Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

Well, can't say I didn't warn you I was bad at updating things. Anyway, so its almost a new year and with a new year comes resolutions. Let's just say that I have quite a few this year. One of them is to keep up with my blog. We will see how well that goes!

So to catch you up.... I just ended my sophomore semester at UK. It was a great semester! Other than working a lot and finding myself stressed out quite often, I had a blast! At the beginning of the semester I decided to try out for club volleyball. I hadn't been very good at keeping up with my exercise so I thought it would be good for me. Plus, I missed it a lot! I am so glad I did it. At first I was a little intimidated because it had been awhile since I played and all the girls are really good. It is not fun feeling washed up. So, I had to put in a lot of hard work but in the end it paid off. I really love all the girls on the team. There is just something about sports that can bring people together and I love it. Of course, with that many girls and that many opinions, there is going to be some drama. But, I'm used to it. I have learned that the more you run from it, the more it follows you. You just have to deal with it with as much class as you can muster.

This semester I really enjoyed my classes. I have started to get into my prerequisite education classes that introduce you to lesson plans and incorporate teaching methods while still teaching you material. I took geology for teachers, math for teachers, art education, philosophy, and western literature. I loved my math class. Yes, the girl who hates math just said that. I have come to realize that I actually like math. It is nice to know that there is a definite answer to something. When I heard the name of the course I thought it was going to be adding and subtracting and that it would be an easy A, but I was wrong. In this class, we had to explain why different mathematical procedures work and how we would explain it to children who don't get it through traditional explanations. I learned so much in this course and actually really enjoyed it. I think it was also because of my awesome teacher! The only class that I struggled with was western lit. English just is not my favorite. I did discover, though, that I really liked Dante's Inferno. I did manage to keep my 4.0 this semester! Pretty exciting. We will see how long I can keep it though. I really want to try to graduate early and graduate with a 4.0. Those are some high aspirations though.

This semester I also realized that it sucks working at a coffee shop in the library of a college. Talk about sleep deprived students during finals week. UGH. But I have to say, I am pretty lucky when it comes to my job. I work with the greatest people who have become some of my best friends. I have learned so much through my job. Sounds corny, I know, but its true. I've learned to give people a chance. I have a tendency to judge right of the bat if I like someone or not. But, this semester, I realized that it you take some time to get to know people, they will surprise you.

If I had to put a theme song to this semester, it would be Lessons Learned by Carrie Underwood (one of my favorites : ) ) I learned that I love to cook. I have tried to get better and cook as much as possible. Through this I also learned that even a little bit of smoke can set of the smoke detectors, if you don't use eggs, the flour will fall right of the fried chicken, and that I will never know how my mom worked all day then came home and made delicious dinners for us every night growing up. Thanks mom.

I have learned that no matter how good of friend you try to be, you won't always get the same in return. But, that doesn't mean you give up trying. People will disappoint you, but they can also surprise you. It is just important to learn who your friends are and don't fret so much over what people say and do. You have to learn how to not get offended and take things people say with a grain of salt. I think everyone in our life serves a purpose, and sometimes they aren't meant to be around forever.

And lastly I learned how important and amazing family is. You know that saying, you don't know what you've got til its gone? Well, its true. I think I took quality family time for granted while my parents lived in Lexington. Now that my parents are in Charleston, I find myself sitting at home wishing they were there more often then not. I look forward each month to my mom's visits to Lexington and at times I contemplate jumping in the car and driving the 9 hours to see them. Also, my sister Meghan was on an LDS mission in Boise, Idaho for the past year and a half. I could only email her once a week to talk to her. It was no fun even though she was loving it. But, our Christmas present this year was that she got to be home with us! It was so exciting getting to see her and hang out with her. It was like nothing had changed. We still giggle and make stupid jokes, and of course we still argue. But it is awesome having our family together.

Christmas has been great. I think it was because I didn't care as much about the presents. Instead, I cared about hanging out with the family in our new home in Charleston. It has been more than I expected. We have had fun playing games, shopping, and of course eating. My mom got a wii for Christmas. We joke that they waited until the kids were out of the house before they got their first gaming system. We have been playing Just Dance 2. It is the most awesome game ever! I bet anyone looking in on us from the oustide is laughing hysterically. Mom kills us all at it. She rocks, even though she struggled alittle with the hiphop.

Well I guess that's all for now. I hope to blog atelast once a week. Let's see how it goes.

oh we can't forget the most important part of my blog: Lexcapades....

Lexie is doing great. To everyone who said, "Wow she is going to be huge," You were wrong. She is small. Who knows how a German Shepard/Huskey turned out to be a medium sized dog. She must have some sort of small dog in her. I am so curious that I have considered doing a DNA breed test on her. Maybe someday.

She is as quirky as ever. Her favorite things... Chewing gigantic bones, hiding bones, looking out the window, playing in the snow, going to the dog park, playing with her sister, and snuggling. She really is me in dog form. She is stubborn, free-spirited, caring, and sponateous. I don't know if I am biased, but I am pretty sure she is the best dog ever. She has her bad moments(chewing my window sill and occassionally running away) but she has the kindest heart and the funnest personality. Many people told me that she was going to be a lot of work and that I was going to regret it. I have been thankful for her every day. At times I have groaned when I had to get up in the middle of the night and take her out, but those moments when she sits by me when I am upset or does something silly to make me smile totally make up for it.

well, until next time...