The Happening

Sorry it has been a while since my last post but I have been working at Tribal mostly every day. It is a good thing though. Well since Thanksgiving was kind of lame at our house since we didn't have many people we are making up for it by inviting all of the family over...and my whole family will be home for Christmas! Chadly came out from California and has been spending the last few days with his in-laws but they all come over Christmas Eve! I can't wait to see my little niece Paige. Also I am attempting to get together with people before I go so if you want let me know when you can! (I know I am kind of lame, the lack of sleep is killing me...I can't fall asleep until at least 1 or 2 in the morning)

Oh and only 25 days until I leave for France! Heck yes!

TAG...
Christmas TagGetting to know you...getting to know everything about you
Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, & try not to be a SCROOGE! Copy this entire post & paste onto your own new post!Change all the answers so they apply to you. Then tag a bunch of people you know....Tis the Season to be NICE!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Bags, I am still trying to master the skill of wrapping
2. Real tree or Artificial? artificial...we used to buy really big real ones but that gets expensive!
3. When do you put up the tree? Usually right after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? It depends
5. Do you like Egg Nog? Sometimes and in very small amounts
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A teddy bear that was mad from small patches of fabric
7. Hardest person to buy for? Hayley
8. Easiest person to buy for? Owen
9. Do you have a nativity scene? My mom has a lot and I am getting one this Christmas
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Neither...if I do then a Christmas card
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? no idea
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? How the grinch stole christmas-the one with Drew Carey
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Day after Thanksgiving
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? no not that I can remember
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Candy
16. Lights on the tree? ours is so bright and when I get my own I am going to have my mom help
17. Favorite Christmas song? I like them all
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? When we were younger we would go to Delaware sometimes but now we saty home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? most of the time
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? star
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? pjs christmas eve the rest christmas morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? mean shoppers (or people come in at the last moment and get mad bacause you don't have what they want)
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? our tree is all santas and the red balls
24. Favorite Christmas dinner? Ham and joy's potatoes (family recipe)
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? mario cart but that can wait

I tag...
Eugena
Vanessa
Erin

Un peu Francias

Bonjour! Je m'appelle Brooke. J'ai vingt ans. La date de mon anniversaire, c'est la priemer aout. J'ai les cheveaux longs, boucles et roux. J'aime l'emission House et The Office. Je joue a lacrosse et volley. Je suis symaptique. Je n'aime pas le lait. Ma mere s'appelle Barbara. Elle est tres tres sociable. Mon pere s'appelle Guy. Il est drole et travailleur. Je habite a Sandy avec ma famille. Mon neveau s'appelle Owen. Il est tres tres actif et drole. Ma niece s'appelle Paige. Elle est tres actif et tres tres belle.

Il fait de la neige a Logan. Je n'aime pas la neige parce que il fait froid.

A bientot!

Here is a something you can say in French

I would ask:Comment t'appelles-tu? (what is your name?)

You would say: Je m'appelle _______ (My name is _____)

I would ask: Comment vas-tu?(how are you) or Ca va? (how's it going?)

You would say:Ca va (fine), Ca va Bien (good) or Ca va Mal (bad).

LOOKING FORWARD

I am so excited for the next few weeks beacuse a lot is happening! First thing I will be done with School this Friday and will be home sometime on Saturday...the only sad part about that is that I won't get to hang out with my awesome cousin and her adorable little boy.

Next, the cutest little girl ever is coming to visit! Of course that little girl is my niece Paige so I am not biased at all! Chadly, Brittany and Paiger come to Utah December 18th!

I know this is pretty lame but I am excited to go back to work, I really miss being at the lacrosse store! Oh and I forgot Friday I can sell back my last text book! That is the best day of the semester!!! Finally, I leave for Paris is 37 days or 1 month and 6 days!

YAY ONLY ONE MORE FINAL!

So today was the first of my finals. This morning I got up at 7 because you aren't really awake the first two hours you're up and my final was at 9:30. I went into class and took my nutrition final and then decided to go turn in my astronomy final after (astronomy was a take home final-so I guess if you count that I actually started finals yesterday). Now all I have left is my French final! Yipee!!!

Here is the tree I decorated at Tribal with the help of someone who works there.

These are the cute little boys I occasionally get to watch!

This is FisherYou all should know O!

Sorry my posts have been so boring lately, maybe once school is over they will get more interesting. Then of course there will be Paris.

A Lot Has Happened

So it has been a while since my last post but I have accomplished quite a bit-not all of my list but most of it!

UTAH STATE BASKETBALL
I am so excited to finally cheer on a team/sport at Utah that actually has a chance of winning! Our basketball team is awesome...but the fans are super mean. We could rival the Jazz fans! I am not even kidding BYU will not come up to our venue to play us because of the fans/students. We memorize who does air balls and then as if they didn't remember, every time they touch the ball we chant "air ball, air ball..." until they pass it to someone who hasn't thrown one. Also there is a group of students right behind the basket yelling "you-you-you suck." We do a few other things but I just can't remember right now...I'll tell you after the next game.
WOW I DID THAT
Something I realized is that when I am angry and someone decides to bug me or correct me, I am really mean. I was at the women's basketball game (the girls aren't that good) and it had just ended so my friend and I were going to walk around before the guys game started. After a little while I realized that I no longer had my phone so we decided to go back to where our seats were and check there. So we get down there and a girl is telling me that I can't sit on that row over and over again. Finally I look up at her and say in the rudest way possible "Ok! I get that, I was sitting here during the girls game and I'm looking for my phone." Pretty much I yelled that at her, but hey she was driving me crazy

JUST MY LUCK
The other day I decided that I should park on the street because I wasn't sure if Eugena would be coming home, but she didn't so I parked my car in the garage later. The next day I get in my car and start driving and it felt like I was somewhat in neutral, so I got out of my car and check my tires and of course one was flat. After classes I called AAA and they came and put on my spare tire (they are awesome thank goodness for my AAA card) and we found out that there was a nail in my tire. After my spare was put on I went over to discount tires to see if there was any chance that they could patch the hole, but thinking that I would have to pay a lot to get a new one with my luck or that it would cost me a lot (the day before I had just made my car payment for the next two months thinking that I would have enough money). Thankfully they were able to fix my tire and put it back on for me....and that isn't even the best part about it...they did it for FREE!!! They are my new favorite tire place.


JORDAN ALUMNI GAME
For the past few years we have had a girls Jordan lacrosse alumni game Thanksgiving morning. This year was a lot better because first off I didn't have to call everyone thanks to facebook...the only downside is that at 9am it was raining. Thankfully girls still showed up and we had 19 girls eventually make it. We played the oldies vs. the newbies (anyone still in high school). Of course the oldies dominated!!! It was fun because we ended up playing for 2 hours and Fish (Tribal West Owner/Soni my old coach's husband) played goalie while Soni watched with her new little boy. The weird part was playing against Hayley...oh and by the way congrats to her for making varsity as a freshman!

THANKSGIVING
This year was an off year for the entire family. At our house it ended up being Hayley, my mom and dad, me, Grandma and Grandpa Erickson, DD and her friend, and my cousin Britt. Just in case you are all wondering DD is Druggy Debbie, one of my parents friends they met from working at the prison (Her last name is Larsen to so we had to make a distinction). So DD and her friend are really weird and I was glad that they didn't stay long! Later on it got better because my family played canasta which is what we do best (we really love playing card games). Then finally at about midnight I went to sleep.


BLACK FRIDAY
My family has kind of made a tradition of participating in black Friday. I will tell you this the best people to go with are those who aren't afraid to yell at strangers to get in the back of the line..i.e. Rachel and my cousin Syd. This year we were up at 2:30am and standing in line at Kohl's by 2:50am...at 4:00am the doors finally opened and we rushed to get what we needed. After Kohl's we went to Walmart, Old Navy, Southtown Mall and Target; finally we finished our shopping at 8:00am (the thing that takes the longest are the lines). The craziest store to shop in is Walmart because they let you in the store so everyone looks for the item they want and then stands around it (you can't open the wrapped boxes until 5 when it opens, and they have big guys standing there to make sure you don't take anything early), we got there a minute before and right at 5 people went crazy.

I AM ALMOST DONE

So from the massive list I posted last time I only have:

• French Final Dec.12
• Science and the Application to Human Nurtion Final Dec. 9th
• Astronomy Final Dec. 4 turn in Dec. 9th
• Portfolio for ID theory TOMORROW
• Green Design Paper TOMORROW
• French Paper Dec. 4
• French Presentation Dec. 3
• Observing Project Dec 4.
• Go to French tutor 2 times (TUES. and THURS.)

Then I want to get out of here as soon as possible...don't get me wrong I like it up her and Ilove staying with Eugena but right now I want to be done with school

FUN FACTS

• I have no killed 33 spiders...I am very proud of that number :]
• I finally have my plane ticket to Paris
• I LEAVE IN 1 MONTH and 14 DAYS!!!
  
  

I'll be back

So it has been a while since my last post or at least it seems like it has been forever. I am sorry to say that I probably won't be able to post until maybe Thanksgiving or after the end of the semester. In an attempt to study for all of my test, finish projects and get ready for finals I am going to have to take a break from blogging. Here are a few things that have gone on recently...

• I have killed 32 spiders, 2 unknown bugs, and a fly! Amazing I know...lol
• I leave for Paris in less than 2 months!
• nothing much else besides going to class and being really tired all of the time!

Here are the things I need to accomplish before my next blog...

• Test for science and the application to human nutrition
• Poster presentation for astronomy
• Letterhead and business card for interior design theory
• Test for French
• QUIA (online homework) for French
• 2 online assesments for science and the application to human nurtition
• Paper for interior design theory on a certain type of green design
• Portfolio for interior design theory
• Observing project for astronomy
• Final for astronomy
• Go to tutor for French 3 times
• Presentation in French
• Final for science and the application to human nurtition
• Final for French

and then I am done for the semester! yay!

The O Man and Me

This weekend I decided I wanted to hang out with Owen some more, so I had him up in Logan with me Thursday evening through Saturday afternoon. He is so full of energy and so hillarious. On Friday we went up to campus and Owen was obsessed with the A on top of old main. He was so excited to ride the bus up the street and talk about what he wanted for Christmas.

This is Kiowa and all weekend Owen wanted to give her treats. I would tell him that he couldn't give her anymore but he would just say "last one ok"

This is Owen posing in front of the A...he saw it the first night and decided he wanted to go in the building (even though the inside is really boring I still took him inside).

Owen always likes to make a cheesy smile when you try and take a picture of him,

O put my glasses on and then came up to me and said I like these Brookie!
He had to point to the A to make sure that I could see it

I love this little boy he is too cute. When I come home he will introduce me by saying "hi _________ this is my Brooke"

28th post on October 28th

Here are some fun facts that have occurred since my last post.

• I have now managed to kill 28 spiders and 3 other bugs that I can not identify.
• USU lost their homecoming game by 2 points because the kicker from Fresno State kicked a 58 yard field goal (seriously who does that)
• I also now know that I do not want to go into Astronomy because observing is kind of boring

Now to the main point of my post for today...
It was two years ago today that my brother-in-law Nate passed away. I always start thinking about it around the beginning of October, I can still remember what happened over those few days. I came home Friday from working the morning shift at Dimple Dell and the first thing my mom tells me is that she got a phone call and that Nate was in an accident and is in the hospital in critical condition. Once my aunt Jeanene got to the house I had to leave...so of course I went to the lacrosse store and started shooting the ball as hard as possible, thinking that this isn't happening. When I finally went back home I decided that I would pick Hayley up from school and tell her (I had also just been told that Nate had suffered a heart attack that caused the crash to happen). So the next morning I took my parents to the airport so they could fly out to Arizona (this is Oct. 28th). This certain Saturday of course was super Saturday and I had to tell the presidency that my mom couldn't bring the food she volunteered to bring (seems simple but when asked why she wasn't going to be there I broke down into tears-then of course everybody was coming over to talk to us). I find that keeping busy keeps my mind occupied so I tried to make sure I had no free time. After super Saturday I made sure that someone was with Hayley because I was going be working for Dave Coach (sorry I can't spell the last name right now), so I sent her with Debbie Larsen. Up at Brighton high we were setting up before the dance and I got the call the Nate probably wasn't going to make it past 4pm, which of course made me cry and I called my cousin Eugena and talked to her about it and cried some more. Later on I received a call from my brother Chad saying that they had removed the oxygen and that Nate was dead. At this point I was balling, Sarah McOmber attempted to calm me down and Dave even sent me out to get drinks for everyone (he said I could leave if I wanted to-super nice). I decided that I wanted to stay and keep busy so I helped out at the table where they order pictures with Jen Baxter and one of Dave's relatives. Finally when the majority of the pictures were taken I decided I was ok enough to leave...once I got in the car I immediately started crying, I don't even know how I managed to get home, I could barley see.Once I got home I didn't want to be alone so I tried to call Debbie to see where she was, but I couldn't get a hold of her or Hayley. Immediately I started going through my phone seeing who I thought would come over on such short notice (and it was kind of late), so I decided to call Vanessa Pollard. I some how got across what was going on through my tears and she came right over. Vanessa and Steven sat there with me and watched a movie until I calmed down...they are awesome people!

I won't even go into the details of the funeral, I still remember them vividly but I just don't feel like it. The thing that gets to me every time is that just a week before I was talking to Rachel and Nate on the phone saying that I would pay for him to fly out with Rachel and Owen for Thanksgiving.

Random Thoughts

These are just things that have randomly come to mind...not necessary to read

• Why is that when you really need to study your attention span decreases so you have to read things over and over again?
• Why do dogs like sticking their heads out of the car windows? Is it like feeling the breeze when they are running without any of the exercise?
• My legs are totally albino in the winter/right now.
• Why is it when you actually shave your legs you get goosebumps and grow it all back in 5 seconds...it takes far too much effort to keep them smooth!
• Why is it that the one class I would like to do well in, the teacher makes me feel like an idiot?
• Holy cow, I leave in just over three months for Paris!!!
• Why can't I ever remember that trash days in Logan are on Tuesday...oh wait that is wrong I remembered once.
• I still need to find a job in Logan because I am a slacker and every time I decide that I am going to do something about it a teacher announces that we have a quiz or test that is coming up.
• I have been told many times that soon in the future there will be no natural redheads...first time was from a lady in customer service at Walmart
• I have added nutrition onto the list of majors that I know for sure I don't want to go into
• Logan is FREEZING...seriously at night I have two down comforters and a quilt on top of me...no sheet I always got tangled in them...long story
• Supposedly I am supposed to get a pair of comfortable shoes for Paris, but of course the ones they suggest are $150...that is more than my car payment
• How many friends do I really have? Not looking for pity but I was really thinking about this the other day (not the watch party).
• Why do I put some people up on pedestals when all they do for me is disappoint? (Don't take this personally, it is probably not you). Once again these are random thoughts!
• I would honestly love to go to Westminster for the lacrosse program...I really like playing everyday
• I have totally managed to keep a plant alive for 3 months...that is a big accomplishment seeing as how I never really ever tried before.
• This kid in my French class totally annoys me because he likes to correct me on things...would be nice if I asked for it but I didn't so I wanted to slap him and tell him to go away (harsh I know but you have to understand this is early in the morning)
• Ibuprofen is my friend especially when my back starts hurting
• I still have no idea if I have crohn's disease because I haven't taken a blood test...luckily I haven't had any of the debilitating stomach pains recently! Yay for me!

While my cousin is out of town I am watching her dog, who is a total stalker. She goes to the front window and watches you leave and will still be looking out until you come back. The other day I came home from classes and there was some dog food on the kitchen floor and her bowl wasn't in there, then I went in the front room and it was sitting there. She moved her bowl to the front room so she could look out of the window and eat too. Another thing she does is scare me half to death by sitting outside my bedroom door when I open it.

Well that is all that I could remember that I wanted to say.

Once again that would be me...

1-The person who goes home to get her car registered, go to friend's wedding reception, and go to a cousin's baptism and never does any of it!

2-The person who leaves her car home along with the keys to her car and gets up to Logan and realizes that the keys to the house are in Sandy

3-The person who doesn't have keys to the house in Logan and has to remove the screen from a window, open it and hoist her sister through it. Then her sister biffs in on the floor.

4-The person who likes to watch Pocahontas and all of the other Disney movies

5-The person who is still keeping track of the number of spiders she kills up at Utah State...it is now at 22.

6-The person who will only dance in private but soon realizes that her dad is watching from the top of the stairs.

Sorry these have been short and there have been very few but nothing too interesting is going on.

That would be me...

• The person who gets a new pair of jeans, heads to school and gets informed that there is a sticker with size huge still showing on her leg.
• The person who stops and turns around 3 times on campus because she can't decide where to go.
• The person who nearly falls on her face and then laughs.
• The person who procrastinates until the night before to do projects/assignments
• The person who wakes up to her alarm pushes snooze, gets a little ready, climbs back in bed and wakes up just in time to make it to class.
• The person who plays flag football with Kappa Deltas against another sorority and gets her shorts ripped up to the underwear! (Good thing I brought sweats)
• The person who thinks she knows that answer in French but has a hard time pronouncing thing.
• The person who randomly spaces out and gets called on by the teacher and looks retarded!
• The person who tries to remember what she wore the other day but comes up blank!

spider-getter-awayer-thingy

I don't know what this little contraption is called but we had it at my house in Sandy to keep mice away. When I went home my mom had the bright idea for me to take one of these things up to see if it would get rid of the spider too! Guess what...IT DID...at least it has so far! What this thing does is you pull it into the wall and it makes this high pitched sound kind of like when you trun the television on but I can't hear the sound. IT IS AMAZING! My spider killing number has stopped at 18 we'll see how much higher it gets as it gets colder.

I am so excited for general conference this weekend! One of the best things about it is conference bingo!!! It really makes you listen to each talk and what each person is trying to say. This week up at Utah State is going to be filled with tonz of stuff to do (well at least the last part of it). Tuesday there is lacrosse which is pretty much awesome because I really want to play wight now. Thursday there is a soccer game, coaches show (free food) followed by women's volleyball. Friday I don't have any classes so I will make some conference bingo cards then there is a tailgate party in the institute parking lot, another one in the stadium parking lot and finally the game vs BYU, where IF we score we have done better than other teams.

Oh and another thing...I totally have the best institute class ever! The teacher is hillarious and I am learning a lot every single time.

Last week I was amazing at coming home...I managed to go down to Sandy 3 times in one week. The first I had to get information on my car payment so I stayed Thursday night through Sunday evening. The second time I went down to help out Tribal West with the first day of super sevens (girls lax, some different rules). The 3rd time I would have done no matter what, I really felt like I needed to be there. So that is all that is going on in the exciting life of a poor college student! Until next time...

What's going on

Over the past few weeks I have come to realize that I enjoy learning French, even though I am no the best at it all the time. Also for some reason my French teacher always likes to call on me...maybe it is just because she could remember my name...red haired girl named Brooke-pretty easy for teachers to remember. Another thing I have realized is that I really don't like my science and the application to human nutrition class-it is super boring and so is the book! I have started to enjoy astronomy but it still isn't one of my favorite classes. This semester one of my favorite classes is interior design theory...we have had a lot of projects but they have been really fun. I forgot how much I like drawing (by no means am I great at it).

Today it was freezing in Logan, which I was not ready for. I like it when it is warm and I am not sitting in class shaking because my feet got soaked. Don't get me wrong I love it when it rains just not when I have to go out in it. Right now I am in my room with sweats, a sweatshirt, thick socks and slippers on I am so cold.

My spider killing count has climbed up to 16...yes I am keeping track because they are disgusting and I want to know how many I have gotten rid of! I have used brooms, tiolet paper, shoes, newspapers and DVD cases...I like to change it up (not really it just depends on how far away from the spider I would like to be or what I can find first).

For a while Eugena has been down in Sandy leaving me here alone, which is nice, but I always manage to freak myself out. Noises are magnified and shadows seem to move...it kind of creeps me out.

I went home this past weekend and it was so nice to work at Tribal again...I didn't realize how much I missed being there. Maybe it is because I don't have a job up here and I was always so comfortable there. Why wouldn't I want to talk about lacrosse all day?

EWW SPIDERS

I absolutely hate spiders!!! They totally creep me out. Honestly since being up at Utah State I have killed at least 10 spiders....eww. After I kill a spider I get the chills and then I get really paranoid and think that I feel one crawling on me...once again eww. Even writing this is giving me the chills. Another weird thing about it is that they all looked different I think. First one I killed was in the closet in the top corner where my dresses were going to hang up, so I had to get rid of it. The others I don't remember the order, I have two windows and when I opened the blinds there were a few in each. Another one I was laying on the ground changing the song on my ipod player, then I saw it and jumped up and freaked out a little. The rest I have seen randomly crawling on the floor so I grab the closest shoe and smash them!

This is just a picture I found on the internet not one I killed...they don't last that long.

Some of the reason I may be afraid of spiders besides them being absolutely disgusting, is that my dad likes to chase us with dead spiders and black widows he thinks are dead. That is when I scream the loudest. I HATE BUGS ESPECIALLY SPIDERS!!! Still have the chills talking about it...sick.

PARIS

I GOT ACCEPTED!!!

Last weekend I went home for the long weekend so I could see my brother before he left and then see my grandparents come out from Delaware. It also happened that we were having 3 family parties...for the most part with all different people. The first reunion we were at was the Finch family reunion in Payson so all of my aunts and uncles were there from my mom's side. My uncle Kelly was there too, and he randomly said I accepted you because I was on the computer and saw your name!

Just so everyone knows, one thing I did get from my dad is that I don't show that much excitement. You'll never hear me saying "oh my gosh" or scream when I am excited about something. So I am really excited to go to Paris, I just might not show it the same way others would.

I leave for Paris sometime in January and I can't wait! It is coming up so fast, and I am a little nervous, but I know it will be fun.

I survived the first week of USU

Well I made it through the first week of classes. At first I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to make it to some classes in time but luckily they were close by. So my French class is interesting, supposedly we are going to be able to an oral presentation completely in French (we'll see about that). Next, is my Science and the application to Human Nutrition class which has about 300 people, and we had to buy these clickers (picture below) that you can take quizzes.

Monday through Thursday my classes start in Old Main which is a really nice building!

Oh on Thursday I was walking around between classes and there was a stage set up by the Student Center, and it just happened to be Carmen Rasmusen. I guess she was there to get all of the students excited to be up at Utah State. Who knows???

Now the only problem I am having with being up at Utah State is the lack of a job. If I have to I will lifeguard, but it really isn't my favorite thing to do. I am not sure if it is worth it to drop my interior design theory class to get a job at the Boys and Girls club (I would have to do this because right now there are time conflicts).

Kids says the funniest things

Earlier today Owen had to go to time out (which isn't unusual), and before we let him out we will say Owen look at me and tell him what he did wrong. Then tonight my mom, me, my dad and Owen were getting in the car to head home and my dad ran over my mom's shoe on accident (not her foot just her shoe). So we are driving back home and Owen says "Bada (that is what he calls my dad) look at me", and when my dad finally looked in the mirror Owen says "you run over Nana's shoe you go to time out when we go home." It was one of the funniest things I have ever heard Owen say, he even had my dad laughing!

no idea

I honestly have the weirdest dreams ever. So there is this girl that is playing summer league and she is on another team, but every time I either play against her or I stay and play on her team she is horrible. I don't mean that she is a bad player but when you play against her she has some really dangerous checks that almost hit you right in the face (for those of you who don't know what checking is, it is where the girl without the ball tries to tap the ball out of a player stick). Then when you are on her team, the passes always come way too late or they are out of reach (which is really annoying if they do it constantly). Back to my weird dreams...so for some reason she is coming over to my house to hang out (even though we were never really friends and didn't even go to the same school) and all of the sudden she starts reading my diary. This is really strange because I do not have a diary, I have tried to start one but it doesn't last long. So anyway she is reading through my diary and she gets to a page where I had written that she had horrible checks and I hated getting passes from her. Immediately she was offended and I started to defend myself saying that I was just mad that day and had to write it down just to get it out. Then I woke up because of my annoying alarm clock.

Start of something new

So school starts in exactly a week, which is crazy. I'm still not totally moved up to Logan but thankfully I was able to get work off thanks to Fish, and move stuff up for two days! Sunday is my last official day being home before school starts. I don't know why but I feel the need to write thank you cards to certain people who have helped me get to where I am now. I think I already said this before but my application for BYU study abroad Paris is finished and now I have to wait for an interview with the Professor (my uncle). I will keep you updated on what is going on with that.

On Friday the 15th my tuition was due and can I just say ouch! I have close to no money left. I have been lucky enough that I haven't had to take out any loans to pay for school, and also had enough to pay the majority of my car, leaving just a little to pay.

On Saturday my brother and his family finally got here, I am so excited that they get to come visit. All I want to do is hold Paige the whole time but she would rather be walking around.

So I'm just trying this out and these are random pictures of me

Kids songs

Even though I listen to a lot of music everyday that songs that get stuck in my head are the ones from Owen's kid shows. No joke today at work I was singing a song from super why that goes a little like this "Small tall all wonderific you're terrific"....(I can't figure out the words to the rest of it and it drives me crazy). Then when I am guarding and I am on stand I always seem to sing the Sesame Street or Elmo's World theme song. Some of the last ones that I can never seem to get rid of are Diego and Dora...so I will suddenly start singing Go Diego! Go! Va mos Diego Va mos...some more Spanish words that I don't know how to spell...to rescue my friend...and so on. The one from Dora besides that theme song is "If there's a place you got to go I'm the one that always knows. I'm the map, I'm the map, I'm the map, I'm the map. I'M THE MAP!!!" It is really sad when you come to think of it. Not only do I know all of the songs but now I also know all of the cars characters. (so the words may not be exactly right but I always have the tune in my head)

Lifeguards-not the brightest

Ok so this is how smart lifeguards can be. For the past month or so I haven't been scheduled at the pool so I go into the guard room and put up a note that says exactly this..."Brooke Erickson needs shifts 543-#### I can work Wednesday mornings/early afternoons and also Sunday"...so the next day I get a call from one of the guards asking if I can take their shift on Friday...and I kept on getting calls like that all asking if I could work on any of the days besides the ones I wrote down I would work. Okay is it really that hard to figure out that if I only put down certain days those are the only ones I CAN work??? Honestly some lifeguards have issues!

Another thing that I see a lot of lifeguards do while they are on duty is blog the whistle constantly at the same person without telling them what they are doing wrong or allowing them any time to fix what was wrong. Not everybody thoroughly reads the rules before they get into the pool especially little kids! :]

Don't tell my mom that I put this picture up of her!

So last Wednesday the young women came to our game and I honestly wasn't playing that well. It always seems to work that way, when you have people come watch you try to do better but come up a little short or the other team suddenly gets really good. It is getting so close to school starting, I'm a little nervous to make some adjustments but still very excited. The thing that I am most worried about is getting a decent job so that I can still make the payments on my car and phone, and also save a decent amount of money to pay for Paris if I get accepted. On that subject, I have finished my application for BYU study abroad Paris and now I am just waiting for an interview with my uncle (just a little weird). I think it makes it harder to know what to say when the professor is related to you because they know a lot of things that have gone on with the family so you can't say...I would like to experience some of the same amazing things my aunts and mom did...that sentence sucks anyway but it shows what I mean.

Hayley said that on Sunday people were asking where I was so I guess I will tell you guys. This past Sunday my boss scheduled me at Dimple Dell and I also took someones shift, so i was working. The shift i took didn't conflict with church but the surprise scheduling at t Dimple Dell did. I know shame on me for working on Sunday...but I really need the money.

Back to Utah State, next week I am going to take time off so that I can move some things up to school. Then on Thursday Chadly and Brittany (my brother and sister-in-law for those who don't know that already) are going to show me around campus and make sure that I know where all of my classes are (I definitely would get lost if they didn't). Classes start in exactly two weeks from this Monday, which is crazy!

At tribal I am organization mode, I want to finish all the big projects before I go off to school. I like to make the front desk area look really clean and then if I don't work for a few day and it gets dirty, then it shows that the other employees didn't do anything (is that mean?). Right now I actually made a list of all the projects I want to do which includes reorganizing the back closet, the office supply area, back room, and the team area; and then I need to finish remaking the folders for the filing cabinet that holds all of the bills...after that I might even help Fish clean his office (I might finish all those before-just because things always get stuffed into his office and he has to do more work). So far I have already cleaned the front desk area to try and help them stay organized even after I leave (Gramps has issues with that) and I have clean our old team sales persons desk. Oh my gosh the guy that does team sales was so disorganized it drove me crazy, I would always stop working on it because it was so hard to know where to start...then finally Soni told me that I needed to finish it so I started it at 11am and didn't finish until at least 5:30 or 6pm (of course i took small brakes to get a drink or stretch my legs).

Sorry I don't have any fun pictures, I just haven't taken any lately

I am so excited Missy Paige, Chadly and Brittany are coming out soon to visit...so I can not have any cafe rio until they come out which is good because I eat there far too much!

10 things I won't miss

There are a few things that I definitely won't miss when I go up to school.

1-DVDs going missing, getting destroyed and lost
2-Laptop dead whenever I need it or no where to be found
3- Picking up my sister late at night or driving her and friends around
4-Coming home from work and being told to do work that could have done
5-Paying for things that have gotten destroyed/lost
6-Little sister changing the songs constantly in the car
7-Jewelry leaving my room and never coming back
8-Perfume/Shampoo/Face wash disappearing
9-Getting woken up super early so they can borrow clothes or earings
10-Getting told that I am rude because I won't do something for her...(geek)

Oh no the big 2-0h!

So it is weird that I am 20 I still feel like I am nineteen. So far my dad and Debbie Larsen are the only ones to threaten me with birthday spankings...on Sunday I'm sure my grandpa will say the same thing.

Lacrosse Camp

So today I helped out at the Tribal West camp and oh my gosh it was so hot. I have no idea how much water I drank but it was at least 3 water bottles. It was fun, I got to teach the little girls and the best part about it was that you could actually wear them out!

The Countdown

I am so excited to be going up to Utah State and I leave in 22 days! My mind is racing with all the stuff I need to take and things I need to do before I go. Eugena was nice enough to let me stay with her while I go to school for the semester. My classes aren't that exciting but it will still be fun! I have beginning French, interior design theory, Science and Application of Human Nutrition and Introductory Astronomy.

Going Tribal

So this is where I spend the majority of my time nowadays, at Tribal West Lacrosse. It is fun because I get to talk about lacrosse all day and get to see all the new gear before it comes out (ok so not all of it but enough). Also I work with awesome people...Fish is hillarious especially when he bobs for balls...Soni was my high school coach and I love her to death...and finally Gramps is just crazy you never know he is going to do next.

Summer Laxing

For all of those who wanted to know when my summer league games are here is the remainder of the schedule...Hayley and MacKenzie Dunn are also on my team

These games are Wednesday nights at Sugar House Park right by Highland high school

7/23 6:00
7/30 6:00
8/06 7:00
8/13 6:00
8/20 Championship and consolation games

Right now our team is in first place and if it stays that way our game on 8/20 will be at 7. If you want to come and you have questions on how to get there just give me a call!

The best friend I ever had

When I was about 5 my parents finally got another dog, a little springer spaniel named Abby. Over the years when I ever felt lonely or scared she was always there to keep me safe. She would follow me around whenever I was home and would sleep at the end of my bed almost every night if I let her. Although at times she could get annoying when she wanted me to throw rocks for her to chase, I loved her to death. Abby was the best dog I could ever have, she let me dress her up, she would chase down runaway lacrosse balls and always greeted me at the top of the stair with her butt shaking! (she didn't have much of a tail) This past December we had to put her to sleep because she was old and in a lot of pain. I'll never forget my best friend and I hope I will get to see her again.

Catching Up

Last month I was accepted at Utah State so now I am frantically trying to get things together so that I can move up to Logan. I am so excited to get out of my normal routine for awhile! If you haven't heard I am attempting to get accepted into the Paris Winter 2009 study abroad program...I will let you guys know how it goes.

My first Post

Well I finally got a blog! Make sure to give me your information so that I can add you to my friends and see your blogs too!