Goodbye Finals, Hello Summer

Thank you University of Utah for starting SUMMER break before April has even ended.  

Don't get me wrong, this year has been the best experience I could have hoped for! I have learned a lot through these first two semesters...and not JUST in those boring lectures! College teaches you a lot about life too. 

I have learned who my true friends are. For example. My Cats. Courtney, Tessa, Taylor and Ru are miles away! But nothing has changed with us! Going to the U together has brought me and Zoe even closer. And Carly, she has stuck by side through it all. Literally.

 As Carly would say:

"True Friendship isn't about me inseparable...It's about being separated and NOTHING changes.." 

    (Literally by my side always)

Not only have I been lucky enough to maintain my old friendships...I have also made some new friends along the way. 

I have been hanging out with Jeff's friends a lot since they all returned from LDS missions last summer. Of course they will always be like older brothers to me, I have become close to many of them. I can trust them, and consider some of them my best guy friends.

 I have also met Anna and Sydney. Sydney is on her mission now, but i hear from her a lot. But she never fails to make me laugh. We didn't know each other for along time, but from the moment we met we clicked. She even laughs at my lame jokes, and my oddness. Anna. OH ANNA BANANA! That girl knows how to make me smile! She knows how to handle anything! Even when I am my saddest, Anna doesn't just tell me to get over it. She PICKS me up and HELPS me get OVER IT! Whether it is making me laugh, having deep conversations, or helping me untangle my hair from Jeff's car window. (Yes that wasn't just an example that has happened before) I love Anna! 

I am glad i have met so many happy, inspiring people this year. 

I have also developed a little relationship this School Year.... Yes I have a love life now....

His name is Beau and he is 7 years old...he also he Carly's brother.

So hello summer 2014. Let's make it a good one! 

                         Xoxoxo

Spring Time

Finals Week. I have a theory about Finals Week. Once upon a time, Satan invented Finals Week. The End.

I know what you are thinking. "Aren't you being a little dramatic, Ashlyn?" Alright. I admit it. It's a little dramatic. But do you want to talk dramatic? Let's put 200 plus tired students in a room for two hours and make them take a test about everything they have already forgotten from the semester. Oh and let's make it 75% of their grade.  THAT'S dramatic. Ugh. I am just going to go drink a gallon of Diet Coke now.

So anyway, besides THAT. These past few weeks have been pretty good. Summer is almost here. I am looking forward to my birthday, Andrea's baby, Lake Powell, and being FREE from school.

Last Friday, I went to Thanksgiving Point with Alice Abrams for the Tulip Festival. It was so BEAUTIFUL!!! I really enjoyed being there with one of my very best friends.  Alice always knows how to get my mind of life's negatives, and makes me laugh harder than anyone I know. She is leaving on her mission this June.  She is going to be an amazing Missionary.

I sneezed on the last one. 

 

 Just ignore my messy hair from my camera strap being pulled on and off over my head

Last Sunday, It was Easter Sunday! We had a good weekend. The Saturday before Easter, Mom, Dad, and I went on a bike ride around Holladay. It was about 5 miles long. I Love riding my bike alot. especially with my family and friends. 

Later that day, We colored easter eggs. Lindsay and Josh came over and dyed the eggs with Me, Jeff, Mom and Dad.  Andrea and Sean were bound to their house that weekend because Sean got surgery on his torn ACL the day before.  He was in alot of pain, so they didn't really want to go anywhere that day.  

Josh was pretty proud of this egg that he colored. It is supposed to be a Giant Peanut Butter M&M. He even put a real Peanut Butter M&M next to it for the picture to compare. 

This kid can always make us laugh

OH BROTHER. BROTHERS!

That night we went downtown to Gateway for dinner and a movie. It was me, Jeff, Mom, Dad, Josh, and Lindsay again. We also brought Grandma and Grandpa along with us. Jeff invited Carly too. We at at Rumbi and saw a movie called "Heaven is for Real" which was really pretty good. 

It is a true story about a little boy who has appendicitis. While he is in surgery, he sees heaven and talks to Jesus. Alot of stuff happens while he is visiting heaven.  He starts to mention these experiences to his family. At first, everyone thinks he is crazy. Anyway, I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Go see it!

On Easter Sunday, we had an Easter egg hunt, and dinner. Sean, Andrea, Josh, Lindsay, Jeff, Dad, Mom, Janette, Todd, Jackson, Chandler, Grandma, and Grandpa all came over for dinner. 

Today, we celebrated Sean and Andrea's Birthday. The same crew from Easter Sunday came over for RIBS! 

My Dad is the best and making RIBS!

A very pregnant Andrea and a very injured Sean!

Sean had a hard time walking with his ACL into the kitchen, so we had Andrea blow out his candles for him.

xoxo

Shlynny

Hello Spring, Let's play catch up

Wowzer. I mean, a whole month without a post? I need to really make more time to blog...huh?

The thing is, I wish I could tell you that I have been super busy studying and stuff...but honestly I haven't. I guess I have just been having too much fun!! You know what they say...Time fly's when you are having FUN!

Alright. So maybe I have been wasting my time doing things like watching all three seasons of Scandal, taking bubble baths, and enjoying the warm weather by riding my bike, laying out, and hanging out with friends constantly.

Back in March, over spring break, Carly and I headed down to Miami to visit my cute sister Melissa and her cute family.  I know I used cute in that sentence twice, but seriously. There if I could just take Melissa's three kids home with me, I would.

Me and Carly flew down on a Friday morning, and stayed until the following Thursday.  We couldn't have had more fun.  Carly got along with my family so well (I knew she would, there was no doubt about that) The kids loved her. Hannah was our little shadow.  Like most 6 year olds, Hannah thinks she is older than she is.  She followed us around shopping, layed out with us at the beach, and gave us her opinion in all of our deep conversations. One night at the mall, Carly was trying on a swimsuit.  When Hannah saw her modeling the swimsuit in the dressing room, she grabbed my hand and quickly took me to the front of the store. "I want to try something on too!" This was a older girl store, it didn't have kid clothes. Nothing in the store was Hannah's size. But before I could explain this too her she had disappeared back to the dressing room. I ran back, only to find Hannah in a dressing room trying on a pair of shorts. That's right, she had found a size 00 pair of shorts that were very skimpy. Hannah believed they were her size.  I couldn't help but laugh.  She showed off the shorts to Carly and the store clerks. It was hilarious. Oh Hannah, you will always be my silly, sweet Hannah-Banana. After looking at most of the stores in the mall, I took Hannah to Bath and Body Works. I let her pick out her favorite scent.  She got a small perfume and lotion called "Maui" which she loved. 

Jackson also had a great time keeping me and Carly entertained. He is such a funny guy, and full of energy. My favorite moment with Jackson was on the last day. Carly's flight was earlier than mine, so we took her to the airport a few hours earlier than me.  When we got back from dropping Carly off, Melissa layed Jane down for a nap.  I took Jackson in the backyard.  We had such a good time playing soccer, football, digging in the dirt, and chasing Lizards. I love my little man.

Jane. Oh sweet baby Jane. I can not get over this chunky baby. If I am sad, mad, or stressed, I can think about baby Jane, and it is like an instant happiness booster.  She is nut! She is SO funny and entertaining! My favorite Jane moment over the trip would have to be when me and Carly took her home early from church.  The time zones had just changed so she didn't want to go down for a nap. She wasn't tired. So we painted her nails. Never have I seen such a pleasant baby.  Willing to sit still while we painted her fingers and toes. She didn't wiggle once. She just sat there watching with a big smile on her face. You could tell she loved it. I also loved at the mall when Melissa was going to take Jackson and Jane to the play place to meet some friends, while me and Carly took Hannah shopping. We all ate dinner together and when Melissa left with Jane and Jackson, they got about half way out the food court when Jane realized that I wasn't there. She came running back to the table and said VERY loudly and VERY clearly, "COME ON ASH!" It was so precious. I walked her back to Melissa. She is my little baby Jane!

The trip was so much fun overall. I can not wait to see my tiny peeps in June! 

My heart is in Miami 

xoxoxo