Happy 10th Birthday Mckay Gordon!!

Today is my brother, Mckay’s 10th birthday! Here are the top ten things I love about the lad, especially today-

1. When my mom was expecting Mckay, I went with her to the sonogram to find out what gender the baby was. I really wanted a little sister & was sad when it turned out to be another boy. Regardless, I was excited to have a newborn brother to teach, play with, and help take care of. My mom kept many of my cute little Ralph Lauren dresses when I was a baby & one day my mom and I put little baby Mckay in a navy blue and red one. We called him “Mckayla” and took a polaroid picture. For those few hours, he was the baby sister I had always wanted. My dad flipped when he got home from work, “what did you do to my son!” Sorry Mckay. I just wanted you to be a girl. 
2. He speaks japanese very well.
3. Mckay has fantastic facial expressions. I'm always excited to tell him something awesome, because he naturally gets really animated about it.
4. He’s the only blonde in our family. I never let him forget it.
5. moc man is an ace fisher. 
6. He’s a really smart fourth grader. I’m always impressed by how much he knows that I didn't at that age.
7. He’s a hard worker & will assist with any projects you need help with. 
8. Mckay is a sick basketball player, as are all of my brothers:)
9. I love that he's such an avid reader, he enjoys reading Hunger games just as much as I do.
10. We'll be reading a book together and out of nowhere, he'll start reading in a british/russian/australian/scottish accent mix.

HAPPY HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY MCKAY!! I hope you enjoy your day:) 

conference weekend!

In our church we have what we call "General Conference" twice a year. It is a time we get to listen to many of our spiritual leaders and I'm so grateful for the opportunity. I love the reminders that help me keep in mind what is really important in life. These messages help me become a more dedicated friend, sister, daughter, student, and daughter of God.

Conference takes place at the conference center in Salt Lake City, UT. Thanks to modern technology, these messages are broadcasted worldwide and can even be streamed via the internet by clicking here. Growing up, I’ve always watched it at home with my family. My mother would catch up on ironing and we would always draw portraits of the speakers and take notes on the spoken words. 

However, this year I was lucky enough to be able to attend conference live at the conference center!! I’ve always wanted to & was beyond excited for it. My friend, Kyra, got us tickets and we were on our way to UT on Friday. 

Her sister, Crystal, picked us up in SLC on friday and we were headed to her apartment in Orem. We were really hungry by the time we started to unpack so Kyra drove us to Panda Express for a late dinner. She hadn’t driven since January and was a little apprehensive, but she was a great driver! That is, once she figured out how to turn on the lights....haha. We slept well & were really excited for conference the next day.

Saturday

We had tickets for the afternoon session, so we had plenty of time in the morning to get ready. Kyra’s friend, Jade, kindly drove us in the busy traffic to salt lake city. There was a HUGE line of people waiting to get in the conference center outside & somehow in the crowd I spotted a family from my home ward.  It was wonderful seeing them!! I love any small reminder of home, even if I’m thousands of miles away. Since we arrived later than expected, they gave up our nice floor seats:( However, I was still so excited to just to be there-even being on the highest tier. One of my highlights was that BYU-I combined choir provided the music for the afternoon conference session. It was awesome to know several of the students who were singing. 

Afterwards, I met up with several of Hunter’s friends from California that he got to know very well on his mission. They were all coming for the weekend to attend conference & I thought it was a perfect opportunity to meet them, since I would be in town too. We ate dinner at Red Iguana, which was incredible!! It was Gina & Amanda's birthday, so we got the awesome musicians singing for the lovely twins. 


We then went to a friends' house for a surprise birthday party for the girls. I spent a lot of time just talking with Lisa, Gina, Mandy, and Amanda. The way they talked about Hunter was so kind, they respected him so much and had the same kind of love that I have for my bro. I'm so glad I got to meet so many awesome from California! 

Sunday

Kyra & I were also able to attend the afternoon session of General Conference on Sunday. It was wonderful! We went to our friend Mckay’s house after and enjoyed a delicious meal with his family. I love General Conference & felt so fortunate that I was able to spend a wonderful weekend with Kyra! 

After we got back to Rexburg, my roommates welcomed me home with delicious red velvet cake. I love life!

victory race, sleepover, and sammy's

Friday

There's nothing more rewarding than a delightful weekend after a busy school week. On Friday, after my roommates & I came back from grocery shopping, we started our party hop. The first party was fun; pizza, kit-kats, and the game “what if…” Everyone gets in a circle and writes a “what if…” question. (i.e. what if you turned into a monkey tomorrow?) All of the random questions are collected and re-distributed. On the back of the slip of paper, you write down the answer to the “what if” question you received. Once again, the papers get collected & passed out among the group. The game starts when someone reads the question on their paper & the person next to them answers the question with the reply they have on their paper. So the reply to “what if you turned into a monkey tomorrow?” could be “I would laugh forever, then cry.” (The reply being completely unrelated to the question & an answer to a different question.) Fun game, lots of laughs. After awhile, we decided to hop over to our next party.

Two girls in our dorm complex were having a birthday party in our lobby, Christa & Jenny. There were lots of elaborate decorations & treats. One of the goodies that I tried was insanely tasty; it had mini marshmallows, chocolate, and some sort of crispy morsel to it. Delicious. It’s like a s’more without the grahams & fire. I enjoyed chatting with friends in our building & meeting some new people. It was a delightful birthday celebration.

After the birthday love, our friend Ryan came over to play card games. He helped us build the IGLOO, we couldn’t have done it without his height and strength! He brought over dorito chips & spicy salsa as a midnight snack. Kyra, Dexter, and I were so exhausted after playing a few rounds that the uncontrollable laughter started. I laugh at anything when I’m extremely sleepy. It’s embarrassing. Afterwards, I brought my stuff to Kyra’s. She’s an awesome friend of mine & we stayed up talking until 3am. Loved it, but not the smartest decision-considering I had to wake up a few hours later & race at 8am.

 Saturday

Somehow I managed to make it to the track and had enough time to warm up before I raced the mile. On Thursday we ran a timed mile during our practice & I tried something new. One mile on our indoor track is 5 ½ laps around and I can get weary by the 4th lap. So I started thinking about a different brother on every lap, since I have five hermanos. The first lap I think of what an intense basketball player Hunter is. On the last lap, Grant’s adorable seven-year-old charm keeps me running strong. The last .5 of the lap, I give it all I have-a final sprint. By using this thought process, the mile seemed much shorter and I got my best ever mile time!! 7:11 and I know next time I can get sub seven. Compared to the LAST mile I raced, I felt much stronger & the race seemed to go by faster. Our team did really well-Rachael, my coach, also got a PR and so did Majken. After all the scores were announced, I said that our team needed to have a victory breakfast the next day.

Later in the evening, my roommates, Kyra, and I walked over to Sammy’s. It’s a wonderful sort of diner place that’s famous for their delicious pie shakes & cupcake shakes. They put a slice of pie into every pie shake, making it so difficult to decide which flavor to get. I enjoyed an oreo chocolate cream pie shake & it was outrageously tasty. Connected to the diner part of Sammy’s, there’s a stage and music concert performance area. Several music groups perform there weekly & who doesn’t love enjoying nice music while sippin’ on a delightful dessert? I love Sammy’s!

Afterwards, Ryan came over and brought everything to make froot loop rice crispy treats. Yummy! It brought back to mind several memories of my mom & I making these sticky treats in the kitchen together. We brought the dessert into the lobby & munched on it while we watched ROBOTS on the big flat screen. Cute movie, but I fell asleep half way through. I feel so old, that I can’t make it through a children’s animation film without falling into some much-needed sleep.

Sunday

Kyra & I aren’t in the same student ward, but coincidentally the weekend that I stayed with her was stake conference. We’re both in the BYU-Idaho 1st stake. how perfect. It was fun getting ready for church together & a good indicator because we’re thinking of becoming roommates next semesterJ  Members of our new stake presidency each shared their testimonies with us & it was an insightful conference. After church, I began making waffles for my team’s victory waffle celebration. Majken, Rachael, and Cameron all came & enjoyed the blissful brunch. I really like that our team is small enough that we plan & enjoy team dinners and gatherings. For the rest of the evening, I spent more time with Kyra and prepared for the school week ahead.

The best thing about Sunday was when Emily came home, she had been in UT for the weekend! I came outside to help bring her things in & to my surprise she led me to a parked car. I was really confused because I thought she had gotten a ride back up, but she didn’t need one. Her parents had driven her car from Colorado to Utah, where she met up with them for the weekend. YAY, a CAR!! Not that I don’t fully enjoy doing reps with my gallon of milk on the way back to our dorms…but I became really joyful when I realized no more lugging groceries home. Of course, I was also really ecstatic to have Emmy back! We get along really well, she’s my favorite roomie and we miss each other lots when either one of us goes out of town:)

feliz cumpleaños madre.

Today is my mom's Birthday! She always makes everyone's such a celebration, I hope hers is too! My aunt wanted to do something special for the occasion & we figured out a flawless game plan and kidnapping strategy. Yesterday, she took the birthday queen out to get a manicure & pedicure-something she never does & a chipotle lunch celebration. I'm glad the nursery kiddos sang to her. I honestly don't know anyone who isn't in love with her. She's so kind, generous, and selfless. 
A few of the many things I love & appreciate about her:

-She is such a babe.effortless.


-I've only been away for three weeks & already have received 4 packages.2 more on their way.


-She plans the best family vacations


-She is such a babe.effortless.


-My friends adore my mom


-She makes beautiful baby blankets & burp cloths for numberless newborns


-She served her mission in Japan


-She made such a gorgeous Spanish police officer with my Dad for Halloween

-She's the reason I ran the Susan G. Komen race for the cure several times, in Washington D.C.

-I love all the many, sweet texts she sends me everyday, especially the "good morning, I love you" & the daily "good night, I love you, scriptures & prayers!"

-She makes delicious mint brownies & throughout my childhood we've been the speedy doorbell-ditch deliverers.

-She can start up a conversation with anyone & everyone

-She cooks such delicious salmon, it's my favorite dinner ever. I miss it.

-Even though she knows I'm a few inches taller, she still tries to look like the same height in pictures together & stands on her tippy toes.

-I love her fashion sense & obsession with Ralph Lauren.timeless.


-The morning after my friends sleepover, she makes us delicious crêpes with fresh fruit.

-I was so lucky to go with her & Grant to Japan and China on a class trip, after being in Japanese immersion for 6 years

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I mostly love my mom the most for who she is & for shaping the person I am today.

Happy Happy Birthday mommy, I love you!!

Grant Tyler

It feels so strange missing out on a family members' birthday, I've never missed one. I miss the excitement of the day itself, enjoying the delicious BR ice cream cake, and all the celebrations. My little brother, Grant, turns 7 today!! I remember how ecstatic & happy I was walking into the hospital room & meeting the newest member of our family. I was in seventh grade and really wanted a younger sister. Since the new sibling was again a boy, my mom let me choose his middle name. Grant Tyler, I think that has a nice ring to it:) Its awesome having a younger brother that you can watch grow up right before your eyes. Grant is so adorable & I love all the cute things he says. When I talked to him today, I asked if he brought treats to school to share with his class. He said his teacher lets the birthday kid bring in their favorite book to be shared, instead of treats. have you ever heard of such a thing? Then Grant got really excited in telling me she's retiring soon & his new teacher is hot.haha I love this kid. I love that we went to Japan & China together when he was just a few months old. I adore his stuffed panda bear that has already been on so many family vacations with us, Tai Shan really enjoyed Spain.

Happy Birthday Grant, I love you!!!

two oh wun wun

Happy New Year!

 Its crazy to think 2010 is already over! So many great things have happened & can't help but feel somehow attached to this year. Looking back, these have been some of my favorite things from this year-

Surviving "snowmageddon" & enjoying an extra week off from school without having to make it up. Best senior year ever.

Traveling to Virginia beach, Florida, South Carolina, Ohio, UT, and ID-where I toured my future campus

Embracing the Dark Knight in me, just have to work on the flying part

Helping with Clark's eagle project

Dancing my heart out at mo-prom

Graduating HS, WHOO!

Rexford's graduation from elementary school

Becoming a seminary graduate

Turning the big 18

 MGMT concert

Strengthening great, unforgettable friendships

Began my job at the National Archives

wisdom teeth extraction & fully appreciating laughing gas

I LOVED being involved with Youth Conference & going with daddio

 

Jack Johnson concert

hunter coming home

enjoying a fantastic christmas.

AND in a few days I'll be starting college!

2010 is going to be hard to top, but I'll try anyway.

Sipping delicious martinelli's sparkling apple cider was a fantastic celebration to the new year. Yummy belgium waffles for breakfast right after? Don't mind if I do:)

bring it on 2011!