2012 Wrap Up

In my opinion, at the end of every year, if you're living right, you should be able to look back on the year you've just lived and say that it has been the best year of your life so far. This year was no exception. Take a look at my recap of some of my favorite moments :)

January:

We started this year with a bang, having an incredible New Year's Eve party as our goodbye to our beloved apartment, The Jersey Floor.

My best friend got engaged!

Went to the hot pots up in Idaho several times with friends for some late night fun.

February:

I went to the PostSecret event in Boise with Dani and David. It was one of the most worthwhile, inspiring things I've ever been to.

I found out Dani was pregnant with my baby J :)

Spent several hours in Logan with Noelle, David, and Moriah planking and owling. So dumb, but so so fun.

March:

Spring Break in Seattle/Portland with Carlie, Chris, and Moriah.

Got my third tattoo. It's in Greek, because I've always loved Greek mythology, and it means "calm."

Got to see my cousins Buzz, Lars, and John and my Aunt Sarah  who were in Utah from Minnesota. 

April:

Got to go to Dooce's book signing in Salt Lake!

One of my professors hired me to edit thesis papers for international students.

This quote from Moriah: "You see this vodka?! I AM A DOCTOR." :)

May:

Dani and I got to see Robyn who was home from her mission for a week.

I felt baby Jaxson kick for the first time :)

"I've never wanted to be black because I've always been super paranoid of getting sickle-cell anemia."

June:

I turned the big 2-1 and went out with friends to celebrate.

My best friend got married! One of the most beautiful days I can remember.

Went to San Francisco with the family. Went to Alcatraz, a Giants game, and more aquariums than anyone in my family but me wanted to go to.

July:

Had a super fun, drunken girls + David night where we went to Beehive Grill and then to see Magic Mike.

Had our biennial Anderson family reunion in Midway.

Started organizing Kenzy's classroom for the upcoming school year.

August:

End of summer dinner with my family at Elements.

My baby sister turned sixteen!!

I began my second year of college at Utah State, along with my best friend David!

September:

I watched an entire season of Grey's Anatomy in four days with the reasoning that I should procrastinate all of my schoolwork at the beginning of the semester instead of stretching it out over several weeks.

Met Kenzy's adorable fifth graders for the first time and started going to her class on a regular basis.

Got my annual head injury just when I had started hoping that I would maybe be able to skip a year.

October:

MY NEPHEW WAS BORN! 

I threw my first baby shower for the mother of said nephew, my best friend Dani.

Made my blog public. This was a big deal for me and was very nerve-wracking. But I'm liking it :)

November:

Had a blast working with my favorite people on Thanksgiving and then having a quiet dinner with my parents and siblings.

Was lucky enough to get invited to go to The Killers concert last minute. It was INCREDIBLE.

Had a catch-up Jersey breakfast with Colton, Carlie, and Noelle. 

December:

I got through my finals week-barely.

Passed every single one of my classes with good grades AND finished with math forever.

Had a great Christmas Eve and Christmas and a wonderful holiday break thus far.

This year has been wonderful. There's been ups and downs, but overall I'm so grateful for the life I live and the people in it. I know some pretty amazing people. And now we've come full circle. Our Jersey New Years Eve party 2.0 is tomorrow night and I am stoked about it. Cheers to you, 2012. You were pretty spectacular :)

Recent Events

I haven't had a lot of time to write lately due to finals week and work, but there has been a ton going on! So here are some recent happenings, in bullet point form, because I'm feeling a little lazy.

• Fifth grade Christmas party: 30 cards with handmade snowflakes on them, candy canes, chocolate, musical chairs, and Frosty the Snowman. Success.
• Out of nowhere I had a windfall. Six of my textbooks that were listen on Amazon sold, and 4 of them have been on there for over a year. I'm feeling very fortunate that this happened at this time of the year so I could get Christmas presents for everyone. 
• I passed all my classes!! This was expected, but I actually did pretty well when I wasn't expecting to. Example: I wrote a ten page paper the day before it was due that compared the two books The Ebb Tide and Heart of Darkness. Got an A on the paper. Didn't read either of the books. 
• After passing my stats class, I am officially done with math FOREVER.
• Liz and I had a blast decorating for Christmas.
• My work Christmas party was incredibly fun, and full of delicious spinach artichoke dip.
• I found gas for $2.95 a gallon!!
• I tied with one other person for the high score in my Literary Analysis class.
• I've been babysitting quite often and I love it! I babysit for the cutest, most hilarious and inquisitive kids. Conversation sample:

B: "Why aren't you married yet?"

Me: "Because I don't want to get married for a long time."
B: "Oh. I know why."

Me: "Oh yeah? Why do you think?"

B: "Because when you get married you have to do that gross thing grown ups do to make babies."

Me: ......."So, what movie do you want to watch now?"

• My Anderson family Christmas party was only minimally awkward. Sidebar:

I've been getting in the terrible habit at work that when someone yells someone else's name, I yell "SUCKS." Classic joke. So all of us were sitting in my grandma's house, just chatting. Everyone was looking for my uncle Eric, so they started yelling "Eric!" Naturally, I yelled "SUCKS." It just slipped out. Cue the dirty looks and mine and Liz's hysterical laughter. Other than that it went about as I expected.

Life is good. I'm a lucky girl. 

Kryptonite

Get ready, faithful readers. I'm about to tell you my two biggest weaknesses EVER.

#1 Nostalgia.
No joke. If you want to end all productivity from me just plop me down in front of an old facebook album or childhood pictures and I'm DONE FOR. I'll just slowly flip through the pictures and reminisce and reminisce, maybe text some people who are in them, and become a useless blob for the rest of the day. As I flip, my eyes will start to leak, my nose will start to run, and if you're lucky, you'll get a call from me crying about the way things used to be. Ask Dani or David. I'm the worst.

#2 Competitive Nature
I am, for real, the most competitive person I know. EVERYTHING is a competition. We're casually walking into the library? I touched the door handle first, I win. Donating blood? I was faster than the chair next to me. I win. Eating breakfast? I drank my coffee faster than you drank yours. I win. At work together? I can make a mcdouble SO much faster than you can. And it looks better. Boom. Winner winner chicken dinner. You might not even realize it's a competition. But it is. Everything is a competition.

 It's starting to become a problem. If at first you don't succeed, pack your bags. I just REALLY like winning things and being good at things. I want to be the valedictorian of everything. When I do lose, I'm generally a good sport on the outside. But you better believe on the inside I am PISSED at myself, and vow to win the next thing. I hate losing more than almost anything else. More than feet.

So, if I've ever ditched you to look at pictures or made you angry over winning something that was not really a competition (it totally was), I apologize. I'm trying really hard to get better at not being so competitive. We'll see how it turns out.

Bullets

If you're reading this blog, you've probably seen my snarky facebook posts indicating that life is treating me kindly. I just want to do a quick update (code for I'm sick of studying for finals) about the past few weeks. I only have time for bullet points.

• Jousting with David at McDonald's. I won.
• Getting five good luck cards full of fifth-grade wisdom from my cute kids.
• Rereading Harry Potter-best decision I've made in a while. Don't worry, I still cried at the end-of-year feast when they all honor Cedric. Always.
• Buying people's Christmas presents-I LOVE giving presents to people and seeing their faces when they open them :)
• Skipping a random afternoon of Monday classes and doing copper camels with David, Carlie, and Moriah.
• Attending the "Drinks and Dips 2.0" party.
• The feeling of being done with math classes for the rest of my life.
• Throwing together a presentation the Sunday before it's due and then having the professor tell me and Chloe that it was the best one she's seen.
• Going to The Killer's concert! Sweet balls it was good.
• Getting pictures from Dani all the time of my sweet baby Jaxson!
• Discovering that I REALLY like coffee.
• Jersey breakfast with Colton, Carlie, and Noelle.
• Seeing Perks of Being a Wallflower multiple times.
• Playing SongPop.

Life is good. It's the simplest things that are making me the happiest right now, along with my wonderful friends and family. I am a happy girl.

Elizabeth Michelle

August 27, 1996:

My adorable little sister, Elizabeth Michelle Anderson, was born. 

I thought I looked really awesome in that outfit.

I was not terribly fond of her at first. She came along right on the heels of my brother getting better from his brain tumor, so in my eyes the attention went directly from Zack to Liz. Middle child syndrome to the max. I was not pleased. However, as the years went by, she really started to grow on me. She was a pleasant, mild-mannered baby and toddler and always wanted to play the same things I wanted to.

 

When I reached my awkward preteen years and started watching awkward preteen shows, I saw so many sets of sisters on TV that were best friends. All I wanted was for me and my sister to be best friends as well.When she reached her awkward preteen years I think she secretly wanted the same. She told people her favorite movie was Mean Girls because that was my favorite movie.

 We've done a pretty good job of becoming best friends. I love her more than any other person on the planet. As she's reached her teenage years and her sense of humor has started developing, I've realized that she is practically the same person as me. Which means she's SUPER FUN TO HANG OUT WITH. I can't get enough of this girl. I can't imagine my life without her. She means the world to me. I am so honored and lucky to have her as my sister.

I love you, Lrzbrth.

Love, Krtr

:)

Ramble Ramble Ramble

Sometimes you watch a really thought-provoking movie like Perks of Being a Wallflower at 10 in the morning. And then you have a different outlook on the rest of your day. And sometimes on days like those you listen to an album that you've listened to a hundred times before, and today it strikes you differently. 

I'm constantly amazed at how that can happen. I have three songs in mind, all of them by the Format. The first is Tie the Rope, the second Give It Up, and the third A Save Situation.  Give them a listen:

Tie the Rope:

And I think I know why you never get too close.
It's cause you're too scared to.
When I'm with you, there's no point in breathing.

So, so you run away for no apparent reason
Cause you and I are changing with the seasons.
Don't give me an answer as to why you're leaving
The tables are full, but nobody's been dealing,
so fold your hand.
Come on and fold your hand.

Give it Up:

So give it up, throw your hats in the air,
And change just as they land, you're saying
"We'll get out of here."
But something tells me you're too scared to go.

So the stairs that you could climb
Are the ones you've left behind
and your eyes light up when you talk about the past.

God I miss the songs we used to sing,
Talking like getting away would be the greatest thing,
Well me, I got out, and you kept singing to me
Like that's really going to set us free.

A Save Situation:

It feels like you've been asleep for days.
The television is on, I can't stay awake. 
I'll fall down...again.
And when your friends leave,
Oh they get gone. 
It's such a pet peeve when you prove me wrong.
I'll fall down. And we all fall down.

I need to get back to Tempe.
It's been two years since I've been here before.
Back down to the streets that lead me,
The ones that keep me away from Glendale.
Open your eyes and let me in 
I swore to god I'd never swear 
And we all fall down
Yeah we all fall down...again


A Save Situation was the one that kind of slapped me in the face and made me rethink things differently. It's a new favorite.

Lesson for the day: Everybody has pain. And everybody deals with it in different ways. It's good to help people out when you can.  But it's important not to let wanting to alleviate other's pain get in the way of your own needs and happiness.

Those are my thoughts. Take 'em or leave 'em. 

Grouping Gratitude #2

What do I do best when I'm supposed to be doing homework? Blog, of course! Here's Grouping Gratitude #2. Keep in mind some things are kind of out there, but I'll explain.

#12 The sense of community that can be found on the internet.
Like I said, this is going to seem weird. One of the things about the internet that I find incredible is how close it can bring people. If you're struggling with anything you can google search a forum where people are struggling with the exact same thing. Complete strangers have the ability and opportunity to help, inspire, and uplift one another. And I think that's pretty incredible.

#13 Pinterest
Only Pinterest can give me a place where I can organize good ideas about organizing. Need I say more? I love Pinterest.

#14 Music
I would be very lost if I didn't have music to listen to. In fact, I've already done an entire post dedicated to my favorite artists and songs. If you'd like to see it, click here.

#15 School
I LOVE school. I love learning, reading, and getting to interact with people who are interested in the same things that I am. I'm not the greatest at going to class...but I'm getting there :) Also, I'm incredibly excited to start teaching. I love school so much that I decided to go to school forever!

#16 My Fifth Graders
They're not really "my" fifth graders, they're Kenzy's. I am so glad I get to go in weekly and hang out with these kids, help them understand what they're learning about, and listen to their funny stories. Fifth grade is such a good age-they still like their teacher and they haven't become too incredibly sassy yet. They are wonderful. The opportunity to watch children learn is a pretty incredible one.

#17 Citrus Scented Things
Here's a hint: If you want to impress me or have me LOVE some gift you're buying me, make it citrus scented. There's something about the smell of a fresh orange that really gets to me. I adore it.

#18 Tina Fey
I'm grateful that Tina Fey is famous. Why? Because she makes me laugh on every project she's ever been a part of. I think she's smart, witty, and she doesn't feel the need to bash other people to be funny. I find it admirable.

#19 A Job
I have had a job of some kind since I was 15. I don't really remember what it's like to not be working. But I'm so grateful that I have been able to always have a job to help me pay for school, my car, clothes, and that's allowed me to live a fairly comfortable lifestyle. Whether it was working at McDonald's or driving around a front-end loader at a paper mill, I've been appreciative of it. Having these jobs has also introduced me to a ton of my really close friends, which I am also grateful for.

#20 The Sun
There are fewer things that make me happier than being outside when it's sunny. I don't mean laying out tanning. I mean doing something when it's warm outside, feeling the sun on my skin, absorbing as much of it as I possibly can. Summer months are blissful for me. And the fact that we have the sun makes it so we don't have to worry about nuclear winters!

#21 Humor
I have the ability to laugh at whatever I want, whether it's a spoof of an elected official or a video one of my friends have made. I'm grateful for funny things people post that brighten my day.

#22 My Sleep Schedule
My body is pretty damn good at falling asleep when I want it to. I read some statistic somewhere that said the average human takes 14 minutes to fall asleep. For me? Three, tops, unless I have something large pressing on my mind. Good work, body.

#23 Memories
If you know me at all, you know that I'm a nostalgic FOOL. I could spend all day reminiscing about old times and looking at pictures. And I'm grateful that I can remember those things and am able to still feel joy from them. I also love that I can almost always whip out an appropriate movie quote for a situation. :)

Congrats! You've made it to the end. If you made it this far, feel free to leave a comment about what you're thinking! Ask questions about what you'd like me to write about. I crave feedback. Glad you stopped by!

Cause and Effect

Isaac Newton teaches us "to every action there is always opposed an equal reaction."

This applies to both good and bad things. Every single decision and choice we make has a reaction. It may be a positive reaction, it may be a negative reaction. There are a lot of people who are shocked when something that they've consciously chosen comes back around to bite them.

Case in point. A few months ago one of my friends got charged with possession. She called me up and complained about how unfair it was and how she shouldn't have gotten in trouble. I believe her exact words were, "It's not my fault, it's the officer's!"

Wait a second. She consciously decided to do something that she knew was against the law in her area, and she's complaining about getting in trouble for it.

Don't take this the wrong way, friends of mine who participate in illegal activities. I've done my fair share of illegal activities, whether it be speeding or tasting alcohol before I was 21. I couldn't care less that you're choosing to do these things. I seriously do not care. No judgment here. However, we all should be aware that our choices have the potential to have consequences. These consequences may not happen every single time we do something wrong. They may not happen immediately after. But they do have consequences.

I guess I'm just feeling that people need to take responsibility for what they do. Don't come seeking absolution or sympathy from me when you knew that what you were doing was wrong. Stand up straight, put your head up, and take it like a man.

That's what's been on my mind lately. I'll get off of my soapbox now.

Danyelle Schaumkel

Two days ago was my best friend's half-birthday. The fact that I'm writing it two days late does not mean she is any less important to me!
In honor of her half-birthday, and because I already have something super cool planned for the blog post on her real birthday (21!) I'm posting the story of how we became friends. I will do the "21 memories" post on the real thing :)

It all started August of 2010. A summer of excitement and shenanigans had just ended for me, and I was headed back for my second year of Snow. As I had done the year before, I had elected to live with a bunch of random people I had never met before. Seemed legit.

David, Moriah, and I packed up my car and away we went, with Austin and Allie following behind us. We got to Ephraim, checked into the 3.5 star Pinetree Apartments, and headed over to my apartment for the year, #22. I walked immediately to the first bedroom, checked inside for occupants, and waved David and Moriah over. We unloaded the car and then left to go eat Chinese food.

I spent the next week and a half awkwardly avoiding my roommates and getting their names mixed up. I accidentally ended up with a private room, so that didn't help the social matters much either.
One fateful Tuesday evening I was sitting on my bed doing homework, my door ajar. Dan stuck her head in and said, "We're making tacos if you want to eat with us!" in that awkward, sheepish way that only she can manage. I awkwardly smiled and said thank you, planning in my head to ignore the invitation.

As I sat studying biology, the smell of taco seasoning wafted into my room and I could no longer resist. I went out and sat at the table with these four strangers, and we had an incredibly fun dinner, singing raucously and bonding over our love of Cholula.
After it was over everyone drifted away to their rooms and Dani and I started cleaning up the kitchen. We chatted awkwardly for a few minutes and then the conversation sort of died down. After we finished the dishes we went into the living room and somehow the conversation turned to illicit activities we both had participated in. As we kept comparing our lives, our excitement grew! It's like we were the same person!

Our friendship was solidified two weeks later when we decided to go on a road trip to St. George together. We've been fast friends ever since.

Happy half-birthday, Dano! I can't wait for all the birthday celebrations we'll have in the future :)

Grouping Gratitude

I unfortunately don't have a ton of time to blog right now, and doing a post a day about something i'm grateful for seems a little bit unfathomable. Thus, I'm going to list the first few "days" now and get to the rest another night :)

#1

This girl.

Liz is seriously the best sister I could possibly ask for. She's kind, hilarious, beautiful, giving, forgiving, and a whole host of other things. I am constantly in awe of how lucky I am to have someone like her in my life.

#2

The rest of my family.

When people meet my parents they often say that they're intimidated or that my parents seem scary. That could not be further from the truth. I can't think of two funnier people, and they complement each other perfectly. Zack is probably the greatest brother I could imagine having.

#3

These two.

David, Texas, and I have been good friends since high school. We're the type of friends who will still be friends 30 years from now. They brighten my day every time I see them, and I don't think I could possibly be more comfortable and more myself with any other two people on the planet.

#4

College Roomies

Dani, Robyn, and Celeste. I love these girls so much. I can always talk to Celeste about something I'm having a hard time with. Robyn is the most genuine, caring person I've ever met, and can always brighten my day. And Dani. I don't think I've ever met someone more similar to myself than Dani. She's who I consider my female best friend, and I'm so grateful I met her. 

#5

Baby Jaxson

Dani's new son. From the moment I met him I have LOVED him. I was so ecstatic when Dani called me and told me they were going in to the hospital. I'm so glad i have a cute little baby to worry and wonder about and to buy clothes for :)

#6

Kenzy and Moriah

They don't really have anything to do with each other...but they're going in the same number :) Something I love about both of them is that they both tell it to you straight. They don't try to cushion things or make them easier to swallow. If I'm being a dumb ass, they're both going to let me know.

#7

All of my other friends

Kind of a cop out, I know. But I don't know where I would be without all the people in my life. They've made me laugh, cry, and throw up from laughing so hard. They understand that I'm unhealthily competitive and are okay with it. This includes people from work, high school, and college. I'm a lucky girl in the friend department.

#8

Cache Valley

In high school, I was always talking about how I wanted to get out of Cache Valley as fast as I possibly could. And I did, and it was a VERY good thing for me. But now that I'm back I've found myself growing attached to this place. It's beautiful, the people are generally friendly, it's not too big. I feel like no matter where I go in the world, this place will still be here waiting for me.

#9

My cell phone.

Picture not necessary.

I still have a T9, sliding screen cell phone that uses actual buttons and not a touch screen. And I love it. I've neer had a problem with it. And i like that I can keep connected with people who I never get to see so easily. It's always kind of blown my mind that even if someone is across the country from me or in another country all together I can contact them instantly.

#10

My bed is GLORIOUS. It's a queen-sized, black and white damasked piece of heaven. 

#11

These boys and their mom and dad.

My aunt Sarah and uncle John graciously invited me to live with them a few summers ago while I worked in a paper mill. I am so in love with their boys, Buzz, Lars, and John. I loved my time there, and had a blast honing my sarcastic ability with my aunt and getting to play with my cousins.

An Itemized List of Head Injuries for Your Reading Pleasure

Without fail, every year I sustain an injury directly related to my face. Every. Year. For posterity, I've decided to chronicle them here, starting with the fateful tale of the alarm clock.

2007: Jake, David, and I are all sitting in my theater room at my house. The Simpsons Movie has just ended. Jake asks what time it is and as a response I gently lob a softball sized alarm clock to him so he can check himself. His reflexes kick in and he snatches the alarm clock out of the air and flings it back to me at warp speed, nailing me directly in the center of the forehead. Injuries sustained: swollen head and small cut.

2008: Longboarding. David, Cherisse, and I decide to longboard down Smithfield Canyon, a feat we've accomplished many times. Only this time, we decide to start higher up than we normally do, starting the ride at the top of a very steep hill. We get going pretty fast and then-the speed wobbles hit. To add insult to injury, while I was regaining my balance from the speed wobbles I hit a rock and went flying. Injuries sustained: Minor concussion, facial lacerations down the right side of my face.

2009: Car Crash. We're driving through Logan Canyon and our car goes off the road. BAM. Airbags go off leaving my friend Todd and I with lovely matching facial injuries Injuries sustained: rug burn from air bag fabric on chin and cheek.

2010: Freshman year of college. I have a particularly violent dream and fall out of bed, hitting my head on my bedside table on the way down. Here's the best part. The next morning I woke up late and went sprinting out the door to get to class on time without looking in the mirror. However, I did stop to talk to a few of my roommates. I'm walking to class and my friend Alli says, "Dude. You have a gash on your forehead and blood running into your eyebrow." Awesome. THANKS, ROOMMATES. Injuries sustained: gash on forehead above right eyebrow.

2011: Glowsticking. I had been watching a lot of videos on Youtube that had people at raves glowsticking, and I thought it looked awesome. I started spinning my lanyard around, trying to imitate them and hit myself directly in the cheek. My keys split my cheek open, but my CNA roommate was kind enough to doctor it up for me. Injuries sustained: cut down the side of my cheek.

2012: Car Door. I walked out to my car late at night one evening and was on the phone with David while I was walking. My car was parked in a weird part of the driveway and had some branches hanging over it. I went to swing open the door to my car when a branch brushed the back of my head. I'm already terrified of the dark so I was a little jumpy. I moved my head quickly out of the way of the branch and directly into the trajectory of the car door. Injuries sustained: swollen left eyebrow, small cut.

I look forward to what the next several years bring.

In Which I Act the Responsible Adult While Shirking Responsibility

Captain's Log.
October 27th, 9:16 pm.
Rough seas ahead. I have 3 more papers to write, including a MONSTER in the form of analyzing Titus Andronicus. What will I be doing instead? Driving drunk friends around and laughing at them. It's for the greater good, right? It's a win-win situation. I get to have a good time and get everything off my mind, and I'm keeping the road safe from these drunken hooligans.
Is there some kind of an award for this type of selflessness?
I nominate myself.

Somebody get me a tent!

On Tuesdays I usually go to Summit Elementary and hang out in a fifth grade classroom full of kids I adore. They don't want me there. I just come. Ha. Actually, my friend is a teacher there and I get to help out occasionally and hang out with her while she teaches and just observe how her classroom runs.
However, today I decided I needed to do a catch-up day in the library, so I didn't get to see my little cuties. Sidebar: They're freaking adorable. They call me Miss Katy. One of them bought me a bookmark. They always tell me they like my hair. Guh. They're the greatest.
Back to the original story. I skipped fifth grade today and went up to the library at 8. I then spent the subsequent SEVEN HOURS doing homework. I used up not only mine, but Colton's and Chris's study room reservation time. Plus some freeloading in a room when I thought no one was going to come. I feel incredibly productive. That seven hours was difficult, but I rewarded myself with hourly instagram checks, half-hourly facebook checks, and a bagel at lunch. Yeah, I know. Pretty bleak. BUT. I wrote a pretty good paper, read and wrote a study guide for 4 chapters of my natural disasters class, caught up on almost all the reading for my other three lit classes, and memorized the words to Billy Joel's River of Dreams. Feeling pretty good about it.
On the drive home I started thinking about how productive I could be if I started spending EVERY Tuesday in the library. Novel idea, right? It's only my fourth year of college. Don't worry that Corey just had to show me how to check out a book 3 weeks ago.
Thus, I'm making a goal to spend more time in the library actually doing legitimate work. This is big. I'll keep you updated. Maybe I'll like it so much I'll move in. then I could cross "couch-surf for a month" off my bucket list. It's the same thing, right?

Catch All

This summer was super busy for me so I didn't have a lot of time to blog. Right now I'm definitely putting off writing several papers, so I figured it was the perfect time to do a catch up post!
First things first. I turned 21!! My friends took me to the owl for dinner and then to Texas Roadhouse for drinks. I rode the saddle, got sang to, and all around had a lovely evening.
We went to San Francisco for our family vacation. I think I already blogged about this. Yep. See here if you're interested! We went to Ghirardelli square, another aquarium, spent some time on the wharf, walked across the golden gate bridge, rode a cable car and went to a GIANTS game. It was the highlight of my trip for sure.
We had an Anderson side family reunion in July. We went to Midway and stayed in this cute little Swedish village. We swam in the crater, hung out with family, went boating, went to our favorite restaurant Dairy Keen, had a bunch of ridiculous competitions, played a ton of games and got to spend time with my cousins and all their cute babies.
Other things:

We had this massive water slide set up in my yard for a work party.

Dani, Brooke, and Tim came up and took me to my first rodeo. 

Me and Noelle decorated for Shaylie's bachelorette party. LOOK at that banner!

I got to spend some quality drinking and shopping time with these ladies.

We had a joint celebration of birthdays for me, Janelle, and Carlie

Cupcakes are super difficult to move in cars.

Me and Noelle planned this wonderful and incredibly fun scavenger hunt.

I spent some quality time with Texas and David.

Bear lake with the girls.

These are more pictures of Dani's baby shower. This was some of the food.

The diaper cake I made.

Sage, Amanda, me, Dani

Sage and me, the masterminds of this baby shower.

the end result.

I rode a horse for the first time!!

It was such a fun summer, one that I won't soon forget even though it was super busy.