My Top 8 Classes at BYU

There are 8 classes I took while attending BYU that I would say "made" my college experience. So much that I would like to share them with you. 

These first three are my top 3 for anyone attending BYU- regardless of your major. Before you graduate, you HAVE to take these courses. 

1. Religion 341 - LDS History from 1805-1844 - Susan Easton Black
2. School of Family Life 210 - Human Development (really child development) - Larry J. Nelson
3. School of Family Life 100 - Strengthening Marriage and Family - Larry J. Nelson

REL 341 - I think Susan Easton Black knows more about Joseph Smith than any other living person. You will learn more in this course than you will ever be able to remember. So be sure to record each lecture because you'll want it later and she talks faster than anyone you've ever heard before! Plus, every person should know their church's history!

SFL 210 - If you plan on having children, having a knowledge of children's development is crucial. In addition to developmental milestones, you will learn about parenting techniques and about children's temperament. I feel this is a vital course for any parent. You will be glad you took this course- plus it's a GE!

SFL 100 - I feel this course is important for most of the same reasons above. This course is based off of The Family: A Proclamation to the World. I didn't think a whole class could be devoted to such a small passage of writing, however Dr. Nelson explores each topic with researched based information as well as church doctrine and teachings. AMAZING COURSE. You will learn how to create a home that will promote the most optimal environment for your children to make righteous decisions. 

For my major (Family Life with a Human Development emphasis- or for all SFL majors) these classes are where I learned the most, they were my favorite, and were most memorable (obviously in addition to my top 2 SFL courses above):

1. SFL 490 - Advanced Issues in Human Development - Larry J. Nelson (only teaches Winter semesters)
2. SFL 221 - Foundations of Developmentally Appropriate Practices - Dorie Haws
3. SFL 222 - Developmentally Appropriate Practices Practicum - Dorie Haws
4. SFL 333 - Adolescent Development - Laura Padilla-Walker
5. SFL 358 - Media, Family & Human Development - Sarah Coyne

SFL 490 - Everything you've learned in this major will all come together in this course. Dr. Nelson gets you to think critically about every aspect of a child's life that affects their development. By far my favorite time in my life yet because this class was so exciting to attend each time. You will be thinking about it nonstop!!! Can you tell that I'm a Larry J. fan?

SFL 221 - this class is a prerequisite to 222 (where all the magic comes together). You will realize that even though 4 year olds are pretty simple kids, they will require much more intentional thinking on your part. This course provides you with the knowledge that is crucial to understand in the next course. Know your stuff and the preschool experience will be much easier for you. Dorie is an insanely brilliant teacher. She knows how 4 year olds work like the back of her hand and all she wants is for you to succeed! I'm also a major Dorie fan!!!

SFL 222 - I wanted to include this class in my top 3 but understand it's probably pretty unrealistic for a non-sfl major to take 3 SFL courses. I feel every mom should take this class. You will learn how to talk to children, how to teach them effectively, and how to become an intentional teacher.  With a little understanding of how 4 year olds work and think, it just takes some practice and experience for you to be able to run a classroom and this gives you a bit of that. You are a teacher in the preschool working with those preschoolers every day. It is a BLAST!! 

SFL 333 - This course will take a TON of work. Probably the first class that I actually put hours in each day. But it was the most rewarding course I took up to that point in my college career. It is so doable too! She gives you the exam material so that you know what you should understand in this course. That's why you feel so rewarded at the end of the course- because she jam packs you with information and you actually remember it by the end. Several essay questions on each test but you have them before so you can prepare them for the exam. Laura is an incredible teacher! I was sad I didn't get to take her Moral Development course. You should probably take that as well!

SFL 358 - I was prejudging this class after the first day. I thought it would be nag nag nag the media is bad. It was NOT that. I loved the way Dr. Coyne incorporated the positive aspects of the media into the course. I also was blown away at how much I learned about the media in regard to each developmental age. I feel way more prepared to raise children in the midst of all this crazy media!!!!

it's been forever...

but let's get serious, i was never going to or will be a good blogger.
i view it mainly for myself, almost like a journal.
and people don't care about that.

but i have had some ideas that have been stirring up inside of me for a while.

like...

- my final semester at byu and the AWESOME opportunities i had.

- graduation

-my top classes i took at byu
(for the current byu student)

-my top family life classes i took at byu
(for the sfl major)

-and the crazy life we have going on right now.

• me, the biggest coug fan, at the university of utah? and not very impressed - but, i must say that i'm only judging that off of one class so far and if someone did that for some of the classes i took at byu, that wouldn't be fair... so... i'm trying to hold out for fall. but, i love volunteering at primary children's medical center and have loved getting a glimpse of what i'll be doing every day as a child life specialist.

• jeff, sending in secondary applications to medical schools all over the country. he's written like 50 pages of single spaced writing in the last two weeks - go him!  Interviews will be coming soon and I just can't handle all this excitement and anticipation! I think his fingernails are about to fall out and my stomach is going to die from butterflies.  Seriously, i'm stoked even writing about it. where are we going to go?!! i couldn't be prouder of jeff and his hard work, dedication, and perfectionism.  he is seriously unreal. 

a very tired medical school applicant
(this was after his initial application to all schools)

• me, trying to finish my one class that is keeping me from graduating from byu... yeah it's an online class and i really don't recommend those to anyone. I have 1 week to finish it... taking the midterm friday and the final next week. I'm dumb.

also, found out ali and jaycob will be living right next door to us (seriously a foot away) and i can't stop thinking about how i can cook dinner for all three of my little byu students and we can invite them over for sunday pancakes and how we can carpool to our parents' on sundays and having them in the ward and and and the list goes on. i am so excited for the next year (and our last here) i can hardly stand it. 

one week from now, i will be FREE! and will finally get to have {somewhat} of a summer.

the newly remodeled riverside. (i've only seen it 3 times. i used to go every day.
 now i see happy sumo every day. what? i have to grow up?)

but not jeff...

he'll be a slave until he is 35 :(

oh p.s - i cut my bangs and am loving them.

happy birthday: nina!

sorry it's late nee nee
(her birthday is april 15)
finals got the best of me.

you're now 25 and have accomplished a lot in the last year i'd say.
bachelors in nursing almost complete,
might i add you're also on the HONOR roll...
or something.. "i don't know i wasn't really paying attention"
accepted into an internship in ghana for the summer,
AND into a Doctorate in Nursing program (neonatal)
AMAZ-ing.

here's how your year 24 went according to my camera:

i think this was your birthday last year-

 celebrated by bowling at provo beach resort!

excited to get into your "uniform"!

celebrating nat's birthday(?) at sundance

good times at lake powell

you and jeff have kept up consistently teasing each other

you chased him around hitting him with a pom pom

after he called you out on some dealing with a fella

we spent that crazy night together where we did all these things in about 2 hours:

1. hit up my ballroom competition

2. ran to my apartment to change, let me shower, and take all the crap off my face and out of my hair

3. ran to sadie and craig's reception

4. made it to the awesome byu football game when riley was a star!

toy store with evie

we've sung and danced to "moves like jagger" 

with evie countless times

disregard the fact that i look 4 months pregnant

you've shared your Tangled obsession with evie

stellie kisses

valentine's for the singles with the husbands(and boyfriend)!

everyone's included!

jeff's birthday jersey boys performance

this is probably more "moves like jagger"

and some oldies...

i love this one of you

the leaf shirts!! so fall. twinning.

check out the size of that gameboy..

i'm excited to see what this next year brings for you.

many experiences to remember forever i'm sure.

with ghana and your doctrate program, dude...

you're like so fetch.

just kidding i don't know why that came to my head.

but seriously such a big deal.

i love you smarty pants.

i am so excited to spend more time with you in slc this next year.

i hope we'll get to create many more memories this year!

now don't you go dyin on me!

get all your vaccines, ya hear?!

How Do I Love Thee?

wow

I just found another Elder Holland gem.

His 2000 BYU devotional address was on tv this morning.

I had never heard it but appreciated it especially now that I am married.

He spoke on Christlike love - especially in relationships.

Here he is with his cute wife who, at the beginning of the talk he told made up stories about. She was laughing pretty hard.

Catch the talk here

These are some of my favorite quotes... 

(the quotes about a man demeaning a woman.. you know who you are.. I included them for you!)

"In a dating and courtship relationship, I would not have you spend five minutes with someone who belittles you, who is constantly critical of you, who is cruel at your expense and may even call it humor. Life is tough enough without having the person who is supposed to love you leading the assault on your self-esteem, your sense of dignity, your confidence, and your joy. In this person’s care you deserve to feel physically safe and emotionally secure."

"Members of the First Presidency have taught that “any form of physical or mental abuse to any woman is not worthy of any priesthood holder” and that no “man who holds the priesthood of God [should] abuse his wife in any way, [or] demean or injure or take undue advantage of [any] woman”—and that includes friends, dates, sweethearts, and fiancées, to say nothing of wives."

"Temper tantrums are not cute even in children; they are despicable in adults, especially adults who are supposed to love each other. We are too easily provoked; we are too inclined to think that our partner meant to hurt us—meant to do us evil, so to speak; and in defensive or jealous response we too often rejoice when we see them make a mistake and find them in a fault. Let’s show some discipline on this one. Act a little more maturely. Bite your tongue if you have to. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”

"One of the great purposes of true love is to help each other in these times. No one ought to have to face such trials alone. We can endure almost anything if we have someone at our side who truly loves us, who is easing the burden and lightening the load."

"Like ships, people have differing capacities at different times and even different days in their lives. In our relationships we need to establish our own Plimsoll marks and help identify them in the lives of those we love. Together we need to monitor the load levels and be helpful in shedding or at least readjust- ing some cargo if we see our sweetheart is sinking. Then, when the ship of love is stabi- lized, we can evaluate long-term what has to continue, what can be put off until another time, and what can be put off permanently."

"Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, is the only lamp by which you can successfully see the path of love and happiness for you and for your sweetheart."

I also found this Mormon Messages video of the talk...

picture from here

nicole's classes PARTY!

I'm getting excited for this party.

Are you coming?

if it's anything like last year, it will be a blast!

hope to see you there!

he finished! Ironman #2

So he's pretty much a champ.

Had a blast

got a flat which set him back ;(

but if we subtracted that 30 minutes or so

 from his time he would have improved 

a ton from this same race he did 2 years ago

6 hours 58 minutes!

A-MAZ-ing

i could never do it

you couldn't pay me

seriously

not even all the debt that obama owes this country...

alright these are signs of jeff being too involved in politics ;)

the man is well-rounded

and really,

check out the butt on that one...

yeah... he must work out!

let's talk video games

(started this post before our video game lecture.. decided i needed to finish! great class Dr. Coyne!)

were you a gamer like i was?

super nintendo is still the best

then nintendo 64

the wii

and finally x-box

favorite games?

donkey kong!

aladdin

paper boy

mario kart

top gear

and simpson's road rage (ok i'm not a simpsons fan at all)

why were these so great?
they are classics to me!
i remember trying to teach my parents to play top gear with me because i thought it would be fun to teach them how to play video games.

I remember bonding with my cousin Michael while playing Donkey Kong.. because what 10 year old boy would play Barbies or house? He was my only cousin that was my age so I had to do SOMETHING with him.

My sisters and I could all play Mario Kart together because it was something we all could do! Nat was way too old to be playing with me, Nicole was like so past the age of dramatic/pretend play, Nina was borderline i sort of want to play with you but I'm supposed to be growing up so I shouldn't, and that left only Ali to play Barbies and house with me. Mario Kart and Donkey Kong were something we could ALL do!

When I analyze these games I think.. ok... I think my parents did a pretty good job. They aren't  realistically aggressive (i mean, we weren't physically hurting anyone, only killing vultures in DK ;) And I remember my Mom monitoring our time pretty well.

Did they do the right thing?
I think so.
I rarely played a video game by myself.  Most of our games were for multiple players.
My Dad bought us a new game only at Christmas time and it was his one way to relate to us girls... poor guy never had a son! This was our Tom Boy bond.

I was so involved in dance that i really didn't have much time to waste on video games.
But on a Friday night when my sisters and I were all at home together,
that was a pretty fun time.
And we still talk about our memories playing these games.

You know what I say, (obviously check content first because content is everything in the first place but..) almost anything is ok in moderation.
Moderation is key.

Alright I think Jeff and I have decided that we are stealing my parents' Super Nintendo to play Paper Boy this weekend! I also just discovered that he has never played Top Gear before.. boy do I have some things to teach him!

Bu nuh nuh nuh nuh bu nuh nuh nuh NUH NUH! (singing the New York City race tune.. anyone know it? :)

photos from here here here here here here

general conferance... yes conferance

I was blown away by this. I'm at a Mormon university and Mormons (or just the one that posted it;) can't spell conference?
I find spelling and grammatical errors in the media really funny.
While keeping in touch with friends on social media networks, I have realized who really struggles with grammar. I've also realized the number of people who struggle.. I'm in awe!

Two, to, and too... really?
Their, there, and they're... really?
more commonly, you're and your... really?
even better, I once knew a boy that would mix up our and are... they aren't even the same meaning!

Jeff and I even noticed a huge lit sign on university avenue the other day that was incorrect. It said something like "family's welcome." Ok apostrophe errors drive me nuts! Apostrophe s is for possession people! Adding an s makes it plural. You don't always need an apostrophe s!

Ok I know I'm a little grammar natzi, but... really?
Didn't we all go to elementary school?
Are people just getting lazier or did I just have really good teachers and parents?
Also, I believe certain aspects of the media test our patience ;)

happy birthday: nicole!

as i sit here listening to her rock her crying baby back to sleep
i can't help but be grateful for such a beautiful, wonderful sister.
according to my camera, your year 26 looked like this.

your last birthday was so fun because you had a little one to share it with you

you took me to san francisco with you just so you could take your baby with you

you shot a wedding, and i played with your kid on the pier 

we also ate pretty well, too

i think she was really glad you brought her along

or wait, was that me?

we played at disneyland for dad's 60th

lake powell with a baby

you've been featured on ksl 5 like 3 or 4 times? maybe more?

you threw evie a perfect 1 year birthday

also taught her to love children's video songbook!

your photos made newsstands - on the cover of magazines... several times

you're the sweetest mother, seriously

you and adam have had jeff and me over for some really great times

usually movie nights which we have really loved

(a couple) great times vacationing in vegas

you've taught evie how to sing through Tangled

she's also learned animal sounds through the very educational apps 

you have purchased and have played with her

(after my media class i now know that you playing with her is the important part... 

you've made that a priority)

evie has either learned or come with your spunky personality

you choreographed with the sisters a really great

Jersey Boys birthday dance for jeff

and you've had a THIRD printing of your textbook!

talk about a successful year...

i love you nicole.
you're the best mother, sister, boss, and friend.
i'm so glad i get to spend your special day with you.

happy birthday!

once a thumb sucker always a thumb sucker ;)