"And When The Day Is Done My Momma's Still My Biggest Fan."

Hello and welcome to another one of my "what college has taught me" posts.

Instant potatoes are a life saver. 

Sometimes cooking doesn't always turn out how you'd like it to. Especially if you're someone named Ashleena Roberts. So on those days when your stir fry looks like mush and the meatloaf is being stubborn, those are the days you realize why instant mashed potatoes were invented. To save you from starvation.

Do what you love and love what you do.

My first semester, I thought I would love being an exercise physiology major. But bro, I was wrong. I enjoyed it, sure, but I didn't obsess over it. Animal science, on the other hand, is where the love is at. This week we hung out in the meat lab and did some hog carcass evaluations.

Yummmmmay.

I am literally in love with all of my ag classes. They are hands on and I usually come home smelling weird, but honestly, I'm the happiest when I'm in my coveralls. 

For my animal production class, we're required to do some time out at the livestock center doing chores, so I've been going each with with some friends from class. I get up while it's crazy dark out, throw on my boots and baseball cap, and we make it out to the center just before seven in the morning. Being out on the feed truck out in the pasture is officially the best place in this world. I was sitting out on it Friday morning, legs hanging off the back, while we headed out to find the cattle and the feeling of contentment was amazing. I love the ag life. And hey, the ag life loves me. 

The cows love them some cake. 

I probably could have made it as a personal trainer, but this is what I'm supposed to be doing! 

Don't take yo mama for granted. 

Seriously, until I spread my wings and left the nest, I never realized how much I depended on my ma. I constantly call her with the most random of questions, like, "How long do I boil eggs?" and "Can you freeze spinach?"We didn't exactly have the most conventional relationship while I lived at home. I mean, our gossip sessions happened while milking the cow and our version of bonding time was like, castrating lambs, but hey, that's us Roberts' for you. She taught me more than probably anyone else - even if I never did learn how to boil eggs properly - and I really do miss mi madre. 

Guys and girls can, in fact, be best friends.

Honestly, it's possible yo. My bff here is male, y'all. And guess what, we're not dating, despite what everyone seems to think. Yes, we hang out constantly and yeah, he and I text more than the guys that I'm actually interested in. But you know what, it's a proven fact that we aren't meant to be together and so he's my go-to-man with my guy problems (and vice versa). And I love the kid to death. Platonically, of course.

Mondays are good days, despite what society will tell you.

Personally, Mondays are like my favorite day ever. Probably because it's P-days for my favorite missionaries. Which basically means I get emails. Which basically is a good thing. Basically yeah. And one of said-favorite-missionaries happened to run into my mother the other day and had her send a picture my way. Which kinda made me smile. 

Ah, he's a funny kid. :)

Rexburg is not cold and will never be cold.

I have no idea how many times I've been told to wait, because it'll get cold here. I've been waiting. It's February and 30+ degrees. You folks have lied to me. Done.

Siblings may be a pain in the butt, but dang sometimes you'll miss them. 

Lately I've really been missing the little sibs. I get to go home in a couple months and I can't wait to hug all of them. I got to Skype with the family today and I can already tell that they're all gonna be different when I get back. Colton has grown like three feet and suddenly discovered the secret to fabulous hair, Russel looks like a little man, and Canyon and Kayleena, well okay, they seem pretty much the same so far. But I can't wait to see them. And then I'm sure we'll all go back to killing each other again. I was looking through some old pictures today and found this little gem. 

My word.

We are one attractive bunch of folks. I think Kayleena gets her looks from me. 

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Alrighty, well that's about that. I'm going to bed - big ag test tomorrow. Gonna ace it, like a boss. 

G'night, my people.