hair. So pretty much, I won and Hilary and Cortney lost. I dyed Hilary's for her...I'd never dyed hair before, so it was definitely a leap of faith for Hilary to let me!

I just think this is a funny picture. I was pretending to cut his hair...hahah. I pretty much just like his face in it (and not just cuz he's so darn good lookin')

Another Christmas break picture...I love this. We definitely had a lot of fun goofing around that day!

This awesome dance we went to at the beginning of the year where it turned out to be pretty much only freshman and we felt weird, so then we went to the Riviera dance, which reminded me of a high school dance, and we also felt very weird at.

Bridal fair! Need I say more?

End of the year Brick Oven party organized by the lovely Hilary. And yes, there were more people there than this.

Some of my favorite boys ever :)

Hahah...I love these three. Cameron came into our lives later in the year, but oh, how our lives have been so enriched because of him. haha.

BFF Ammon! He's serving his little heart out in Brazil!

This is our friend Alex that we scared into being our friend at the beginning of the year when we knocked on his door and made him hang out with us. He was awesome. But then this semester he never hung out with us. Frownsmile :(

My 20th birthday! Lots of fun celebrations went on over the course of a few days!

Thanksgiving was so fun this year! Everyone was here in Utah :) And Lyla was blessed!

We went to this corn maze, after trying to find a haunted house to go to for like 20 minutes. It turned out to be a lot of fun :)

Thanks to everyone that made this year wonderful! Let's hope next year is even better :)