Jake will probably be upset that I'm sharing about this date, buuuut....he totally took me on a girls' night out date! hahaha... Juuuuuust kiddin', but also kind of not. ;) We've hung out a few times with his friend from work, Garrett (who I also went to high school with!), and his wife, Paige, and they've been talking about going to get pedicures with us for a while now, haha. So tonight we finally made it happen! We all went and got pedicures together! It was so much fun! I love getting pedicures every once in a while, and I got to go with my very favorite person! Afterwards, we all went to dinner at Maria Bonita's for some delicious Mexican food before Jake and I went back to my mom's house to watch a chick flick, haha. Cause, you know, it's not a girls' night out without a chick flick! ;)

On Saturday, one of my best friends, Paisley, got married! I always love going to my friends' weddings as both the videographer and friend! It means so much to mean when my friends trust me enough to film their wedding. I've got the most supportive friends. Jake also came to play second shooter, and that only made it better! It's been nearly two years since Jake and I first met shooting a wedding together at the Payson Temple, so it was fun to have him shooting alongside me at that same temple again for Paisley's wedding! And he's a champ for staying by my side throughout that blazing heat. We're talking over 100 degrees, people. But I am so happy for my dear friends Paisley and Spencer, and it was so good to spend time with all my best friends all day! 

BASEBALL GAMES + BACHELORETTE PARTY + LEHI ROUNDUP

I've been telling Jake that he needs to find some sort of baseball league that he can play in for life. Going to his games is one of my favorite things to do every week! He plays on a team with a bunch of guys that he works with, and I get such a kick out of watching them. Plus, it's just one of those situations where you feel like nothing could go wrong. There I am at the fields, typically as the sun goes down after a hot summer day, watching my favorite human beam because he's doing something that he absolutely loves, which also happens to be my favorite sport, AND I get to sit by his parents; two incredible, loving, hilarious people who have me belly-laughing every single time. For me, it's one of the dreamiest scenarios! I love these summer nights.

On Wednesday night, I got to go to Paisley's bachelorette party. I flippin' love bachelorette parties, haha! It's something about how happy the bride-to-be always is, and something about being with your best girl friends, eating good food, and having fuuuuun conversations. ;) 

We went to dinner at Tepanyaki, and then went back to Caitie's for treats and presents. Paisley got lots of nice lingerie, lots of tips from the married ladies, and we all left full and happy, haha.

Maybe this is too personal for the blogosphere, but getting to spend so much time with the Hasler's sometimes leaves me feeling pretty overwhelmed. You know, in the "my cup runneth over" kind of way. I just can't believe I'm dating this guy who's family I already love so much, and who make me feel so loved, and who are so good to be around! If I'm bein' honest, I've cried the happy kind of tears about it. (more than once, haha.) 

It's little moments where I feel it most. Like when I'm eating ice cream sandwiches with little Jakey (Jake's nephew) after cleaning up trash in the yard, and making him giggle by putting hair-ties in his hair while we watch Jake play catch with another nephew. Or when I'm sitting squished between a bunch of Hasler's at the rodeo. Or when we're sitting on the back patio on a warm Sunday night, eating the best grilled chicken known to man, talking about growing gardens and raising chickens. No matter how you look at it, I feel immeasurably blessed, and I feel joy. I like the word joy, because I feel like it somehow encompasses the hard things, like the ache in my heart left from my dad's passing, but at the same time includes a very true and real happiness. 

But seriously. 

My cup runneth over.

TUESDAYS WITH NATHAN + GNO

I feel like I'm always talking about how Nathan is sick. That poor guy. His condition makes it so that he gets sick easily and frequently, and this time it's pneumonia. I am always amazed by my incredible parents and their ability to stay optimistic, even though they spent so many nights awake with Nathan all night because of his constant coughing and difficulty breathing at some points. Despite him being sick, I still wanted to spend Tuesday night hanging out with him. He was really tired and slept most of the time, but it means a lot to me to be there with him anyway. So he sat next to me, sleeping, while I played (and lost...) Hand N' Foot with my parents. I have been thinking a ton lately about how amazing family is. It's the most important thing. 

I'm also especially grateful for friends that basically become family. This is the case with a few good friends, and I feel this way about Berkley and Rachel. I grew up in St. George with them, and even after mostly losing contact for a few years, when we reconnected, it was as if no time had passed at all! Now I see them at least twice a month, and it's so good for me! It's a beautiful thing, getting older and having real friendships and making them a priority. I have a hard time letting people go, haha, so I've felt a lot of heartache over the years of this young adult life, as people come in and out of my life so frequently and easily. I hang on to people, and it's always a good feeling when people hang on to you too. These two check up on me all the time, and I know I can count on them for anything. Seriously, I'm so blessed with the friends I have! 

Wednesday night we decided to do all the girly things, haha. We went and got manicures/pedicures and then went to Ulta so Rachel could find some things. As always, the night left me feeling uplifted and refreshed from being with such great people. 

And today I'm running away to St. George to watch my niece's dance recital! Hope you all (mom) have a fun weekend!

Fancy Shmancy Pumpkin Pie.

My weekend,

which pretty much began with Thursday after classes ended,

was absolutly deluctable.

Here's the recap:

Thursday night presented a

NIGHT OUTWITH THE GIRLS!!

It had been a long time since I'd had one of these.

It was fan-freaking-tastic.

We drove to the ST-G and hit up Cafe Rio, and then spent a good amount of time shopping at the outlets. Then we headed over to Scott and Josh's and got yummy ice cream cones at Larsen's FROSTOP! mmmm. I love that place.

The drive home was funny...cause Emily ordered three very sugary desserts at Frostop...and...sugar just does something to her.

Friday I got to drive home with my lovely sister Julie, her husband and two children, and Matthew. We then got dressed up all fancy and went to SLC for Papa's Gala.

He is the CEO of a microcredit company that gives small loans to people in third world countries so that they can make their small businesses better and become more self sufficient. Their Motto: a hand UP, not a hand OUT.

Kind of like that moral that goes something like: give someone fish and you feed them a meal, teach them to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.

you know?

my dad is super classy and good at asking people to donate to this beautiful cause.

I got to have Matthew as my date, and boy did he look handsome.

Well...he always does. It's so distracting.

Anyway.
David Archuletta was there and he sang some songs and also his mother did too. Because she grew up in Honduras, which is one of the countries my dad's business helps.
He has a tragically wonderful voice. and even though I didn't know any of his songs..I don't think he sang any of his most popular ones anyway.

But he does sound lovely.

Saturday was fantastic because I got to see my dearest, most best friend in the ENTIRE world,
BRIELLE PORTER.

she is my soul-mate-friend. As in..if any two people in the world were meant to be friends, it would be us. We're the same person..in a very good way. We never argue, dispute, or disagree. And we don't live in a friendship fantasy world either. We're 100% honest with each other. I know she'd never talk about me behind my back, because if she had a problem with me, she'd say it to my face and we'd talk over it. Cause we're mature like that. :) But seriously...I don't even say "I hope I'll be friends with Brielle my whole life..." Because she's basically my sister. I don't have to worry about it. I KNOW she'll be there my entire life. She's just that kind of friend for me.

it had been MONTHS since I had seen her.
months, I'm telling you.

Because she spent her whole summer working in Texas, and now goes to school at BYU and I'm here at SUU...and...it's just difficult. But I gathered her and our other dear friend Rachel Wade and we all went to lunch together at Pizza Factory.

It's amazing how normal it feels between good friends, even when it seems like it's been an eternity.

ah. I love Bri and Rachel.

And now here I am, back at my cosy little dorm room at SUU.

which I do love as well.

ah life..you are so beautiful to me.

Love,

Kay.