Southern California

Last week I got to go down to Oceanside to spend a week with J's family! It was so much fun!

It was pretty cold all week so I didnt get much sun. The last day we were there we laid out on the beach and it was a mix of sun and then some occasional clouds. J decided to lay out with a band aid on his chest..turns out when you lay in the sun with a band aid on your chest you get a hilarious looking band aid tan! J even made up a song about it! 

We also got to go to the San Diego zoo! Which of course is amazing. We each got to pick an animal that we HAD to go and see while we were there. I immediately yell out Dolphins! Of course the San Diego zoo would have Dolphins..right?! haha turns out thats only for Sea World! Luckily, we got to see Dolphins from our balcony almost every morning! Heres some pictures from the trip..

The sunsets were so beautiful

It was really cold but I wanted to go boogie boarding at least once before I left! I ended up wearing TWO wetsuits! It was a lot of fun..ill admit I am little scared of the big waves though haha

Lunch on the pier! 

We got to go downtown and walk through all the cute shops

How old are you?!

Last week J and I had a meeting with his bishop since we just got engaged. He tried to set a wedding date at the temple and they asked him if he had a clearance from his bishop so we went to meet with him. Turns out they were just asking if he had been married before and if it was cleared through his bishop..so we really didnt need to go meet with him haha but we had a talk anyways, his bishop smiles and asks..How old are you? I laugh and say 20! He then proceeds to tell me I have a very young looking face. I get it, 20 isnt very old to be getting married but I laugh when people think I look even younger than that. And I agree, I do look really young, and being very shy and quiet im sure doesnt help me seem any older. Then yesterday I went looking for a wedding dress with my mom and grandma. The first bridal store they once again ask how I old I am and seem surprised. Second one, the woman asks if she can help me, I say yes Im looking for a dress, she says "Oh for prom?" I say, "No a wedding dress" hahaha she slyly asks, "your wedding dress?" I said DUH! Just kidding, I said yes and she said Oh well congratulations! I get it, I look like a little girl. The end. 

KYLES MISSION CALL

Kyle got his mission call to Tampa Bay, Florida!! He reports to the Provo MTC on June 30, 2010. I am so proud of him!! 

Date Night In The Hospital

Last night we went on a date to see Avatar, which is a really great movie by the way! Its also really long, near the end J was getting real fidgety haha and then he turns to me and says I think I need to go to the hospital. Yeah, wasnt expecting that one. No worries hes fine, but we did leave and go to the hospital to check out his chest pain and spent the rest of our night there until they let him go home at around 1: 30 am. 

In other funny stories, yesterday J was playing with an air soft gun and told me to shoot him in the calf to see if it would hurt. Of course, I said no Im not going to shoot you. Then he kept me bugging me, so I picked it up and shot him in the calf. It hurt haha, but I mean..he did ask me to do it! 

Remember me?

I have a best friend, named Sydney..she asked me to update my blog today. Its been quite a long time! You see, I have never actually been great at blogging. BUT I guess I can always try right? Also, my aunt Brandi made a really cool book out of her blog at christmas and I want one! So lets update! 

1. I forgot that you have to upload pictures in the opposite order you want them to show up on your blog, how annoying. Oh well Ill start backwards! haha I went to Idaho recently for my cousins baptism and it was SOOO fun! 

Jordan got to come along and meet the fam! 

Our cousin Jordan is a giant, no big deal we just wanted to fit in! 

We played this game called Quelf..its a funny game. Kaitlin had to pretend to be a dog and clearly I am her trainer haha. 

ANDDD my new favorite thing is cupcakes..Jordan and I go every week! There are about 30 different cupcakes and we are trying to try ALL of them. We have gotten past all the yummy ones though so we have been slacking because we arent thrilled about trying the flavors that are left. 

And there you have it :) 

Ryder

I have a funny brother named Ryder. He just turned 11. He likes to sing really loudly and make sure everyone is on time. This weeekend he was telling me about this guy in the singles ward that came over. He told me he was 30 and still not married..this is how our conversation went..

Ryder: it must be sad for him to be 30 and not married yet

Elle: its ok, a lot of people dont get married until they are older ryder 

Ryder: Confused look on his face like i didnt know what i was talking about

Elle: Not everyone gets married when they are 20, most people that arent members of the church dont get married until they are 30 

Ryder: Well im getting married when im 22 

Elle: Ok Ryder :) 

Heres to little boys with big dreams

culture ceremonies

for my english class we are writing an essay on different ceremonies cultures practice around the world. Our teacher gave us a list of some suggestions..one of them being the Mbuti Pygmies. Never heard of them? Ok ill tell you a little about them..

In this culture a girl goes out during the elima ceremony and chases down a boy she is attracted to-the more she is attracted to him the more she chases him and actually beats him with sticks. He can become quite bloody and bruised during this ceremony, but it is a sign that she has "arrived" 

i tried really hard not to laugh while discussing this. i was picturing myself in a village in africa trying to chase down a boy and beat him with a stick because i liked him. and then i reminded myself to be mature. the girl next to me clearly thought i was rude. i meant no offense to their culture, i was merely laughing at picturing myself doing this. i really wanted to write my paper on this subject but i cant find a ton of information about it. so i settled for female circumcision in africa..it is horrific. i want to stop it.