{leaping}

i'll admit, i wasn't all that thrilled about leap day this year. this is one time in my life where i really don't need an extra day. more like 50 less days. but now that i think about it, leap day is lucky. i mean for a day that only comes every four years, it has to be something special. 

i think leap day is more than just a way to stabilize our calendar. 

it's an extra chance to live.

life is short. 

{i've realized this more in the past two weeks than i ever have}

you never know what life has in store for you. you never know. you might wake up one day and lose one of the people you love the most. every day we are faced with challenges and decisions, you never know when something will change your life forever.

and even with this fact looming over my head, i really don't believe in living life in fear. i do believe in living every moment to its fullest and never taking anything for granted. 

you see like leap day, i am lucky. i have so much to be thankful for and i never want to lose sight of what i have, more importantly who i have. so i am grateful to have one more day this year to enjoy every single blessing in my life.

and even after leap day, the special day, i will live my life as best as i can.

with no fear, just immense amounts of love.

and most importantly

taking advantage of every moment.

{snow day}

as per gagon family tradition we spent President's Day in Bear Lake.

since the few skiffs of snow near the lake couldn't keep us entertained for long we headed up the canyon for skiing/snowboarding at Beaver Mountain.

first time i've been skiing this season (actually first time in two years) and it was great. of course mister jeff is a snowboarder and he was glad to hit the slopes for the first time since his mission.

we spent the rest of the weekend sick (me) and jumping on the ice on the lake (jeff)

but mostly relaxing and playing with the fam.

the boys only suffered from a few injuries, which i see as a miracle

and i am finally feeling better.

going back to work/school after a long weekend is rough.

i need summer

{or another vacation}

{uncovered}

lets talk about how The Civil Wars killed it Sunday at the Grammy's. they were a bright light in a pile of not so great acts... like chris brown lip-syncing and nicki minaj being possessed by the devil. yikes.

but grammys or no grammys, joy and john paul can sing me lullabies anytime they'd like. and for your listening pleasure, here is one of the best covers i have ever experienced. 

you can thank me later.

{dreaming}

as a reward for graduating college, and a much much needed break from the world, jeff and i have planned a week long siesta on a white sandy beach in mexico.

{via}

just over two months from now we will be on a plane headed for paradise and i can't help counting down the hours. 

see you soon sun.

{company}

i have a big family.

huge even

with five siblings, four sibling in laws, and fourteen nieces and nephews... 

{that makes a whopping total of 27 plus two dogs}

things can get pretty crazy 

except things rarely do because everyone lives far away.

San Antonio, Dallas, Idaho, St. George and even Denver..

and it really isn't fair.

most of the year Rondi and I are camped here alone lonely and missing our cute kids.

but not now. because the st. george family is now the springville family and at last i have some kiddos to keep me company!

(plus a brother and a great sister in law)

i'm very pleased to welcome Trevor, Heather, Emma, Austin and Bella(the dog) back to the Valley. 

Can't wait to actually spend time with them!

{take a minute}

you know when life seems so crazy, so busy, that no matter how many hours of sleep you lose every night or how hard you work you will never be able to get everything done? 

i feel like that a lot lately. 

but because i hate being stressed i tend to avoid it at all costs (and sometimes the costs are high).

and i think the best way to avoid it is just take a minute and do my own thing. 

like making jeff neglect his homework and play just dance with me

or looking on pinterest for just ten minutes. 

or reading a few of the 5,843,098 bachelor blogs out there.

or dancing around the house like a maniac.

or watching a quick episode of new girl (the only time i appreciate the measly 30 minutes)

or find a new favorite song on itunes.

or blog. 

i like those things. 

and i like this song that sometimes helps me through it.

{watching you}

i'm just going to go ahead and out myself as a tv addict. i don't mean i'm a couch potato who flips through channels all day. mostly i am just an avid follower of a few (or more) certain shows. and it might be pathetic that i {sometimes} put off my homework for an hour of trashy television but really this is what gets me through life.  Here is my weekly round up:

Gossip Girl

Hart of Dixie

The Bachelor

Pretty Little Liars

One Tree Hill

90210

New Girl

Glee

Happy Endings

Revenge

Bones

Grey's Anatomy

and you could throw a few irregulars in there like private practice and desperate housewives just to make the list all that much longer. thats what like half a day's worth of time spent on tv? 

i know, i'm pathetic.

{keeping calm}

you guys. i hate these things. like despise. you know, i first became acquainted with "keep calm and carry on" when i was living in london. because you know thats where it came from. and where it was actually used as a war poster to up the morale of the country. pretty cool. now it's mostly over used and completely annoying. 

but whatever. because everyone deserves to be a little hypocritical every now and then.

 and this is my life right now

every morning when i wake up and feel like crying because of the 20 credits {and two jobs} on my plate this semester i just have to focus on April 19th. 

and of course this overused mantra

{i give alyssa credit for finding this picture. i met her the first day of my college career and now we are suffering through senioritis together. i swear we will make it.}

just counting down

{blackout}

i believe in freedom

{just doing my part}

{alternatives}

you know when it is supposed to be winter except it hasn't snowed yet and christmas felt like september and the mountains look like june? thats when you really need to find things to keep you occupied in the 30 degree weather and smog.

like these things that are making me pretty happy right about now. 

like this article i hope to remember one day when i have kids. because heaven knows we all have body issues. 

and this song. i think that who ever decided t-swift and the civil wars should collaborate was definitely on the right track. 

this website has saved me half a million dollars (practically) and about 50 pounds off my shoulders (literally). thank heavens for e-books. 

i've recently been obsessed with this cover from my favorite warbler. thank you real-life prince eric. 

plus i am trying my hardest to become a good wife and actually cook dinner. made this excellent dish the other day and we loved it. 

but if those don't work, here is a picture to remind us of the way life used to be. 

found here

maybe someday.