Like a Dream

While I was home in Utah for Christmas break it seemed so normal and natural to be there, almost like I had never left, almost like the past 4 and a half months in Arizona were only a dream, a hellaceous dream, but still just a dream.

I was able to fully embrace many of the fantastic things that Utah has to offer:

• Kneaders
• Zuppas
  
• Staff Lunch
• Good Radio Stations
  
• Snow
• Sledding
• Temple Square
  
• Gingerbread Waffles
• Mountains
• Driving through the River Bottoms
  
• SoJo Rec Center
  
• Harmons
  
• Real Christmas Trees
• Amazing Friends
• Wonderful Family

It was so nice to be home, surrounded by all that is familiar and comfortable. Being away from home has definitely made me appreciate it for so many reasons!

Now that I am back in the AZ and back in school I realize that Christmas break was truly like a dream, an exquisite dream. And now it is time to wake up and face reality.

Expect the Unexpected

My first week, or so, in the AZ has been filled with many unexpected surprises....

• I did not expect to watch so many shows on Hulu
• I did not expect to drink so much water
• I did not expect to sweat so much
• I did not expect to listen to so many Christian Rock radio stations
  
• I did not expect all of the adds on my fb page immediately change to Phoenix adds
• I did expect it to get dark so early at night
• I did not expect a cat to hiss at me
• I did not expect to spend so much money
• I did not expect my geraniums to still be alive
• I did not expect to drive all over the area without any problems only to get lost in my own neighborhood
• I did not expect there to be so many sweaters and boots for sale
  
• I did not expect my classes to start this week
  
• I did not expect multiple people to invite me to go to the temple with them in one day
• I did not expect a bug to make a loud buzzing sound all of the time
  
• I did not expect there to be so many bright pink and orange flowers
  
• I did not expect a 55 gallon container of soy sauce to be in the garage
• I did not expect to meet so many people and to feel so welcomed in such a short period of time
  

Done and Done

Well it is official, I am a college graduate AGAIN! I recently got my diploma in the mail. After three long years of online classes it is nice to have something to show for all of that hard work. So, here's to no more online classes and no more bachelor's degrees, from here on out I will be sitting in a classroom and earning a graduate degree!

I also recently finished my first project with my new (or not so new, anymore) sewing machine. I made a rag quilt for baby Aubrey. I cut out the fabric before she was born, 16 months later it is finally finished. I think it looks great and I learned lots while working on it.


When I spread the quilt out to take a picture of it Aubrey immediately sat down on it. I will take that as a good sign.

Adventures with Andrew and Aubrey

I didn't have to work the first week of July, so I was able to spend some time with my cute nephew and niece.

Andrew and I went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point. Andrew is very knowledgeable about prehistoric animals, especially the sea creatures, so it was a very educational experience for me. We had a lot of fun, especially playing with the sand and water.





















I told Andrew to make a fierce dinosaur face, I think he did a pretty good job!


Aubrey and I went on a few hikes. First we hiked behind the Draper Temple. It was super hot, and we mostly saw huge houses. Later in the week we went up Big Cottonwood Canyon. There happened to be some sort of parade going on in the parking lot, so we picked up some candy from the road and then hiked up to a lake, this was definitely more scenic than our first hiking attempt. I love the beauty of these mountains and never get tired of looking at them or going up the canyon.























Aubrey was exhausted after all of that hiking.

Purchased with Peanut Butter

Last January my ward had a date auction. We used food to bid on on dates, and then the food was donated to the foodbank. I LOVE auctions, especially when it is for a good cause, so I was eager to participate. I ended up buying a date to go shooting with assault weapons. Yes, I have now started buying dates in order to go on them... sad, but true.

Well we FINALLY went shooting, this past weekend. We drove out to the west side of Utah Lake and I shot three different guns, and even hit some of the things I aimed for.

Wearing my new hat and holding the Glock.

Aiming the Glock

Shooting the AR15, I liked shooting this one the most.

Follow Your Bliss

After feeling overwhelmed by life I decided, on a whim, to go down to Bryce Canyon with some friends. It was so good to get away! It was great to hike, relax, enjoy nature, and take a much needed break.

Where in the World?

At work we had a celebration to announce where I will be going to grad school.
This is one of the many reasons that I love my job!

Lindsey and Brianna helped to get everything ready. We spelled out the name of the school with muffins (yes that is right, muffins), then covered the muffins with a sign that said, "Where in the world is Anne going?" We then added balloons with the names of all of the schools I was considering, plus some of the schools that Lindsey and her husband are considering.

Everyone gathered around. After a drum roll and Becca's version of the Star Wars theme song Gary pulled off the top sign to reveal...

Arizona State University

Yay!