A Beautiful Birthday....

 

Yes, a tad late but a memory never to be forgotten.

 

 

Jiggy Day is all about going big, doing someething that makes you feel fearless. Also a time to reflect on the soul of someone who taught you so many life lessons it's impossible to put it all down on one blog. Jocie would be turning 20 on this beautiful day. Last year we took on the adventure of sky diving for her birthday. How do you top that? You can't, it's nearly impossible. However hiking the Wellsvilles comes pretty close.

 

 

The Wellsvilles are said to be the steepest mountains in the world. Naturally, if were going big it's best to take on the steepest mountains in the world. No doubt in my heart and mind, Jocie would be here every step of the way to reach the top with us.

 

 

With ski poles in hand we hiked a slow steady pace. Leaving at 3 P.M was not exactly the brightest decision which you can ask me personally at a later date. Let's just say it was one of the many things that added to this memory.

 

It was a beautiful day to hike. On Jiggy Day, no questions asked you are going to end up doing something crazy, fun, and hilarious.

 



 

Along the way Sid and I run into some jumpy grouse. Flying in front of us they scared us so bad I fell flat on my butt...Yeah not a shining moment in my life.

 

 

As you get closer to the top you are surrounded by evil bushes that feel like needles. If you are fun size in height, like Sid and I, you will be walking through a maze of bushes. At this point due to the time of day, it was getting quite cold and shaded on the side of the mountain the trail leads through. Our legs were getting scratched by imagination cats.

 

 

Once feeling as though the top of the Wellsvilles would never come the view of Brigham City and Willard Bay come into view. A feeling of complete satisfaction and that "ahhhh" moment fill your body. Before the hike I made a sign of "Go Big or Go Big Home" on a scrap piece of fabric which we then tied to our hiking ski poles. For Jocie we leave our mark at the top knowing full-heartedly she would be there right with us every step of the way.

 

 

It was a gorgeous evening that could not be topped. "Go Big or Go Home" is a simple phrase. One I try to live by every single day of my life. It's hard to believe how much time has passed. Some days I feel as though it was just yesterday we were all skiing together and times when it feels distant...

 

 

As we begin the descent down, the sun illuminates our surroundings. Tears fill my eyes as I look around and soak it all in. It's amazing to me that even when their was a time in life that was sad, overwhelming, confusing, and life changing there is still things in this life that are beautiful.

 

 

On Jiggy Day it's a time to remember that life is full of fun, love, laughter, joy, beauty, family, faith, friendships, adventure, spontaneity, and doing the best you possibily can.

 

 

After a traditional Jiggy Day eating at Angie's for a breakfast dinner we retire our shoes and socks to reveal absolutely FILTHY feet. Mother Teresa was not pleased to hear we walked across the carpet.

 

 

Jiggy Day gives you the chance to remember a girl who lived and loved so deeply for the people and life around her. I will forever miss our skiing days...

 

"So much of me is made from what I learned from you. You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart. And now whatever way our stories end, I know you have re-written mine, by being my friend..."

Fall Is Here...

Well, I'm home from West Yellowstone. It has been a month now that I have been home and let me tell you...sleeping in a clean, nice, good smelling home is something I definitely took for granted. School was just around the corner when I came home and I was ready for a new school year back at Utah State Univeristy. The thought of new classes, campus life, and new cute boys to date made my heart leap. So here is August-September in a nut shell as I know it...

 

The first week of school is always the best! Not much homework and adjusting to the come-back or thoughts of enduring another school year isn't quite unbearable....yet. Lindsay and I embarked on the wonderful 80's dance. Dancing on the stage and watching my fellow Aggies in the crowd dance to the YMCA made me giddy for the year to come. 

 

 

Sid and I thoughtlessly signed up for a mountain biking class. It has so far been hell. Although an eye opener as to how out of shape one truly is until you start biking uphill. We have unsuccessfully made it an entire ride without stopping or turning around. Good thing we are not graded on making it the whole way.

 

 

 

 

Waiting in line for 4 hrs to get a good seat in the stadium is definitely worth the sweating in the sun. The USU vs. UofU game was a nail biter and one of the best games I have ever been to. The student section was unbelievable with our "I Believe that we will win" chant. It had been 15 yrs since USU has beat UofU. Rushing the field was one memory I will never forget, once an Aggie, always an Aggie.

 

 

 

We were still in shock that USU won!

 

 

 

The bees in our backyard were having a fabulous day on the Autumn Joy's. I was able to take this with my iphone surprisingly!

 

 

 

 

One night before the USU football game Sid, Lindsay, and I went and did some tumbling on the field. It was quite the night!

 

 

 

We stopped for a moment on the quad and took this picture...Fall 2012 semester has been somewhat bland. Havn't had really any dates, my classes are frustrating, and I now do not know what I am going to major in or do career wise. Just when you think you are up and know what you're doing, life will come at you with a punch and say, "SIT BACK DOWN!" Ugghhh. I guess the saying goes, "Your life is life a heart monitor, you're alive if it moves up and down."

It's official...I'm moved out!!

Last Thursday I decided to join my friends on a big adventure: moved to West Yellowstone for the summer to work at a restaurant and bar named "Bullwinkle's". My goal for this summer is to experience life on my own without the parentals, budgeting, meeting many new people, meet the new LDS ward there, waitressing, and working my butt off to have fun and earn money for school for Fall 2012 at Utah State University and a trip to Europe or the Caribbean.

 

Before I left home I had some fun...Cinco de Mayo party at Aniko's house with all the friends! 

 

Went "bageling" with Sid, Lindsay, and Maren 

Went on a random AWESOME hike with my cousin Morgan.

Packed up and said bye to the parentals... ;( I love them so much and am so grateful for everything they have done for me and the examples they are.

Arrived in West Yellowstone ready to work! My first night of work I came home and balled my eyes out from being homesick. No worries though...I got over it in a half hour haha

This is our home...I know what you're thinking it's awful I know! When they showed us this dreadful place I almost cried. Makes me appreciate my home so much more!!

 

This old Ford truck is parked outside our trailer. It is $600 if anyone wants to own this beauty. We are thinking of doing a fun photo shoot with it.

When we first walked into our trailer it had not been cleaned from the previous owner. I later found out that the previous owner had two dogs and one cat living in there before hand in which one of the dogs died here...Hmmm?

This is our very tasteful kitchen! The oven blasts a full 250 degrees and stops there. Don't worry though we made sure everything was dripping with Lysol and Clorox, we won't die like the dog did.

Oh hey yeah this is mine and Sid's quarters. No space. No drapes. No closet. Umm a whole lot of nothing! But rent is only $100 a month so I'm trying really hard not to complain. Oh did I mention the furnace that sounds like an animal dyeing when it turns on?? Maybe it's the dog's ghost! 

"Summer Family" picture in the kitchen. The place is growing on me...kinda.

 

I had never seen a buffalo in real life till now! Quite the experience for going into the park for the first time you could say I loved it!

Blond moment: The geyser behind me is known as the Castle. I thought this was Old Faithful and asked, "Why is there no one over here at the most popular site?" I walked right past Old Faithful without knowing it, and no this is not Old Faithful haha

Another view of the smoldering pot!!

 

Just waiting for Old Faithful to erupt! 

There she goes! Yes I am embracing my tourist side of life

 

This awesome tractor is parked out in front of humble abode.

After a long day of work we decided it was time to go see Old Faithful go off at 1 in the morning. So we did it.

You many not be able to see it in the background but we are indeed at Old Faithful! It was freezing by the way.

It has only been a week so far and I am enjoying the new changes and challenges. Montana is a beautiful place to live. Only for the summer though...Home is the best place and I will always be a hometown girl. Till then Logan...have an awesome summer without me! XOXO

A Time for Everything

This Thursday Mother Nature decided it was time to drop a white bomb on little Cache Valley. Beaver gained 14 new inches of the white fluffy stuff we call snow. I having to work, missed one of the best days of the ski season so far! So I decided it was TIME to skip both classes on Friday and head up to the Beav with new pow and sunshine. Sid, Missy, Josh and I piled into the car and headed for the great outdoors.

 Sunshine, Blue skies, and powder is all it takes to put a smile on this face...

 Fire and Ice of Lone Pine...One of my favorite memories with Jocie and Sid..

 

 Oh such luscious pow pow!!

 

 Why hello!

 

 

Good morning Missy!

 

This fella definitely added some color to those cheeks...

 

Take it all in...that first big breath before you plunge down the mountain. 

Me, Sid, and Missy getting ready to ski some Beav backside!

 

Skiing on Friday was an awesome day. It was our first time skiing with Scott since that awful day in March. As you can see it's not just us three in the picture. Jocie is there. Not just to the side of me at the memorial but in the sunshine, the brilliant blue sky, the wonderful powder surrounding us and in our hearts. Her laughter echoes in my head and heart as I move through the powder.

Not a day goes by that I don't think about her and what she has taught me about life. I believe with my whole heart that Friday was such a wonderful day because Jocie was there skiing right next to us.

As I look at the backside of Beaver and soak it all in I feel peace all around me. This is part of my backyard that has many memories that hold the laughter of three young girls skiing like there is no tomorrow. A blond, redhead, and brunette filled the silence with gut busting laughter and smiles.

And at the end of the day when my arms are ready to give out from pushing out of Spring Road back to Little Beav, I can't help the giddy feeling for next Saturday to come so we can ski some more. Someone once told me "Go Big or Go Home" and I hope to live by that for as long as I'm alive.