Crystal Caves

 Today I had the opportunity to go on a field trip. My brother Scott is in 2nd grade and got to go to Crystal Cave. My dad was supposed to go with Scott as a chaperon but  its an hour drive from our house and Dad gets really stiff from his Parkinson's so I went with him and drove. I'm really glad I went. It was really cool. The last cave I went in was Timpanogos Caves which was when I was a sophomore in high school. When I was Scott's age, I used to go to Penn's Cave, but its filled with water so you ride in boats throughout the cave. It's really neat. Crystal Cave is a lot smaller but the kids still had a lot of fun. Here is Scott at the beginning. 

The guide called this an upside down ice cream cone. Interestingly, the guide was trying to teach the kids about stalagmites vs. stalactites and to teach them the difference he said if you jump up high and hold onto something you want to hold on "tight" vs. so the ones on the ground are stalagmites. 

Does this look like bacon strips to you?

The guide was also saying that the cave was also used as a place to celebrate. It is always 54 degrees. So in the winter, its warmer than the outside and in the summer its cooler than outside. People used to have babies baptized, weddings, dances, and meetings in the cave. This formation was used as a pulpit for meetings in the cave. 

The cave used to be full of water, but this is all that's left.

Called "fried eggs", this formation is a result of the removal of stalagmites. It is also the only formation in the cave that could be touched because it is already dead. 

 

coming out of the cave 

looking down from the top of the cave

Scott in front of some of the signs for crystal cave, and the Amish Buggy .

In front of the ice cream parlor... too bad it was closed!

Oh how I love the Y!

 I have always wanted to hike Y mountain. Everyone who goes to BYU knows its something you have to do. This year I made it my goal to do and with Jess leaving on a mission it seemed like the perfect time because I'll be graduated when she gets back. The first reading day, my roommates and I decided to go for it and hike the Y. My birthday was 2 days before and everyone was really tired from studying for finals. We all went to Sensuous Sandwhich for dinner and then picked up my roommate Julia and went to start the hike. Here we are at the beginning. I remember saying "hey we're like halfway there already!"

Here we are taking a break at one of the many switchbacks on the trail. 

 Here we are at the top, sitting on the Y. We were so excited to finally have made it. We asked a guy with his young son to take our picture.

Jess and I sitting together on the Y. 

This is how we decided to get down from the Y... crab walking... 

                           

Remembering how we thought we were halfway at this point.. we were wrong..

BYU Gymnastics!

Last night I went to watch the BYU gymnastics team. I have always wanted to go but I've never gone before because I've been so busy. I am so glad I went. It was amazing. I really enjoyed watching it. I took gymnastics when I was younger and ever since I have loved watching gymnasts.

This is a picture of the head coach watching on the side with a ton of little kids sitting next to him. It was really cute.

Sterling's Homecoming!

Last Sunday I went to my cousin Sterling's ward to listen to his homecoming talk. It was so great to see him after two years and to see how much he has grown since he's been gone. We went to his house after and I saw some other family.

Selleck and his cousin Katelynn

Selleck

my Aunt Chris

Selleck

cousins Heather and Candice

My great uncle Elwin sleeping

Random School Happenings...

Here's some random pictures from things from school.

 

School has been really tough lately and I've been working really hard in my classes. My favorite class though is drama. We learn how to take learning and make it fun for students. We also study how activities can help students remember better and longer and help students be more engaged in the learning process. It is so much fun. We recently made sock puppets. This was mine. 

 This is a random car I saw on campus and I thought the sign was awesome. People are really creative at asking other people out.

This is a display I saw in the HFAC on campus. It was inspired by a man who was really poor and was depressed and started collecting all sizes of glass bottles which he put water and food coloring in. It was simple but made him so happy.

Sledding with my Cousins!

I know its been a while since I've last updated the blog but I just uploaded some pictures so I figured I'd update about life recently. In January for my day off of school, I went sledding in Payson UT with my Aunt Kate, Uncle Bruce, and their kids. It was fun and there was a beautiful view on the way there. 

The View on the way down

sledding at the bottom of the hill

a hot chocolate break

my cousin William sledding on his favorite sled

Home for the Holidays

Yesterday I was helping my mom with some things that she needed done while she was at work, and I was listening to my brothers. While I listened, I was contemplating how glad I was to be home for the holidays and the reasons why and thinking of the little things that remind me of Christmas along with what I would miss if I was gone. I decided to start a list that I'll add to as the holidays continue. 

1. decorating cookies

2. singing veggie tales at the top of my lungs with my brothers

3. passing out cookies to our neighbors

4. the Christmas tree

5. Christmas music (and the music my mom plays every year)

6. the generosity of others 

7. reading Christmas letters

8. hugs from my siblings/parents
9.wrapping gifts
10. taking my siblings shopping for each other
11. watching Miracle on 34th Street