Starting my second degree and a new hobby

I've started in on two new things recently - my pre-med requirements and barefoot running.

The first new thing, my premed requirements, is exciting but looking difficult. I think I'm going to enjoy the content of these classes more than my teaching classes. It's really different then teaching, even now at the beginning of the semester. With my teaching classes, we never had homework, but we always had a HUGE project looming over our heads. It seems in these classes we always have homework, but there isn't really a huge project. The reading load is lighter right now, but I think that might just be the difference between a 100 level course and a 400 level course.

The other new thing I've started is barefoot running. I've never been much of a runner, but both of my sibs are, and I look up to them. So, being the little sister I am I just had to copy them. I thought barefoot running sounded neat, and so I started with that. I really like it, I've had an easier time running every day than I used to (this isn't the first time I've tried to make a hobby of running). I've already upped my time from a 15 min mile to a 12 min mile (which is still slow, but I'm proud of the progress). Later this year I have tentative plans with my sister to participate in a color run, and I am way excited. The color run just looks so exciting, and it's definitely motivating to mentally be preparing for a race rather than running just to run. I've set a mental goal for myself (and I'm putting it here to force myself to stick to it) to someday run in the Disney Half Marathon. I just can't resist the idea of finishing a race, then getting a hug from Donald and a Donald Medal. It's definitely something worth working towards. Hopefully this dream keeps me running!

Drive Back from Chicago

Driving long distances always sparks interesting conversations. On the drive back from Chicago my dad and I reminisced about all of the times that my family made the long drives to and from Utah, and all the fun things we did. We talked about how fun it was to bop around on the way, and check out various roadside attractions. We left early enough in the morning that we had enough time to stop by at a roadside attraction, and made a quick stop in one of the little towns along the way. It was lots of fun.
First we stopped by a chocolate shop, The Chocolate Garden. Apparently there is an award winning chocolate shop in this small town in Michigan between East Lansing and Chicago. It was delicious.
After that, on our way out of town we noticed this neat metal dinosaur bones thing. It was great for photos.

Here I am with the raptors

And here I am with my favorite dino

And here is my dad with the T-rex

After taking lots of pictures with the dinosaurs we stopped in at the cider shop next door to the dinosaurs. They had this awesome bear on their front porch

Now, you can't see how awesome he is in this shot. He is COVERED in every famous bear. Even the less famous ones. I took close-ups of my favs. 

Little Jon, from Disney's Robin Hood

The Gummi Bears, from the show of the same title

annddd Fozzie Bear

They also had on there Teddy bear from "The Bear who Slept through Christmas" but apparently I forgot to take a close up of him!

It was a fun way to end a fun trip. 

Barrister's Ball

This post is happening a little late because things have been wild. I just finished my bachelors degree! but, getting there was very busy. These last few weeks have been a lot of work, but I have to say I'm excited to move on to the next step (even if it is more school).

Anyway, going back a few weeks, I went to Chicago with my dad to go to the barrister's ball with Eric. It was awesomely fun. One of the most exciting aspects of the barrister's ball for me was the opportunity to wear my grandmother's dress. Way back when my grandmother designed and sewed a beautiful pink dress. She had the opportunity to wear it once when she was young. When I was in middle school I fit into it perfectly, and made plans to wear it to high school dances, but when high school came around I put on weight, and the dress didn't fit. We packed it away figuring the opportunity was lost. Over the last few years I've lost weight, and when I was deciding what to wear to the ball my mom remembered the dress, we figured with the weight I'd lost I just might fit. It was a bit of a squeeze, but I was so happy to be able to wear it.

Here I am in the dress:

And a shot of Eric and I together:

This is inside of the River East Art Center, where the dance took place

It was a really beautiful venue. You can see the fountain behind us here, and if you went up to the second floor, you could walk out onto a balcony that overlooked the river:

However, by the time we were taking pictures it had gotten dark, so you can't really see the river behind us. 

So, it was a really great time. 

I am so grateful to Eric for taking me, and to my Grandma, for letting me wear her dress. Thanks you guys!!

Family Birthday and Easter

I celebrated my birthday with my family easter weekend. We got a Fudgie the Whale but I didn't take any pictures (of course). We also celebrated by dying easter eggs, since it was easter weekend after all. It was fun to dye eggs with my sister and her kids. My boyfriend came over as things were winding down, and he tried his hand at dying eggs for the first time. Here are some pictures of the eggs (note, we dyed about three dozen, I only kept and took pictures of the ones me and my boyfriend dyed).

Here are all my favorite eggs

I forged the signatures of two of my favorite Disney characters on two of the eggs. 

My sister and I both had elaborate eggs which we dipped in multiple dyes, this one was mine.
I might have made three eggs somewhat like this and failed all three times.

This is our MSU egg. Eric and I kind of made this one together
At least I think we did...

This is one that Eric made

and this egg was actually made a few weeks ago at my field placement
but if I'm showing off dyed eggs, I want this guy in here too. 

Dinner with the Missionaries

I had the pleasure tonight of having the Sister Missionaries over for dinner tonight. I meant to take a picture or two, but I enjoyed the conversation so much it totally slipped my mind. It was exciting for me to have the sisters over for a few reasons:

1. Despite being 22 years old, I have never had dinner guests over before and done all the cooking myself. I usually have a friend bring something, or have someone help me in the kitchen

2. I have never had the missionaries over for a meal outside of my parent's house before

So, this was kind of neat. Something worth remembering. If only I had taken those pictures....

I tried a new recipe that I highly recommend, found it over at Tara Cooks

Salted Caramel Fondue

I like to look for rainbows..

That song was one of my favorites as a kid.

The day after my birthday this year was rainy, and a little gloomy. While I was outside, the song suddenly came to my mind and I looked up to see:

a double rainbow. 

It was a pretty neat experience. One of those little moments where I got to see God's presence in my life. 

22nd Birthday

My birthday was a few days ago. Things have been so wild that I didn't have too much time to celebrate yet. I'm planning on celebrating with my family in a few weeks. On my actual birthday my mom came out for a visit and took me out for dinner. She also brought presents for me with her, which was exciting. She gave me a copy of The Muppets on DVD and Bluray. Expect another post about family birthday later!

On top of an awesome visit from my mom Eric sent me  flowers, which are beautiful, and mostly purple!



and my sweet Ferdie Bunny got all dolled up in purple bows for me

Granted, she did this against her will, for treats

All in all, despite the busy work week, I had a pretty wonderful muppety birthday!