First Week of School... check

   Well, the school year is finally here and I am working to settle into a few routines and get back into the swing of things. Summer never, ever feels long enough... but, since school has started I've wondered if I have ever done school before- - it's hard!! This is my least favorite time of year for several reasons...

• School starts (I know, I need to get a better attitude)
• Basketball season is still 2 months away which means that we are in preseason. Preseason = hell.
• I get a little homesick after being home in the summer.
• I always find spiders in our house...
• Campus is chaotic which means parking at BYU is near impossible.

   That being said... I do realize that it isn't all bad...

• It's football season!!!
• Fall is a beautiful time of year in Utah.
• The sooner you start... the sooner you finish. In regards to school, I mean.
• I have more opportunities to get ahead in school before the season hits full swing.
• I can be more social because I'm actually in Provo and not traveling a ton. 

   The first week was really hectic. For the first day I wasn't registered for ANY of the right classes because I was in the middle of switching my major and I couldn't register for classes because I had a hold on my student account, which meant that I had to do a bunch of running around to get the hold lifted. Anyways... it was a mess! But, all is well now and I am happy with my classes and schedule. I've been especially blessed this semester because every single one of my classes has a perfect balance between my spiritual and secular education. I find it a lot easier to find motivation because it is learning that I can most definitely apply to my every day life. 

  I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that the team and I were headed to St. George for a fun weekend retreat! Well, I haven't had the opportunity to give much of an update on that. But, there is only one real word to describe it..... FUN! It was blazing hot in St. George but we had an absolute blast. It definitely helped us grow closer as a team! Go Cougs!!!

My pretty team in Zion National Park!!

  

   After I got home from St. George on Saturday I was lucky to come back to Travis! He was down with his family for a family-friend's-son's mission homecoming! It was super convenient because it was just in American Fork! We had another really good weekend together and had a lot of fun. On Sunday, after the homecoming, we went to the family's house for dinner and saw one of the cutest things ever. Okay, if any of you have ever seen a basset hound puppy... you would agree that they are one of the cutest puppies ever. This little puppy was so precious! She would walk around and her ears would drag on the ground. I'll admit that when they grow up they really aren't the most striking of dogs! But, my goodness... this puppy was to die for!! 

Gravity!! For Cait!!

Sister Wilde!

   Last night one of my really good friends, Whitney Wilde, got her mission call! The first time I met Whitney... one of the first things she told me was that she was going on a mission. Usually, when some girls say that they want to serve a mission... I kind of say to myself... 'we'll see if that happens'. But, with Whitney, I knew that from the moment she said it that she was going on a mission. She has always been so determined and I am so proud of her for getting to where she is!

Sister Wilde!!!

    She is going to the Portugal, Lisbon mission!! I am so, so, so excited for her and she going to do WORK over there. It was the coolest thing being able to watch her open her call, the spirit was so strong!! 

Thumbs Up!

   It's been a pretty great couple of weeks! Sarah, my parents, Travis and now Angie and Craig have all been down to visit. It's been fun to see everyone and spend time with them in my 'second home'! It also has made the transition from home to Utah a lot easier! The first couple of weeks are always difficult for me and hard for me to not miss home, but having had the most important parts of home down here with me... it definitely makes it a lot easier.

    So, Travis came down and we had an absolute blast (as always). I laugh more with that kid than anyone!  We have a lot of fun together and he's just real easy to be around. One night while he was here we joined his old mission companion and his fiance along with another couple to a good ol' group date. We went to Tucanos (a divine restaurant) and then onto Boondocks! I place that you pay a high price for to get UNLIMITED FUN! It might seem like I'm saying that sarcastically, but in all actuality... it was really fun! I beat Trav twice at 'hot shot' and a few other games ;). However, there came a point in the evening where I lost... big time. If any of you have ever heard of bumper boats, you'll know what I'm talking about. But, with the bumper boats... I really met my maker. What it is, is these little motorized boats that you drive around and try to bump other people while spraying them with a water gun you have at the front of the boat. Okay... it wasn't like a weak little water gun, it was like a fire hose. A very substantial stream! Everyone that walked away from bumper boats was absolutely soaked. As a group, we decided that we weren't going to spray each other because none of us wanted to get that wet. Welllll.... in our group these 2 lovely, young boys joined us. I thought they were cute, innocent little things..... they played me for a fool. As the rest of our group was having a grand old time, I was being cornered and hosed from head to toe!! I was helpless and completely soaked. It literally looked like I jumped out of the boat and went for a swim. My hair was soaking, my make up was everywhere and... let's just say that I'm grateful I wasn't wearing a white t-shirt! Travis has a picture... I'll have to get it from him. But, even though I was freezing and my appearance was that of a drowned rat... it is really funny to look back on!! Thanks Mr. Seaborn for a blast of a weekend!!!

   I am about to leave with my team to St. George!!! It's going to be one heck of a weekend and end to summer before school starts.

Let the good times roll...

   I'm having fun with Miss Say Jay here in Utah! We have been shopping, to Lagoon and visited some creepy antique shops in down town Provo that I will never revisit. I usually love antique things and I think that those shops are so neat, but the ones we went did not have a nice feel to em'. Sarah and I decided to redo my room and I am really liking it so far! Check it out!!

 I know... I need to get new blinds...

Us crazies at Lagoon! So much fun!! But, we definitely did not pace ourselves on the rides. I was starting to feel a little sick after about the 10th ride... but, do you know what ride really did me over? The swings. Weirdest thing ever... 

So, Sarah and I as we were redoing my room thought it would be fun to record a video for my boy Travis and send it to him. He sent one back and it was an ongoing thread of these stupid videos! I had to post this one though, because the BEST part of this entire video is when Sarah comes in with that nasty voice. Every time I watch it... I about die laughing! That girl cracks me up! 

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 Making the transition from home to Utah is always easier when you have good company!!

 Our good pal Corbin Kaufusi had is wisdom teeth removed. So, Sarah and I thought it would be wise to take him this massive Pina Colada slurpee! 

 Cohen, my nephew, and I at the Heber Rodeo!

Sarah has been here with me and I've loved having her! I feel bad because I am so busy everyday until about 1:30 with basketball. Good thing she has a good attitude and is so patient! We've been having fun!

How cute is this picture? 

MOVIE WATCH LIST:

War Horse (Comes out Christmas time)

Buck- - not sure when it comes out... but, they both look incredible! 

  

Home

   I have been home for a little over 2 weeks now. I started work pretty much as soon as I arrived into the motherland. I actually really enjoyed my job that I had at the Stampede! It was really easy and went by really quickly. It was a good experience for me and I was also very lucky to be able to watch the rodeo everyday! I love rodeos... and I was able to see the greatest outdoor show on earth everyday!!

Our uniforms were really fun! I had a long red skirt, black boots, a really cute belt and a black hat.. Welcome to Ranahans!

Sarah had a job at the Stampede as well! I met her after my shift and we were enjoying a piece of Macaroni and Cheese PIZZA! Sounds revolting, right? Well, it was actually so good. 

I love this shirt! It's so cute!! I should have bought because when I have kids... they will love horses. 

This picture doesn't do those little bears justice. They were honestly SO cute! So soft and my mom about lost her mind. I thought she was going to cry in the store! So funny. My mom is a cutie.

Pedicures!! Much over due. 

I love being home! I love being able to see my family and spend time with them! I am happy with Provo and the life I have down there. But the saying is true... there is no place like home. Sometimes we get caught up in one aspect of life that we live and push aside other things that bring us a lot of joy. Since being home, I am figuring out that there are a lot of things that constitute ME.  I understand that I can live all of those aspects at once by creating balance in my life. I am no longer going to pick and choose between all of the things I love... I am going to incorporate all the things I love to do into my life and be happy!!

Just For Fun!

    A few weeks ago Kim and I helped out our cute lil' friend Karin Cottle. Karin goes to school at Paul Mitchell. She is an awesome little stylist and needed our help for one of her photo shoots. She did our make up and our hair and it was... a long day but it was so much fun!

This was so fun but one of the hardest things I've ever done. Props to the photographer for actually being able to capture a decent shot. I laughed a lot and was totally out of my element. But, a fun experience nontheless! 

Kim is legit. 

   Also.. the movie Water for Elephants was amazing!!!!!! I saw it and I cried... bawled, really. It was so, so great. I most definitely recommend it.