Valley of the Sun

Where I live, many people own homes in towns like McCall, Cascade, and Donnelly. They go every summer and spend time with their families there. It's what they've grown up with, a family tradition. With our family, though, we choose to go to Sun Valley. We rent our own condo and enjoy ourselves for a weekend or two. We swim, we bike, we hike, we golf, we eat, we walk, we shop, we do it all. This past weekend we had the opportunity to do just that.

Picture time!

That first Friday my mother and I went on a bike ride on the Trail Creek (seen here). Afterwards we rode along the golf course where we saw some HUGE houses. Pricey, too.

On Saturday we went golfing! I drove the cart, because I'd just embarrass myself if I tried. Thing is, though, I didn't look too good in the cart either. Let's just say I did some damage to the course. Ran over some trees, accidentally drove onto the green, crashed into a couple other carts, used my left foot for the brake and right for the gas, and when we were driving downhill I'd make gradual turns so I fell off the path a few times. I don't think I'll be getting my license...

Later that night we went to dinner at Rico's Pizza & Pasta. I wore mascara for the first time that night, so my mom took a picture of me modeling. Do I have potential? :)

The next day we went to church and then to the gondola where we rode up to the Roundhouse Restaurant and ate a tasty lunch. Then we rode up the Christmas Chairlift to the top of Mount Baldy and, of course, took pictures!

No comment?

I'll be retiring here someday.

♥ Abigail ♥

The Long Awaited

Finally.

The pictures you've all been waiting for.

PLAYA DEL CARMEN!

Sorry this was so delayed.

5 months delayed, to be precise.

The view from our little house.

Church! The dramatic walking scene.

Chichen Itza

Tulum

The cenote! (Underground river)

The 'rents after snorkeling. We swam over a shark!

The family in the town! And then there's me attempting the half smile and failing miserably.

Best time of my life. I'll be going back one day!

♥ Abigail ♥

When ya just don't have time.

Wasatch Golf Course in Midway, UT! I drove the cart.

One of my best friends Clara Wood. Met her at the BYU basketball camp, baby!

City Creek Mall with the cousins. Coolest place ever.

My mother and I on the 4th of July

I don't really know what's wrong with me. Every day I check the blog to see if I got any comments or visitors, and yet I don't even consider writing another post. What I should be doing right now is punching myself in the face and saying, "DUH!"

The rest of school and summer so far has gone well. Mexico was amazing, although I lost my tan after one week back home. Bummer. I finished school with a 4.0 GPA all year long. I currently hold the school record for the 100M dash: 12.8 seconds. Super slow compared to collegiate runners and Olympians, I know, but I'm proud! My club volleyball season ended successfully, and I am currently attending a competition camp for the club, trying to prove myself to hopefully be moved up to the 16s age group. But I shouldn't really talk about that; it's an undecided procedure.

These summer days have been lazy at times, but mostly filled with work. When last year I was travelling all over the country for my brother's successes, I'm at home going to basketball practice almost every morning at 9 as an only child. Tanner is off to college, and I am alone. When I don't have practice, I go to the church gym and practice with myself and the chairs acting as defenders. I've really been working hard in basketball after what I realized I could accomplish at the BYU camp I attended a few weeks ago. I guess I should tell you what all went on there, huh?

I'll make it short and sweet. Went to the camp in Provo where Tanner met me at the Smith Fieldhouse. Got all registered, went to orientation, got with my group of 13-year-olds. Went to the gym, participated in one drill, got moved up to 14s. Met a girl who is now one of my closest friends, Clara Wood. We partnered up for almost everything, and we did great. It's because of her that I did so well. She was the one that helped me improve and encouraged me to work as hard as possible. After dominating in a 2-on-2 tournament, my new favorite coach Melinda asked me if I wanted to move up to the high school division.

SAY WHAT?! This is what I'd been praying for since I first signed up for the camp! Of course I said yes, and I was moved to the upper gym. There were some amazing players from all over the country. It was a challenge, but I think I played to the best of my ability. I was able to meet up with the recruiting coach, and he told me something I would never expect to hear from a Division I college basketball coach.

"I'd like to see more of you."

I think I've died and gone to heaven. My mother was able to set things up, and by the end of the camp, I was an official recruit for BYU. At 13 years old. Shoot me now.

Since then, I have been playing basketball almost every single day. I'll be honest; I'm not gonna get up at 5 in the morning and go to the church gym to practice for three hours. Aww heck naw, I ain't doing that. If I had to, I would. But on my own schedule, I go to the gym at around 5ish and I spend all evening in there until my parents literally drag me out of that place. I end up eating dinner at around 9. I freaking love basketball. I'll do whatever it takes to get to the collegiate level. ANYTHING.

Aside from intense basketball workouts, conditioning at the high school, and volleyball camps, I've been mowing the lawn like a pro and enjoying time mostly with family. I've hung out with people a few times this year, but mostly I've been having "play dates" with my sister, Meredith. Since she rents an apartment in downtown, I go over there a lot and we go on bike rides around the town, eat Goody's ice cream, go on hikes, shop, basically everything you could possibly imagine. She is one of my best friends, and it helps that she's my sister!


Went to the orthodontist. He told me that I'm just starting my growth spurt and that I still have a couple inches to go. Could it just be that I'll reach 6 feet?! :O

I've been waiting for a text from a certain someone for over a month. Should I just give up and take a hint? Heh, no use putting my boyfriend problems on my blog.

I will try to update more often. No promises.

Good night, y'all,

♥ Abigail ♥