cause history is what's changin' me.

if you would've asked me a year ago today, i probably would've told you that i was in love with a boy. i would tell you how he was absolutely perfect and i was the happiest girl in the world... well two weeks later, he told me he was over me. and two days after that, he told me how he was with that girl again. the one he broke up with before me. and the one who ruined a portion of my life. i'd tell you my heart had been broken, and how i had cried myself to sleep for days. and i would never get over him. 

well guess what? life went on. 

i realized it really wasn't love. not even close. things were weird at first. but now we've become really good friends. and it's working much better. 

last summer was an important one for me. it was the time i gained my testimony, found out who i was, who my friends were, and really got to know my Savior. 

going into this year. i was confident, i was happy, and i thought i knew everything about myself. but there was still so much, i didn't realize i was going to learn.

it wasn't like 7th or 8th grade, where something drastic happened that was a major life lesson for me, 

it was the little things...

telling a boy i liked him. when in reality i barely even knew him. 

learning to love my friends, through each others imperfections. 

watching the time fly by, and learning to make the most of it. 

not getting the guy i wanted so badly and learning to move on. 

learning to become friends with literally everyone, despite what their social status may have been. 

being extremely stressed with school work, so close to giving up on my grades. 

spending saturdays in the winter skiing with rachel and maddie, telling each other everything. 

i learned to forgive people. and give them second chances that they deserve.

having my best friend leave me for two weeks and realizing how much i desperately needed her. 

spending lots of time with my gymn friends and going absolutely crazy! 

another crush, and refusing to let him hold my hand or put his arm around me and being soo grateful i did!

being extremely busy juggling track and gymnastics, trying to keep up. 

i was reminded over and over how gossiping can hurt. and is never worth it. 

getting to know people i never normally would, and making tons of new friends. 

pushing through the times where it seemed like nothing was going right, even if i was being faithful. 

becoming best friends with jessica, and going to st. george with her. 

truly not caring about other people's opinions. being confident in who i am despite what they think. 

spending an entire day around guys with no make-up, finally confident in just being me.
letting blogging become a part of my life, and being inspired by all of you. 

trying out for cheer. and realizing the how gymnastics has become a part of me. 

gaining trust in people, and letting them completely open up to me. 

being happier than ever, but also crying so much, and learning to put my trust in the Lord. 

become enveloped in the blogging world. making new friends, and being truly blessed through it. 

realizing that the friends i have now, are the best ones out there. and no matter what, to never ditch them, because i honestly need them so much. 

this year flew by so quickly... and i'm still struggling to realize that it really is summer. 

but i survived junior high. probably thee weirdest three years of my life.

to think i was one of the naive innocent seventh graders.

 i've grow so much, and learned so much about myself. i've experienced alot, and each one one of the experiences i wouldn't trade for anything. i'm grateful for each and every person and teacher that i've met. because whether or not they realized it, they made an impact on my life. 

my testimony has grown immensely. i've grown to love my friends more than ever. 

and i can truly say i'm happy. (: 

next year is high school. and i am so excited for what's to come. 

but not yet, cause for now. 

it's summer. (:

"changin' me" -cady groves

so.. we climb?

rock climbing at the quarry. 

our favorite kind of skipping school. 

(so sick of my phone camera...only 15 more days..)

a couple years back...

remember the first day of seventh grade...?

i was so excited i counted down all summer.

beth got sick in the assembly during first period on 7th grade day.

maddie was scared out of her mind.
and nicole was just happy to be there.

nicole had a different first period than us, so after dropping her off at her class,
we made our way to ours. 

we stood outside the classroom for first period because we didn't want to be late, but we didn't want to go in early because we didn't want to be nerds.

mr. dalton. GT english. A1. 

the bell rang, and  maddie said something like,

"here goes guys... we are officially in junior high."

and then we all walked in side by side. 

the seats were mostly filled, and the classroom was dead quiet. no one said a word. and it seemed they all stared directly at us.
we looked at each other, and frantically whispered about where to sit, before making our way over to the back left corner, the only three seats left that were next to each other. 

and look where we've come from there...

we made it.
we're finally done with junior high. 

clear creek in 5th grade (:

where exactly does your bacon come from?

today goes down as the day i disected a pig fetus. 

i very much wanted to. and would've taken pictures. 

but we were lectured as to how innapropriate, rude, and unallowed that is. 

well remember how i'm stubborn, selfish and ocd? 

well i didn't like the way my group was shredding cutting our pig. 

so i, brittney. the one who could barely stand to look at the thing in the bag when we first got it. 

cut apart. a small. innocent. dead. pig. 

it was disgusting. 

i will never be a surgeon. 

and the first tan line of the year..

we like play days in choir...

(photos courtesy of sarah)

our work of art.

once upon a time there was a party. 

one of which we weren't invited to..

problem? definitely not...

 

 

in month four.

i almost went on my first date.

went skiing for the last time this season.  

had the greatest spring break ever. 

fell for a boy. 

texted until late hours in the night. 

cried at school for the first time. 

ran my fastest mile. 

finished off the track season.
blog stalked. 

played with my friends very often. 

cut my own bangs.
had lots of dreams. 

chalked for the first time this year. 

tried out for cheer. (story soon to come)

cut my sisters hair. 

got the greatest fortune cookie.
moved up a level in gymnastics. 

hung out with boys all day wearing no make-up. 

(which i haven't done since probly before 7th grade) 

had lots of movie parties. 

dreamed of going to prom.
mad a corsage. 

ate way to much junkfood. (mainly chocolate and popcorn)

carried around a ridiculous mechanical baby.
my best friend quit gymnastics. 

went to the greatest stake dance. 

danced with... that boy. 

had barbeque's at maddie's. 

had good days. and bad. 

and now it's may? 

which means pratically.

it's summer. (:

pom-poms and mini skirts?

(yes, it's extremely long)

everyone kind of has their things in life. whether it's art, a sport, a hobby, or an instrument. everyone has their thing. and ever since i was 7 or 8. mine's been gymnastics. it's routine now, that every tuesday, thursday, and friday are spent in the gym.
well one day, something new got brought up.. cheer.
i had barely ever even considered it. until one day when some of my friends, decided to try and convince me to try out.
well here's a little background: cheerleaders aren't generally my favorite people. not that i have anything against them, they just have the reputation of being stuck-up and fake. of course there are the ones that are sweet and nice. but in general, their reputation isn't the best. and it wasn't one i wanted to take on myself.
i started to think about. i wasn't a cheerleader. but what if i was? maybe i wouldn't want to surround myself with people like them, but there are lots of good girls too. and what if i got pulled away from my other friends because of it? it would be tons of fun to be involved in a high school sport, but also i'd have to quit gymnastics. and that thought brought me to tears.
anyways, the parents meeting was monday. and at that point, i'd thought it over, and decided that i wasn't going to do it. i've got amazing friends right now, and i really don't want to risk losing them.
i walked into school tuesday morning and one of my best friends came running up to me. "you'll never guess who tried out for cheer." and then proceeded to tell me how my best friend had tried out. without telling us. a couple of our other friends knew, but they had been keeping it a secret too. and if there's one thing i hate. it's secrets. normally this wouldn't have been a big deal either, i was completely okay that she was trying out, i was just bugged that she didn't want me to do it with her. there was a lot more to it, but to simplify,  it was a long day.. i felt betrayed,  people were mad. frustrated. sad. and many tears were shed.
and now i didn't know what to do. because even if i was mad, there is no person i'd rather do it with than her. but now it was to late.
well i ended up going down, and the coach said it was still fine for me to tryout. so i attended day one of tryouts. wow. if you're up for some great people watching, cheer tryouts is the place to be. i honestly felt like i was in a movie.
it was conditioning day. i'm in pretty good shape from track and gymnastics so it wasn't that bad at all.
as for the girls, well there were of course the fake and over dramatic ones, but there were also tons of really nice ones that i would love to become friends with.
that night as i flipped through the packet, i realized something. the mandatory cheer camp was the same week as girls camp. and there was also conflicts with lake powell.
i may as well just say the end right there.
because there was no question about it. those are the two highlights of my entire year. and if doing cheer meant missing both, then it wasn't worth it.
it would've been tons of fun, and i definitely would've grown a lot as a person from doing it.
but i guess that those conflcits were just the Lord's way of letting me choose my path, and so for now,
 i guess i'm just continuing on the one i'm on. (:

judging is unnecessary.

i read my posts from the first week of my freshman year...

and i guess i've learned a lot since then. and things are perhaps not what i expected them to be..

of course i still have the same amazing best friends who are always there for me.

but that one kid i thought i would never get over. wow. definitely over.

and that other soccer player i was checkin out? ha. fail.

we claimed our spot during lunch. we ate in the lunch room for a while. but of course ended up back in the hall. because obviously it's the best. (:

and there may have been some people i unintentionally judged.

 that girl from geography that i hated last year. we're friends again. actually really good friends. and i look forward to the class with her. 

and a girl who i thought was stuck-up and a jerk. turns out is one of the sweetest funniest girls ever. and she went through a lot more than i thought... she saw the down hill path her friends were taking and ditched them for better ones. even when they were jerks to her about it.

other girls who i used to think we obnoxious or stuck-up, i've gotten to know them and love them all so much! 

guys that i never would've talked to last year either because a. i thought they were to cool for me, or b. i thought i was to cool for them, well they've become some of my best friends! 

so i guess things change. people change. and i've learned you really do have to forgive and forget. 

everyone makes mistakes. 

 just forget the past.

 you never have to trust them again, but that doesn't mean you can't be their friend. (:

we ski.

endless memories.
stalking attractive boys. 
some of which can't ski. 
awkward bathroom breaks. 
prolonged lunch breaks. 
blue coat boy. 
lunch confession sessions.
blizzardy days. 
singing loudly. 
crashing into trees. 
new friends? or not. 
skiing backwards for entire runs. 
extreme immaturity. 
blue bula boy. 
kind americans. 
spontaneous.
bent ski poles. 
stubborn route choosers. 
pretzels. 
the british clan. 
standing up for standards. 
awkward locker rooms. 
not taking the bus. 
building snow men. 
best friends. 
thawing fingers. 
terrible technique. 
whistling. 
lunch time. 
sleeping on the way home. 
vending machines. 
people watching. 
making snow angels. 
hot chocolate. 
many extra creamers. 
no make-up.
leisure skiing. la di da...
frozen cheeks. 
endless laughs. 
secrets shared. 
sisters falling from lifts. 
hat hair. 
sitting in corners. 
avoiding drunk people. 
tiny tots terrain park.
endless adventures. 
extreme powder days. 
bonding time. 

...i'll miss this. 

the "rootbeer float date/social" conclusion.

wristbands were to be given to your date, so you would know who was taken, and also so you could recieve your rootbeer float. (they switched from ice cream) 

we happened to be on choir tour when they were given out, so when we returned, many people were already taken.. thursday morning, sam rushed up to me slightly frantic, and holding out his wrist which already had a wrist band. 

"you never gave yours to me yesterday and so when lisa (name changed) came up to give me hers i had to say yes because i thought you weren't here!" 

i replied, "welp i guess i'll just have to ask someone else then!" he was slightly distraught and bugged me all day because i was gone yesterday and now he was stuck with her. 

it was actually pretty funny. (: but anyways, lunch time rolled around and i was still on posession of the wrist band which was supposed to belong to some dashing young man. 

well let me introduce you to...

contestant #8. last year in foods we became really good friends, and kind of liked each other, then there was girl drama, and he stayed friends with all the girls that i left... so now we're the smile and wave in the halls, and sometimes conversation type of friends. he's an extremely cute kid and also very nice and hilarious, and there we have a winner.  

he has three best friends, one of which is Sam, one was going with Alta, and the other with Jessica. 

so we all ventured off together. 

the bell rang before we had time to get the rootbeer float, but standing in line talking was fun too. 

it wasn't awkward in the least. and we're just friends. so it was all good. (:

and that's the end of my potentially awkward, 9th grade teen living ice cream date. 

epilogue....

#1- Jason and i continue to be great friends, even though i still slightly suspect he might like me..?

#2- sam. we flirt often, and he sat by me again at lunch the other day. (: 

#3 & 4- they both ended up getting asked by other people last minute, but we all hung out last night, and had an avatar the last airbender party. (they're both extremely obsessed...?:)

#5- we are still at the wave/nod/hello's in the hallways stage..

#6- ended up going with kenna but they stood by us in line. 

#7- he asked me to dance at the mock wedding in teen living the next day. 

boys are great. 

i might kind of like one of those, but it's like what'er. (: 

obviously it's better and way less complicated when you're just friends. 

and right now, life's good. (: 

and the winner is...?

as of this morning it was a debate between #3 and #4. 

i wanted to ask both, but wasn't sure what their feelings would be towards the whole situation. 

lunch rolled around, and we were sitting in our usual spot in the hallway along the wall, 

when Sam, (contestant #2) walked past.

 the butterflies were racing and i decided to question the rumors i'd heard. 

there was apparently some confusion about his "date" 

and by the end of our little conversation i had a date for thursday. 

(yes in the lunchroom during school... awkward? yes much.) 

we had been standing, and when i sat back down, he rushed over and sat next to me. (:

we talked for the rest of the lunch time. 

and saying i was giddy would be an understatement. 

well it gets better. 

after school some friends rush up to me, and turns out Alex (contestant #4) was considering asking me?

something that i never thought would happen in a million years! (:

we'll see what happens, but as for now i'm a very happy girl. (:

good thing i'm not going to be a microbiologist.

school used to come easy to me. even math and science. in 8th grade i had to study a little... but hardly at all, and i could ace tests. but then 9th grade came around....
biology. doesn't click for me. not even a little bit. kids in my class do their homework right before it's due, and goof off the whole time, then get 98% on the test.
i, do my homework. listen in class. spend forever studying. and after all that, i barely manage to keep an A. (at 93.8%)
algebra 2 is the same way. it's hard. i just can not remember it at all. i mean i try to take it all in, and remember it, but i can't. i do all my homework, and understand that. but the tests get me every time.
and added to this, the english projects, the ridiculous amounts of geography busy work, and the tests, and okay, you're sick of my ramblings. i would be too.
i know i sound like such a complainer, but really this is more like a gratitude post for me. because all the studying that lasts into ridiculously late hours at night, the migraines from being so stressed, and not having any time for myself, is now coming to an end.
it's christmas break. and i couldn't be happier.

slow down...

taylor swift - never grow up

david archuleta - look around

i feel like these songs were written just for me... 

because sometimes i wish everything would just slooow down a little.

it's not that i don't want to grow up... it's just going to fast.

and maybe, it's not everything around me going to fast..

maybe, it's me. maybe i just need to simplify life a little.

and just enjoy every second of being 14. (:

a thought...

those days filled with otter pops, the pool, and chalking feel like just last week.
it seems like school just barely started when really we're almost half way through.
and halloween which feels as though it was yesterday, was nearly a month ago.
thanksgiving came in quickly and went right back out.
and before we know it will be Christmas.
and then 2o1o will pratically be over.
time has been flying by.

and everything has come and gone so fast.

there are times we may wish to be older..

but before we know it... we will be.
so make the best out of every opportunity that comes your way.
live each day to the fullest.
and live with no regrets.
because time will go on. no matter what you do.
so you may as well make your time worth it.

and now lets compare.

stake dances.
i enjoy these a whole lot (:
if you remember, i don't particularly feel the same way about school ones...but stake dances. are a whole nother story (:
there are few main differences between the two.
first, people actually dance at stake dances. therefore you don't feel as much like a complete idiot when your dancing. which obviously makes things waaay more fun.
and second and more importantly, everyone shares your same standards. you can go to the dance and know that you won't be surrounded by the awkward bear hugging couples and the girls in their skanky little outfits.
of course there are still the slow dances which can be awkward but not nearly as much. at school dances there are 7th, 8th and 9th graders. and pratically the only people that dance are the 'couples', or soon to be... so, all the other guys are way to chicken to ask anyone else. putting you in the awkward by stander stage.
but stake dances aren't like that. the boys actually ask girls to dance! and kids who are older, and lots of kids come from af, so you can get to know people who normally you maybe wouldn't. also, the majority of the boys who attend are guaranteed good boys. which we definitely love.
so, you can still get the chance to dance with that 'special someone' without having to pay $5. (:
oh and also food is usually included. huzzah (:
therefore, this is why we go to stake dances instead.
and last night was no exception. we partied hard from start to finish. (:
tons of kids from af were there, and that attractive blue scrubs kid? yep he asked me to dance (: and it may have made my day. (:
oh and caihay, we are now official acquaintances, not just creepy stalkers (:
and lets not forget the awkward situation of the night: that kid in my grade, we'll call him john. well apparentally john likes my best friend, whom i was standing next to, so he approaches us and i expect him to ask her, oh nope. me. yep, one of the first slow dances of the night. so john mentions how is brother has been trying to convince him to dance with me all night, awkward... i asked if his brother knew me or something and surprisingly he said yes? he pointed him out and i'd never seen him in my life. well then a couple slow songs later, uhm guess who asks me to dance?! yep, 17 year old, extremely tall, older brother. aawwkward!
stake dances. you have done me well (:

huzzah (:

reasons to love halloween (:

-costumes. i love dressing up. and plan to dress up every year for the rest of my life (: it's an excuse to wear something crazy that perhaps you wouldn't normally, and do extreme make-up and unique hairstyles. and seeing everyone else's costumes. i love it! this year we decided upon 80's workout girls. creative? not really. but it was still lots of fun (: 

-the joys (: everyone'e happier. i'm not sure what it is, perhaps it's the costumes, or the knowledge of what's to come that night, but walking into school on friday everyone was happy and enthusiastic about life. going down the halls was completely different because everyone was smiling and seemed to be in a good mood. if only everyone were this happy every day (:

-trick-or-treating. of course the part we all look forward to. and i have gone rain or shine, or snow.. every year up until this one. and it definitely wasn't because i didn't want to. i did. but let's be real, the adults get extremely bugged when the pack of teenagers comes around.and i didn't want to be like that. but still, opening up the door to the adorable little princesses and super-heroes and all the other cute little kids in costumes, and immidiately being greeted with the enthusiastic trick-or-treat! (: my favorite (:

-the candy. of course along with trick-or-treating comes the candy. and i definitely have a sweet tooth. it's unhealthy really. unlike my little sister whose candy lasts all year, my extreme amounts of candy would usually be consumed within less than a week. and even though i didn't get my own candy this year, there is of course the leftover candy and my younger siblings are sweet about it and share with me. (:

-the dance. well go here for more, but defintely one of the better dances! especially because everyone is in costumes and on sugar highs. (:

and well if you haven't realized. i love halloween. (:

for me it's right up there next to Christmas.

so, huzzah, it's halloween!
and happy halloween to all of you (:

(we're already working on costume ideas for next year)

over-rated.

school dances.
sure you can make anything fun. but school dances are one of the hardest. first off and mainly. majority of the people don't dance. atleast that's how the ones i have gone to have been. there are small groups scattered throughout who dance... but when you're a part of which, knowing all your peers are most likely watching you dance, considering you're one of the few that are. you too would feel slightly awkward and uncomfortable. not to mention that apparentally girls think it's an excuse to wear less clothing than appropriate? in their mini skirts, short shorts and little dressees. we're aware that we're all in a dark, hott, stuffy, gym, but modesty please? and remember you did pay $5 to go experience all of this for two hours. which to a poor freshman is a lot.
so why then do people go? for those certain 3 or 4 songs. the slow dances. which generally puts you in one of the following situations. first, the dance we're all hoping will happen. and the main purpose for the majority of the crowd. you can't deny that it is slightly enjoyable.when he does actually ask you to dance. the butterflies arise and afterwards you go home and freak out about it. but looking back you realize how terribly awkward the whole situation really was. his hands placed awkwardly on your waste, yours on his sweaty neck, and the attempt to create small talk while avoiding eye contact.
or perhaps you'll get put into the 'do i really have to say yes?...' position. you watch him approach and know what's coming. but you're also aware no isn't an option. so once again the awkward hands on waste, and sweaty neck, and attempting small talk occurs.
and lastly, perhaps the most dreaded of them all. the awkward bystander. what about when you're that girl that doesn't get asked, watching everyone else get all close and cuddly, making you feel extremely uncomfortable and out of place, sitting alone on the side, and even worse, watching him dance the night away with someone else. and leaving in a terrible mood.
does this hoenstly sound fun to you? definitely not us.
hence to why we throw our own parties. with chocolate fondue, awkward poetry recitings, white board doodling, and duh, our own dance party. (:

we're vikings.

so of course we attend the homecoming game.

to support our vikings. 

and we do enjoy football... 

but lets face it... we mostly go for the social part. (:

we watched them light the "G"

and attempted to take pictures. 

and the dance afterwards?

only the greatest (:

so what if we're freshman.

and sort of didn't belong. 

we partied by ourselves, and stayed out of the way (:

we had lots of fun. and we made new friends. 

and next year. we'll surely be in attendance. (:

(kudos to megan for the picture :) 

that feeling...

the excitement you get when you finally over come a fear. such as a trick on beam. it's indescribable. and then you just want to do it again and again. 

when an attractive kid walks into the gym and the butterflies are awaken. (: 

the awareness of the fact your being watched and striving to do better.

when you straddle the beam and completely fall on your butt while "the kid up there" watches and tries hard not to laugh. embarrassing? no, we're past that..
the laughter that occurs when sometimes... we struggle. 

the delight that is brought when you look up at your best friend and know she thought the exact same thing.

the tinge of regret for not socializing with "the kid up there"

the pride you feel after a great workout, and having salad for dinner.

having one of those days where everything just work outs, and it makes you want to dance. 

the joy of knowing its only tuesday and this week will surely be a great one. (: