A little update

Hmmm, it does not seem to be the season for blogging.....
The school year has gone by so fast it seems! Wow, I can't believe that in just a little over 2 weeks I will be home for Thanksgiving break, then just another two weeks of stressing out with finals, and packing, and then home for Christmas! Where does it all go? =]

Rexburg has been good. Sort of planning the wedding...buts its hard when everyone else including the parents, fiance, and money, are all in California. =[ But school is good! Good grades, my roommates and I all get along, and yes! Halloween was last weekend, not a lot interesting has happened....actually one of my favorite things I have done lately was watch this old movie called, "Wait Until Dark"- it was an old movie shown at the School, and like 100 or so people were there. Oh, its fun watching scary/suspense movies in large groups and having everyone jump at the same time. Its even funner when the person sitting next to you has seen the movie before and remembers what is going to happen about a minute before it does happen.

Yep. Pretty much! =]
Although I have decided that laundry machines in my new dorm do not like me because they never seem to dry all my clothes, even though i love taking out the lint....I should be able to pack that thing full and it dry all my clothes including jeans....what a world we have come too.

I'm Going to the Temple....

Wow- I have been horrible at updating things.
So, basically, School is going good. I have been here for about 5 weeks I believe- I am not sure, but mid-terms are next week! Wow, things are going by fast!
We have already had some snow- but it only snowed like one day, and all the snow was gone by like noon. But it has been cold lately. =[ Actually yesterday was sort of warm! Not sure how warm, but I could have been out in a long t-shirt and been fine! Sometimes I was actually sort of hot! It was probably like 50! =] haha. Although today is wet and cold and windy. =[ And raining. haha. So, thats not as enjoyable.
This Saturday I have to go on a field trip for my Natural Disasters class to the Teton dam and a lake- don't now where. Hopefully it wont be freezing- it is SUPPOSED to be 62! yay!!! =]
Umm....yes. Not to much exciting here in Rexburg. Just going to work still at 4 am, then school!
Although I did get engaged about 2 weeks ago, I suppose that is exciting? =]
I AM GETTING MARRIED!!!!
Ok, so I am a BIT excited about that! =] Haha. Joe came out for conference weekend the first weekend in October and proposed then. We are thinking about April! =]
Yes. We are Mary and Joseph. It is pretty much perfect and amazing. =]
I am pretty much very happy. =]

And the beat goes on...

Week one of Idaho is done!
Funny/ sad thing is, that it wasn't even a full week!
But it was fun! =]
Classes are a bit overwhelming....but that is how first days tend to be. Like, the teahers present the entire semester in one day and its just like, "Wow. Ok, so what is due tomorrow?" So I think I will have a lot of homework this semester- but it will be good. I am looking forward to it. =]
My first weekend in Idaho was good to! I am so happy that I have my friend Camille here with me- who is one of my best Friends! It makes life a lot easier. =] Plus we have a class together! Which is happiness too!
Friday Camille, my roommate Andrea and I and a couple other people went to a concert by a band called We Shot the Moon. Then on Saturday I got some homework done, went on a picnic to this really cool park near by that has this little water park and a merry-go round! Plus I got to see my good canadian friend Josie, or as I like to call her Anne Girl. Then we walked around main street- there was this battle of the bands thing going on, and basically we just got free stuff. I was happy I got a free mail opener. That was the joy of my day. =] haha.
Saturday night I went on a phone date with my cowboy! That was fun. =] We talk on the phone a lot, but it was funner to be on an actual date! Then I went to the sand dunes in Rexburg and had a bonfire- but bonfires just arnt the same when there is no beach around.
Today was my first sunday in my new ward- we start church at 8:15 am! So early! I am done before everyone at home has even gone to church! But its nice to have a lot of the day free. It was a really relaxing day full of writing letters, talking to friends from school and just enjoying the day. =]
In a little bit I will be headed out to do some stadium singing- and then off to bed so I can wake up bright and early for work tomorrow!



Camille, me and Andrea at the, "We Shot the Moon" Concert



Brittany(Camilles roommate) Camille and I on our way home from the bonfire. We were in the back of a truck- because that is legal in Idaho, but it was cold!

My wall with all its beauty! And my countdown chain till conference! =]

The cat came back.....Or in this case the girl.

I am back to Idaho!
Wow. I have been back for 48 + now and it still feels odd to be in Rexburg.
My summer was great.
I didnt update here much- ehh....thats fine. I spent a great summer in Santa Maria with all my friends. Went to the beach. Ate In-N-Out more times this past summer than my enitre life combined and now I like it. Lived the life with slurpees. Got myself a Cowboy named Joe. Learned spanish. Didn't even leave the state of California from the time I got home till I left. It was just really grea.t =]
I got back here this past Tuesday afternoon, and have been slowly unpacking ever since and I am finally done and that is a great feeling! I will have some pictures up shortly. I am just trying to get adjusted to new roommates, my new apartment and the limited space, starting school again wtih 16 credits,and work from 4-7 am...once again. Once I find some free time I will take out my camera and get some pictures of the beautiful campus before the snow hits and my surroundings! =]

Home at Last! Home at Last!

Wow, so I have been home for about 25 hours now!! The time sure does fly! 

School ended for me last Thursday, Finals went well! I hope at least!  I spent Friday packing and cleaning, then Friday morning I drove to Salt Lake city- about 4 hours.  Then spent another 5 hours in a car driving from Salt Lake to where my sisters friend lives in Southern Utah.  Provo wanted to be like LA and kept us in traffic for 2 hours.  LAME, i know.  But it was a fun Easter weekend!  I was amazed that the house we stayed at had 18 packages of cream cheese in the fridge!! And I thought that 3 was excessive.....but a good easter weekend filled with too much food and plenty of candy!  

On Monday I spent the day in Provo, it was great!  It was a warm day- and so much fun, and I didn't even get lost! =]  I got to see some friends and some missionaries who served in SM. =]  A very great day. 

Then I flew out early tuesday morning, and was home by 10:30 am! =] So far I am still looking for a job....I have only been home for like 25 hours, but I need a job.... lame, i know.  But so far being home is really nice!  Seeing my friends, eating food, yum!  Flying from LA to SM was amazing!!! California is SO pretty! =]  I love seeing my Santa Maria countryside again. =]  haha.  

It has ended?

Well, I suppose you could say I am officially done with school.  As my roommate pointed out, I will never again be a Freshmen- that is a bit of an interesting and scary thought.  I am still waiting to hear about my grade for my final in my science class, I am nervous about that one, all my other classes I got B's or A's in so I am good- my science Final today was just a bit scary.

I am also currently waiting for my roommate to get home to make the wonderful journey in a car PACKED with my stuff to take it to the storage unit- pay money- put stuff in it, drive home, go to the post office, mail a package to myself, and then be DONE!  =]  All my stuff is packed, which leaves an interesting dilema as to how I will sleep tonight.....I will return to my old ways of eating at the Nordic tonight since all the dishes are gone.  I work tomorrow morning, the last time for like 5 months!!!! =]  My shuttle leaves at 8:00 am tomorrow morning, where I will then arrive in Salt Lake to enjoy my Easter weekend out of school!!!!

A year gone!!!! Wow.  Its gone by fast.  Although, it does not yet feel like it is really over yet- once I am certain on my grades and I have all my stuff securely stored where they need to be I think it will begin to hit me.

I have decided I deffinately do not like packing though- it is so annoying!!! Very glad I never had to more when I was little.  I am such a pack rat- it's a hard thing to have to get all those valuable papers together to move! =]

April Showers

Basically, it has just been wet here.  This past week it has either been snowing, raining or hailing- or something between all three that melts and gets you wet.  So, its been wet.  LAME! right?  I woke up this morning and there was so much snow outside- that all I could think of when I looked outside my window was, "Bambi".  Yep.  The winter in bambi- lame.  But, it is supposed to warm up next week- right before I leave. haha.  Yes. 

One more week- finals, scary...=[  But then Utah and then HOME! =]

A few pictures

Ya, this was my really bad bruise after Plasma one time.  It was just sorta exciting. My cookies!  They didn't turn out flat either! =]
And, my coffee cake. =] ( I still think it tastes better in California though.)

Here are just some pictures to update you on my life lately! =]

(Well- not too many really, I don't have access to all right now.  So just two! haha. )

an Ode' to Sundays!

So this weekend has been interesting.  I spent most of my day Saturday working on a birthday gift and finishing cleaning, I passed white glove.  I went to the gym, and I realized that if  a Disney movie is playing- I can work out for quite a while! =]  Then I went and gave Sister Jones- who was a missionary in Santa Maria- her birthday gift.  It snowed a lot today- and when it snows on Sunday, nobody works, so the snow all stays.  So we left Church in a BLIZZARD!  It was snowy and windy and cold! But once It stopped it was a lovely day, and I wanted to just walk around in all the freshly fallen snow!!!! =]  

I got home from church and baked- I have been baking a lot lately, partly because I think it is a way to relieve my emotions(Brooke pointed out) partly because I am trying to get rid of my food stuff....So, i baked cookies.  And I would like to say mom, that my roommates LIKED it!  =]  Also my coffee cake!  My roommate Brooke says I am getting better, which I am VERY glad to hear!  =]  Also, my cookies turned out not- flat.  I am not sure why- I think it might be because I mixed my ingredients wrong so I had to add water and I added flour- My roommates called them rock cookies, but in a good way. =] 

And my coffee cake is yummy!  I think with the end of the semester I am not carring much about what I am eating, but I am going to the gym for longer, and HW is slowing done, which is good cause I am not caring as much.....but 2 more weeks! =]  I am excited.

I am also really excited about the new Tongan missionary. =]  Way excited. 

Whistle while you work..

That reminds me, in my Middle East class my teacher for some odd reason is not a big fan of Disney, and I LOVE Disney, and so its fun because now almost everyday someone makes a comment about Disney.  Or the Teacher will be making a comment about a situation in the ME and the girl will turn around and relate it to a Disney movie (ironically the same thing I was thinking before she said it) and we laugh and the Teacher will ask which Disney movie.  He has never seen Pocohantus.  Disappointing I think.  Or one day a kid from his other class was in ours for the day, and the kid, not realizing the magical-ness to our class mentioned the 7 dwarfs and the teacher was like, "No disney- talk to Mary about that." Fun times.

ANYWAYS, Today is Clean checks- which fyi, are not fun. Right now I am waiting for our RA to come check our dorm so I can eat (don't want to make anything and risk messing up the apartment), and then I am gonna bake cookies for people!  =] Then some gym time, some HW time, and some sleep time!  =] Hopefully that will all happen and I really WILL be that productive today. =]

Thier taking OVER!

It is T-Shirt weather in Rexburg Idaho!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

=]
Indeed, Yahoo! weather says that the temperature outside is 50! And Santa Maria is 57- something strange there,but anyways, I am without any jackets in just a t-shirt today! =] I thought it was worthy of a post! =]

Idaho has gone crazy....

Hello everyone! I am back in Idaho, which is sad, but California is only 4 weeks away! (less really) PLUS, California means finding a job which isn't TOO exciting. I am sorta bummed because now all the sudden I see these signs for summer work jobs, but of course the sign up has passed....the most exciting one was to work in New Zeland, which definately caught my eye, but has passed. =[ So many options for next year!

So, anyways, being home was GREAT!!!!!!!! =] I miss it, but just a few more weeks of school.

And, the weather has gotten SO much better! Today after my science class I walked to the Temple in this big blue jacket I got which is my warmest coat, and I was SO hot! =] Now I am back to a simple zip up jacket! Right now the temperature says 38, and either I have REALLY began to warm up to the cold weather, or the temp is warmer, because it feels like at least 40! (which I think is more accurate- since it was supposedly 50 the other day) The snow has melted expcept for a few small clumps here and there, and people are actually doing more activities outside- its amazing. =]

Of course, being home was more amazing. I got to Santa Maria fine, but my way home was RIDICULOUS! I flew from SM to LAX to SF to SLC, with 2 flights getting delayed almost missing a flight and my shuttle- stressful! But I got home and have accustomed myself back to my schedualed routine. I didn't celebrate St. Patricks day much other then wearing green- I was tired from my days travel the day before, and the 4 hours in the Library of HW I did, and went to bed as early as I could. But I got to have an early St. Patricks day celebration while I was at home, Amazing Corn Beef and Cabbage with some of my favorite people! =] It was great to be home. Only about 5 people really knew I was coming home, so it was fun to suprise everyone and get to see all my friends! =]

I am now done with school for the week, except HW. =[ The weekend is here though! And this weekend seems to be a very busy day for BYU-I, there are just so many different things going on, so many performances and conferences going to. I heard there is supposed to be this cultural dance show, with the possibilities of polynesians there....so I am wanting to attend. =]

So everything is fine with me! Although, I must tell you about how ridiculous my school has gotten:

They banned selling Naked Juice because of the name.

For those of you who do not know, Naked Juice is a type of juice with nothing added to it, so its all natural, hence the name Naked. But they won't sell it anymore here- because of that name, which I think is just plan retarded! But whatever. (Pictue below.) Just one more reason why California is AMAZING! =]

Definitely Excited...

So tomorrow I am flying home!  =]  Yes, I am excited.  I leave right after I get out of class and I will get into Santa Maria late tomorrow night.  I will have to leave Sunday afternoon, which will be sad.  But I am looking forward to the time I will be spending at home! =]  An early St. Patricks day celebration lays ahead and lots of short reunions with friends. =] I like short weeks like this that end with such good things! =]

School has been fine. It is rather cold today, the temperature right now says 18 degrees, when it says it is about 49 in Santa Maria.  =] What a warm difference!  Today I have my cooking class, we are working on quick breads this week, then I have Devotional and then I get to spend my day working on Homework for my communications class.... I really do not like that class, and it doesn't seem like anyone I know who is taking it does  like it.  For a 2 credit class, it is a lot of work.  But whatever.  Almost done with it! =]

5 Weeks left

5 weeks left of school! I can't believe it!  It is going by really fast!  And Its really exiting that next week I will be home! =] And then just 4 weeks left, with the last week being Finals, I know those 4 weeks will fly by!

It is amazing to see how much the snow has melted! Although when I woke up yesterday it did begin to snow again, but still, where snow used to be like 5 feet tall, you can see the grass! It is wonderful! Except the annoying wind it brought- wow, it is windy!  But its all good! Well, except that it would be warm if not for the cold wind. 

School has been fine.  I am finding that I really do not like my Professional Communications class....and I am finding that everyone I know taking that class hates it as well.  Our teachers just arn't very good at communicating to us what they want.  Blah, I am not liking it.  But I love my foods class, its fun to make things, and I really like my Book of Mormon class and my Middle East Class!  Those 3 are always fun to go to, especially my Middle East class, cause me and a few other kids take turns bringing snacks because that class is right at lunch time. =]

There is a girl I know who is getting married after this semster ( I would like to say that she met this guy the the day of school, and within like 3 weeks they were planning on getting married- it became official with the ring and actual proposal and everything about 2 weeks ago.  She just turned 18 in January too.) Anyways, this summer for his work they will be living in Ventura- which I think is exciting cause I know where that is! But she had no idea and had never heard of it even though she lives in California, and she wasn't sure what Santa Barbara was either.....I could not believe it.

Yesterday I ate at the Nordic, the school food that I ate everyday last semester, I had the best quesedilla ever! omg, it was yummy.  And even though I am not the biggest fan of Mexican food, I am wanting another one. =]

This past week was not too exciting.  I didn't have any plans, which was nice because my last few weekends have been busy, I just sort of want to relax and do HW.  But now I am off to eat some pancakes with some friends! =]  The highlight of my weekend.

I am now 19!

Yep, I am a year older and I can't even tell!  Maybe in a year I can tell that a year ago I was younger....I will try to let you know. =]

Anyways, things were good here!  Last weekend I went to Provo which was a lot of fun! I saw my friend Laura Crosby from Santa Maria, and I got to see a few missionaries who served in Santa Maria and so it was fantastic!  =] I loved my weekend, it was warm and a nice break from school and the cold!  

This past week was fine, and very exciting for me since yesterday was my birthday!  I love my birthday. =]  And I loved all my gifts and I am grateful for everyone who wished me a happy birthday! I had a 'Tea Party" (The tea was replaced with Apple Cider since I really do not like tea...) with some friends, and it was fun! =]  I was awoken nice and early with phone calls. Later on my roommates and I went to Olive Garden and saw the movie Taken, and so it was a nice weekend! =]  No HW, relaxed, ate good food and  hung out with my friends! I am very proud of what was done. =] I made my favorite cake, Dump Cake, and I got to talk to a lot of friends from home.  

It is slowly getting warmer here to! =] haha.

Well, I am pretty darn tired right now, so I just wanted to say what a good weekend I had with my birthday and put up some pictures. =]

Josie, or AKA as I like to call her, Anne girl, was my help in this Tea Party! =]
My roommate Jess had us all fill out this survey of, "If you are worthy to date a Return Missionary" for her RM's mission, as a competition to see how many girls will actually return it.  We had fun. =]
Our little Finger sandwiches!
Andrea, me and Emily
Maquel, me and Niccole
Me and my Apple Cider in my cute new apron my mom made! =]
Me and Dianne
Dianne, Anne Girl and Meredith

Me and Jamie

Dianne, Cali, Melanie, Andrea and I! 

Scouraging like a Pirate...

Hello! Not much new here, except it is actually fairly nice outside!  I didn't wear any of my big jackets!  But that seems to be the cycle here, during the weekend it gets "warm" and the snow melts, then it all comes back during the week.  But it is sunny and bright and warm outside! (the weather says 25. I think it might even be warmer!)

This last week were my mid-terms, and things got really stressful with many tests and long hours of homework, but I got through it all! But I am definately not a good test taker sad is to say.  But now I am getting ready to go to Provo for the weekend, where it should be even warmer hopefully! =]

Last weekend a few friends of mine, Emily and Andrea decided we would see what the city of Rexburg had to offer.  We actually did not get very far, but there is this amazing cupcake place!  It is great! =]

These are our pirate weapons- mine, the bouncy ball, much more effective I say. =]
This is in some frame shop, and they have this room of chalk, and Andrea sorta upset me....
An awesome room.  I want it as my bedroom.
Sorta self explanitory

We went on a hike up one of the snow pilled mountains in front of the grocery store
at the top.  People starred as they drove by.
I am watering the fake flowers in the craft store, Porters- pretty darn cool store too!

Emily, Andrea and I.

Another thing...

There was one more thing that I wanted to tell you all about that is just amazing!

So this past week was spirit week at school, honestly I didn't see much school spirit, BUT.....the best thing was on Thursday they had Pond Skimming!  What you ask is Pond Skimming?  I will gladly tell you!  So, in one of the fields they have they pile up snow during the winter and it becomes the sledding hill, it is also right by the ice skating rink.  So it is a pretty tall hill of snow for people to sled down.  So on this occasion they put a pool of water at the bottom of the pool, in whatever degree weather it is outside, the water isn't ice, but I wouldnt want to be in it!  So people pay $10 (They get a shirt too), and they dress up in whatever crazy ways they can think of, some people putting on halloween costumes such as cupid, thing 1 & 2, etc.  Some people decide to wear less clothes and just go down in shorts.....and so they sled down this hill, most common was a snowboard then skies, some did inner tubes and other things, one guy went down in a lazy boy. And they see how far they can get across the pool.  I stay for 2/3 of it, and about 5 people made it to the other side, but only 1 person made it across without falling back in the pool.  If you stood on the edge of the pool, as I did, you did get splashed, and you saw how freezing the people were as the shivered getting out.  In the midst of everyone it took a while for me to start freezing, but walking home was SO COLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But it was SOO worth it! =]

You know something is wrong when you think 38 is warm.

Yes, so yesterday walking home for work it was snowing- which of course made it warmer, and I was amazed at how warm I thought it was.  Of course, the snow sadly effected everyones mood and seemed to make everyone in just a not good mood yesterday, plus it has been gloomy lately.  But that all changed today with the sun out and shinning, it felt warm- its scary, but it was exciting to be at 38 degrees.  Its slowly getting warmer! =] 

Yes, so it was been a good weekend, of course I am a bit upset at the fact that I still have HW to do.  I feel like I do a lot but so little with the amount I have to do and the days go by just too quickly.  Yesterday I went with a couple of friends to see Valkyrie at the Dollar Theatre, which I liked.  Tonight me and my roommates and friends saw Twilight, the theatre being filed 95% with girls- all swooning every time Edward hit the screen.  

But it was a good day, I slept in till almost 11- which was nice since I stayed up till almost 2, and after working all week, sleep is nice.  And then I got a cinnamon roll, then me and my roommates were in the pool for like 1 1/2, which felt nice!  =]  Then we hit the grocery store, did some laundry, my Canadian Friend Josie(But I call her Anne or Anne girl because we both love Anne of Green Gables) came over and we made dinner and were creative about my leftovers. =] Then Twilight.  It was a good weekend.  Tomorrow is church, with some HW time needing to be schedualed in their- basically I just got to learn some Arabic works and learn about the Middle East.....yep.  

Hmmm.......yes.  Thats basically all for now.  =]

FEBRUARY!

Here are some pictures also for your delight. =]

SEE! My first grilled cheese!  Mine is the one not yet ready on the left.

Here are some lovely pictures of my kitchen. =]


We made fruit pizza one night, we felt like indulging. =]

Oh those yummy strawberries! =]
This is my Canadian friends, me and Josie(left) and holding a Ukalaie! =]
Miranda, Andrea and me. =]
This was actually from last semester, we were going to a dance or something. That would be me, Audre, Josie and Katie.

Yay to February, an AMAZING month it is!  Of course because it is my Birthday Month, but it is short and makes the school year shorter and all that good stuff!

So, I think that I am actually getting used to the cold....at times.  It hasn't been TOO cold, or, I was expecting a lot colder!  I still see people in just a jacket and I marvel at their insanity.  Somedays its colder, but normally by about noon it has warmed up to an acceptable warmth.

Life is going good, I am getting along well balancing school and work.  And even though it is a Wednesday, it feels a bit like a Friday to me.  Some of my classes is irritating because I just have an enormous amount of work to do and I just am sick of it, but I really like my Middle East class, I think that class is one of my favorites!

Oh, so about a week ago or so I learned how to make a grilled cheese!  Now, please understand that I have never been a big cheese fan, so like quesadillas and mac and cheese and stuff I have never been a fan of, so I have never had to make grilled cheese before because I never cared for them- but my roommate made one and it just looked really good so I asked my roommates to help me make one, it was eventful. =] I also add Bacon and BBQ sauce to it, it is SOO yummy!  =]  

Umm.....yes.  Not too much has been really going on here actually, so not much to update on. 

Another week at BYU-IDAHO

Alright, so today went by fast!  But that is what happens with my schedule I guess.  I am learning that I have a love/hate relationship with my schedule.  Its funny when I tell people that basically Wednesdays are my Fridays, since I only have one class on Thursday which so far isn't hard, and they ask if I am taking like 5 credits, and I tell them 17, and they are shocked. Its amusing.  This week Wednesday literally was a Friday for me because my Thursday class got canceled, so it was so weird last night thinking that today was only Thursday. I like it. =]  So much.  It makes things a little lazy for me, but I am working hard!  Trying to get all my HW done by the weekends so I can have fun.   And I am getting much better at managing my time.  =]

Tonight  I went with a friend to a Writers Workshop which was fun- I realized that I really need to just go do more things that the school offers, and I enjoyed tonight and meeting new people!  It was fun. 

So yes.  Life here is good.  I am afraid that I am actually adjusting to the cold, because I have not been that cold lately.  Well, some days it is REALLY cold, then some days I am realizing how used to it I am getting.  Scary. Haha.  But it is all good.  I really just want to go and play in the snow!  Next week they have this thing called Pond Skimming, which is where people (normally dressing up in costumes) Slid down into like a pool of water or something and see how far they can skim.  It costs like $10 to do- but you get a free shirt.  BUT, it is free to watch- so I know a bunch of people who are gonna go watch people freeze, which I definitely plan on doing as well. =]  And I still need to go sledding and have a good snow ball fight.

But everything is going good!  Work is fine and school is good.  In like a month is my birthday, which is really exciting! =]  Definitely exciting!  

So yes.  Thats all for now! =]

Dear Mary.....thats ME!

So, here it is Friday night and I am exhausted!  I was so ready for this weekend, and I am very happy it is here!  

So my school life is going good.  I am really enjoying my cooking class, last week we made suckers- and besides burning the sugar, pouring the pina colada flavoring, we did great.  That is until we had to add more flavoring (which was alcohol based) and ended up adding too much, causing our suckers to taste like alcohol......ya.....it was fun though... But I am not a candy maker fan I think. This past week we made quiche and fruit pizza, it was so yummy!  

It snowed last night, after a week it was actually melting, it snowed.  But I think I am adjusting, because I am really not that cold, although it really hasn't been that cold in general lately.  This morning when I went to work it was so pretty.  There was fresh snow and no cars or billions of people had walked through it to make it all muddy and close, and because it is not too cold at 4 am, I just wanted to stand outside and play.  It was fun to walk and hear the crunching sound under my feet. =]  I loved it.  Its so pretty to see all the white pretty undistrubed snow.

So things have been good lately, I am still trying to get myself back into the right rhythm of school.  Its really nice though Wednesdays feel like a Friday to me, which is so fun.  Although it does make me a bit lazy....today I came home from work, slept, made a list, went shopping, came home and did homework, and went to the gym, it just felt so unpreductive.   Now I am watching a movie with my roommates and relaxing.  I read so much for all my classes, I had to read 123 pages in 2 days for my online history class- I am worn out.  

I also was making cookies, and my roommate Jess asked If I was going to mix it by hand, and I was like, "Umm....no, I will probably use a spoon." She just starred at me then I realized that she meant a spoon- it was really very funny. =]  So I made cookies, and mixed it with a spoon! Not a mixer- I felt so old fashioned. =]  Although I am thinking that the $6 mixer at Walmart is sounding nice.  

This week I went to my old wards opening social this week.  It was fun!  I got to see my old friends and meet new ones. =]

Last weekend I went to Salt Lake City, that was nice, we had no school on Monday which was also very nice.  I had a tea part with my sister and some of her friends, I added I don't know how many cups of sugar, I just could not get rid of that taste....not a tea fan.  But it was a fun weekend.  And I could actually leave the house in a long sleeved shirt and be ok.   What a thought.

The first weekend back at REX

Alright, so it is now Sunday night, and I am just about done with my weekend here....how sad.  I had forgotten how fast the weekends fly here.....its sad. But it was a good weekend.  And since I don't have classes after 10 am on Thursdays, it is like I have a 3 day weekend every weekend, which is awesome.  

On Friday I went with a couple of friends to this Comedy Imrpov thing.  Our school has different performances at least once a month, normally different singing type of groups from Piano recitals to African kids choir(Which I did not go to but I heard was amazing!) So our school offers a lot of cool concert type things to go to for like $5, but I have never gone. (Actually, our school offers a lot of cool opportunities in general.) And I am so glad I went to this!  It was funny!  It had Kirby Heyborne (who is basically in about every Mormon movie, but best known for The RM, Singles Ward and the Best Two Years),Corbin Allred (He has been in various TV shows like Monk, Touched by Angel, CSI, Sabrina the teenage witch, Everwood, 7th Heaven, but what I know him best for is Saints and Soldiers.), Lincoln Hoppe (Singles Ward,RM, Saints and Soldiers and various other things...) and then a random girl I never knew Kelly Lohman.  But it was so funny!  And for those who have seen LDS movies- it was cool to see these actors.  It was funny and a good night.  =] 

Saturday I took advantage of having a kitchen and had 2 of my friends over for breakfast- we made pancakes.  =]  Then I set off to do homework, and ended my day going to the school's Welcome back dance.  I saw a lot of people I new from classes last year, and people I knew I recognized but could not figure out from where- which is irritating.  I also saw an Elder who used to serve in Santa Maria, a little odd seeing him at a dance.  Plus a few people from SM had driven up the check out the school for the weekend- so really, I saw a lot of people, which was nice.  

I went to my new ward today, and we go in the backward direction that a normal Sunday meeting would go, starting with Relief Society and ending with Sacrament- I am not sure how well I like this.  Leaving to head to Sacrament I saw many of my friends from my old ward, and it made me miss them a lot- I would love to go to their ward, but we only start 30 min. before them, but you can be sure that I headed over their to hear the last 30 min. of my friends Josie's lesson and was enthusiastically greeted as well.  It felt like home away from home.  =]  This new ward will be weird, since most people already know each other, instead of last semester when no one knew anyone...plus last semester 90% of us were freshmen- while this semester it feels more like 20% of us.  Things are different,but I will adjust soon hopefully!

We had a CES fireside tonight.  I must admit- one of the advantages of going to Provo is being able to go to Firesides where the Prophet speaks at.  We have had General Authorities at our Devotionals, members of the 70, which Is still great- but how exciting it would be to hear from the Prophet directly to the youth not through Internet or TV.  Still, our devotionals are great and I love them.  This Tuesday is our first one, with our schools President- President Clark, speaking to us- he is great and it will be a wonderful devotional for sure.

So far school is going well and work.  This last week I don't think any day went by that I did not get more then 6 hours of sleep- first because of traveling, then because of work and trying to unpack and get things done.  Then I spent some time talking to my good friend, Sister Uluave from New Zealand- big time difference there, causing a lack of sleep on my side, but also for my happiness level to go WAY up from speaking to her. =]  So I do not mind the lack of sleep, I get to catch up on the weekends.  Talking to my NZ friend made me very happy, especially since the accents there are so fun to listen to. =]

Now all I have left to do to finish my weekend is to go to Stadium singing in a little more then an hour- then it is sleep time for me and the start of another week. =]

On the road again...

I am back to Rexburg, with snow plenty high outside- although It has melted a little bit since I first got here.  When I got here on tuesday, I went to walmart, and what the snow plows do is push all the snow around light posts so there are HUGE piles twice my height in Parking lots, and sidewalks have borders of snow to my hips surrounding them- it is so ridiculous!  It has been in the 30's since I got home- warmer then I was expecting, so you can see grass in some areas suprisingly.

So far my scheduale this year is as follows:

MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS:  Book of Mormon 9-10

Marriage Prep 10:15-11:15

Prof. Communications 11:30-12:30

Middle East 12:45-1:45

TUESDAYS: Intro to Foods 7:45-8:45

Issues on Global Climate Change 9:00-10:00

Intro to Foods lab 11:30-1:45

THURSDAYS: Issues on Global Climate Change 9:00-10:00

I have an online Intro to History class as well, and then on Fridays I have no classes! =]  Which I am very happy about!  I am still working from 4-7 am.  Although now the downside is that before I lived literally right across from the building I worked at- I could leave 2 minutes before 4 and be on time, now I am farther.  And even more, the direct route to leave my building to go to work is closed at 4 am so I have to go out the back way and walk around the building, which will take longer then 2 minutes, which is a bummer.  But I will get through it. 

So far I like having a kitchen, although I really have not made much.....cereal, microwave mac & cheese, this morning I made toast and ate a grapefruit(which was yummy.) =]   Last night though my Roommate Brooke was kind enough to let me eat some of her Tacos that she made.  

It has been nice to see friends from last semester.  And my friend Jamie from Santa Maria is up here this Semester as well and she is in the dorm complex next to mine, so its nice having people close by.  

So, I am here.  Classes are always a bit overwhelming on the first day because the teachers go over everything that is gonna happen that semester on the first day so I get freaked out, but then as the semester goes on it isn't so bad.  I really like my Middle East class, and my Book of Mormon class I like so far to.  I have only had my Mon & Wed classes so far- I think I will like Marriage Prep and Pro. Comm better once I meet people in that class.  But all is good so far.  =]  I like my new dorm.  It has drawbacks, like a smaller bathroom and less space in the bedrooms and bathroom which makes them even smaller, but a large living room and a kitchen! =]  

Here is part of the Kitchen.  Way exciting.  
I am currently sitting at that table writing and doing what I am doing right now.
Our kitchen.  I am finding that we are still lacking things we need, like a knife and a sponge to wash dishes.....its the simple things.
This is outside my dorm- see, some non snowy parts!  It was not like that yesterday! =]
I am on the bottom floor and I walk up those steps to go to class- it is also where I would go to leave for work but is locked.  
This is what the sky looked like this morning- isn't it pretty?  Idaho has pretty skies.
ME!  yay!  =]