Sometimes, you just don't have to know.

Things I've learned....

1. Being 'the best' at everything, is SO overrated!
2. Expect the un-expected.
3. Sometimes you don't have to know how you feel, or what you're going to do.
4. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. 
5. Procrastination. Bad mojo. 
6. Try it; what have you got to lose? 

Senior year.... what can I say about it?

It's scary. 

College is just around the corner. Is this statement ridiculous or what?? Oh my gosh I can't believe it! All of these years of hard preparation for college applications and scholarships, and the funny thing is... I'm just now realizing how much it all payed off. I'll be the first to admit that it doesn't matter if you had straight A's in elementary school... even though I did. I'll also be the first to say that college doesn't care how many friends you have. They do however care how many clubs you joined, how many leadership positions you've held, how many jobs you've had, and how many points you got on the ACT. The funny thing about all of those years of preparation before high school, is that it shaped me FOR high school. I've been able to participate in so many clubs, activities, leadership positions, and working experiences, and if I hadn't started molding myself to be this way at an early age... then I would have accomplished nothing. College may not care if I Aced my second grade spelling test, and they may not care that I have so many amazing friends... but those things definitely have an impact on all of the things that college DOES care about. I'm glad I realized this, without actually realizing it when I was younger. College.... ugh.

Some people....

... amaze me. 

Today, at work a woman brought her adorable little Chaplin Pincher into the store, so naturally I walked up to her and asked her if I could pet it.

(I think she freaked for a second because she thought I was going to make her leave, but it really would surprise you how many people bring their pets into Payless... one time, these people brought in a cat! ... anyways.)

She let me pet her puppy, and told me all about how the puppy had just barely had a stroke, and that it had a cold, that she was giving it antibiotics for. The puppy was SOOO chubby. It was basically a fifteen pound chihuahua. hahah.

The puppy's name was Penny, and it turns out that her owner rescued her from her old mean owner's house! She told me that they would somehow stuff her into a recliner chair while they would go to work so that she wouldn't go potty on their carpet, and by doing this they broke her back! She told me that she literally went into the people's house and stole her.

She now takes care of this puppy who takes SIX pills every single morning. She told me that when Penny had her stroke, she drove her to the emergency vet at 3 A.M., and the vet said that if she would have waited any longer, Penny would have died. Due to Penny's stroke, she gained a ton of weight (because of steroids or something...) so she can't walk, and her owner has to take her around EVERYWHERE with her.

This woman, who I don't even remember her name, is my great example for the day! I think that it's so amazing what she did for this little creature, that many people wouldn't see the value in. It amazes me that she's willing to put so much of her time and money into this little dog. Some people just amaze me.

Disclaimer : Only read this if you think my Family is funny.

So today, my dad was telling me all about the things that he had to fix around the house before Thanksgiving.... 

so I asked him, "Dad, how come you know how to do everything?" 

He said "What do you mean?"

and I said, "Well, you know how to do everything. When I get married I'm probably going to be calling you a lot because I doubt my husband will know how to do everything like you."

(Sidenote) ... this is where my mom pipes in from downstairs and says "Nicole, I'm counting on your husband to know something, because you and him are going to be taking care of me when I'm elderly."

then I said "Okay mom, I'll make sure that YOU like my husband." (Sidenote over.)

Then my dad proceeds to tell me... "I grew up poor. When you grow up poor, you realize that the only way to get stuff done is if you do it yourself, so you learn. My dad grew up poor too, and he taught me this lesson. If you can read, you can figure anything out." 

Then I said... "So you're telling me to marry someone who's poor?"

Then he said, " No, I'm telling you that sometimes you have to figure stuff out for yourself and not get other people to figure it out for you..." 

... Then I walked away, because I wanted to write down this great conversation with my parents.

THIS is why I love my dad so much. My dad seriously knows EVERYTHING. My family has this joke that he's a walking encyclopedia.... and he really is. I don't think he's ever not had the answer that I needed to a question. My dad says the smartest things without even trying, and I've learned some awesome lessons from him! Love you, dad!

TFRT Baby!

My family is taking the Thunder Family Road trip! I'm SOOO stoked to go up and watch the state game! Can't believe that we made it! I got a press pass to take photos on the field, so everyone make sure to watch for me! I'll be one of the other 1000 people down there... hahah. Good Luck Boys!!! Let's take state! :)

Thunder Family for LIFE!

Sadies 2011 : Open Season!

Sadies this year was seriously SO much fun! Cait and I went with a couple of our new friends, Jace and Brandon. We had the funnest group EVER.

For our day date, we went to a cabin up in Pine Valley and played this sick dart game that Brittany Brink's dad invented, and everyone got wayyy into it....

We also played a couple of board games.....

... and Jaden broke an old pot.... (Seriously one of the best pictures of the day. hahahah.)

After we got back from the Cabin, we went to the most amazing place EVER to have dinner. (Thanks again, Laurie and Phoebe! It seriously made the day!)

We made sure to take some awesome photos....

... and then left for the dance, which we stayed at almost to the end, and then went to Mench. :)

Thanks everyone in my group for making it SO much fun!

Piggy Bankkk #19

Has the Temple always been there? - Brinkerhoff

I was on drugs. - Mrs. Nelson

So when we were voting for Homecoming royalty, I didn't know who to vote for, so I just didn't vote. - Brinkerhoff

Do you think you'll get your pets back in the Celestial Kingdom? - Nicole
I don't like pets, so I wouldn't know. - Brinkerhoff

It's scheduled to rain every day this week. - Chandler

Don't make me pee my pants. I have to do volleyball today. - Mrs. Wallace

You're on crack. - Jazzy

Sometimes I just want to drop kick his head! - Caity

This snuggie is for like a 12x man! - Caity

It only has to be 500 pages. OH! I mean words! - Courtney Weeks

Why can't we all just eat the same kind of cereal? - Nicole
What do you mean? - Emily
I want dad's cereal! - Nicole
Well I'm pretty sure it's in his closet and he's asleep if you want it. - Emily

I remember last time I was in this care it smelled like men. Now it smells like peaches. - Taegan

You look like Michael Jackson. - Caity

I'm not sure this glass carpet is very practical. - Jeremy (Top Gear)

It's gonna be a long night for that kid... - Caity

Weren't you guys playing that dance fever game? - Mom
It's JUST dance, mom... - Nicole

Was that a bad driving joke? - Caity

Well people in Hell want Ice Water! - Dad