come and gone.

its that time when 2011 will turn to 2012.
a new beginning.
lot's of changes are in order.
and let me tell ya, i'm ready for it.
but that does not mean that i will forget,
for one second,
everything that happened to me and everything i learned in the year 2011,
cause, shoot... it was a good one!

so for my sake,

highlights of the year two-thousand and eleven.

• quit madrigals to join fame again. {one of the bravest things i've done... haha but really..no regrets}
• going to provo with kenzie to see Tessa Barton play at the Velour, playing a tribute show to Sophie Rose.
• St. George for mac's tennis tournament. invited cousin josh and watched enchanted and had an HSM marathon. {and got tan lines in march!}
• the first bridal shower i've been to for one of my best friends! {gabby}
• road trip to st george with friends for spring break!
• Jace got married and now i have a wonderful sister, Jenna!
• best friend gabby got married
• cousin Nicole got married
• went legit prom dress shopping with my mom and cute cousins allyson and lydia, got my dream dress, and went to prom with my best friend and had the most amazing time! AND danced on the box with madi just like we said we would one day!
• cousin jordan got married
• graduated from seminary!
• graduated from high school with a 3.9 gpa!
• went on tour to chicago with fame, was in a flashmob {got to start it!}, ate chicago deep dish pizza
• went on trek! {yes i hated it.. but i'm glad i did it}
• performed in the sandy amphitheater "come fly with me" show and got to pretend i lived in the 40s!
• had a graduation celebration with best cousins scooter and isaac
• stadium of fire with my best friend, david archuleta, and brad paisley!
• cousin day at the chuckwagon! {chuckarama}
• HARRY POTTER 7.2 MIDNIGHT PREMIER with mac and add! {read the whole series before it came out!}
• camping with the baer family!
• ward swim party synchronize swimming routine!
• last week of summer to do list {picnic, farmers market, lagoon etc}
• my last girls camp!
• road trip to california {stayed with jake and jules in las vegas on the way} to see tanner and vocal point in the SING-OFF
• finished personal progress! just in time!
• ultimate fun week {natural water slide, bon fire, lagoon, giant slip n slide, drive-in movie}
• last young women's before moving
• started a BLOG
• moving out to UVU with my best friend annie pinnock!!!! and becoming best friends with our other roommates, Katie, Kat, Hoa, and Elise
• RASCAL FLATTS CONCERT!! {thanks mckay!!}
• mexican night and becoming friends with Carlos!
• Tanner got married and now i have another wonderful sister Ashley!!!
• the first of my friends to leave on missions! {adam maxwell and kobe!}
• hike to the Y {proud of myself..}
• TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT!!!!! {thanks addison!!!}
• starbucks trips with emmie and bre!
• ethnic night at apt H1149
• best friend addison got his mission call to Vancouver Canada speaking Mandarin Chinese!!
• crystal hotsprings with the parents and mac for fall break!
• free lagoon trip!! thanks zach!
• being minions for halloween with annie!
• Peter's mission call to Korea!
• becoming a better photographer!
• celebrating silly holidays {i.e. king tut day, look for circles day, america recycles day etc}
• sing off movie theater showing/ JENNA IS PREGNANT!!!!!
• 11/11/11 11:11 ultimate wish day!
• DISNEY ON ICE! {thanks addison!!... again!}
• breaking dawn, pre-showing!
• thankgiving break - justin bieber music video
• decorating the apartment for christmas!
• seeing my new friend kallie shores sing at sammys as well as benton paul! with my best cousin scooter!
• going to see the UP house in herriman!
• our first roommate dinner with all 6 of us at annies house. I LOVE THEM!!
• making ugly sweaters!
• photography finals. opposties, and letters for sophie
• finishing my first semester of college with flying colors! 4.0!!!
• a christmas party at coles, and seeing everyone from high school again
• christmas time {christmas pjs, skyping chaddy}
• a classy new years eve {Eve} party
• bowling with my family

wow.

that's a lot of highlights!

it really was a great year!

and it wouldn't have been nearly as great with out my family, friends, 

and the amazing support they have given me!

THANK YOU!
i am truly blessed!

and i'm planning on 2012 being even better! {even if the world ends!}

happy new years eve {eve}!

yes yes,
or happy new years adam as some would say!
this year is the first time i have celebrated
new years eve {eve}.
and celebrated with class!
a fancy schmancy classy party at the home of breann.

this means there were a lot of
classy people
classy attire
classy conversations
classy foods
classy drinks
classy music.

the words,
darling
lovely
divine
ladies
& gentlemen
and many others
were tossed around frequently.

toasts and cheers were in abundance
and it was very classy indeed.

a classy evening with these classy best friends!

{and more!}

we started playing games
with a classy get to know you game first.

then our class may have dialed down a bit due to the games:
curses
show me how you love me
and the what if game.
because we all think we are funny.. hahah

and at midnight
you bet we ran outside
with noise makers,
crowns,
and sparklers
to ring in the NEW YEAR'S EVE!
haha and breann's little sister, Alyssa's, Birthday.

It was all really quite enjoyable, actually!

Farewell darlings!

time....wasted?

so... i may be one of the biggest time wasters out there.
i might even say there is almost always something better i could be doing..

and pretty much this whole week
has been really lazy.
its consisted of a lot sleeping in late
and having things in the back of my mind
and knowing i need to do them
but not doing them...

but today i wasted my time puzzling.
puzzling
the puzzle addison's parents gave me for christmas.
we have already made some good progress!
and after a couple hours of that,
i felt like i had wasted my time again...

but then i came across this

and i think it's true

so i feel a lot better! :)

i've got this friend

i've got this friend
who i just adore.
he's a friend who will just sit with me
when i am sick,
because that's what i've been lately..

and every time i cough he just says
"ohhh aubrey!" and gives me the biggest frown.
and some how that big frown warms my heart.
because i know he is genuinely sad that i am sick
and just wants me to feel better.

the constant asking of:
are you ok?
can i get you something?
is there anything i can do for you?
mean the world to me
even when my answers are:
yes,
no,
and no.

i am so blessed to have this friend
to sit with me,
so i don't have to sit alone.

thank you addison kyle walter!

breakin down to the 20 day countdown...

oh how bitter sweet....

{PS i owe the post title to the Civil Wars}

me and games don't mix.

so i've never really been a game person.
not much for video games {with the exception of mario kart...sometimes}
don't enjoy board games {except maybe clue}
not a real fan of card games.

i just never really had a thing for games.
but with the mom i have
{and the dad she had}
i have to play,
mostly card games,
even if i don't enjoy it.
i think i get it from my dad.
he doesn't play much either.

it's probably more because i hate losing.
and i've never been a real strategical person.
so...
 not being good at + not being strategical = losing
which makes me bitter.. hahaha
and i hate to admit but yes, i am kind of a sore loser, for a moment or two.

one time my mom made us play a card game for family night
and i was not shy about expressing that i didn't want to play.
she said that this would be about "learning to pretend to have fun"
that's hard hahaha.

so when my good friend cole morgan invited me
and addison
over for games
you can imagine how i felt.
but addison wanted to go so i tagged along.

you see cole and his family are pretty big gamers.
they have legit game nights, i'm pretty sure.
so we get out this game
called 5 crowns.
i don't know if you have played it
but it's similar to phase 10...if you have played that
{and phase 10 i loath... }
anyways, we have a practice round
and even from the practice round i get sassy.
it bothers me when people tell me how to play
even though i just ask for help the whole time.
and i know it's dumb of me, which is why i avoid playing..
haha but really it's not that bad and it all ends up being a joke.
but i got through all 12 rounds of that game
and didn't even get last place!

i told cole the story about my family night
and he told me i didn't do the best job of pretending to have fun.
but hey. i did it. haha

i think it's great if you like games.
i just don't all that much.
maybe one day i will.
but not today.


even though i don't enjoy games,
i will still play them
and
i do enjoy being with friends,
so the night was still a good one!

it's a date!

the day after christmas consists of sleeping in late.

i sure needed it too!

then loungin in my pjs

and mac asks me to go to walmart with him.

but first he makes me change out of my pjs..

mac went to the game section to get a game for his PS3

and the worker has to unlock the case to get it.

so mac says "can i get a PS3 game?"

and the worker says "no."

and i say "ya mckay, christmas is over!"

and the worker says "ya, im so sick of being nice to people!"

hahahahahahaha

then he says "im just kidding"

and we walk over to the games

and he says "which game?"

and mac says "NBA 2K12"

and the worker says "no."

hahahahahhaha

then he gets it and we buy it

and the worker says

"im so happy you have a sense of humor."

hahaha it sure made my day.

later i had a date with 

addison... {of course haha}

it was a triple with

peter and whitney

and zack and madi.

the plan was dinner and ice skating down town.

but here is what really happened:

go downtown to the gateway and get there about 6

decide we want to eat at california pizza kitchen.

but there's a 45 minute wait.

so we write our name down anyways

and look around for other places to eat.

we go up to tucanos 

and i am thinking

i don't need THAT much food

plus it's pretty pricey,

so i say to addison

"we definitely don't have to go there."

and he says, "i don't think anyone will stay here"

so we go in and there was a 2 hour wait!

and for whatever reason people refused to eat at the food court

or at a smaller, less populated resaurant.

so we walk around and explore some stores 

{including the build a bear, and chocolate factory}

finally after 45 minutes we go back to CPK

and there is still a 20 minute wait!

so we wait 20 MORE minutes

and then we are finally seated at 7:15

{keep in mind ice skating downtown closes at 9:00...}

we wait to be waited on for like 15 minutes

don't get our food for like 30 minutes

and then eat for 30 minutes or more..

that leaves no time for ice skating

which was really sad.....
so madi says
"screw you california pizza kitchen!!"
RIGHT as our waiter walks by.
hahahahahahaha funniest thing ever.

but we headed back to whitney's to watch 

water for elephants.

good movie.

really sad movie.

but all in all

despite the long waiting

it was really fun!

after the movie we headed back to my house

and talked to mac for a while

as usual :)

it only comes once a year.

christmas that is!

wake up at 6 am
{because chad is calling at 7:30
and we have to open gifts!}

so i wake a 6 and wake up all my siblings
{used to be austins job, but i seem to be the only one
who wants to wake up early for christmas anymore.. haha}
and we all gather in mom and dads room while mom and dad
go check if santa came.
he did!.
we line up,
youngest to oldest {as always}
and walk in the living room.
find your stocking
and sit by your things.
look around at the unwrapped {from santa}
and then start from youngest to oldest
to open the wrapped presents.

it was a successful year!
not that i think i need presents to make christmas successful,
because it's not about that.
but being with family and feeling the love that is around
and of course celebrating the birth of our savior.
my savior.

but of course i don't feel like being excited about presents is a bad thing!
it really just means, some one was thinking of you
and wanting you to know they know you!

but presents were there, and i am happy with what i recieved!
my very own NIKON D5000!! ahhh!!!
complete with 2 lenses, and a camera bag!
my photography days have only just begun!

clothes, jewelry holder, boots
and a few other odds and ends
{including and antique looking paris pocketwatch necklace!.}

after gifts we got to skype with elder chad james nilsson!
{and tanner and ashley in orem}

gosh. he rocks.
i miss him so much.
he hasn't changed at all.
just as happy as ever.
only 9 more months!!

then off to church.
christmas church is the best.
filled with music
holding the testimony of christ.
his birth
and his life.

home to deliver a few more presents.

first to annie's.
we exchanged gifts.
she gave me:
a journal with the effiel tower on it
a movie she has made of our time living at uvu together
and a big poster of the eiffel tower!
because i WILL travel to paris one day.
and take LOADS of pictures of the eiffel tower.
she knows me so well, and put so much time into them!
of course, just having her as one of my very best friends
is enough for me.
i love you fann!!

i gave her
a jar i made with music around it
and a candle to go inside,
with a quote from Sophie Rose Barton on it.
and.....
a UKULELE!!
i was so excited about this gift
because annie did not ask for it
but a few weeks ago she came home from her cousins
and talked to me about how she played it with them
and had so much fun with it!
and she loved it!

after just visiting with her and catching up
{on the last like 5 days we havent been together.. haha}
i continued my trip.

stopped by best friend emmies to give her a present!
i gave her some nice fuzzy socks!
they are my favorite and i knew she would love them too!
she informed me she got just dance 3 for christmas.
PARTY!!!!
love you em!

then a visit to the next best friend.
a special one ;)
addison kyle walter.

we exchanged gifts as well.
he gave me a christmas mug {to cure my shivers!}
a keychain from hawaii of a hula dancer {inside joke hehehe}
and some screen cleaner for my NIKON D5000!!!!
all perfect gifts!

and i gave him
some nice gloves
{the kind where they are mittens but can fold over
to fingerless gloves, all my brother ask for on their missions}
and a nice scarf for his mission as well.
it's going to be cold up there in canada!
i told him how i REALLY wanted to get him a watch,
but i found out his grandma was already getting him.
i was super bummed
but i was just glad he got one!

i sat and visited with his family
who i just love.
his dad, Mark
who is kind of a goofy guy and makes me laugh a lot!
his mom, Jill
who is always so welcoming to me and i feel like she is my second mom!
his sister ashley,
who is so kind and SO creative and an amazing example to me!
{she definitely inspired me to start this blog!}
I love the Walter family SO much!

then to my surprise
mark told me i got to choose something out of his
surprise feely bag {he didn't wrap gifts.. haha}
so i stuck my hand in
and pulled out a puzzle!
ohhhhh i love puzzles!!!!
it was so kind of them to get me a gift!!

after that wonderful visit
i went home to my whole family
we haven't all been together for a while!
so we definitely take the opportunity to take a family picture.

on my NIKON D5000!!!!! hehehe

i love my family so much!!!
all my brothers ROCK
and they picked the best sisters for me to have!!

OFF to grandma haws
to tell her thank you for the gifts,
plus get some hilarious stories from grandpa's new book
about his life.
oh i just crack up.
my grandpa is getting old
and who knows how much longer he will be around...
but i believe he really has lived an amazing life
and i really look up to him!

and to grandma nilsson's house we go
for the annual cousin gift exchange
plus themed gift from grandma.
her theme this year was the liahona.
a life size liahona and zipper pulls
to remind us to go in faith.

some mobile speakers from kaleb and talysha!

and then for an amazing dinner
{as usual for grandma}
no joke, i would eat my grandma's dinners
over ANY restaurant in the WORLD!
its one of my favorite places to be!

then just visiting with the cousins.
me and best cousin scoot in our christmas attire:

yes i have taken every opportunity to wear this sweater!

classy as always.

after a long, full, day
we head home. exhausted.
plus i feel a sore throat coming on!

then i REMEMBER.
i have to deliver one more gift!
down to tanner howells house to give him a handmade bracelet
i promised him:)

THEN home.
addison came over to see what i had received
and we just sit by my tree and talk and laugh.
then 10 minutes before chritmas is over,
we read the polar express together.
ha cheesy?
i dont care.
i loved it.
loved it A LOT.
a perfect way to end chritmas!

i hope you all had an amazing day,
just as i did.
as one santa claus would say
"merry christmas to all, and to all
a good night."

grams and pjams

it is christmas eve.
meaning
"tomorrow is christmas! it's practically here!!"
{grinch ref}

christmas eve means
last minute shopping

grandmas:
-dinner
-christmas talent show:
allyson&lydia dance
lydia dance
allyson guitar
lydia violin
tyler and adam trumpet and sax
gavin harmonica and break dancing {he is like 3}
austin story
me and mom, sing
tanner sing.

really it was eventful!

home to play on austins xbox kinect!

and of course the christmas Pjams!

matching. sisters. :) 

{missing ashley!}

oh the usual

my dad treated us to reading

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

{original story by dr suess!}

i LOVE when my dad reads stories.

especially my FAVORITE story!!

and ending the night 

with WATCHING the grinch.

i just can't get enough.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!

all in one.

a day of crafts
to finish up some gifts.

a special package arrived today!!!
{didn't think it was coming until after christmas!}
i made sure i thanked the UPS man!

and family over for dinner and gingerbread houses!

snoopy of course!!

i looooove the holidays!!!

{as if you didn't already know that!}

P.S.
came across this beauty today

the hunger games. taylor swift. AND the civil wars! 

ALL of which i 

LOVE!!!!

success

have you ever gone shopping
for something specific
and you look through a couple stores
and you don't find the one?

then you walk into to the next store,
and it's there.
right in front of you.
so you don't have to rummage through the entire store.
and they only have one left in your size.
so you assume it's a sign.

happened to me!
can't wait to wear it on christmas!
whoohoo!

don't worry!

today is the DAY!
the biggest christmas party of the season!
hosted by the one
and only
cole morgan.

this only means that me and best friend emmie
dress for the festivities accordingly:

a pot luck dinner
{i provided wheat thins and dip!}
ham
salads
rolls
and PLENTY of desserts!

we feast.
we visit.
we reunite with old friends.

we give white elephant gifts!
i received a summer sausage
and a hot wheels car.

other gifts were:
a shake weight
gold fish {live!}
ornaments...
and..
non alchoholic beer.
ya... that's sketchy.
who knows who brought it..
it was passed around....
i did NOT try it.
no desire to try it.
everyone said it was nasty anyways.
and it smelled bad..

ya know other than that it was successful party.
really good to see everyone again
and catch up.
Thanks cole for inviting us into your home!
i just love the feeling of christmas!!

OH and if you are feeling down on your holider cheer

DON'T WORRY!

me and emmie have enough for everyone!

heck. yes.

first semester of college.

not only conquered.

but...

A

A

A

A

A

4.0

dominated.

that is all.

cheer.

a day filled with nothing.

a night filled with cheer.

marie clark's wedding reception!
what a beautiful bride!

then we go out to see my uncle scott's
(ksl news anchor)
christmas tree.
why?
because his tree is HUGE.
it goes from the basement...
to the middle floor...
to the top of the roof!

if THAT doesn't fill you with holiday cheer,
then you are crazy.

he invites us in to get a closer look
and i get mauled by my little cousins
allyson
and lydia.
i love those girls like little sisters!
constant hugging, laughing, and piggy back rides.
love it.

shopping is hard.

christmas shopping.

had a great gift idea...

have to start over...

what do you get a boy for christmas?

a tricky task.

to be continued..

let's catch up!

christmas break means seeing
friends i haven't seen in a while.

for one:
jessica cowley.
goes to the university of utah.
known her pretty much my whole life.
been really good friends for a while.
she is some one,
i know is genuinely interested in my life.
i can talk to easily.
and
trust with anything.

4 or so hours later,
we are caught up on each others lives.


then my best friend {since FOR. EV. ER.}
emily buma came over.
we were supposed to watch once upon a time
but it was a rerun... very disappointed!
she goes to byu
but i still don't see her that often.
{she studies so much, she pulled out all A's this semester!}
she had just come back from vegas and california
so we catch up on everything.

to continue these chat
we chat with my parents
{laugh at my daddy}
mckay calls
{he is in california with the basketball team}
ya i miss him A LOT.
then a chat with my best friend addison
{he is still in hawaii}

a day full of chatting!

white elephant.

you know what's a good white elephant gift?
breann's SUPER OLD alta canyon membership card.
hahahahah classic!!!

let the festivities begin!

today consisted of a whole lot of
nothing.
that's right.
sleeping in till late,
sitting all day.
just relaxing,
and not feeling bad about it!

THEN
my good friend erin bergy berg
called.
aub what are you doing
come see the lights with us!

so downtown on the trax we go.

and into to temple square we go!

i've said it before
and i'll say it again.
lights are my favorite decoration for the holidays!

the trax ride home consisted of:
-singing christmas carols with strangers
-singing happy birthday to strangers
-balance contests while the train was moving
-lots of laughing

the whole night consisted of lots of laughing, actually.
{which i love most of course!}

end the night with 7-11 hot chocolate
{half chocolate half french vanilla with a few hazelnut creamers}
chats, and more laughing at erins lovely home!

it's going to be a wonderful {hopefully white!} winter break!

homeward bound!

that's right.
i moved home today
for about the next 3 weeks.
in these three weeks much will happen!
can't wait to see it all unfold.
packed up.
headed out.

the rest of the days activites were as follows:

MO TAB christmas concert.
there's something about people with British accents
reading stories that just gets to me!
it's much more magical than when some one with
and american accent reads it!

teaching addison's family how to use their
fancy camera!

kung fu panda 2 with his family.
what a funny show.

addison goes to hawaii with his family tomorrow
for a week.
yes,
i'm going to miss him!

what a great day...

CONQUERED!!!

first semester of college?
CONQUERED!!!
heck ya.
last final today.
math.
30 questions.
2 hours.
i was lucky i had that much time!
i was able to finish and check all my answers.
i'm feeling reeeally good about it.
i grabbed some "faith" on my way out
hopefully it will come in to play!

now i just sit at home.
relax.
and say to myself
"oh i really should be studying, or doing my homework....
NOT! hahahahahaha!"
what a great feeling!
so great, had to celebrate with martinellies!

now popcorn, pixar shorts and finding nemo
with addison, annie, and katie.

what a way to end the day right?
wrong.

midnight ihop run to meet carlos
and friends in ugly sweaters!
{happy birthday cynthia... not! ;)}
hahaha good times.

if finals were..

if finals were a weekend
it would be sitting at home with your parents

if finals were a movie
it would be super 8

if finals were a singer
it would be sugarland

if finals were a word
it would be a bad word

if finals were an animal
it would be a cat

if finals were a person
it would be rumplestilskin

if finals were a class
it would be american heritage

if finals were a car
it would be the rav

if finals were hot chocolate
it would be hot water with a drop of disgusting

if finals were knocking at my doorstep
i'd throw rocks at them

if finals were a game
it would be the copycat game

if finals could talk
it would say "i hate you alfalfa"

if finals were love
it would be heartbroken

-- from the wise words of my best friend addison walter.
hahah you can sure tell how he feels about finals week.
{this all occurred over facebook chat, and i about died laughing!}

{PS all finals went well today!! 4 down, 1 to go!}

the life

what does my life consist of during finals week?

-no makeup
-sweats all day
-munchies
-once upon a time
-oh and studying of course.

3 finals tomorrow!
wish me luck!