Anthem of my life

I just got to "keep my head up" and hopefully everything will turn out fine. Keep telling yourself that Lindsey, keep telling yourself......

Vegas Baby!

A week ago, my mom called asking me if I was interested in going to Las Vegas with her, my aunt and cousin for a few days. And ohhhh yessss, I definitely was! It was the perfect little getaway before college, and I had so much fun! We drove and drove, and stopped in a little family diner for dinner and then had milk shakes (delicious) at Iceberg. We finally made it to St. George and we went to the Little Mermaid at the Tuacahn.

We stayed the night in Mesquite, and then drove to Vegas the next morning..after we made a "pit stop" at Walmart that lasted over an hour. One of the many purchases made there were matching outfits for the sisters :) Totes embar...but I love them anyway!

I apologize for the large poster of the naked lady...it is named SIN city after all ;)

CELINE DION!!! She. Is. Amazing.

The Bellagio fountain show

Pawn stars anyone?!

For our last night, we got great tickets to see Lion King on broadway. Words cannot describe how INCREDIBLE the show was. From the puppetry to the costumes, the music and the dancing, it was all done perfectly. It was phenomenal/entertaining/exceptional/superb and so on and so on, but like I said, those adjectives don't even do justice. 

Overall, it was a much needed vacay and I'm so glad I got to spend time with some of my family before I moved into my dorm!

I made it!

I know I've been HORRIBLE at blogging recently, but after all the stress, tears, shopping, packing, goodbyes and more shopping I have finally made it to this place:

I have really mixed feelings about being on my own. I have been anxious/nervous/excited/terrified about starting my new "life" as a college student. Yet, now I don't know how to feel. It probably just hasn't hit me yet. My mom is staying in Pocatello for the next few days, so if I frantically change my mind and decide I don't want to go to college anymore, and that I'd rather live in the comfort of my parents' home forever, where they will take care of me and feed me and console me and teach me and love me forever and ever..I can. (However, I don't think my mom will approve of any of that ever happening) But she leaves for Florida on Wednesday and once she's gone, she's gone. Then I think it will finally hit me that I'm on my own. What a scary thought....

Even though I have way too much stuff, I still don't feel prepared. Like, I just realized I don't have a potato peeler. What if I decide I want to make mashed potatoes!?!???? Oh well, I guess that's a dilemma I'll have to eventually face. It's just weird not having all the things that I've taken for granted my whole life. 

Anyway, I have the best family in the world and my mom, grandpa and cousin Jeremy drove me to Rexburg to help me move in today. Thank goodness for family! I'm so grateful my grandparents and aunt & uncle only live a little over an hour away. I haven't lived in the same state as my family in years! They helped me get all settled, and then we went to Wendy's for dinner, and later Walmart to pick up some last minute things. Like...hangers. How could I have forgotten hangers?! And a toaster.....a definite college student MUST ;)

However, it's almost 1 a.m. and we have church at 10, so I need sleep! But I promise to post more now that I have better control of my life.

A Wedding Weekend!

This past weekend has been so fun! Stephen and Rachel were finally married (after dating for over 2 and a half years!!) They are so perfect for each other, and I'm beyond happy that I finally have someone to call a sister. They looked so happy, and I couldn't be more excited for them! I have enough pictures, that you would think it was my wedding. Hence, it was very difficult to only select a few, so this post is just going to be a picture montage of the wonderful wedding weekend!


On Friday night, there was a rehearsal dinner at the Cottonwood Club for the wedding party, the parents and the grandparents of the bride and groom.

The happy couple on their wedding eve!

Last picture as a family of four

Sista Picture!

Everyone!

Saturday morning,  Stevie and Rach were sealed for all time and eternity in the Draper, Utah temple.

We took lots of pictures while we waited for them to come out

Travis and Sheena's baby- the most precious baby ever and such a snuggler! I love her!

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Evans!

Favorite brother ;)

And then the ring ceremony and reception was that night. The weather ended up being beautiful! I think it rained everywhere else in the valley except above Rachel's house. They got so lucky! It had a whimsical/vintage theme, which turned out so cute. I absolutely loved every aspect of it!

I really was happy..I was just focusing on not tripping down the steps. It's a miracle I didn't!

Emily and Lauren came! I feel like I should be wearing glasses to fit in...

Erin Alyse! My childhood best friend! It was soooo fun seeing her!

First dance-I love the little girl watching them. So precious!

Throwing the bouquet!

The best escort/favorite cousin :)

Yay for cousins! And fat arms....(me)

Hasta la vista!

Like I said, I took a lottttttt of pictures (over 400)..so it was extremely difficult to only pick out a few to post. Overall, it was a beautiful wedding, and I'm so glad I could be a part of it! Stephen was beaming the whole day, I honestly don't think I've ever seen him happier, and Rachel looked absolutely stunning-she was literally glowing she looked so pretty. I love them both so much, and can't wait for them to come home from their honeymoon. I miss them already!

The sister I never had

One of my favorite reasons to come to Utah has always been to spend time with my beautiful cousin Aubrey Ann. We have literally been best friends since the day I was born. Her birthday is February 7th and mine is the 5th, so although we’re a year apart and not sisters, we’ve always kind of been treated like twins. Growing up, our family birthday dinner was always on the same day, and my grandparents consistently gave us the same outfit or toy, just in different colors. (They still do!) She is my only girl cousin on my dad’s side, so it’s always just been the two of us. She is always there for me, no matter what, and I always feel comfortable talking to her. We have made so many memories together, like playing “house” with our bitty babies, conducting food experiments in the kitchen, playing the board game “pay day” over and over again, playing softball in grandma and grandpa's front yard, watching every movie that has the word "baby" in it (Baby Boom, Baby's Day Out, Half a Dozen Babies..you name it, we've watched it together), making up a dance routine to Grease’s “Summer Nights”, spending summers watching the entire seasons of One Tree Hill, The O.C. and Smallville, snowmobiling and boating trips, going to our grandma's art studio to paint, swim lessons, being tubing buddies, playing taboo, sequence and Donky Kong on the super nintendo at the cabin, and so so so much more. I know that she is a true friend, and although we’re blood-related and forced to know each other, I couldn’t imagine my life without her. We can go months without talking/seeing each other, but as soon as we’re reunited, it’s like nothing has ever changed. I know that we will be friends forever (since we sort of have no choice..haha), and hopefully our kids will be just as close as we are. She’s been a great example to me over the years. I'm so excited that I finally live just a few hours away from her again. 

Yes, I'm aware that the pictures aren't even. It bothers me too.

I have loved hanging out with her these past few days. It makes me remember why I chose to move out west to go to school. I love our late night talks, weird & inappropriate gestures and general craziness when we're together. Nothing is better than being reunited with this girl:

Love you Aubs!

Last week in the 813

I tried to pack in as much as I possibly could during my last week (or so) of living in Florida. However, I was horrible at taking pictures! But for journaling purposes-I'm just going to write them down..

I ate at Hellas one last time followed by spending 20 minutes deciding on one of the delicious treats from the bakery. Then we went and ate our dessert on the beach as we watch the sunset and gossiped. Duh ;)

-I played an unusual amount of water polo

-I made an average of 3 visits to Target per day (addiction)

-I ate a Publix sub, drank a Caribbean Way from Smoothie King and went to Crispers for a thai chicken flatbread. All three are musts.

-I totes obvi went to the beach. Twice. By myself. It was glorious.

I went up to girls camp on Wednesday and Thursday..where I snuck in "after hours" with pina coladas and only hung out with leaders...I'm that cool. (and yes, I loved it)

I went to Panera for lunch with Lizzy, Sam and Taylor, Berryism for frozen yogurt and then found some unique finds at the thrift store. Ohhh Panera..you will be missed. A lot.

-I hung out with my friends every single night. 

-We watched "Where the Heart is", ate cupcakes and had our hair wanded

-We went out to eat. A lot. (What else is there to do??)

I said goodbye to Little Red Riding Hood. I may or may not have shed a couple tears as I watched them take the license plate off and drive it away....

And i had to pack my life away in two bags, each weighing 50 lbs or less. IMPOSSIBLE! Thank goodness for Kelsie who came over and helped me rationalize and get rid of a ton of stuff. However, I did hold on to all my history notebooks from sophomore and junior year and all the church handouts I've ever gotten. Yes, I'm a border-line hoarder.

It still hasn't fully hit me that I no longer live in Florida. I'm starting to wonder if it ever will...I've decided I'm just in the denial stage. I miss it so much!