The first 6 months

   Hello Blog world! I realized the other day that Blogging used to be such a huge part of my life! I would write such deep and unique things on the blog. I am grateful I learned how to do this, and started a blog during college. It is all I have as a written record of my life. My poor children are going to know next to nothing about my young adult life because I have struggled so much to write things down. Oh well, I will try to be better. What I really like about blogging is that I can use photos to tell my story. They are so fun. So here are a few from the last 6 months of my life!

Since January, life has been pretty routine. Mitch and I woke up around 6:30 every morning to get ready and head off to our responsibilities. He to school and work as a secretary/excel genius for the buildings department of BYU and me to my internship at Union Middle school. We would come back from these lives of ours around 4 in the afternoon. Most days, Mitch had a later class and would be home around 7 and I had lacrosse to coach, or basketball to coach, and wouldn't really be done with responsibilities till around 7 or 8 myself. This was our busiest and craziest time. It was also very rewarding though. Here is a photo of the lax team I coached this year.

At the end of Mitch's semester we enjoyed a trip out to San Diego with Katie to visit my parents. It is always so good to go out to see them. We love it when we get the chance. During our visit this time, we were privy to a free tour of the US battleship "Midway ". Here are some photos of our experience there.

Behind us is a statue of a very famous Photo taken of a sailor seeing his girl for the first time after the war called "the kiss". We were re-enacting it here. 

For our wedding we got a gift certificate to go to the roof complimentary of our reception center. We enjoyed this on the anniversary of our first date on May 4th. Here are some photos of that day. It was BEAUTIFUL downtown and the perfect celebration of an important day in our lives. 

We seem to be doing a lot of driving lately. Whether it be to our jobs or just to our parents house, most of our one one one time seems to be in the car. So this photo is necessary to describe what seems to be at least 1 hour a day of our lives every day. 

On memorial day we made sure to visit some graves of my family. Most of Mitch's family is not buried in Utah, so we did not visit any of his side. My grandma Clayton still doesn't have a headstone after 4 years of her passing away. I hope next year when we go to visit there is something to mark that her body lies there. 

We both have our birthday's in May. Mitch's is on the 22nd and mine is on the 31st. We had fun buying things for each other! I surprised Mitch with a kindle and he surprised me with a nintendo 64 and my favorite game ever. 

He also bought me this lovely necklace, an ipod shuffle so I can have tunes while I run, and some wonderful clothes/shoes. I am so spoiled. 

June 7th marked the end of my internship! I can hardly believe that it is over. It was such a wonderful experience full of changing and growing. So much happened to me during the last school year, it is incredible to look back on. I got engaged, married, coached a university lacrosse team as the head honcho, coached a 9th grade bball team, and organized a 3 v 3 basketball tournament at my school. I moved into an apartment in pleasant grove, became a wife, in-law and all that goes with it. And I had incredible relationships with my students at Union. I really do feel like I impacted lives while being there for just a year. They told me at the beginning that it would be tough, and I thought, well... I am a tough girl. It definitely was harder than I expected, but in all reality looking back it wasn't too bad. It was as tough as I expected, but the emotional strains of teaching I was not prepared for. 

It was hard to daily work up the energy to be positive and passionate about what I was teaching. Sometimes, the best moments were during those times I was teaching about avoiding an STI or how to properly wear deodorant, and the worse times were when I felt like I really needed to get concepts into their heads like how to refuse drugs, violence and sexual misconduct. It was challenging to believe in what I was saying after delivering it for the 6th time that day... But it definitely was all worth it. In the end, I got a lot of thank you cards about how I helped people to recognize they were in a cruddy relationship and how to get out of it, or I helped them to improve their self-esteem. Sometimes I got quick notes in the question jar asking me for relationship advice or how to deal with friends who don't like you. It was rewarding to know that I was making an impact, though very subtle on student's lives. 

I miss that. And the opportunities I had at Union. I hope that soon I will find another job in teaching so I can continue to make and impact and positive difference in the lives of youngsters.    

My classroom after I had moved all my stuff out of it. :(

Legit teacher Kelsey. Room 718 

This is Jaqui, my fellow BYU intern at Union. She saved me during so much of my struggles at Union. I am so glad I got to work with her and have someone to talk with and relate to. I had another co-worker there named Olivia who was an awesome friend too. She left before I could take a photo of her, but these ladies were the best. 

We have loved spending time on Mitch's parents boat at Jordanelle reservoir. We love being outside by the water and have spent many afternoons on this boat with many more to come. Doesn't Mitch look so at home here? I love it. 

So that's our lives up to now! Mitch is working 30ish hours a week at his job down at BYU and I am catching up on projects and things like blogging at home while I apply at different schools and places like costco for a job in the fall. Most of my days are spent out on our tiny patio in our recently purchased camping chairs enjoying the stories of Tina Fey. (I highly recommend her book Bossypants if you are looking for a laugh.) 

So, some good thing happened since October when I last blogged! Mostly, I was super busy with my internship and daily trying not to kill myself, enjoying some time (usually like 2 hours a day during the week and most the weekend) with Mitch, and preparing for my wedding! It was such an incredible time of my life. I really enjoyed it and enjoyed learning all that I did. But there were so many things about being engaged that I am not going to miss... so I am grateful to be married to my wonderful husband and best friend. He is awesome! Life together (the last 2 +) weeks, has been great. I am so grateful to have had a pretty easy time at it, so much of that because of my wonderful mother and mother-in-law plus my sisters and friends. I couldn't have done any of it without you, and I am so happy to be able to have the help of so many people! Here is a little sample of what I have. When I get my wedding photos this week I will make sure to post some of those!!

This is our engagement photo

 This is what they call the "first look" except that we never really got mitch's face just his body he he.

This is the back of my dress... I quite like it! 

For your? viewing pleasure? I just liked it ha ha

This is my favorite. So cute! 

This is at the temple! We are married people here. I love it. It was so nice outside. It was snowing and gross outside while we were being sealed, and then right as we came out of the temple, we had the clouds part and 30 degree weather!!! What a blessing! Most of my photos aren't even with the coat on!

We went to hawaii on our honeymoon. It was 70 degrees there and nice to be in a romantic place for our honeymoon. Most of the days were a bit rainy, but we ate delicious food, and just got to catch up on life! It was perfect! 

Cheeseburger in Paradise... yum. Our favorite meal there. Look how handsome Mitch is! What a stud I married. :)

So. Lots has happened since I last blogged! Fall happened. And with it, a lot of new things! I moved home, started teaching, and got myself a nice diamond ring and fiance. I couldn't be happier. It is just crazy! I can't believe so much has changed in two months. Teaching is a major beast, but it is awesome. I feel like it is one of the hardest things I have ever done, but the stress is starting dissipate. Here are some photos of my classroom... 

The weekend before the first day of school, my sisters and I got to go see the musical wicked. It was SO good and so fun to go to a fancy play with my sisters (spencer was there with us too). I think we look pretty good :) The leads were some of the best I have heard, but something seemed a little off that night. Not sure if it was just me or something else. Probably just that our $90 tickets were behind some ladies with big hair ha ha ha.

On the first day of school, Mitch sent me these beautiful flowers! What a stud eh? I am the luckiest girl.

The first weekend of school we decided to venture away to St. George. It was the perfect thing for us to do. Mitch and I got to know a lot about each other that weekend, and it was just what we both needed to solidify how we felt about each other. Basically on that trip we decided to get married... so... 

 We got engaged! The day was September 19th, a Wednesday, and a total surprise.

Our first date was to a wedding reception and then we went to dinner and hiked the Y after. Around 10:00 when he was about to drop me off, I really didn't want the night to end... I was intrigued by this boy, and wanted to spend more time with him. So he surprisingly (Mitch doesn't like to hike or run) he suggested we hike the Y. It was so fun, and I feel like I knew from that night on that something about him was going to win my heart. I just couldn't pin point what it was for the longest time. We saw each other about ever singly day since that first date all through the summer. The week we spent apart was so hard for us, and other weeks we have had since moving apart from each other have been so difficult. We just decided we didn't want to live without each other... so. On wednesday the 19th, his mom and I were driving to provo, and she had to 'run and errand'. She had this photo CD to drop off at her cousin's house. Turns out this house is at the trail head of the Y! So we pulled up and there were white balloons everywhere and candles lining the driveway and pathways. I thought it was a wedding party for someone and thought nothing of it. Then I saw Mitch in the rearview mirror, with this huge grin on his face and a nice new shirt. I was so surprised to see him... and then I put the pieces together. I was getting engaged! I opened my car door and gave him a huge hug and realized that he was shaking almost uncontrollably... bless his heart. We walked to the grass, and he just got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! I said yes right away and was just sooo happy. I didn't cry at all, just screamed and was so happy. We ate Lajolla groves and watched the sun set. What a perfect proposal!!! I am so excited to get married. On December 28th, 2012 is the day we are getting married! Wish us luck and any advice/help you want to send my way I am welcomed and excited to get!! 

Not the best quality photos... ;)

Hey Y'all! It is time for me to blog again! Here are some events from the last few weeks! 

 So this summer. Mitch and I have been trying to do productive things with our time instead of spend most of it inside our apartments just hanging out, as is so tempting to do in the heat. Here is a photo of us at a bees game! I love this picture.

 Chris and Jacee blessed little Lilly Clayton at the beginning of July, and Mitch hung out with the family. So this is us there.

 We took the big trip to San Diego so that my parents could meet Mitch. It was awesome. We had a blast. We got off the plane, and the Mormon Battalion is near the airport so of course we naturally went to the Battalion. Mitch liked it, and it was fun to go back to the scene of the crime. I started my minny mission a week from tomorrow. That is weird to me that it has been a year...

 The following day was Saturday, and in San Diego in the summer, saturdays are CRAZY. So we went to a less populated spot called Point Loma. It was really fun to be by the water but not have to go in to it. They have the old and new lighthouse there, and so many beautiful views of the san diego harbor and the ocean... It was surprisingly romantic actually...

 Mom spent so long on Saturday making this "Pavlova..." It is a beautiful little suffla (spelling) thing. It was delicious. Good job Mama!!

 Katie has been wanting to go to the Zoo forever, so we took a trip there on Monday. It was really fun, and HUGE. But we saw a lot in the four hours we were there, and will probably never go back. Mitch was a trooper to walk around the whole thing with us with a sore back and two ladies who love to read everything.

 After the Zoo we went to an outdoor organ concert and that was beautiful and fun and I want to go do that a lot more often when I am in San Diego. It is awesome.

 Tuesday we went to this little town called Julian where they are famous for their pies. We only had about 4 hours to get there, eat and look around then drive back. And unfortunately, the drive up there was about 2 hours. We loved the random adventure and the food and apple pies were all delicious. The parents got to know Mitch better and I loved that. It all seemed to go down pretty well! It was not long enough though.

 This little Amy loves Mitch. She always smiles when he comes around, and we just have a blast together. I love that my family, even the little ones, has accepted him so fully!

 I just completed my second and last session of EFY. It was so great to be with older girls. I learned so much from this group of ladies, and I am SO grateful for the lessons I learned at EFY and that I got to teach so much with this experience. What a blessing!

 For the 24th we went to the Orem Olz game with some friends and it was a fun way to celebrate the holiday!

We are weirdos.

That's life!! So much change is coming in the next few weeks! Here's hoping it is all good change. :)

EFY session one - Ogden 2. June 10th-15th 2012

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This is a photo of Hannah's wedding! Me, Hannah, and Heather. How I miss these girls. It was a beautiful wedding. I don't think I posted any photos from it... 

  EFY! I just finished my first session of EFY and it was awesome! I fell in love with these girls and am so happy that they were my first group. There wasn't a hard girl in the group and we all got along really well. They will have bright futures if they keep up their testimonies of Jesus Christ. It was so awesome to think about the amazing blessings that come from the gospel all week this week. We became stronger by being a part of this and it was so great. I am grateful to have had my testimony strengthened and be able to teach and be around the youth. It made me so excited for the  opportunity to teach them! 

 So these are pictures from a trip that my sisters and I took to san diego when we went to visit mom and dad in February. Here are some samplings from our trip. It was awesome! I loved it.

 This is a photo of me at my favorite ice cream shop in Chula Vista. It was so fun to go back with all my sisters (except ashley) to my mission. Yummy Oasis.

 Our bbq at mom and dad's in SD caught on FIRE! Dad opened up the grill, we saw a huge flame of smoke, and all the sudden a scream then silence. Yikes! He was fine and so is the grill ha ha.

                             Ha ha ha. :) Thanks Danielle... maybe I should be a part time model? jk.