Alana Leigh

Job Description

2012-02-15T20:55:00.000-08:00

Today I Was:

A Doctor
A Babysitter
A Chef
A Maid
A Tutor
A Chauffeur
A Mother
A College Student
A Dancer
A Support System
A Friend
A Seamstress
An Emotion Wreck

All of those equal out to one tired lady - but I know I am satisfied with my work!

Dying inside...

2012-02-09T16:27:00.000-08:00

This semester is kicking my butt. Literally! My daily schedule goes as follows:

Monday and Wednesday: Ballet 940-1130, Pointe 1140-1230, Ballet (Again) 1255-245, Pointe (Again) 255-345, Choreography 4-520

Tuesday: Kinesiology 730-850, Ballet 940-1130, Partnering 1135-1255, Ballet (Again) 1255-245, Leave school and teach dance from 415-715

Thursday: Kinesiology 730-850, Ballet 940-1130, Partnering 1135-1255, Ballet (Again) 1255- 245, Pointe 255-345

Friday: BEST DAY OF ALL!!! Ballet 940-1130, Teach 315-545

Saturday: Teach 9-1145

Talk about a Ridiculous week. That doesn't include all of hours I spend cleaning the house, getting the girls ready for bed, making dinner and other random things. I have been so busy that I dont even have time to do homework or go to the bank to deposit checks and get to the pharmacy - Because I am rarely able to leave school before 6pm, and everything is closed by then. However I am quite exhausted by the time the day is over, all i have energy to do is fall over and go to sleep.
Only 28 days till Spring Break!!! I am so ridiculously excited about that fact. I am heading back to Alaska for Spring Break and I am excited from a break from school. I would like to believe I am getting really in shape though taking this many classes. Partnering classes are feeling really good. I am really on my leg and can turn for days. My knee is slowly feeling better. It still gest really sore and sometimes feels weak, but I am holding on and icing it every night. Hopefully I will make it till August and still be alive.
But for now, Valentines day is in 5 days!!! YAY for dance party day!

Adorable...

2012-02-03T13:03:00.000-08:00

{speechless}

2012-01-28T16:26:00.000-08:00

Someday - i hope to be even 1/2 as amazing as she is......

but seriously?!?!?!?! my 4 year olds are better than her!!

Best Break Yet...

2012-01-09T17:26:00.001-08:00

Well, a lot happened over this break. Lets just start a list - like usual. Here are some of the big things that happened, the little things would be too much to write and I dont have pictures for every little thing.

1) The Last week of school we had a photo shoot for one of my classes. Here are some of the best shots Luke Isley got.

2) My Bridal Shower
SO FUN! My sisters and mother-in-law-to-be helped plan and get everything together. We ate, talked, played a few games, and then opened presents. It was a success I would say. Even though I only get a very few amount of gifts - I got a great amount of gift cards with will help when Tom and I actually start settling somewhere.

After 1 of the games...

3) Family Christmas Cooking Day
My sisters and their kids decided this year that we would all get together and make a BUNCH of Christmas Cookies. When I say a BUNCH - I mean we all brought 3 or 4 recipes and made all the recepes.....did I mention we made about 6-8 batches of everything. 6 people, 4 recipes each, plus 8 batches of each - you do the math! But It was extremely fun to be able to hang out with my family and have fun making cookies - and chocolate covered barbie legs. That is a story in and of itself! Kudos to Shana and I

3 1/2) We - Erika & I - Took Addisyn to her first movie in the movie theater!!! Chipwrecked! Hilarious! and fun to go with the kids too.

4)The love of my life came home - which was all a surprise, except from me! :)
2pm - Christmas Eve - I had to go to the Gatzke's and borrow my mother-in-law-to-be's car. I needed to "get some things done but didn't have a car to do them."
4pm - I went drove down to the airport and picked up Thomas. It was my Christmas surprise and I have known he was coming since September. We had decided not to tell anybody and we had to convince everyone that he was not coming home. It was tough and I do apologize to everyone that I lied to in trying to keep this a secret. :) But you all must admit, it was worth it.
It was so nice to get to see him again. Even though it was only for 2 weeks - it was wonderful. I would not trade those 2 weeks for anything. In case you couldn't tell - I am madly in love with this man and can't wait to be with him again.

5) Gatzke Christmas Party
No one know Thomas was in town...and we had no intentions on telling anyone on the Gatzke side until the Christmas Party the next day. It was a hit and everyone freaked out about Tom being home. I am glad that I pulled this off. His family was so excited that he was home. It was fun to be with my In-laws again and see all of them.

6) Christmas Day Packers Game
Tom and I got packer tickets to the packer game on Christmas day. It was so fun!! It was my first professional sports event. It was such an experience. So fun! And I totally lost my voice the next day because of it.

The man in front of us let me braid his hat

I caught the Packer Balloon - Tom made me let it go again.

7) Kids Trip to Betty Brinn
My parents and I took 6 of my nieces and nephews to a Children's Museum down in Milwaukee. It was fun hanging out and playing with all the kids again.

8) Ferguson Christmas Party & Family Pictures
On New Years Eve my side of the family had our Christmas Party. We all got together to hang out, the little kids opened presents, played card games, ate a big turkey dinner, and had a professional photographer come and take our family pictures. It was fun to hang out with my family and get pictures taken with tom. Here are some of what we got.

9) New Years Parties
For New Years - we went to my sister Lindy's house. and hung out with my family until about 9pm. Then we went to Tom's cousin Dawn's house. We played a lifesized jenga game made out of 2x4's. It was soooooo fun...and funny too! And it was nice to start 2012 with Tom and friends of ours.

Getting attacked by my very intoxicated brother-in-law-to-be

10) Cabin Up North
Tom and I went back up to his cabin up north. It was fun. We went and visited some of their family friends up there, went hiking on the property, played card games, watched football games, just hung out, and almost got eaten by a coyote. Ok so maybe I lied about the coyote part...but everything else is true!

11)Leaving Day
Leaving day - always sucks. I really don't have much to say except I didn't want to leave. Here is Peneloppe (Tom's) and Waddles (mine) -the best friends had to separate :'(

This break has been the best so far. I am glad for all the moments I got to spend with the people I love and make memories that will last forever.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
"Merry Fitness and Happy New Rear" - the sign outside of our fitness center at school. :)

December again...

2011-12-03T15:56:00.000-08:00

So it is December, and it definitely does not feel like December. We have not had snow that has lasted more than 2 days, and there isn't snow on the ground right now. It is weird- but i am alright with it. I have been doing pretty good, surviving each day one day at a time.

There is only 1 week left of school. 5 days - soooo close! I only have 11 days left in Utah until I go home to WI. I am excited to go back and see my family. I am excited to be home for Christmas!

My mom mailed me some chocolate covered pomegranates, DELICIOUS!!!! That was a great Monday when I got those. I was super excited. This semester has gone by way super fast but also way super slow. I haven't seen my man in 4 1/2 months, and there is no promise that he will be coming home for Christmas. And I don't know about spring break yet, which means I may not be seeing him till May at the wedding. I miss him a lot already and can't wait until I get to see him again - hopefully soon :/

On Thursday night, a bunch of dance girls got together and threw a bachelorette party for our friend Kat. She is getting married on the 17th of this month. So that was fun. We went to Buca De Beppo for dinner and then went to our friends house for dessert, chocolate, presents and talking. It was quite wonderful. Then last night I hung out with my friends Hailey, Ashley and Karena. We went and walked around a mall, got a few Christmas presents and then ate at The Cheesecake Factory. It was delicious. I haven't been there in about 4 years and I forgot how good that place is. It was awesome seeing them again! Oh my college friends are wonderful!

That is the extent of anything I have to say. Hopefully these next 5 & 11 days go fast!!

11/11/11 11:11

2011-11-11T12:39:00.001-08:00

...........Yes, I made a wish! The most epic ever.........

November Already

2011-11-02T14:28:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it is November already. October FLEW by!
Not much has really gone on. I only have 4 1/4 weeks of school left - then 1 16 week semester and an 8 week summer session and I will have graduated! PLEASE COME FASTER.

Well we had a project due for lighting class. We had to make a stage and figure out where we would put lights and we had to create looks. at first it was was really hard, but Melissa and I got together and worked it out - it ended up being fun.

I went home for October break. Hung out with my family and I got wedding stuff done. We celebrated birthday parties and family outings. Watching anything from soccer to baseball games. It was way fun. We got to go flower girl dress shopping, I would put them online cause they are so darn cute, but their dresses are just like mine, and Tom reads this so I cant really put them on here. But know that they are adorable.

My sister got a bounce house for Addisyn's Birthday Party

Last week, our lighting class took a "field trip" to see Dracula performed by Ballet West. It was a pretty good performance. And it was fun to see it with all my friends :) After the show we got to go on a back stage tour, the assistant lighting director at the Marriott Center for Dance (at the U) was the lighting designer for Dracula. So he took us backstage and showed us how the whole show plays out and all the tricks and flips of it.

Sometimes ballet bores me - especially wearing my hair in a bun. So I slowly find new ways to do my hair. Like?

Ballet Halloween Party - once again - another year. One final year. it was fun. We all hung out and took pictures.

Melissa and Kat

Me and Melissa

4290's Class

Just on Wednesday, I turned in my application for graduation. I will be graduating after summer of 2012, instead of Spring 2013. So I will be out 2 semesters early which I am more than thrilled about.

That is about all I do now. I have been doing school and work and sleeping and that is all. But I have been doing good and I wish some circumstances could be easier and different but they cant. So I have to just learn to accept things and keep moving on with my college track. Well dear graduation, you are so close to my fingertips....just keep coming fast!

Just Life...

2011-10-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

Life is Life. Mine is nothing too special. I feel like I havent written in a while, that is because I have nothing to talk about. I go to school. I go to work. I clean the house. I do the laundry. I go to sleep. That is about it.

This wedding planning this as slowly getting closer to being done. Everything is reserved and now it is just buying the details. As much as I am torn about being the center of attention, I am sooo excited for it to come. I can't wait to finally be married.

School....hmmm! School has been nothing but stressful this semester. If I were to write every thing that has happened to me this semester it would take me all day to write it. Short story - They changed my levels last minute and screwed up my whole schedule. So the first 2 weeks of school I was taking a different class every day cause I never knew where I was supposed to go. I was adding and dropping classes right and left. Finally, I talked to our interim chair and got things handled because no one else could decide. Then since I need to graduate early, I had to ask the department to get rid of some of my credits, which they wouldnt. So next semester I am taking 2 different ballet classes so I can get the double credit. So Alana will be dancing from 10am - 3pm every day! :) YAY?? I am going to be dead, but hey look on the bright side. I should be in awesome shape for my wedding!

I passed my ACL Functional Exam. Today is the 6 month from surgery mark and I passed it on September 15! Which is 1/2 month early. So I have been dancing and jumping now. still taking it easy on some things, but slowly it is coming back - and my knees are finally the same size for the first time in 6 1/2 months!

I have been teaching at 2 different studios. It is fun. I am teaching 3-4yr olds ballet & tap, 4-5 yr olds ballet & tap, 5-7 yr olds ballet & jazz, 8-10 yr old ballet Level 2, Advanced Jazz, and Ballet Advanced 8. I love the girls. they are all hard workers and they make my nights really fun!

In a few weeks, I should have some stuff to write. I am going home Oct 7 - 16 for fall break. So I will finally get to see my family again and I am way excited. Well that is about all. Talk to you all later, sorry this was ALL words and no pictures ;)

Just a single Decade

2011-09-11T17:42:00.000-07:00

September 11, 2001 - it is a day that all Americans will remember. A day that America was brought together in Unity.
I remember - I was 10 years old and was at my dance studio getting ready for the morning classes that I helped with when the desk manager said "Every one go home, there are no classes today." I heard what had happened and I really didnt think it affected me. I didnt know what the World Trade Center was and I figured the news was just making a big deal out of some little stupid building. When I got home with my mother, my daddy already had the news on. We sat there all day just appalled at what happened and what was happening. It was then that I realized that this did affect me and it would always be affecting me. Since that day 9/11 has always been in my mind. I feel such sorrow for those people that simply went to work that morning, just like any other day, for the parents and family members that said "see you after work" like every day before.

In my life it has taught me to treat each day like it may be your last and to be thankful for what you have. To let those you love know that you love them and to never have regrets. As a nation - it pulled us together. It made us all turn to God - the person that this country was founded on. However, in the past 10 years America has stopped looking to God. We all look to the sorrow of what happened that day and we do still acknowledge it, but I feel that after it happened America was looking for answers so as a nation we turned to God.

What happened? You tell me.

I know lots of people have been posting this - but it makes me cry every time I listen to it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtCCvduQmQo

These are just some of my favorite songs and memorials.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yVG3nX8MJI&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtCCvduQmQo
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLmVo6pmLpU&feature=related

So today - lets thank those who need thanking, lets pray for those who have endured such a great loss - both from this tragic event and from other things, lets pray for our troops safety, lets make sure that the people we love know we love them, and lets not dwell on the past but see it, appreciate it, and use it as strength to move on and continue living in this great nation. May God bless America - Yesterday, Today and Forever.

United We Stand!

Last Few moments of Freedom

2011-08-27T14:26:00.000-07:00

Summer = love = freedom = happiness = experiences....... and now its gone.

The last things that we did to finalize Tom and mine's summer was go to a shooting range.
He headed out to Fort Richardson and went shooting. I had only shot once before that day and I was freaking out but I promised Tom I would. So I didnt do very good but at least I hit the paper right? :)

There was this Boardwalk that I have been wanting to go to all summer, and Thomas totally suprised me and took me there. It was so fun. We saw Salmon, ducks, geese, loons and a muskrat! That was my first time seeing a musk rat and i was way excited. I acted like a 3 yr old!

We saw 3 moose crossing the road. A mommy and 2 babies. It was awesome. all the cars on the road stopped to watch them and take pictures.

We also went out for dinner at Moose's Tooth. It was delicious. They make all their own pizzas and drinks. Their rootbeer was amazing and so were the pizzas. Some nights when people go they have to wait up to 2 hours to get dinner, we only had to wait 10! Thank goodness cause otherwise I wouldnt have wanted to eat there. But I am glad we did.

We have a tendency to go back to places that we have been to previously. We headed back to ship creek the first place that Tom took me in October of last year when I went up there. We hung out there for a little bit and placed around on the rocks and in the water. Watched the tide go in and out - sounds boring but anything with him is fun.

That is how my summer ended and now I am back at school. Right now I dont really have the patience to write about it cause there has been so much drama and things finally got straightened out.But hopefully I will get around to writing about it soon.

Glacier Hiking & Mini Golf

2011-08-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

Thomas and I like to go lots of places, we have gone on many "Dates" this summer. 2 weekends ago we decided to go to the Byron glacier. Never before have I ever walked on a glacier, needless to say even in the middle of the summer. It was way fun. We kept crawling into little holes in the glacier (which was probably very unsafe) but we were crawling in little caves and it was awesome. I have never experienced anything like it before. We climbed up on a huge pile of rocks also. It is nice to be able to do things.

After we went to the glacier, we stopped at an Alaska Zoo. They had Elk, Moose, Caribou, Porcupines, Bears, Bison, a Bald Eagle, an Owl and a few ducks. It was a good weekend. The animals were actually active. I dont think I have ever seen a bear awake at the zoo before. All the animals were so close, I could have touched all of them, and some of them were VERY tempting but Thomas wouldnt let me touch the Bison. :( BOOOO But it was so fun.

This last weekend we played mini golf (putt putt golf). SOOO FUN :) It was indoor, but what more can you ask for in Alaska? I am not very good at golf and I really dont claim to be. Thomas beat me every game but the second game I beat my own score which was good progress for me.

This week was my last week of teaching - Yesterday being my last day. It is kinda nice that I am done working, I was worn out from it and it will be nice to have a little bit of a break before I go back and work 5 days a week. However I did have a really good time even though I was exhausted. One of the classes I taught was 3 little girls. I taught them semi-private swimming lessons. They were 2 & 3 yrs old, Keena, Poppy and Isabel. They were so darn cute. The first few weeks I wanted to strangle them, but by the time I finished I was really proud of how they behaved. They made me the cutest cards when we were done.
But this summer did give me a very good chunk of change in my pocket.

I am a little sad to be heading back to school. I dont really wanna head back in 5 days, but I guess I have to even though it sucks. But I guess Thomas and I are off to another adventure this weekend. See ya!

Summer in the Arctic Tundra

2011-07-13T12:03:00.000-07:00

So I havent posted in a while because my internet was been WAY sucky! But now that I have good internet and a little bit of time I will post a little bit of what is going on. WARNING: THIS MAY BE LONG!

1) second night being here - I realised that it was all of the sudden 11:30pm. Why did I not realise this before? BECAUSE IT WAS STILL LIGHT OUT! This picture was taken at 11:30 my second night in Anchorage. CRAZINESS

2) Tom and I like to go for random drives, frequently. We always find new pretty places. This place was back along the back side of Fort Richardson. It was sooo pretty. We saw a porcupine and a moose. I wont tell you what happened to the porcupine - I just wanted to see it but then something went crazy and tom got quills in his boot. BAHAHAH

3) I started working 2 jobs - I had 3 but quit one, I was going crazy. But right now I work at the Base Pool and the Alaska Club. Here is the pool at the Base. I love working here the best. The people are really nice and I just love it.

4) Another random drive. Although this one we went back to Earthquake Park - Thomas and I love this park ;)

5) The good thing about Alaska is it is always sunny. The bad thing is that it usually doesnt get warmed than about 70 degrees. So laying out is a little chilly. But when there are good days and I don't work - You can bet I take advantage of it!

)

6) Fishing. Well the only kind of fishing I have ever done is "Sit on the shore throw the line out and sit until something bites. I didn't know that fishing actually required a little energy. A few weekends ago we went camping with his friends Chris and Destiny from work. It was way fun - but don't expect me to touch a fish. I saw 3 wild bears on this trip.....AWESOME!

They were way close too...i kept calling but they never came closer. :( boooo

7) We went for a hike. Well Alana was not 100% prepared for a mountain rock climb. It was way fun and way pretty but holy cow I was sore for like 4 days after and could barely walk. But I guess it was a good work out for my legs - which is what I need right now. We went on the hike with 7 of his friends from work, And finally made it to the top....and then didnt wanna come down. But it was way fun :) The only thing that kept me going was that I wanted to be in the clouds! And when I got the the top sure enough I was! :) IT WAS AWESOME! (I am such a little kid! and I love it)

8) 4th of july. We hung out all day and just played! It was awesome. On the 3rd we went and saw fireworks. It is a little weird cause they didnt start till midnight and all the little kids were still awake. and it was still light out. But it was still fun - our first 4th of july together. On the fourth we went on a motorcycle ride to Ship Creek and hung out and took lots of pictures. WAY FREAKING FUN! Then we came home and had a little 2 person cook out. :) Classic!

9)Just this past weekend we went off roading. It was fun. I have been off roading a few times but this was insane. I found out that I hate when the jeep starts to tip!!! NOT OK! and I let tom drive through the freaking river without me and I just walked by on the side and took pictures. it worked better that way. But it was fun! A good weekend......

Only a few weeks left till I go back to school and summer is over - which sucks. but I am sooo happy for what has been going on this summer and am not looking forward to Utah. Thats all :)

2nd First Day of Ballet

2011-06-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

Today

June 6, 2011

Monday

IS MY FIRST DAY BACK TO BALLET! I went to Alaska Dance Theatre and I got to take class again! I only stayed for barre, cause I am not allowed to use my full turn out, turn, jump and i need to be careful on one leg. So All I can pretty much do is take barre.

It was glorious! I was sweating, and actually felt like I did alright. But then again I still sucked! I have a lot to pick up on this summer. I need to get back to the level I was at by the end of summer, or at least get close! I need to take the placement class when I get back in August. I have 3 months! I declined this far in 3 months - lets build it back up alana!

Good Luck to me -

Pictures of my dancing through the years....I know I have done quite a few posts like this but I feel so energized for dance!

ACL Reconstruction

2011-06-04T23:49:00.000-07:00

So as you all know, im sure, on March 8, 2011 I had a freak accident during dance class and tore my ACL. On March 31, 2011 I had my ACL reconstructed with a hamstring tendon. Literally one of the WORST things that has happened to me. I still have not found out exactly why this happened - I believe everything happens for a reason but I am not sure what that is yet. It has been the hardest 3 months I have had. I get to start dancing on Monday. I am excited to finally go take a 45 minute barre and barely have any turnout...but I am sooo excited. I have gotten a physical therapist up here in Anchorage and have been doing all my home exercises. My knee has a lot of pressure in it and it is very hard to do anything strenuous. Walking up and downstairs is one of the most painful things. It hurts a lot when I do my exercises but I am hoping that over time my knee will become stronger.

Here are the pictures of my journey so far....wish me luck on the rest of my journey and speedy recovery.

Thank you family and friends for all of your support and love through this hard time.

Second day after it happened and I had just found out what happened. Cute huh?

Day of Surgery - March 31. Before going in

Immediately after surgery, getting ready to leave- with LOTS of help of course.

Went to the Red Butte Gardens with my mommy the day after surgery, I needed to get out of the hotel room! I was going crazy.

After the doctor took the bandages off, but I had to keep the steri-strips and band-aids on for 2 weeks.

Awesome bruising - this was not as bad as it got.

My shower contraption - I got good at wrapping my knee

I had to wear this thing for 3 weeks before surgery and 6 1/2 weeks after. I had to do something - so I bedazzled it

Everyone at school got used to seeing my walking around school looking like this. It happened for the last 7 weeks of school. oh the joys!

Different band-aid coverers.

After I got my stitches - 3 out of the 4 scars

3 Month Mark. Scars finally healed, and knees the closest to matching that I have seen in 3 months!

Summer in the Homeland!

2011-05-28T23:32:00.001-07:00

I only had 2 weeks to spend in WI, and 2 million things to do. Wedding shopping, cake tasting, family birthdays, cleaning the house, invitation making, working out, spending time with the family, picking up work hours, babysitting, dinner with friends, blah blah blah.

I dont need to give a complete play-by-play of what I did for these 2 weeks but here are some of the picture highlights!

Gardening with daddy

Straightening davids hair

Nieces

Me and Lucas

Blowing Bubbles

Playing in the mudd

Addisyn putting on my knee brace

Just driving the gator :)

4 crazy kids!

Spring Updates

2011-05-28T23:02:00.000-07:00

Polo Meet!!!

My friends Ashley and Lauryn are on the Water Polo team at the U and they made state. So we went to watch them. They kicked butt and that was a way fun meet to watch.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!

Happy 20th Birthday to me. I didnt really do much.

The night before my birthday Sue, Blake and the girls surprised me with a birthday cake and a gift card to Ross. That was a wonderful shopping trip :)

For my birthday, I spent the day hobbling around in pain at school and watching all classes. Then I went to Olive Garden with some of my best friends. It was delicious as always.

Easter: not much

For easter - I got a present from my parents. it was delicious! The girls and I ate the whole thing!

Last Day of ballet:

All I can say about this is "THANK GOODNESS I AM DONE!" The very last day of ballet there were like 10 people there. It was quite a comical class. However, I am glad to finally be done with this semester. This semester has by far sent a strong turn in my life. Once ballet was done, it was just a small amount left till finals were actually done! although I missed the Final Ballet Practicum, so instead I have to rehab all summer and take the placement class when I get back to school. However I know my placement already. :)

Finals and freedom!!!!!

I only had 2 test finals, and a few papers. After my last final, some of us girls all went out to lunch for a celebration at this little diner by campus. It was DELICIOUS! Before I left town for the summer I made sure to hang out with a bunch of my friends. Hailey and I had a girls night. We got chinese and watched movies and just talked for a long while. It was great. Then I was off to my summer freedom! :)

Spring Break 2011

2011-04-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Wow so I am a little behind - between school, finals, PT appointments, work, packing and doctor appointments I am getting the life sucked out of me. Well Spring Break......WONDERFUL AGAIN!!! There arent many words to say about it - except that I spent a whole 10 days with the man I love, that sums it up. Just more adventures - not to many though cause I was a gimp and screwed up some plans we had. But we still did lots - I mean who gets so many chances to go to Alaska? Not many people - so I took in the beauty! :) Here are some pictures:

Our new Condo!!!

My Birthday Necklace- Rubies and Diamonds

Ice Cream Birthday Cake

I get to see tom on May 18 - so I am excited....it is still a long wait! But I go home in a little under 3 weeks and see him in under 5 - so I am kinda getting close! Lets go April! SPEED UP!

Dying Inside

2011-03-16T12:12:00.001-07:00

Right now, I am in ballet class. I still come to all my ballet classes and take notes. A 3 hour class isn't so bad when you are actually dancing. But actually sitting here KILLS ME. I can only take so many notes, and work on so many ballet papers. I dont know how I will make it 4 more weeks of just watching. I really hope that this heals really fast and I am dancing again by summer.

I have worked things out with my teachers though! Luckily the Chair of the Department is on my side and she is trying her hardest to work with me! For ballet I have to write an 8 page research paper on a ballet topic. For pointe, I have to teach a pointe class over summer and then write an analysis at the end of summer and I will get credit (because I am a teaching emphasis.) So my teachers are trying the hardest they can to work with me so I can keep my credit. Jazz, she is still working on what she wants me to do. For now I am just taking notes in her class. I don't have to take any notes in ballet or pointe, but I still feel like I should be here - because otherwise I would have nothing to do.

I am just getting so antsy!

I hate watching everyone else get to do what I love,

and I just have to sit here.

It is the most depressing thing in this planet

(ok maybe not, but I would like to think that!)

I believe everything happens for a reason! I do believe that god knows exactly what he is doing with this. I so far have thought of a few options and of course I am SURE there are more than just the ones I think of!

a) God is saying "Ok, your dancing career has had its peak and now it is time for you to start sharing you talent of teaching with others. Now is time for you to stop dancing for you and start teaching others."

b) God is saying "Ok, Dance has been to easy for you and your body, that you need to pay your dues. If you really love dance you will overcome this and you will be a better person and dancer for it."

I have not figured out exactly what God wants from me yet. He could also be saying that -

c) "right now you can take 2 directions with your life, Both will be good decisions and you just have to decide which one you want to take. Then dont have regrets and live life as it is thrown to you!"

Which way does life want to push me right now, it has given me almost too much time to think! I have been going crazy!!!!! God if you think I can handle this, you better help me make it through these 3 hour classes without falling asleep and without my butt going numb!

Finally

2011-03-14T21:18:00.000-07:00

Finally have the picture, and finally have the MRI scheduled!

Thursday at 3:30, hopefully the doctor was wrong?? I doubt it, but maybe...

Life Changes

2011-03-11T08:56:00.000-08:00

So - we got SOME of the results on my knee.

Wednesday - I went to the PT during ballet class and she checked it out and said "I dont think there is anything too wrong with it, so we can just start Physical Therapy on it and that will get the swelling down." That is when I said "So all the ligaments and everything are fine." she said "OH i didnt even check that!" So sure enough she did some tests on me and I was in tears in 15 seconds. So she sent me down to the Sandy, which is 20ish minutes away from where I was. I saw this doctor, got Xrays, got tested by a nurse and the doctor (i cried every time it was touched). When the doctor actually walked in the room, he said "A ballet major?" "yep" "Do you know Maggie Tesch?" "yep (That is my pointe teacher)" "Oh good, I am fixing her ACL in a few weeks." That was our first conversation! haha

But he just did the test again, and of course I cried. Then before we even scheduled the MRI he said I had torn my ACL and would need surgery as soon as possible. and he gave me a brace to walk with - even though i cant walk. But the big black huge robot brace does give me a lot more stability. I can walk on a bent knee so I have a really really bad limp and I still use crutches whenever I can, because if I put my weight anywhere wrong on my foot my knee goes out again and it gets really really painful! Then we decided we were going to schedule the MRI and then get the surgery scheduled as soon as we can. It is really hard to get around campus and my arms hurt soooo bad - but every part of my body hurts. My leg looks like I have elephantitis - when I get my picture on the computer I'll put them on here.

So school has been going really rough and I have been really stressed with my grades and everything. Knowing that I will not be dancing until at least next october. Which is a really sad thought for me because dance is all I have ever had. My life has turned a 180 and it is really hard for me to see that light at the end of tunnel. However I only have 7 days till I get to see Tom. He is one of the only ones who I will be able to be comforted by now. I am trying to find a back up plan for my life but I dont know what this plan needs to be. It also scares me that I will be getting this surgery in Utah. I am going to be away from my family/Tom and I am going to be away from all I know. I do have really really good friends out here. I have great people who I know will take care of me. It is just sad, wishing my family could be here with me. So it is hard for me but I have lots of hard things to go through so I am working on trying to figure out which hard thing I am supposed to attend to first.

I am really really grateful though for the friends that I have that have been helping me cope and being my crying shoulder for night after night. Everyone is trying to make me feel better! Everyone is trying to make the best of the situation but I just keep overthinking it, I keep looking farther into things and trying to plan out my future but I cant plan it out. My life turned a 180 in a 1/2 second freak accident. Melissa and Jackie have been helping me a lot. They have been very patient with me - as it takes me twice as long to do anything now.

They are not sure all the damage I did because I haven't had the MRI yet, once I get that we will also know about the cartilage and meniscus. So I guess we will see. However the doctor said that because of the Xray, he knows that the bones are fine and there was NO dislocation at all. I am just PRAYING for a quick recovery and hoping that everything goes ok.

Well I think this is a long enough post for now - I know I am going to be ranting A LOT!

Damper in the Plans

2011-03-08T21:03:00.000-08:00

So you know when things happen that aren't planned, and they ruin EVERYTHING! Well welcome to my life today!

During Jazz class today we did fouettes in to a double. From the double we jumped into the center splits, back into a tuck position, and back out to the middle splits. Well Alana, tried is and it didnt work the first time so I modified it the second time, and i ended up dislocating my knee (at least I think so). I wont know till i go to a PT tomorrow. But it hurts soo bad - and im sooo frustrated. All of my school plans are falling apart, and so now I just wanna be done and not come back. I can't put any weight on it without it sliding out again, So I have been on crutches from the ballet department.

Luckily, it is my left knee so I can still drive to school. But I cant dance - so my grades are going to suffer horribly, I cant do Sleeping Beauty, my hands are so bruised already, my upper arms are bruised and hurt, I cant move my knee or step on it, I CAN DO NOTHING. Getting around school is going to be the most DIFFICULT thing in the world. I am helpless - I think this is a sign I should not be a ballet, or any kind of dancer!

I am soooooo frustrated. This attendance thing is going to stress me out so bad, cause I need good grades! But I can't dance so I cant get them. I just need a miracle now. I need to wake up in the morning and have my knee be perfect - Pray for the best.

I will keep you all updated when I find out more.

Girltalk!

2011-03-07T08:52:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day 2011

So - it has been forever since I have actually hung out with girls! I always plan things, and then i have to ditch people. Its horrible. But this weekend I hung out with Melissa.

Who would have even thought that a small town girl from Washington and a small town girl from Wisconsin would end up being such amazing friends!

We really did nothing but eat, talk, laugh, and hang out. It was possibly the best time I have had in a long time. It was so nice to just be able to talk to someone who I knew would not judge me and we could talk openly about everything. I love being able to talk to a girl who is going through a lot of the same things as me. We relate so good! We stand at the same center barre in ballet - we have all school year. We always get about 10 mins of talking in before class starts but it is never enough to really talk about what has been going on in our lives. This was a great night to just catch up with each other! I am grateful to have her in my life, and cant wait for another night like this weekend. :)
Thank you Barre Buddy, Melissa Snoen!

Halloween 2010

Princess Dance Day (We were both Cinderella!) 2010 Fall

"We are Calvin's Kittens" - 2010 Fall

Football Game - Fall 2010

3290 Valentine Party - 2011

Christmas - 2009

Christmas 2010

BYU Football Game - Shocked because "WE WON!" faces! - November 2010

Airplanes

2011-03-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

So going to school in Salt Lake - on my drive home everyday I drive west on 400 South. Well on the west side of the city is the international airport. So planes are constantly flying over the road in front me. Without fail, every time I see a plane I think to myself 1 of 3 things:

1) "Home, I just wanna go home."

2) "Soon I will be on one of those!"

3) "There is both joy and sadness on that plane right now"

Planes! I love planes. But sometimes they bring such happiness and sometimes such sadness.

The quote I live by:

"When you're struggling with something, look at all the people around you and realize that every single person you see is struggling with something, and to them, it's just as hard as what you're going through."- Nicholas Sparks, Dear John.

Everytime I get on a plane - there are happy and sad feelings. welcome to the world!

I don't understand!

2011-02-27T15:37:00.000-08:00

Warning - I am going to rant!

I DONT UNDERSTAND! I don't understand how I am always the bad guy. I have a total different group of friends now then I did freshman year. I am still friends with a few of them - and the ones that I am, we are very close. But I have also lost a lot of friends. I dont understand how I am always the bad guy - maybe because I am too timid to stand up for myself and let myself get torn down. But I dont get it. maybe it is my fault. Maybe it is 100% my fault! ill admit it! But i dont understand what I do or have done to end these friendships and have people so bitter at me. I made it through my middle school and high school years back home with basically the same group of friends. and now college?? really??? does college hate me that much!?

Apparently I am not a good enough friend to be able to do anything with people anymore - or i live too far away I guess. It just frustrates me. Because then people assume things like "she wont drive this far" when really I drive that far for school I dont have a problem with it! But I guess I need to stop being bitter and accept that people change and that I am moving on to a new part of my life and if my friends are going to tear me down and doubt me -then I guess I dont really want them around anyways.

ok rant done

Thinking

2011-02-27T14:50:00.000-08:00

I have had lots on my mind today. Lots of things...things that confuse me and things that just cause me to think and reflect.

Beauty:

How often do we look around us and take for advantage the places we live or visit? How often do we just brush off the nice weather? Or the gorgeous views that we have? It happen often. When we, as people, travel we always look at the scenery and think how lucky people are to live there. But then we go back to our homes and never notice all the things that we have the other people wish they did.

Future:

The future is a mystery to all of us. We would all like to think we can plan out the future, but in all reality - WE CANT! We can plan it out, but without fail things will happen that are going to throw it all off course and send us spiraling downward until we get our footing and start all over. I, as some people know, like to plan stuff early and have it set in stone for a while before it happens. I have learned that the future will happen whether we plan it or not - so why do it? I still wont be able to let go of it completely but I am trying to become more relaxed about it.

Family:

I miss mine - A LOT! I miss my mom, dad, grandpa, brother, 4 sisters, 5 nieces, 5 nephews. I miss them all. They are wonderful and have all taught me something in my lifetime! The next time I will get to see them for sure will be next Christmas. Which is 10 months from now. Thinking that everyone will be 1 year older and that most of my little nieces and nephews wont even remember me is a hard concept to grasp. Another hard concept is, with marrying into the air force I wont really ever be around my family. I will already be starting my own - but not by my family. I am trying to grasp the concept and be ok with it. Which I am ok with it - dont get me wrong. I am ok with living with Tom and us starting our own family, It is just hard not being able to see all the little ones growing up. Hopefully we will get back to WB frequently to see everyone.

I guess that is all - Sundays - I have been having great days. For the past 2 months, Katie (9yr old) always says "You always look so pretty on sundays!" or "you look gorgeous today"....generally I dont get that so it is a great motivation for Sundays! :)

The end!

Catch up!

2011-02-26T21:42:00.001-08:00

So I guess I havent blogged in a while...

Not much has really been happening. 1 day I have an amazing day and my life can't get better - then the next I wonder how I am still walking. My life day-by-day is a physical and emotional roller coaster. Lets see what else has been going on in my life.

SUPERBOWL PARTY!

Go pack go!

yea the packers kicked butt!!! I hung out with me friends Hailey, Ashley and Karena - Amazing night! :) and I won $15! :)

I have started having this day by day occurrence. In ballet, I constantly am jumping on my own feet. Don't ask me why i just do. It has happened quite a few times in the past 2 weeks.

I have been packing good entertaining snacks for school It makes my lunch exciting.

I have been going to the gym everyday - makes me feel a lot better and more motivated.

During my down time (cause i never have homework) I play my WII with Katie and Britt and watch movies on Netflix. That is right - classic Nintendo 64 - Mario kart!

Only 3 weeks till spring break!!! PLEASE COME FASTER!!!!! I need to get out of Utah!!! And I get to see my fiance! :)

The End

Love

2011-02-14T21:31:00.001-08:00

- a four letter word that holds me together -

- there are a few things I know for certain in this life and 1 is that my fiance is the best!-

I know some of you follow this closely - for those who dont or for those or you who just want to read our awesome story again, instead of me typing it out again go to these blog posts (on the right side of the page.

1) January - "the beginning"

2)October 2010 - "Alaska - 9 days, 1 million memories"

3)September 2010 - "Saturday"

4)September 2010 - "Boy"

Put all 4 of those together and that is pretty much the man of my dreams. I have realized recently that I need to live my own dream and no one elses - and since I know this is right, this is the step I am taking!

Dear Thomas,

Even though I am not with you now, I love you! I dream of the day I will be able to be with you again, but until then. Happy Valentines Day. I love you.

Love, Alana

Valentines Day

2011-02-14T14:58:00.000-08:00

Looking back to a year ago, wow things have changed. I have had so many life changing moments in the past year that my life has now changed so much and I feel so much better than I did on this day last year. This also brings me to remember the people I love dearly and hold close to my heart.

My mom and dad
My siblings!
My nieces
My nephews
My friends who have been there for me through thick and thin
My fiance

For once in my life everything has been going good. It has been hard, very hard, but with the help of my parents, sisters and friends I have been doing alright. I then have my wonderful fiance who has learned how to deal with me and my temperaments. He has always been there anytime I needed him and even though we are far away in distance, I know our love for each other is stronger, and it is strong enough to withstand any trials and tribulations that come our way. I have been able to gain, lose & experience friends and things, meet new people and reach new heights. I have been able to reach for new heights and I hope that this year continues that way for me.

But for all you hopeless romantics out there - like me for 19 years, Happy Valentines Day!

Human Robots

2011-02-07T21:27:00.000-08:00

Every day we all follow a pattern. You can either agree with me or not. Patterns are the way we live our life, our daily routine, whatever you want to call it.

However, I discovered today in ballet, that we (ballet dancers) are all trained - like dogs. We know exactly what to do, how to respond to random corrections that a normal person you NEVER understand, we know when to clap, when to turn on the fake smiles, when to bow, when to leave the class room, when to thank our pianist, how to stand when we arent dancing, We have been trained and we do the same time EVERY DAY of our life.

Here is my Monday - Friday daily Routine.

Wake up - an hour and a half before school starts - sometime 6:45, others 7:15am
Roll out of bed
Hobble to the light switch
Turn on the light and head back to my closet
Put on sweats and an oversized Tshirt and head to the bathroom
While in the bathroom I - Turn on the straightener, go potty, put on make up, straighten my hair, turn off the straightener
Head back to my bed room and get dressed depending on the day MWF - I wear Jeans and a sweatshirt, TH - I wear sweats and a sweatshirt.
Go back and brush my teeth.
Go to my closet and put on Perfume and Deodorant, Take my medicine and put on awesome socks with my shoes
Then with an hour and ten minutes before I need to be in the classroom, I head upstairs and make my lunch for the day.
with an hour left to be at school - i get in my car and head on my 30 min drive to Salt Lake City.
After trekking through early morning rush hour - which sucks - I finally get to school with anywhere from 20-30 mins to spare.
Park in the U Stadium Parking Lot
Walk to my class and sit - generally somewhere towards the back
listen (sometimes) and take notes
walk to my next class
listen (almost never) and take notes (always :) )
walk to the dance building at 11:45
when i get to the ballet building i go to my locker and take my shoes off, then go to the counters and eat my lunch.
Then take my Leotard, tights and sweats from my backpack and change into them and my sweats.
I go back to my locker and get "my pointe shoes, my technique shoes, my hair stuff, theraband, Ibuprofen, Toe pads and tape, Leg warmers and water bottle.
Head downstairs to start warming up/ get ready
Ballet at 12:55
Ballet class combinations go as follows (we are all trained to consider this normal) - BARRE (Warmup/Stretch/Sit ups) Plie, Tendu 1, Tendu 2, Tendu 3 (sometimes 4 or 5), Degage 1, Degage 2, (Degage 3), Ronde De Jambes, Fondu, Ronde De Jambe En Lair, Frappe, Adagio, Grand Battement, CENTER - Tendu, Adagio, Pirouette, Warm up Jump, Petite Allegro, Grand Allegro (If time permits a manage of turns or fouettes.) - welcome to 2 hours of ballet.
After ballet somedays I head home to eat some dinner, then watch kids the rest of the night.
Somedays after Ballet I have an hour long pointe class.
Then I head home to work on homework, shove food down my throat and watch kids.
9pm - the girls are in bed and I finally get to take a shower.
9:30pm I sit down to talk to Thomas
11pm - is my ideal time for going to bed.
Then I wake up in 7 hours to do it all again.

Patterns. We all live in patterns. Believe it or not. There patterns are our way of life. Everyone has their each individual pattern. However, how do you keep these patterns, requirements and stipulations without becoming a robot. I thought about this in ballet after class when we all curtsied without being told, starts clapping and each individually walked up to thank our teacher and pianist. How do you keep separate but still be the same? How was it that we were all trained to simply do the same thing without be told?

We do the same thing everyday....Everyday just a mimic of the day before with a few changes. When does this end? Does this pattern ever end? Does it ever change? When it does change to we become accustom to the new way of life and go about things without being told?

Dont give alana too much time to think! :)

The end

WWLS

2011-02-03T19:25:00.000-08:00

So today - as I was at school, I was wearing my sweatpants that were a graduation present. Onthe front they say "WWLS" - on the back they say "Ferguson." Well seeing those pants sent me on a flashback through my dancing days at MIDA. Only some of you may know what WWLS stands for - hence the reason it is abbreviated. OHHH How much I miss the days back there, I would not trade them for the world. But also - how happy I am that I am gone. It had a wonderful time back there - and Looking back at all the memories, they are awesome! The friends, that are now family and will be in my life forever!!! :) I love you all!

Maybe someday I will get more posted....but I cant put too many on for now! Enjoy!

Now remember ladies!!! Think about what you are doing right now...then think, "WWLS?" DRINK MORE WATER ;)

Hope

2011-02-02T09:30:00.000-08:00

I have been struggling this week. Just overall I have been having a horrible week. However this morning I found a glimmer of hope.

After this week is over, there are 2 five day weeks, then a 4 day week, then 3 five day weeks, then SPRING BREAK! which is an absolutely wonderful thought!

Better yet, after spring break (during which I get to see my wonderful fiance) - there are only 5 weeks of school left till I am done with sophomore year. I try not to rush through this time in my life, knowing that I will be missing it in a few years, but I cant help but think about the future and the things come up.

Well here is to hoping that they go fast!

Feburary

2011-02-02T09:14:00.000-08:00

Somedays - I wish I was back home in my little town in WI.

Not only do I miss it...but pretty much the WHOLE FREAKING STATE has a snow day today. I wish I had a snow day. Instead, here in Dear old utah....we get 7 degree weather and the wind that is so bitter it makes your skin red and tingling within 30 seconds. I wish I could just stay at home and snuggle in my nice and warm bed and drink soup all day, make cookies, watch movies....sounds amazing. Nope instead I am at school, freezing my butt off, I am actually wearing a scarf and mittens, which is when you know its bad.

So moral of the story is - I wanna be at home spending time with my family and not at school. But I guess I chose this, so I might as well get used to it.

On a happy note - not that I believe it - but the ground hog didn't see his shadow today! YAY FOR SPRING!!!! Bring on the nice warm weather. Maybe then I can get a tan before I go live in the arctic tundra for summer....do they even call it summer there? who knows!

WAIT! what do we do then the Phil the groundhog dies?
Do they pass the responsibility on to his son? daughter? to they get it out of the family chain? HMMM another thing to think about. This is what happens when I dont listen in class, I start to over analyze things and I come up with really awkward questions. Well since I have a test next Friday, I should start listening now! :P

HAPPY FEBRUARY!!!!

Choices

2011-01-31T19:17:00.000-08:00

Everyday, each person has millions of choices they make. Everyday, we choose - each choice could either help us or hurt us. Sometimes you don't know at the time what choices will do what, and other times you know before even making the choice.

These choices present themselves all the time.

These choices are hard to make and sometimes hurt.

I guess that is reality of the real world.

I made a choice to be a ballet major.

Somedays I love it.

Somedays I hate it.

Somedays I don't know how I even got accepted into this school.

Somedays I love living my life.

Other days, I feel like giving up.

Right now, I am deciding. Deciding what is best for me. Deciding how to proceed with situations I have been given. Choices are killing me. I have so many of them - some larger than others.

I have already made choices that are going to change my life.

Changing my life for the better.

Choices I never will regret.

Some choices I HAVE to make I am not sure if they will benefit me at all.

I am not sure how to decide them. (They have nothing to do with getting married)

I guess sleep is desperately needed for me to clear my head.

Dear Life,

Why are you not fair? Why do some people work their butts off and still dont get rewarded for it? Is this part of your evil master plan? Some of us who have a glimmer of hope then get SHATTERED! Hopefully some day I will figure out exactly why these things happen to me. Till then I guess I will be running around in circles trying to keep myself on my feet. Trying to keep myself from collapsing in self pity. Trying to keep myself from falling back into the emotional trap I had myself living in for TOOO long.Dear life - YOU SUCK!

THE END!

"For everything you have missed, you have gained something else;

and for everything you gain, you lose something else.

It is about your outlook towards like. You can either

REGRET or REJOICE."

Patience

2011-01-29T16:06:00.000-08:00

Generally I am a very patient person. I am usually not quick to pick fights and keep my cool. But every person eventually hits a breaking point. For some people this breaking point comes very quickly, for others it doesnt happen till they are over loaded.

WARNING: this is a whining post.

Today is that day. Today is the day where it takes everything in my body to not freak out at people. Today is the day when I wish it was not illegal or unmoral to kill people. (ok so maybe that is an exaggeration.) But we all know what I am talking about. Those days where everyone seems not to be able to control themselves and pop every portion of your bubble they can find!

Maybe it is because I am slowly but surely getting more and more sleep deprived, I don't know but some people just DRIVE ME CRAZY.

There are the people,in auditions, that think that is it both nice and acceptable to do the combination FULL OUT in the back of the room while a different group is dancing!
People who just want to tear me down and my dancing. I know I am not AMAZING! I just love it and I dance for myself. I don't think it is ok for people (who dont matter) to tell me that I dont try hard enough in ballet class
People who get SUPER crabby and whine about EVERYTHING! It never ends.
People who make me ask 90 BILLION times, before they actually do what I asked.

I think that is the end of my whining rant.

Sleeping Beauty Auditions were today.

They went ok.

I am not expecting much out of it....

but we will see, come monday.

School is the same old same old.

Nothing new.

just the standard.

Although in Human Development, we watched

an X rated film and as we walked

out of the classroom our teacher says

"I hope you enjoyed it have a good weekend!"

Enjoy?? I don't really enjoy

seeing some random ladies

pop kids out of them!!!!

This wedding thing is sucking the life out of me.

SO much to do.

SO much to pay for.

SO many things to make reservations for.

SO many things to take into consideration.

Then trying to figure out summer plans, and next fall. I feel like I am trying to schedule my whole life in 2 weeks. But Thank goodness I have Tom. He has been putting up with me, helping me and working with me through all of this. We have this pretty nice compromise system working. That boy - 98% of the time he is WAY nicer to me than I deserve. I love him.

Spring Break, I am heading to alaska. Then Summer I am living there. Then next summer we will get married and I will live up there. It is kind of a complicated situation, but I would wait forever to be able to be with him if that is what I have to do.

He has been my support system through all of this. I have called him and whined or yelled at him many times. He has been awesome for putting up with me. I hope he doesnt go crazy just from listening to me all the time.

But I guess that is enough for my rant today - i could go on for a while but I will refrain today. Except I had olive garden salad for lunch today----YUM! THE END

Running

2011-01-21T11:22:00.001-08:00

This has not been the best start of the school year for me. It has kinda been a rough start - but im holding through it. 2 weeks down only 14 to go, then I am half way through college. I dont know if anyone even reads this-which is totally fine cause all i really do is rant and get things off my mind. So anyone who does read this gets to deal with all my complaining.

Right now in my life, I feel like I am running. I feel like I am running towards my new goal but yet away from myself. The things I decide still scare the crap out of me and I run as fast as I can to get away from myself. However it is impossible to run in 2 different directions. I am running to the things i love, but away from the things I fear. When will this running end?!
I still really dont know where I am running to or exactly what i am running from, i just know i have to stop making myself feel this way!

Ok now, onto the positive side:

I had my first test of the semester on Thursday - I got a solid A! So that brightens my day a little
Tom and I have started looking for apartments to live in for the summer. It has been really exciting but also very stressful, obviously since I am not in Alaska to actually look - it freaks me out a little, but I trust his judgement. And we have agreed that before any final decision is made he has to show me pictures of EVERYTHING!
Packers won last sunday!!! and (hopefully, fingers crossed) are going to KILL the bears this Sunday.
I have a wonderful fiance who talks to me everynight - which is wonderful! always makes my crappy days better
I guess I really shouldnt be complaining about anything cause right now my life is at one of the best times I can remember, One of those times I never want to end. Obviously it could be better in certain aspects but over all I am loving life.
I have been hanging out a lot more often with my friends from freshman year. They are great. I love them all.
Planning this wedding is WAY more work and money than I ever would have thought, and poor Tom has been putting up with me through all of it. I vote we do a BBQ for dinner then turn on the radio and blast it in the back yard.....any objections??

I swear students should get a sleep day every week....like wednesday! Wednesday should be "National College Sleep Day"

Now that I am done on my random rant of retarded things, I am going to get back to making my wedding list and taking care of everything I have to for this!!!

The beginning -

2011-01-09T18:20:00.000-08:00

Normally I would not have time to write a blog this long. But I kinda have anywhere from 2 - 18 more hours to waste. Why, you ask? Well let me tell you.
Today, Sunday January 9, 2010, I am flying back to Utah. School starts today - first class is at 8:35. But ANYWAYS. I made it on my first plane from Milwaukee to Denver. I get off on Denver to find that I am caught in the middle of a snow storm. So my second flight from Denver to SLC is cancelled. I was supposed to arrive in SLC at 7:30pm. It is now 6am Monday and I am still sitting in the Denver airport. So as soon as i found out it was cancelled I headed to the service counter and I got put on standby on a flight taking off at 9:30 (come to find out that was delayed till 10:30). But I didnt make it on that flight and I am on standby for a flight at 9am today, and if I dont make it on this flight then I keep riding standby till I am guaranteed a flight tonight at 9pm. So who really knows how long i will be in this airport! I am tired of living off mcdonalds, quiznos, greasy hair and dirty clothing.

This Christmas Break has been one of the best I have had and probably one of the best I will have for a while. My break was kind of split in half. 12 days with my family, 12 days once Tom got home. It started out with lots of Christmas Parties, family hanging out, shopping trips, christmas dinners. lots of stuff. I dont ever totally remember what I did. owever I do remember how bad my first week was. I got home Thursday night and I had to help my mom all weekend at my old home studios nutcracker. WOW! i loved it - but I am soo glad i am gone now. Monday I went to the dentist and arranged to have my wisdom teeth out on the coming wednesday-so 2 days away. But I wanted to be bed ridden before thomas got back home. Tuesday - I wake up and am as sick as I have been in a long time, everything was wrong with e. So it sucked all day tuesday and wednesday - It was sooo hard not to cough or sneeze while I was getting my teeth pulled. The rest of the week (which was also christmas) There were times I was quite miserable. but I guess I survived. But for Christmas, I got a WII, a new toothbrush, and socks!!! :)

Just Dance

Band Hero at my sisters house

Just dance - making mommy do it

This is the stack of drugs that sat right by my bed (reclining chair) for more than a week. PATHETIC!!!!!

December 28 - Thomas came into town. I went with 3 of his friends to pick him up from the airport (obviously he wanted to see me the most). We were with each other pretty much the whole break. We did lots of things including: Ice skating, hanging out at the bowling alley, playing pool, going to the port light house, olive garden, texas roadhouse, hot tub, just dance, movies, spent a night at his cabin - oh and getting engaged.

Hot Tub

Ice Skating

Christmas

On our way to port - before the ring

Yes you heard me - I am engaged. Story Time:

On the way to the light house

After the whole deal went down!

July 2010 - Tom and I went out to port one night, just hanging out - we walked out to the light house. We were not dating yet but he chickened out on kissing me
On December 31 2010, We went back out to port. It was cold and icy on the way out to the lighthouse. I almost fell off a few times. It was crazy foggy too we couldnt see anything. But we kept going out - even though I tried to turn around. We went back to the exact spot where we sat this summer. and he said "i believe i owe you a kiss" and so since it was wet out and we couldnt sit down we squatted down and he kissed me. Then i started getting cold and i wanted to go back, so i stood up and he stayed down and that is when he asked me. I will admit he cried more than I did, but my eyes sure did get watery. We have decided the day is going to be the weekend on May 17-19, 2012. It will be a long time till then, but between the temple and the airforce we cant really do it much faster.

Well I am going to see if I can catch a little more sleep in this stupid airport! Here is the update! :)

SLOW DOWN!!!

2010-12-29T15:46:00.000-08:00

Warning - I found this post in my drafts from December 29...This is when I was home for Christmas Break and was with Thomas.

HERE I GO: - i am going to whine for a little.

Why is it - that the times you want to go by fast go PAINFULLY SLOW. and the times you want to last forever are gone in a heart beat. I never seem to have enough time to be able to really hold on to what i want most.
There have been so many times in the past 2 days that I wish I could just freeze time and lay in warm arms forever, and yet morning always comes. It makes me realize I cannot take anything for advantage. It always is a constant reminder that the people I love and care about may or may not be gone in the blink of an eye. I wish I could stop time and just wait for a little bit and not move. Whenever times like this come I always find myself singing a certain song in my head -

Soon enough I will be able to have my own choices and have my own decisions to make. I cannot wait for that day, the day that I know I will be with the man I love for time and all eternity. The man that I want to share all my trials, joy, laughter, pain, tears, smiles, giggles, inside jokes - the man I want to share my life with. Right now we never have enough time together. We are always cut short by the factor that we are together for 12 days at a time. soon enough I will be able to have a different path to my life, a path that I am going to be able to share with the love of my life. It will be a very scary time in my life, but yet it will be a great new chapter that I get to start. I am getting sick of the chapter I am in now - i am ready for a little change ANYTIME NOW! Soon enough I will be able to understand why the things in my life happened the way they did...

Just remember: life is short. no time for regrets. no time for doubting. just do it. you will learn that if you dont take chances you will never make it very far and will have more regrets than ever. Live like you are dying tomorrow. Live each minute like it is your last.

More Nutcracker

2010-12-15T13:13:00.001-08:00

Childrens Literature

2010-12-12T22:13:00.000-08:00

Elissa and I, Elissa is another ballet major and the lovely girl that let me come to her thanksgiving, She is soo sweet. Her and I are (well i guess were) in childrens literature together. and the last friday we decided to write a story. she wrote a little then I wrote some, then her, then i - it was WAY funny! here it is.
I love this girl!!!!

Once upon a time there was this girl named Alana. She was very beautiful. She lived ina place called...
Fruitopia! This place was gorgeous. She lived in a castle with unlimited fruit and the colors of the land were soooo...
PINK! everything in the entire village was pink. It even rained pink rain, and snowed pink snow. But the best pink thing in the whole village was the...
dress of her friend Elissa. Elissa was a bright & sweet girl. They had castles right next door to each other. They loved playing bingo &....
having knitting parties. They knitted pink blankets, scarfs, leg warmers, and even pink leotards. But one day as they were knitting a sweater for lissa's cat...
They say something BLUE walk past the window. Both girls were appalled by the color. Never before had they seen such a magnificent and rich color. Standing as fast as they could, they ran to the door &...
lets their eyes soak in the beauty of the most glorious, beautiful, stunning, breathtaking, wondrous, extravagant...
elephant! It was the most enormous thing they had ever seen. They became friends with the elephant. The elephants name was....
DUCKIE!

And then class ended! :(

Cinderella

2010-12-12T21:37:00.000-08:00

My little girls at "Elite Dance Force" are doing soo good....Their dance still has lots of work but i am soo proud of them...here is their dance so far...

the first time i recorded it was better - but I was missing kennedy. so when she got there i recorded it again so I actually have all 8 girls for once! :)

A BUSY WEEKEND

2010-12-12T21:03:00.000-08:00

Finally school is over!!!! Thank goodness - I was about to die!

Although the last week of school I finally taught myself to french braid my own hair!!! :)

Thursday I picked up my mommy, daddy, and grandpa from the airport. They came out to watch me perform in "the Nutcracker" (But ill talk about that later)

But on friday I still had school - so for ballet we all dressed up christmassy! :) oh great great fun! I love it EVERY TIME we get to dress up! Here are some pictures from Christmas at the U :)

Jackie and I

Taryn, I, Sami, Melissa and Kat - BEING GOOD DANCERS

Sami

Towers :)

Meliss and I - I <3 onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3T6sybrP5pw/TQWrkV1VPdI/AAAAAAAABQM/hd9JhqctA54/s1600/DSC00782.jpg">

NUTCRACKER - Well the first show - SUCKED!!!!, the second show was better - lots better, the 3rd show (Saturday night) I FREAKING ROCKED!!!! I nailed everything!!! :) and i held tons of balances. BEST SHOW I HAVE DONE!!! Hopefully my show tomorrow (monday) will be just as good - if not better. I am glad my parents and grandpa came out to watch me dance!!! It was great to have them there.
I was soooo excited after saturday nights show - i was in a wonderful mood!

Kelli and I

Kaitlyn and I
My group of flowers! - best group!
Kat and I BOOTIES
We are da bwest dancewrs eva!

That is pretty much what is going on.

1 performance tomorrow

then tuesday off

wednesday work

thursday home! :)

Final Stretch

2010-11-29T19:57:00.000-08:00

2 weeks of school left - thats all!!!! I cannot wait to be done for the semester. And I only have a few more term projects and papers that need done. Even though I only have 9 days of school left it is killing me!!!! Everyday I wake up I just have to remind myself that "I have to go to school!" - it is a struggle everyday. I am counting down the days till I am done with dance this semester - I love it, but man do I need a break!

We have been packing rehearsals in like crazy for Nutcracker and Showcase. Showcase is the 2nd weekend of next semester. So pretty much everything has to be done by Christmas Break.

My december is going to be crazy!!!! Here are only the big dates - leaving out everything little I have to do.

December 9 - my parents and grandpa come to SL to see my Dew Drop Performance in the Nutcracker :)
December 10 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!
December 10, 11, 13 - 4 nutcracker performances!
December 15 - last day of work before christmas
December 16 - Fly home to WI
December 17, 18 - Shopping with my sister, and MIDA Nutcracker Performances
December 28 - See my boyfriend again! :) OH SO EXCITED
January 1 - Family Christmas
January 9 - Head back to school.
January 10 - Start School and Tom heads back to Alaska
BUT I DONT WANNA THINK THAT FAR AHEAD YET

In between all of those I have lots of hanging out, work, playing - and just having fun! Seeing my family and friends again whom I miss immensely!

My quote to live by right now:

"I will keep a smile on my face and in my heart even if I hurt today."

Love you all,

Love me!

Winter Wonderland

2010-11-28T20:45:00.001-08:00

It is winter time!!! and its about time snow started to fall!!!
Tuesday they shut school down for a "blizzard" - which was the lamest blizzard I have EVER SEEN! Then we had school wednesday, then off till tomorrow :(
But hey only 2 weeks of school left! HEAVEN HELP ME!!!!
Today (it was snowing all last night and today) so after church - the girls and I decided we were going to go play in the snow... :) These are some pictures from our adventures today!

SOO FUN!

Holy War

2010-11-28T20:14:00.000-08:00

For those of you who do not know what the 'holy war' is: it is an INTENSE football game between the biggest college football rivals - BYU vs. UTAH.
It was a home game this year so I had tickets to it. WE WON!!!! on luck only though!
Before the game Melissa and I went to the tailgate and we hung out with some friends.....WAY FUN and met some awesome people!!!
Parker Melissa and I

Jenny, Melissa, Alex and Paige

Melissy and I

Alex, Melissa, and I found SANTA!!!!!!! :)

NEEDLESS TO SAY - the win was not in our favor though.
The score was BYU 13 - UTAH 0 at the beginning of the 4th quarter. By the last 4 minutes we had gotten the score to BYU 16 - UTAH 17. Either way - with 4 seconds left on the clock BYU was going to kick a field goal - which would put them at winning the game. Well HE MISSED THE KICK! One of our players drove in front of the ball sending it flying out into the sidelines putting UTAH as the winning team! WE WON THE DUEL TROPHY for 2010! It was crazy intense. I was only a few rows from the front and everyone (including me) were going crazy when we won. Then Melissa and I went to rush the field and we jumped down like a 10-13 foot wall and ran onto the field with all the other Utes to celebrate. WAY FUN!!! :)

Then after the game, We just headed over to greek row and hit up some parties. I think I will have to say this weekend was a success.

GO UTES :)

Pomegranates

2010-11-28T20:07:00.000-08:00

So recently I have been eating a lot of fruit that I normally don't eat. At least not fresh. Like I always eat canned peaches but not until a few weeks ago did i eat a whole peach. same with pomegranates. YUM delicious. I have been buying pomegranates and eating them for lunch. They are absolutely delicious - if you havent tried them yet - I would totally would recommend it!

Remembering

2010-11-25T20:08:00.000-08:00

Ever had a moment where you look back at everything you have done and wondered why you did it? Why you were so worried? Why you cried over that? Why you were friends with certain people? Why you made the decisions you did? Why certain things happened to you? Why the people who once made you smile are now the reason you cry? Why certain trials were put in your path? How certain people impacted your life? Why some people are only in your life for a short time and some forever?
Today was defiantly a looking back day - looking back and being thankful for everything I have had nad been given (and still have) and then looking at all my pictures. All these pictures have some strong meaning to me - a moment in my life, a friend who changed my life, a reason I do what I do - my purpose of living.

"She was staring out that window, of that SUV
Complaining, saying I can't wait to turn 18
She said I'll make my own money, and I'll make my own rules
Mamma put the car in park out there in front of the school
Then she kissed her head and said I was just like you
But you're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this
You're gonna miss this
Yeah, you're gonna miss this"

"Before she knows it she's a brand new bride
In a one-bedroom apartment, and her daddy stops by
He tells her It's a nice place
She says It'll do for now
Starts talking about babies and buying a house
Daddy shakes his head and says Baby just slow down

But you're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this
You're gonna miss this
Yeah, you're gonna miss this"

"Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin'
One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'
She keeps apologizin'
He says they don't bother me
I've got 2 babies of my own
One's 36, one's 23
Huh, it's hard to believe
But you're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this
You're gonna miss this
Yeah, you're gonna miss this"

But you're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this
You're gonna miss this
Yeah, you're gonna miss this

Thanksgiving

2010-11-21T20:43:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving: is about giving thanks right?? I know I made a post like this a while ago - but there are so many things that I am grateful for that I miss now - that I took advantage of when I had them. My motto recently has been - "never take anything for granted, because in the blink of an eye it could all be gone."

I am grateful for (that can be shown in pictures):
My siblings and nieces and nephews - I miss them a lot. They mean the world to me and I cannot wait to see them! :)

Grandpa, Gigi, Mom, Dad, Blake, Ava, Erika, David, Talitha, Havalynne, Josh, Shana, Grant, Lucie, Dean, Ruth, Eli, (NO LUCAS), John, Lindy, Addisyn, Aiden.

Addisyn Gundrum and Lucie Smith - Nieces

Ruth Williams - Sister

Shana Smith - Sister

Lindy Gundrum - Sister

Eli Williams - Nephew

Grant and Lucie Smith, and Addisyn Gundrum - Nieces and Nephew

Erika - Sister, David and Grant - Nephews, Addisyn Gundrum, Lucie Smith, Talitha & Havalynne Jones - Nieces

Blake Ferguson and Ava - Brother and Niece
David Ferguson - Nephew

My friends - that help me through a lot of things
Hailey Clements

Amy, Emily and Jenna Sprouse

Aly Backhaus, Mara Herdrich and Kate Wilde

Paulette Lewis, Whitney Pusch, Aly Backhaus, Mara Herdrich, Olivia Koehn, Kate Wilde, Deanna Lewis, Kaylene Herbst, Brittany Korneli, Kayli Gronski, Amy Leach, Alyssa Miller, Jessica Bach and Emily Goetz
Jackie Wedick
Taryn Shingleton, Melissa Snoen, Katharine Nichols, Emily Snow
Taryn Shingleton & Elissa Butler

Kayli Gronski, Mara Herdrich & Kate Wilde
Amy Leach
Olivia Koehn

Mara Catherine Herdrich - This girl is my one true friend.

My daddy and my mommy - I love them!

The gospel -

Dance - it helps me get through everything

Snow -

My Car -

My Bed -

The Girls I live with - they keep me young

My Loving Boyfriend - could never ask for anyone who would ever treat me better or love me more.

Things that cannot be pictured put in pictures:
The smell of waking up thanksgiving morning and smelling the food.
The ability to:
read,
hear,
touch,
walk,
see,
run,
speak,
smell,
love,
the ability to listen,
care
and support.

The time I get to spend with precious people in my life
The memories I have made through out my life
The people who have made me who I am
The trials I have faced that made me who I am
Pictures

What are you thankful for that you have overlooked??

Technology??

2010-11-18T21:11:00.000-08:00

So. I. Alana. Am. Technologically. Challenged.

If you read back a few months about my swimming lessons - well yea, long story short electronics hate me!
On wednesday, when I was packing for work I decided I was going to take my camera and record the girls so they could see their dance - for me to prove my point of how messy it is. So I went in the front pocket of my backpack - where my camera always is, along with my wallet, keys and sunglasses. I pull my camera out and turn it on to check the battery level.....something damaged my camera on the inside! :( the outside is completely fine but the inside it retarded on the screen. So now because electronics hate me I have to wait for my new one to come. Maybe one of these days something will last me more than 4 months.
Well my computer has lasted me a year and a half - KNOCK ON WOOD!

So it will be a while till the next post.....due to NO camera! :(

Dance

2010-11-14T19:27:00.000-08:00

Everytime I go to dance - no matter where it is i feel like I move in. I seriously feel like I never leave the dance studios.

This is a stack of mine, Taryn's, Kat's and Sami's stuff during ballet!

What is in Alana's locker:
3 pairs of pointe shoes
2 pairs of ballet shoes
a pair of garbage bag pants
U ballet sweatshirt
Body Roller
Leg warmers
Mukluks
Hand sanitizer
Deodrant
Corn Bag
2 Pairs of tights (1 pink, 1 black)
Hairspray or water
Perfume
Water Bottle
Bobby Pins
Toe Tape
Hairbrush
1 spare leotard
Notes from Taryn (that make me smile!)
Pictures of friends and family
A blinking wand
Theraband
Chapstick
(like i said i feel like i live there!)

Duck Addiction

2010-11-14T18:26:00.001-08:00

TITLE SAYS IT ALL:

just take a look behind me - at my bathroom back home

Halloween forever ago!
Me, Jenna, Amy, Angie and Paulette

Chuck the Duck - he is my guardian duck!

Recent Favorites

2010-11-07T16:19:00.000-08:00

Favorite Song:

Favorite Movie:
The Emperors New Groove

P.S. I love you

Favorite food:
Popsicles

Trail Mix

Favorite Color:
Hot Pink and Black

Favorite Flower:
Gerber Daisies

Church

2010-11-07T16:03:00.000-08:00

I learn lots in church
I have fun in church
I eat snacks in church
I color in church
I play add on in church
I wave to people across the chapel in church
I read the scriptures in church
I play family feud in church
I talk to friends in church
I smile and laugh at church
SOMEDAYS I NEVER WANT CHURCH TO END

Ballet

2010-11-07T15:32:00.001-08:00

Ballet - my life - whether I wanna admit it or not.
I had an ABSOLUTELY CRAZY WEEKEND!!!! Literally Crazy!
Lets start with Friday -
After school on friday
________________________
5 - 6:30: Rehearsal for Showcase Piece
30 min drive south to Sandy
7:30-9 : Rehearsal for Nutcracker
Drive home - get home at around 10pm
Do 2 loads of laundry, shower and clean my room
Finally after talking to my boyfriend I am asleep by 2am

SATURDAY
________________________
6am - wake up and get ready for the day
6:30 - wake katie up and get her going
6:45 - leave the house to drive 30 mins north to West Haven for soccer games
7:15 - Arrive 30 mins before the game (which is when she has to be there) then she informs me she left her inhaler and white soccer shirt on her bed
7:20 - Alana drives back to Kaysville to pick it up for her. Then runs to walmart to get a birthday card for the birthday Party she had to go to.
8:00 - After speeding (Shhhhh) I made it back to the soccer game which is where I watched soccer games until 10:20
10:15 - I head back to Kaysville
10:40 - get home and get Katie in the shower
10:55 - have lunch made for her, and get her out of the shower
11:05 - I finally get katie to the Birthday party - only 5 mins late.
11:10 - I get back home and start packing for my day which included an outfit for the football game, dance rehearsal stuff, and stuff for a ballet west performance
12 - Head to Salt Lake City for the Football Game
1:30 - the game starts, I had to leave 1/2 way through the third quarter to get to rehearsal
4:00 - Alana leave the University of Utah Campus and head to her car. I pick up Shalina and head back down to Sandy for another Nutcracker Rehearsal
5:00 - Rehearsal for Nutcracker
6:15 - Leave sandy (all nasty and sweaty) and head back to Salt Lake
6:45 - Arrive at Shalina's Place and get ready for Ballet West's Performance
7:05 - Leave Shalina's apartment and walks 4 blocks in high heels to a ballet performance of Carmina Burana
7:30 - The Ballet starts-It was AMAZING!!!! One of the best ballets I have seen in a long time - it was absolutely gorgeous. Shalina had an extra ticket - so essentially I got a $75 for free. We were on the front row of the tier. It was awesome!
9:30 leave the ballet and walk back to my car
10pm - finally leave Salt Lake City and head back to Kaysville.
10:45 - get home - cause my exit was closed so I had to take a different one.
11:30 - after unloading my car and grabbing some dinner from upstairs and getting situated in my room I am finally in bed - feeling like I am about to collapse
11:45 - Skype Tom - talk till about 12:30 when I finally collapse.

Welcome to a life in the day of me
But I would never trade it for anything :)

Utah Vs. TCU

2010-11-07T15:19:00.000-08:00

This year Utah was ranked at 5 and TCU was ranked at 3. So going into this football game we all figured it would be a pretty good game. Well I still love my utes but we got our butts handed to us. Final score was 7 to 47 - OUCH! but it is ok....I will survive - i have more in my life than football. Here are some pictures from the game :)

Man Cave

2010-10-31T16:53:00.000-07:00

So my new church ward in Kaysville - Bair Canyon Ward, is awesome! all the people here are wonderful. I already have so many new friends. Tons of crazy stuff going on. Every party we have and sunday night movie night is held at the "Man Cave." It is a house in kaysville where 4 single guys live and they call it the man cave. PS 3, Rock band, Movie room, tons of games - oh and fun and food! :) Here are just some pictures of us hanging out!
Movie nights usually consist of disney movies and games - like What If and Werewolf.

Halloween Party! :) SOOO FUN!

Halloween Day at Dance

2010-10-30T16:47:00.000-07:00

Halloween Day at the U!
Friday before Halloween, we all dress up, go to ballet and make up dances! It was classic this year!

Emily, Me, Kat and Taryn - heading to Melissa's Apartment after ballet

Walking!! :) I LOVE TIHS PICTURE

Meliss and I

32's with Calvin!

Jumping - attempt! we got good ones but on Taryn's camera

Eryn, I, Holly and Haley

Dorothy Beating the Witch

Taryn, Kat, Me Hannah and Ellie

Me and Calvin

Dance

2010-10-30T16:39:00.001-07:00

Just random dance moments with the girls-
Kat stepped on my ribbon on accident and then she wouldnt get off!!!!

just drinking some Sunny D

.

Alaska - 9 days, 1 million memories

2010-10-30T15:15:00.001-07:00

For all of my family cause I cannot make 10million phone calls – here is my Alaska trip:

All I can say is…..Somehow over 9 days I fell madly in love with a boy. A boy I would have never dreamed of falling this far and hard for. But I am loving every second of it.

Where to start - Before even leaving school I was scared to go to Alaska. I was scared of what it would be like – what I would feel. I swore to myself I would NEVER do a long distance relationship…I said they were so stupid. But from the first day we started getting serious I knew that this would not be a waste of my time. Yes we are dating but there is still that small doubt that things wouldn’t work out. I couldn’t help but worrying about that. The plane flight up there felt like death. 5 hours KICKED my butt, good thing I slept most of it. I did get a little bit of my homework done. As if my plane wasn’t late at night the way it is – it was delayed too. So instead of getting in at 12:30am I arrived at 1:30am,which is 3:30am Utah time. NOT a good combination for Alana who goes to bed at 11pm.

So the plane landed and immediately my heart dropped – all of the sudden it was real. Up until that point, it felt so surreal and I didn’t want to believe it. This was the last chance I had to run, the last chance I had to say I didn’t want it anymore. Hanging out with a GREAT friend instead of my “boyfriend” for a week couldn’t be too bad. But I didn’t run – and I am sure glad I didn’t. As I walked towards the baggage claim I am sure I looked like a zombie – in fact Tom told me I looked exhausted (I had been sleeping on the plane). But sure enough I saw the face of my best friend just glowing in excitement to see me. As we got closer, as much as I wanted to run and jump, I had NO energy to run to him. He met me half way and right there he handed me a rose and kissed me – our first official real kiss as a couple. His roommate, TOM (whom I call RT for Roommate Tom), was there also. I guess Tom likes to set me up and surprise me a lot. He made sure RT was there to get a picture of our first kiss.
We went and got my bags and headed to the truck. He opened my door and everything for me. We drove about 20 minutes to the Elmendorf Air Force Base. Everyone on base was so considerate. Everyone I met would have taken a bullet for his or her best friend or for a stranger alike. The temperature was not too bad, a little chilly especially going from 80 degree Utah to 30 degree Alaska. We got to his dorm building and we added the rose he gave me to the vase of daisies on the table for me.

At about 2pm Saturday when I woke up, I decided I wanted to play Country Rock Band. So sure enough I did. Then at about 3 I finally got enough motivation to go take a shower and get ready for the day (which was ironically almost over). We ate Subway for lunch and joked about old times. Tom took me out to Ship Creek,

which was right on the coast of the ocean and right off base. We sat there in a while in his truck just listening to country music and looking out on the AMAZING scenery. After we left Ship Creek he showed me around base and we headed back to the dorm. That night we went and saw Jay Leno. So fun!!! Pretty Much awesome. And the more time I got to spend with him the better I was.

Sunday – Tom went and got breakfast/Lunch from Chow Hall. I was honestly ok with ANY food as long as it was not a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. After we ate and I got ready for the day, we decided we were going to have tacos for dinner which meant we had to head to the store. So tom and I had an adventure running through the Commissary to get all the stuff for tacos. Sunday we didn’t really do anything. But doing nothing this week – was like doing EVERYTHING. Just being able to sit there with him and not worry about going anywhere or having to make it on time to something was one of the best gifts he could have given.

Monday again was a very lazy day – he showed me around more of base and patiently kept answering all my questions, which I pounded him with. Some things I just don’t understand and thank goodness he was willing to answer everything for me and he was patient with my attention span. He had the patience with me every time I said “Look an airplane! – what kind is that?” or “Baby – what is that building?” Monday was the first day he took me out to see the sunset. We went to Six Mile, which is on base. It was GORGEOUS! Talk about watching a sunset at the ocean with mountains in the back. I couldn’t replace that moment even if I wanted to.

He had gotten off work that whole week anyways (well except for twice, but that was ok cause then I could see him in his uniform).

He decided we were just going go drive and find pretty stuff. Which is what we did. We went down to Kenai and watched the Kenai River for a little bit. We were sitting in his truck cause it was cold outside. We did get out of his truck a few times and I went out to the river barefoot. It was soo cold but felt so good. It felt so real being around him – I could be myself and I stopped worrying about anything!

Tuesday – We didn’t do much on Tuesday. We had to go assist one of his friends who was changing bases. So we had to go with him to send his car off and then Tom let him use his truck the rest of the week. We used his friend Row’s car. Row wasn’t going to drive it anyways – he got a DUI and so he had a breathalyzer installed in his car – it was quite funny lets not lie. But from this point on we had the Focus and not Tom’s truck. We went on a motorcycle ride on his “Ninja” - ☺ enough said

In the morning Tom had to get up at like 6 – It was all good for me cause I got to sleep. He got back around 10:30ish and I was still sleeping. I heard him come in the door so I thought to myself – oh he will come kiss me and it will all be good. WELL he had been working outside for 3 ½ hours and he was like ice. He grabbed my arms with his ice cold hands and kissed me with his ice cold lips. I think I shot in the air about 3 feet. NOT what I was expecting. After I was ready for the day we headed out for him to show me more of base. He showed me a crap load of airplanes and I made sure he was the designated photographer for me to make sure I got pictures – cause I would have forgotten.

(I am not putting all 50 pictures of airplanes on!)

He showed me some bald eagles also. We headed over to the Richardson Army Base, which is connected to the Air Force base and we decided to go on a little hike. So we went and played by this little pond and started to hike up a mountain.

We went back to the car after a while cause I was frozen – andwe headed to lunch/dinner. We went to just this little diner in Anchorage and it was Delicious!!!! The name of the diner was Lucky Wishbones – and it was good! After food we went to play at a park – yes PLAY at a park. It was not a big park but fun enough to act like kids. There were large cement whales and dolphin.

After the park Tom took me out to Earthquake Park – doesn’t that make you feel safe. We went out to the ocean right before sunset and then walked down this hill to the beach. We went down there and watched airplanes fly over the ledge and we watched as the sun sink on another wonderful day. While we were there I started looking at rocks – I picked up a rock and told him I wanted him to keep it. So we took this rock and started walking up the hill. He cracked another joke about “Penguins” and about giving a rock to the girl you love – that kid!

Thursday – When we woke up my loving boyfriend - who had been getting me breakfast every morning, took me to applebees for lunch. It was actually a goodbye lunch for one of the guys he works with. Once we got back from lunch he put on his uniform for me so I could take pictures! ☺ So we took lots of pictures and had a good time with the self timer.

Then we headed to the mall. On the way to the mall – we went by the “Hobby Shop” He took the rock we found the night before and decided to get it laser engraved for me. So we dropped the rock off and continued on our way. We were going to go ice skating on an indoor ice rink but they were only open for another 30 mins so we decided to go bowling instead. Well I informed tom I sucked at bowling – but I think he thought I was lying because I played a pretty good first game. Well the second and third games – HAHA enough said! After we bowled we went to dinner at the Round Table Pizza. They were delicious. Tom and I got baby cups and when we were done eating we took the cups with us. We were walking around the mall holding baby cups and holding hands – one of the many priceless moments I wouldn’t trade for a million dollars.

(Bowling)

After bowling I was pretty tired, my ankle was really sore and Tom had to run into work anyways to fix his leave papers. So while Tom was at work I sat with my foot in a bucket of ice and I played Guitar Hero – oh I also uploaded some pictures online with my free time. He left around 7pm and got back around 9pm.

Friday –
We woke up around 12 and we were going to go to the glacier but we couldn’t because at 2 we had to pick up Row – because he couldn’t drive – and we had to take his car in to have the breathalyzer calibrated. So we kind of stuck around anchorage. After we got the car taken care of we dropped Row off and headed to the clothing store. Because when Tom put on his uniform I fell in love with his hat! He told me I could take it and he would go buy another one. We went to Red Robin for dinner. Again delicious – I am going to miss eating out! After Red Robin I requested a stop by walmart – just because I love walking around Walmart – so we did. After productively walking around Walmart we went back to base and watched another sunset together – the last one we would watch together. I forgot my camera this night and we saw 3 moose – of course I would forget it! That is something I would do but it was still gorgeous.

Saturday – sweetest day (which I thought he was lying about) – Tom Had to run into work again cause he only took leave through Friday and wasn’t supposed to work Saturday but I guess they for some reason wanted everyone at work. So I got to sleep from 7 – 12 when till he got back. When he got back I was already awake and showered – I only woke up around 11:30 but I couldn’t sleep any longer. We headed to the hobby shop to get our rock that was finished.

We picked up our rock and it was like 3pm – and we decided to head to the glacier. It was about a 2 hour drive to get there – it’s a good thing I don’t have a problem with long drives. We had a great time just laughing with each other and singing AWESOME duets. ;) On the way there we stopped at a “Scenic View” and we got out so I could take a picture – on the way back down from this place we decided to skip! I felt sooo childish but I felt soo good and soo right! We just held hands and skipped down the ramp – thank goodness I did not wipe out. Once we got there, The glacier was gorgeous. We headed down to a river and walked on ice, build a rock tower and soo much more. After Tom built his rock tower. He set up another one a few feet away. When I asked him why he took the camera put it on the rock and said “look we have a place to self timer it” – I have already started training that boy!

Sunday –
Oh Sunday! I got up – reluctantly, showered finished packing and we left base at 7:20am – it felt sooo early. Got to the airport and I got all checked in – we sat outside of security for as long as I could until I had to go.

Alaska was one of the best weeks of my life.

Quote of the week:

"Every road has its bumps and turns - but as long as it gets you where you need to go....its perfect. I love you” – Thomas William Gatzke

Princess Dance Day

2010-10-30T14:55:00.000-07:00

Melissa and I as Cinderella

Ellie and I

This day - just like "calvin's kittens day" we have a theme... We decided to do a Disney Princess dance day....enough said :)
I miss Calvin!!

Showcase

2010-10-04T15:02:00.000-07:00

Taryn and I- and our many adventures

My 3rd college showcase is done! Thank goodness. I was in a latin piece. It was a good time! It kept me crazy busy and im glad to finally have my nights free. The week of showcase, I was literally at the dance building from 12-9 every night! between tech, lighting, spacing, dress rehearsals, and the 4 shows. It was the longest week of my life. Taryn and Elissa were in the dance right before mine - and mine closed the show. So we had to be there 2 hours before the show started for call. After we got our make up and hair done we just hung out - we watched lots of movies! soo much fun! then we went out on the roof and we took pictures. It was a long week and I am glad its over.
Taryn - the awesome, got engaged during showcase too. I am so happy for her! Her and her fiance are SOOO cute together!

Just peeking through the arm of my costume

Elissa! :)

Taryn!

Glittering / violating hannah!

"warming up" haha

Exiting through the Ninja exit! :)

Calvin's Kittens

2010-10-04T08:33:00.000-07:00

So this is the last week we have Calvin Kitten as our ballet teacher. He has been an awesome teacher and I have grown so much! Generally we have to wear black leotards and pink tights.Calvin got sick of that so he started to give us theme days...therefore meaning we could wear whatever we wanted - it just had to have a theme. We decided one day (secretly) to be Calvin's Kittens! It was a fun day.

Studying

2010-10-03T16:55:00.000-07:00

to study: verb meaning to have the WORST ADD in the world. and Not actually learn anything you are supposed to!

Relief Society

2010-10-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

Relief Society General Broadcast.
1) i have never been to a meeting in the conference center
2) i went with some AMAZING friends
3) i got the ticket from my ward
4) ONE OF THE BEST EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE!

Courtney, Vanessa and I

Addiction & Work

2010-09-23T21:42:00.000-07:00

√ I have been sooo addicted lately to 2 things - that I can think of now.
Slurpees: I am screwed because there is a 7/11 RIGHT around the corner from my house :/ It takes everything in my not to stop every day!

Taco Bell: Because there is one right on 400 South as I am heading home from school. I always wanna stop and they are sooo cheap too! I just have to keep reminding myself
1) i am trying to get skinny
2) i DONT have money!!!!

√ I also have a job now. I am teaching at a studio called "Elite Dance Force". They are a competition studio, which is nice cause that is what I grew up in. I really have a great time with the girls! I will hopefully post a video of their dance soon - it is SOOOO cute! I teach one night a week for 4 hours. I am choreographing the competition lyrical dances for the middle group, and younger group. The middle group is doing BEEN TOO LONG - by Emmy Rossum. They younger are doing CINDERELLA my Steven Chapman. They are all working really hard! I cant wait. This will be the younger girls first year doing a lyrical piece in competition. So we will see how it goes!

√ I also had an interview for being a Jazz teacher at Excel Dance Studio. This place is a little closer to my home. But she LOVED me and I will 95% sure I will be working there also. I am so excited. I am glad I get to work with little kids. They are like my stress reliever. I get to go to class and "play" with little kids and they bring me into their world of child humor and it makes me smile.

√ Britt and Katie have been very accommodating with me. They have been great!!! I have loved being around them and helping out with things. It makes me feel like I have a family out here!

√ School has been wearing me out like CRAZY!!! I have been so tired. and my body just wants to die! I have however, which is completely not Alana, been wearing a hot pink leotard to ballet class... I have worn it twice. I don't think I have EVER worn a colored leotard if it wasn't a costume! haha but I guess change is inevitable.

√ For my Child Lit class we are reading this novel:

It is killing me! I think it is so boring. So in order to movivate myself to read it, I reward myself with ice cream or a cookie once I read my assigned chapters. Sometimes I feel like a little kid. But I like it that way.

√ Nutcracker results were posted. I got Dew Drop Fairy. I am excited. I love Nutcracker. I was so sad when I didn't get to do it last year - it just didn't seem like Christmas. Well this one will at least feel a little more like Christmas! :)

That is my life in a nutshell :)

Thankful

2010-09-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

I have been taking lots of things for advantage recently. This morning I started to think of all things I am thankful for.

MY FAMILY - They have been so supportive of me!

FRIENDS - My friend have been a great source of strength for me. Through thick and thin.
I have my friends back home - whom I miss dearly

And I have my friends at school - whom I see every day! :)

STARS! - who doesnt love a nice summer night laying outside staring up at the stars?? It is a great time to just sit and think.

NOODLES! - my favorite food! :) I can never get enough of them!

HOT TUB! - I miss my hot tub back home. Especially days like today when I am crazy sore from ballet!

FLOWERS - flowers are smell pretty and look pretty! Who cant love flowers!?

SKYPE - This keeps me in contact with all my friends!

WATER - when was the last time you were thankful for the clean water coming out of the faucet??

TRUCKS - My country girl side will never die! :) I will forever want this truck!

STORMS - Some people hate them...i LOVE THEM! They never really happen out here in Utah. and so I love them every time they happen.

LAKE MICHIGAN - I miss it! I love hanging out at it all summer. I have good memories I have made at this particular lighthouse! :)

ICE CREAM - This is my lifesaver. Ice cream saves me when ever I have bad days!

SUNSET - I am soo grateful for sunsets! They are gorgeous and they are always a great end to the day.

MOUNTAINS! - I love mountains. I dont have them at home but have them at school. and I love them! :)

RAIN - I am a sucker for rain. So it kinda sucks living in a desert.

The Church - It means alot to me, even if sometimes I never wanna go!

SCHOOL! - GO UTES! One of the best decisions of my life.

DANCE - Without dance, i would be 1342 lbs and Lazy!!! I am still lazy but dance keeps me in shape. Dance is my Anti-Drug.

NICHOLAS SPARKS BOOKS - These books keep my busy over summer when I have nothing to do! I love his books!

My AMAZING BOYFRIEND - he makes me want to be a better person. He always shows me care and compassion and takes the best care of me that he can while being so far away. only 17 days until I get to see him.

COUNTRY MUSIC - I dont know where I would be without contry music. It completes my life!

Here are only a few things - This semester is almost half over. WHICH IS CRAZY!!! I cannot believe it has been that long already! Lets hope sophomore year keeps going fast!

Saturday :)

2010-09-18T17:51:00.000-07:00

So this weekend is off to a great start! :)
This morning I woke up - and a old guy was at the door holding a vase of White and Yellow Daisies (My favorite flowers) and red roses. He simply said "You are one lucky girl!" and handed me the flowers. My awesome boyfriend sent me flowers! They were part of the Alaska Surprise:) <3

Then We had nutcracker auditions. They were scheduled 2-4:30. Kat, Shalina, and I went together. We met up with Kelli once we were there. But anyways - we were there from 1-5 :/ soo long and sooo hottt!!!!! the studios were like saunas and it was just a very hard to understand audition. But it ended up ok. We will know casting tomorrow night! I just am excited to do nutcracker - cause in my opinion Christmas isn't Christmas without a nutcracker. Last year I didn't do nutcracker and it was soo weird! So hopefully I can fit it into my schedule! I really hope so.

That has been my Saturday thus far...lets hope that the rest of my night goes good!

Boy

2010-09-18T17:37:00.000-07:00

So I know in an earlier post I simply said "I have a boyfriend now" - and now that I can I am going to elaborate! :) (ill make it a short condensed story)

Tom and I have known each other for around 4 years now. We first met in a lifeguard training class over spring break that my mother taught. I was a nice daughter and helped her out every spring break. Which was when I met Tom. I was 16, he was 17 and a typical high school boy - need i say more?
I certainly didnt think I would ever see him again but he ended up being a lifeguard where I also guarded. Our schedules were the same for about a year and a half 2 years - maybe? We worked Mon- Fri 7:30am - 1pm. So we got to know each other really good and became really good friends. He had asked me out on quite a few dates - and i kindly (well i was a jerk) declined them all. SORRY!!!! But then Tom then left for the air force. I saw him about a while later when he stopped into work and said he was going to Alaska. So needless to say I didnt see him again.
Freshman year of school came and we skyped a lot cause we would always happen to be online at the same time - and we usually kept me busy on nights where I wanted to procrastinate on my homework. This past summer, We were both home for a little bit and his leave and my summer "vacation" overlapped - so HE decided to make an effort to hang out with me. (I didnt know he was home till he called me) So we hung out a few nights - Online class homework nights, Lighthouse trips, motorcycle rides - just random stuff.
Back to my SHORT story. on August 23 Tom asked me to be his girlfriend. Yes we are doing this long distance thing, but I think personally it is working ok for me because in a relationship it HAS to be more than just lust. Guaranteed I miss him - but Ill get to see him soon (I am getting to that part)
As most people know, Tom has been planning this Secret Mission. Him and I would talk for hours on skype. I think our longest time was 9 hours :/ But he planned this mission and we wouldn't tell me what it was. I kept trying to be persistent and have him tell me but he wouldn't. Which is hard for me because I am always able to get secrets out of people. I HATE SECRETS! and so I hated that he could keep secrets from me. Well finally on Sept 15 - a date we both decided - he told me this plan. He surprised me with a plane ticket to Alaska to visit him over the week long break of school I have in October. I WAS SOOOOO EXCITED!!!! :D I called all my good friends cause I was so stoked! So needless to say I am going to Alaska to see my boyfriend on Oct 8 and coming back on the 17.
I promise I will take lots of pictures! I am soo happy that I have Tom. Yea its hard being away from each other, but I am satisfied with how it is working out - its working all too smoothly!

More Football

2010-09-18T17:32:00.000-07:00

*I will admit* I knew nothing about football before coming to college - but I am very proud of what i know now! I have learned lots and of course I have LOTS of fun at the games with my friends! I love them all. Here are pictures from our second home game this season!

Jackie and I

OK - so dont judge. we are ballet majors. We can't go to football games and not do a dance pose - ALSO PLEASE NOTICE the sign to the right of Melissa says "Please no standing on the railing" oppsssss

Surprise

2010-09-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

Monday - oh anyone who knows me knows just how much I LOVE mondays! :( and if you know me well enough you know that was 100% sarcasm. I hate Mondays - I always have and probably always will. Well this past Monday I had school 7:45 - 3. Then I drove an hour north to Ogden to teach dance from 4-8:30. Then drove 20 mins back south to get back to my place. Once I got home I was physically, mentally and emotionally drained. I walked in my room to find 2 boxes on my bed. One from my mommy - one from my sister Shana. So I opened then and followed the directions. My moms had my water bottle (which I left at home), my U of U sweatshirt (which I also left at home), and then it had a tupperware container of cookies - chewy ginger cookies! :) my favorite.
For my sisters the directions were to dump it out on my bed which I did and I got a huge surprise (which I kinda expected - but i figured I would humor my niece). It will filled with lots of random stuff - it was all however tied together through a note. and I loved every second of it.
So to wrap it up...I think that this past Monday was one of the best Mondays I have had in a long time.