i am grateful for my education

the official trailer of "Girl Rising"

In a world where education is not received by everyone, where some people would do anything to become educated, I find that am reflecting more and more on what I have been so blessed to have all throughout my life- education. 

I am so grateful for the many opportunities I have had to go to school and to learn. 

I think its pretty easy to take that for granted in our lives. 

 at times i complain about going to school, when all I should be, is completely grateful that I am able to be enrolled at a University. 

That I have been able to attend school since age four! 

Its amazing.

 But because of the many who do not have this opportunity, a group of us in the Modern Dance Department are raising awareness for girls around the world who do not yet have the ability to receive an education.  

We are performing an improv score around campus throughout this week, and we are also screening the film "Girl Rising" tomorrow night at the Social and Behavioral Sciences building on the University of Utah Campus. 

These young girls want nothing more than to go to school and to become educated. I am so inspired by them and their dedication and commitment. I am also so thankful for my education. 

take a moment to reflect upon your education and what it means to you. 

where has it brought you? how has it influenced your life?

family pictures.

its been practically ages since we've had family pictures taken.

 like brynlie was three or something… 

so of course we all look very different, 

and we have added a very handsome new member to the family (zachary), 

therefor it was just time to get some new family pictures done. my mom and i spent a while convincing the fam that this needed to happen.

 but eventually we succeeded and they came up for a fun filled five days around the end of august, 

for lots of fun…  

but lets face it, mostly for family pictures

 which were way fun obviously…. 

we drove up big cotton wood canyon and the lovely tracy hill photographed us. 

(um she's amazing i recommend her for any photography you may need done.)

 i think they turned out just wonderfully! 

*disclaimer: kasen isn't married… yet. but this is ashely and we like her. and she may be apart of the family someday. so we put her in some pictures,
just like we should. 

ah cute lil love bugs

my favorite ginger brother

 

baylie dee why are you growing up so fast?

                       

this little gal 

my favorite non-ginger brother

 

hey family i think you're the best ever… but i may be slightly biased.

thanks again tracy for the swell pictures!

old-fashioned soft pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

its almost fall! 

"I'm so excited, i just can't hide it, i'm about to loose control and i think i like it"

 (done in sing song voice) 

here is a yummy recipe that is sure to bring scents, and feelings of autumn into your life. 

i recommend it. 

old-fashioned, soft pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
heres how you do it.

this recipe has been gracing my fridge with its presence for over a week.
it was time.

what you'll need

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup butter or margarine(softened)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup libbys solid pack pumpkin
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 or more cups semi-sweet chocolate chips


 begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees  

 in a medium bowl combine all the dry ingredients. 

flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg

set aside for later use. 

in a large mixing bowl, cream the butter (which you have softened) and the sugar.

then add the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla

beat until light and creamy. avoid getting shot by flying pumpkin… still trying to figure out how best to avoid that one.

i had some pumpkin left over… and you know what that means, more pumpkin recipes! maybe ill try pancakes next?

ever so slowly add the dry ingredients.

mix. mix. mix. but don't over mix. 

best part… add the chocolate chips! i ended up throwing some white chocolate in their too. i only had about 3/4 of a cup in my fridge so i used um up. 

grease up your cookie sheet. just ever so lightly. maybe don't spray it over the floor…. it makes things a bit slippery.

drop by rounded tablespoon onto your cookie sheet. if you have a nifty cookie scoop thing, use that. it rocks!

bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes. set the timer for 15, then check them.
an underdone cookie is always better than a burnt one…
(although my mother in law would disagree)

i opened the oven a few times during the baking process and did a little happy dance.
the scent filling our apartment was one that couldn't be replicated by a candle thats for sure!

then eat them all up. because the leaves are changing colors, the air is turning crisp, and ultimately just cause you can!

get your head in the game.

who knew that modern dancers were so versatile? 

there comes a time when the absurdly, wonderful idea to have a basketball league is created. 

it may or may not have happened while we were suppose to be focusing on tendu's, battements, and developpe's.

teams were selected in-between pirouettes, and the first game was scheduled by petit allegro. 

for saturday morning august 31, 2013. 

time: 10:00 am

place: liberty park courts

who: anyone who's a balla (correct terminology?)

stipulations- 

bring your 90's attire.

and your A-game.

and so it happened, we spent a lovely saturday morning playing basketball, 

or kinda pretending like we were anyways.

 we did some warm up drills, played a little four on four, and took quite a few very needed water breaks,

(basketball is hard work people)

all this while jamming out to the jamaican music being blasted from a near by vehicle. 

 we also laughed the majority of the time. 

seriously so hilarious!

game time.

this picture cracks me up.

christine's really pulling off the orange traveling leggings.

thanks to laura and her slight obsession with one tree hill, this basketball thing came about.

team sunshine.

the kenobi's. inspired by laura's jedi braid. (we won)

we are so serious about basketball.

the music blasting nice man who took our pictures got a little artistic on this one.

those aren't from basketball. just eric handman's class.

waiting for some grub at the park cafe'

sarah i'm glad you gave up your referee position to play,
even though that is a perfect referee shirt.