Okay, I guess it is my turn.

Well, it has defiantly been a while since I have posted, so it is probably good I am posting now.   These past couple of months have been crazy and full of events.   

 

 In February my family and I moved from Highland to Cedar Hills, which is not very far away, but instead of owning a house we are just renting. 

 In March I had my big dance competition at the Marriott center.   My partner and I did very well.  We made a couple of semi-finals, and my team won first in both medleys.  It was a exciting week!!!!

 At the beginning of April I got a new dance partner and went to California to have lessons with professional ballroom coaches.  It was very warm and the lessons where amazing.

At the end of April I got to take a lesson from the Latin world champion, Riccardo Cocchi!   It was and amazing lesson and I learned so much.

And in June I am going to Hawaii for 10 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's Already Been A Year

Goodbye 2014. 

Looking back, I had such a wonderful year and enjoyed do many wonderful people, opportunities, and experiences!

I was thinking about the things I've learned from 2014 and I've learned a lot of of impacting lessons. 

-I've learned that you're happier when you love what you have, and not loathe on the things you don't

-I've learned that prayers are always answered, they may just be in random times and random ways

-You know that miracle stuff? Yeah, they really do happen 

-I've learned not to let the things that bug you, effect your happiness. Ignore them, because they probably won't go away.

-I've learned Heavenly Father knows us all personally and he knows what's best for us

-I've learned to stop. Stop and enjoy the special moments. Look around and enjoy life. They are more rare when you don't stop-- and more precious when you do. 

-I've learned to be grateful for the little things, don't become use to kindness, be grateful for it

-I've learned that moving on isn't a bad thing. If it's either moving on from a friendship, situation, or sin, even if it's painful, there's always something better that will come along. . . you just have to find it. 

-And lastly, even if you're moving on to something better, it doesn't make it any easier. 

2014 has been a grand ride. I've found that every year gets better, so lets see if that's the case. Thanks to everyone that has been a part of it. 

So with great warmth and excitement, welcome twenty-fifteen! 

Side note: Yes, I am very aware that 2014 was so last year and January is pretty much over. . . But, frankly, don't really care. 

I'm Still Alive, and Handsome as Ever

Yes.  Yes I am still alive.  Just really really really really really really...... you know what, you don't care how busy I am.
Aaaaaaaaanyway, it's time for my semi annual post.  If anybody out there still reads this, (hi, mom!) I'm apologizing for not posting for about three years.  And I'm not even sure if we have a word to wright about, so I'll just tell you a story.

This is the story about how I'm way to handsome for my own good.

Best picture I could find of me on short notice

It started last winter.  I was ice skating, (my second time ever!) with some friends.  I'm skating around, trying not to fall over (just kidding.  I was actually pretty good.)  (I like writing in parentheses!) and this girl accidentally on purpose "falls" into me.  I didn't even fall!  Here's the conversation.

Her: *slips into me*  "OH! I'm so sorry!

Me: *regaining balance*  "It's okay."  *keeps skating*

Her: *still skating by me*  "Are you Garren?"

Me: *reaching for my taser*  "Yes."

Her: *skating closer*  (I don't remember her name.  We'll call her Susan.)  "I'm Susan."

Me: *skating faster*  "Hi.  How'd you know my name?"

Her: *trying to keep up with me*  "Oh, I'm friends with her."  *points at one of my friends skating* (We'll call her Lexie, because that's her name.)

Me: *weaving in and out of crowds trying to lose her*  "Oh, cool."

Her: *bumping through people*  "So what classes do you have for school this year?"

Me: *realizing she wants to chat*  "Well, I have a blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah." (boring school stuff)

Her: *wobbling and (I'm not making this up) reaching for my hand* "Fun!"  (clearly she was't paying attention to what I was saying.  Because school definitely wasn't fun.)

Me: *achieving speeds of an Olympic speed skater* "Yeah, it's pretty fun."  (I'm such a lier.)

Me trying to escape

Her: *falling behind* "So how do you know Lexie?"

Me: *looking for an exit* "We go to the same homeschool group."

This goes on for a couple minutes.  Every 30 seconds or so her hand touches mine.  I finally skate over to my sister where she doesn't follow.  I find out later it was a dare from Lexie's bishop to skate around with a boy, and hold his hand.  If you did, you got five bucks.  I got out just in time.  I wish that was the last time something like that happened.  Unfortunately, I just keep getting more attractive.

Second part.  I was visiting my ward in Las Vegas, and it happened to be during Youth Conference. (I assume everybody who reads this blog ((hi, mom!)) is lds.)  So I went to Youth Conference.  Ton of fun!  Won't get into to much detail, cause that's not important.  Usually after Youth Conference there's a dance, right?  Instead we went roller skating.  Yeah, another skating story.

So I'm skating around, minding my own business, feeling lonely and whatnot, and I feel something.
Something on my hand.

Something grabbing my hand.

Someone grabbing my hand.

SOMEONE GRABBING MY HAND!!!!!!

Now, this is for the whole stake, and I'd been living out of the state for almost two years, so already I'm kind of scarred at who is holding my hand.  And it's the weird kind of hand holding.  The interlocking.  Like nothing will ever break us apart.  And that also shows that it's not an accident.

My life flashed before my eyes.  A single tear ran down my face.  In a split second, a couple things go through my mind.  "Do I know this girl?"  "Is this a girl?"  "Is this girl cute?"  And most importantly, "What the crap am I supposed to do!?!?!"

I few options come to my mind.

1. Slowly pull away and act as if this creep never grabbed my hand.

2. "STRANGER DANGER!!!!!"

3. Look her in the eyes with a face of absolute horror.

4. Trip her.

5. Squeeze her hand and continue skating.

I chose option 1.  Although stranger danger would be pretty fun come to think about it.  I was scarred to look back.  I covered up looking by spinning in a circle. I caught a glimpse of this girl. (Thank goodness, it was a girl.)  Luckily, she wasn't that cute.  Otherwise I would've kicked myself for not choosing option 5.  Throughout the rest of the night, she never looked at me again.

I've got more of these stories.  Not all happen while skating, but apparently that's when I look best.  I should mention that even though I seemed kind of freaked out in these stories, I'm not afraid of girls, nor do I mind holding a girls hand.  As long as they're not creepy about it.  But there's plenty of girls whose hand I'd be glad to hold! (Hi, mom!)

The new word? Likes and Dislikes. :)

 I am finally able to post.  I have been a little busy.  If you haven't noticed. :)

Likes:

#1  I love nature! Everything in nature amazes me!  I really enjoy sitting on the nice soft grass and I love the smell of rain.

#2 Ice cream!  Need I say more?

#3 I like trampolines even though I have sprained my ankle many many times.  All of which have happened on a trampoline.

#4 I love bright buildings!  Especially at night.  I really like Vegas because everything is very bright at night. I dislike darkness.

#5 I love the pool and I could spend hours in it!

#6 I love homemade bread.  My moms is my favorite.  It is healthy, tastes amazing, and is great for toast and sandwiches!












#7 I like flowers.  They are really pretty and smell amazing!  I love the different designs on each flower.

 #8 I love all animals!

#9  I love my family!  They are all amazing and I truly love them!

#10 I love rock climbing and repelling.  Super fun!

#11 I like water falls and fountains.

#12 I love the many temples we have here!

#13 I love my Shakespeare friends!  They are so awesome and I am sad shakespeare is over!  :(

#14 I love ballroom.  I enjoy doing it and I have the best time!

#15 I like to ski, but Kyla always teases me because I go a little slower than she does. :P

#16 I love riding horses!  It is so fun and I am sad that I can't do it as often as I would like too! :(

#17 I like bugs.  Not the big ones in other countries, but I do like spiders and many other harmless bugs that are just creepy.  

          Dislikes:

                                              #1 I do not like roller coasters or any high ride whatsoever.

#2  I dislike cold weather.  I like warm weather better.

#3  I dislike messy rooms or anything that is messy.

                                                                                

   #4  I dislike Nutella. 

                                                                            

#5  I don't like it when I am not included.

#6 I only like water.  No soda. 

#7 I dislike that I am so curious. 

#8  I DO NOT like being the third wheel!

And I hate it when people call me lazy!

  

Christmas Traditions

Well,  I am sorry I have not posted for awhile. I have been a little busy, but here is my families Christmas traditions.  Each year all the people that are over six in my family go skiing at Alt ski resort.  The only people who do not ski right now is my mom and Rayanna. We ski all day and then we drive home and have dinner or go out to dinner.
   Most of our Christmas dinners were at home and we would turn all the lights off and light candles, but know we are starting a new tradition. Going out to Red Iguana. After our lovely dinner we come home and open surprise balls.
   My Grandma Roylance makes the surprise balls.   They are wrapped in crape paper and you start from the top and pull!  As you pull toys and other fun things come out, but once you turn 12 you no longer get a surprise ball.  You just get a note with 15 dollars in it. Which is a great present too!  Another gift we open is new P.J's each year.
    Then we say goodbye to Winkie.  Each year we have this little elf called Winkie.  He arrives at our house at the beginning of December and each night does one mischievous thing. Then on Christmas eve Winkie goes back tho the north pole with Santa. ;)
   "Holiday Inn" is the movie we watch on Christmas eve.   It is a great movie!
After the movie we set out our stockings, put cookies and milk for Santa, 9 carrots for the Reindeer, a slice of cheese for Santa Mouse, and a note!  Then we check the Santa tracker. Read a story about Jesus Christ birth and then go to bed!

I received a ukulele this year, 2013.

This is the 8 snowmen we built the day before Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I am NOT A Slacker.

Actually, on second thought, I am. I am a total slacker, because who wants to write a blog post when they have other things to stress about? Not me. But spending five minutes to keep Garren happy is worth it. So this one's for you Garren.
Christmas is a great holiday! In that time of season everyone's trying to be nice, there are some really funny Christmas commercials, the house is all decorated and smelling like cinnamon, and lets not forget the endless supply of treats that you get from your neighbors. Best idea ever! We also have a few fun traditions.
-Every year we give out our famous salsa and we have found if we do it early in December, then we get even more treats.
-Every year my uncle comes down from San Francisco  and gives each of the grandchildren a present. This year I got a cinch sack and sweats.
-On Christmas Eve we always buy apple cider and celebrate before we go to bed.
-On Christmas morning the me, Maddie, (my sister) and Megan (my other sister) get up at five, go down stairs, open our stockings and then sleep on the couches while we wait for everyone else to get up.
Although Christmas is a lot of fun, it can also be really busy and really stressful. I never know what I want for Christmas so it's always a surprise. One of my favorite parts of Christmas time is the white elephant gifts. It's always fun to see what people come up with. So, that is a little bit about what my Christmas looks like.

Okay, So I'm a Slacker. Merry Christmas

As much as I'd like to, I don't have an excuse this time.  I'm not lazy!  Alright, I am.  I'm lazy!  I'm lazy!  I'm...


I've had many Christmases. 15, to be exact.  Two of which were White Christmases.  Cause, you see, in Las Vegas, Christmas looked a lot like this.

That's our Christmas Tree

In Utah, I've come to discover that Christmas looks like this.

That hit me kind of unexpectedly. 

Anyway, back to Christmas.  Best season in the history of ever!  Yes, better then the season of eating, and the season of going into a sugar coma.  You know what season we could do without?  January.  Who likes January?  Uh, nobody.  What's there to like?  Christmas is over!  Everyone hates everyone else.  

Anyway, back to Christmas.  Are family has mucho Christmas traditions.  I won't list them all, because I don't want this post to take forever.  A few: Going to see the lights on Temple square.  

We went this year.  It was around 10 thousand degrees below, but man!  Was it beautiful!  

We have our Christmas dinner on Christmas eve.  Every year all the kids sleep in the same room, and wake my parents up around 5 AM, and end up going to open presents around 7:30.  Also in Las Vegas we had a party at our house with our friends on Christmas night.  Yes.  In pajamas.  Christmas is the best!  But don't talk about it now.  It's January.  I hate you.