events that defined 2009

In 10th grade, I started debate. After Christmas break, Ms. Hyer would have us write down a list of all of the big current events that happened the year before and then all of the big events that happened in our own lives. After we wrote it all down, we would have to give a speech on the events that defined our year.
Since i'm no longer in high school, i wanted to keep that tradition alive. I always thought it was a nice way to sum up the year.

2009.....

DANCES
in january there was Jr Prom at WX with Ryan. It was our first real dance together as a couple. way fun.





in April, we went to WX's Senior Ball. My dad was the DJ and it was at the capitol. It was the best dance EVER! thanks Ryan!




WX homecoming in September... yeah thats right... i totally super-seniored it.




SCHOOL
I got the T.H. Bell Scholarship which was super exciting!
I started an internship at IHC as an EKG tech. I learned a TON. and made a bunch of new friends.
Finished my last year of debate and as Debate VP.
Won 1st in state at HOSA and had the opportunity to go to nationals. I wasn't able to go because of my job..
And of course, GRADUATION!!!!!!!!




WORK
I had the BEST summer job EVER this year! I worked for Lagoon entertainment and LOVED IT! I really hope i get the chance to work there again!




and then for frightmares, I was a Witch! so much fun!



After summer ended...
I got my 1st apartment


and started college at USU!


oh yeah, and I LOVE my roommates.
seriously. i love them. thanks Bonnie, Rebecca, Brittney and Mckayla, you girls are great!


My family moved in October! we have always lived in the same house in kaysville. so it was hard to imagine moving. but i love our new home!



BIRTHS
I got to be there when my aunt Suzanne delivered her second baby, Oakley. It was an amazing experience. Thanks for letting me be there Suzanne!

DEATHS
In may, Kirsty Sargaent passed away. She fought a really tough battle with cancer. I am so happy I got to be a part of her life. I was able to help her out for a summer when she was receiving treatment. She was an incredible woman and anyone who knew her was forever changed for the better. we love you kirsty. thanks for the memories. thanks for sharing your love and life with us.

November. MY great Grandma Carma died. I had the opportunity to get her ready after she died. It was a special experience to have and i will always remember that.

and in december Scott left us. Scott was one of the most special people i have ever met. He was a friend to all and we all loved him. even my cousins remember him playing games with them. he was such a kind and gentle friend. I was just reading through all of the cards and notes that he wrote me over the years and it brought back so many happy memories. he will be missed greatly. i love you scott.




IN THE NEWS
swine flu
the economy
michael jackson's death
obama
ted kennedy's death
patrick swazee's death
nobel peace prize given to obama

Merry Christmas

CHRISTMAS MORNING

We had a great Christmas this year. Thanks Santa!










Even Maybe got in the spirit of Christmas!


then Ryan joined us and we went to my grandparents

Christmas Eve Festivities

I started off this Christmas Eve by going to Ryan's family party. I had a fantastic time. They were so nice to include me and his Grandma Carol even let me play all of their traditional games! I had such a good time! It's been nice to date Ryan for long enough that we can spend parts of our holidays together! It was such a great party and everyone was so kind.

Every year for Christmas Eve since I can remember, we have gone to Grandma and Grandpa Porters house. We always play songs with Grandmas bells. And then we act out the Nativity Scene.
The last couple years though have been different. Everyone is married and has their own families so not as many people show up on Christmas Eve. We didn't go last year because my mom wanted to start our own traditions. This year though, we did go. Suzanne and her family were there and of course Grandma and Grandpa.
So as you can imagine it is hard to act out the nativity scene with only 6 people who could participate.


Grandpa read the Nativity Story, while Grandma played songs on the piano that matched the story.



Dad and Megan were Mary and Joseph..



Suzanne and Joe were Shepherds.



Capree was the Angel


And I was the one and only Wiseguy



We would have had more participants, but mom and MItchel were upstairs trying to decide if Mitchel should go to the ER. He did end up going after the Nativity scene. Mom and Dad took him. Don't worry though, he only has chemical burns in his esophagus from dry swallowing pills.
Aside from Mitchel's Emergency Room Visit, It was a great Christmas Eve. Thanks to everyone who was a part of it!

SNOG PARTY

December 18th
was the
1st Annual
Performance Audio
SNOG Party

SNOG: (noun) sweaters+eggnog= SNOG

Which means.....
Everyone (by everyone i mean everyone who is fun) at performance audio wore their fantastically ugly christmas sweaters and we had a great party!!!!

Chris in all of his christmas glory.


Dad in his tree skirt... i mean christmas poncho


the owners of performance audio


Chris and the girls


ALL of the girls


Mallory and Levi in the classic high school dance pose



Mallory and I went on an adventure to the bank, and the gas station. way fun!




and then we returned to the snogging...




overall successful SNOG party!!!! i hope next years is just as fun!

Happy Holidays

This Christmas was so much fun! It was so great to come home for the holidays. Living away from home has been fun, but being home for a whole month has been great!!! I came home on December 10th, which is Ryan's birthday. His mom was so kind and invited me out to dinner with their family for his birthday. We went to Happy Sumo and had some really great sushi! On December 11th, Ryan and I went to his dad's company party where he played the guitar and I sang. (If you can call it singing...) Ryan is such a great musician. I am always so impressed with how talented he is.

On the 16th my family had a gingerbread house making party. I think we have done this for the last couple years. Its always been at our house and it always involves different family members and friends. It was so much fun! we always split up into small groups and make our houses together!
On team 1 we had Grant and Mitchel


They made a lovely gingerbread train.



On team 2 we had Darrin, Suzanne and Capree



Of course when you put 3 A-type personalities together, you get a beautifully perfect gingerbread house. gumdrop sidewalk and all.



oh and don't forget about the perfect icing icicles.




On team 3 we had Lindsay and Megan.



They made an adorable Christmas Train.



And finally, team 4 we had My mom and I.
Lets just say we made the BEST gingerbread house EVER!!!!!!!!


It may look messy to the untrained eye, but don't be fooled, it was the best ever!



Of course Grandma and Grandpa were both there for moral support, assistance with our houses, and watching the kids.







Another great year of gingerbread houses!

in memory of scotty

you know those phone calls that seem to stop time. the kind where the person on the other side pauses and each word comes out making you feel heavier than the last. the phone calls where you're heart starts beating so hard you can feel it in your throat. those are the phone calls that you will never forget. the ones that will live with you forever. they have the ability to turn your whole world upside down. In my life, I've been lucky enough to only get a few of those horrifying phone calls. today was one of those days.

Scott burgin was one of the best friends a person could ask for. and if you knew him, you already knew that. you would also know that it was a blessing to have him in your life because Scott was and will always be one of a kind. he was kind to all, reliable, and a very special person. he lived his life to the fullest and always brought joy to those around him. i know he would be sad to know that all of us were hurting without him, because Scott, he would never want to hurt anyone.

I remember the first time we met, we were in 5th grade and I just went up to him on the playground and started talking. we played four square every day after that. we've been friends ever since. and although we didn't keep in touch all the time, Scott and i always had a special bond. we just knew things. and even after months without seeing each other, we never felt like we had been apart.


he always said the nicest things to me. i remember all of the times that he was there for me. I remember he came to my house after my surgery and instead of looking at me with pity, he layed down on mom's bed with me and handed me a card. The card said "to my handicapped friend" and I couldn't stop laughing. at a time when everyone felt bad for me and i was stuck in a bed, he knew how to make me laugh. he had a way of knowing what needed to be said and when, to make me feel better.

i wish i could have been there for him, to make him feel better.

Scott was a great person. he always smiled at me and brought so many happy moments to my life. . he was so gentle and down to earth, it made others so comfortable around him. we shared lots of special moments together, as I'm sure many others did. and i know Scott lived every moment in his life that way. he was always full of questions and wonder with the world and everything around him.

I've heard this poem before, but i think it fits Scott better than any other person. i know he would have liked it.


The Dash - by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came the date of his birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That he spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved him
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?





scotty, i love you. and i always will. thanks for sharing your short life with me. I'm so happy i got to be a part of it. thanks for the laughs, thanks for holding my hand when i was sad. thanks for treating me with love and respect. thanks for all of the memories i get to keep with me. thanks for believing in me. thanks for being my friend. I'll never forget you.

ill forever be your stargirl
love you Scott

gobble gobble gobble

SOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED FOR THANKSGIVING!!!!
I love all the food and the family and the colors. Thanksgiving has the cutest colors. Just think about all of the turkey decorations, brown and red and yellow and orange. All of the best fall colors all rolled into one animal!
oh and its my favorite holiday that honors the indians (native americans... feather, not dot)
every year, i dress up in my favorite indian costume to represent the indians that attended the first thanksgiving!




I was thinking about dressing up as a pilgrim to shake things up a little, but I think if I'm not dressed as an indian, there will be something missing at Thanksgiving...

'Tis the Season...

I love CHRISTMAS!!!!! I think everyone should start decorating the minute Halloween ends! I understand that Thanksgiving is important, but I don't think Christmas Decor distracts from the feeling of the Holidays! (lets be honest, the only feeling I get at Thanksgiving is the feeling of overeating..) Anyway... like i said i LOVE Christmas!!! And nothing says love like DECORATIONS...
SO.......
Brittney and I made Ornament Wreaths today!!!!!
3 words...WAY STINKIN' CUTE!!!



we had tons of fun, and they turned out way easier than I thought they would be!


We started with wire hangers, and made them into circles..


Pick your bulbs, whatever colors you want... and then string them on!!! told you! way stinkin' easy!



be patient.. they take a while..



and you might go a little crazy while you're stringing bulbs and singing christmas songs...



but the finished product is worth it!!!