the first...

DATE!!!! I have been on several first dates since I have been back from my mission, and I was talking about this with my mom she said, "blog about it!". So here I am going to blog about my first dates since I have been home from my mission! So here we go..
1. Jordan....met him at a friends birthday party, served in Argentina (thats how we got talking, because my MTC companion served there)...took me on a group date to Bountiful and we went hiking! Not too shabby right? Well this was my very first date since my mission! Holy moses was I nervous and scared and my sister Beth was so excited that she came and helped me get ready, but I was still soooo nervous. So I was sitting anxiously waiting and he came and picked me up and rode next to each other, had descent conversation, but nothing that made me go WOW! I confess I do want that WOW factor. But I love hiking so I had a blast then we went and got frozen yogurt or custard, and that was it! We are still friends!
2. Aaron...now Aaron was a first and second date (setup by mutual friend)! So I will try to sum up both of them because they are both really good stories. The first date with Aaron was a double date with his brother and we went rock climbing! Fun! For some reason during the date I just couldn't connect with him. But I learned a lot about rock climbing, got a good workout and it was fun! During that date I mentioned that I had never been longboarding. Well he asked me out about a week later to go longboarding. Awesome I was super excited, I had always wanted to do it! So he picked me up on a very warm day in August and we went to a park and he was telling me all the techniques of riding, steering, and so forth. After a few practice runs I feel I am good to go, not fast of course, just have fun! So here we are riding along and little kids are passing me, whatever, I had always had this fear of falling off a skate or longboard, and breaking something, so I was really grateful that I was ok thus far. Well about half way down the path, yup you guessed it, my foot caught the pavement, and I took a nasty fall. Somehow I ended up on the grass but my ankle was bloody and gross and my hand hurt from trying to catch myself. Stupid me I pretended like it didn't hurt so I rode the rest of the way with a bloody ankle and scrapped up hand. Thankfully I didn't break anything. He then dropped me off, and I was in agony the rest of the night, week, maybe 2 weeks because it hurt so bad! And yes there is a scar! Haven't talked to Aaron since either.
3. Alex...Alex was a setup as well. My friend Rochelle is married and her husband teaches at the MTC and Alex was his companion teacher... and best part...he is short! Yes bring on the short boys!!! I really had a lot of fun with Alex! We played a board game (so Provo) and ate ice cream! He then asked for my number and never called me. Come to find out a girl that he had taken out previously came back into the picture, and I was just a phone number.
4. Bryce...Bryce is again another setup, it was more of a casual thing than an "official" date. But again nothing beyond what we did that night.
5. Kelley...oh wait is it another setup? I think so!! We were setup by out mutual friend Jessica. She works with him at the hospital and she was having a date night at her house and she thought hey Kelley and Megan! And I said sure why not! He took me out to dinner, interesting conversation, can't really remember it but again no WOW factor. Then we went hot tubbing with Jessica and another couple. If there is one thing I do not like to do on first dates its just that. I don't know why, i just don't. Maybe its being forced to be in a swimsuit in front of guy you may not even like! Then as we were leaving he almost got booted, thankfully that did not happen! But in conclusion to this date, we left on good terms, he was going to Duke and I was staying here! Adios!
6.Nate.... Kajsa my roommate and really good friend set us up! He studies Latin at BYU! Smart boy! And it was a double date with Kajsa and her boyfriend Monty! We played tennis! I had always wanted to learn how to play tennis and how I could learn with someone who actually knows the rules! Before the date however, Kajsa and I were in a frenzy trying to find non-black soled shoes. You aren't allowed on the court otherwise. So what do I do? Go to my sisters. Beth is a shoe size bigger than me but she said that these were "small". Yeah right, I fake my own shoe size saying that I am a 6! So I rush over get the shoes which are almost clown shoes and go to the tennis courts. I look at the other players that night as I walk in, hmmm...they have black soled shoes. So here I am with these monster things on my feet trying to look pretty. Nope I probably looked really awkward. Oh well, go with the flow! But I had a great time and Nate and I are friends, I see him every now and then!
7. James... I really liked James! Kajsa is my yenta!! So here is the story with James. He was one of Monty's comps on the mission. Kajsa and Monty went to James' house for dinner and he is short, I am short, therefore, we got setup on a double date with them! Kajsa and Monty are some of my favorite people and so I was all for it! Kajsa comes home after meeting him and tells me about him, his parents own a orphanage in India and he was just there for 4 months helping manage it! Awesome right! He calls me on Wednesday telling me what we are going to do, Thai food, ice skating, then a movie. Great! Also Kajsa and I did facebook stalk him so I knew what he looked like! We had a blast at dinner and ice skating, and I was sure that I did not want to hold his hand, and I didn't, but he tried a few times! Then came the movie, and he made the moves and yup he kissed me! I am not one to kiss on the first date! It took me off guard and I was shocked, but it wasn't half bad, ok I'll be honest, it wasn't bad at all. But the story does not end well. I thought we were just going to see where it went, and he thought we had a wedding date, so he said that he couldn't commit to anything serious at this time. After this talk, I found myself in Smiths in the ice cream isle. Kiss on the first date dumped on the second.....why do we get fat after a break up? Get skinny and make them realize what they lost!

In conclusion to these many adventurous dates, I have come to learn so much about boys, myself, and what I want, and who I need to be as a person. They are all amazing guys and I wish every one of the well! I love dating, it has been so much fun! I look forward to all of the other set ups that I will be able to go on. Bring it on!!!!