The bittersweet end of summer and the beginning of my last semester...

Whoa. The reason that summer is so irresistible is that I am always down for a spur-of-the-moment bonfire or a hike up at Zion. So in honor of summer's end, I am going to maintain my spontaneity (as my free-time permits). Since school starts tomorrow and this is St. George, colder weather doesn't come in until November, so really it is the end of my freedom. Here is an update of what has happened since my last update in the middle of July...

First time going up to the cabin at the ranch with no supervising adults! It was a blast. Good food, camp fires, dance parties, great friends, and outdoorsy stuff.

Meet Christian Bankowski. He is a cool kid working at the mall like me. We like to go to the batting cages and I kick his butt at go-karts.

 We also went to Kanarraville Falls on a day off. Beautiful weather and the water was perfect. So much fun.

 Definitely a highlight of my summer, doing a native american photo shoot at the Red Cliffs Hike. Thanks to Flicker & Fitch Photography.

 I spent 3 weekends in a row up in Salt Lake with the fam bonding and stuff. Mason got a Go-Kart (he is starting 7th grade!) and Madi is way more athletic then I could ever dream to be (she is a Sophmore!)

 Us girls went to the Brad Paisley Concert at Usana Amphitheater and then all of us went to the drive-in movies!

 My friend's little girl Casey did my hair when I went to visit. Super cute, I think I could rock that look.

 Went to Sand Hollow one day with Christian. I got a new swimming suit (loving it). He fished (caught one!) while I read a magazine, got a tan, and talked his ears off.

To end it all with a bang, I went to the Sudweeks family reunion up at the cabin at Strawberry (that sunset!). I played with this adorable white golden retriever puppy that I want to steal, and paddle boarded for the first time!
Well it has been a blast, I loved every second of it. Now it's back to me thinking of the future and what is in store for me. Last semester of nursing school and I can start working as a Registered Nurse in February! As usual, living the dream and keeping it fresh.

Love, Tash

Here's to my grandparents...

I am dedicating this to my lovely 6 grandparents (yes, 6, I am so lucky). I have bookmarked my blog in all of their technological devices and I want them to know how much I love them! This is somewhat of my prayer for each of them that they stay healthy as long as possible because I don't want to think about how life will be without them.

These are the Jorgenson's. I have many happy memories like making my grandpa pull me in the little wagon up until I was obviously too big for it. We would go to the nearby park and swing on the swings or fly kites if it was windy. They had a cat, Chester, that I practically tortured when I was younger, squeezing her and pretending she was my baby. I still enjoy picking pomegranates from their old tree even though they moved to Nephi last year after being in St. George my whole life. Thanks to Grandma for introducing me to Cher, which led me to my love of the 80's. We used to do a lot of jigsaw puzzles together and I have seen every Shirley Temple movie on their living room couch. I love you both.

Meet the Thorley's. They have the Thorley Ranch up Kolob Canyon near Zion National Park. Of course the ranch has always been a place for gatherings and reunions with the whole family. My grandma is especially fond of creating scavenger hunts and games to stir up some healthy competition and bonding. Decorating the 4th of July cheesecake turned into my job that I have been proud to continue for many years. It has been a real treat living down in St. George and being able to go have Sunday dinner with them. I look forward to grandma's cooking each week. My grandpa always has an opinion about something so we have good conversations too. I love you both.

Last but certainly not least, Mr. and Mrs. Sudweeks. My first memory of my grandma is when I called her Deanna after I met her (I was 3), she hugged me and said, "Oh honey, call me grandma!" She has so many awesome matching outfits from basically every country that she has visited (almost 80!) and jewelry to match. Multiple motor home trips with a group of cousins, cherry tree picking, I still have all my crafts that I have made at their house and I will always keep those. Hours and hours playing with cousins in the backyard and eating Mickey Mouse waffles. My grandpa is the one of the most logical people I know. His specializes in randomness. I can ask him about anything and he will tell me something about it. He also has countless jokes that he pulls out randomly. I love you both.

I can't wait for more memories with these incredible people that have influenced me in many ways to be the person I am today and the person I want to still become.

Love, Tash