Steph, Stephy, Rebecca...

are just a few of the names we call our sweet sister Stephanie. As I turn 24, she turns 23 the day before. We haven't ever celebrated a birthday without each other. Some may think I am kidding. However I am not, she arrived just one day before my first birthday. Our birthdays are on Saturday and Sunday, it is the first year we will not be celebrating together. A few months ago I made a very selfish comment about how I was going to have my birthday to myself. As the day draws closer I'm not sure what to do with myself. It will just not be the same. We have always wanted to be our own people, do our own things. Life hasn't always taken us in that direction. In high school we both were student trainers with the sports medicine program, we both wanted the car at the same time, we both spent two summers doing pest control, we both went on our first cruise together. Wanting to be our own people we have done plenty of things by ourself. I stayed close to home after high school to do sports medicine for one more year, she went away. The biggest difference between us is that she is Amazing! She loves helping people, she is an amazing peoples person. She can talk to anyone, I'm not quite the same way. As hard as it is to no have her here for our birthdays. I know that she is doing something she loves. Heavenly Father has truly not only blessed her in this adventure, but He has also blessed me and the rest of my family. I don't know what we would do without her. She is an inspiration. She makes me want to be a better person.

I want to share with you all a little of her greatness. This is the email she sent me for my day of birth.

Hello Meags! I know it is early but I wanted to send you a birthday wish! I know that we are apart but you are very close to my heart! I love you so much! You have always been there for me. I knew that you would always stand up for me when I needed you there. You are a great strength to me. Thanks from the bottom of my heart! You have a strong testimony and a desire to serve. You love people and you work hard. You know that you are a daughter of God. There are many people in this world that don't have that knowledge. Thank your Heavenly Father everyday for that knowledge. Know that I love you so much and that I think of you often. It is sometimes hard to grow up and have that realization but everything has a purpose. Evern though we are apart we are closer than we have ever been. We have the opportunity to grow through our letters, words and prayers. Thanks Meags for all you do! You are a bright spot in my life! I love you! I wish the happiest birthday ever!
Love your dear sister
Steph

¡Te amo!, in the words of Sister Colwell ¡Te freakin' amo!

Reflections of my 23rd year!

**I'm not sure what I did to make somethings underlined or highlighted...Oops!

April 27, 2008 I was in a car driving to Sacramento California by myself.  Another summer of pest control, some of my thoughts of that day...who signed me up for this again? what am I thinking?  where the heck am I? Without summer sales I'm not sure who I would be today.  My last three summers have been some the best worst summers of my life.  I wouldn't trade them for a summer of enjoyment.  I've learned who I am, what makes me.  Sacramento was a whole new summer for me. Steph wasn't with me and I only knew three people, I was going to be living with people I had never lived with.  I was terrified. It turned out to be a really great summer.  I lived with three of the best girls I have ever meet.  They all inspire me to be a better person.  I was not always the most pleasant to be around, they were always there and understood what it was like.  We all worked hard this summer.   We also had some really great days of FUN! Sundays were by far the best.  We went to church, and then enjoyed the rest of the day together.  My favorite part is that today we can still get together and just laugh and remember our summer of pest control.

Part of the summer I don't ever wish to relive is the weeks that we lived with ANTS! you would think that as a Professional bug killer I would be able to keep them out of my house.  Nope! I'm serious about the weeks, I don't remember how many it was, but it was plenty.   Ants are GROSS! 

I was able to enjoy a vacation with my friends over the summer. We went to Disneyland, and a cruise to Mexico.  One of my favorite things in life is getting on a boat, not having a cell phone and being worry free for days! 

one of my favorite places to visit in Mexico is Mazatlan! I've only been twice in my life, both times have been great! We go to this resort that has a really great pool and you walk along the pool right to the ocean. I went para sailing this time around.  It was not the thrill I had hope for, however I did enjoy it. 

Steph put her papers in the end of May got her call and was to report the MTC by July 23rd.  That meant I had to get home for a minute to see her before she left.  I was able to come home over the fourth of July.  It was up in the air for a couple of days, I fought it and was able to come home...some may remember that the battle didn't end with the purchase of my plane ticket.  I got to the airport and they couldn't find my reservation...it turns out I purchased for the day before.  Awesome right?  I had no other choice, I had to buy another ticket, the only one left.  First class.  While at home we had a Staycation, just enjoyed what the city of Salt had to offer us. 

The day Steph left was one of the hardest days I have had in a long time.  The summer by myself was tricky, but saying goodbye to Steph was hard.  I'll never forget the feeling I had when  we hung up and said goodbye for 18 months.  We write and email every week, its just not the same as hearing her voice.  She is one inspiring girl! I hope to be half as good as her someday. 
I meant to make this a little more funny... I'm getting sappy...Lets start here.  I came home and just hung out for a while and then got a job working at the Carmen B. Pingree school.  It is a school that specializes in Autism. All the kids have Autism from high functioning to low functioning. Its a very tricky job, however very rewarding.  They took school pictures like two or three weeks after I started....its my best school picture ever.  Sad! right? My white shirt may have been on backwards all day long too...
A highlight of the last year, was welcoming Brooklyn Ruth to the world.  She is one of the sweetest little girls, I maybe bias.  Her smiles are so sweet!  I would hear people say that having nieces and nephews are the best thing ever.  I didn't always believe them.  I can retract that statement and tell you that having nieces and nephews are really the best thing ever.  I go through withdrawls and can't wait to see there faces...I may call sometimes to go over and see the babies. I love being the FAVORITE AUNT!! 

I don't love admitting this all the time, however it is true.  I love to country swing dance! By love I mean LOVE!! I go at least once a week and if I can't make it I go through withdrawls and can't wait to go....ask smash about it.  Another LOVE is rugby! and my love I mean I LOVE IT!! I too go through withdrawls if I can't watch my rugby.  Shells and I may have made special trips to St. George and Moab, of course we did other things.  I had never been to St. George or Moab.  Two very great places! even better to watch rugby. 



Here are the boys were supported! GO UTES!! Aren't they handsome?

I went to Vegas, for Megs birthday, we had so much fun! One to be in the sun!! We had boys hit on us...dang funny! I am sure they would have said the same thing to any other girls walking past them. Don't get me wrong, we are dang cute girls,  they were just drunk!  In Vegas you have to ride the coasters. So we did.  We decided that we need to go on the one on top to the Stratosphere.  This one below wins the most terrifying ride I have ever been on.  I was fine for the millisecond we were over the building, the rest of the time I was so scared and that I honestly almost peed my pants.  Truly terrifying!! 

Over all it has been a good 23rd year.  I don't know where the time has gone. It's come and gone.  I have learned a lot, what makes me me, what makes me happiest.  Here is to another great year!  24 will be great!!

Wheeler Farm

We made a trip to Wheeler Farm today, the Monkey loved it.  We followed him around, he just explored, I tried to get some photos of him doing it.  I took some Reece's Pieces along to help keep the happiness going...Daddy enjoyed the treat for walking around.  It was fun to see him see the animals, he neighed with the horse.   My Grandpa, along with Matthew's Grandpa would be proud.  It was Brooklyn's nap time, so she was a little grumpy, I snapped a few of her unhappiness, they didn't turn out as well as Matthew's 

Matthew is a Mickelsen! Squinty eyes! If we smile big enough and you'll miss our eyes. He does is to well. All of his facial expressions are so great! He was so ready to have me go away. 

The baby animals were so cute, so fun with Easter just around the corner.