Goodbye 2011 Hello 2012

Is is strange that I am a little excited that the holidays are over? It must be a sign of me becoming a true adult. Christmas is fun but it is also very tiring and fattening. I am kind of happy to just be going back to normal life. Christmas this year was pretty good. It was a surprisingly busy day and I felt like I was going non-stop which I think comes from trying to not only fit in things with my own family but also trying to make sure I spend time with Sam's family too. Since it was so warm and sunny for December, Sam and I decided to go on a bike ride on the legacy trail on Christmas Eve. We made it to our stopping point and it was very romantic because Sam brought a blanket and hot chocolate for the end of the trail. That night we ate dinner with my Mom and Dad and then spent the rest of the night playing games with Sam's family. On Christmas I spent the morning with my parents and then I went to church with my Mom. I have decided that I really kind of like having Christmas on Sunday, I am not sure why but I do. Maybe it is because it helpes me remember the true spirit of Christmas even better. That night we went to my family's traditional Bethlemhem dinner and then spent the rest of the night playing games with Torrie and Matt.

Christmas was pretty great and after a week of relaxation I then got to celebrate my birthday and New Years the next weekend. I am now 25 and I am not sure how I feel about it. I know 25 is not old but it kind of feels old, but I don't feel old at all. I am sure I will get used to it. My birthday was pretty good. I went to breakfast at Sill's Cafe with Sam and then had a big birthday dinner at Buca di Beppo with my whole family. I think my family might be getting a little big for eating out all together. It was fun and delicious but a little crazy. At the end of the night we decided to spend a quiet evening with just me, Sam, Torrie and Matt and played games until midnight. I was kind of happy to just have a quiet and relaxing night.

I am excited for the new year. The number 12 is actually my lucky number and so I think this will be a lucky year. I also think it will be a year of change, but changes that I am excited for. However, 2011 was a pretty good year too. I have thought of all the things that happened last year that I feel are pretty good accomplishements or just cool things that have happened, here they are:

Finished my last semester of classes at USU

Drove across the country with Matt and Bethany

Saw Boston and Chicago

Worked my last summer at Bountiful City (kind of lame, but still an accomplishment)

Being told that I gave life changing advice

Moved home from Logan for good

Witnessed my first sealing at the temple which was for my two best friends

Met and fell in love with Sam

So there you go. I would say those are the biggest things that happened in 2011. I think that 2012 has many big and exciting things in store for me. I will also have a lot of hard work to do (like student teaching) but I have a lot to look forward to. So here is to 2012, may you be magical.



December is here, school is out, and I am about to turn 25.

I have decided that the older I get the faster time goes. I cannot believe it is already December but I am more excited than ever because I feel like I have long anticipated this month. Why might you ask? Well let me tell you. First of all, Christmas is in December. I love Christmas and all of its magic, good food, family gatherings, and twinkling lights. I love it. This month also marks the official end of my having to take regular college classes. I am technically still in school but I am done with classes which is amazing! This December also means it is my birthday. This is a little bittersweet. I am not ashamed to admit that I love my birthday. However, this year I am turing 25. That is 1/4 of the way to 100! Sometimes I feel like I have been 17 forever and so to realize that I am now in my mid-twenties is just weird. But I will get over it. The final reason for why I am so excited for December is pretty cheesy but I don't care. I am excited because I don't have to long distance date anymore. I get to see Sam everyday if I want. It has been less than a week and it is already amazing. I feel like I have been waiting for that from the day I moved up to Logan and I made it! So yay for me.

In other news I have my student teaching placement! I feel like when I read the e-mail it was like opening a mission call, okay not exactly but that's what I felt like. I am student teaching at North Ridge High School. I am going to be teaching World Civ and U.S. History. I am super nervous but mostly excited. I can't wait to get started!

So I have to describe my wonderful last weekend in Logan. The only unfortunate thing is that I did not take one picture. Oh well. Sam came up on Friday and we just had a relaxing night and went to Torrie and Matt's and watched Harry Potter 7 part 2. On Saturday we drove to Brigham City to eat at Maddox. Sam has never been there and lets just say he was not dissappointed because it was delicious and it made me full for the rest of the day. After a nice little nap we headed up to Maple Grove hot springs with Torrie and Matt and soaked away all our troubles for about two hours, laughed at some crazy drunk people, and just had a good time. After we were so hungry that we decided to go eat at Angie's and of course I got my usual, the double decker combo with tater tots. On Sunday we had a wonderful time at church and again ate some delicious food (this is kind of a theme of the weekend). That night we played Nertz at our friend Katie and Spencer's apartment and we lost, but it was still fun. On Monday I took my very last final and Sam helped me move all my stuff. My wonderful roommate Emily was so nice and gave me this crazy snow hat and this really pretty journal. She is the best. After a very tired drive from Logan I am officially home. It was a pretty magical weekend and I can't wait for this magical Christmas break.

Back to Blogging: An update on the life of Kayla Ruth Youngs

Well I have successfully gone an entire semester without blogging. To my defense I have written in another blog for school. I would give the link but it is very boring and there is not much worth reading. I feel like so much has happened since the summer and life has been a whirlwind of business. Since July I have started my last semester of classes at USU and I have been trying to not get drowned by all the things I have had to do to finish school and get ready for student teaching! Yes that's right, I am just one step away from being a real life teacher. I am super nervous about student teaching but I am so sick of school that I think I am ready. If everything works out I should be student teaching in Clearfield at a junior high. I am going to move home to save some money and I could not be more excited. I always like being close to my family. Well here are a few pictures of the last few months of life.

I went to Boston with Matt to help Bethany drive home. I love having all of our family in Utah again. It was quite the experience to drive accross the country and I would maybe do it again but with more than 3 days to drive. But it was really fun to get to see Boston and Chicago and to do it with my big brother and sister. Thanks to Bethany for letting me have that experience and for matt for driving late into the night!

Also, my very good friend got married to her now husband, Richard. I was able to go to the sealing at the temple and it was beautiful. She looked beautiful and I would just like to say that I helped her pick out her dress.

I also went to Idaho to visit my grandparents and introduce them to the person that has been occupying my time the most lately, Sam. The visit was so much fun. We ate a lot of good food, played a few games of quiddler, Sam fed horses for the first in his life, we went on a romantic country bike ride and got chased by a crazy dog, and showed Sam of the sites of Twin Falls. The trip as a whole was wonderful and I think that my grandparents really liked Sam and he really liked them, but who wouldn't love George and Ruth Haney?

Sam gave me this cute little pumpkin to celebrate Halloween and wrote this on the back,

This past weekend we went to see one of my favorite artists Rachael Yamagata. I had made Sam listen to her before and he didn't really like her but he is so nice and agreed to come with me. To make it more fun for himself he decided to dress up like a soulful indie boy. In the end he just kind of looked like Where's Waldo. You know what though? He really liked the show. She played a lot of really great songs and is such a good live performer. After we went and got half priced sushi which was delicious. The whole night was wonderful and amazing.

Well blogger world and the two people who actually read this blog, until next time (which will hopefully be sooner than later).

Ready or Not

As usual summer has faded away faster than a three year old's ice cream cone in July. I move up to school on Saturday. Have I done any packing? No. But surprisingly I am pretty ready for school. By ready I mean I have bought my five-star notebook, pens, and even a few books. This summer has been great. It started off a little slow, but turned out to be a real winner. I guess I didn't do too many exciting things, but here are a few things that may be noteworthy. 

I went to Idaho with my family to celebrate my Grandpa's 90th birthday. It was great, a little chaotic, but mostly great. We went on a river trip, ate a ton of food, played some games, and had a big birthday party for Grandpa.

My Grandma found this picture of her and my Grandpa from a Christmas a very long time ago. Don't you just think it is the cutest thing? I love the suspenders! I love that they are just as in love today as they were when this picture was taken.

I also went kayaking with my friend Robbie one weekend at East Canyon. It was great. I felt like it was a perfect summer day up in the mountains with the sun shining on my face. It was so sunny that I got a terrible burn on my shoulders.This is me and my friend Tifanee trying to fit both of us in a one person kayak, we sunk at first, but then we found a way to make it work.

I also got my very fist pedicure with my wonderful Mom. It was amazing.

Today I went to my niece Lucy's first soccer game. It was like 100 degrees outside, so she wasn't that excited about running around, but it was still cute. The cutest thing was before the game when Izzy gave Lucy a big pep talk about scoring goals and playing her best. Izzy is such a good big sister.

Overall summer has been great, and I am excited for school to start because it is my last semester of classes! Then I will student teach in the spring and then become a bona-fide teacher! It is bitter sweet really, as most things in life are. So farewell to summer and all it's summertime magic, you have truly been good to me.

A LIttle Bit of A Let Down

Last weekend I had the pleasure of getting to go to a concert with two of my favorite artists Ray Lamontagne and Brandi Carlile at Library Square in Salt Lake. I was really excited to go to this show and even though the tickets were a little pricey, I thought it would be worth it. I am glad I went, but I'm not going to lie, it was kind of a let down. It had nothing to do with the performance, which was everything I could have hoped for and more. They both played so well and I would see either of them live again. The annoying part was the audience. When Brandi Carlile came out some over zealous ladies stood up, thus making everyone else have to stand up to see. You would think since this was an outdoor lawn concert featuring two mellow folk singers, people would have sat down at one point. Oh, on the contrary, we stood the whole time, which is bizarre right? I could see if it were a rock concert, but this was pretty layed back music. Also it seemed like people were constantly walking around instead of just sitting and enjoying the music. Everyone around us was drinking and Haley (who very kindly came with me) and I were in constant fear of getting beer spilled on us every time they passed us from filling up their drinks. Well, this was kind of a rant, but I guess I just was a little frustrated because I was looking forward to this so much and it was a little disappointing, but at least the music was great. Here are some pictures and a video. The video doesn't have very good sound, but you can see what I mean when all the people kept moving around, and also how we could barely see around these tall men in front of us. Sigh, maybe next concert I go to will be a little more magical.

New Name

So I have decided to rename my blog to something a little more positive. The name Almost But Not Really was my friend Abby's idea, and at the time I loved it because it described my life so perfectly. Even though it still probably describes my life, I think I need a new name. So what should it be? Ideas are encouraged and perhaps I will pick one that is suggested to me.

Time for a Change

I love my long hair, but there comes a time when everybody needs a change.

So I cut my hair today. I really like it. I feel light and free and different. I couldn't believe how much hair was on the floor. A lot. I thought about donating it but I would have had to cut it above my chin. I wanted a change but not that big of a change. So here it is, me with short hair.