role call?

this is a shout out to the family. 

because obviously i love you all immensely... 

and, turns out many of you happen to read this little blog. or soon claim to become readers.

so, brian, hunter, adam, jenn, mom, dad, alissa, nate, joann, alana, anaka, and everyone else too. 

i'd like to know who honestly is reading.. 

and who's just making it up. (: 

so if you're here. and we're related, please comment.

thanks. that's all. 

love, brit. (: 

p.s. for everyone else out there, 

how would you honestly feel about your entire 

extended family reading your blog?

blonde hair, blue eyes.

meet my little brother jake. 

actually, he's informed us that because he is 7 now, he would like to be called Jacob. 

he also refused to smile with his teeth. 

and then showed me why..

who knew a seven year old boy could have so much sass!

because as of today he is seven. 

when you're 7, i'm pretty sure your birthday is one of the happiest days of the entire year.

especially when you go on a treasure hunt for your presents. 

you get a wiggle car. (:

that you "get" to put together yourself. 

 and shark cupcakes. 

he has the prettiest blue eyes ever and longest eye lashes.

he plays soccer, and his goal scoring stats are pretty high. 

considering he's the baby of the family, and gets kind of picked on, he's a pretty tough kid. 

and he probly will fight you...

his energy levels are insanely high. and his laugh and smile are the cutest ever. 

he's smarter than the average first grader, and surprises me daily with how much knows.

he always says the funniest things and makes me laugh so much. 

so happy birthday bud! (:

i love you!

now introducing...

*day three*

the parents.

dad:

well, i'm not sure where to stary, but i guess we get along really well, and a lot of times, he reminds me of myself. his stories from his teenage years seem like things i'd do, and when asked whose personality i inherited more of, i'm usually told it's his.  

first off, he's hilarious. i really don't know how else to say it. being around him you're guaranteed a laugh. and half the time you can't take him seriously. he probably still thinks he is 17 sometimes. such as before a dance when he decides to teach us some new moves... luckily he keeps these moves to himself when he insists on chaperoning almost every stake dance there is.

he is also extremely social. he will talk to anyone and everyone about everything. the most random things. all the youth in the ward know him well, and having him at girls camp is always... interesting. (: he doesn't like to wait around for things to happen. he's the one that makes things fun. no matter what the situation is, he will make it into something memorable.  

he loves to have fun, but he is also an extremely hard worker. he does construction and will work rain or shine or snow, or whatever it may be. he cares about the people he works for, gets to know them, and makes sure that he's done the job just right to fit their needs. 

he can fix literally everything. i don't ever remember having a "fix it" guy come to my house in my entire life. because he can fix anything. the car. the computer. the faucet. the hole in the wall. the bike, my necklace, my shoe, the t.v, you name it, i guarantee he can fix it. and also he built this house.

random fact: he's extremely observant. we'll be driving down the road, and he'll realize that those people got a new garage door. he's probably only driven past this house once in his life, and he remembers and realizes it.

he has an amazing testimony. he's in the bishopric and he is extremely willing to serve others. his testimony strengthens mine, and i'm so grateful that because of him i can have the priesthood in my home. 

i love him and look up to him because he is such an example to me. dad, i love you. (:

mom:

she is the most amazing example to me in soo many ways. she is always putting others first, no matter what the situation is. she won't worry about herself, until she knows that everyone else is okay. she genuinely loves everyone. all her neighbors, crazy visiting teachers, beehives, no matter who they are or what their situation she will love and be there for them always. 

she's a hard worker. if something needs to be done, she'll be the one to do it.

she's a better runner than probably i'll ever be. she'll wake up early in the morning to run, just for fun, and be back in time to help us off to school. and she's an amazing runner too. she got 9th all around for women, and that was when she was 37 after birthing 5 children. inspiring? yes. i don't think i'm capable of running a marathon in 3 hours and 9 minutes!

she's optimistic in every way. if you have a negative comment, she'll counter it with a positive one. she looks for the brighter side of the situations, and helps me remember it can always be worse. 

she is one of the nicest people i know. you will never hear her say anything rude about anyone. if there is ever anyone in a group who looks lonely or like they need a friend, she'll be there to make them feel welcome and she can create conversation with anyone. that random guy on the ski lift? she'll probably know where they're from and half their background by the time she's done riding with them. she's an amazing listener too. she lets others do the talking, but gives good input. 

 she is there for me when i need her, and gives the greatest advice. she teaches me the gospel, and her testimony strengthens mine. i love her so much, and i know that without her, i would definitely not be who i am today. so thanks mom, i love you. (:

dear grandma,

around the holidays was when i could tell we all missed you the most. you were the one that started the tradition of the McArthur family Christmas morning brunch. and hopefully it's a tradition that never stops. 

the thing you always wanted most was for us to learn to love out family more than anything else. and realize that we always need to be there for each other. and no matter what they would always be there for us, and it's something i know that none of us have ever forgotten. 

i think of you a lot. and i miss you so much. but i know you're up there, helping out everyone. and i know that Heavenly Father needed you more up there than he did down here. i know there are kids up there that maybe left their families here on earth, and i'm sure you're making them feel loved, like you did to all of us. 

grandma i know you may not be here with me on earth, but i feel you here all the time. and i know you're watching over me. i promise i'll never do anything that could prevent  me from being able to live with you again. because i look forward to that day so much. and i'm grateful for the testimony of that, that you helped me to gain.

i love you, -brit 

twas the night after Christmas...

 Christmas is over. 

but i'm pretty sure it was one of the greatest Christmas' ever. (:

the past few days have included....

-Gertsch family ski day

-BYU basketball game

-adorable cousins

-sleeping in

-annual Christmas Eve movie, this year's choice, "megamind" (:

-gingerbread house contests

-delicious soups

-grandpa's jokes (:

-our version of the 12 days of Christmas

-Christmas Eve pajamas 

-the Nativity movie

-leaving out oranges, apples, toast, water, and P90X for Santa (:

(just in case he was tired of milk and cookies and wanted to work it off a little :)

-sleeping in a little more Christmas morning (7:00am)

-getting a phone (:

-annual McArthur family breakfast,

including omelets, hashbrowns, waffles, fruit salad, eggs, milk, juice, and more (:

-gift exchanges

-bathrobes...

-cute headbands

-amazing aunts and uncles 

-and amazing cousins

(from both sides of the family)

-Soldier hollow 

-random snow outfits... (:

-free hot chocolate refills

-lost more deliscious food

-Christmas jeopardy

-Gertsch family testimony meeting/spiritual experiences

-lots and lots and lots of See's chocolates

-"Gertsch's growing up" slide show

-too many good bye's...

i'm amazed and grateful if you read all that. (:

but excluding all the good bye's, i think this Christmas was pretty great (:

so even if this is a little late merry Christmas! 

(and i didn't mention gifts... that'll be a future post :)

it's a good life (:

no school

sleeping in

christmas movies

ice cream parties

shopping with sisters

thanksgiving dinner

crafts with grandma

card games

black friday

cute pea coats

kneaders breakfast

more christmas shopping
christmas music

harry potter movie marathons

having soup for dinner

watching football (and byu almost winning..)

parties with cousins

and lots more family time?

...i enjoy the holidays (:

we conquered the mountain (full post)

it started in the small parking lot around 9:30 am. the sky was a brilliant blue with only a few clouds

.the weather was crisp. not to hot but not to cold.

9:30 am. their journey began. 5 teenagers. (2 parents) and a very tall mountain to get to the top of. timp.

they saw beautiful sites

took occasional snack breaks

almost got blown off of the saddle. 

(where a dog ate jenn's sandwhich.)

and after 5 hours. lots of sweat. sore feet. and tired legs. 

they made it to the very top.

they looked at the view. 

and signed the book.

and began the decent back down. 

it included cliffs.

sliding down the glacier.

and mountain goats. whaa?

and after 81/2 hours. 

only tripping once.
getting know each other a little bit more than necessary. 

consuming lots of water.

meeting hillbillies.

lots of singing.
using words such as: stupendously, extravagant, majestic, superb, dandy, chipper, and magnificent.

a couple of cute boys.

and a few shortcuts.

they arrived back at the small parking lot. 

and said goodbye to that trail. 

until next year?

i am his daughter

since getting back from efy i've listened to the cd alot. its amazing the spirit that it brings into my life and each day how much stronger the spirit is. the lyrics are amazing too. they make you want to become better. these are part of the lyrics to one of my favorites. (:

i am his daughter

the pictures in the magazines,

don't dictate who i'm supposed to be

the world can't recognize

all that i am inside.

i know in his eyes

i am a part of the bigger picture

theres so much more to me

he helps see that i have so much to offer

i am his daughter

he loves me the way i am

he's my strength when i stand

my king and my father

i am his daughter

and when im feeling small

wondering if ill ever find courage to stand tall

through his love i remember

theres so much more to me

he helps see that i have so much to offer

i am his daughter

he loves me the way i am

he's my strength when i stand

my king and my father

i am his daughter

i know that i'm a daughter of God and that he wants to help me and no matter what will always be there for me. (:

the talks today in sacrament meeting were great too. they were on feeling god's love and that is just what i needed. at efy they focused on it so much. and hearing those helped again to strengthen my testimony of how much he truly loves me.

and another highlight of this day was fathers blessings. (: its the annual back to school fathers blessing. and i guess i have always taken it for granted. never really paying much attention to it or looking back on it very much. but last year it was such a blessing to me. as i had struggles with friends it helped me a ton. and i'm so grateful that i have the preisthood in my home so that i can get them. also for having a home where the gospel is taught and the spirit is felt.i love my family so much and i'm not sure what i would do without them. (: sundays are always so great. it gives me time to think about all that i have been blessed with. its a day to rejuvenate yourself spiritually. and today is the last one of summer 2o1o. good thing it was an amazing day (:

the weekends happy list.

pg fireworks

finding a fireworks setting on my camera

seeing people at the fireworks

georgia peach tropical sno's

sleeping under the stars

family parties

the fourth of July

eating lots of watermelon

barbequeing

hanging out with cousins

the pg fireworks

(and taking pictures of them:)

lake powell being rescheduled

the freedom of living in america

going to church

extra brownie bites

taking pictures

my camera

people who fought for our freedom

neighborhood fireworks

minute to win it conetsts

being the leg wrestling champion

double dutch

a great weekend. and now i get to spend this week in lake powell (:

thoughts on life...

sometimes i just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. and see people who i wish not to see. well atleast at that particular moment.

i wish i had job. i think snoshack with nicole would be nice.

i don't understand why my brother and sister get so excited over the world cup. they sit in there and scream at the tv. hmm i don't get it.

i can't wait to go to Lake Powell. we were going to leave tomorrow. but now we might not leave until Tuesday. i want to get out though, and go already.

i can't wait for my cousins to come. they live in oregon and are coming down in a few weeks. they are pretty much like my siblings but they live a few states away. i haven't seen them for a year. and i miss them.

i never want summer to end. i don't want to go back to school. i don't want to get back in all the drama again. i hate the homework. and this summer has been amazing. and there is still so much more to do. i don't want it to end.

i need someone to go to see the fireworks with. anyone want to come with me?

i love my family

last night i came home to find my little siblings sleeping out on the tramp. so i of course joined them. whats not to love about sleeping out under the stars? well, going to bed really late and waking up around 5:30 to a little boy jumping on you.. but it was still fun (:

then today we spent all day up in the canyon with my grandparents and cousins. i love being outdoors. i love how pretty everything is. i love the summer. and i love my family (:

9 years ago today...

This is me and my amazing little sister. and today just so happens to be her birthday. she is turning 9. i love her so much. she has a cute sense of humor and always makes me laugh. we get told alot how much we look alike, (although i don't see the resemblance) and she reminds me alot of myself sometimes... i am not sure if thats good or bad. but no matter what i love her and i am so grateful she's my sister! Happy Birthday Lauren! i love you! (: