uno.dos.tres.

i haven't blogged for a while and because of that there is catching up to do. i would like to highlight three very special people in my life. all three have recently-meaning the last couple of months, gone through a slight change in their life. to my dear friends, i'm sorry this is late. but you know me...when do i ever do anything on time?

number one. my wonderful, talented, beautiful, self-motivated friend rebekah hafen. rebek turned the big 2-0 on june 22 this year. turning 20 is quite a scary thought i think. not just 20 in particular, but i guess from now on every birthday will be a little bit scary. no, the birthday's aren't scaring me because that means i'm becoming older than my vampire boyfriend, but they're scaring me because life is in the fast lane on i-15 for me and my friends right now. us girls recently got together for lunch at costa vida and it seriously felt like we were in high school, just grabbing a bite to eat before returning to our eighth period classes. almost four years have passed since we had lunch together at costa as juniors in high school. we are now heading into our junior year of college. life is moving fast. one thing that i love about bekah is that she has accomplished so much already. if all goes according to plan, she is planning on graduating next fall. i don't know if i can even estimate the year that i'll graduate from college. she has had her mind set on what she wants and she has worked so hard to get there. she has skipped out on summer breaks because she took more classes, she has worked her tail off helping hundreds of students figure out their life plans, she has given up opportunities to hang out because she was studying for hours and hours, she has researched and planned out exactly what she'll need to do to get what she wants and deserves. i admire that bek and i wish i could possess that same quality. i love you and know you'll do great things. happy late birthday rebek.

super old photo...still love it though. TWINS!!

number two. michelle maw-the best roommate i've ever had just turned twenty a month after rebekah. not only has she been my best roommate but she has been a member of the three musketeers and one of my best friends since sophomore year. we have built so many memories it's becoming hard to remember them all. but i want to remember them all so here i go, writing some down so i'll have them forever engraved in my mind. *cheer trip-florida-junior year. most of this trip is a slightly sour memory for my dear michy but one night in particular i'll never forget. we went crazy at the swap meet near our hotel and bought some see-through, old woman, semi-lingerie pj's to wear to bed that night. due to some drama, we were invited to our coaches room for some girl talk and comfort food. we headed over to our coaches room, stopped at what we thought was the right hotel room and knocked. as we waited we got anxious and started wondering if this was the right room. that question was soon answered when an old man (like 60 or 70 year old man) answered the door and just stared at the two 17 year olds wearing see-through pajama's that were standing in the doorway. we were shocked, entered into a giggle fit, and quickly ran to the right door and shared a fun night with our cheer coaches listening to stories about...well we'll just keep those to ourselves.* *countless bus rides to and from games were only ok because of mich. the whole bus singing "i'll make love to you" is almost just as good, but not quite. we watched movies, talked, slept, took pictures, stole rebekah's frozen peas and corn (best snack ever. thanks for being so brilliant bek), and just became closer friends. i'll treasure those hours we were able to spend together.* *lake powell senior trip. water skiing with michelle maw at the exact same time is probably one of my greatest accomplishments. both of us were on double ski's and we were out at the same time, doing syncronized movements and having a grand ol' time. that whole week was filled with deep conversations with mich and i loved every second of it. thanks for inviting me to be a part of the maw family.* *first day of college. moving down to cedar city was rough for michelle but she did it anyways. i am so grateful that she was with me to go through the anxiety of starting that new chapter of our lives. she is the truest of true friends because she put up with me not being as good of a friend as i should have been during our freshman year. she was always there for me; being my mom when i needed one still, helping me with homework, having movie marathons until the wee hours of the morning, etc. i couldn't have grown the way that i did that year without her example.* i could go on. michelle is amazing in every way possible. she is so beautiful inside and out, she is the most caring person i know, and she is always looking out for others needs before her own. each year brings new experiences and new growth and i only hope the best for you michy. i love you! happy late birthday.

best cheer camp. yeeeessss.

number three. my most recent friend to complete his first week in the mtc, elder tyson james jenkins. my strong, handsome, caring, best friend has made the decision to serve an lds mission for two years. he has been called to the stockholm sweden mission and reported to the mtc exactly one week ago on july 28th, 2010. i cannot comprehend what he will go through mentally, physically, and spiritually for the two years, but i do know that the outcome of it all will be fantastic. i can only hope that my self motivation will be bumped up a few notches so that i will be progressing at least a little, if not more during the next couple of years. i met elder jenkins at the end of september, 2009 in matt moody's dorm room at suu. he had the common teenage boy hair-do, aka long shaggy hair that is sometimes straightened with a flat iron, (he cut it shortly after we met, i had nothing to do with it though...), he wore an old jersey and longboarded everywhere, he gave me a cute nick name and told me he'd make me fall in love with him (i thought that was just crazy), but he had a little half way smile that i couldn't resist. he's been on my mind ever since. he is someone that i can be myself around. i can talk to him about anything. he knows me well enough to make predictions about me or call me out on something. he has made me laugh harder than anyone else has. he is the strongest guy i know, and i feel safest when his arms surround me. he has the making of an amazing, strong missionary and i know he is going to give it his all for the next two years. he never gives less than 100% and i admire that about him. 723 more days to go tys- keep on keeping on.

farewell time. hej do (goodbye in sweden).

summer fun.

this summer has definitely been filled with family time, parties, new friends, old friends, reunions, and laughter.

i have enjoyed having two jobs-magleby's fresh and la jolla groves. they keep me plenty busy and because of that i haven't seen everyone as much as i would have liked. but i've been very blessed to have the opportunity to work and make some money.

MEC had some fun on the lake about a month ago. i've been a slacker and haven't talked about it until now, but it's better late than never. i tried wake boarding again and got up after a few tries. i was a wimp and didn't stay up for too long each time because there were so many waves, but it was still way fun. i realized that i'm really not a huge fan of tubing. i think that i am and it is pretty fun but the feeling of almost getting my arms ripped off, constantly almost falling off and having to hold on so tight was only slightly enjoyable while actually tubing. of course if you were to ask me right now if i wanted to go tubing with my two best friends i'd say yes instantly. it's only during the "fun" ride that i might think twice about tubing.

i have LOVED having my sister melanie and her family stay at our house for part of the summer. my niece lucy and nephew owen have been my best friends the last few weeks and i am amazed at how small yet big they are. i will be very sad when they have to leave us in a couple weeks.

the fourth of july is always a treat for me. i have been in a play the last three years that really helps bring back the true spirit of the fourth. i love doing it with my little sister and newfound friends. i also enjoy all of the family bbq's, reuniting with family i haven't seen for months and months, and i love all of the fireworks. this fourth of july was indeed a success.

to my papa...

i felt it was appropriate to take the time to somewhat publically brag about my wonderful father. there is not enough time for me to say all i wish to or words to express exactly how i feel about my dad. but at least this is something.

my dad has always been there for me and i know he always will be. he has been there for me when i was hurt physically, when i needed questions answered, when i needed comfort (sometimes in the form of a backrub), when i was being a silly girl that cried for no reason, when i felt discouraged, when i felt lonely...i could go on and on. he is always mindful of each one of his kids.

when i was away at school i would love it when my dad would call me and we'd have a short two minute conversation but it was enough to remind me that he cared, enough for me to still feel his love for me even though i was 200+ miles away. i don't think he knows this, and i'd feel really guilty if he found out. but sometimes i wouldn't answer when he called because i knew that just hearing his voice would make me start crying. i always called him back later, but it was like he had an ability to call me right when i was missing home, or having a rough day. i love him for that though.

my sister gave a talk today in church and she touched on how my dad does small and simple things that mean more to us than great things would. he definitely surprises us and does the great things as well, but it's with the small and simple things he does each and every day that really make me look up to him. he really is one of the best examples that i have. i truly want to be just like my dad when i grow up. he's the best dad i know and i couldn't be more happy to be his daughter. i love you dad!

oh mr. sun, sun, mr. golden sun, please shine down on me

the older i get the more aware i am of things: death and tragedy, the feelings of others, and the weather are just a few. i am sure that it snowed in may or june in the past but i don't seem to remember it happening very often. i just remember how upset i was when i found out it had snowed today. i was downstairs, watching barbie's version of the twelve dancing princesses with my niece milan and my sister came down with a cup of hot cocoa. i thought this was quite absurd considering the fact that it was indeed the 24th of may. she proceeded to tell me that she needed the hot cocoa to warm her up because it was snowing outside. i think i may have become a little depressed when i heard the news. i was under the impression that i would be enjoying summer-like weather this week. i know that i, as well as the rest of the residents of utah are sick of this on going snow. all of the facebook status' are enough proof that we are all wishing that mr. sun would grace us with his presence. oh well, hopefully i can enjoy the sunshine soon. very soon.

one year older and wiser too

this post is dedicated to my dear sister jennie whitaker curtis. today is the celebration of her day of birth and i couldn't pass up the opportunity to boast about how wonderful she is.

jennie is the second oldest in our family and she has always been a great example to me. i was so young when she got married and left our humble abode but i have a few precious memories of her before she left.

i remember her cheerleading outfits and her pom pom's. i guess i wanted to be just like her when i was in high school!

i remember jennie playing the violin so beautifully (maybe i only remember this because of all of the family home videos i have watch over and over again...even so, it was a beautiful sound she was making and i love that she is so talented)

i remember jennie making dresses for ashlee and i. oh how i loved that dress.

i remember the lace my mom used when making one of jennie's dresses. or maybe it was her wedding dress...hmmm.

i remember sunday visits to the rest home to play the guitar and sing songs to help make someone's day a little better. some of the songs include "you know that song", "oh mr. sun", "because i have been given much", "how great thou art"

i remember buying the dress i wore for her wedding and helping out as much as an 8 year old could with all of the preparations and such.

and then i remember all of the fun times we've had as i have grown up without her at our home. there are, of course, too many to write about today but bear with me as i take a walk down memory lane...

i remember coming home from camp big springs to jennie because my parents were out of town. she is always volunteering to do things like that.

i remember having jennie's oldest son project spit up directly into my mouth...jen was so patient with me as i was freaking out.

i remember jennie looking after our dog crea while we were on vacation. she was so dependable and we knew crea was in good hands.

i remember going to canyon crest, the school where jennie was teaching at the time, and helping her in her room as part of a family night activity.

i remember jennie taking me to the mall one time and on the way one of her kids got sick and threw up in the car. she was so calm and mom-like when dealing with it. i admire her.

i remember jennie putting on a black out party for our family. she had dinner for us, bought a bunch of glow sticks, hooked up her ipod and provided us with one of the funnest dances i've ever been to.

i remember jennie and her family sleeping over on christmas eve. it would probably be much easier for her to have stayed at her own home but she still came to help ashlee and i contiue the traditions we were used to.

i rememebr jennie helping me with my hair for a number of dances. she always came to the rescue when we were in a panic.

i remember grandma beth calling you zennie and wondering when that all started...you've had a great relationship with her. i love that.

i remember jennie helping her kids earn money by baking hundreds, even thousands of her delicious cinnamon rolls to sell at the fourth of july parade. she is an fabulous cook and an fabulous mom.

i remember jennie and her family coming down to cedar city to visit me on a long weekend. she is amazing because they came at a time when i was truly homesick and needed my family.

like i said, i could go on and on because jennie is just that wonderful. she is such a hard worker, she is one of the most selfless people i know, she is so great with kids (her own and her school kids), she is fun, she is so creative, she is positive, she is a talented cook, she is caring, and she is beautiful. something i love most about jennie is that she always laughs when we say goodbye when we're talking on the phone. it may not be a huge laugh but i can tell by her voice that she is laughing or smiling that big, beautiful smile of hers. it always brightens my day even though i can't see it. she is always happy and always looking for ways she can serve or lighten the load of others around her. you've always been there for me. i know that i can come to you with anything and that you'll help me or just be someone to listen to me complain. i love you jennie. thanks for being such a good example and such a wonderful older sister. i hope that one day i'm half of the woman that you are.

.happy birthday big sister, love you.

goodbye for now c^2

it has been two years since i graduated from high school. this is unreal to me. it feels like yesterday i was entering the halls of provo high as a shy, nervous 14 year old, truly unaware of what the next four years of my life would be like. but it's been six years from that point. six years that have been filled to the brim with memories, unforgettable experiences, experiences i wish i could forget, tears of joy, tears of sadness, times when i felt like i couldn't be happier, feelings of complete insanity, friends of all sorts, and most of all personal growth. i wish that i was better about writing down my life experiences. there is already so much that i don't remember. hopefully with this blog i can make permanent times of my life that are of importance.

cedar city utah. some people have heard of it, some people haven't. i lived there for the last two years of my life. i attended southern utah university. during the last two years i have had experiences that would make you laugh until you pee, i have had experiences that would make you very happy that you were not down there with me, and i have celebrated birthday's like it was nobody's business. though it is impossible to condense the last two years into something short enough that would keep your attention, i would like to attempt to express the last two years of my life with pictures and key words or phrases that summarize the experiences i had.

 my dear dear friends that stuck around for a second year in cedar

 

tyson j jenkins, red light lover

costa and ellen thursdays

bread and soup nite with truman

california trips to support suu athletics

bowling is one of the only things to do in cedar city

1920's theme birthday party seemed fitting this year

fun friends, birthday time

farewell to our first year of college

my lovely ward 2009-2010

beautiful hikes...too bad it's not my cup of tea

wonderful company though

new found friends that will last a lifetime

yet another birthday celebration

dinner at chili's-classic

caving in st george=a good time

i was an ra for the 2009-2010 school year. these are my juniper a3hunies

i graduated with my associates degree in general studies

.ice cream cones at the caf.katter fries.off the cuff.351 w university blvd.greys anatomy.surprise.san diego.late nights.sledding.weed.moon.rap sesh.quiet hours.hot tub searches.ping pong.megans hair.wingers.25 main."really".late night wendys run.circit weight training.insitute.sunsets.laundry.mexico.j-unit.procrastination.chowers.all nighters.gymnastics.juniper crosswalk.costa vida.observatory.spooning.one tree hill.fort.perks.broken vacuum.mexi ride.ward prayer.football games.birthday parties."i hate myself".kalifornia king.you're kidding.the caf.stadium way.gossip girl.asbestos.pe building.cereal.in n out.mail.pizza factory.cant stp.written up.locked out.di.jazz club.family portraits.barb.snow.sulfur sinks.curtis.april fools.taco tuesday.cak.parking tickets.homework.h2h.the strangers.walmart tunnel.hiking.shower parties.camping.finals.cafe rio.bowling.st george.maverick "the mav".mocktails.jenifer.relief society president.suu housing.the harry potter great hall.true t bird.music education.the house.pie bash.paranormal activity.kidney stones.tanning.walmart runs.valentines day.las vegas.chilis.muse.super bed.movies.jimmy fallon.bora bora.halo.piano.voice lesson.sharwan smith.red rock.harry potter.rock climbing.

cedar city will always have a soft spot in my heart. the town itself didn't provide us with a lot of fun opportunities but boy did we make our own fun. friendships that i formed there will last forever, memories will be engraved into my brain, and the things i learned will be a part of me from now on. but now this thunderbird feels it's time to move on to a different adventure. thank you southern utah, you will be missed.