Temple Square

Yesterday, my family went to Temple Square and the Conference Center. We got to go on a tour of the Conference Center and even got to go on the roof! The roof was pretty cool! {You'll see it in the photos}

However, Temple Square holds special meaning to me. 

See this building right here?

Well, see that window on the far left that is on the 3rd floor {so the second window up that you can see}? That is my grandparent's old condo. For as long as I can remember, my grandparents lived there. It is directly across the street from Temple Square. 

I have so many fun memories at this location-- going with my cousins over to the park across the street and play games or walk around, getting stuck in my pants, taking naps, watching the motorcycles drive by, listening to the chirping noise that crosswalk signals make, the white carpet, the distinct smell, all the receptions and reunions, swimming in the pool, occasionally running into the prophet or one of the apostles, going through the underground tunnels, etc.

However, one of my memories that stands out is always watching Temple Square. I remember always trying to sleep by the glass doors on the balcony so that I could watch the Temple at night. There was a pair of binoculars that my Grandma kept by her magazines, and my sisters and I would always take turns looking at the brides when they would come out of the temple. I remember analyzing their dresses, the groom, the poses they used in their pictures, etc. One thing that I will always remember is the glowing look on all of their faces. They were always smiling or laughing. I absolutely loved watching it!

For this reason, I want to get married in this temple when it is my turn. I just love the significance this place holds in my heart, as well as the memories that it brings back to my mind each time I visit. 

Here are a lot of photos from our trip! Enjoy! 

I wanted so badly to get a jumping one, but we waited for a long time for these four people to leave, and they never did, so next time I visit, you can all expect I get a jumping photo that will be recreated at my wedding. Hahahahaha :)

One of My Greatest Weaknesses

One of my many weaknesses is definitely my competitive side. 

I will be the first to admit it, that is definitely something that I need to work on.

It's pretty ridiculous, actually, how competitive I am. 

I hate losing, but I mean, I don't know anyone who likes losing.

But, ya know what I hate more than losing? 

Losing to someone who didn't really win fair and square---either by them cheating or chickening out and not facing me like a MAN, or in this case, a woMAN.

I am so bitter about this. Like I said, this is a major weakness of mine. 

Here's what happened:

I was invited to be on an intramural dodgeball team with my friends and their cousins and friends. Of course, I said yes! So, we were pretty beast. 

We played two games every week, and every week, we would win one and lose one. We lost to this beast team that we seemed to play every dang time. They were the girls Rugby team {which I plan on trying out for because I think it would be super cool}, so obviously, they were way good.

As the season progressed, my team improved leaps and bounds. Then, it came tournament time, and we were ranked number one in our bracket. I though we totally had this in the bag. 

Last night was the entire tournament. Because of our high ranking, we automatically had a seat in the second round. We played against a team called the Educators for the second round and beat them, putting us automatically in the championship. 

I could literally already picture myself in the sexy champion shirt I was going to be wearing out of the Smith Fieldhouse that night.

Then, it came time for the championship.

Here is a little background on the rules that you need to know to understand my frustration.

#1: The winner is determined by whoever wins the best out of seven games.

#2: There is a time limit of either three or four minutes to each game. If the buzzer goes off and the game is still going, the win goes to whoever has the most members still in. If the number happens to be equal, there is a really complex set of rules in an overtime.

#3: There are a total of six balls in play. If one team has all six balls, they can only have the balls for five whole seconds, then they must give the other team at least on of the ball. 

#4: Each team can have one timeout. For the timeout, the clock runs at least thirty seconds off of it.

Ok, rule #4 needs some freaking adjustment.

So, the first game starts. We win in overtime. Super stressful, but we pulled it off.

Second game, they win.

Third game, we win.

Fourth game, we win.

At this point, I am thinking, we can't lose. We just can't. We are ahead three wins to their one. I would like a t-shirt sized small please!

But, no. People. I can't believe this happened.

So, the other team had a stupid strategy. The moment that they had more players on the court than we did, they would call a timeout to run the time out. Then, they would hold all six balls for five seconds, and carefully ROLL THE BALL OVER THE LINE TO US SO THAT WE COULDN'T CATCH IT. 

Also with this strategy, it is super easy to dodge one ball, so it is impossible to get anyone out. 

Is that a way to chicken-out or what? Seriously. It makes me so mad. 

They did this to us three games in a row and ended up beating us. 

I would like to congratulate the other team on winning their game of chickenball. 

They can call it a win, but I call it stupid. The rules need to be altered so this can't happen. It isn't dodgeball. It's babyball. Grow up and face us like a woMAN next time. 

Ok, now that I have vented that out, I feel slightly better....and still super frustrated that it ended the way it did. I felt my team deserved it, and we were clearly better than they were. 

There's next year, though, right?

All in all, though, I had so much fun with my team! I made some awesome friends! I am so glad that I was on this team! I am going to miss the weekly game nights with them! Definitely some memories were made that I will cherish forever!

PUT ME IN COACH!

From left to right, it is Whitney, Claire, Jo, Lizzy, Karen, & I

Now, it is time to work on not being so competitive. I shouldn't let little things like this get to me the way I do. Hahahaha oh heavens. I have a lot to work on.