School is Cool

I think I have had a little too much fun lately! My Second {junior} year has been better than I could have imagined. I LOVE where I am living. My roommates are so fun! My neighbors are all so much fun too! We are all like a big family! These year beats last year ::already::

I am into the COMD [communicative disorders] program now, and I am loving it! I really know that an SLP is what I want to be. Well it comes in second to a mom :) I realized that next year I graduate college. Now thats scary. But the future looks bright and I am trying to just enjoy every moment.

Mom and dad came for a visit!

I love having a piece of home at my home away from home.

Does that even make sense?

To me it does! I love my family. They are the best. EVER.

Gotta love the annual 80's dance. Nothing like dressing up and dancing the night away!

I love aggie football!!!

the rocket summer concert

Man vs. mud Race with Friends!

Hike to the wind caves

::it's a good life::

look at the hair on that thing...

So the other day I decided to try out the whole {ExTenSioNs} thing!

Let's get things straight. My hair has never been long.

NEVER EVER been long.

So I decided to clip some in and see how it was!

It felt like a wig.

Or a horse tail.

They weren't even my extensions, but after posting a picture and seeing how people responded it made me consider getting some of my own. But I am still so indecisive about it. I just don't know if long hair is for me... What do you think?

Summer 2011

It is now August, and to be honest I have no idea where summer has gone! I have had a busy, productive summer and I have loved {most} of it!

The longer I put it off the more I will have to write....so here is an update of what I have been up to!

One of my best friends *Lauren Jardine* came home with me for a visit! We had so much fun, and she loved the farm! I love being able to show people where I come from :)

The highlight of my summer was probably when I got to spend a weekend with all of my siblings. my family is the best...ever. Even though I had to spend lots of my studying for anatomy exam I had coming up, I loved every minute with them! I wish we had more time together or all lived closer, but thank goodness families are forever right?

And, after struggling in school like never before... I PASSED anatomy! I never thought I would be so happy and pleased with just passing a class, I couldn't be more grateful! And I'm glad it is done taking over my life :)

I also have the most thoughtful friends who are always doing super nice things for me!

I love summer...but I am even more excited for fall! It is definitely my favorite season! And I am anxious for the "shuffle". I am so ready to meet some new fun people!

Peas in a Pod

So I was sitting in my room today studying away and I decided to eat some DELICIOUS peas I had picked back in Idaho this past weekend. I was kind of getting tired and needed something to wake me up, so I figured I would try to catch one in my mouth and... I CAUGHT IT! haha So I decided to record it!

As you are watching please keep in mind that I cannot recall a time when I have caught something in my mouth, but now I know the trick haha

I hope you get a good little laugh :)

catch up.

It's time to play a little catch up.

Summer seems to be flying by. and I have been up to a whole lot of

NOTHING.

But

EVERYTHING

at the same time.

I'll start by mentioning the thing that consumes most of my days.

anatomy

This class is a roller coaster of emotions. Sometimes I am pumped to go to class and to study. other times I don't wanna go at all. Sometimes I feel like studying all night and sometimes i wanna rip my book in half, withdraw from the class, and not to mention...shed a few tears. But, the good times get me through the bad and I know in the end it will be totally worth it. I really am so grateful for the opportunity I have to take this class. I have never learned so much. With a little hard work school has always come pretty easily to me,but this class has definitely put me in my place. I would say I'm loving it...but I'm not. I would say I'm hating it...but I'm not.

Anatomy is just good.

The 4th was alright.

I went to the first Martin Funk Family Reunion. It was SO GREAT! I love all my family so much. I probably don't know many of my cousins as well as I should, but this reunion was great. I learned so much more about every...especially my grandparents.

families are forever.

That was all the weekend before the 4th and as the holiday approached I spent it with an anatomy book in my lap. I am not quite sure who puts a huge anatomy exam the morning after the 4th of july but, it is what it is :)

I've had a little fun lately too. Work is pretty fun these days. It's a nice break, and i've been boating and made a few friends.

Not to mention: i got pulled over for the first time

and got away with JUST this lovely little warning slip :)

AND: I cut my hair. I am thinking about going shorter. We will see :)

Despite the craziness I feel like I am a part of, I wouldn't trade it. I have felt so productive I have learned so much more than bones, muscles, and the difference betwee 24 months & 2T

{by the way...there is no difference :)}

i think that's all...

"The trick is to ENJOY LIFE. Don't wish away your days WAITING for better ones ahead." - Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Everyone Love's a visit!

This summer I have been way more homesick that I ever thought I could be, but I was lucky enough to have an old friend visit! Jandy Altemose has been one of my best friends since I can remember. We had such a fun time when she came! I had to work a little while she was here, but when I wasn't we laid by the pool, longboarded on campus, played some sand volleyball, got *free* ribs from Texas Roadhouse and talked for hours! It was so good to see her!

Thanks for the visit Jan!

Some summer

Well I have now been on "summer vacation" for over a month, and as far as I can tell this is going to be the most unique summer I have ever had! It already as been so much different! It has definitely taken time to get used to, but I am trying to make the best of it because I know life really is good. Here is a little of what I have been up to...

{Reunion}

The weekend before my anatomy class started I was able to go to the Frank Beck Family reunion. This was he first reunion with just my mom, her siblings, and all their kids. My mom is the youngest of 11... that means lots and lots of cousins. I am the youngest of the youngest so that means lots of my cousins are older... way older. I wish I knew lots of them better, but it was good to at least see them and what they have been up to. I am so lucky to have such an amazing immediate and extended family.

My family

Josh & Whitney. The siblings at the reunion

{Tractor Pull}

My roommate Whitney works at agri-service and they gave her free tickets for a tractor pull here in Logan, so she brought me along! I had no idea what a tractor pull was, but I was really excited for it. I thought it sounded like fun! But, it definitely was not what either of us were expecting. Let's just say it was a little bit, wait no.. it was very white trash. But that made people watching even more fun!

Apparently a tractor pull is when they have all these different trucks that pull that long thing, and they see who can got he farthest.

After all the fun of the weekend, it was time to buckle down. Bright and early monday morning my Anatomy class started. I had heard stories of how dreadful this class can be from my professor, Andy Anderson, but it really is overload. I am determined to do well though! So, I have officially given up a social life for 8 weeks. My days now consist of class (every day), studying, and work. I'm not complaining. I know I could be having a more enjoyable summer, but I really think it will be worth it. Good thing I have invested in some nice self-tanning lotion seeing that I won't be seeing much of the sun for the next few weeks.

Happy SUNNY days.

Squeezin' out a living

So, one day I was talking to my dad and I was like...

"Dad, guess how much I made at work the past two weeks?!"

Before he said anything my sister was like...

"Gen, don't even tell him."

Apparently I don't make very much at all, but hey, when you go 8 months without making anything, a few dollars every now and then is greatly appreciated!

But anyways... I ended up telling my dad how much I made and he informed me if I milked cows I could make that much every day! So this is how it all started. My dad made a deal he would pay me half of what I made in two weeks if I milked for a shift.

Let's get something straight...

-A shift for me at The Children's Place ranges from 5-8 hours. That's good for me.

-A shift according to David Funk is 12 hours {4 a.m. to 4 p.m.} Yes...that's half a day and a lot more than I am used to. But with a little negotiating I was able to talk him into only 5 hours :)

I began my shift at 8. My brother-in-law Curtis suited me up in an apron, sleeves, and gloves and taught me how it was done.

step 1

wipe off the utters with rag/spray disinfectant

step 2

test

testing means squeezing each tit with your hands and getting out the first few squirts of milk, because that is where most of the bacteria would be.

step #2 is WAY more difficult than it sounds. Getting milk out of those suckers takes strong hands and proper technique. By the end of 5 hours I had it down though.

step 3

clean off utters once again. by the time step 3 has taken place the disinfectant spray has made it easier to clean the utter and get all the manure and junk off

step 4

apply milking machine.

this step is also way harder than it looks.

Oh, I forgot to mention the best part about milking cows. The cows have the privilege to use the restroom whenever and wherever they please. This even includes when I am right under them. Manure to the face. Urine to the eye ball. and the combination of both up my sleeves where it stays nice and moist around my arms. awesome.

haha, milking cows isn't that bad though...Once you get dirty the first time is doesn't really matter what you get on you. I actually quite enjoyed the repetition. I do enjoy stuff like that. but it definitely not my dream job. My mom was SO surprised I actually did it and my brother-in-law was surprised I stayed longer than an hour. I guess that's another thing to put on my resume!

Happy milking!

There is no place like home.

I love to visit home. Home is...well home is home :)

This past weekend a lot was going on, so I got to run away from my stressful little summer and go home for {five} days. Usually five days is a little much for me. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE coming home, but after living on my own for a while I definitely have my own routine and like going by my own schedule. It's kind of weird to go back, but this time 5 days was just what I needed.

{day 1}

well technically this was half a day...well probably even less so I will count it, because I got to sleep in the most comfy bed at my house.

But seriously...this bed it awesome.

{day 2}

Western Day's Parade.

Watching the parade with Whitney, Presley, and Gage was way fun! I realized how much I really love the Twin Falls area, it is really a great community. But... also a little (or a lot) white trash in some ways, but that just made me grateful for Logan. So... it was a win-win situation.

Later that night I went to

[Brittni & Brogan Darrington's]

Wedding reception.

Brittni was my roommate this past year. The reception was so darling, and I cried when I saw them! I will miss them lots, but I am sure they will have me over for game nights and I'm sure they will continue to attempt to be matchmakers!

{day 3}

Gage Curtis Giles was blessed.

I LOVE my family and I love family get togethers. I missed Jeremy and Alish and their little families, but I am thankful for the time I had to spend with Whitney and Josh and their families! Being an aunt is AWESOME. Pretty sure I have the greatest nieces and nephews. They bring so much joy into my life. I love them all!!!! If I never get married, the plan is to be the super cool-rich-fun-favorite aunt. I could live with that... right?

{day 4}

HOLY COW. Yes, I milked cows. I believe this probably deserves it's own post as well. It was quite the experience, but let's just say it was NAST.

{day 5}

Surprisingly I didn't have to get back until later then I thought. So that day I spent the morning and early afternoon in Twin with Whitney and her little one's. Sometimes I wish I lived back at home for the summer to do fun stuff with my mom & sister all the time. I miss them LOTS.

I would definitely say this was a great vacation home.