NEWS!

1. my family (parents and two sisters) now reside in Canada. i miss them like crazy and refuse to drive past our old home because i did once the other day and it made me cry :(

2. I'M ENGAGED! this is the best news because it's what's making me so dang happy this past week. we've been engaged since last Monday, i can't believe it's been a whole week! he is my best friend and seriously i've never been more happy with life. we're getting married May 3rd and i caaaaaaaaaaaaaan't wait.

 i feel like the luckiest girl alive, because i am. i'm so stoked to be a part of the Carlson family too, they are the coolest. and here's the ring!

i've got lots of pictures and videos too from that day (most of them taken without me knowing that he would be asking me to marry him an hour later) which is awesome cause i've got that special day documented pretty well :) i was completely surprised which made it so fun! i love him.

and 3. MLKJR Day Eve did happen this year (4th year runnin) we take that day very seriously if you didn't know.

just two noobs enjoying their favorite holiday. we really are the weirdest though...whatevz! and yes we are wearing the same shirt (not planned) haha.
that girl leaves in a month! noooooooooooo! i'm going to miss her like crazy.

2012

to start 2012 off we continued our tradition of MLKJ Day Eve:

the Spring semester of last year in Logan was da bomb. but really though, fun EVERYDAY ALL DAY. we spent a lot of time on top of mountains and exploring and dancing and just being weird. i miss those times and those ppl.

then the summer came which sometimes i have a hard time remembering what even happened during the summer of 2012. i spent it in Evanston, WY working and being with family that i don't usually get to be with very much. it wasn't the best of summers but it was still pretty great. Chaser came home from his mission in June and we hung out tonz, well as much as we could being two hours apart. i ran the Ragnar which was so much fun and i also ran a half marathon in August, the two medals i have make me feel cooler than they should.

school came and i went from Evanston to Logan (still two hours away). i spent a weekend with Chase and his family camping. we said goodbye to our Mia who was stolen by San Fran. my roommates (of last year, i still call them that) and i made some noobish music videos and continued our freshman year dance legacy by dancing to all the things and playing waterpong and skinny dipping, etc. Carrie and i also continued spice nights and we built some cool blanket forts and stuff. i went on a wicked awesome canyoneering trip with my dad and bro to California where we jumped off cliffs. i had my 20th birthday and i almost got a 4.0 in school, so close. my dad and i took Chase canyoneering in Zion's in October and it was kind of a failure with the weather but we still had a blast.

Carrie Bird got her mission call to Tennessee and we went for a bike ride in the cold. i moved home after the semester ended only to find out my family is moving to Canada real soon and i'll be homeless-ish. it'll be an adventure. Christmas parties and Christmas came and went way too fast like always. but we did get a white Christmas! i went with Chase's family down to St. G after Christmas and laughed for a few days, they crack me up. and then the year was over, just like that. 

2012, you were good!

tis the season to,

be in love, buy mini Christmas trees, take pics of every other handmade lantern because they are the best part of going to Temple Square, make Christmas cards & Christmasy treats, act out the Nativity scene with your family while your Gpa reads from the book of Luke (always hilarious), & get that typical photo in front of the temple & lights.

I LOVE THIS HOLIDAY.

""And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed"...that's a direct quote from Obama"

-my Grandpa

haha

Starry Night

why choose Utah State? pfff, for a million reasons. 

i attended this last night and boy was it amazing. a group of friends here at Utah State got together and showcased their many musical talents for us to enjoy on campus. Christmas music via piano, banjo, guitar, whistling, cello plus their unique voices. it was seriously incredible, i had goose bumps the entire time. the best part was when the finale ended up being Sister Winter, one of my favorite holiday songs:

i think Carrie was getting annoyed by me because i kept leaning over to her like "that was amazing" "ah, sister winter!" the entire night. it was just that good, they should record & make an album!

anyway, the whole time i just kept thinking, Utah State is the coolest. there are some really great people in this little town. Logan is a magical place & everyone here would agree that there's no other place quite like it. some of my best memories so far are from the time i've spent here with the people that i've met. i really feel like i found myself here and grew so much.

(aaaand i'll always be an Aggie, nothing else)

C H R I S T M A S

i just really love this video, and i really love Christmas time. and that couple is just the cutest aren't they?

i also love this song:

HAPPY CHRISTMAS SEASON PEEPS!

three good nights.

Friday night skating with my Carrie.

Saturday night bowling & climbing date with my favorite person.

Sunday night Christmas sweater party round two with the crew from last year, minus a few friends plus a couple newbies. See round one here.

Happy Halloweeeeeen!

we had a good time carving pumps last weekend.

& then Keven had to one up us like always...

he carved his freaking face in a pumpkin there on the right. 

#whyishesomuchcoolerthaniwasinhighschool

Chase's is supposed to be the Joker....hehe didn't really work out as planned. 

mine is a "Nightmare Before Christmas" pump.

i had no reason to dress up this year, but i've got something good in mind for next year :)

Happy Halloween!

a day for love.

whether you have a special someone this Love Day or not, you do have people who love you. & you always have the love of our Savior.

love is beautiful, isn't it? 
when i'm married i plan on kissing the crap out of my husband all the time & making time for little dates together. i'll tell him all my awkward moments of the day, which i'll laugh about & he'll pretend to as well & we'll explore mountains together. we probably won't have a perfect marriage but we'll try our best. i'm not at that point of life now but boy is my life full of love. i know God shows His love for me through all the people in my life he's blessed me with & the little things that i sometimes look over.

a few things that i love:

people, i love a lot of people. 

mail, email, packages, letters...nothing is better than a letter from someone you love, telling you how much they care about you. & then reading those letters over & over & over.

my mom

my bed

sleeping in your bed with the window open & covers up to your chin. & how your cheeks and nose are freezing but you love it because it feels like you're on a campout with your dad, sleeping under the stars.

climbing

Pinterest

Gilmore Girls & Modern Family

my roommates

Fridays & Sundays

oatmeal

granola

my calling

the Book of Mormon

yoga

late night conversations with Carrie

Happy Valentine's Day!

MLKJ EVE.

a tradition. from Jenna on Vimeo.

a tradition.

see last year's video here.

Merry Christmas!

this is the first of many instagrams to come from my new iphone &  i,

Merry Christmas!

thankful.

I have so many things to be thankful for, here are a few that i'm most thankful for:

my family & the fact that we are sealed together for time & all eternity.

my friends, every last one of them. especially those beautiful roommates of mine that will forever be some of my best friends.

my home.

the gospel & my testimony.

music, music will always be a big part of my life.

my future family, i love them so much already.

& this Earth, it's so beautiful.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

boo.

have you ever seen a more attractive astronaut?

i doubt it.

happy halloween!

mom.

i am so grateful that i have the mother i have, i see her living the way you should live everyday. i'm so happy that she has taught me service and love. i can't wait to call her when i'm in Logan and fill her in on all my new adventures. the good and the bad.

happy mother's day.

dad.

dad.

he's the explanation to my particular love of the mountains.

i'm glad his love of the outdoors was passed to me.

as well as my sense of independence & need to stand my ground. i got that from him i'm convinced.

almost as much as i'm convinced i was born fifty years too late.

i love love this photo. please take a second look, you'll see my fascination.

school is overwhelming. i know this because my back is constantly achy. i thought doxy only did that to me. but alas, i know i am not alone. scriptures & prayer help tons, what would i do without. i know these hard classes are worth it, getting my associates, everything is worth it. i'll be that much closer to my goal.

today i also feel overwhelmed with gratitude to where i live. i was born into a phenomenal family, in America, in the gospel.

in philosophy we watched the whole Invisible Children documentary. it is incredible how blessed we are. all day i've felt thankful for every thing that i hold in my hand, for every place i stand. knowing that it is ten times more than what those children & people have. & i just feel love for them. as well as for all the people across the universe who share their struggles.

i am blessed.

i've been thinking of how i could help. & praying for them seems like a sensible place to start. so, say a prayer for them tonight, if you will.

i also find myself over at Beth Hoeckel's online home quite often the last couple weeks.

especially "Hillside" & "Sea Birds" over here. her digitals are interesting as well.

i believe in love.

"love is real. real is love."

john lennon

happy love day.
& a huzzah for Arcade Fire, album of the year.
on the rise.

holiday.