Snow Tactics 101

As I am a student at BYU- I.  I know a thing or two about snow. I haven't ever fallen in the slushy, icey, or snow covered roads in the Burg(as Leslie would say, "A Christmas miracle!!").   Here are a few things I've learned:

1. Never lock your knees. Keep them slightly bent and walk with higher knees/legs than you normally would

2. Look where you are going!!! Looking down not only helps you see where you are going, but keeps your chin closer to your neck which  makes you slightly warmer, and also it prevents snow from getting in your eyes...cold. not fun.

3. Wear boots with tread!! Shoes with out tread is a mistake you will not likely live to make again. Ok, that was a joke, but seriously...

4. Wear gloves. This will prevent you from always having your hands in your pocket so that if you DO slip, you will have better sense of balance.

That's all for this class. There may be a snow tactics 201 later. :D

Don't slip out there, and keep WARM! 
brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr....Rexburg.

Here To Stay

WELL.....

It has been quite a ride.

I arrived two or three weeks ago thinkin I was getting my storage to go home and prepare for the miss. when LO and BEHOLD! My mission call came the day I left for the burg.

I'm

Going
To

BRAZIL!!!!!! Sao Paulo North, Baby! Pretty sweet deal. I'm going to this town!!!!!


That's the awesome news. The not so awesome news: I don't leave till Feb. 2nd....So, I am enrolled in school for the semester! WOOhOOO! or not...idk. It was a surprise.


I ended up in this town for the time being.

With no hopes of returning to THIS town until December.




Life is full of surprises.

I am now enrolled in 12 credits, found housing at my fave place(American Manor). I only came prepared for a weekend, so I currently have two pairs of pants, 5 shirts, a swimsuit, and don't even ask about socks or underwear....

I just got my lap top today, and I am sooo thankful!!! Won't be getting clothes in the mail though, so looks like a shopping trip this weekend. yaya! But then...money to spend, not so yaya.

P.s--my b day was awesome! I'm officially 21 and an adult! Angie came and made me breakfast with my friend Michelle. They are so sweet! <3 AND....Angie made me dinner that night and a BTS cake! So yummy! Plus, my room mates were awesome and put cute little decorations all over the walls and mirrors!! Love them.

And that's all for now.

Back to the Burg!

Little tiny car
A picture mailed to me of my storage
yikes?

15 hours
audio books
just me
snacks is a must
hopefully only one day

Tomorrow morning. :D

A cashier's date executed to the finish

A couple of days ago, a nice young man came through my register once, then agan to buy a couple of items. I was friendly, the way I'm paid to be, and the next day, he came again. This time he didn't have any items to buy and so I thought, "he must have a question." Well, he put both hands on the counter, as if to steady himself, took a deep breath, all the while looking at me a little lost, but determined.

He opened his mouth and said, "Hi, my name is Christian."
"Hi, Christian, nice to meet you..." I said waiting for what would come next.
" I'm new in town and I was looking for people to meet. Do you want to go get coffee sometime?"

Well, I was a little surprised, but this has happened before when I was a waitress. Immediately I started to say, "I don't drink cofee..."but then I looked into his eyes and started to think. Of course I can't be totally rude and shut him down, "NO I don't even know you! You could be a freak that stalks poor little Ross girls like me!" And, I am aware that it is difficult to get up the courage and ask a person out. Especially when you don't really know them. He really took a chance. So, knowing what he must be going through, I decided to put him out of his misery and prevent an ulcer from coming on by finishing the sentence this way, "...but I do like hot chocolate. We could go for coffee and hot chocolate ."

Relieved: "That sounds good. When do you get off work?"
Uneasy : "Around 2, but tomorrow might be better"Not wanting to give my number: "Do you have facebook? Look me up. My name is Hillary Adamson."

And then it was over. Thank fully no one was in line. PHEW. I was rather embarrassed to find a co worker had walked up just as I had said "look me up on facebook." How stupid can I be!? This ISN"T IDAHO!! I forget that the world of YSA doesn't exist outside of BYU-I.

I got off work and was wondering what I should do. I had a list of excuses I could use to call the whole thing off, but after talking to my dad about it, I decided it would be best to honor the "Date". He deserved that.

Today I went at 2 to Kafe 101 and had a muffin and hot chocolate with Christian (I did NOT befriend him on FB just fyi! Just used message thank you very much.) We had a good time. We talked and I found out he just graduated high school, lived in Hawaii and now was going to SOCC among other things. It was very relaxed and I don't know why I was so worried before. We walked on the boardwalk and at the end, I said good bye, and good luck in school, and that was it! TA-DA!! A cashier's date executed to the finish. BAM.

Afterwards I went shopping for some mission clothes. You won't believe how extremely hard that is! I need some cardigans, sweater sets, long skirts, and button up shirts, tees....man. I didn't get far. I finally decided to just check Good Will. I found two skirts there and a sweater vest. Haha, one of the skirts was pretty huge! Me and my mom BOTH fit into it zipped up! I sewed it smaller already, but I'll post the pictures. :D

Siamese twins connected at the rump!

hehehe...don't tell my mom, but she really doesn't want this picture on the internet. I think it's funny though. SHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.... ;)

<-- Me sewing the fat butt dress.
Hey, if anyone reading this has some of the clothes mentioned, or knows where to get them at good prices, LET ME KNOW!!!!!

Kirsti's Wedding

The day started off early! I was kind of sleepy from staying out late the night before (I had enjoyed a day with wedding rehearsal and pizza with the Gaunt and Payne family) but once I got a shower and put on my make-up, the excitement of the soon to be wedding woke me right up!! I headed over to Kirsti's and was there by 9:30. It was a full house! Tyler and his family were there as well as Tristan and her fiance! Tyler and Tristan are Chris and Kirsti's siblings. Kirsti, Suzzy, and Tristan were getting ready in the bathroom and Caiden and Ashton were running about looking for entertainment as every one else were rushing about making sure nothing was being forgotten for the big event! CHAOS at it's best :) I tried to help out by engaging young Caiden in a game of Cookie monster. Basically I would tickle Caiden with the talking Cookie Monster, he would ninja kill it, we put him in the monster hospital, then brought him back to life. Caiden would help me check his heart beat, air passage way, and eventually we would give Cookie Monster chest compressions. It was fun. I think Cookie monster must be in the cat family since he died about 10 times.

Once the girls were ready, we all left for the Beauty Bar in North Bend. Trent came along as well. We had a great time and the girl doing our hair was awesome! She did Kirsti's, Suzzy's, Tristan's, Kylie's, and my own hair, plus a do for Trent ;) It took a little while, but for that many people, it was not bad at all!

After we all were looking beautiful, we went back to the house for a quick lunch break and headed out the door once again for the actual ceremony.

We all were a little nervous in the car ride. I was up front with Kirsti. Every so often I would hear her inhale deeply. We all felt that way a little. I guess it wasn't just nerves, but excitement! It was like, we couldn't believe in a few hours she was going to be married! It just kind of snuck up on all of us even though it had been on the calendar for a while. Crazy how time flies.

We arrived at the gardens and there was fog everywhere! AHHHHHHHHhhhh! However, while we were getting our dresses on in the Garden House, the fog cleared- just in time! Kirsti, I'm convinced , is a good luck charm. Everything that could've gone wrong, didn't. People had been worried most about the seating and the fog the day before at rehearsals, but the seating was fine and fog burned off revealing a glorious summer day in the gardens! At 3:15, people were in their places and the wedding began.





One word to describe Kirsti's wedding: BEAUTIFUL.

Kirsti and Jason Payne presented themselves after a lovely sermon by Pastor John and they were the picture of happiness and light! The flowers in bloom and the greenery in the background rendered the event a certain elegance and calm beauty. Kirsti had wanted it to be a more traditional and simplistic wedding with a romantic look to it. I think that was accomplished and more. I was truly touched when they said their vows and was so honored to be a part of their union! As a member of the bridal party, I was the only bridesmaid that was not related to Kirsti. I felt very special.

Bill Grami photographed the whole wedding from the Beauty Bar, to the Garden House, to the ceremony, to the after wedding pictures in the gardens, and all the way to the reception at the Mill Casino which went until 9:30 that night. He was very personable and professional.

The reception was a lot of fun! There was delicious food to eat: prime rib and chicken, salads to choose from, rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, and then cake afterwards too! People could drink at the bar if they had a mind to, and there was lots of dancing!

A toast was given by Tristan and the best man, Bobby to send off the new couple with Congratulations! There was the flower toss, I was like the only girl there over 12....and the garter toss, and of course the father of the bride dance, and we all enjoyed a special moment when Grandfather Amel danced with the bride. He's getting quite old now, and it was a very special thing that he could be a part of the event. Chris was loosing it next to me and told me that he didn't think his grandfather would be around for his own wedding when he decided to settle down. Again, I was touched almost to tears. It was a happy moment that Kirsti was there with Amel on the dance floor.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself. My mom even came for a while to enjoy the celebrating and wish the couple luck. I had a lot of fun dancing with Chris and Kirsti, talking to Sam and Caitlyn, Bret and all of the family members. I also really enjoyed seeing the younger kids go and shake some moves out on the dance floor!

At the end of the night, we all gathered outside to send off Kirsti and Jason Payne with bubbles and good byes! I ended up going back to the Gaunt house, and they let me borrow Kirsti's car so I could get home.

After thoughts: I am so grateful that Kirsti wanted me to be a part of this special event in her life. I have known her for four years now, and I have always been inspired by her beauty. She truly is a person who is beautiful inside and out. She and Jason have been together for almost 7 years now. Time really does fly! I know they will truly be happy together for the rest of their lives!

Kirsti was talking to the beautician in the Beauty Bar when I was getting my hair done. They were discussing how she knew who to pick for the bridal party. I was happy to find out her answer. She said, " I knew immediately who I wanted to be my bridesmaids: Tristan, Suzzy and Hillary." I am truly honored and have been since she asked me in the beginning. Although I didn't help with decorations, or much of anything, I was able to be there for her on her wedding day. I did small things like cut the flowers for her hair, or take pictures out to the car, but all in all, it was enough. She was glad I was there, and that is all I need to know :D

So, here is my toast to you, Kirsti and Jason Payne! May your life together always be filled with laughter, happiness, and beauty. May you always look into each other's eyes with love! Jason, you are a good, good person and I see that you truly love Kirsti, and Kirsti, you have always been a friend, and you are sweet, smart, beautiful, and any guy would be lucky to be your husband! To you! As Bill and Ted would say, "Be excellent to each other, and party on dudes!"

Camping in Nehalem

I figured that so much has been happening all at once, I'd better blog about some of it.

Angie, Ross, and Jacob have been in Oregon now for about a week. It has been a blast with all of them here at once! Angie is pretty much a long lost daughter to my parents seeing as how well she is coping and blending so beautifully in....if you can call it blending. When you are at home with MY family it is more like you stick out to blend in.

The Adamson house hold is made up of many strong personalities and with everyone at home (except for Willow) things are kind of back to normal, or how they used to be. :D There is five different songs being sung, or played, in all parts of the house. AT ONCE. There is constant talking and dramatic story telling. There is laughter and silly ness- ALWAYS. Angie has stepped right into the crazy of crazies and has proved herself just as insane as the rest of us. CONGRATS! I think my brothers are quite impressed. Thus, she has blended herself into the world of Adamson.

Mostly I have had to work the first few days Ross, Jacob and Angie have been here, but I hear that they have amused themselves while I was away by seeing the farmer's market and other such things in Coos Bay. While with them, we have gone to see Inception and have just hung out at home playing games, watching movies, and singing music for each other. It has been fun.

Today the whole family got back from our Adamson Family camp out in Nehalem!! We all packed our things on Friday morning, got in the car and road (hehe a pun) for 6 hours getting there. We made a lot of stops to random places and bathrooms, played the A,B,C find-a-name-for-each-letter-on

-a-sign game (Michelle won, and the rest of us gave up on either Q or X), ate a lot of junk food, and finally made hot, sweaty, and smelly to the Nehalem Camp grounds!

It was great to see the family! A lot of people were there surprisingly, since everyone is grown up now. With them came all the little new faces!! There is a whole new crop of Adamson offspring coming in now: Cash, Joah, Jasper, Rylan and a baby was born to Shannon and Chris while we were there camping. They didn't come of course! Oh, and I can't forget Dusty's sweet little family! haha. But wow, it's so cool and...weird. I MUST be getting old.

Also, Kevin's daughters showed up which was a nice surprise! I Haven't seen them for a long time.

Anyway, it was like most camp outs: We spent a lot of time around a fire talking and singing; We played games like Sequence; We went to the beach and made sandcastle, and also played Ultimate frisby with a foot ball; enjoyed each other's company and ate. It was great!

Highlights:
-sharing a two man tent with Angie (we called it our secret sharing tent) -seeing all the family and new faces -Uncle Jim's BBQ YUM! -the sweet centrifugal contraption on the little kid's playground!!!! You'll just have to ask about THAT one -rolling my way down the beach with Angie
-making sandcastles and then having a random dude come over and "Pimp" them up -playing football on the beach and watching a game of sequence after I got back -singing TAGS and songs with my family around the camp fire
Me and Angie settin' up tent. It was "intense" hehe



The Sandcastle pimp daddy


Angie started to get cold. I think the feeling shows quite well in this photo :D


Ross found this cool smokey the bear thing at a rest stop!


The beautiful beach and the Sandcastles!!! :D

While I was camping I also saw part of "Much ado about nothing" that was going on in the near by amphitheater. It was pretty cool. Mostly it was just funny since they weren't exactly professionals. Haha! A lot mistakes and improv was happening would be my guess, although I have never seen the play before, I'm thinking the actors aren't suppose to say, "What, What, What....what is my line?"

Anyway, it was a fun adventure. Angie and I had a lot of silly late night bathroom trips and singing shower experiences. Good Stuff.

Now we are safely home and I cannot WAIT to take a shower!! Tomorrow it's back to the grind of work and then I have the remaining Tue-Thurs off to spend with Angie and my brothers before it's time for them to head back.

Summer events and stuff...

Well, I realize I haven't written in a while. It's ok for all of you sad little weeping eyes out there(the maybe 2 or 3 of you), for I have returned!!!

It's been an interesting summer. There have been about three weeks of it here in coos bay. Most places get three months. It's just about to come to a close though. At least we HAD three weeks!

I got home from school in April, spent a month searching frantically for a job, while the credit card paid my bills...yah, we had some close moments there with that whole situation. Thank fully, I have parents that claimed me before my debt did. :D Thanks mom and dad for doing the right thing and helping out a little here and there. I paid them back of course.

Finally after toiling hour after hour on the pavement and computer, typing away with my puny little fingers, I got a call back from Ross Dress For Less, had an interview and BAM! I was in.

Shortly after being hired for a temporary sales associate there, a funny thing happened on the phone. I had put in the ROSS number and saw that Ross was calling me. Thinking it was my BROTHER Ross, I answered in the following manner:

Me: Hey, how's it going Ross!?
Manager Alexis: Good...hey, wait, what?

haha, I think I was just as confused as she was. Later I modified the number to be the stores FULL name so that wouldn't happen again.

IT's really great that I have that name in common both with brother and work. A friend asked me on facebook how Ross was treating me. I said, just like a big brother should. :D Anyway, that gives me a kick.

ROSS really is a great place to work though. I love it there. The people are AWESOME and the work is busy, but not difficult. Plus the way it is set up is like track, which I loved in high school: You are part of a team and yet you do a lot of individual work where you compete with yourself, thus bringing a part of the teams overall score. It is a really nice way to do things.

I get cool benefits like a sweet 20 percent discount on clothes and ....yeah, well I'm temporary so thats about it. BUT, if you count my happiness at not being a waitress and loving work, well it's a 10 for 10 folks!The benefits are grrrrreat! (a little toni the tiger action there ;))

Other things that have happened, well I borrowed Chris's car, my good friend and ex boyfriend. It was great cause my dad's been gone and we've had one car at home, and then it died. That was a sad day. Contrary to what you may think, I took good care of it. It had gas, oil, water and didn't over heat when it died.

Also, I have been working on my mission papers!!!! I just finished my online recommendation yesterday!!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!! I'm so excited. People ask me where I want to go if I could choose. I used to say anywhere is fine, but after a phone call from a friend and finding out that in Austria missionaries can go to operas....HELLO, AUSTRIA! HERE I COME!!! :D Seriously though, how cool is that!? Anywhere would be cool, but just sayin'...

NExt thing on my summer list of events is to be in KIRSTI GAUNTS WEDDING!! Wow, I can't believe it's that soon. Aug. 28th. Phew. She is going to be such a beautiful bride too. She is Chris' twin sister and I guess I've known here for a while now. Crazy stuff when people your age start getting married all the time. haha, makes me feel older.

I am really glad I get to be a part of it though. A bridesmaid along with her sister in-law and her sister, Tristan. Pretty sweet deal. I feel pretty honored.

Another, sooner, event I'm looking forward to is ANGIE IS COMING ON MONDAY!!! YAY!! That is so AWESOME! Things really are looking up! Not that they were bad before. Angie and I are going to haave SO much fun. I can't wait to see her. LAst time we were together was when Nick and her were saying good bye to me in Milwaukie. That was the last time I saw Nick before he left for his mission actually.

Well, I am pooped out from writing. Looks like some exciting things are about to happen. I'll have to blog about the upcoming events separately as to give them their due credit!

Events list:
1) ANGIE'S STAY
2) KIRSTIS'S WEDDING
3)MISSION CALL

:D LAter ALLiGatOR!!