Mid-week update

We decided to drive home from Idaho Saturday afternoon to escape a snowstorm, and we were glad we did! We got in at 11:55 pm, so not even too late.

Monday-Renny got her wisdom teeth out!!

note the tea bag strings hanging out of her mouth to help with clotting. 

Onnie and I also frequented Icing on the Cake for one last cupcake before Mom and I started our healthy meal plan!

we found anders' present at whole foods!

Tuesday- working at the Dailey Method for classes in exchange. I was in charge of laundering all the resistance bands and baby powdering them...it was quite intensive work!

Wednesday (today)-I hiked the Dish and went to San Francisco with the Strongs!

In San Francisco:

fortune cookies being made!

buns the size of your face!

the Christmas tree at Neiman Marcus!

windows at Tiffany's

driving across the GG Bridge

the view across

the city! 

I wish everyone a happy new year! I can't believe it's 2015, 2014 flew by! Our plans for NYE tonight are to watch Mulan. Very exciting here at the Olson household!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

We arrived in Boise safe and sound on Tuesday, and had a wonderful Christmas today! Finally, a big picture update.

last minute Friday cell bio studying

insane nails on the flight home

oakland temple on saturday for onnie's
zion's choir performance!

gingerbread tragedy

snow for a white christmas! taken last night

christmas morning! the beloved japanese planner

mini fruitcakes

anders' snow angel

HOME for the holidays!

This blog update is for the dad. YES I'm finally home, done with finals! Tomorrow I'm off to get my license renewed at the DMV and get ready for our trip to Boise. I'm currently writing all my missionary friends. Good times.

I'm just happy to be home and have this break before the start of a new semester! Life is definitely exciting.

So close but so far....

Today was tough. I was trying to study all day, but I ended up covering part of Rachel's shift at work just as some drama happened (students and end-of-the-year grades...I can fully see both sides of the story to grading disputes now in a new light), so I didn't get that much studying done. Then I came home, had dinner, saw Danielle out because she was heading off to a work party, checked in for my flight, and hit the gym. I've also done my final laundry loads and remade my bed. Now it's review time and then I think I'll try and head up early to campus tomorrow for the final push before my final at 11 am (I'm not going in to work).

Whew! California here I come, in less than 24 hours!

ONE TO GO

My new strategy for studying: find an empty classroom and take full advantage of all the whiteboards. I did it on Monday for Spanish and today for Physiology and will probably do so again tomorrow and Friday for Cell Bio.

español

I found the saddest for sale notice in the JSB bathroom today. quel tragique.

it looks like a beautiful dress though!

physiology

complete with charts and graphs.

I don't think I pulled off the A-, so I'll have to take the B+. But I felt like I did the best I could, so that's satisfying. And on the way out some students from The Universe, BYU's newspaper, were passing out hot chocolate. Very thoughtful.

More free things: I picked up a cool book of Swedish poetry. The BYU Scandinavians group is really coming in handy!

it's translated to english so I actually know what's being said.

Tomorrow it's just work and prep for cell bio. I'm hoping to clean and pack too!

Three down two to go!

Too bad my last two are the hardest finals left! Physiology and Cell Biology. I can do this! Today was actually pretty sweet though, because I WON A STUFFED ANIMAL as a part of finals stress relief from the BYU Bookstore! Anders don't look!!!

me and pete. he's pretty cute and cuddly.

 Tonight I was able to have dinner with a wonderful family friend at the delicious Tucano's! I had never been before and it was great. Especially the mango cake for dessert!

So life really is pretty good. I just need to focus and get through work and two more finals and I'm all set! Here we go!

Two down, three to go!

Spanish and Student Development down! Tomorrow is English, which should hopefully be just fine, because I found out that I got a 94 on my big end-of-term analytical report so I need just a 70 on the final to keep an A! Wohoo!! And once that's done, it's more studying, because my last two finals are the ones I'm the most worried about-physiology and cell bio. Eeek!

Saturday studying....or more accurately, students dying

Well. Today was super productive, which was great. But the problem with being productive, especially in the morning, is that for the rest of the afternoon and/or evening you DON'T want to be productive because you've already been productive!

I'll just spell out my study schedule (mostly) for myself, but also in case you guys wanted to see what a finals week is like as a college student.

To prep for English: memorize worksheet on grammar. We already turned in our main analytical report last week.

To prep for physiology: make objectives study guide. Review old tests- know all answers and what other answer options mean.

To prep for cell bio: review topics-to-know powerpoint, then retake formative assessments. Also try sample data analysis problems.

To prep for Spanish: make study guide and memorize key points.

To prep for student development: nothing! hopefully it will be another service-type final like the midterm was (although I doubt it will ever be as cool as that midterm!

Actual finals schedule:

MONDAY- Spanish and Student Development
TUESDAY- English
WEDNESDAY- Physiology
THURSDAY-prep prep prep for
FRIDAY- Cell Bio from 11-2 and by 7:15 I will be on a plane homeward bound for CALIFORNIA!!!!

If you made it through this entire post, here's a pretty picture I took on my walk home from cell bio review:

it looks like we may get some winter before I leave!

Mt. Timpanogos Temple and Thai

Nothing like a night at the temple and thai food for dinner afterwards! Of course I was joined by my roomie. This is temple #2 in two weeks!

I wasn't quite this enthusiastic this morning, though...thanks to a 7 am physiology review, which was quite a bit earlier than I'm used to.

it was very dark.

dark again...but this time with some illumination!

thai dash in lindon=DELICIOUS

Tomorrow brings more studying and reviews. Woohoo for being home in exactly one week!!!

last day of classes: Fall 2014

LAST DAY OF CLASSES. Homework is all in. Papers are all in. Now it's finals prep time, BIG TIME. Starting tomorrow with a 7 am review, so this is short and sweet. But first, a silly selfie with the roomie (we are sooooooooooo done).

goodnight from your favorite girls in 204!

Slow and steady going

Today has been long, and I'm still going. My Spanish final paper is due tomorrow, as I continue to crank papers out! It was nice to have a break and see these familiar faces:

yay for Christmas cards!!!!

And more happy news from yesterday-I won a giveaway on Instagram!!! That's where I seem to have the best luck, I guess!

free wallet! hip hip hooray!

 And now it's back to my paper. Wish me luck that I'll stay strong through the week!!

Monday/is it break yet?

Although to be honest, today hasn't been bad at all.

Emails from my missionary buddies? Check.
Final English paper turned in? Check.
96 on Spanish exam? Check.
BYU ARC closing social planned and reminder emails sent? Check.
85 on Cell Bio formative assessment? IT'S A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.

So grateful for friends and family who keep supporting me even when life isn't this good! And only 11 more days 'til I'm back in the Bay!

It's a Wonderful Life

Tonight was a truly wonderful night! And life is wonderful! Shoutout to the Werner's for delicious dinner, picking me up to eat said delicious dinner, Dulce de Leche cheesecake for dessert, unexplained selfies, and Christmas movies and a devotional.

blue steel

I had never seen this movie before and it's probably my new favorite. so good!!!

Saturday

In two weeks I will be home! So so close but so far....

Today was great, though. Danielle and I went to the temple, then for my Christmas present we got manicures at a salon that's in the Wilk of BYU. Do you think I was able to capture a holiday look?

sparkly and red!

Then I had to practice piano because I'm playing in Sacrament meeting tomorrow. The church around the corner was having a ward Christmas party, so I was able to sneak into the Primary room and practice on a real piano in an actual church building! Amazing! Definitely took my practice time for granted back in California where not just pianos, but an organ was a quick stroll away...

Friday Night!

Last night I went up to Salt Lake with Rachel and Valerie from Spain Study Abroad, along with Shawn, Rachel's brother, to go see the Latino Christmas Concert at the Tabernacle in Temple Square! You can see a description of it here. I loved it! Once the concert was over we were able to walk around and see all of the lights. It was beautiful! We all had a great time and grabbed some hot chocolate for the ride home. New favorite flavors to try are White Hot Chocolate with raspberry and soy salted caramel. Delicious!!

there was a women's, children's, and men's choir

dancers and performers

a piñata! dale dale dale....

spain gang!

my hand looks a little disembodied...

I love this view!

a Japanese nativity for Chandler Shimai! 

in the joseph smith memorial building

from the 10th floor of the jsmb

zcmi (macy's) windows

hot chocolate! no better way to end the night.