summer never felt so GOOD.

So when I say summer.... I mean SPRING first and then summer. The first two months (May and June) of my "summer" I stayed at BYU to attend Spring semester. It was harder than I expected. I took 3 classes and was a TA for 2 classes. And not to mention, everyone was enjoying summer so it was hard to still be in school. But, looking back (of course) I am so grateful for the experience I had during spring semester. I had a short weekend break between Winter and Spring semesters so I jumped RIGHT back into the daily grind. I did not know any of my roommates, but luckily Parker and I both moved to the same apartment complex again (The Elms). I lived with 5 other girls and 4 of them were RMs! It was a cool experience and eye opening to see all variations of RMs! It was by far my favorite place I have lived in Provo and I look forward to going back there for Fall semester in a couple of days (CRAZY). The first week of Spring semester was SO tough. Once I got into my routine, I was fine and enjoyed it. I also ended up LOVING my ward and roommates. So this post is a recap and highlights from my summer! I tried to make it as sequential as possible. It might be a little choppy, but isn't that just life? Enjoy!

The first weekend of Spring started off with a bang with Jeff and Bre's wedding! I even wore the wedding colors. Love these 3 boys. They ALL feel like family to me. I really missed Ryan and Alex down in Provo this summer. It will be good to have the crew back this fall!

So comforting to reunite with my old roommates and now some of my very best friends at the wedding. Looking at these pictures reminds me of how I was feeling so uncertain about Spring classes and my roommates etc at the time.... little did I know, like mom always reminds me, it would ALL WORK OUT! :)

 

I have come to love this temple so much after my 2 years in Provo. Despite my busy college life, I make it a huge priority to attend the temple every single week. I cannot explain my love for the temple. It is a refuge from my anxieties and the world! It was beautiful to see all the scenery come alive after a dark, cold winter! 

 

Enjoying some tennis on a weekend with some classy kids. Nice to get some good weather! I am just "one of the bros" with parker's friends haha. I wouldn't trade it for anything though!---- except maybe to marry one of them... jk jk. 

 

Welcome to college and provo life. Parker and I went to my ward prayer and this was on the dessert table. Yes, look again, that is a piece of burnt toast with one bite taken out of it. I lost it. SO FUNNY.

 

My walk to and from campus was absolutely gorgeous during Spring semester. I LOVED it and tried to cherish it every day. It was a new route from my new apartment I had never taken before. The picture doesn't do it justice at all. Nature and pretty scenes like this help me feel God's love in a very special and distinct way!

 

  

 Another "ONLY at BYU" moment. We were in the middle of an RS presidency meeting (I had the wonderful opportunity to serve as the 2nd Counselor. My roommate, Jade, was the President!) and all the sudden these "service superheros" storm into our apartment. They were trying to clean and serve us.... but it seemed like they made it a little bit more messy. At least they took the trash out! haha

 

More weekend babysitting jobs! Mama shelbs was back in business this summer! Here are some pics of a weekend I spent with Gina Haraguchi (my cousin)'s kids!

 

Braiding hair! Lots of the girls I babysit, love that I know how to braid and want me to teach them! I don't mind getting my hair done either ;)

 

A fun "Where's Waldo" FHE activity. Doug and I did not plan to both dress up as parents, but together we looked pretty hilarious. People couldn't get over my outfit. A man in the mall thought I was REALLY pregnant and tried to give me money as a gift but I told him it was just a game. He was way embarrassed! So funny. Someday I will look like this....... can't wait. 

 

Oh, my major is fun. My classes during Spring were all for my EL ED major. And yes, that is a puppet I had to make for a class. Is this really school? Too good. 

 

More babysitting on the weekends! I just love my Desi Rae. She sure has a sweet tooth!

 

Watching the Ray girls! They are my favorite! 

 

And here's to my favorite summer activity: BOATING. What an amazing season we had with the Sunny D. We boated A LOT this summer and it was a dream come true. Mom and Dad were so generous and trusting to let us have the boat stored right next to Utah lake in Provo. Park and I became the boating dream team.

 

Matching without even planning..... Marsden power!

 

And as I've mentioned in previous posts, I will not have a post about college without at least 2 pictures from classic skating. Hold me to it. 

 

My roommate Jade and I. Nothing like popsicles on a summer night! We had an awesome FHE where we got to clean up all the flowers and decorations off the graves at the Provo cemetery from memorial day!

 

Face-timing with my girl Anna Joan! So grateful for technology.

 

My other roommate Rachel! We became SUCH good friends. We went on lots of "lady dates" as we would call them!

 

FHE bonfire! Adam (will talk about him later) was a little obsessed with roasting starbursts.

 

Rooftop concert! I love how many fun things are going on in the summer!

 

Park and I accidentally got matching shirts at the concert.... not a surprise though. TWINNNNNZ

 

  

Boating with the cutest little fam for Henry's Birthday!

 

They are growing up too fast. They were loving crazy tube rides this year!

Boater LYFE.

 

Taking Jaden and Char out on the boat! It was our last "get together" before Char left for her mission to Belgium!

 

Doug again. My spring semester fling :) Haha we had an awesome time one night riding bikes all around provo and down a big ramp from campus. 

 

My roommates tagged along ;)

This is Adam Wermus (the starburst roaster haha). What a champ! He is from VA doing his Master's Thesis here at BYU and lived at the Elms. He isn't a member and I had the awesome opportunity to get to be really good friends with him and sit in on missionary discussions with him. So grateful for the opportunities I have to be a member missionary! Please pray for him.

 

Nickel city with Doug for my last hoorah in Provo! Another thing that will ALWAYS be included in my college posts. 

 

My actual roommate Yina! She is gem. She went to school in SLC so she wasn't around much, but guys, random roommates do work out!! We didn't even have a picture together until my last day of Spring semester!

 

Two girls I befriended on the front runner ride home from Provo. I took the front runner a lot this summer and was grateful for the prompting I had to reach out to these two girls and let them come color with me. One of them reminded me of Marissa and it just broke my heart seeing the circumstances they live in. May we reach out to others, yes, but they taught me more that day about becoming like a child. :) They found joy and humor in the simplest things. I hope I can be more like my cute front runner friends!

 

More babysitting with the Ray's! A great welcome home from Spring semester and provo! They always beg me to take them to get slurpees!

 

And sno cones..... :)

THE DC FEATHIES came to town the same week I finished Spring semester. I was still babysitting the Rays, but tagged along with Shae and Rach's kids for a fun evening spent at the most random free carnival. It was awesome though!

 

Good to see these two together- boy power! They need some brothers... *hint hint*

 

The big hit of the night! The kids went down fully dressed haha!

 

Later, henry didn't have pants on from getting wet at the carnival and I thought it was hilarious. So I was saying "Captain Underpants" and he got so embarrassed. It was sad, but actually really hilarious hahah!

 

Em and Luke loving the power-wheel! 

 

.....and Desi just loved the donuts. HA!

 

The first weekend the Feathies were in town, I helped do Shae and Emmie's hair for Jama Featherstone's wedding. Emmie has grown up so much!

 

My gorgeous sister!

 

Charlee's Farewell! The original 4 of us from Liberty Square Apartments still left! Kylie and Aud are on missions too!

 

She will be fabulous. Love these 3!

 

BFFS ♥

 

And then, SCOT AND SARAH came in town a week after the Feathies! My summer just kept getting better and better. Sarah and I were twinning one night :)

 

We struggled to get a good pic!

 

And nothing was better than a sister slumber party! Seriously HILARIOUS. I am so grateful for these two amazing sisters. I am so lucky to be SO CLOSE to both of them. I wouldn't trade my relationships with them for anything. And they are so good to me and make me feel just as important and mature as them even though I am so much younger! We stayed up a little too late though... if ya can't tell ;)

 

Sweet baby Anna. I loved spending more time with her this summer! This was during a shopping spree Sar and I went on. Loved shopping with my cute sis!

 

Lucas Ben taking a peak into the future! We do love this new wakeboard we got this year by the way :)

Granny Jyl is the best!

 

Boating with the fam! SO FUN to have our first real family reunion this summer! It started on a Friday with boating at Pineview!

 

Scot and his batman chest hair. Too good.

 

  

A much better picture of the Marsden sisters!

 

And it was a little chilly.... these girls are seriously like the little sisters I never had! I wish I could explain to them how much I love them!

 

Seriously, are we twins? Mom? Dad?

The big ole Marsden laugh.  It's a talent!

 

Clones....

 

PJ and I shared the song we wrote this past year. It is very special to both of our lives and to our relationship. We have just grown closer and closer. So lucky he hasn't gotten married yet! hahahah

 

Then after a long day of boating, Rach and I camped outside on the lawn with the kids! Haha not sure how we got signed up to do that, but it was hilarious!

Saturday morning the reunion continued with fishing at the Kaysville ponds! These are my two babies! I feel like I have helped raise them!

 

Sunday was the closing of our reunion with Anna's beautiful baby blessing!

 

We sure missed Spen's family!

We also got to meet up with Skyler and Lindsey Marsden while Scot and Sarah were in town. It was fun to tag along and go to dinner with them and get gelato!

 

Having Shae's fam with us in Kaysville for almost 2 weeks was paradise! This claire bear had gotten so big! Her toddler talk is by far my favorite I have ever heard. 

 

Emmie liked to give me some fancy hair dos!

 

Game night at the Alexanders! 

 

The Feathies can't come to Utah and not go to the ZOO!

Cutest little cousins!

 

Caution: Do NOT try this at home. ***For experienced Aunt's only*** 

 

My girls!

 

Some random adventures in Rach's basement. The kids loved setting up all these shops to have us come to. At one of Luke's shops, he would teach you how to fight and be a ninja. It was to die for.

 

Love how he was all set up...the tie he put on was classic with his bare chest!

 

And then I'm not sure where the pants went....

Summer days aren't complete without popcisles! 

 

The kids loved having baby Anna around too!

 

They helped me babysit her one morning while Scot and Sarah went to the temple.

 

Isn't that adorable? She was in good hands!

 

The little peanut. What a piece of heaven!

We ventured out for another day of boating while Shae and Scot were in town!

It was a little cold again, but nothing stops us!

Em was cracking me up. She called me the "weirdest of Oz." I thought it was SO funny! She puts up with her slightly crazy Auntie Shelbs. She is a bit crazy herself though...

 

Luke signing "i love you" to Shae wakeboarding. Cutest thing ever.

 

The most adorable little family! Love seeing these two as parents!

 

Pizza on the beach? Thanks Granny!

 

Fun fourth of July day up at Grandpa Ben's... Burger Bar included!

 

One of my favorite pictures- getting all patriotic! 

 

Precious baby girl at Gramp's house.

 

Love this man! 

One of my very favorite 4th of Julys! We had a big family BBQ at Rachel's and then a cul-de-sac firework show! Their neighbors put on a big ole show we got to watch!

 

 

 

 

Our last hoorah with Scot and Sarah was disco skating. What a BLAST. 

Then after 2 weeks of partying with the family and enjoying the reunion, I headed to LP with Rach and John! I was so lucky to join the Alexander crew. We had a good ole car ride down. I slept like the whole way while the kids watched movies. Charley asked why I took 3 naps hahaha..

  

Nothing like Stromboli's! I couldn't pass up getting a "calazone as big as your head!"

' 

Me and the big man himself!

Henry was "cracking" me up. "Somebody get some pants on that kid!"

 

One of the best pictures I have ever gotten at LP. We went down to Wahweep and stayed all week in Padre Bay. It reminded me all of the times at LP during my childhood. Surfing at LP was for sure one of the highlights of my summer ♥♥

 

Some intense castle building with Char!

 

Crazy Kiddos

The jet skis were so much fun! Boo and I went on a ride together just about everyday. We loved to go see "Charley Rock," the "Cookie Jar" and ride up the canyon. She was my jet ski buddy! And yes... charley loved to drive us...

 

More playing on the beach! I was the LP nanny!

 

Thank you Ray, John and the Alexander crew for having me along! It was paradise.

And the boating continued with friends in Provo!

Loved my new boating shirt. Too funny.

 

Between random boating trips to Provo, lake powell trips and babysitting jobs, I always found time to attend the temple. It was so nice to attend the Bountiful temple several times this summer. It is my temple! One evening I came out to this view. It was breathtaking! I can't wait to go inside someday :) :)

I was spoiled this year. I got to go BACK to Lake Powell with Parker and his friends at the end of July. Park and I were nervous but excited as Mom and Dad let us go down alone with friends. It was a success and we didn't have any problems! We camped for 3 nights and brought 5 other people. It was another weekend in paradise!

 

I have fallen in love with wakeboarding this summer!

Trying to catch some air! BOOYA!

 

 

Park brought his GF, Rachel Kitto!

 

Rach's friends. Guys, it was the most random crew to hit LP ever. Joyce on the left and Jackie on the right!

Keller and Freddy in their fort. Pretty clever to make shade from the sun!

 

And my days looked like this: 

I feel the spirit so strong down in Lake Powell. It is so close to heaven for me! My favorite place on Earth- besides the temple of course!

 

:) my happpppy. weird for me to think that when I was little I didn't really like boating and Lake Powell....

 

Some classic tubing runs! Rach and I! 

 

 Early mornings around the fire! The weather was actually really nice for us. It got a little windy some times but it was overcast some parts of the day which was actually nice!

 

Freddy and Keller getting creative with their "headdresses." 

 

One of many "joyce lights" as we would call them. Joyce (41) from Taiwan came along for her first time to LP. Guys it was quite the adventure. She was a trooper and made our trip! Luckily Freddy speaks mandarin and parker speaks a little too. She was going wild on the tube the last day! She is on the left. 

 

And here she is all tuckered out on the ride home...... she is a gem.

 

So so grateful to get two trips to paradise this summer ♥

 

And then came august.... the month of Mama Shelbs! I had my longest babysitting job this summer. 8 days! It was a blast, but tiring too. I watched 3 kids in Rach's ward: McKenna (5), Ben (3) and Anna (1). They line up with Rach's 3 youngest and live right down the street so it was such a fun week to spend time all together. One day the kids begged me to have a "Free Snack Stand." It was to die for. I tried to get a picture from the window cause I was too embarrassed to be outside with them. Ha! They had water, fruit roll-ups, bread, candy, and granola bars. It was so cute. They got a good amount of customers and actually made $10! They brought me $5 to thank me for letting them have a snack stand. Adorable! So then we used the money to go get ice cream another night.

I got some crazy looks with these 6 kids by myself!

 

A chocolate bearded HK!

 

McKenna lost a tooth, so I had a new experience with the Tooth Fairy coming ;)

 

We did a lot of fun things throughout the week! I was brave! Mom took us to the kaysville splash pad one day!

 

Rach and I felt like we were sisters both with kids living close so we hung out a lot and went on walks and to parks etc. I LOVED it.

 

Rach and I also took all 7 kids to the Zoo one day. Thanks for taking us with your pass Rach! So fun.

 

Some sweet drums and instruments they had to play with by the Elephant exhibit!

 

I think these two liked looking at their "maps" more than all the animals!

 

One day all three kids fell asleep on me in the car! Guess I wore them out pretty good ;) They sure wore me out! It was such a rewarding week. I'm getting lots of good mommy practice! Can't wait for the real deal one day.

 

Summer just wouldn't be the same without the "Twilight Concert Series." Chan came with me, park and some of our other friends from Provo to the "Local Natives" concert. It was a blast.

 

Seems like just yesterday Parker and I were at these same concerts last summer. Time has flown by since he has been home! 

 

After the concert, Chandler and I slept over at Lindsey's so we could go to the Odgen Temple Open House the next morning! It was absolutely incredible. Lindsey and Chandler had never been to a temple open house before. We were all in tears! A very neat experience for me to walk through all the rooms in the temple and especially to watch Chandler walk through all the rooms and envision her future there in the temple now that she is a member! 

 

Mom and Dad came with us too! Crazy as this was the temple they were married in. 

Beautiful Christus in the visitor's center tent after the tour!

 

I sure packed in a lot that day, because after the temple I met up Rach's fam at Lagoon for the "Savage Lagoon Day!" And I know I have said this about a lot of things this post (must mean I had an EPIC summer), but what's a summer without Lagoon?

 

One of my favorite parts was watching these two little ones on all the little kid rides! 

 

Classic bulgy!

 

And I can't go to Lagoon without getting Dip N' Dots.... it's one of those "if you give a mouse a cookie" type of things ;)

 

We stayed really late and went on so many rides!

 

Let the missionary homecomings begin! Jack Fabrizio is pretty much the first one to come home. I know we will be attending A LOT of these this next year. Exciting!

 

I felt lucky that some of my babysitting jobs this summer were with my favorite kids. Desi is wild and very active at the park now. so fun to see! They all loved these new "spinning toys" at the Rec Center park!

 

Her facial expressions have been cracking me up. It's the simple things (like a kid ice cream cone). Ha!

 

A snapchat I took one day as I was heading from one babysitting job to the next. I felt pretty displaced this summer. It was good for me to experience lots of change though. And lots of fun adventures... it kept me on my toes!  It seemed like I lived out of a suitcase a lot this summer. I moved from my apartment during winter to my spring apartment for like 6 weeks, then I was back and forth between babysitting jobs and family time, then lake powell trips, weekend trips to provo, and more babysitting jobs. I cherish the days I got to spend at Mickie's with Mom and Dad too. We had some epic tennis match's, movie nights and deep talks!

 

Lizzy Alexander's wedding! MY FAVORITE PICTURE OF THE SUMMER ♥

 

Another temple trip to the Ogden Temple Open House! I was glad Adam Wermus accepted my invite to come! It was a cool experience for him. The open house was an awesome member missionary tool.

 

Parker also invited Angela and her boys. Kevin (far left) is the boy we tutor every week since his family doesn't really know English! They aren't members either and had a beautiful experience at the open house!

Wait, guys, I got to go to Lagoon, LP, and the Zoo two times each this summer. BEST SUMMER EVER♥♥♥  Rach, John, Char, Boo and I bounced back on a monday for FHE and had a rocking time! We even hit up lagoona beach. Classic! Dad would be jealous of the lazy river!

I felt like a true child... or a nerd. Had my fanny pack and everything!

 

My lagoon buddies!

 

Rach was SO set on doing the log flume. We all gave her such a hard time about it. We had a good ole ride though!

 

Then for some crazy reason I decided to go into SLC late that night after a long day at Lagoon. We rode the green bikes (new bike share in SLC!). It was seriously a blast. I would totally recommend! We rode all down main street, around temple square etc! And it was nice cause there were barely any cars on the streets that late. These two kids live in btown but go to USU!- too bad! It was fun to get to know them though!

 

Then I started another babysitting adventure with the Reeves' grandkids. Jessica's 3 little ones. This picture reveals my strategy with them- wear them out completely every day so they would sleep good for me:) One day we walked down to the canyon and back and they were so tired that they took breaks to lay on the sidewalk. haha! They were cute though, but very tiring! Lyla was 5, Max 3 and Brynlee 1- kinda my new niche I guess!

 

So grateful for the babysitting days I got with my nieces and nephews though! This kid was getting a HUGE kick out of taking selfies on my phone one night. Here is one of mannnnnnny

 

Another killer summer activity: The Color Run! Hannah still works for them so she got us in for free again and hooked us up with all the accessories and outfits! It was the same crew as last year: hannah, her mom, bri and I! We had a blast. We did some warm-up Zumba, ran the whole 5K and then stayed for the whole dance party/ chalk throw festival! Hardcore color runners!

 

Nice and clean before!

 

Mom is so certain this is terrible for our lungs.... It was so fun though! Sorry mom!

 

So colorful!

 

Later that night, we had one last Fab 5 Reunion before school started. Well now I am officially the only one not in school yet! So grateful for our friendship that is just getting stronger in different ways over the years! We are all kinda going our separate ways (at 4 different schools), but things fall right back in place when we are all together. I am going to miss them when I go back to Provo!

 

This past week I went down to "visit" Provo again. My one last chance to "visit" provo instead of living there! Haha! I really enjoyed visiting Provo this summer... makes it more fun than thinking of being stuck down there! But it will be good to go back. Parker and I had some fun rock climbing up Rock Canyon! I had never been up Rock Canyon before, and had never rock climbed outdoors before either! It was a whole new adventure for me. So beautiful and so fun. I love all the brother sister dates I can get with this kid. Can't believe he hasn't been snatched up by some girl yet... probably because girls always see us together... that's my strategy ;)

 

Looking PRETTY NIIIIIIICE!

 

Last summer concert this past Thursday! Parker and Keller ended up not being able to come up from Provo to go with me. Luckily Ryan agreed to come with me! It was such a blast. The band was "the head and the heart." ♥♥ I love music!

 

This week was crazy shopping and getting all ready for the new semester! Shout out to this awesome woman for all her help and love! She did so much to help me get ready! We had fun shopping and talking together. So grateful for her. It is always so hard for me to "leave the nest" when I move out each semester. We moved my stuff in Saturday morning and then hurried home as we both had babysitting jobs to go to! Mom helped me SO much and then when we got back, she whipped us up this breakfast in like 20 seconds before we had to leave again. She is a miracle worker! I LOVE YOU MOM! I will always be a mama's girl! So glad you are only one phone call and one hour away! Thank the heavens!

 

And here's the people I am spending my last days of summer with! Mama shelbs going strong all the way up till the very end!

What an adventurous summer it has been. Seriously one of the best! So much happened! So grateful for all the time with family, the fun, the jobs I was given and for the many spiritual experiences I had. Throughout all the different things I did this summer and in all the different places I was, I had countless sacred moments and times of spiritual growth. It was a very spiritual summer for me. I learned a lot about myself, about the atonement/ grace, and about my individual mission in life. I am looking forward to the future! I know my young life hasn't really even started yet! There is so much to come! Mom and I were looking at a quote together that I put up in my new apartment this  weekend. She gave it to me during my Freshmen year. It says "Faith is not knowing what the future holds, but who holds the future." Thank you to a mother who has taught me this more than anyone else. She is such an example of faith and trust to me. So glad I have that quote above my bed to remind me every day who holds my future. So here's to the future of a new semester at BYU! I am anxious (in multiple meanings of the word ;)) to see what it has in store for me! #gocougs