A Glimpse of Spearfish

Today starts my new addition to this blog: posting a picture from my summer in Spearfish on Fridays.

At the very beginning of the summer my uncle, John sent me a text saying I was having the summer dreams were made of. He said this on what was probably my fourth day there but he was absolutely right. I loved my job, was able to spend an entire summer with my grandparents and Jackie and John just like when I was little and Brytten and I would spend all of our summers out there. Spearfish is my favorite place in the whole world and I think I really made the most of being there.

Spearfish Creek

In a Viking State of Mind

I absolutely realize that this post is ridiculously late but if you will remember from my ridiculously late post about my backpacking trip through the Bighorns, I feel overwhelmed when about to write about an amazing experience!

Here we go!

Viking Days was everything I thought it would be in more. I was involved in absolutely every aspect of that week from all the events we had planned for the Viking Days Committee that I co-chaired to the game in which dance team performed twice and six performances of Viking Varieties. Needless to say it was kind of a crazy week but most of my weeks tend to shape that way.

I am fairly sure I was beaming the entire week because of my sheer joy and love for Augie. I truly can't imagine going anywhere else and am proud that I will always be a Viking!

When my co-chair and I were at Kaladi's picking up coffee for our committee members we me one of my idols: Tom Brokaw!!! My mom took this picture and thinks she captured my giddiness over meeting Mr. Brokaw

John, Jackie, Finn, and Scout came out for the festivities and Jackie bought Augie shirts for the doggies to don to show their school pride!

Jackie and Scout waiting for the parade!

In my Dignitary Car!

Just a tad nerdy and extremely excited!

Me and Kaycee, my first friend at Augie about to perform during the Homecoming Football Game

Some "Lady Liberties" of the Viking Days Committee

Me and Jackie. She was crowned Homecoming Queen and it was my favorite moment at Augie thus far!

Whitney and I after completely our tradition of racing each other on the inflatables!

Two of my current girls enjoying the festivities of Homecoming Week!

Matt and I about to spar!

Mariya and I at the beginning of the week!

Matt, Jackie (the future queen) and I 

Me and Molly-Olly

Me and Carl, a true Viking

Me and Sonora 

Jackie the Queen, Carl and I 

Chris, Queen Jackie, and I 

My current Solberg Staff shortly before Jackie overtook the throne 

This is your queen, Augustana!

Last picture before she became the Ruler of Augustana 

The four of us celebrating Jackie's Queendom

Kaycee and I in our Lady Gaga gear for Viking Varieties 

Katie, Deann and I in our very different outfits for Viking Varieties 

Kaycee and I 

Mariya and I 

Kristina, my co-chair, and I during the Parade

Me and Lady Liberty 

Three Vikings

I was uber excited to be in a parade!

John snuck backstage and captured this lovely image!

Oh-Maha!

Yesterday I took full advantage of having four wheels to my name and road-tripped down to Omaha for the day to visit Ashleigh, one of my last-year-girls who now attends UN-Omaha and Rachel, one of my best friends from high school who attends Creighton. Besides for my little detour through Iowa when I got slightly lost - which turned out to be quite lovely because I found myself on a picturesque back highway lined with fall colors- the drive was quite relaxing. I had a little jam session and dance party with myself the entire way.

When I finally got into Omaha I had a coffee date with Ashleigh at the "half-Scooters, half-bank" in Old Market. I then had awesome sushi with Rachel at Blue also in Old Market. We sat in black leather couches and everything and I had one of my favorite things ever (!) - green tea ice cream.

I had originally expected to have all sorts of time in Omaha but instead I spent more time with Ashleigh and Rachel thus I didn't get any pictures taken for this blog and didn't purchase anything to show pictures of, which was probably a blessing on my bank account. However, I have some pictures from another trip to Omaha from a couple years ago that show why I love that area so much!

Fall Hiking

I naturally go a little stir crazy but this semester has been even worse because of my crazy busy schedule and the fact that I was so active and always outside during the summer.

Thus, it was a huge relief that today Carl and I went hiking at the Palisades. Crunching on leaves is good for the soul, I have decided.

Mountain Man 

It was a beautiful day and perfect for a hike and smell all of Fall's smells. On that note, my car may now permanently smell like coffee because of the almost entire cup that spilled on the floor of my passenger seat. But, really what else would I want my car to smell like?

Sanna Night

Last night was joyful bliss. It was my much-hyped-up Sanna Night and was absolutely delightful. I had grapes, a large Chai, gummy hamburgers, popcorn, Glamour magazine, face pampering scrubs, and movies to watch with my Mamacita. And then I slept without an alarm set for the first time in nearly three months!

I had to instruct freshman boys to erase male anatomical drawings from white boards but that didn't deter from my wonderful night!

The making's of a Sanna Night

Girly-ness at 5 and 20

Tonight I was hanging out with my cousins, and my five-year-old cousin, Camille took me up to her room to show me her Katy Perry costume for Halloween. She then showed me her "treasure chest" of sorts that sits on her bedside table. In it is a collection of jewelry including what she is most proud of: her mood bracelet that has a 'moody' heart on rainbow-colored strands.

She then showed me her baby bracelet and said when she gets married she will make it bigger. This of course made me cry along with the realization that next year will be big milestones for both us: she will be in kindergarten and I will be a senior in college! I then asked her what about when I get married and she said, "I will come visit you because you will give me directions!"

A 5 Dollar Purchase to Keep Me Sane

I have started a new thing this year to keep feeling like myself through all the big stressors of college. Every other Thursday when I get paid I go to World Market and pick out either a $5 pair of earrings or a $5 bracelet. Just being in the story adds some zen and then I have a new bauble for my Friday. Lovely.