SUMMERFEST 2014

watching the fireworks after a fun day at the summerfest!

Every year since the summer before tenth grade I have been in the Summerfest parade with the Koffords for Cooper's Run! This year, I was luck enough to convince my friends and BF to do it with me. They were all a little skeptical about it at first, but by the end of the parade they were all saying how much fun it was.

Jaylee, Tycee, David, Davis, and I

*blurry selfie* riding in the float back to our cars.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had an amazing year because I know I sure did! I decided to hop on the bandwagon and take a look back at 2013. It was fun to go through all my photos and see what an great year 2013 was! Here are some of the highlights.

January

+ ODC half times

+ Watched the vibe show "Floored" at the Scera.

+ Hit my first 100 likes on Instagram

February

+ Had a Valentine for the first time

+ Lost my best friend, Sydney, to suicide

March

+ 18th birthday

+ California with Davis for ten days

+ Watched a lot of basketball

April

+ cuddled lots. (that's everyday)

+ Keys to Success assembly

+ Fun double dates to Nicklecade 

May

+ Graduated high school

+ ODC Spring concert-performed my first solo ever

+ Took Senior pictures

+ One Year Anniversary with Davis

June

+ Went to Lagoon

+ Davis got his diploma

+ Summerfest

+ Cooper's Run parade

+ Started teaching dance class at Dance Showcase Company

July

+ Davis' birthday

+ Laci's birthday

+ Went to the Hogle Zoo

+ Spent the Fourth of July at the Johnson Mill

August

+ Swiss Days

+ Made Davis get over his fear of snakes

September

+ cut my hair

+ BYU vs UT game

+ Louisa left on her mission

+ more Swiss Days fun

October

+ Halloween

+ My nephew Thomas was born

November

+ Thanksgiving with Davis' family

+ started to nanny for my cousin Tiffany

+ Jake left on his mission

+ My niece Ceni was born

December 

+ Christmas

+ New Years

+ Temple Square

+ Saw White Christmas with Davis' family

+ Hung out at the Johnson Mill

+ Winter cruises

+ my best friend Ellie left on her mission. 

2013 was definitely a year I won't forget, but I'm excited to see what 2014 has in store for me. 

COOPER

July 31, 2009 heaven gained this beautiful boy as an angel.

I am grateful that I had the opportunity to know this cute boy, even though it was only for a short time. The year of Coop's passing was the year I gained a best friend that I know will be in my life forever, no matter how far away or how much we talk or don't talk.

Just a few days ago, we hit the four year mark. It's crazy how much time has flown by. I am so grateful for this little boy, his older sister and his whole family. The Kofford's are the most amazing family I have ever met and I am so thankful that I am always welcome in their warm and loving home. Jana and Quinn have raised an amazing bunch of kids. Everyone who knows the Kofford's knows of all their amazing-ness. They set an amazing example to everyone who knows them or reads their story. 

Thank you Kofford family for everything you've done for me. I am so happy and grateful that I know you all. 

COOPER'S RUN///COOP'S SIS

This is Hunter and I couldn't be more grateful to have her as my friend. Although she thinks this picture is ugly, I love it so she gets to deal with it being on my blog :). I just wanted to take a second to say how much I love and look up to her. Hunter is such an amazing friend and example to me. She takes gorgeous pictures and is an amazing singer. She's pretty much perfect. (JK, but really...) We've been friends since eighth grade. She was the reason I decided to go to Orem High my Sophomore year (best decision i've ever made). She has a heart of gold and is always looking out for others, so selfless. She is always there for me and will be my best friend even if we go a few weeks without talking to or seeing each other. I am seriously so happy I met this girl and that she is apart of my life. I will miss her when she heads off to college in less than a month, but she is going to do AMAZING things. I have no doubt about it.

I love you Sis! Thanks for always being my friend and being an example to me.

COOPER'S RUN 2K13

my cute mom and i after the 5k

this morning i woke up and headed over to COOPER'S RUN. it is always so much fun and i look forward to it every year. this year, my beautiful mother ran the 5k. her goal was to beat her time from the last time she ran it and she did by SEVEN minutes! so proud of her for reaching her goal. 

my waffle on the left, laci's on the right.

i also got to try waffle love for the first time. the truck was at the run and there was no way to resist ordering a yummy treat. both mine and my sister's waffles were delicious. 

it was fun to spend the morning with this cute birthday girl!! today is my sister's twenty eighth birthday!! {post to come}.

i can't believe that cooper's run 2013 is already at it's end. i am so grateful that i get to be apart of something so great. i love cooper and i love that we get to spend every year remembering him at this event. 

STEEL DAYS PARADE///COOPER'S RUN

hunter and i after the parade

it's the time of year again where we get to walk out in the hot sun to promote cooper's run in the steel days parade. i've done eight parades now for cooper's run and it's always something that i look forward to. almost every parade, i get the job of handing out the otter pops. you would think that the kids would be the only ones acting like kids screaming for the otter pops... the adults are even worse. this time around, i didn't hand out otter pops. i got the job of helping pick some lucky children watching the parade to come and try to dunk someone in the dunk tank attached to the back of the float. it was a hoot to say the least.

anyways, cooper's run is next saturday, july 27th. (next saturday is also my lovely boyfriend's AND sister's birthdays yay). be sure to register online (at coopersrun.org) by TONIGHT to get a t-shirt, because you definitely want one. there is something fun for everyone to do so bring the whole family along. this isn't just for serious runners, it's a fun day for all. i can't wait to see you there. 

SUMMERFEST

this past weekend was the event that all orem residents live for, summerfest. i used to LOVE going to summerfest. i loved the zipper (and still do), it's the only ride i can have fun on without feeling sick. i don't really like the rides where you spin around in a million circles until you want to puke. that's pretty much all they offer other than the zipper. now that i have grown up a little bit,  i have realized that summerfest is where all the jr. high skanks come out and try and find a boy to make out with. sure, there is still some fun in the whole event and not everyone there is a "jr. high skank" but let's just say, it doesn't appeal to me much anymore. luckily, there are still a few activities that i find enjoyable at this festival.

every summer since ninth grade, i have had the opportunity to help the kofford's promote cooper's run in the summerfest parade. cooper's run is a 5k/fun run to show respect and gratitude to the ems, police officers, and fire fighters who were there the day of coop's passing.  i'm blessed to have met and known sweet little cooper and love being able to celebrate him! find out more about cooper's story and cooper's run at coopersrun.org. come participate; it isn't just for those serious runners, there is something fun for everyone to do!

 | ari | me | louisa | hunter  | 

after the parade, davis and i watched the annual firework show on the baseball fields. it was fun to grab a blanket and watch the pretty lights burst up in the sky with my main squeeze. it was also fun to try and take cool pictures with our phones of the fireworks. davis always beats me in the photography aspect but i did descent tonight.

photo credit to davis for the rest of these firework pictures.

over all it was a fun night at the summerfest. what is even better than summerfest is strawberry day's in pleasant grove. i am extremely excited for this next weekend. i am so ready to get myself a cup of some strawberries and cream. YUM. there's nothing better!