Last of the Firsts

Yesterday was my very last first day of school at BYU. It was a funny realization to think that everything I've worked towards for the last four years is finally coming to an end.

Keri and I started off a great semester by running to our flexibility class at 7:00 in the morning. We only arrived a few minutes late and we were both totally okay with it. I'm really excited for some of our classes and I think they will be really applicable to our field. Keri and I have all our classes together except for the fact that I'm taking piano and she's taking Spanish. She's an incredible student and I feel so lucky to have her not only as a friend but as a study buddy.

I could tell that I had reached my senior year when...

1. I unloaded me backpack Monday morning of all the old material from last semester before summer.
2. I had to look up my schedule the night before, remembering that I have three classes the following day, one starting at 7:00 AM. 
3. I brought only a pen and a few pages of lined paper on the first day of classes.
4. I know all the shortcuts on campus to avoid the hundreds of people walking around campus who have no idea where they're going. 
5. I could walk around campus and couldn't go long before seeing someone that I know.

Thanks BYU! It's going to be a great semester but I can't wait for December!

Emily's Birthday

Yesterday marked the 23rd year that Emily Thurston has been alive and we wanted her to remember that we are so glad she was born. One of her favorite things is to have an Oreo Picnic (OP). So the night before we texted everyone that we knew that knew her and set up a time to meet on campus. We then surprised her with a random group of people from her past and had an OP right on campus. It was fabulous! We had someone from almost every ward she's ever been in and then some.

Here's Emily and her friend Annie from CA and Ashley's brother, Anthony. 

Mckay Perry and Jorge 

It's kind of dark but here's the whole group. It was a blast! 

That evening we went to a BYU sports kickoff at the football stadium. There were tours of the locker rooms and I got my picture with Cosmo. It was actually a lot of fun and I'm glad that we got to go. I'm always impressed by BYU and the activities that they put on. They are are always really well done and fun.

 Afterwards we had cake and ice cream to celebrate. Emily is great and I'm so glad that I have to opportunity to live with her and get to know her better. Happy Birthday Emily!

Impromptu Family Reunion

So Brittany and I made a summer bucket list of things that we wanted to get done during the summer. Our goal was to do them before August 19 because that is when we were going to meet up in Vegas and celebrate an awesome summer and kick off a great fall. My list consisted of...

·         Books to Read:

o   Daughters in My Kingdom

o   Chronicles of Narnia

o   Mocking Jay

o   Not My Will But Thine

·         Temples to Visit:

o   Oquirrh Mountain

o   Jordan River 

·         Things to do:

o   Buy running shoes

o   Host a Lakewood Reunion

o   Write in my journal once a week

o   Make a new meal each week

o   Host another themed party

o   Do an act of service each week

o   Run Adventure for Africa

o   Be able to touch my toes 

I was able to accomplish all of it except finish Daughter in My Kingdom, Not My Will But Thine and touch my toes. It was a great summer and I had a blast. The plan was for me to fly out to Vegas and spend a few days with the Hawks and then party it girl style with Corie and Brittany when she got into town.

I had a blast with Corie, Matt and the girls. We went swimming and we just got to hang out. One night Corie and Matt set me up on a blind date with a fellow medical student. His name is Tim and he was a really nice guy. I just don't think the situation was ideal but it was fun. The next night I found out that they had a Kinect and I played for a least two hours by myself while Corie was with Matt at the hospital. I love the Kinect! The next night I think they took pity on me and played with me. I schooled them on track and field but Corie whooped me in boxing. Then I discovered that they have Fruit Ninja for the Kinect and I couldn't get enough. After a few hours our arms were hurting enough that we tried playing with just our legs. We held our hands behind our backs and had to only use our legs. It was so great and I was SO sore the next day.

Brittany was on her way from Santa Fe to California and Mom was helping her drive with Summer. So they came into town Monday afternoon. They were a fun addition to our festivities but I have to admit that they took Carolyn's attention away from me. I became very jealous but it was still fun. Corie was working on a big project that we were able to help with. She is making an ancestry wall and we painted a huge tree on the wall from floor to ceiling and then she arranged pictures of their ancestors from our side and Matt's. We also had a girls night where we went to a hibachi grill where they cook the food in front of you and do all sorts of tricks with the knives and things. It was super fun!

By Wednesday evening Carter and his whole gang were there so join in. I had no idea that the whole family would be coming but it sure was a blast. The kids seemed to have grown a ton between our Tober Reunion and now. It was great to watch the girls run around and actually play together. It's amazing how fast our family has been growing. I love our family!

It was a great weekend and the best way to spend the week before school started again!

Day Trip

In preparation for grad school Keri and I decided that we wanted to tour the programs that they have here in Utah - just to get a better idea of what to look for and what we want out of a program. So we made a whole day trip out of it! It was a blast and I learned a lot about what I'm looking for in a program. 

We started off in Logan and they were so kind to us. The graduate adviser took us on a great tour and showed us all of the facilities. Utah State is really my first choice. The only trick is that I have to get in.

 After the tour we picnicked on temple grounds. It was gorgeous and perfect weather. Other than the crazy cold winters I could totally see myself up there. 

The graduate adviser gave us coupons for their creamery. I am a true blue Cougar fan but I have to give them props. Their Aggie Blue Mint ice cream was delicious. 

By 1:00 we headed down to Salt Lake to visit the University of Utah campus. Maybe it was because it was hot and hard to find parking and the building but I just didn't have as good of an experience at the U of U. We got a mini tour and got to meet a professor. It just didn't feel as positive or welcoming as Utah State. 

Plus their bathrooms are so strange! We walked into the door labeled restroom and found this - two in one. Who does that? 

Afterward we walked around Temple Square and got our picture taken at the Family History Center. I thought that was so clever. I got to see Grandpa working the recommend desk - it was so fun. I was sad that I didn't get to talk to him more and visit Grandma but time didn't allow for it. Keri did her first live session at the Salt Lake Temple which was great. Dinner was salads from Harmon's, the cool new grocery store right down town. Then Keri drove me to the airport to drop me off for my flight to Vegas! 

Lakewood Reunion

I have inherited the great love of reunions from my grandpa and hence, I threw a reunion for all those kids from Lakewood. It was a great time with a lot of catching up.  

Tim Perdue, Shannon Nelson, Myself, Abby Stevens, Kat Ferrin, David Baum

Lance Nelson 

And we had a pinata! Colorado Pride! 

For the Beauty of the Earth

Abby and I went up to Moran, Wyoming to visit Hannah and it was an incredible experience. The drive was probably the prettiest 6 hours of my life and I was reminded of the great appreciation I have for the creativity and power of our Heavenly Father. This earth is one of majesty and grace. I could not imagine creating something more beautiful. 

We stopped in Logan and I got to eat lunch at the Bluebird Cafe. It was so fun to think that this is where I even became a possibility. Thanks Grandma for giving Grandpa a chance! 

We got into Jackson and took the classic picture under the arches. I know understand why so many people want summer homes in Jackson Hole. It is gorgeous and has a great small town feeling. We were lucky enough that Hannah lives an hour north of here so we got an extra hour of beautiful country side. 

Lewis Falls in Yellowstone National Park 

Old Faithful! I had been waiting for this moment for quite some time now and it was well worth the wait. We got a great one as well. The average is 130 feet and about 3 minutes. Ours was 160 feet high and lasted 4 minutes and 28 seconds. 

I was so impressed my Hannah's trail guide skills. She knew all the wildflowers and where to point our wildlife sightings, including bear droppings and elk rubbings. I am sad to admit that my legs and knees were no longer use to sitting on the back of the horse for 3 hours. 

Sunday afternoon we went back into the park with Hannah and had a little photo shoot. 

This was a perfect way to end the road trip. We hit this sunset coming out of Logan Canyon and it was just a sweet reminder of the incredible beauties of this earth and the love from a Heavenly Father.  

Totally Tober

True to Christensen Tradition we had a family reunion this summer. It was absolutely fabulous! 

It's amazing to see how fast our family has grown. Every time we get together I am blown away by how outstanding each of my family members are. They are doing some pretty incredible things with their lives. I showed this picture to one of my districts of missionaries and as I was going through talking about each family and describing what they do, they all were impressed. "You have a banker, a dentist, AND a doctor in your family?!" These statements were quickly followed by asking what I was going to bring to add to the family. Let's just say that he's going to have to be great in order to keep up with these guys! 

I have never loved being an aunt more than this weekend. Everywhere you turned someone was excited to see how or show you the bug that they had found. They were so fun! 

Hannah has truly become one of my best friends. We have decided that we're going to have a joint wedding because neither of us want to be the only single person in our family. 

One of my favorite parts of the whole trip was when Grandpa Peter and Nana Toby took all of the kids and we got to go through the temple. It was fabulous! 

Three generations! 

Classy! I hope to be that stylin' when I have a family and kids. 

We went to a trout hatchery and I actually baited the hook all by myself. I was so proud of myself! 

And... I caught one! I even gutted it. I know - be impressed.