The Perfect Night

We ate delicious pizza. Settebello's downtown is the best!
Followed by chocolate and Heath bar gelato
Then a drive through the Avenues together
Followed by a clean room and completed applications
Finished with phase 10 with my parents as we watched the stars come out.

I love summer.

Yes that is a picture of a sunset in Hawaii. But it pretty much sums up my mood right now.

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Weekend Fun!

This weekend was a blast! After Austyn and Ciera's wedding (pictures coming soon... I promise!), Mom, Dad, Ricki and I jetted down to St. George to see some sun, see some shows, and just relax. It was exactly the weekend we all needed before wedding planning gets really really busy!
On Friday, we drove down. Then ate some yummy Mexican food, and napped big time. We woke up just in time to hurry and get ready and then go see The Little Mermaid at Tuacahan. Go see it! Amazing what they have done to a disney classic. Everything about that show is so great!



Saturday was filled with lots of fun activities. We woke up and went on a beautiful bike ride through Snow Canyon (My bum still hurts). Ricki got a flat tire, but dad gave him his bike so we could have a ride on our own. I can't get over how beautiful it was! After that, we ate lunch at the Pizza Factory then went back and spent some quality time at the pool. The afternoon was filled with a nap, going to the theater to watch SUPER EIGHT (such a great flick), ate some Thai food at Benja's and then back to Tuacahan to see Grease!





Sunday we woke up early and went to church (always the best way to start a sunday). Next it was off to breakfast at The Bear Paw followed by an incredible hike to some water fields and little lake/ponds to swim in! The hike was so fun and so beautiful. Ricki is quite the mountain climber! I had lots of fun with him climbing all the red rock. I fell right towards the end and have some sweet scratches on my back to prove it, but it was fun nonetheless! After the hike we went back to the pool-- I read a great book called Love the One You're with by Emily Giffin, she is a great author! Then another nap, and getting ready to go to ANASAZI steakhouse. This was one of the coolest eating experiences I have had in a long time. It is fondue to the extreme, and cooking your own food on hot rocks! If you are ever in St. George going to eat there is a must. and the owner Jessica is a complete doll!! After eating ourselves silly we went back and watched the Heat/ Mavs game (while mom and I read some more). Then off to bed with our extremely exhausted selfs!

this was about ten seconds before I fell. You can see why!

Monday came and it was Dad's Birthday! (I won't share how old he is). We went on a bike ride around the Virgin River. It is full of water and so beautiful! Then we went back, packed, and went to Sweet Tooth Fairy for celebratory cupcakes. Then it was on our way to rainy Sandy! I loved this weekend and haven't had this much fun in a while.

Thanks mom and dad for the awesome weekend!

On a side note... I got mom addicted to this... and it is so fun to swap ideas back and forth!

True Love

1. He scratches my back and massages my feet to help me fall asleep.
2. He drives the car for my parents so they can sit in the back to read and canoodle (which is the exact thing he's doing now)
3. He hugs me EXACTLY when I need it, and holds it extra long just so I can relax.
4. He makes me try new things- and actually enjoy them (something that would rarely be the case pre-him)
5. He comes and reads all my blogs with me- enjoying them and offering his funny and very useful feedback.
6. The look he gives me right before we separate for the night- it makes my heart melt.
7. He let's me read my book while he watches basketball- even though I know he really wants me to watch with him.
8. He watches food network with me before we take a nap- and is actually starting to enjoy it!
9. He compliments me when I do my hair different- and then tells me just why he likes this new hairstyle so much.
10.He kisses me on the forehead or the cheek, just so he doesn't ruin my just applied lipstick.

weekend post coming soon- it was a blast!

Writing an accounting essay is hard...

When you just want to do about everything else. Like eat, cuddle with Baxter, stare at the clouds and ponder the depressing weather, blog, and paint your nails...


But isn't that nude color pretty??

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I am incredibly lucky.

I can't believe how lucky I am. I live in a fantastic place, go to a fantastic college, have fantastic friends and am astounded each day at how much I am blessed. I am lucky because:

I have the most incredible family in the world. Have you met them? If not, you should! They are the sweetest, unbelievably generous, most hilarious group of people I have ever met. And they are my best friends. I don't know how I could survive in this life without them- and luckily I don't have too!!

I live by this. I stare at this beauty every day. But I don't get there often enough. It is a place of haven, and relaxes me even when I glance at it driving around each day. Next friday I will be there doing something very important to me, and I can't wait for the experiences that I get to have in the temple.


I have him. and he chose me! six months ago I started dating someone who would change my life. and he has in every way. Each day he makes me a better person. I learn more, experience more, risk more, and love more just because he is in my life. I can feel the spirit whenever I am around him. He is such an example to me. And he honors his priesthood- I couldn't ask for anything better than that!



In just two months he will take me here. I can't wait to be sealed to him for time and eternity!



and in less than two weeks I get to witness the marriage of these two beautiful people-



they are perfect for each other in every way.

I love Austyn- because he is my big brother. And because he is so much more than that. He is the guy who keeps me grounded, who has been there through everything. He is the guy who has the funniest laugh, who isn't afraid to tell me when I am too dramatic and who is the best example to me. He is my best friend!

And I love Ciera- because she is perfect for Austyn in everyway. She is hilarious and smart. She is a hard worker. She is spicy and saucy and flirty and everything! and because she fits in our family perfectly. She is my sister, and I love her like one! I am glad she is around because she makes my brother unbelievably happy, and because she is a great friend to me! She has such a big heart, enough to love all the attitudes in our family. She is the sweetest person I have ever met, and I can't wait for her to be officially apart of my family!

have you ever had a burst of thankfulness?

A hike and a whole lot of golfing!

Did anyone see the sun this week? I can't believe it's the last real week of May.. The sun is never here! Well Wednesday it came out full force, and I woke with an itch to go on a hike! Luckily I have the most amazing active mom, who woke up and readily agreed to go with me. She even took me to a lovely spot. The bell canyon waterfall! It took three hours, but laughing and talking with my mom made it all go by so quickly. I have missed her. With all the crazy that is going around our house this summer, we rarely get to just sit and talk. But this wednesday morning we did just that! I love her, she is my best friend, and I want to be just like her! I took lots of photos on our hike ( I love instagram, see first shout out here). So here is some of the beauty!


The rushing river as we walked up the mountain. It sounded so beautiful!


About halfway up the trail turned in to a stream. It was a little unexpected! And slippery! But so fun.


The beauty at the top! It was gushing, and definitely cold up there! I loved being up there though. Gosh nature is so beautiful! God really can be seen all around.

oh and don't worry, there was also plenty of this:



winter was way too long this year!!


Also- I have a new love: GOLFING! I never thought I would say that. When I was little I hit my mom in the head with a putter, and then a little while later squashed my brother inbetween two golf carts. That pretty much scared me for life. Or so I thought. But yesterday we went and hit balls. And it was fun! And after some work with the pro, I could hit it far (in comparison to where I hit it before, but at least it was off the ground!) I went with my family and we were laughing and playing around-- I love moments like that! Then today after breakfast with the fam, Ricki and I went with Austyn and Ciera to hit more balls. I love couple time with these two, they are the best sibling couple I could ever ask for-- and I love them! So with a sunburnt face, arms, and legs, with sore shoulders and forearms, I can officially say I like golf! And am ready for plenty more golf dates to come this summer.

Truth

"As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you." - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Taken from "the lovely girl" blog. I think I might just call her that.

Sometimes blogs come into your life for a reason.

Some times I need a pick me up. Do you ever feel like like? With the stress of life I am often overwhelmed- which turns into feelings of blah. Maybe I am the only one who ever feels like this, or the only one being honest about it. Either way, it happens.

Well last week one of these "moments" happened. and somehow, I can't quite remember, I came upon this lovely blog. I know I know. It's creepy. I don't know this person- nor is she one of the "famed mormon bloggers." But boy am I glad her blog isn't private, and was sitting there just for me to stumble upon! I do know who this girl is. I was in the same ward as her sister-in-law and her husband plays on a sports team with some friends. So it's not completely freaky (at least that's what I tell myself!)

Anyways, back to the beauty of this blog. This girl. Wow. I read a few posts, and then I was hooked. An hour later I wandered to the beginning of her blog and instantly felt disappointed. I didn't want it to end! This girl was MAH-JOR. She has become such an example to me. She has handled her life with such grace and focus on the Savior. She knows who she is and why she is here- to be a mother. (Which she was just blessed with a lovely child last week- Congrats!) But most of all she is just an all around incredible woman. Her view point on the world never ceases to amaze me, and they always bring me closer to my Savior. For that, I am forever indebted to this girl- even though I might not ever meet her.

I wish I did this more often.

WOAH. Blogging is hard. I don't mean physically excrutiating hard (like running, basketball, or even golf) but I-swear-I-don't have time to do this hard. It's astounding how once I am done with school occupying my life, other (equally important) things seem to fill it up just as quickly. How do people find time to blog? I have no idea. Yet I have lots of lovely friends who update time and time again, and I want to be like them! Somehow in their busy lives (which I have NO DOUBT are as crazy as my own) they find time to jump on the internet and share their life. Which I LOVE! I hate how adult life = less time with friends. So blogging helps me stay up to date even if I don't get to see or talk to them every week. I know I know I'm bad about keeping in contact. I'm going to work on that too. So dear friends, I PROMISE I will do better, and this time I mean it.

Tulip Festival oh my!!!

Today Ricki took me to the tulip festival at Thanksgiving Point since it's the first nice day that we have had in a while!! I can't even explain how beautiful the gardens look! The paths weave through so much land- it took Ricki and I almost 2 hours to walk through! it made me want to start a garden- or just have one to look at all day long! I took lots of pictures on instagram (the best photo app ever- get it!)






My absolute favorite- how beautiful is this???



I can't wait to have my own garden, even though I will probably not be able to make them look half as good.




Today also marked a special day for Ricki and I.... It's our five month!! And exactly 3 months and 2 days until we get married. I can't wait! I can't believe it's only been this long since we started dating. I feel like he has been apart of my life forever! And I can't wait to spend forever with him.

Okay sorry for the mushy stuff.. Except Ricki is really the only one who reads this and he loves it! So I love you chocolate cream pie! You're my best friend and the best thing that has ever happened to me!

Right now we are watching the REAL Salt Lake vs. Monterey CONCACAF Championship game. It's amazing to me that I spent the majority of my life playing soccer-- yet I HATE watching it. Okay, hate might be a bit strong- but I do think that it is really boring. The fact that we are watching this would explain this really long blog post! Sorry guys

Until next time!
- Kate

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Lately.. Well I guess not really-- the last four months summed up in a post!

Hey ya'all! Well to the two people who read my blog. IM BACK!!!!! after a long four month hiatus I have time to blog again! I have missed it big time. Here's an update.
1. I took creative writing this semester, and found out that I love to write poetry... And am actually pretty good at it!
2. Brian Doyle is my new favorite writer. Look him up. Seriously. He is AMAZING. He changed my perspective on-- well just about everything!
3. My brother is marrying the love of his life Ciera Graff- on June 9th! I can't wait for her to be my sister.. She is so amazing and absolutely perfect for my brother
4. I met the love of my life! He proposed March 12. I can't wait to get sealed to him on July 29th! He is perfect for me in every way. I am so unbelievably lucky! Isn't he handsome?



He has the most incredible family. I can't wait to have two more sisters and a younger brother!

5. I got diagnosed with Mono this semester- again. Ricki was so sweet to take care of me.. Even though all I did was sleep and cry and sleep some more.

6. I have met the most incredible people while planning mine and Ricki's wedding. I can't believe the wonderful women that are in the wedding industry in Utah. We are so unbelievable lucky! The whole experience is incredible.

7. I can't wait to spend the summer spending time with my fiancé, reading books I actually want to read, and spending time at the lake! As well as attending the many weddings of my friends (congratulations you guys!!! Everyone of you!!)

Ps- ignore the blog format I will work on it I promise!




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