birthday, besties.. and BRITNEY!

We started off my birthday weekend with a little trip down to Vegas to see Britney Spears!

And it. was. so. good!

We bought the cheapest seats in the house, and when we arrived and the lady took our tickets, she looked horrified when she read Section 231. 

She pulled out her walkie talkie and called some guy over and said, arent these girls too pretty to be sitting up this high?

He said, nahh they're not that pretty! After offending Amy, he pulled us aside and told us to wait for him. As we waited my lovely friends obnoxiously let everyone know it was my birthday. When the guy came back he said, "its your birthday?? well how would you like to be THIS CLOSE to britney (motioning to the space between us)"

Needless to say, thats when the 12 year old fan girls in us came out. Britney's manager escorted us to right next to the stage. And we sang our hearts out all night! Seriously though, it was so good. She sang all of her old songs. The next morning we were watching our videos and getting giddy all over again. 

Literally not one person between us and the stage! (well except for the security guard who was judging us so hard for our singing and flailing arms)

Forever dreaming of britney....

We also had dinner with the fam, and a variety of other birthday dinners with friends! It was a great one!

As I waited for a job.... (all the random happenings)

WELL, first off, I graduated and passed the NCLEX! YAY! 

So then as I waited for a job, I took a few babysitting gigs. 

Then as i continued to wait for a job, kaylie, myself, and grandma decided to get reallll crafty and make our own dresses... with no pattern. Grandma had no faith it could be done... but they turned out so cute! It only took 13 hours, 2 boxes of doughnuts, 2 un-pickers (mostly for kaylie), a few melt downs on the couch (mostly kaylie), lots of pep talks (again, mostly for kaylie), and robintinos pizza. 

Kaylie had already attempted once before and kept warning us to not make it too small... it turned out to be a size 22. 

 But seriously how good did those turn out!?

 While i continued to wait for a job, MCKENZIE came home from her mission!!! Most exciting news ever!!

 Lunch with the girls... as i continued to wait...

Birthday parties as i waited for a job...

Graduations as i waited for a job...

So many pool days as i waited for a job...

 Days on the lake as I waited for a job...

 James came home from his mission as i waited for a job..

We went to the Ogden temple open house as I waited for a job...

Kaylie and I went to education week as i waited for a job...

Yes. We were the only people there under 50. And yes. I really enjoyed it. And yes.. we hung out with David Archuleta. 

Smelson (smart/nelson) family dinners.... (you can only come if you wear pink)

We went to swiss days as i waited for a job.... ok fine i'll admit it! It was the funnest month EVER having no school or job!!! 

Then the moment we've all been waiting for... I finally got a job! Ah!! which was kind of scary and exciting at the same time. I started working as an RN at Riverton hospital in Maternity. I was preeettttyyy nervous to start, but seriously the Lord was watching out for me because the person who has been orienting me for the past few months (Angie.. giving her a shout out because i know she's reading this) is sooooo perfecttt for me. But really i love her. She's made it so fun for me since day 1, she's hilarious... basically someone i can enjoy spending 12 hours a day with for 10 weeks straight. Its going great so far! So adult of me right?

 Since starting my job.. the most exciting thing that has happened is that I went through the temple and received my endowment! And it was amazing! I had such a good experience going through and havent missed a week since. Every week when i go i'm so grateful that i live so close to so many temples and that i get to go and feel the spirit and feel close to the Lord in his house that often. When i leave I feel so at peace and that my life is aligned with what the Lord wants me to be doing. I love this church so much, it makes my life so happy and so much better!

Heather Sue is Married!

My beautiful cousin Heath is married!!

We had her shower at my house the week before and it was so fun... with so much good food. 

Sheeee did it!! It was seriously such a pretty and perfect day!

How amazing does she look though?!

DONT worry guys! Blake and I made it a point to catch the bouquet and garter after being the center of every single joke of the night. "we'reeeee next!!"

So happy for you Hez, love  you!!

#cookfamilyvacay

Can you say... Lakeee POWELLLLL! 

So I got to go to Lake Powell with my second family, and it was SO much fun!  

Our car crew. It was a really long drive. Because we stopped a thousand times. We had to get an air conditioner. We had to get a cord so we could listen to jordans weird.. i mean indie music. We had to get food. We had to get oil. Jordan got car sick. Cook was driving fast and leaning into his turns. What a ride. 

That sunset though!

I became a professional surfer this trip! (professional = without rope)

The boys, i mean WE, spent basically 3 days building this alter in the water so we could build a fire on it. Worth it wouldnt you say?

Kaden said, "I'll pay you 20 bucks if Ashlee doesnt plug her nose when she falls off."

Lets just say he didnt have to pay anyone 20 bucks. 

A few quotables from the trip:

"Will you drive so i can kiss her?"

"HEY! Thats ashlee's"

"So... what exactly... is the goal here....?"

"Guest."

"I'm putting rocks in my pockets and WALKING into the lake."

"I validate that."

Best trip ever!!