Brian and Brian (getting closer)

Brian Stoll

Brian was another guy from my freshman ward. He is from South Jordan or West Jordan or something like that... so when it was his turn to leave, we all wanted to be there for it. Brian is one of the happiest people I have ever met, and he is also one of the huggiest people I have ever met! It was sad to see him go, but I'm sure he is going to do amazing things because he is so friendly!

Brian with all of the girls that came to see him! (Brian, Rachel, Amy, Britt, Me, Lisa)

Jared and all the girls!

Brian Edwards and the girls.

The cute group picture...

A classic Brian face picture...

We're all going to miss his hugs so much!

...

Jared and Brian get all the girls (but Brian only gets them for a few weeks longer...)

Brian and I

I was so excited to get to see Lisa for like the first time in forever!! (Ok like 2 months, but when you spend almost every day together for 8 months with no longer than a week in between seeing one another 2 months seems like an eternally long time!)

After the farewell, and after party (which had delicious food) Amy invited me to join her and her roommates for a dinner that her parents and her mom's friend were doing for her birthday. So even though I wasn't really hungry I went along for fun. We got dropped off at the 7 11 to wait for her Dad, and got a little bored so we took some pictures while we waited.

It was a really fun dinner, with yummy food that I didn't really need, but couldn't resist eating!

Brian Edwards

Brian is from Sandy so his farewell was another one that we really wanted to go to. His farewell was really nice, and getting to see him for a bit afterward was great as well. And as always, these outings always mean more pictures!

Brian and the girls... since he was one of the last to leave he had us all to himself!

We left a space in this one for Jared, because we all felt bad that we had forgotten to check with him and see if he wanted to go to this farewell with us.

I think that Brian looks a little traumatized in this picture...

Brian and I

Fourth of July

The night before the 4th we went to a tumbling gym and had some fun there, then we just hung out and watched a movie, played games, etc. After curfew we weren't quite ready to go to bed, so a group of us decided to check out University Avenue and see all of the crazy people who were camped out along the street to keep a spot for the parade the next morning. We were just having fun walking around and seeing the craziness that was happening there because it is one of the only nights out of the year that Provo hasn't gone to sleep by like 1 or 2 in the morning. It was pretty interesting, until it started pouring rain on us and then it was just crazy! It was kind of funny to see all of the people that were camping out trying to find ways to hide from the rain. So then we turned back toward home and walked/ran home in the rain, which caused us to basically be soaked by the time we made it back. The weather kind of reminded me of monsoon season except it was really cold rain, so I spent a little time in the rain before going inside. Then I stayed up even later to paint my toenails cool colors to go with the holiday (red and white stripes) I finally went to bed way later than I should have and then woke up just in time to start off the day bright and early at 6 am.

Our first plan for the day was to go see the hot air balloon launch. It was really cool to see, I don't think I have ever seen hot air balloons take off before so it was pretty cool, even though it was way early!

Tony the tiger!


After the balloon launch we all walked over to Macey's along with a ton of people from Provo, for a free breakfast. So we had a delicious breakfast of French toast, buttermilk syrup and juice. After the breakfast we headed back to our apartments to get ready for the parade. What should have taken like 10 minutes or less (a car ride from Freedom St to 2oo E about 4 or 5 streets one way and maybe 3 the other) ended up taking us almost an hour due to all of the traffic blocks that they had for the parade. It was ridiculous!! We tried almost every street and got denied even though the parade wasn't starting for like another hour and a half, crazy!

Then we went to the parade and the Princesses (among others) made an appearance. (I only went after a short nap) And after the parade we went back to our apartments and got a little more ready for the day than we had to begin with (due to the horribly early hour) and then a group of us got together and played guitar hero for a long time along with playing other games, and watching an episode or two of Burn Notice (the show of our summer here the BC)

Then around 4 we got together and started planning for our hike to the Y. We planned a picnic and did the shopping, and put our lunch/dinner together.

Around 5 we got all our stuff together and got all ready to go hike the Y and we left. This was the view from the Y, of the sunset, it was really a neat contrast of light and dark and I wish that I could paint it or something because it was really beautiful!

After a picnic of chicken salad sandwiches, cookies, and grapes, JD was in the mood for some yoga type movements so he did that for a while while we waited for the fireworks of the night to start.

We also played some Phase 10 as we waited, which showed me that people really enjoy skipping me for some reason. Then we watched the fireworks and just talked and had a really good time spending time together. (Amy, me, Jeni, Joshua, and JD)

From the looks of this picture by the end of the night some of us were sick of the others, and tried to push them off of the mountain... but we all survived in one piece.

The view from the top!

JD thought the blanket would make a nice cape... or he just thought it might be more fun to carry it this way... I'm not really sure.

Jeni and I waiting for everyone else to get to the base of the Y

And the end of the hike. We survived, even in the dark, with only one or two little flashlights, and a scary climb down the face of the Y (which I aborted as soon as possible)

Talent Show, Dallin leaving and visits from friends

Talent Show

Ted stayed in the 50th ward for Spring term and in true 50th ward fashion, they ended the semester with a talent show to showcase as much of the ward's talent as people wanted to display. Ted wanted to sing a duet, and after watching the pilot episode of Glee, he became determined to sing a version of "Don't Stop Believing" very similar to the one at the end of the episode. Ted is pretty amazing with music and stuff, so he kind of put an arrangement together that was pretty similar to the arrangement in the show, and it was super fun! I wish that I could post a video of it for all to see, but I never got the video from Ted before he left, so all that I have is the music video that we made, that is up on Facebook now. Maybe someday I can get it and post it for everyone to see. If not, sorry you can't enjoy my lovely singing... just kidding, but it was a way fun song to sing, and Ted is a really fun person to perform with!

This was the group of leftovers that were at the talent show, along with Bishop and Sister James, Brother and Sister Packer, and Brother Rowley. For the talent show Jessica played the piano, Amy turned pages, Ted and I sang, and Rachel filmed.

Saying Bye to Dallin

Dallin came back to Provo just in time to go into the MTC. So the night before he was supposed to enter, we planned a temple trip to the Draper Temple. I feel very blessed to mhave been able to go up to the Draper temple as many times as I have been able to. This time was no different, we had a really great time at the temple, and followed it with a trip to Spoon Me! (which was delicions as well as fun to say!)

Most of the people that went, Brian, Ted, Dallin, Brian, Kevin, Lindsey, me, Jess, and Amy.

A few more that met us there, Jess, Lindsey, Ted, Dallin, Alyssa, Brian, Kevin, Kelsey, me, and Amy.

Getting a little crazy!

Dallin was a little afraid we might touch him, but as much as we tried, we just couldn't do it!

That didn't stop us from trying though!

Ted and I wanted to take a picture together since we didn't take one the night of the talent show, Dallin and Brian just couldn't resist jumping in though!

We're not really sure what this picture was supposed to be but, it is kind of a funny picture.

Our classic circle picture!

On Wednesday we went to the MTC where we were supposed to meet up with Dallin to see him off, but he decided to go in without waiting for us so we just felt kind of silly because we didn't have a missionary to meet up with.

Since Dallin didn't wait for us Ted decided to Photoshop him in so we really didn't look as silly...

Ted and I decided to take another picture together because we were matchy matchy red squared!

Vanessa's Visit

Vanessa's brother Bucky was going to a baseball camp at BYU so her and her family made the drive from Minnesota to Provo. One night of her trip she was nice enough to save some time for me and she and I played all day and then she spent the night with me. Some of the things that we did that day were bake cookies for some of our friends in the MTC and send them off with cute little notes, we met up with Brittni Vawdrey for a little while, we played with other friends and watched one of our favorite movies. It was way fun to get to see her for a while!

Britt was a counselor at some of the BYU camps so we found a short window of time that we could meet up with her so we visited for a little while and then she had to get back to work.

Part of the time that I had with Vanessa, I shared her with some other friends.

And as always our time together got a little crazy!

Alyssa's Visit

Alyssa and I have been friends since the 6th grade meaning that she is probably the person I have been friends with for the longest amount of time, even with a move thrown in the mix. When we both decided to go to BYU we were really excited because it would mean we got to see each other more often. Then when we ended up living like a half hour walk away from each other we didn't get to see much of each other which was sad. (This year we live like 3 or 4 blocks away from each other like a 5 minute walk so we are going to take more advantage of that this year!) Anyway, this summer one of her roommates from last year was getting married in Salt Lake, so she was coming down the Utah way for a few days, one of which she saved some time for me. We went to the temple together, which was pretty neat because since we were never in the same ward or even the same stake back in Twin Falls, we had never gotten to do that before. That was pretty much all we did because she didn't have too much time, but we went to the temple, then got ready for the day and had some lunch, and really just enjoyed the time that we had to visit with each other. I sure love Alyssa!

Catching up and getting further behind...

The Jordan River Temple Trip

We had a chance to go to the Jordan River Temple one Saturday. We had made this decision at the beginning of the summer to go to as many temples as we could, so this was one on our list. The group that went to the Jordan River Temple was, me, Jessica, Amy, Brittni, Ted, and Brian Edwards. It was a beautiful temple, and only one that went with us had ever been there before so it was a new experience for most of us. I had a really special experience at the Jordan River temple, as I do at every temple, and I was so glad that we got to go. And of course one of our outings would not be complete without pictures to record it. So Ted and Amy took turns taking pictures.

I just like this picture because of the way the temple looks in the background.

Trying a little synchronized swimming in the fountain...

This may look easy but it was actually kind of difficult in like 4 inch heels!

The whole gang in front of the pretty fountain.

I think that the lady taking this picture was thinking we were pretty crazy!

The greenery in this picture was so pretty, and I just think it is a pretty fun picture!

Trying to find new types of pictures to take.

Not really sure why our hands were so important but it does kind of make a cool picture!

Once again, I'm not sure why our feet were so important, but it is kind of a cool picture.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple Open House

One of the main reasons that we ended up going to the Jordan River temple the day that we did was because we were also able to get tickets the Oquirrh Mountain open house. The Oquirrh Mountain temple is really beautiful, and it was a really great experience. I am so glad that I have been able to go to both the Oquirrh Mountain and the Draper open houses this year, both were really neat experiences for me! We went to the Jordan River temple to start out, then we went over to Brian's house where his parents had dinner for us, and then we headed over to the Oquirrh Mountain temple.

This was in the reception after the open house. It was incredible, it was all in a big tent, but the tent had doors, and chandeliers, and rugs, and couches, and a wall with pictures on it... it was insane!

The group outside of the temple, some of Brian's friends met up with us and went with us as well.

When we were going back to the car, a man was driving a golf cart and offered us a ride back to the car, so here we are on the cart.

Tom and Brian

Tom and Brian were two of my FHE brothers last year. They were entering the MTC on the same day so we planned a little get together the night before so that we could see them off. Tom or Elder Fowles is headed off to the Thailand Bangkok mission and Brian or Elder Davis is now in the Tulsa, Oklahoma mission.

FHE group 12 reunited... well minus a few

Me, Jared, Thomas, Brian, Ted, Jess, Amy

No Touchy!

Brett's Farewell

Brett moved into the 50th ward second semester and was roommates with one of my friends, Brian Edwards. I really enjoyed getting to know Brett better all of second semester and getting to go to his farewell down in Cedar was really a fun time for all who went. Brett's family was very nice to us as was Jessica's family and Chantelle's we were basically very blessed to get to go down there and have an enjoyable weekend away from Provo! Basically Sunday morning we went to Brett's church and listened to his last talk. It was really a great talk and we were very impressed with how ready Brett was to leave for his mission. He is going to make an amazing missionary as he teaches the people of Romania.

Brett and all the girls!

We like to have some fun with our pictures... every once in a while.

Our whole group... Amy, Sarah, Jess, Brian Edwards, Ted, Brett, Jared, Brian Stoll, Chantelle, me, and Brittni... now all but Jared and Ted have left for their missions. Jared is an RM one of the only ones from the 50th ward, and Ted leaves in like two weeks.

Brett's dog was so excited she wanted to join in the pictures!

Once again we like to have some fun with our pictures! Fun often equals CRAZY!

Brett and I
This is Ted's "I'm tired of taking pictures" face...
After Brett's farewell, Ted was nice enough to drive me to see one of my most favoritest people in the world... Becky! I was so excited to get to see her even though it was only for a few minutes and talking to her reminded me of why I love that girl so much. She is basically amazing and I miss her a lot. This also made me decide I should try to see her more often! I talked to her for as long as I felt I could (Ted, Amy and Jess were waiting in the car for me so I couldn't talk too long) Then we went back to Jess's house and everyone took a nap for a little but Amy and I just ended up talking about books for a little while and then we revisited childhood by playing on Jess's playground complete with a tramp, swings, and a jungle gym.

Then we left for home. We got about an hour out of Provo and after discussing it discovered that very few of us had food to go home to but we were all starving... so Britt volunteered her mom, another very kind family of the weekend, and her mom agreed to feed us some spaghetti. So we headed to the Vawdrey home in American Fork and had a lovely Sunday dinner. During dinner we played the same game we played when we had dinner at Jess's and then afterward we played Apples to Apples, we are all holding our cards which are supposed to describe us but sadly we didn't write them down and the picture is a little too blurry to see what the cards say. Then we headed back to Provo tired but happy after a long and amazingly fun weekend!

Cedar City/ St George/ Zion

We all wanted to take a road trip this summer (all= the leftovers of the 50th ward) so Ted started planning it and the perfect opportunity arose when Brett's farewell came up! So we planned a lovely weekend trip to Cedar City, where both Brett and Jess live, as well as a few little excursions to St George (for the temple) and Zion's National Park. Nine of us left Provo together, Ted drove Tido, with Jess, Amy and I as passengers and Brian Edwards drove the Big Purple Beast with Brittni, Sarah, Jared, and Brian Stoll as passengers. We blasted music, read books, ate food, and played games on the way down. We got there pretty late on Friday night, so we stopped at Brett's to drop off the boys and then Brian drove all us girls over to Jess's house. We stayed up for a little while, just talking, laughing, and enjoying being together and then we decided we should get some sleep since we had an early start the next morning. This was basically our Satuday...

The back of the Big Purple Beast. We saw a lot of this over the course of the weekend.

Jess and I keeping busy in the car.

In the parking lot of the temple Brian went to park and he almost hit this car that was parked next to us. Britt, Sarah and I were all quite amazed that he missed it because he was probably within inches.

Our group for the temple + Jared Ramirez, a guy from the 50th ward, who we randomly ran into when he was leaving the temple. (He is from Las Vegas and this was like the weekend before he left)

The St. George Temple (Picture credit to Amy)

All the girls on the steps of the temple after doing baptisms. It was a really amazing experience to do baptisms in the St. George temple. It is the oldest running temple I believe so it was really great. The temple worker that was there was a really neat and he gave a really special spiritual thought to prepare us to do baptisms.

The girls - Amy + Ted

Our group that drove down to Cedar as well as Chantelle who joined us once we got there (she is from Hurricaine UT)

Jared, Me, Jess, Brian Stoll, Brittni, Ted, Chantelle, Brian Edwards, Sarah, Amy

A lovely circle of people and friends
Britt squared

The group with Amy...The group with Ted on the bus up to our hike in ZionsThe River TrailOur hiking group
We're a little nuts...Amy and I getting a little closer to the edge...Sarah the beauty queen and crazy me...Discovering the little mermaid inside of me...
The second part of our hike to the Weeping Rock (the first was the River walk)
Trying to catch some tearsWe are all trying to catch the tears, maybe to stop the tears from coming.
Jess's Mom and Dad prepared a lovely dinner for us. It was not only delicious it was very fun!We kept ourselves entertained by a very fun dinner game.