one step at a time

Wahoo is a new year..

a better me. new goals. and my happily ever after.

2013

you will be wayy to good to me!! 

It's insane i came out here in September of last year..to think i have been out here for 4 months already just completely blows my mind. I feel like i just got out here and am still learning how to drive in New York, but the other day i realized that i knew exactly where i was and i didn't have to use the navigation system to direct me around anymore. That feels way good! I still have so much to do while i am out here so i am glad that my time isn't up yet..and plus the time is going by so fast that i probably wont be ready when its time to go home! I did get my 'release' date though, i will be flying home 

June 21, 2013 :) Doesn't seem close at all..but i know that it will come faster that i think. Until than i get to enjoy the journey :)

***

Knicks vs. Celtics what???

k i don't mind basketball, but i would much rather watch football and baseball. I don't know what it is but that don't mean i would say no to tickets to the Knicks Vs. Celtics game! My host dad gets these season tickets to the Knicks, Nets, Yankee's and Mets games..so whenever they don't go, he gives them to me! So he asked and of course i said yes! And every time I always invite Tia of course! It's been so fun having her here with me and get to go to all of these amazing places with me. 

to excited :)

we always gets shirts wherever we go!

knicks fan..... jk :) just trying to be cool!

***

Mormon helping hands changes lives!!

I know that Heavenly Father puts things in our path to be able to bring people to the Gospel. Who knew that he would have to wake people up by having a Hurricane? not me, nor was i ready for that. 

Being able to help people come closer to Christ through service has been nothing but a blessing in my life. I know for a fact that even if i wasn't placed out here for this family that i nanny, that i was able to help all those effected by this disaster. Its been 2.5 months since the hurricane and there are still people without homes. We have been able to help every single weekend since the hurricane hit. 

A group of YSA Canadian's came down for a weekend and helped with our YSA branch to be able to serve more people from the list of many still in need. With the help of all the Canadian's, our YSA Branch, and about 50 missionaries serving in the New York, New York South mission there was 200+ helping hands willing and wanting to help..and everyone with a smile :)

Elder Tanner LeBaron is serving in the New York, New York South Mission.
Someone tapped on my shoulder the morning that we were getting ready
to go serve, and i was so shocked that it was Tanner!! He is an amazing
missionary, and New York is so lucky to have him. We went to Elementary,
Junior High, and a year of High School together 

The girls that are super strong and can pick up tree's! haha

Missionaries just doing what they do best!! 

This looks not so heavy, but it seriously is very heavy :)

so many hands helping :) 

***

I feel very blessed to be able to have a chance to be out here and serving and helping others :) I have had so many adventures, it's going to be soo sad when i leave! I have grown to love the kids and it's been amazing the impact that they have on my life. I know that they will come around, that they will accept this Gospel. "By small and simple things, shall great things come to pass" is the quote that i live by while i'm here. Little steps, and being an example!  

The branch here is amazing! I was just put into the Relief Society as the 2nd Counselor. Isn't it amazing that the Gospel doesn't change wherever you go in the world? No matter where i go i always feel loved and welcomed!! :)

Sister Hawks (serving a mission here, with her cute hubby)
Krista and I at church on sunday :)

I adore her! Lauren is a new convert, and is truly amazing :)

I have made made so many amazing friends out here!
Violet (who went home to serve a mission), Lauren, and Emma :)

2 crazy weeks

December..finally!!!

 I was soo excited to be able to go home for Christmas that December flew right by it was insane. So December 18 came way to early...like 2:30am to early. Yes i seriously had to be up that early because I had to make a train at 3:20am. I packed the night before so i only got a nap..yes a nap because i slept from 12:00-2:00am. It was awful, but soo excited so the tiredness rubbed off! haha. 

I had a friend traveling with me because she was going home that day as well..but she was going home for good and wasn't coming back. So we got to the train station where we had to say our final goodbye. And trains aren't that easy to use when you have a ton of luggage so it was a bit difficult. After saying goodbye to Violet i headed up the stairs to make the AirTrain to JFK Airport. 

Violet and i on the train ride home...we were tired but very excited :)

After a very long flight from JFK to SLC, i was home...i was in bea.you.tiful UTAH!!! I was anxious to get off the plane, so i hurried to get to my family!!! As i came around the corner before going down the escalator there were 3 missionaries who just got done hugging each other (cutest thing of my life), and said to each other, "okay, here we go..our mission is over, lets go get our families!!" seriously i wanted to cry right then..but i didn't. I followed them all the way down the escalator almost in tears because i was happy for them, but also because i am excited for the day that i get to stand at the bottom of those stairs and be so happy like all there families that i am in tears when Elder Stephan comes home!! As i came down the escalator i spotted my nephew Van, and he came running at me as i came down them!! I was soo happy once i had my two nephews in my arms again!!! After hugging them i hugged all of my family :) They are the cutest for picking me up at the airport!!

Some of my cute family and cousin!!

I missed them a little to much! love my nephews :)

***

That week was filled with fun family traditions, seeing friends, lots of shopping, eating, and of course being home on Christmas with my amazing family!! It was the best week to spend with everyone and was soo happy to see everyone who i cared about. Even though it was only a week, i wouldn't have changed it!! On Christmas i was able to Skype with Elder Stephan (last christmas on his mission). It was the best thing to be able to see his face, i can't even begin to tell you how happy and amazing that boy is!! He is changing lives, and i am so proud to be able to call him mine! :)

Cruz and I (sean and ariels twin boys!)

Parks and I 

My bestest friend :)

Our annual girls christmas party!! love these girls soo much 

temple lights with my family!! Missing someone important, next year!

last christmas with these cuties not married :)

my boyfriend is the best

still Joshua Ty

I love my  missionary :)

thank you joshua ty :) i love it more than anything!!
u r my happy :)

***

The day after Christmas i was able to fly to Florida and meet my host family there so we could go to Disney World!! The kids had an amazing time, and i had so much fun being there with them!!! We stayed in a beautiful hotel where they made cute animals out of towels everyday while you were out :) I had never been to Disney World before so it was so good to be able to go!! 

Vivian and I infront of the amazing castle. 

the cutest kids :) they were sick though, so they kinda looked so sad!

Splash mountain pic :)

***

That same day that we flew home from Florida i was able to go to the Coldplay Concert!! Amazing right?? Yes yes, i do actually have the BEST host parents in the world and they gave me Coldplay tickets...why?? Because they are amazing!!! So i invited Tia to go with me and we absolutely loved the concert!!! One of the best concerts i have ever been too :)

Tia and i at coldplay

we heart coldplay

***

The next day was New Years Eve so since its about a once in a lifetime that we are here in NYC this year we decided that it would be amazing to go into Times Square to see the ball drop!!! It was cold, and boring while waiting until the program started, but it was so worth that wait to be there in real life instead of just watch it on TV!!! It was soo cool :) A New Years to remember for sure!! 

waiting for 7 hours

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! 2013 is going to be an amazing year :)

***

I had a crazy couple of weeks, but honestly some of the funnest memories are made out of crazy fun times!!! :) 

wahoo. rewind..

Don't know what happened between last time i updated and now...but here i am again!!  

 Here's an update :)

Guess who came out to New York to join the nanny world...? This girl did..

Tia Marie Patterson!!!

me and tia at the Brooklyn Nets game!

Seriously was sooo so excited when she told me and it was a week after the hurricane so you can imagine how excited i was to see someone that i actually knew and could get away from the family for a little bit to go pick her up from the airport!! She spent the weekend at my house in Woodbury. We went to the Brooklyn Nets basketball game that Sunday. And than each weekend she comes into Long Island to see me and all my friends and goes to church here because her ward is lame...It's been so much fun having her here with me to enjoy all of the fun perks of living in New York! 

***

With Josh gone i haven't gone on a single date until this little boy melted my heart and asked me to go on a date with him!!! (non-creeper) He is on the spectrum (very very low, has very good ability..but just doesn't get some things). Since mommy and daddy always go on dates, he said that he wanted to go one time so i was the first person he asked and we went to dinner and a movie.Friendly's and Wreck It Ralph (seriously a must see movie).

First date in 15 months..with a 7 year old 

best date ever. sorry Josh!!!;);) i still love you!!!!

Deanna (my host mom) said that he has never liked anyone and has been more comfortable with anyone before and that she has seen change in him since he has been here..i honesty couldn't believe how much of a difference it makes to have someone else there and helping him be his "older sister". This little boy has the most amazing heart, cutest laugh, and is the most cuddly boy in the world. He's got his times, but his good times stand out more than the bad..i cant thank my lucky stars enough to have been put into this family..so remarkably blessed! 

Riding go-carts at Woodloch. 

Our "date" :)

***

We had the most perfect get away from all of the craziness of the world and with the hurricane that this was more than perfect!! With my host family we went to Woodloch with his side of the family. Woodloch is in Pennsylvania, in the middle of basically no where. It kind of reminds me of Island Park, Idaho...but not as many cabins! They have a beautiful lake that our hotel overlooked, and so many fun activities that the kids enjoyed. 

Me and Zachary at Thanksgiving dinner

no but seriously..they have everything..

I got my own room, and i have never stayed in a hotel by myself so this was a little weird with two huge beds..and a walk in closet almost bigger than the entire room itself. Of course i had my own dance parties every night!!;) We were there from Wednesday-Sunday. Our days were filled with food, the kids playground, more food, paint balling, riffle shooting, skeet shooting, more food..i felt like we spent more time eating than we did doing activities! You are assigned a certain time to eat so you have to go when they tell you too because there are so many people there. There is horse racing, and a show every night that they hire someone out. They have an amazing staff there and makes every activity fun for the whole family:)

Me and Vivian at thankgiving lunch

Lindsey (cousin) and i zip lining in 30 degree 

the car ride to Woodloch

***

On our way home from Woodloch we stopped by the BIGGEST light show in the US!! It was amazing! The crazy part..literally in the middle of no where. I don't even know how they get customers, but its packed with more than 2,000 people a night!! Its crazy:) But it seriously looked like it could have been the north pole..it was beautiful!!

The lights were done sooo amazing

***

Since the hurricane there is still people with out homes..and because i belong to The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, and as a Latter-Day Saint it was my privilege to go help those people that needed our help. Mormon Helping Hands seriously changes lives..and there have been a couple people that through our service want to take the lesson's from the missionaries. How amazing??

Please keep those effected by the storm in your prayers, because there was a lot of damage done and still a lot of people out of homes. 

The sweetest lady in the world. With her husband, they had 5 ft. of water in there house. We went in with the Mariners and destroyed the entire house. from top to bottom, completely took everything out, the only things let were the beams for the walls. Her and her husband are both 89

me and violet carrying the HEAVY log. 

Now that is December thing have just got more busy..Christmas shopping, patiently (or i could just be a little to excited i can't wait) waiting to go home, christmas packages, and trying to keep the kids under control...i guess they like Christmas or something!;) The best thing about Christmas time with little kids is that if the kids are being bad i just say "oh look, Jingle (Elf on the shelf) is watching you and he is going to tell Santa that you weren't being nice"..seriously gets them every time!! I wish that every month was Christmas for that reason! 

Next week i will be flying home to see my family for Christmas and i couldn't be more excited to see them!!! I have 1.5 weeks to spend with them!:) Miss them more than ever!! And while i am home i get to have a skype date with my missionary!!! last christmas without him, couldn't be more excited!!  

Frankenstorm Sandy

A freaking hurricane....really??

 k in Utah NOTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS!! We have mountains they have water, which is why i decided that i am staying in Utah forever!! haha!!

Sunday night is when the wind started to pick my my host mom told me not to worry about it, that it would probably not even hit us hard. Because by the time that it got up to us, it would lose some of its power!! well guess again..

Monday we were fine and still had power but thats when the wind started to really pick up. The kids didn't have school because they cancelled it, so we played just like a regular day. At about 4 o'clock the lights started to come on and off. We got all of our flash lights out and kinda just had them on hand. At about 5 the power went out for good. The kids were a little bit confused when they tried every light switch and no lights came on! haha! So we continued to play until there was no light outside to light up the house. We had cooked dinner while the power was still on so the kids would be able to eat. That night we were able to sleep in the house because it wasn't that cold. I couldn't sleep though because the wind was blowing at high 40-60 mph, with gusts of 80 mph. So that kept me up for a while until it was a background noise to me. 

So you would think that wind wouldn't do much damage...let me tell you it does!!

I was COMPLETELY shocked by how much damage it did. The next morning we couldn't even get out of our neighborhood. There were trees down everywhere. It looked like big foot just came and stopped on all of the trees. They were hanging down, laying on the main roads, leaning on houses. There were leafs everywhere, and the roads looked awful. Wires were down, phone poles were down everywhere, and cable/phone lines were ripped, torn, and destroyed. We also found the top of our chimney off, the cap that holds the pipes on, in the backyard. We had to go spend a couple of days at my host mom's parents house in Queens. They had power, a nice warm bed to sleep in and TV (of course for the kids)! 

I complained about not having power..why?? I felt so selfish after hearing all the news when we would turn the tv on the news how people have lost everything, cars, houses, loved ones. I never will take that for granted again that is for sure. We are back in the house now after five very long days..and things are getting to be back to normal. I have never been in a hurricane before but Sandy was ranked the worst storm in United States History, and i was in it! Something cool to tell my kids when they are older!! Now when i go back home and in class you tell something about yourself...(well i guess college doesn't do that), i can say i was in a hurricane!! haha!!

I feel blessed for nothing further damaged and for being kept safe through the storm, i know that many people had been texting me and worried about me..i am truly blessed to have them in my life!! Prayers were answered that day:)

sandy aftermath: 

oh just our chimney cap!

This van got owned 

This is what every part of our neighborhood looked like

Had to clean everything out of the fridge!! NO power=bad food

This is how cold it was in the house when we finally got power
and were able to come back home

Blackout in Manhattan

What we did while the power was out..

thank heavens for iPads and fake candles 

vivian showed me her dance!

yes they "roasted" marshmallows on the candle 

"roasting!!"

YOu though we were watcing tv on the 64"...nope
that TINY little one in the bottom left corner!!
classic :)