Oh, The Places Mama Has Gone!

My oh my, how things have changed!! But I suppose it has been about 4 months...my bad!

Well I finished up my student teaching in a second grade class. And boy did I love it. To start off,  I had the BEST mentor teacher. I was her first student teacher and the first week I remember how nervous she was about being good enough for me. Silly teacher, she was everything I needed! She is an amazing teacher: she knows her students, loves her students, is patient, hard working, and a team player. And those are just a few things. And heavens my second graders were just plain ADORABLE!!!! I had so many good times with those kiddos. They were quite the characters. And they just made me feel so loved. I definitely had my challenges during student teaching. I had to try and keep up with work and let me tell you by Friday night I was always EXHAUSTED.

And unfortunately the day that I was to have my last BYU observation I got in a car accident on my way to school. On the freeway. And my first baby, my little Yaris, was totaled. To say the least it only increased my stress in my life. But on that day I was reminded that I have so many people in my life that love and care about me. First off, my dad: who answered my hysterical phone call. Let's just say I was crying like crazy and pretty much hyperventilating. My mentor teacher: who told me to not even worry about it, she had the day covered (I was teaching all day at this point so she didn't have my lesson plans and whatnot). She also had the kids write me letters and they were so cute and hilarious. The tow-truck driver: he want just too nice and helped me calm down. We discussed education on the way!  My brother-in-law: who rescued me from where they towed me, took me to breakfast, and called the insurance company for me (yeah...I was still trying to compose myself at this point) Austin: who left his classes and showed up with flowers, my favorite treats and drink. He then proceeded to spend the day with me, took me to get my rental, treated me to lunch and just kept me company (spoiled much? yes I definitely was). Well following my lovely accident my last observation was rescheduled. And I proceeded to finish student teaching!! It was such a remarkable feeling to walk out of the school that day and know that I had finished everything and was done with college! But, I was definitely sad when I had to say bye to my class.


On my last day of student teaching aka college I was also able to go to my first JAZZ GAME!!

It was awesome! I officially became a fake fan on that day. I picked #15, my boy Derrick Favors, because I thought he was pretty cute! Turns out he is also pretty good at basketball ;) Let's just say this was my first game but definitely not the last.

Did I mention that the Jazz game was also my first official date with this guy?

Meet Austin. He's my boyfriend. 

I mentioned him earlier in this post and also in this post from a while back. Basically we've worked together for a couple years and we've always been really good friends. We never hung out outside of work though until this past February. That first night we hung out we watched a movie and somehow accidentally ended up cuddling (oops! I didn't mean for it to happen! hahaha) And then we kept hanging out and I could tell that he liked me (and I had just a little inside information) but I was trying to pull the friend card. But it doesn't help when you are best friends and you want to be hanging out all the time. And when your best friend happens to be a cute boy that will cuddle sometimes what is a single girl supposed to do? So to say I messed with his head a little bit in the beginning is an understatement. But boy if their is one thing I know about Austin it's how persistent he can be. Always willing to help me with school stuff, bring me dinner, bring a movie, keep me company, make me promise to wait and watch TV with him, offer interview advice, etc. I mean how do you say no to a cute boy willing to do so much for you?!?! And the whole time I just wanted to pretend like we were just friends and that would be that....yeah that lasted only about 2 weeks! haha


Everything changed for me on April 1st when he spent all day with me and my family. By the end of the night I was finally starting to admit to myself that I had feelings for him and wanted to be more than friends.  But that night when we hugged goodbye I was still unsure of what to think! Did I really want to chance ruining another friendship by trying to date? We all  know how it's failed in the past. And Austin just seemed too good to be true. But I think what scared me the most was that I knew if I let myself fall for Austin it would happen and happen quickly. So really what I was asking myself was am I ready to fall in love and can I handle the consequences if it didn't end up working?


So like all things in life I was waiting for someone else to tell me what to do. I mean he had met my mom and dad so maybe they would step in and show me what was wrong about Austin and then I would be able to say no to him/myself. But talking on the phone with my mom all she said was how nice he was and funny. Well that didnt help! That only encouraged me more. (No offense to my mom but usually she is good at warning me about the faults in certain guys I've liked).


So, the next night we were together again watching a movie and cuddling...of course. And the whole time all I wanted to do was kiss him. And up until that day I had never before really considered it. I decided to take that as my sign that I was ready to take the risk and fall for Austin.  So I did the whole staring at him thing and just smiling. But I was getting nothing. Stubborn boy! hahaha Then I decided I was going to say something about it but then I chickened out. Only problem was he caught me and forced me to tell him what I was about to say (he had a gun to my head, what was I going to do???) So that's when I took matters into my own hands (fessed up) and kissed him! 


The rest is history ;) 


Now we've spent many days together and nights going out. And we've had our share of some fun adventures here and there.

Jazz Game

Bees Game! 

Pentatonix Concert

(So amazing)

Went to see Aladdin at Tuacahn

Hiking the Narrows at Zion's

Pretty much we just have a lot of fun with each other. It's nice and easy dating your best friend. I'm living the good life :) And boy does he treat me like a princess. Good thing I treat him like a prince!

Unfortunately, Austin is too good of a person. He decided to spend the summer (2 months) in Africa helping out at an orphanage and hospital. 

Okay confession....when I said he decided I should admit to the fact that he decided based on my persuading and advice. Remember earlier when I said that I kept pulling the friend card?? Well at the time that Austin was trying to decide what to do for the summer I was still trying to convince myself that we were just friends. And because he was so persistent and I didn't know what to do I may have said that he should definitely go to Africa. I tried to say it was because he loved it so much last year and he would regret it if he didn't. Truth be told I was also being selfish and thinking it would be my way out. Austin admits that he finally decided to and that he figured it would be the time he needed to get over me.

So back to Austin being in Africa...He is amazing like that. He brought over a bag full of medical supplies and gifts for the kids. He spends his days playing, talking, teaching and loving many children who are far from their own families. Thankfully we have only one month left to go! Now we communicate through emails and Skype. And when I say Skype this is what usually happens....

We spend 20 of the 30 minutes just trying to get the call to go through. To say I miss him is an understatement. It was definitely a big change going from seeing each other everyday to emails and Skyping (when it works). But it is worth it because of all the good he is doing. He makes me proud, that's for sure :)

Here are a few things that I love about Austin

1. He works harder than any other guy I've met.

2. He loves his family.

3. He is a gentleman...he always opens my doors and treats me like a girl should be treated.

4. His smile and handsome looks.

5. He hates foods he has never tried.

6. His dancing abilities...or lack of ;)

7. He makes me smile constantly.

8. He is always willing to help anyone and everyone.

9. He always reminds me that I'm beautiful.

10. He's stubborn. In a good way :)

11. He surprises me when I least expect it.

12. He loves children and does pretty well with them (only makes them cry every once in while...on accident of course).

13. He gives good advice.

14. He gives even better massages.

15. He makes me laugh.

16. He is willing to try and do new things.

17. He listens to me and remembers everything.

18. He takes care of me on my bad days, sick days and good days (so everyday).

19. He is technology challenged.

20. He dresses well....on most days ;)

Most of all he's my best friend who loves me and makes me happier than I have ever been.

(Yep, you have my permission to make fun of how mushy that all was! But it's true and I'm not afraid to admit how much I care about him!)

So, in between dating and finishing up student teaching I graduated college! It was so surreal. Haven't seen any of the pictures my sister took from that day so I can't really include any on here...sorry...maybe some time in the future! Just know that mama looked good!!! haha Mostly it was my cute new outfit (skirt and high heels).

The heels...ignore my sister's messy room :)

Following graduating I got to go on an amazing graduation trip to San Francisco (thanks mom and dad!) with all the girls in my family!! It was so much fun with everyone there. We explored the city like crazy. Drove around in a limo, rode bikes across the golden gate, got fat eating Ghirardelli's chocolate, visited Alcatraz,  walked too many crazy hills, rode in a glass elevator, explored a farmer's market, and much much more.

Limo ride through the city!

(courtesy of Coley)

The ferry ride to/from Alcatraz

All of us on Lombard Street the first Afternoon

Before our biking adventure!

On the Golden Gate Bridge

After graduating and vacationing it was time to start stressing about finding a job and what not. Pretty sure I got a few gray hairs from it all. My first interview was close to where I would be living for a first grade position but I didn't get it. Sad day. My second interview was at the school I had just finished student teaching in and for a second grade position and.... I GOT IT!!! Within an hour after the interview the principal called me and officially offered me the position. I was freaking out! And soo excited. So I will be a real teacher starting July 25, 2012. I will be teaching at a year round school which has pros and cons but I'm ready for them all.

So now that I have a job and some sort of a plan for life I've been trying to enjoy my summer days (as much as I can without Austin, that is).

I do a lot of this...

...laying out and playing at the local water park (yay for a season pass!)

A lot of this...

...free time = reading time!

Eating a lot of these...

...the most delicious snow cones ever.

Oh and did I mention...MAMA GOT A NEW CAR!!!

Me and my Chevy Equinox. It's a beauty and I love it.

Tomorrow is my last shift at Cinemark. So after 3 1/2 years I will end my time selling tickets, scooping popcorn, sweeping up popcorn and yelling at employees ;) I have made so many friends that are basically family now because of that job. There have been highs and lows but overall I could not have asked for a better job during my college days. 

Well, I think that about covers the last 4 months of my life. Obviously there are many more moments that have occurred but I've tried to successfully cover the big ones!