No Summer Slump Here!

This weekend was the annual Sanderson "campout" in my parent's backyard. I think the term "glamping" would be more appropriate for what we actually do every year, since our "camping" usually involves the popcorn machine, pizza, outdoor movies, and wayyyy too many yummy treats. This year we added a money dig to our glamping traditions, and it did not disappoint. Who knew that watching my nieces and nephews sift through a ginormous pile of confetti could be so fun? And if we're being honest, it wasn't very long before all the adults were sifting through the confetti, too. 

After a late night of watching MegaMind outside, roasting s'mores, and sleeping in a tent, we woke up the next day and headed to Wayne Bartholomew Park in Springville, which was so cute! Fricken freezing water, but so cute! One of my favorite sights was watching Chris paddleboard with Talon to "go get the ducks." 

Of course after our time at the park, we made our way to Mooyah's (my most favorite burger ever... bless you, Mooyah's and your amazing fried onion strings), because even though we had spent the last 24 hours shoving our mouths full of pure junk, we still felt the urge to go eat there. I love my family. Ha. 

For the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking about how at almost every year around this time I get into my "Summer slump," where I start fantasizing about fall, and all summer seems to be to me is too much heat, too much swass, too much of not having a set schedule, and too much boredom... but not this year! Quite the opposite. Except for maybe the too much heat + swass stuff. I keep finding myself getting super sad at the thought of summertime being over. Like, can't I just watch fireworks + go fishing with Chris + hangout at Lehi pool for forever?! 

I'm sure once I'm back teaching I'll be happy + excited + super motivated to be a kick-A teacher, but right now, I'm just trying to soak up every last bit of my Summer of Shay I have left, because life has been pretty dang good this summer and I truly am not ready for it to end! I'm glad I still have hanging out with the Gourley gang in Park City this next week to look forward to.

Long live the Summer of Shay!!!

Fourth Festivities

Every year I feel like my heart grows more and more for the Fourth of July (not that I don't normally love me some Independence Day!). I found myself thinking multiple times this last weekend, Man! This might be my favorite holiday after Christmas... and can you blame me? Summer! Fireworks! BBQ! Family! America!!! It's all just so happy and magical.

I think going to the Stadium of Fire is really what sparked my spirit for this year's Fourth... There was definitely some ugly crying going on in LaVell Edwards Stadium during the national anthem + when the jets flew over. Okay, okay... and maybe a few tears when Tim McGraw ran out on stage. Also, can we talk about how good Tim is and his tight jeans?? But in all seriousness, being there made me truly appreciate those that serve our country and fight for all the freedoms I get to enjoy daily--so proud to be an American!

The actual Fourth of July was filled with the usuals.... fishing with the Gourley's + eating way too much delicious food + mama Sanderson's ribs + pickleball + fireworks from Tom and Martha's deck. 

^Always my favorite picture to take up at Strawberry... Chris helping the kids drive the pontoon!

Can't think of a better way to celebrate being an American than all of that. . . 

Hope you all had a fabulous Fourth!

The Sandy's Go Camping!

For the past few years my family has made it a tradition to camp on July 24th...

... in my parent's backyard. Ha!

But for some reason, my family decided that we should try REAL camping this year, like, go somewhere that there's no cell service and/or toilets that flush... so Payson Lakes it was! Which ended up being so, so fun. And I must say, for a family that never camps anywhere other than in the comfort of our parent's backyard, we did pretty dang good at "roughin' it." I mean, having your dad drive all the way home to "get more firewood" (shower) + have him bring back drinks from McDonald's + bringing your selfie stick is really roughin' it...right?! Baby steps...

Anyway, here are some highlights from Payson Lakes! Scroll, scroll, scroll!

+ FOOD FOOD FOOD AND MORE FOOD. Thanks mama Sanderson for feeding us better food than we eat at home! 

+ FOOD (again). Because, there really was so much crap to eat up there. Like, I considered going on a juice cleanse when I got back because that's how much junk food we had up there. 

+ My selfie stick + running out of daylight/phone battery.

+ Playing "I'm going on a trip"

+ Roasting anything and everything we could find. The most original being hi-chews with a marshmallow (don't diss it until you've tried it! Right, Mitch?!)

+ Fishing! ...and catching only one fish (by yours truly!)

+ Gagging to the point of nearly throwing up because of the bathrooms (and Evie crying because of them ha).

+ Paddle boarding/kayaking/watching Dash kayak

+ Grandpa putting Talon into "tonic paralysis" by scratching his back

+ A chipmunk eating half our loaf of bread

+ Going for a run around Payson Lakes

+ Mom making the ultimate comeback in horseballs

+ Getting rained on the first night

+ Introducing Cade to the crazy that is the Sanderson family

+ Staying up past midnight around the campfire 

+ "Hup! 2, 3, 4..."

+ Dad building his own tent over his truck (+ trying to get out of it at 5:30am)

+ Grandkids playing with glow sticks

+ Being informed by the camp hosts on our last day that we were too loud and had too many people in our sites. 

+ Embracing that Sanderson temper/pride and making sure to burn all of our extra fire wood so the hosts couldn't sell any of it after we left.

Yay Payson Lakes! 

... see you next year? 

Eh... at least our posterity can see that we did go camping somewhere besides mom and dad's backyard. 

'MERICA

I never remember how much I love the 4th of July until it's finally here. Like, how can I not remember that BBQ's + family + fireworks make for the best day?!

This year we started our celebrations early by going camping Thursday night. Camping was a lot scarier, sweatier, and not-as-sexier than I thought it would be (my fantasies of Chris + I under the stars were crushed after poppin' a squat in front of him in the woods. hello 2+ years of marriage!), but the perfectly toasted s'mores by Chris made up for not being asleep more than an hour at a time!

Just look at that golden brown mallow!

We woke up bright and early on the third to go fishin' up at Strawberry on the pontoon with Tom G and others from the Gourley gang. I love this tradition! Mostly because I can justify slamming a fistful of Doritos in my mouth at 9 in the morning, but also because Chris is so chipper while fishing! + he's so cute when he lets the nieces and nephews drive the boat. 

Be still my heart.

Now for the actual fourth of July! I started my Independence Day as every American should: Diet Dr. Pepper! From McDonald's! And pulling forward in the drive thru because apparently making two more drinks requires a wait... I'm sure it's fine. Anyway, the rest of the day was filled with little victories such as getting Chris to put gel in his hair, wearing red lipstick, and managing to eat ribs, chicken, and a hot dog covered in mustard and NOT spilling on my white shirt. GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Then we went and watched the PG fireworks + hot tubbed. If you think watching fireworks is fun, try watching fireworks in a hot tub (you can thank me later).  

But wait! The celebrations didn't end there! 

Yesterday the Gourley gang got together for ice cream + a firework show courtesy of Mikey! We had some minor kinks, like Emily getting hit with a firework, but I think with a few adjustments this could become a Gourley family tradition! It was so fun and made it that much harder getting back to reality today. 

I think it's safe to say that after this weekend it's going to be a little harder for me to forget how much I love the 4th of July... 

America, why you so great?!

Mudbloods & Mutton Bustin'

Fun fact about Chris: He is extremely proud that he is from Pleasant Grove. So proud, in fact, that he likes to refer to me as a mudblood whenever I try to act like I'm from there, too. Or if I question why he is turning down this street? The other way is quicker! That's the mudblood way, babe. You don't know. Just let a true person from the Grove navigate.

While I find Chris using Harry Potter terms super sexy, I have to put my foot down and correct him that I'm not a mudblood and he's a squib for even thinking that! Then I have to remind him of how much more PG my family is than his. Did your ancestors settle Pleasant Grove?! Were both your parents raised there? Were your grandparents Grand Marshall's for Strawberry Days?! Yeah, didn't think so! And you don't even order tater tots at Purple Turtle for cryin' out loud! Pleasant Grove is in my blood! I'm a pureblood through and through! And if we're getting real technical, he would actually be considered the mudblood since he was born to the non-Pleasant Grove parents... just saying.

To further my argument for my pureblood status, I'm pretty sure half my family was part of the Strawberry Days rodeo last night. What could be more PG than that?! Anyway, all Harry Potter related debates aside, we had so much fun at the rodeo! My grandma and grandpa Walker are the Grand Marshall's this year, so we got to watch them be wheeled around.

I also got to watch my stud nephew, Dash, do the mutton busting! Not going to lie, I was super nervous for him... especially after watching all the kids before him face plant into the dirt and/or get trampled by the sheep. Is mutton busting not kind of sick and twisted? Obviously not sick and twisted enough to stop it, or stop me from cheering on Dash when he came out! But just sick and twisted enough that I teared up watching some of the little kids get hurt. 

And should I just cut to the chase and mention strawberries and cream now? Because we all know that's the real reason you go the Strawberry Days Rodeo. Yes, I know you can buy the cream and make it at home, but it's just better at the rodeo amiright!? Same with the cheeseburgers. Nothing special about them, but they just hit the spot there. I'm sad we broke tradition and didn't get one this year, but buying Bryce starbursts instead made up for it--we're his new BFF's!

^Shelbs is stupidly hot. It's fine. And speaking of hot... she was also my designated swass checker. Coral is not a forgiving color!^

Even though it was so sticky hot and I didn't get my traditional hamburger, I'd still consider this rodeo a success! I love being with my family and watching guys fall off bulls and eating strawberries and cream! 

...because I'm a pureblood, damnit! 

And purebloods LOVE Strawberry Days! (and order tater tots at Purple Turtle)

SUMMER 2015

So.. I know I've been talking about the Summer of Shay a lot, and it basically has been summer for me since I graduated in April, BUT! Today was really the first day of Summer, because 1) I was fantasizing about darker skin and shoulder freckles, 2) I was craving watermelon slices (specifically triangle slices, because I'm high maintenance), and 3) I remembered that I freaking love country music. 

Could there BE anything more summer time than those three things?! (must read sentence in Chandler Bing's voice) Probably not. Which is why I started thinking about all the fun things I want to do this summer, because I'm gettin' that summer spirit! So I figured I better put that summer to-do list together before the harsh reality of swass, swoobs, and swustache sets in... and because I have nothing else to post about. Okay, okay, and maybe because I wanted to play around with my photo editor and make a list or two? Indulge me.

Onwards! Summer of 2015 to-do list!

:: Hike around Zion's. Because maybe Chris will be more willing to take pictures with me there? And also because I've lived in Utah my whole life and never been there.

:: VIVA LAS VEGAS (again)

:: Try every drink at Swig. Except the Arnold Palmer because, EW. (Thanks, Jenessa for the idea!)

:: Fishin' on the pontoon.

:: Camping! Mostly so Chris can swoon me with his wilderness skills, but also because I'm suddenly craving s'mores?

:: Lagoon! But I'm going to need a date since Chris hates roller coasters.

:: Bike the murdock trail all the way to the Timpanogos temple (+ stop at Tom and Martha's on the way back and hope they have taquitos).

:: Drive-In movie

:: Eat my body weight in strawberries and cream at the Strawberry Days Rodeo

:: Hike the G, Y, and possibly Timp? (this ambitiousness is obviously the side effect of a late night DP)

:: Shake it for Luke Bryan with my mom and Shelbs! I cry just thinking about it! THE FEELS!

p.s. CAITLYN JENNER! And I thought the black dress in the interview was ambitious...

So many thoughts on that... to post or not to post about?

Goodbye Summer

As the sun sets on this summer, I can't help but be a little sad. Don't get me wrong-I'm totally ready for fall! But there's definitely going to be some things I will miss about this summer. Like 1/2 priced shakes at Sonic, Pickleball every night, working out with the cross country team every morning, getting off early on Tuesdays and roaming Target with a large soda in hand, and probably most of all, having the state of Meredith and Derek's relationship be my greatest (if not only) concern. Yes, summer of 2014 has been good to me.

I think yesterday was an almost perfect way (except for the fact that Chris was gone most of the day hunting) to say goodbye to summer, though. It started off with a hike up Big Springs with my favorites, Whit and Carly, where we admired the color-changing leaves + had inappropriate/hilarious conversations --a usual for us. 

Then I went school shopping with Shelbs. And by school shopping, I really mean us roaming through H&M and Forever 21 talking about how we don't have any money and maybe spending a little too much time in the men's section. Oh, and try not to be weirded out if you see me in this $10 sweater every day, I'm really just trying to be cool like my sister, who so effortlessly looks stupidly good in a snap back. I've also decided that this will be one of those pictures that my kids will look at when they're older and just laugh at me and be like, "What were you thinking!?" and then I'll have to painfully explain selfies (and chesties!) and foodstagrams and everything else our society does right now to get a "like." So, to my posterity: You're welcome for this picture of me and Shelbs attempting to be cool. Which, is that even possible when you ask your mom to take the picture for you?..... multiple times? I digress.

Even after the painful reminder with Chris last night that our shakes are no longer 1/2 priced, I still felt like I had the perfect last day of summer. Plus, I couldn't help but feel a little giddy to trade in my pool bag for a back pack, my flip flops for booties, and the 1/2 priced shakes for hot chocolate. Even though it really takes Utah a couple months to get into the real fall weather, that doesn't mean I can't pretend and stop shaving my legs now, right? Because, ain't nobody got time for shaving legs!

So goodbye, summer. You will be missed. Especially in about a month when my back-to-school butterflies have disappeared.

Cross Country

Ah, cross country camp... so fun, so loud, so hard, so crazy, and so many Otter Pops (the roof of my mouth feels like the equivalent of eating a bowl of Cap'n Crunch! but when there's a whole freezer dedicated to just Otter Pops, you gotta take advantage, right!?)!!

Seriously though, camp was so much fun! Even if it did rain every single day. We still managed to go running twice a day (hard runs! I've never wanted to puke after a run until camp), go tube the river, play at the swimming pool, play ultimate Frisbee, and go get ice cream in town. By the way, going to the river and the swimming pool counted as our showers for the week--just FYI. Also, it didn't hurt that I got completely showered with compliments every single day from the girls, either. I know, I know... I shouldn't get excited when teenage girls compliment me, but when they're saying things like, "Your hair is so gorgeous!" "Your makeup is perfect!" "You have the cutest clothes!" and "You are just perfect!"  it's hard to come home and not have your husband say the same things when you get ready for church. Poor Chris...

Anyway, I think my favorite part about camp was really just getting to know the kids better. They are amazing- I didn't know high school kids could be so respectful and spiritual! Being with them made me so excited to be a teacher someday...but I have to keep reminding myself that the cross country kids are a rare breed, and not all of my students are going to be amazing and respectful ;) But a girl can dream, right?

Being at camp also made me realize how awesome cross country really is, and now I am kicking myself because I didn't do it in high school. Like, why did I not know this awesome secret called cross country?! I feel like the cross country team does not get the recognition it deserves. These kids are so tough! Physically and mentally. I saw this for myself while I was waiting at the end of the race "Wolverine" that's basically 1.2 miles straight uphill (this is the race all the kids are afraid of) and just watching them cross that finish line was so emotional for me! I had to try so hard to hold back my tears haha I was just so dang proud of them all! And if that didn't tug at my heartstrings enough, all the people who finished first would go back and encourage and even run with the others that were struggling to keep going. So awesome, right!? I just love how united they are as a team.

Now that my coaching internship is coming to a close this week, I can't help but be a little bummed. I've spent almost every single morning with these kids this summer! Who's going to teach me how to use Twitter? And who will talk about trashy celebrities with me while I'm running!?  But most importantly, who's going to motivate me to keep going, even when I'm sure that I can't? I love these kids so much, and I'm definitely going to miss them. This experience has taught me so many things about myself, about running, and about life.

I've learned...

-Attitude really is everything--If you think you're not going to make it up that hill, you're not.
-Negativity spreads like wildfire.
-While you're running and you think, Why am I doing this to myself?!  then you're doing it right.
-You're capable of more than you think.
-Life is just like running a race: You can prepare, push through the hard parts, and cross the finish line, or you can procrastinate, give up, and let your team down--it's all your choice.
-A 12 minute mile is just as far as a 6 minute mile.

Now that I've had my clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose! moment, I'll also tell you that I've learned that you "Don't put twinkies on your pizza!" (name that movie!) as all the cross country kids like to say, and also that I'm capable of going 5 days without Chris and Dirty Dr. Pepper--it's not pretty, but it's possible. Kind of like running.

tidbits of life

(from left to right)

+ My dad basically has the best backyard ever now. He extended the basketball court and added a pickle ball court to it! + the volleyball net is up + horseshoe golf is still set up back there. So basically, I've become a mega-butch this past week and all I've wanted to do is be in my basketball shorts and play everything in my parents backyard. On Friday, my dad held his annual movie night where all of his zoobies employees come over to play in the backyard and watch a movie on the projector. It was so fun! Except Dash didn't think watching World War Z was too fun. Poor kid... I was impressed that he made it 20 minutes into it, though!

+ My mom's side of the family all got together for the Dash for Donation 5k to run in honor of my Uncle Darin . It was such an awesome experience and there were definitely tears shed while running. I thought it was a great way to celebrate my uncle D, especially since it's his birthday month. I hope it becomes a yearly tradition! Oh, and aren't those shirts so awesome?! My aunt Les never ceases to amaze me.

+ My grandpa and his brothers put on a little concert for us on Sunday. Again, tears were shed. I love hearing my grandpa Walker sing with his brothers. Except it makes me wonder how I got skipped in the musical talent department? Between me and Chris, our kids have no chance... sorry future Gourley children.

+ My boss' last day at work was on Friday, so we had a going away party for her (my department looks for any excuse to have a party and bring food) and made a shrine of her complete with candles and inflatable dinosaurs! Never a dull moment in my department. I'm not sure I'm really ready for transitioning to a new supervisor, though. Luckily, I only have one semester left before I start student teaching! Then onto a grown-up job... yikes! Can someone please teach me to adult?!

+ I am a closet cat lover. I'm always hesitant to say I love cats because anytime I mention cats all the dog lovers come out and start giving me the stink-eye. Like, am I not allowed to love both?! Anyway, I've become a little obsessed about getting a cat ever since I played with my brother's new kitten. I bug Chris about getting one at least five times a day. I think if I bug him enough, he might just give in. Even if he claims to be "allergic." Keep your fingers crossed that I can convince him to get me a cat for my birthday! :)

+ Summer is almost over... and I am not even sad about it. Believe me, I want to love summer and wish it would never end, kind of like I want to love Breaking Bad, or I want to love green smoothies--but I don't. I get giddy thinking about buying notebooks for school and walking through crunchy leaves and drinking hot chocolate! The rainy weather lately is not helping me suppress my love for fall, either.

+ My sister-in-law Emily had me do her makeup for family pictures. I had to keep telling her, "Okay, I've never done this before! So if you hate it, I'm really really sorry!" But I was actually quite pleased with the result! Thanks for letting me experiment on you, Em!

+ The Gumball Gang is growing. I swear every day they knock (more like pound on my door and then ring the doorbell 4 times) and I open the door, there is about 3 more kids in their group that I don't recognize. We are running out of candy and we've had to dig deep into our cabinets to find something to give them. Our inner 90 year-old selves have resorted to giving the kids caramels-ha! The picture above was taken on a day that I was in a particularly good mood and I invited them in to drink some Tang-I've regretted that decision ever since.

+ That picture was taken at the top of Squaw Peak while I waited for my cross country kids to run the whole way up there (I wasn't even mad that I was on popsicle duty that day). Anyway, I'm leaving for cross country camp tomorrow and I'm so excited! I'm also super nervous... who am I going to hangout with?! And how am I going to hide my cellulite from all the little kids (cellulite is non-existent in high school girls' legs--I hate them) when we go swimming?! Also, I heard the girl's saying that we only get to shower twice while we're up there.... wish me luck for 5 days with 60+ teenagers.

GGNO

I wish I could say that a girls night was much needed for me, but it wasn't. Mostly because I don't have kids, I have a student job on campus, and basically my biggest worry in life right now is shaving my legs. But those beautiful ladies next to me in the picture above without a doubt deserved a girls night out! They are all such hard working mamas who are always busy putting their family's needs ahead of their own, so I was so happy that we all got to go out on Saturday to dinner and then see Wicked. 

Ah... Wicked. Such a fun show! I had never seen it before so I didn't really know what to expect, but it definitely did not disappoint! I was teary-eyed before the curtain even went up! And don't even get me started on Defying Gravity--so many feels! I couldn't handle it! I still can't. To anyone considering going to the see it, I say, GO!! (exclamation points!!!). You will not regret it.

Oh, and to my Gourley sisters: Thank you for being awesome and willing to answer my questions about nursing bras and breast pumps and sneaking in treats to the show and sharing dessert with me and acting interested when I tell you stories about Chris- it did not go unnoticed ;)

Here's to many more Gourley Girls Night Outs!