Click HERE! Do it. I dare you.

I made it through the week! I took my four tests. Two of them were for my crazy hard math classes and I'm so happy because a got an 82 on my advanced calc test and a 96 on my stats test. I know that the 82 doesn't sound great, but I came out of the test thinking I didn't do well, and I have never, EVER gotten anything close to a B on an advanced calc test because that class is so hard. I literally almost cried with joy when I got that test back. I'm not kidding. My other two tests I won't get the results of for about 6 weeks, but I'm pretty sure I will be taking them again next semester. Oh well. That is why I took them early, so that I had more opportunities to take them before I graduate.

The Praxis was insane. They are so strict about everything you do. You can't drink water during the test in case someone gulps too loud. You can't use mechanical pencils. If you have a cell phone in the building they can kick you out of the test. You can't replace the batteries in your own calculator if they die during the test (the guy has to do it for you). They told someone that they were coughing too loud. They check your ID three times during and after the test, even though you have never left the room. Yeah...it's a bit extreme, and all of this was at 7:30 on a Saturday morning when I was already exhausted and already kind of grumpy. After this test, I came home and took a really long nap and then spent the rest of the day watching Gilmore Girls and hanging out with Colt. I gave my brain a break from math. I think I would have exploded had I thought about math for one more minute.

7 more days of school until Thanksgiving break. 12 more days of class total, 3 finals and then I'm headed to Salt Lake to see the lights and the Motab Christmas concert. Then I get to go home for Christmas. I can't wait!

I'm allowing myself a five minute study break. The only things getting me through this week are Colt, Dr. Pepper, white chocolate candy cane kisses, and of course my family and friends.

Anyone want to take over advanced calc for me?

Back to studying...maybe I should put a picture up of the review sheet. Then you would all understand that not only is the material horribly hard, but the professor's handwriting is impossible to read, so it is like translating a foreign language that you don't speak. Fun.

I am still sick! I can't remember the last time I could breathe through my nose.

Next week I have 4 tests.

One in probability and statistics...it will be ok.

One in advanced calculus...why don't you just shoot me right now. I hate that class...I'm so sick of writing proofs that I don't really feel like go anywhere.  I'm also tired of the professor that states a theorem and then says, "you know this, you know this." Well, no. I don't. That would be why I'm taking this class. 

Another test is the exit exam. I have to pass to graduate. No calculator, no scratch paper, just me for two hours calculating things and remembering formulas that I haven't used in two years. I'm hoping the nation in general is dumb because my score is based on my percentile in the nation.

The last test is the praxis. I have to pass that one to graduate too. It's Saturday morning at seven. There's a nice way to start the weekend.

Oh and I have a paper to write.

I'm feeling overwhelmed! Anyone have words of encouragement? What are you looking forward to this week?

Dear Baking Soda,
We are no longer friends. That is really all I have to say to you.

Dear KitchenAid,
Sorry I made you work so hard today, it will never happen again. Actually, I can't promise that.

Dear Kitchen,
Sorry you are such a mess. Maybe someday I will learn how to bake without spilling flour and powdered sugar everywhere.

Dear Mom,
Do you think you could come out here and make your amazing Halloween cookies? I am apparently incapable and that is all I really wanted today. Please?!

Dear Colt,
Sorry you have to deal with my craziness, and eat my gross baked goods. Thanks for cleaning the kitchen!

Dear Dan,
Fine! Keep the stupid cookie gene! I didn't want it anyway! At least I got the sewing gene...until you steal it from me.

Dear Cookies,
I hope you enjoy being in the trash.

Love,
Karen

I had my last show this weekend, and I thought I would be sad, but I wasn't. I was so thankful that my mom came to see it. She has always come to all my shows, so I was really glad she could be at my last show ever. I'm glad Colt was there and that we could both dance one last time with the Ballroom Dance Company. I'm still a little sad to not be dancing, but I'm doing much better since I have been able to dance just a little bit more.

Now that I quit Lin's and dancing, I have had time to do fun things with Colt and our friends. Last night I made dinner for Colt and Alli and I decided to be brave and try a new recipe. I made roasted chicken in olive oil, lemon juice, and rosemary, with onions, bell peppers, and red potatoes. I was really nervous, but it actually turned out well, and Colt and Alli didn't get food poisoning or anything, so that is definitely good news. Then we went to Maggi Moos for dessert and to celebrate me being done with my advanced calc test (aka the test from hell).

I have loved getting to be a little more domestic in my spare time. This morning I wanted to wear my long pink button up shirt with my big black belt over it, but it was wrinkled, and honestly, normally I would have just given up on the outfit and dealt with it later. Instead, I pulled out my new aqua rowenta iron and ironed my shirt. I remembered that I actually really enjoy ironing. It feels good to have crisp, smooth clothes.

My family can no longer tease me about not cooking or doing other things of that nature. All I needed was a little time on my hands.

Close friends of our family have a tradition of telling the good and not-so-good of their lives at dinner, so I decided to blog about my good and not-so-good things as of late.

Not So Good:
-For the last 5 days I have been horribly sick. I have had a sore throat (swallowing has been horribly painful), fever, head ache, stuffy nose, and basically I have done nothing but lay around our apartment being sick. I did drag myself out of bed last week to go to class, but that is pretty much the only time I left the house. Unfortunately, all of these things are symptoms of the swine flu, but having no insurance, a doctor has not confirmed that diagnosis.

Good:
-I have a husband that takes such good care of me, especially when I'm sick.
-Since I have been stuck in the apartment so much lately, I have had time to start making Colt's Christmas stocking. My Mom bought me the stuff to make our Christmas stockings this summer, and being sick gave me an excuse to watch Gilmore Girls and sew stockings. It is so fun! I feel so domestic.
-I have something to get me through this week...my Mom is coming to visit this weekend! I have my last ever ballroom dance show this weekend, and since my Dad will be traveling for work, my Mom is driving out to visit and see my show. I am so excited!

The last few weeks have consisted of lots of new things in my life. Actually I guess it is more of a lack of old things. The first is that I decided not to do ballroom anymore. This was honestly one of the hardest decisions of my life. I never saw the day I would give up dance, but I decided that my school work and my husband are more important. I am still really sad. I know I will eventually get used to a life without dance and it will be better in the long run, but I still miss it. I get to do one last show at the end of September and my director put me in some solo spots and featured dances since it is my last show. It is good that I get one last chance to do one of my favorite things ever.

The other change is so exciting!! Drum roll please......I quit Lin's! After multiple shifts of calling Colt crying because I got yelled at by a customer, or my manager wrote me up for being late for break because I was helping a customer, or I got in trouble for not facing the soda, or some crazy thing that happened at work, we decided it was time for me to quit. Next week will be my last week, and even though I love the people I work with, I am so excited to be rid of the stress. I can't wait to actually see Colt and have time to do my homework. I am not at all sad to leave the rude customers of Lin's and the horrible shifts which always include nights, weekends, and holidays.

It has been a busy, long, hard, emotional week and I'm so excited to spend the weekend at the cabin (and not so excited to work). Thank goodness for long weekends!

We are back from the wedding and our honeymoon, we have started school, and we are starting to get settled into our apartment again. I posted a few pictures of our wedding, more to come later. I had sweet aqua shoes...they got ruined in the rain, but it was all worth it!


This is my cute niece, Jordyn. Here is a conversation with Jordyn that my English-nerd friends will appreciate.
Colt: Jordyn, where did Aunt Karen and Uncle Colt get married?
Jordyn: ...
Colt: Did they get married at the temple?
Jordyn: No! IN the temple!


This is us coming out of the temple...so glad it wasn't raining!


This week has been crazy busy trying to get into school mode and back to normal life. We became accustomed to unlimited soft serve ice cream and no need to be aware of time on the cruise and this week has been a rude awakening back to real life. Classes are hard, but interesting. History of math is math-nerd heaven! I love it!

Now after a long, hard week, I'm at home alone because Colt went to work this weekend and since I had to work too I couldn't go with him. Alli and I went to the movies and now I'm laying in bed watching Gilmore Girls (what else is new?). More updates to come later. For now I'm going to bed with my giant, stuffed frog, Henry, and a healthy dose of Gilmore Girls to doze off to.

We are getting married in 17 days and counting!!



I am so excited I can barely stand it! Things are wrapping up as far as details go so all that's left to do is wait. My bridesmaids have their dresses, Alli and I finished my veil, we decided on a beautiful hairstyle (bonus: it makes my hair look SO thick, which is a major bonus since I don't have hair...I'm sure many of you remember me when I was young and my serious lack of hair was all over the place), the invitations are sent, and all the little details are falling into place. I still need to go pick up my dress, which I'm going to do next weekend. I. Can't. Wait.

After living alone this summer, having Colt gone more often than not, working in hell (sometimes referred to as Lin's), having a lot on my mind, and just being overall lonely, it was amazing to have my Mom come down here for a few days to visit me. She came in celebration of my birthday week. She came with me to my dress fitting, so I wouldn't have to go alone (it fit perfectly, by the way). We made cheesecake for Colt's birthday and spent most of our time playing wii fit and watching Harry Potter. She helped me pick out jewelry for the wedding and prepare to go to the temple. It was an amazing week. I had so much fun with my Mom and I'm not sure if she will ever know how grateful I am that she came to visit me this week. That is the best birthday present I could have ever received from her. I love my Mom!

I know it has been forever since I have blogged, but I finally have the internet in my apartment so I can now blog whenever I want, instead of when get time to go to the school.

Yesterday I was having a really bad day at work. My coworkers were making fun of me more than usual, my customers were all rude and yelling at me, my schedule for the next week was horrible. It was one of those days that reminded me why I dislike my job so much.

After being at work for 6 hours I got a break and went outside to call Colt and vent. I (of course) started crying on the phone to him because I was so frustrated with everything. I went back inside and a few minutes later found that I had a text from my brother. It said "You're a good sister. I love you." I then started crying out of happiness and love for my family. Corny, I know, but I'm so grateful to have a family that loves and cares for me. My brother rocks!

I am finally back from my 3 week long tour of the North West. We went to Salt Lake City, La Grande, Seattle, Orcas Island, Everett, Lincoln City, Cottage Grove, Coos Bay, Medford, and Davis. It was a very...interesting 3 weeks. We got to do a lot of fun things like sail in Seattle and visit the space needle. Speaking of Seattle, I have renamed Pikes Place Market, it is now called fruit heaven. We went to the redwoods and spent some time on the Oregon coast.

Colt and I are in the redwoods with our good friends Dave and Marlayna. This was us being rebellious and being 10 minutes late.

Other than doing those fun things, we spent our time driving (and driving and driving), performing, setting up theaters, getting yelled at, dealing with team romances and drama, missing our friends, never having any free time or alone time, eating gas station food, living out of suitcases with host families, skipping meals, and never sleeping.

It was a fun trip, but three weeks was way too long and I was definitely ready to come home. I did have a break down in the middle of it, but thankfully Colt was there to make everything better. The trip was bittersweet for me because I know that this is the last team I will ever be on. I have danced since I was 5 years old, and trying to imagine my life without dance is really hard, but I am moving on to bigger and better things!

Now I get to look forward to going home this weekend with Colt. I am so excited to go to my bridal shower, hang out with my family, and go to Matthew's farewell. I can't believe he is leaving so soon, but I'm so excited for him!

I HATE moving! I have put off packing and organizing for a while now, and today I decided I should finally start getting ready to move. I took everything off my walls, took my curtains down, and started packing things. Now my room looks bare and lonely instead of being full of pictures of my friends and family, and I can't stand to be in it. It doesn't feel like home anymore.

The worst part is that I'm having a hard time being motivated to move since I'm moving into an apartment by myself. I love my new apartment and I'm so excited to get married, but I'm dreading a summer of living by myself with my fiance 5 hours away. I'm used to having my best friend in the room next to me so I always have someone to talk to. I'm going to miss living with her and it's not going to help being alone. I'm just trying to remember that at the end of this summer I get to marry my best friend in the whole world and then I'll never have to live alone again.

3 finals left and then no more school until August!

This is a picture of my wonderful trip to Disneyland with Colt and some friends. I got my ring while I was there, and I'm currently so tired that I have nothing else to post about the trip. It was a blast though!


I know I need to update my blog more, but at the moment I'm just so sick of school, work, and ballroom that I'm too worn out to write anything. Maybe when finals and concert are over I will be able to have a life again.

So I said I would post more wedding details and here they are. This is a picture of my ring. We bought it yesterday, but don't have it yet because it had to be sized. They said it would be ready on April 10th. I'm very impatient. But I love it and I'm so excited for it to come!

In my last blog I mentioned some exciting news that was coming later, and now is the time for that exciting news. I have held this secret in for a little over a week now and I can't take it anymore...it's killing me!



We are getting married!! On August 15, 2009 in the Denver Temple, Colt and I are getting married. I'm so excited! I don't have my real ring yet (when I get it, I will definitely post a picture), but Alli and I picked it out and we are going to buy it this week. Until I get that ring, I'm wearing Colt's mom's old ring.

Anyway, I'm sure lots of wedding details will be posted soon and often this summer, but until then I'm just so excited to be getting married to my best friend in 138 days!

No, I'm not dead. I'm really just extremely busy and haven't been home long enough to write a blog lately. I have spent the last month doing tons of ballroom things. We had Dancing with the Stars (the SUU version), a trip to Vegas and Pahrump to perform and compete, a mid-semester tour around Utah, Arizona, and Nevada, and today we leave for Idaho for the weekend. Our mid-semester tour was fun. Most of our time was spent driving, sitting in theaters, performing, doing workshops, and hanging out, but it was fun. I loved getting to know people on my team better, and I especially loved spending tons of time with Colt. He had to drive his truck, so Marlayna was kind enough to always assign me to his truck so I could be with him. It was exhausting though. We traveled about 2000 miles on the whole trip and performed all over the place.

School and work are crazy as well. I'm busy trying to find time to study for my exit exam so that I can graduate next year from school. I have to take that in April and it is apparently very difficult. It's hard to believe that I'll be graduating next year, it feels like I just got here!

Other than that my life consists of finding time to sleep and eat (both kind of rare) and missing my family. That and some exciting news which is coming later...

On Saturday I started to get a horrible cold. Sunday was spent laying in bed miserable and sleeping until I had to go to work and stay until midnight. It was awful. I just sat on the service counter and did nothing for three hours (no one in Cedar City comes to Lin's on a Sunday night). So yesterday I was even more miserable. I couldn't breathe and I was coughing and basically just felt horrible. Alli had been bugging me about taking this medicine that she said works really well for colds. I'm generally skeptical of medicines and I hate taking them so I told her maybe later and never tried it.

Last night I finally caved. I went to Walmart with Alli and got Zicam. It's like a miracle! You just squirt it in your nose and then all of a sudden you can breathe! I love being able to breathe. It made it possible for me to sleep through the night and it makes it so that I can function during practice. I wish I could make a commercial for Zicam because I would totally rock that commercial. I will use Zicam for all my future colds...I will never go back. It is seriously so amazing.

Alli and Colt-

You both have been asking me to blog all week so here I am blogging.

Alli do you remember that time when we went to Pizza Factory and had to listen to the awkward, annoying little girl scream about how her big sister was pregnant? I remember that too...then we went home and passed out in our beds before going to practice. That would be because we are pretty much the same person. By the way, I think you are stupid and I hate you! Love you best friend, and don't worry, we'll always have synchronized swimming.

Colt, as we speak I'm watching you practice theater arts. I'm so thankful I'm not in that dance. I would probably die...or be dropped on my head. Today you have been a raging volcano of jealousy and hate. Alli and I like it when you aren't a raging volcano...we like it when you are our family like usual. Maybe you should work on that so we don't have to kick you out of the family. That would be pretty tragic. You look tired...I hope Mark lets you stop this dance soon. Oh and I hope your migraine is better. :)

To everyone else reading this I'm sorry. I'll post a real blog later...this was mostly just to keep Alli and Colt happy.

Disclaimer: I know this sounds really emo, but I wrote this with no intention of posting it and Alli told me I had to. Contrary to how this may sound, I'm not bitter. If you don't understand the situation this letter will make no sense, but here it is anyway.

Dear Old Friend,

That night that I was curled up in a ball crying on my bed, I thought my life would never be the same again. I didn't know how I could be happy without my best friend. I thought I would miss you horribly and that I would be lonely all the time.

The truth is, I don't miss you. I don't miss you at all. In fact, I'm glad we aren't friends anymore. Instead of having the shallow, insecure relationship that we constantly shared, my life is now full of joy and I have never been happier. My friends now have a deeper meaning in my life. We are family, not just friends. We can discuss the deepest things as well as just playing around. I would never trade the relationships I have now to get you back in my life.

Someday you will feel that joy as well. Someday you will realize how much more full your life can be. I hope you find all that out soon. I don't want you to waste your life away in this shallow, immature stage that you are in, but that's your life and you gave me, your "best friend", up so that you could live that life. I hope you got what you truly wanted because I know that I got more than I could've ever hoped for. I lost one friend, but gained the best people I could possibly have asked for in my life.

Goodbye old friend. Enjoy the shallow, barren existence that you attempt to fill your life with.

-Karen

No Alli, this is not the post I started...don't worry I will post that one eventually!

But now I would like to post on the magic of Therapy Gel. Not only is it blue, squishy, and sparkly, but it also feels great on your head. Not just any head, but the head that has been fallen on TWICE in one week now. My poor head...it probably wants to know what it did to make me treat it like this.

Colt and Michael tried to save me this time...they collided and I fell between them. Now Colt's jaw is bruised and swollen.

At least I know I have people that love me...

I'm so excited for my brother. Today my family called me and I got to talk to my Mom, Dad, Dan, Matthew, Jenny, and Tiffany on the phone. I would have preferred to be there with them, but that was not an option so I guess this was the next best thing. Anyway...we had this phone call so that Matthew could open his mission call. He is going to the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil mission, and he will be speaking Portuguese! I'm so excited for him!

It's really hard to have a brother on a mission. I missed Dan so much when he was gone, and I know that my feelings for Matthew will be the same. At the same time though, I would never trade the blessings that come from having a member of my family on a mission. I have never felt more strongly a feeling of family unity and being sealed for eternity than when Dan was on his mission. It means that the best Christmas present in the world is getting to talk to Matthew and getting to pray with my whole family, knowing that he is praying with us even though he is thousands of miles away. I'm so grateful for Matthew's example to me, and for the wonderful brother that he is.

I love my family so much. I wish I could be with them more, but I'm so grateful for my knowledge of the gospel and the plan of salvation. I can't wait to be with my family forever. I'm so grateful for temples and that my family is sealed together, that is such a blessing in my life.

So I'm sitting at practice, and I pretty much just want to curl up in a tiny ball and sleep until spring break. Can't I hibernate like a bear?

After battling homesickness all week and struggling with school, I came to practice tonight and hit my head on the concrete floor and then got dropped in a lift. Needless to say, I have a horrible headache.

My whole family is going to be home this weekend without me. I was going to drive home with Colt on Saturday after our performance, but it's supposed to snow this weekend, so I'm stuck here while my whole family spends the whole weekend together. On the bright side, I found out I might be able to go home for three days over Spring Break. That would make me really happy.

I'm looking forward to a long weekend. I'm excited for a conference call with my family on Sunday, and I'm trying to be excited for the Valentine's Day Gala that I'm going to and dancing at. I'm wearing a pretty dress and amazing shoes, so it should be a good evening.

Hopefully the weekend will bring happiness and less homesickness.

I miss my family, and the worst part is that I can't go home until August. I guess that's what happens when you go to college far, far away from your home.





Oh and Dan, I got one in there with you this time. Don't you just love my ballroom hair and makeup?

I'm so unmotivated today. I think it's the snow.

As I am typing this I'm studying for a history test with Blake, Jose, and Chelsea.

SHOOT ME NOW!

As was previously mentioned, I went to Colt's cabin last night with some of our friends. I have been to this cabin quite a few times now and I can really say that it is one of my favorite places to go. I thought I should share this happiness with everyone else.

This is me and Colt about to go to the cabin:


Not a flattering picture, but I thought I would post this one for those of you that didn't believe I actually got on a snowmobile again (that would mostly be my family):


This is Colt making pancakes and hot chocolate for breakfast :)


This is Colt's parents' room. It is gorgeous...I wish you could see the whole thing.


And this is the BEAUTIFUL kitchen in the cabin. I love it so much.


We went up last night and made dinner, hung out by the fire, played games and watched movies. This morning we played in the snow and rode around on snowmobiles until we had to leave because I had to go to work. It was the perfect way to end a busy, stressful week. I love the cabin!

On a side note...as a checker at a grocery store I beg all of you to refrain from going to the store the day before the Super Bowl. Lin's was full of grumpy customers wanting their beer and chips to celebrate and I almost went insane.

Meet my best friend, Alli:



People think we are so weird because we sing songs about being best friends and we quote Gilmore Girls all the time. We have crazy inside jokes that no one understands, and we laugh at each other just because we both find each other hilarious, even though no one else does. That's why I love her...she understands me. I love my best friend, she's the greatest.

You know those weeks when all you really want is to take a nice, hot shower and then get in your warm, squishy bed and go to sleep? Yeah...that has been all I have wanted for the last two weeks. Instead, I have spent all my time studying math and learning dances. I have learned 7 dances in a week and a half. Psycho. My whole body is sore and tired, and showering is seriously the best feeling in the world. Sleep is rare but that's ok because all of it is worth it. I love dancing on tour team. I love the dances I have learned, and I love progressing. Sometimes I forget how much I love being busy, but I think I feel a sense of accomplishment when I am.

Last night, however, I decided to take a break. Colt and I went to Winger's for dinner and then went to his house to watch A Goofy Movie. I fell asleep in the middle of it, which was around 8:00. He took me home where I passed out on my bed and didn't wake up again until my alarm went off at 5:30 this morning for practice. It was the best sleep I have had in a long time.

Tonight I'm hoping to stay motivated enough to get lots of math homework done, and maybe even some work for my retarded online education class. Thankfully the week is almost over and then I get to go to Colt's cabin with all my best friends. I'm so excited to go to the happiest place on earth!

School has started and is actually better than I expected it to be. My classes are fun and I'm enjoying school again! It's a miracle. I still don't like my abstract algebra class...too much theory...too many proofs. It's just too much for one brain to think about! Someday maybe I'll understand it. My other classes are significantly easier and give me a nice break from math. I love being able to study French, history, and education instead of just math. I'm also taking 2 ballroom classes which are helping me improve a ton. If anyone is trying to work on their abs...do samba, I promise it will give you a six pack.

Speaking of ballroom, we had tryouts last week and I made the tour team. I'm so excited! I miss dancing with Alli though.


Anyway, now I'm just enjoying my day off before I start being crazy busy again. Thank goodness for days off!

I'm finally back. After a long few months full of finals, work, ballroom, family, Christmas, and relaxing, I have finally come back to the blogging world.

I'm not ready to start school tomorrow. I want more time to relax and be with my family and friends. Unfortunately, I don't have a choice. I got to go home for 10 days over Christmas which was wonderful. I love when my whole family is together. We spent all our time playing games, watching movies, reading, eating, and lounging together and I loved every minute of it. Being with my family was the best Christmas present!

Since being back from Colorado I have mostly been working. I've also spent time watching House with Alli and Colt. On Friday night, Colt invited me to go to his cabin with his family. His cabin in snowed in, so you have to take snowmobiles to get there. Considering the horrible accident I was in on a snowmobile in high school, I was not excited for that part. I'm happy to report that I made it there and back with no accidents and I'm now not as scared anymore, although it's still not my favorite thing to do.

I'm going to spend today going to church and then mentally preparing myself to be back in school, classes, and ballroom which will be kind of a shock for my brain that doesn't want to go back to reality.