Birthday Celebrations!

I woke up to the beautiful poster yesterday morning! Gotta love Kylee!!! (you can live with me as long as you'd like!)After a very uplifting and spiritual church experience I went to visit Grandpa Turner and continued over to have dinner with the Snelgroves! This is a weekly tradition I do on Sundays and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect birthday dinner! They've really been my family away from home and have made my decision to move extremely difficult! Thanks guys!!!!!

My next stop was off to Birthday Bunko Bash with my mom's side of the family...this was a little awkward because no one really knew the exact date of my b-day until Chad (featured below) asked what day it was...."it's actually today :/"

Here is a picture of some of the Hardy cousins....Nick, Chad, Morgan and me
I know we're a special looking group of kin

To top the evening off a picture of me and my favorite aunt Sherrie!
We played Bunko and I finally won!!!!! By won, I mean I won for the most losses :)

Thanks to everyone who were able to take the time to send a text message or phone call. Sarah and Emma you guys win for best phone call!!!! (it's kinda by default cuz they called from NZ!)

Oh but my best birthday present was.........................the fact that I got

ACCEPTED TO PEPPERDINE!!!!!!!!

Jordanelle!!!

Skiing is done at Snowbird and the temp is an average 90 in the valley...summer is officially here!!!! :) What better way to ring my favorite season in than with a boating trip to Jordanelle?!?! Oh and did I mention it was me and 3 boys....yeah I was to token lotion girl ;)

Here is Mike and Matt just enjoying some time on the boat and relaxing in the sun!Here is Dave killing it on the board. (He has only been out 3 times) We weren't too ontop of taking pictures so you missed me in all my glory impressing the boys with my skills

Mike showing off how sexy (he thinks he is) jk we keep him around for more than his looks ;)

Dave experiencing the fastest 20mph of his life! Geez he is a thrill seeker!My favorite spot on the boat! I mean it's second to being towed by the boat with a wakeboard on my feet :)Honestly not wanting the day to come to an end! Pure happiness for me is being on a boat, oh and the guy:girl ratio didn't hurt!

This was seriously a perfect way for me to welcome in summer! When we were finished for the day we were sitting at the dock waiting to take the boat out of the water and I might have beeen quoted saying "I'd rather live on a lake than by the beach!" Oops!! Looks like I might have to look into applying to different schools real fast! If only my family weren't all still in Irvine, then CA wouldn't even have a shot!

Hike anyone????

I came up with this genius idea to hike the peak and pick up my pay check...the best part of my idea was to drag Christina and Linc along with me!!!! She was so excited! I started having reservations about my idea (we are NOT recommending hiking off the peak at this time!) but she was too excited to back out! So we headed up and started our adventure!

I think this was around the time that Christina realized this hike would not be like any other hike she had done before! We climb 2,900 verticle feet in pure slush and if you didn't notice she does have an extra 40lbs on her back! At least she doesn't hate me yet, look at that smile on her face :)

Cute Linc didn't realize how long this hike would be and decided to take a nap!!!! I will tip my hat off to him because he behaved sooooo well!!! We would not have finished if he was fussy or wanting out but he was a true trooper and loved it! (look at that view, it almost makes it worth it!)

About half way we kinda started freakin out! I ran out of water! (Rog and Kari obviously didn't give me very good advice the night before on which size camel pack to buy!) Christina started to really feel the effects of the altitude so we switched!!! I took Linc for a bit....they don't call him LBS for nothing!!!
Shortly after we switched I honestly started thinking to myself, there is no way we are going to finish this hike, what on earth were we thinking even starting it?!?!?! Good thing I brought my phone because maybe I could call one of my friends to ride the tram up and then come get us with a snowmobile because for every 2 steps we would take it was really only one...it was soo slushy!!!!!! I have too much pride though so we kept trecking...just like our ancestors ;)

Here we are in all our victory and glory!!!! Look at Linc's face, he thought we'd never make it but look at Christina's face......she hasn't looked that happy since her wedding day! jk

I love working at the Bird because after the torture of a hike we were able to go rest in the Ski Patrol shack, have a drink, steal some milk for Linc and finally let him use his legs....they didn't work at first! Here is our second, totally excited picture or our accomplishment and me out of my smelly shirt!
Thanks to Blanche and Linc for being such good sports about the "fun" aka torture I put them through! The view is always breath taking during this hike which makes me forget about the pain so I always want to do it again....it might take me a little longer to forget about it this time though!

Who knows?!?!?!

So the entire reason I ventured down to California a few weeks ago was to take a test to get into school. The test has 3 different subjects and it doesn't need to be passed until December but knowing me I'd need to take it a couple times! I bought a study book like a good student would....sadly mine just collected dust! I honestly didn't open it beyond the title page! (Yeah I'll be returning that tomorrow!)

Anyway when I show up very unprepared and very early to take this unfortunate test I ran into a girl I went to high school with. She was high on her coffee buzz and informs me that this was the 4th time she has taken one of the sections from the test! Yeah I started freakin out about this time! My mom tried to get me to study by telling me this horror story of her friend that had to take it over 10 times...seriously don't you just give up by then?!?!?!?

After being shaken up a little I took the test and walked out with my head a low as it would go! I didn't think I had a shot in hell of passing more than 1 section! They had questions like...Compare and contrast the Inca and Aztec empire back in 530bc in these areas....yeah right like I'm supposed to know that off the top of my head! Well turns out your dearest travel freak didn't read her study book but while I was at the book store purchased a book about Machu Picchu and decided to glance through that instead! I apparently gathered enough information to bs my way through that essay question along with many more to pass ALL 3 sections of the test! I told my mom my story and she says she'll treat me to a trip to walk the Inca trail when I graduate!!!!!!

Here I come Peru!!!!!

Mis Abuelos!

This weekend I drove down to St. George to hang out with the grandparents. They're getting to that stage in life (and by getting to I mean they've been there for 10years now) where they're lonely so I decided to be a good grand-daughter and visit them! It's sad because I think I literally gained 5lbs at least in 4 days because all we seriously did was eat! That's what they look forward to...it's what gets them out of the house! Shoot me if I ever get like that!


Anyway it was good to see them. They're always good for some free food, bridge, and of course an adventure down to Mosquite for some bingo!!!! I lost :( Oh and can I say that being down there in the 95 degree heat has definitely made me want summer to hurry her cute little behind up and stop snowing!!!!

Let's not forget the REAL reason I ventured 300miles down south....that's right for some In-N-Out!!!!! Their shakes are to die for!!!!