Time Flies When You're Having Fun

I graduate from BYU in 2 months and 4 days. I'm kind of freaking out about it. I am halfway through my student teaching experience and I don't feel ready to stop teaching my 6th graders. I am supposed to start teaching 1st grade in 2 weeks but I am so comfortable here and feel like I'm doing such a good job that I really don't want to leave. I also have to finish up my teacher work sample and I am no where near done. I taught all of my lessons and they went really well when I did them, but the test scores were not that great, plus I never wrote out exactly what I was doing I just played it by ear and catered to what my students needed. Now I have to sit down and write it like I was planning on doing it, not had already done it.

Aside from teaching, life is crazy. Tyler and Callie got married 3 weeks ago and they seem very happy together. The morning of the 28th Tyler was the most exci

ted I had ever seem him in his life. He was literally bouncing around the house with a goofy smile on his face. It was really adorable. Normally I would have made fun of him but it was his wedding day so he had a right to be a little ridiculous. Megan and I got ready and went up to the temple just before they came out. We both looked

and felt really cute. Tyler and Callie came out and they were walking on air. It was the most adorable thing I had ever experienced. I have a new sister!!

Livin' the Life

Life is crazy insane! And I'm loving it :) I started my junior year at BYU and my first semester as an elementary education major. Things are going well for the most part in my classes and I love the other girl's in the major. I am absolutely loving my apartment and the girls I am living with. I finally feel like this is how college is supposed to be. We have decided that we are going to live together again next year (those of us who are single still at least...) and it will be so much fun. I have been great friends with Amanda for years now and living together hasn't changed our friendship. I knew Christina from her living with Amanda last year and me going over to their apartment all the time. I've gotten to know Jessica over the last few months and she and I get along really well. Christina has a boyfriend who we think she will get married to, so she isn't home a lot of the time. Jess, Amanda and I have some pretty random adventures while she's gone including making a fort in our living room, laughing our heads off at 1:30 in the morning, game nights, jumping in the pool fully clothed, movie marathons, scheming trips to St. George and the aquarium... It could be a very long list if I tried to name them all :)

Onto boys... Oh dear, this subject could take a while. Taylor came home from his mission on Oct. 19 and I went to go see him on the 20th. He thought we were dating from the moment I saw him... Bad idea. I've seen him about 10 times in the past 4 weeks so I haven't really discouraged him, although we did have conversation about me wanting space last week; he didn't get it because he called me Wednesday night telling me that he still wants to date me. I told him that I have issues saying no to people I love and that I don't like people to be upset with me. I also told him stories about guys that I've had to turn down because I wasn't interested. I hope he gets it, but I don't think the message has been drilled into his head enough. I am going to see him this weekend at Sister Wakefield's mission farewell, so I am going to have to talk to him in person. There is more than one reason that I'm not interested in Taylor...

There is a guy in my ward who is very interested in dating me and I am quite inclined to reciprocate that feeling. His name is Tyler Baer and I am getting butterflies just thinking about him. He graduated in April in business finance but is in Provo working (and probably looking for a wife, to be honest). He is from Mesa, AZ and has 5 siblings. He is 6'2" with messy, dirty blonde hair, an infectious smile and pale, blue-green eyes that crinkle when he smiles. He can sing really well and was a tenor in Men's Chorus and Concert Choir for 5 years. He went to Singapore on his mission and is therefore inclined to start speaking Chinese every now and then, which I don't understand. He is easy to talk to and the two of us banter a lot. It is so nice having someone to banter with. Very few people in Provo will join me in my banter, and the fact that he will makes me more attracted to him. We've talked everyday for the past 4 weeks and I want this pattern to continue. We'll see what happens...

Yada yada yada :)

I love how very non-organized I am with this whole blog-ness. Hahahaha I get on one of my spurts of wanting to write about life and so I do :) Let's see what we have for today, shall we?
First of all, I am FINISHED with my sophomore year at BYU. (I love being done. I feel so accomplished) and I am back in Layton. I enjoyed my classes winter semester (Interior design, music civilizations, student development, folk dance, tap dance, living prophets and mission prep.) My religion and dance classes were easily my favorites; the other 3 I tolerated (most of the time). I especially loved my mission prep class. It made me want to go serve a mission SO BAD right now which, unfortunately, I'm not able to do on account of me not being old enough. Grr. I dislike rules when there don't work in my favor. Oh well, that's life I guess. Anyway... I'm super glad to be out of my apartment. Don't get me wrong, I'll miss Liz, but she's the only one I'll miss. Taylor was just kinda pathetic (brilliant but air-heady) and Katie didn't seem to approve of me (terribly frustrating and her loss). So I'm not going to dwell on it :)
For now I'm in the middle of job searching. I feel like I've applied for a billion places and no one seems to be hiring. My worst fear in life is rejection and so this is incredibly hard for me. When I've gone places to sell things and what not, if people didn't go for it I could blame it on the product being lame and worthless. But since I'm the item being sold, this rejection is really hard on me. I don't know why employers don't seem to like me, but that's the case. I'm going to try and get over and just keep looking, but that is easier said than done...
Onto less depressing subjects. :) One of the bonuses of being home is being around people that I genuinely like. This being said, I've hung out with Thomas several times in the short two weeks I've been home :) HOORAY! I absolutely love that kid. I was lucky to have befriended him my senior year of high school.
This leads great into my next subject: MISSIONARIES :D (it also happens to be my favorite subject, if you can't tell) So Thomas and I were over at Keith's house the other day (even though he's on his mission haha). We played with Jessie and Jake and had dinner with the family. We were talking about our plans for the summer and all the things we are planning on doing. We were talking about family reunions and Keith's dad started talking about the Flanary family reunions and how much fun they are. He turned to me and said, "Stephanie, you would have so much fun at these reunions when Keith comes home." I laughed and kind of shook it off as an odd comment, but then later we were talking about EFY and Thomas could possibly still go this summer if he wanted to. I said that my plan for next summer is to be an EFY counselor if I'm still single. Charlene (Keith's mom) looked at me and said with a smile, "You'd better still be single next summer. Keith doesn't get home until next September!" That's when I thought to myself "Oh boy, this whole family already has me married off to their son." :) To go right along with that, I went to a farewell for a friend from high school a couple weeks ago and I was talking to Katie, Thomas and Jocelyn (Thomas' quasi-girlfriend) after the meeting was over. Katie looked at me with an inquisitive eye and asked if I was writing her brother. I told her that i write him after I get a letter from him. She said that wasn't enough because she knows that he is not a good writer. She insisted that I write him emails because I'd hear from him more often that way. I laughed and said that I was going to stick with my system. She scowled at me and told me to come stand next to her. I did (out of fear for my life) and she took my face in both her hands and grumbled, "If you want to be my sister, you have to write him!" Thomas started laughing the second she said it. I was speechless for a minute then I started laughing too. She was dead serious. It was hilarious. So yeah... The Adams want me to be a part of their family.
This is where we have a conflict of interest because the Larkin's want me to be a part of their family too. Back in December I went over to deliver a Christmas present to them and I ended up talking to Troy and Jill for like 2 hours. In that time, they asked if I would come over on Christmas and talk to Taylor with their family. I said that it sounded fun, but that I'd rather wait for Taylor's permission before I do that. They said that they would ask him about Mother's Day and that if he said yes they would love to have me come and talk to him too. In March I got a text from Jill inviting me to plan on coming over on Mother's Day to talk to him. I was looking forward to that for a long time. Needless to say, this was the best Mother's Day I have ever had :) I talked to him for about 15-20 minutes. I asked about his favorite parts about being a missionary (he asked what I wanted to know and I said "Everything!" but that wasn't specific enough for him), if the people were taking good care of him, if he uses his bike, how his investigators are doing, etc. He asked me about school and my family and friends, life in general, that sort of thing. It was kind of hard to hear him (he mumbles, switched into French a couple times, was on a cell phone half way around the world...) but I still heard his voice and it was great! I'm so excited for him to come home. 5 months!!! :D That's all that's left. I can't wait to get my best friend back, even though I'm a little bit nervous about what might happen.
I think that is enough to digest for one night :) I am going to bed now. Adios!

Growing up

He he he he he he :) Oh life.
Lots of things are going on at the moment. School is over (except for finals. I'm taking those one at a time next week. No reason to unnecessarily stress myself, right?) This semester seemed super short. And I'm afraid I didn't apply myself very much, which isn't a good thing because I really need to focus on being a god student. It is just so hard because I feel like all I've ever done with my life is study and go to class. I think I just need a break to clear my head; the problem is that I don't know when I'm going to be able to take a break. *Sigh*
Work is going well. Despite the fact that I have to walk home from work at two in the morning down rape hill all by myself in the sub-zero degree weather, I really like my job. It gives me plenty of time to do my homework and it also allows me valuable "Stephanie" time :) I really enjoy being able to just have time to sit with my thoughts and sing, read, think, day-dream etc.
My living conditions are slowly but surely getting better. Katie and I have had a couple of bonding moments (they are few and far between, but at least they are happening). We still haven't had very deep conversations, but maybe by the end of the year we will be friends. (I'm crossing my fingers for that one)
Most of my missionaries are out. The vast majority of them have been out for at least a little while, some are still prepping to leave and some are almost on their way home. It is so weird to think about. But I definitely enjoy it :) Missionaries are my favorite. I miss them terribly and I hope things can be quasi normal when they get back. I'm most excited for Vandes, Taylor, justin and Keith to be home. Unfortunately Keith has been out for a total of about 3.5 months. Vandes, on the other hand, comes home in July (I think.) I'll have to get on his case fr not writing me at all...
So I have very interesting news. I like Troy Teeples and he likes me. It is SO strange because it's TROY! I would have never expected it. But I am having so much fun. The best part about being around him is that I'm completely myself and not my Provo-self. I really don't like my Provo-self. She's boring and quiet and timid. My complete self is outgoing, random, funny, full of laughter and friendly. I like being me and to find someone who likes me being me is nice. I don't feel like I'm trying and I haven't flirted like this for the longest time and it feels GREAT! :D
Anyway, that's about it. I'll keep you updated one whatever goes on. Adios!

Life :D

I'm a sophomore. Its really odd and wonderful. But it feels like I've been in Provo forever. I wish I could get out of here for a time. That would be nice :)
Anyway... School is going really well. I'm taking 16 credit hours this semester. I'm taking Sign language, Docrine and Covenants, American Heritage, Geography, English (for my major) and Biology lab (also for my major). I'm actually really enjoying it. I don't even mind doing the homework because I'm learning so much. Its becoming increasingly hard to choose a favorite (which is very strange considering I've never been a huge history person).
I really like my apartment in Liberty Square. We have so much storage and living space. The only problem with it is the bedroom. The beds are so tall (they go up to my shoulder so I have a stool) and we only have one shelf between the two of us (which Katie claimed from day one). So I have the top shelf of my deak and thats it. Its rather unfortunate because I have a lot of display stuff. Liz and Taylor are really easy to live with. We get along really well but we don't really interfere with each other's lives. Katie is a different story; she doesn't talk to me. She'll acknowledge my presence in the room, smile, nod and leave with all her stuff. The longest period of time we've been in the same room at the same time is when we are both asleep at night. I have a feeling she doesn't like me very much. She's not openly hostile or anything, but she doesn't try to be friendly. Whenever we have a conversation I'm the one who instigates it and she only answers with one-or-two word answers. Its very upsetting (especially after having such a good experience with Jess last year, its a total let down)
On a brighter note, oh wait. I don't have any super fantastic good news. This bites! I keep having moments of saddness but then I realize that there is no point in being sad. So I might as well just be happy :) I don't like having to remind myself to be happy. It has never happened to me before. I hope this isn't becoming a regular occurance.
Anyway... Thats it for now. Adios!

Hehehehehe :)

So... I'm confused/excited/relieved/giddy all at the same time. Things are going pretty well here in Provo. Work is almost over and I'm starting to pack my things. I really don't like packing, especially packing everything. It makes my apartment seem morelike a jail cell than normal. But its ok because I get to move in with Liz, Taylor and Katie in a couple weeks :)

Let me tell you why I have all the mixed emotions though. Remember when I said I think I love Keith? :D I'm pretty sure I do. And he likes me too (at least I'm hoping so) Let me tell you the story: I went home on Saturday after work to celebrate my brother's birthday. It was good (even though he's kind of a dork). But afterwards all there was to do was sit around my house and I don't like doing that when I'm home because there are so many people I want to see and sitting there doesn't accomplish anything. So I called up Thomas (I would have called Keith, but he has a habit of not keeping his phone near him and I never know if he's actually going to answer) and Thomas told me that I needed to go to Keith's house and see them. They were finishing up watching "Nacho Libre". I went over and knocked on the door; they waved me in from downstairs. So I came down and sat on the end of the couch (the rest of the couch was full with Thomas, Jocelyn, Keith, Maddie, Katie and Kadee). After the movi was over we were just talking for a bit then Katie had to take Maddie and Kadee home. And then Kevin came over. (People just kept coming in and out, but its ok at Keith's house and I love it) We started quoting movies ad ended up quoting "Atlantis" a lot, so much so that we ended up just putting it in and watching the whole movie. As we started it, I got up and decided to call home and ask for a curfew extension until after the movie was over. My daddy said it was fine so I didn't have to leave half way through the movie (thank goodness) Kevin left for a bit so it was just me, Keith, Jocelyn and Thomas. Keith started poking me and I started squirming and Jocelyn attempted to help me attack him, but we still lost. I ended up squirming down so far that I was using Keith's chest as a pillow (convenient how that worked out...). He stopped there and then put his arm around me :) It was wonderful.
Anyway, Jocelyn had to be home so Thomas drove her and that left just me and Keith. We just sat there watching the movie and then all the sudden I feel him kiss the top of my head. So cute! Then Thomas came back and the three of us finished "Atlantis." I love it when it's just the three of us! It feels complete and whole. When the movie was over, we sat there talking for a bit. Then I decided that I should go home. So I said "Ok, well I have to go." And they both asked why (they always ask questions...) and I said that I told my parents I'd come home after the movie as over. They both said that I didn't have to leave right then because the movie would still be over and hour from them. Leave it up to them to think of something like that. I attempted to get up to g anyway and Thomas knocked me back onto the couch. I enjoyed being there too much to retaliate so I just sat there. Keith turned so that he was on his stomach, facing me. I couldn't resist, I just started playing with his hair. He sighed and closed his eyes in contentment. Then he said "You're amazing at that." I asked how so and he told me. I thought it was interesting :) Anyway, I stayed like that for a while then decided that I really should go. It was 12:30 by that point. So Thomas helped me up, then I helped Keith up and he kep my hand as we walked up the stairs. We went outside and over to Thomas' car. I gave him one more hug and promised him that I woul be there next Saturday, and he told me that he was going to the single's ward tomorrow. I asked him which one and he said it was the same one my brother goes to and I was going to be going with him. So I told Thomas I'd see him there and I think that made it better than him goi g by himself.
Thomas left and Keith pulled me into another hug. He walked me backwards to my car and then we stayed there for about 20 more minutes. We talked a little bit about random things, and every nowand then he'd pull me into a tighter hug. Once he pulled back and made a strange. I asked him what it was for and he sid it was nothing. I knew it wasn't a "nothing" face, so I made him tell me. He said he was having an internal debate about whether to kiss me or not. I said "Oh. Well let me know when you decided." He chuckled and said "You'll be the first one to know." Then we talked some more, pulled some "really attractive" faces at each other and he'd pull me closer every now and then. Eventually he said "ok, I think you should go." I gave him a look and he said "I decided not tonight." I shrugged and said ok then smiled at him. He opened my door and told me to drive home safe and that he'd talk to me later. Then he closed my door and walked back to his driveway. I drove and away grinning to myself. When I got far enough away, I screamed ot of happiness. That really is my happy place. I just feel so protected and safe and liked. That's when I decided that him not kissing me that night was a good thing. I would have enjoyed it (especially because of random moments that I've had in my mind... anyway...) but I want our first kiss to be something special; after we've done something together better than just watching a movie at his house and him walking me to my car. But it gives me hope that it actually will happen and it's not just something I'd imagine. :) YAY!
So that's it. I'm going to bed now. When something else happens, I'll let you know! Adios!

Time...

So, I'm really bad at this whole "keeping-up-to-date" thing. Oh well. You'll forgive me, right?

I finished up freshman year. THANK GOODNESS! I'm so glad to be done. Moving out of my apartment was a little sad because I'll miss my roommates a lot. Jess and I had planned on being roomies for fall, but then she had to go and get engaged and kill all our plans. Its ok though. I really like Taylor and they are so cute together :) They are getting married in about 2 and half weeks. They are both so excited about it. I'm going to the reception on the 15th.

I currently work with BYU Housing. I absolutely love my job. It gets a little tedious at times, but then it makes up for it. It sounds really boring and lame but I'm really enjoying it. Every week I check EFY kids into the dorms and then have building prep on Saturday mornings (at 6:30 am. I kinda want to shoot myself every Saturday, but thats ok). Then Tuesday-Thursday I have desk shifts, roving shifts and project hours to keep things running smoothly (and to give me more hours and therefore more money.) I love most of my co-workers. There are only 10 of us who have this job, so we work together all the time. I work with Levi, Ashley, Jana, Matt, Lindsay, Danny, Kira, Kevin and Becca. I've become really close to Kira. She and I sign to each other all the time and it really bothers everyone else, especially Jana; its very entertaining. :) We're attempting to teach Danny how to sign. Most of the time he does really well... ha ha ha ha

I've done a very bad job at writing my missionaries recently. Oh, Jon came home and absolutely nothing happened. We hung out a few times and we went on a date, but he had that creepy "looking for my eternal companion" look in his eyes and I don't want to go there at all. So we talk every so often but we don't see much of each other (which I consider a good thing). Craig left on his mission. It was a sad day. I couldn't even go to this farewell because I had to speak in my ward the same day. I was very annoyed with my bishop. Luckily, I got to hang out with him the Saturday night before he left. I went home for some reason and as I was exiting, Amanda called me and told me that I needed to drive to Layton that very minute so we could kidnap him. We didn't actually have to kidnap him. He volunteered to hang out with us :) We met up at Amanda's house. He and I pulled up (for opposite directions) at the same time. I could hear music from inside his car. We got out of our cars and he pulled me into a huge hug and said "hello beautiful girl," like he always does. :) He just held me for a minute (it was a minute of bliss) and then I asked "What were you listening to?" He chuckled and said "Wicked." I gasped and said "I was too!" Then he pulled me into an even tighter hug and said "We're just perfect together." I almost had a spaz attack. My insides were going hay-wire and it was all I could do to not scream for joy at the top of my lungs. :) Anyway... the three of us (Me, Craig and Amanda) made banana splits/ice cream sundaes and then watched HSM3 (Craig's idea). After we were done with that it was like midnight. He decided that he should probably go, so we all got up and started gathering our things. We walked out onto Amanda's front porch and he gave Amanda a hug, then it was my turn. He pulled me in and held me tight. Just before he let go, he gave me an extra squeeze. He made me promise to write him and then he walked down to his car, waved to us, got in and drove away. As I waved good-bye to him, I lost it; I started crying. I turned to look at Amanda and she was crying too. She hugged me and it started raining. It was horrible. I decided that I should probably go as well. So I got in my car and drove back to Provo at 1 in the morning, in the rain, crying. It was the most pathetic drive home ever. Oh well.
I've decided something else too: I think I might love Keith :) I only see him once every month or so, but every time I see him its like I've never gone away. He just got his mission call to Kennewick Washington. It makes me laugh that that is where he's going. I went home this past weekend for Taylor Pulver's farewell and I figured I'd go congratulate him in person. I went over to his house and his mom answered the door (his family loves me. Although, I have a feeling they love most of Keith and Katie's friends) and invited me in. I went up the stairs and he greeted me at the top with a huge hug. (I definitely love being in his arms, just so you know) Thomas was there too. I gave him a hug and made him spin me :) It's tradition at this point. But then we all sat down and started talking. That's one of the things that I love about those two; they're ok with just sitting and talking. After a while Keith grabbed a pillow and sort of draped himself on my lap. That was an open invitation for me to start scratching his back (which is good because I've wanted to do that for a very long while.) While we were talking, Thomas told me "You need to be in town on the 15th around 4." I told him that I could probably do that and then I asked why. Thats when he told me: he's getting baptized. Let me repeat myself
THOMAS IS GETTING BAPTIZED! I'm so excited! Keith covered my mouth so I wouldn't scream, but I still managed to get some sound out. :) I can't wait!!! There is no chance I'm going to miss that. I have to be in Layton for Jessica's wedding reception that night anyway so it's perfect. The problem is that I will have to split my time between the two occasions. Jessica's reception doesn't start until 6:30, but I could probably spend hours on end with Keith and Thomas. The only problem I might run into is that I have to share Thomas and Jessica with hoards of people and sharing isn't my strong point. :) Hopefully with Thomas being distracted by all those people it will give me more Keith time (I am so selfish sometimes...)
What else... Oh, I went to the lake a couple of weeks ago. Without a doubt its one of my favorite places I've ever been to. I did everything this summer: tubing (of course), knee-boarding (with Cass), wake boarding (we got all 4 Robinson kids back behind our boat at the same time) and I even slalomed :) I've never been able to do it before. I was so proud of myself. We also went to the rope swing a couple of times and I declared war on all the little boys. I'm pretty sure I lost, but it was 15 to 1. My odds weren't that good, especially because some of them are bigger than me. I love playing with them. I hope they like it. I just remember being that age and looking up to the older cousins and wanting to do something with them. But they were always "too cool" to pay with us younger kids. I want to change that legacy. :)
Megan and I went to the Kenny Chesney concert on the 23rd. It was AMAZING! Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert were his opening acts. I would have enjoyed them a lot more if it hadn't been 105 degrees outside. Once the sun went down it was a lot easier to have energy and enjoy it. Coincidentally, the sun was going down just as Kenny came on stage :) Ha ha ha ha I don't think it was a coincidence at all. But it was a very long concert. It started at 5:30 and we didn't leave until 10:45. The first three hours were miserable because of the heat but Kenny made up for it 10-fold. He even sang one of my favorite songs of his. He took a minute to thank all the radio stations in Salt Lake for playing his music. He said that it was Utah that gave him his first big break by playing his CD over and over. And then, for the first time in 6 years, he sang the song that made him big; he sang "Me and You" which I AM going to dance to at my wedding. I think it's so cute. :) Highlight of the concert for me. I even got it recorded on my phone, but the recording isn't very good because you can hear me singing along with him. (He's a lot better than I am.)
Well, that's basically life for me. If anything new comes up, I'll let you know. Adios for now!