Oh how I dislike icy parking lots!

Ice-1
Chelsea-0

Ward Halloween Party!

Tonight we had our Ward Halloween Party. We were actually combined with another ward, because their bishop used to be in our bishopric. We had a dance party at a barn out past the city limits. It was a lot of fun. We dressed up in costumes with our Family Home Evening groups, and our group dressed up like the 1970's US Olympic team, and we were each a different sport.

Roommate Picture: Jenny, Brooke, Alexis, Sarah, Me

Our Bishopric with Bishop Fugelberg from the 28th ward (the Pope). On the left is Brother Pfeiffer, the ward clerk, in the middle is Brother Smith, the first counselor, and on the right is Bishop Harris.

Our FHE Group! Back: Brooke (Swimmer), Sarah (Softball), Me (Gymnast). Middle: Kyle (Track), Jenny (Volleyball), Adam (Track), Aaron (Skier). Front: Alexis (Soccer).

A Fiery Family Home Evening

Tonight for F.H.E. we went to my roommate Sarah's friends' , the Eriksons', home. We played a ridiculously confusing game of "Signs" and then we went outside and made 'Smores around their fire pit. It was a lot of fun!

Brooke and Sarah handing out the goods

Jenny and Mike

Me and Lexi

Kyle, Jenny and Alexis

Jenny, Me, Brooke, Aaron and Mike


Big Matt (F.H.E. Brother) and Little Matt (The Erikson's little boy).

Me, Lexi, Brooke, Alexis, Jenny and Sarah, with Little Matt. This little boy was so cute. He spent the entire night playing with us.

Roomies! Brooke, Me, Jenny, Alexis, Lexi and Sarah. These girls are amazing and I love them so much!

Grand Teton National Park

This last weekend Jacob and Allison came up here and we spent a couple of days in Jackson Hole and went to the Grand Teton National Park. It was very beautiful...at least the parts of the mountains we could see were! It was pretty rainy and foggy when we were there, but it was still a lot of fun.

We hiked up to Hidden Falls...

...and then started the Inspiration Point hike. This is where we stopped to take a break, and then it started to rain on us, so we decided to head back down. I felt inspired enough at this point anyway!

As we were driving through the park, there would be groups of cars pulled off to the side of the road, while people were looking at the various animals. This is the backside of a black bear, and on the right, you can see a little speck of the cub. They both moved when I snapped the picture.


Thanks Jake and Allison for a great weekend!

Spring Semester

Wow! It's about time I update this thing! I stayed in Rexburg for the Spring Semester and here are some pictures!

This one is of me and three of my roommates (bottom to top: Mari, Julie, Me and Haley). We went to Idaho Falls for the 4th of July to watch fireworks. Our other roommate Merinda decided to go to Utah that weekend to see her family.

Mari, Julie and I waiting for the fireworks and being silly.

These next few pictures are from last Sunday. We decided to take roommate pictures in the Ricks Gardens on campus.

Julie told us to make a cute face, and I took her a little too seriously...
This was just an opportunity I couldn't pass up!

Left to right: Merinda, Haley, Me, Julie and Mari.

Us pretending to be Greecian statues. I was trying to be the Venus Demilo but the angle was a bit off.

Jump for Joy! I definitely got some air, cause when we landed I about fell over.

I LOVE these girls so much! They are all beautiful and amazing. I don't think I could have had any better luck with roommates this semester.

And I just liked this picture of me!

Look what I can do!

My Online Portfolio

For my research and presentation class, we had to create an online portfolio of our work from this semester and other English classes that we have taken. This is for us to put on our resume so that future employers can see our work.

Mine isn't completely finished yet, as I have misplaced my flash drive, and most of my assignments are on there. However, I think I know where it is, so hopefully by tomorrow I will be completely finished with my portfolio.

Anyway, if you want to check it out, here is the link.

A little more bragging...

I found out yesterday that my professor wants to use my paper as an example for the textbook he is writing for that class.

Exciting? I think so.

Just a moment to brag...

In one of my English classes (Research and Presentation) we had to write a seven page MLA research paper. I just got mine back today. My comments were all good and I got an A. As I was walking to my next class, which is incidentally with the same professor, he told me that I had done the best in the class and he was so impressed, he asked if he might have me email my paper to him so that he can use it as a future example. I was so excited because I worked really hard on my paper, pulling a couple of late nighters and at least one all-nighter. Anyway, I just wanted to brag a little.

I just finished reading The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale for my YA Lit class. Very good book, highly recommend it (It does start off a little slow though). I also have to read a non-fiction book, which I also just finished. I read with their eyes. It is a series of monologues of students, teachers, administrators, and workers from a high school that was just down the block from the World Trade Center. These monologues are about 9/11 and these peoples reactions. They are all true stories. It was a great read and it really made me think about that day. I was only in the sixth grade, and I didn't understand all of the emotions and facts behind it, but this book really brought it into perspective for me.

P.S. This was the news story that was playing on the televisions in the gym while I was working out!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35566392?GT1=43001

Can you dodge this?

Tonight our ward had a dodge ball activity and our team definitely rocked it! We only lost one game. And, not to brag or anything, but I definitely kept our team fighting during our first game. I was the only person left on our team, and I basically thought we were finished, but I was able to catch a ball, getting one of my teammates back in, and then from there we won. It was a lot of fun, and I'm definitely going to have a bruise on my arm tomorrow (why do guys have to throw the balls so hard and fast?) but it was worth it!

We just finished reading Holes in my YA Lit class. It was a really fast and easy read. Right now we're reading The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale; it's been pretty slow getting into it, but hopefully it will get better soon.

Upper Valley Industries

This semester I am taking a special education class, and so far it has been really good. I have learned so much already and because of this class, I have been able to have some really great experiences working with people with special needs.

For this class, we are required to volunteer two hours in the special education resource room at the local high school (which I start next week), and at Upper Valley Industries, which is a facility for adults with special needs. At this facility, these people have the opportunity to keep learning after public schooling, and they also have the opportunity to work for a couple of hours a day.

Yesterday was my last hour volunteering at Upper Valley Industries, and it was such an eye-opening experience. As I was helping the people there, I couldn't help but feel love for these people that I had just barely met. I then thought about how much our Heavenly Father loves them and knew that the love I felt was significantly less that the love He has for each and every one of them. I stayed for a little bit longer than an hour because I didn't want to leave! I just wanted to share this really cool experience I had with all of you.

P.S. A wrinkle in time is a really good book! I highly recommend it!

Just in case you were wondering...

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I have just been really busy with school and such. So far this semester is going good. I'm taking a lot more classes for my major and have started classes for my minor, which is really exciting but a lot of work.

I'm in a young adult literature class, which is probably my favorite class, because I get to read novels for my homework! So far we have read The Giver by Lowis Lowry and The Book Thief by some guy whose name I don't remember. Both books are really good and I would recommend either of them.

I got a new calling in my ward. I moved up from being the ward pianist to the ward music director. I'm basically in charge of getting special musical numbers for sacrament meeting and helping with the ward choir. It's been pretty good so far.

Anyway, that is just a small rundown of what's been going on up here in Rexburg...besides the mountains of snow and the cold, cold weather!