Happy 20th, Ms. Alexandra!

I have this really great friend named Alex.
It's her birthday today and she is now 20.
The big two-zero.
Alex and I met in our sophomore choir class at Mountain View. We were both altos. We sat next to each other. Apparently my first question to her was if she knew Ashli Bear- why? Neither of us will ever know. However, we talked and became friends at a pretty good rate but, it wasn't until my phone went off in class that our friendship was cemented. You see, my ringtone was India Arie's "There's Hope" and Alex, being an India Arie fan, instantly recognized it and accepted me as her friend. Thank goodness- I dunno what I'd do without this girl in my life.

Alex has always been such an amazing friend to me and through the years, our friendship has only grown. It's been so fun to live with her this year and I'm so grateful for everything she does for everyone in the apartment. She makes us laugh, cooks yummy food, puts on crazy dance parties, and keeps us up to date on the happenings of the world. Not to mention her mad tap skills that keep us all moving and grooving (yup, I just said that). I seriously love Alex with a large majority of my heart. I'm glad she always has my back and talks sense into me when I'm being totally nonsensical. She is the Elizabeth Bennett in my life.

Happy Birthday, Ms. Alexandra! Hope that this 20th year of life is everything you want it to be!

Love always,
Ems

First Day of School- BYU style.

I'm about to buy a hundred dollar online French program (thanks mom and dad) for my French class so I thought before I got frustrated by how much money these darn textbook people are making off all us college students, I'd blog about the first day.

Here are our first day outfits! And no, we did not mean to match... We're just such good friends that it happened.

Other exciting news is that we have plants, and they're named. After fictional characters. Yes. I'll tell you how this came about. You see, we wanted plants for our room to make it feel more homey so Becca's Omi, the very wonderful grandma that she is, brought us three plants. Now, obviously the plants have personalities so it was only a matter of figuring out their personalities and naming them. And then..... finding "Hello my name is...." name tags. So, when we walked into our ward social tonight and saw that our bishop had "Hello my name is..." tags, we jumped in happiness and asked him if we could have three name tags to name our plants. He kindly obliged us, while wearing his Converse All-Stars (which gained him 20 cool points). Needless to say, we love our bishop, and our plants, and our bishop's wife who heard our plant story and had a plant story of our own to tell us. So, I introduce to you tonight, (from left to right) Heathcliff, Javert, and Mr. Collins.

Obviously, Heathcliff is the wild one, Javert the strong one, and Mr. Collins the weakling that we're not sure will survive very long. We love our literature.

In other exciting news, Alex sneaked caffeinated DP onto campus today. We love her.
Looking unsuspicious....

 Inside the BYU bag... So heathen.

And, Becca's aunt brought us a First Day of School package- from the Sweet Tooth Fairy. I haven't tasted anything yet but it sure looks delicious. And greatness of the day, the second counselor of our bishopric knows the owner! Very exciting. 

And here is the most exciting news- I'm not kidding. In our ward social, we played speed dating. As we went around, Becca and I were partners (because there are twice as many girls in our ward as boys- boo) and we got to a boy named Seann. We asked him his favorite chick-flick and he said.... PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. It is possible. And if he were taller, I'd be in love. But guys, it's possible: men can like Pride and Prejudice.

And that warms my heart.

Love always,
Ems

Oh Ya!

I graduated! ............. A week ago.... I know I'm slow on the posting but sometimes, I just would rather read other people's blogs than write my own. Anyone know that feeling?  Well, here comes a slew of pictures and stories behind the pictures so.... "Seat belts everyone! (honk, honk)" (that was a magic schoolbus reference if you missed it)

First off, we have the Choir Banquet. 

(captions will be below the pictures.

 I am always confused about where to put the captions...

 so i'm clarifying ahead of time... ONWARD!)

Calista Brianne Whipple. Love her. 

My phone calls her Calista BRIAN Whipple... 

Gets me every time.

 My life Support through High School.

Becca, Lindsey, Alex, Caroline, Me and Calista.

The Girls.

So lucky to be have 6 (Hannah isn't in choir but we still count her)

Girlfriends who are all so close.

 NAMOI!!! 

Choreographers of the year! 

What an adventure it was to that award...

Three am choreography sessions not advised...

Ever.

 The parentals.

Gotta love them.

ONWARD!

Baccalaureate!

 Oh... You get one picture I guess.

Be thankful- we took hundreds.

The Party Gang!

Me, Zack, Morgan, and Zac

(it's a Zac(k) sandwich!!)

ONWARD!

Seminary Graduation.

Ya know what's funny?

My seminary diploma is bigger than my actual diploma.

Is that supposed to mean something?

 Three Amigos:

Jessika, Morgan and Me.

Been friends with this girls since Land Before Time was cool.

I'd do anything for them.

 Family! 

YAY!

 The Former Greenfield Ward Girls.

We were ward buds from age 4 until April and then we got separated.

It was tragic, but good.

 All of old Greenfield! 

Love that second family.

 Three Amigos and Madres.

I really love this picture.

ONWARD!

Actual Graduation (Finally).

 My Daddy. 

Words can't describe how much I love him.

But I think this picture does an almost successful rendering.

 The Movie Watching Friends.

We like to watch chick flicks together- a lot.

They're great and living a floor above Becca and I at the Y!

(With the 32 inch tv Lindsey won at the bowling party- boohya)

 The attack hug from my very best friend,

Mr. Zack Jarvis.

I love this picture.

 Still hugging....

 Oh, the cheese.

How precious.

 Zac(k) Sandwich! 

Again.

I love both these boys. 

Such amazing friends.

I interrupt this slew of picture for a story about these two.

Here's how this worked. I grabbed both of them before they had really seen each other and we took the above picture. Right after, they turned to each other and gave the biggest hug and both started crying. I was fine (no tears) until I saw this and then I cried. It was so sweet. They've been the greatest friends to one another and since Zack is going to BYU and Zac is staying her at ASU, they know it's kinda the end. But true friendship isn't ruined by milage so I know they'll always be friends.

Continuing...

 The Girls.

 My Little Sister- Jordynn. 

Second time I cried that night.

(hence my funky eyes)

I love Jordynn with all my heart and not being able to see her every day next year is going to be so hard. However, I know that her senior year will be everything amazing and wonderful and then she can join me up at BYU. Love her.

 Jonathan Lane Sanders.

My Carl at Sadie's and one of the greatest guys I've ever met. 

And my secret crush (not really so secret, actually) all through Jr. High and High School.

He's so stink cute and nice.

 Allysun Taylor.

My poster prodigy child and poster nazi team member.

I'll miss her like crazy 

but neither of us will miss Ms. Scott. 

muwahaha

 Morgan!

Did you know that we had matching night gowns when we were little?

Both our grandmas got them for us and we didn't know we had matching ones (no our grandmas didn't plan it) until we had a sleepover one night. Just proves we were meant to be best friends for life.

My all-time favorite teacher: Tdag, Tmaster, Tswizzle, TdiggityDawg

Dr. Temme.

I had to go hunt him down in the orchestra room to get a picture with him- he's the only teacher I wanted one with. He has made such a difference in my life and I'm seriously going to miss his lame yet funny jokes and super dry humor. 

He's on my wedding invitation list and he better come.

Wow. Sorry that was the longest post in the history of posts. 

I'll reflect on everything later.

(possibly)

Love always,

Ems

14 Days of Love: Day 4

On this fabulous Fourth day of February, I love...

The Girl right in front...

Alexandra Crandall.

Today, being her birthday, it is only natural that I love her. Here are the top ten reasons why:
1. Alex loves to go get ice cream, and watch chick flick after chick flick. Girls need a friend like that.
2. Alex is the most amazing dancer- I'm so glad she's continued dance through high school so that I can still enjoy my favorite art form.
3. Her piano skills are madness. Seriously, you have to see it to believe it.
4. She has a youtube video! Click here to see it. Having a friend on youtube makes me feel five zillion times cooler.
5. Alex was converted to the love of Jane Austen: I love all Jane Austen converts.
6. She will always listen to my crazy boy stories. And she gives me advice which I should follow but normally don't...
7. When I don't, she's still right there for me, helping me through and making me feel loved.
8. She and I are book exchangers which = awesomeness.
9. Alex teaches me a lot about life... which is something I need in my little mesa bubble.
10. Alex is a best friend that I will forever cherish.

And that is why I love Alexandra. So, Happy Birthday to her! :)

Love Always,
Ems

What I've been doing...

Holy Crazy Busy Summer.  But so fun. So, picture recap. :) Plus a few funny short stories. :)
First: Pizza Making Party & Failed Dive-in Movie.

 Adam Caught in the act of creating....

THIS. Ingredients?

Pizza Dough Base

Peanut Butter Sauce

Chocolate Chips squished in

Lovely Chocolate Smiley Face Topper

All cooked on a pizza grill stone.....

What do you think?

Good? Bad? or Uggggly?

Spencer Thatcher on left with Spencer Smith on right looking ravishing after jumping in my bath tub of a pool waiting for the movie. 

Funny Story:

So it was super windy with a possibility of rain that night but my father and I sent up the movie anyways crossing our fingers it would all turn out. So we cook the pizzas and chat and all the sudden-gaghom! Wind storm. Movie Screen blown down. So I send everyone inside to watch a movie and right as Spencer Smith and I finish cleaning up the electronics and screen, the sky clears up and the wind stops. Like really?! Only at my party. We enjoyed the movie indoors nonetheless. :)

Number Two: Connor's Farewell in Utah

Story First.

Sunday my mom wakes me up with this

"We're going over to Brad and Amy's to clean Brad's office because he stepped on a pitchfork and is going to the E.R."

um.... What?

So we went over and cleaned the office to help Amy get ready for the open house after church (note, bad idea to make open house RIGHT after church). And yes, my uncle Brad did step on a Rusty picthfork and it jammed right inbetween his pinkie toe and other toe and guess what? It became a staph infection. Hours before his son's farewell address. We all just figured he was hungry for attention.

Monday night we set off fireworks for my Uncle Bart's Birthday

That's Connor standing probably 2 feet away from the firework....

he payed eventually and got burnt by one of the flames. 

But that's my cousins for ya.

the aftermath

Kiersha after summersaulting up and down my grandma's lawn.

Third: Girls' Camp.

We learned 'The Booty Bump'. Nuff said.

F

Fourth: Goodwill Shopping in Scottsdale with Alex and DeAnne.

Um... hi. I LOVE Goodwill.

Like seriously, it's 

da bomb.

Items purchesed:

ADORABLE super vintage green dress. $10

I'm in love.

Guess Side Purse. $4

2 Totally vintage necklaces. $3 each

It's the best place ever. 

 oh... and we bought these....

 Aren't they amazing?! 

Alex and I thought we'd bring the knee boot into style....

JOKE.

We found them in Off 5th (the saks outlet) and died a little bit of how totally ridiculous they were. We just had to try them on. You know how that goes....hopefully.

Seventh: Scrabble with the Zac(k)s Jordynn and Alex.

This is Zack Jarvis. 

This is his favorite pose.... 

his poor wife.

Alex calculating the score and the rest of us looking....

well, a bit off our rocker.

The End Result (upside-down, my bad)

Only Scrabble game I've ever played with ALL the letters used up!

Sixth: CRAFT DAY with my dear Namoi!

Need I say more?! :)

Nams was in HEAVEN in this place-no joke.

We made a Mcedee's stop after for the best combo ever....

ice cream twist cones and french fries.

tell me we're unhealthy and I'll say....

we're young. :)

(p.s. do you like her 'stach?)

Last but not Least: Shootin' guns with the fame and JORDY!

 Couldn't she totally be Bond's sexy assistant?!

i LOVE this girl

with all my heart! 

And bees love her too.... 

We had a bee that followed us around the entire time!

And it especially loved Jordynn...

Which when a bee is chasing jordynn and she's holding the pistol in her hand....

it get a bit scary. haha

don't  worry we're all safe still. :)