The First Days of School!

KU started classes on Monday, and my first class started at 8a.m.

I decided that the first week I was going to try to look decent (which did NOT happen).

I tried the first two days to look cute which consisted of this outfit (I forgot to take a pic of the other one!):

Of course Kansas weather being the way it is, it has been over 95 degrees every day, and since I have to walk everywhere in Lawrence, I decided to wear gym shorts and a t-shirt. IT IS SO HOT.

Also while I've been at KU, I have met some pretty amazing friends. One is Max,

and we went to a place on campus to eat. We went a little crazy.

I am so thankful to be here at KU. It has been the best time of my life, 

and I've only been here for six days!

Okay, this is a horrible picture, but it is of my Psychology 104 class. We have 932 students in my class alone. The stairs have seats, and the balcony also has seats. I was thoroughly overwhelmed. 

Since starting class, I have been constantly busy with homework and hanging out with friends. 

I still call home 3 times a day on average, but it is so hard with all of my homework.

I HEAD HOME ON FRIDAY :D

KU Here We Come!

So, all of Thursday was spent packing some more and saying goodbyes to my second families and everyone. On Friday morning after showering and such, I packed the rest of my stuff, and we loaded up the cars. Dad decided to take Mom's car.

It still hadn't hit that I was going to be in college, nor that I was leaving. 

And of course in typical Amber fashion, we had to take various pictures.

Still hasn't hit yet.

Dad is still a horrible photographer taking two pictures lol.

Now comes the hardest part, I miss my baby so much. I think I'm having withdrawal.

This will forever be my favorite picture of us. He's the best thing in my life.

So after the lovey dovey picture session, we left Salina with Lawrence in our sights. The drive was nothing short of a typical Rayl family drive. Though, the near misses were all caused by Dad being overly observant. But, I can totally understand why he was so nervous because this was the first time I had actually drove to Lawrence (I usually drive home!), and it was also the first time I had drove my care on the highway for more than five seconds. When I first arrived at KU, the only way I could try to describe move in day is absolute utter chaos. My other roommies had already moved in since they rushed the week before, and Dad, Mom, and I agreed we were going to make it a one trip mission. The elevator areas were swarming with people, but we finally got on an elevator. Once I started moving in, the day went by pretty quick. We had left Salina around 9:45am, and we ended in Lawrence around 11:20am. After unpacking somewhat, we decided to get lunch since it was past 1pm. I invited Rolando to eat with us, and we all went to Buffalo Wild Wings on Mass. St. After that, Mom and Dad said goodbye, but it still hadn't hit that they were leaving. That day passed by pretty quickly after that since much of it was spent running around and organizing. At this point, I should mention that I am procrastinating on cleaning the rest of my desk, whoops. Anyways after such a busy day, I was exhausted. I figured sleep would come easy, but for some reason, my body just would not shut down. I got a total of, like, three hours of sleep that night. It was just...no. But, the next day was once again packed full of stuff to do with our RA, Terri, and the rest of my floor. It was a lot of information all at once, and I sorta spaced out...poo.

Right, I bet everyone is dying to see our room! Well, here ya go.

My bed of course is the chevron. <3 I love my stuff.

Our rooms at KU are EXTREMELY small. It's ridiculous.

So in typical KU fashion, there are big get togethers every night for Hawk Week. The first one was the Rock Chalk Block Party where I met this little guy. 

It's Centennial Jay!!

Baby Jay and Big Jay were there also, but they were SWAMPED.

I received A TON of free stuff. As in, coupons, food, food, more food, shirts, beauty products, and did I mention food??

I had an absolute BLAST. 

I also met some pretty amazing people!

The next day, we had even more festivities, and I met even more people! We had Traditions Night, and Concert on the Hill.

This has became my favorite spot<3

This is Sunny; she lives a few doors down with a girl name Danielle. 

This is the concert; it was absolutely insane!

School starts tomorrow : /; I have incredibly mixed feelings because I'm going to be so nervous and busy....and let's face it...LOST. At the same time though, I feel it is going to be so fun, and I'm going to learn so much! My next goal is to meet even more friends and have even more fun! :) Wish me luck!

And no, it still hasn't hit yet that I am at KU, and that I am starting school soon. Nor has it hit, that my parents have left. 

I SEE THEM FRIDAY!! :D

One More Full Day Until Lawrence!

As many of you know, I leave for Lawrence on the 23rd, aka Friday. I am both nervous and excited for it. I'm nervous to be leaving my loved ones and taking on college life, but I am so excited to be reunited with my amazing friends and to join the various organizations KU has to offer. I'm also pumped to meet new people and to get a change in life. I am mostly packed (I am waiting on my clothes and toiletries until tomorrow night and friday morning). I feel it is fairly organized (LOL, nice try Amber) 

Actually my pile is organized, but it just looks rough. I swear. My parents and friends here are already starting to realize that I am leaving, but it still hasn't hit me.

It's kind of surreal to me because I have dreamed of becoming a Jayhawk for so long that it doesn't seem like it is finally happening, but here we go!

See you in a few Lawrence. Rock Chalk.

Please excuse my arctic whiteness in this picture... -_-

Awwe, look at Pappa Rayl <3 

Road Trip

So as many of you know, Dad, Mom, and I all drove down to Texas and then drove up to Denver. Since we haven't went on a road trip/ vacation where I have to pack, I was a bit apprehensive, but I was so excited to see Kelsea, Martina, and Billy in Spearman and to visit the zoo and mountains in Denver. This picture sums up my packing moment.

To make packing even worse, my luggage hated me and put up a fit every time I needed to zip it. As you can see, I had to write down everything I knew I was going to need. Of course, I over-packed like usual and still had nothing to wear! On the plus side, I did go a little crazy shopping. Only slightly, I promise!

How cute is this sweatshirt? I had to have it and everything else too. I feel I might have a slight shopping problem...Oh well!

Also, Taz kept wandering around my room looking so lost and confused, and it made me feel horrible that we were going to leave him home alone for 3 days... :,( I mean look at this

I mean he's perf. Maybe, I love him too much....NAH. 

We left our house at a little before 7, and I absolutely could not leave Salina without giving my little man a call. Easton, aka little man, started school Tuesday which in other words means, Amber had to call him to assure herself he could handle going to 1st grade. I don't know who was more worried me or his mother. Anyways, he was pumped for 1st grade! So onto the road trip, I go!

So, the road trip to Spearman actually passed fairly quickly since I was snoozing for most of the ride. It was actually pretty decent weather, and I had some amazing  music, thank God.

If you have never heard The Piano Guys play, it is honestly the most amazing music I have ever heard.

Once we were there, it felt like we had never left. I hand't realized just how much I had missed Kels and the gang. But I am proud to say, we are still best friends, and we are still so alike. 

Of course, Mom and Martina had a blast, and luckily, Dad and Billy didn't do anything to get arrested. ;)

We ended up staying the night in Borger, Texas and woke up early the next morning to head to Denver.

 (This is the point where I remembered why I hated road trips as a child.)

The land is so...barren. Ugh.

So, we got to Denver around 5 p.m. (their time), and we found out how horrible the traffic in Denver is. On the plus side, our view was of the mountains.

The stupid barricade was in the way. -_-

 We went shopping the day after, and around 4, we decided to go into the mountains.

(Now this is where your breathe gets taken away!)

We drove to Idaho Springs, CO to visit Mt. Evans.

Now, we arrived at a small lake and decided we needed some family pictures.

AWWW <3

Then, we began the real trek.

LOL Amber, get your life together.

While Dad and I were walking up a trail, we found this mountain sheep thing. First, he was hideous and needed a complete hair cut (since he had a half cut), and second, he had an adorable family. He was, in no way, worried about us. In fact, he started walking casually over to us.

Then, he made sure we followed him.

Okay, let me just apologize in advance for these horrendous panoramas. It was freezing, and I couldn't get my hands to work.

Now, back down the mountain we go!

We found this awesome waterfall, so of course, we just had to pull over and take selfies with it.

The next day, we went to the zoo! :D

(I went a little crazy with pictures so bear with me)

This big guy coming up next was honestly the best animal I saw at the zoo!

Okay, I already said sorry, but I just got so excited!

Anyways, we arrived home around 11p.m. that day, and I don't know who was more relieved, me or Taz. He was so upset. Every time Dad opened the truck doors to get something Taz would hop up just to make sure we didn't leave him again... I feel like a horrible owner....but now, he is back to his happy go lucky self....or at least for another week until I leave for college...I don't know who is going to be more upset...him or me.