2008. 50 Best Things

1. Moving out of Chapman and into Tuscany with my own bedroom, five other awesome girls (both semesters) and having access to a kitchen all the time. It's awesome.

2. Deciding on a major that works and I really like it! This is a big step. I think I'm more happy with this major than I was with any of my previous ones. Technically it's University Studies, but I've got a cluster in Spanish Literature and a cluster in English Literature, so I'm really a Literature major. With a ballroom dance minor. Bomb.

3. Ending the dumbest relationship ever. I don't think there was a good reason I got into it in the first place. It was tough and the situation wasn't ideal (or good in any way, shape, or form) but we both made it through in one piece. At least I did.

4. Being the Ward Chorister. When I was called, I was terrified. This is one of the few callings I've always thought would be horrible and never ever wanted it, but I was called and I made the commitment to do well. I learned a lot. I'm glad I had that calling.

5. Lunch with Stefanie for a second time. It was lovely. Keep your fingers crossed for next year.

6. The birth of my nephew, Seth Hermansen, in August. I'm glad I was able to be around to see him during his first weeks of life. He's the most adorable baby you've ever seen. I love the kid to bits.

7. Moving back into our house (a work in progress....)! After living in a tiny rental for nine months (...three for me, I was at school for six months), being back home is wonderful. All the late nights my mom stayed up to plan everything for this house have paid off; it's beautiful.

8. Thanksgiving week. Disneyland, Hollywood, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Malibu. It was awesome. I'm glad that I was able to take Eryn around Southern California and it was so fun. Whatever money I spent, it was worth it.

9. New Years Day and seeing Juno with Carly and Daniel. We snuck cider into the theater and then had an extra bottle when we left the theater and were in the car. I opened it and it made a huge mess. It went everywhere. It was awesome. I smelled like cider for forever.

10. Single Adult Volleyball. Even though it ended in April, it was so fun while it lasted. If it started up again, I'd go.

11. Samuel Huse. All around, one of the greatest guys I have ever met. Thanks for being the way you are.

12. Opening day at Dodger Stadium. Sandy Koufax threw the first pitch and it was awesome. I'm glad my Dad chose me to share that experience.

13. Bowling nights in Simi, at least the first ones. We had a lot of fun. We changed the bowling names to be really stupid or offensive and made fun of each other for bowling horribly.

14. Having Randi as a roommate and best friend. She's awesome. I can't WAIT to see her again in April!

15. Español con Señora Peck para dos semestres. Loved those classes (just not the insane amounts of homework in 201...)

16. ROY JONES. Awkward, awesome old man.

17. Hair experiments. Hair cuts and hair dye. Shorter, layered hair. Failed attempt to dye my hair black (glad it didn't work out), and purple hair. Awesome purple hair.

18. Having a car in Rexburg. It made everything that much better. Plus, Jack is the best.

19. Some experiences with the spirit that were so amazing, I can't even put them into words.

20. Love notes on paper air planes. Also, no sceens in our windows so we could throw them out the window and make passing boys pick them up.

21. Fish! Walter, Death Bumps, Roy Jones, and the rest. I loved them.

22. Being hypnotized in my psychology class. It was amazing. I want to do it again. Soooo relaxing!

23. Eryn. Freaking. Tupper. Why were we not better friends when we both lived in Chapman? Seriously. I love you.

24. Breakfast at iHop with muh muh muh Michael Ross! It's an awesome tradition. We need to do it again before you leave for school in January.

25. Phase Ten with our FHE brothers. We played a ridiculous amount. I think we only finished once.

26. Stepping up and dealing with things I don't want to deal with. I may not like the way some things go and how some people act, but not everything in the world is fine and dandy. Not everyone has respect for other people. Sometimes we have to do things and say things we don't really want to.

27. Being a part of that western movie. It was cold, the dance was silly, and the costumes were really silly, but it was really fun. I'm excited to see how it turned out.

28. The Dodger Game on May 23. Bottom of the ninth, one out followed by an hour long rain delay. We were wet. Dodgers lost. It was so much fun. Actually, Memorial day weekend, all around. I forgot how perfect it was.

29. Ingrid Michaelson CDs. I own two of her three. I'm in love with her songs. LOVE.

30. Adventures to IF. Going to Walmart all night, Denny's, iHop, Target, fireworks. Everything. IF is where the party is.

31. Owing pizza and getting pizza when someone else owed it. I like the tradition.

32. The Beatles Tribute Concert during the summer semester! It was SO so very fun! The band was great and it was so awesome.

33. Pregnant dreams. Even though they weirded me out to the max, having those dreams was pretty memorable. I can remember almost every single dream.

34. Growing up and realizing that I am growing up. Taking everything that's happened over the past years has made me realize what kind of person I am and what I need to work on. I'm improving, I think. I like where I'm at. I don't mind growing up.

35. The fantastic day trip to Rigby Lake that ended up being a trip to the Teton Hot Springs. That was SO much fun, ladies.

36. Dance classes. Both of them. They were so much fun. Seriously.

37. The Salt Lake trip! Driving around late, the McClarens (sp?), Temple Square, ihop, the hotel with the really awful shower and creepy guys in the pool. Sleeping in Bern in the trailer on our way there and stopping at Uncle Rod's on the way home. What a great weekend. Seriously.

38. The fourth of July spent at Island Park. Camping, the Indian name game, star gazing, riddles, water skiing and almost killing that canoe with the tube, never have I ever...

39. All of the songs that forever make me think of driving on the 20 towards IF.

40. Taking naps at Porter Park. SO fun! We saw someone propose, Eryn helped me in a desperate time of need, we ate lots of good food, and did practically no homework.

41. Halloween and all the different parties we went to. It made getting those teeth and contacts totally worth it.

42. Frontier Pies and Pushing Daisies. Also, The Fall. ANYTHING that has to do with Lee Pace and his gorgeousness.

43. All the lunches spent with my mom and sister and niece (and the few after Seth was born). I love being so close with them.

44. Reconnecting with Vince. It was unexpected and still a little surreal and weird, but it's nice to not have that wedge between us. Just goes to show that things that end so horribly can eventually be fixed.

45. Finally fitting in as one of the adults. I understand why the adults hang around the dinner table after everyone is done eating. I get to join in on the more mature conversations and I fit. I'm really a big kid now :)

46. Having 22 journals and a blog in progress for transferring them all over to the internet (under an assumed name)

47. Bowling at the Rex and befriending all the employees there. After a while, the bowling got to be a little lame, but being with those people and being somewhere familiar was really fun.

48. Finding the self motivation to really work hard the last half of Fall semester. I didn't do fantastically, but compared to my midterm grades, I was able to bring every grade up. I worked hard and missed out on several opportunities to hang out and have fun with my best friends.

49. Dances. Dance parties (like Halloween, blacklight, At. Anthony) and formal dances (Fall Formal, Preference, both social dance formals). They were all tons and tons of fun. I love dancing.

50. Overall being able to be happy. Finding out what makes me happy and what I want from life. I think I learned a lot about myself this year. It's been good. I'm very happy.