I really don't have a lot to say so this will be fast!

Work is good, I have the pleasure of working with some lovely people that make it fun. 

School is good, but busy. And still hard. But finals are coming up, yay!

I miss my family. I can't wait to go home again! Hopefully for Abby's birthday if I get it off work. 

My best friend got married on the 11th. It was a crazy weekend, but I'm so thankful I was able to go. 

I also got to meet my pretend niece, Daisy. What an adorable baby. Good work, Rachel and Chris! Haha. 

I'm so excited for school to be out so I don't always have a million things to do!

I'm looking at post graduation options and leaning towards taking a year off before grad school. I want to do something practical, but also fun. Like travel. :)

Africa is the goal, but we shall see what happens!

I'm also pretty set on Portland State for grad school, if I get in. They have some really good opportunities and I'd be close to home. Again, we shall see!

Now here is my face in case you forgot what I look like: 

(choco tacos were on sale the other day)

:)

holy guacamole

(^ a favorite saying I'm pretty sure I picked up from my father quite a long time ago)

I can't believe it's already halfway through the quarter.
And I am SO ready to be done.

This will sound a little silly, but to those of you who know me, I've done pretty well in school. It's never been very hard for me- I have a supportive, educationally-inclined family, good friends who also succeed in school, and I enjoy learning.
This quarter, school is HARD. Mostly because of the time and energy I have to put into it, being on campus for 20 hours a week (and that's just class time- I'm there longer because of breaks and homework and group projects...).
Add in the volunteering I'm doing and a new job and there you have it- I have no free time!

That's something that is new though- I have a real job again! I'm working the front desk at the Days Inn and so far it's pretty great. I can usually do homework while working, and the people I work with are super great. The manager is really good about working with school schedules too, so that's a definite plus!

Other high points of my existence lately-
The kids group I volunteer with every week is wonderful. The kids get excited when they see me and I generally get to hang out with the little ones (2 year olds, they're adorable) while the older kids do group activities. Next week we get to go to the fire station, which should be a great adventure!

The SLP (speech language pathology) clinic I volunteer at has given me some really great opportunities to see what the field is really like and talk to clinicians who have just gotten through grad school and are in their first couple years of work. They have a lot of interesting advice and I 'm definitely learning a lot.

For the first time in my college career, I'm not sure what I want to do. I love my major and all the possibilities, but I'm not sure that the school system is for me. It's a pretty intense job. I'm looking more at clinic work, early intervention, focusing on hearing impaired kids, etc. I have a meeting with my favorite professor (and advisor) today to see what kinds of options are available beyond the basic "speech therapist".

So many options, so little time to explore them!

Anyway, I'm off to a busy day before heading to Utah tomorrow for the lovely Sarah's wedding to the dashing Adam. I'm so excited for them! And to meet my honorary niece, Daisy. And to see the whole Adams clan. And to see my wonderful mom for Mother's Day! So much excitement after a ridiculous week of midterms :)

catching up.

Oops, I haven't been on here for awhile. 

I finished winter quarter, FINALLY. 

Got another 4.0 :)

Took the hardest test I've ever taken in my life. 

Survived a vicious finals week. 

And then enjoyed a lovely, SUNNY spring break!

Celebrating with Theresa after a week full of ridiculous tests!

I got out my camera when I was bored.

I like the lighting in my apartment :)

Car trip photos

Trying to be taller than Abby...

To be fair, she was wearing 2 inch heels. 

Rest stops require photos :P

My dad, as a super hero!

Lake Coeur d'Alene

Maddie and Billy

We found a chair!

Mistletoe? 

"look happy!"

Skipping rocks

Group shots

<3

Easter preparations

Happy birthday to my mommy!

Slackers... :)

Cake time!

Final photos!

So, that was the last week or so. 

Today I started spring quarter and it seems like it's going to be another crazy one. 

I am SO SO SO EXCITED to go to Utah in about a month for my best friend's wedding though :D

And for Operation Smile, a club a couple of friends and I have started on campus. 

I have so many goals for this quarter. It'll be hard to find time to sleep, but it'll be worth it. 

P.S. I have a story for you...

I was babysitting these munchkins one weekend...

(they were being very well-behaved and a little silly)

We decided to go outside and play when the weather got nice, 

but unfortunately, the door locked behind us. 

I had no phone, no key, and only the neighbors for help. 

Luckily, 

after a long walk with the kids around the neighborhood,  

and lots of phone calls, 

I got back in!

And we had a lovely rest of the weekend. 

The end.

:)

oh, hey there.

The last month has been really busy, so I'm sorry for the lack of posting to those who read this. 

(the, like, 2 of you. haha. I appreciate you guys immensely!)

Here are the highlights: 

1. I had 4 weeks of "midterms". Yes, 4. As in multiple tests a week plus assignments and a service learning project and and and..... so that has kept me busy. 
2. I've learned that coffee really does brighten my day. Maybe it's the chocolate/sugar in it more than the caffeine, but I spend way too much money on coffee. Oops.
3. I've (finally) started volunteering at a shelter for families here in Bham as a kids-night group activity leader person. I had to go through background checks and interviews and whatnot, but I had my first night there last week and it was so much fun. I miss being in an environment like that, where there are lots of kids happy to be there learning and interacting and everything. 
4. I've also started volunteering at a speech/language clinic. It's run from a house so it's a lot less "formal" that the clinical sessions I've been observing at school, but I like it. I get to observe a 45 minute session each time I go and also help plan activities/create materials/help keep things organized at the clinic. It's definitely a learning experience and everyone there has assured me that once you get your CCCs (the certification needed to practice), all the tests and stress and craziness becomes worth it because you finally get to put all your knowledge into practice. So it's a super positive and reassuring environment to be in :)
5. I really love some of the people in my major. They honest-to-goodness keep me sane. I've gotten to know a couple of the girls pretty well and we've surpassed the "friends in class" barrier and moved into "real friends" territory (meaning we hang out outside of class, haha). It's wonderful to have people to study and discuss things with, and also to know people with the same passions and interests who want to succeed in the same field as me. They know better than anyone what I'm dealing with and we get each other through things like 4 weeks of midterms! (Okay, that was kind of sappy. Sorry everyone. :P)
6. The aforementioned people and I are starting an Operation Smile club at WWU! Operation Smile is an organization dedicated to raising money for children who need cleft lip/palate surgeries (cleft lips/palates are when prenatal development of the mouth/lip and sometimes the nose didn't occur so there is a gap in the middle of the roof of their mouth/lip. Essentially the two sides of their face didn't come all the way together. This causes a lot of functional disorders for children because they can't eat/drink properly, can't speak correctly, etc.). We're in the process of getting it up and running and raising awareness, and it has been a lot of work so far, but we're all really passionate about the cause and excited to start fundraisers and everything :) 
7. I've been applying to jobs and internships and scholarships like a crazy person, hoping I get something that is beneficial to the future. Basically anything that will help me with school next year and applying to grad schools is what is taking up my life. 
8. I got a phone call the other day from my parents telling me that I made the president's list (meaning I got a high GPA) last quarter, which is extra nice now that I'm in my major classes. The goal is to 4.0 the program (along with millions of extra curricular activities) so grad schools HAVE to let me in!

So anyway, that's my life recently. 

I'm also excited for my best friend Sarah's upcoming wedding (in May) and her sister's upcoming delivery of her first baby (anytime now!)- I kind of get to be an honorary aunt, which is pretty cool. 

That's all I have to say for now. 

:)

all about me

the excitement my CSD shirt caused was pretty incredible

(this is backwards, but if you look closely you'll see the face is made from the letters C, S, and D)

my favorite place in Bellingham is this beach

being girly and wearing makeup can be fun

it's like being a princess

Sorry for the abundance of my face. 

I just like taking pictures of myself.

School is good, classes are about to get crazy, and I'm drowning in applications for jobs, internships, grad schools, etc. etc. etc. Being a grown and and figuring out my life is hard but I love it all.