The Lasts of Provo

This being my last semester in Provo I wanted to go out with a bang. There are certain things that must be done as a true BYU Cougar and I was determined to check them all off my list... 

1. Make s'mores on the bell tower lights

2. Eat in the Cannon Center

3. Attend a basketball and football game

4. Go country dancing 

5. Eat in each restaurant on campus

6. Attend the Lost and Found Sale

7. Go tunnel singing 

8. Live in a place that shouldn't be deemed livable

9. Eat creamery ice cream 

10. Attend a BYU dance

11. Go to a Divine Comedy show

 12. Get the random free food offered on campus 

13. Find the perfect place to study with some great friends 

Each Life that Touches Ours for Good

Starting from day one in Provo, I have been blessed to associate with incredible people. Each of my roommates, members of my ward, friends from classes... they have impacted me in ways that I would never be able to describe. Each one has set an example and provided important advice and counsel to help me arrive to where I am today. 

Oh how I'm going to miss them all! 

The Future Speech Pathologist

So each year the American Speech Language and Hearing Association holds a conference. In the beginning of October my dad called me up one day and asked if I wanted to attend the conference in Atlanta. He was awesome and set it all up! We flew in and met at the Atlanta airport. It reminded me of the many business trips that I got to accompany him on, although this time I was the one there for business. It was so great! 

While I was in classes Dad walked around the vendor's area and collected TONS of pens and other prizes. 

The morning before we left we went and saw the home of Martin Luther King Jr. It was fascinating! As we were walking around my dad casually mentioned that he remembers the day that he was shot and I was really taken back. In history classes they always talk about segregation as a thing of the long and almost forgotten past but it really was not that long ago. My dad isn't that old. 

This was in out hotel. There were over 40 floors! 

I thought the glass elevators were pretty neat and my dad humored me in taking a picture of them. 

On the way to the airport we finished the trip off with some sushi. Turns out that I actually really like it! 

BYU Football

As a tradition among the roommates we got an All-Sports pass this year and were able to attend almost all of the BYU home football games! I know a decent amount of football but I will admit that I go to the games for the social atmosphere more than anything. 

I mean who wouldn't want to hang out with these awesome girls?! This was the Oregon State game. It was a black out to introduce BYU's new black uniforms. So that's why we're all wearing black. 

For the last home game against Idaho State we knew that it would be freezing so we needed to prepare quite a bit in order to make sure that we would last at least until half time. 

This is Keri and I warming up our toes in hot water until they were red. We wanted them to start off really warm so the cold didn't feel as bad. 

All of us had black leggings on underneath our pants which were so helpful!  

Our preparation was appreciated because this is what the stands looked like when we got there. They were still covered in snow and FREEZING cold. 

Here's Emily, Nate (a guy from our old ward and McKay's friend), me, Keri, McKay, and Jeremy. 

Emily and I made it until about half-time and then I could not longer feel my feet so we walked home but it was so fun! Everyone should add this to their must have experiences in college. 

Visiting the Burg

 Since all of our friends that go to BYU-Idaho always talk about how they come down to Utah to visit us, Keri and I decided that it was time that we went up to Rexburg to visit them. 

To start off the trip, Keri and I decided to stop in Salt Lake and work on a family history project at the family history library. We were pretty sure we knew where we were going to so went into a building and started working away. There were a few things that confused us, such as the fact that they didn't have access to ancestry.com. It wasn't until I asked one of the men working where the microfilm are that he said that we needed to go to the Family History Library. Come to find out we were in the Church History Library. Who knew the church had so many libraries?! 

This was the view that we got out our window on the way up. (The picture doesn't do it justice at all!) Although I have true Colorado pride, I have to admit that Utah and Idaho have their pretty moments.

Car pictures!  

What a cheese.

We have a picture like this from our first road so we only thought it appropriate. 

The trip was a blast! We got in late Friday night and got to hang out with Abby and Hannah. Keri stayed at her friend's place and I stayed with Hannah. She gave me the full tour of campus and even bought me lunch! Oh man - it was great! We played some Frisbee with a friend of Hannah's and I went star gazing with Abby. 

I even got to see Hannah play ping pong and cream some guy. I think it was a major highlight of the trip! 

Overall it was a great trip. I love Rexburg and I LOVE friends. 

Lakewood Reunion: Part II

Back by popular demand, another Lakewood Stake Youth Reunion was held. It was even better than the first! Because the last reunion was held in the middle of summer when not too many people were in Provo, we decided to throw another one and we got a great turn out. It was so fun to hear people catch up and just remember all the great memories that we have together. 

I felt as if I was on another youth conference and I was so appreciative of the great group of youth that I was able to associate with. We don't really get to choose who we grow up with but I was lucky enough to get a good group of kids. It was neat to see how each one of us are so different but two things in common: (1) we grew up in Lakewood, CO, and (2) the gospel. 

Lance Nelson, David Baum, Shannon Nelson, Chelsea, Bryan Wilson, Scott Raia, Katie Garey, Jens Jacobsen, Taylor Brinkerhoff, Emily Rischard, Nick Raia, 

Aaron Zaugg and Andrew Zaugg 

Chinese Appreciation Night

Everyone loves them a little Chinese. So we decided to make a night of it... 

Thanks to Tess we all learned how to make pot stickers. They were delicious! I tried my hand at chopsticks but it was a hopeless cause - I'll stick to the fork, thank you.

Tuns out that they are super easy. Who knew? I'll need to get the receipt from Tess. 

Fall / Apple Party

We were in the mood to throw another party and that we did. All of our other parties have been pretty big so we wanted to keep this one a little big smaller. But we wanted to go all out. I feel like we had a good balance of fun and chill. We decided on having dips and asking people to bring an apple to contribute. 

Of course we had to have a pinata! I decided that I wanted to make an apple pinata. In my head it seemed pretty easy and I think it wouldn't have been as stressful if I had started a few nights before instead of at 11:00 the night before the party. Luckily Keri, Emily and Nate, from our ward, were willing to get down and dirty in paper mache. We used a big punching balloon as the base and egg cartons and the part on the bottom. It never quite dried so the next morning we wrapped it in packaging tape. 

This was the spread. Each roommate was in charge of a different apple dip or treat so we had a toffee dip, chocolate chip cookie dough dip, peanut butter, and caramel. We also had cheese and caramel corn. I do have to say that it was pretty. 

This is about 30 minutes before people started arriving. We hadn't finished putting up the lights and Tess was helping me finish cover the pinata. We put on the last strip of red tissue paper as the first guest arrived. It was pretty epic! 

Here is Keri and Michael Hayden. 

Tess and I enjoying caramel corn! 

 Devynne and her sister and brother-in-law, Chelsea and Owen. 

Here is the final project! I do have to say that it turned out pretty nicely. I was impressed by everyone who helped. I also have to say that I believe in packaging tape on a pinata for college students. It lasted a really long time and a lot of people got a good hit out of it. 

Fall is here!

I usually say that my favorite season is whatever season we are currently in. But if I had to choose one over all the rest, it would have to be fall. It is absolutely gorgeous, especially where I live! As a few roommates we went driving up Provo Canyon and got to take a few pictures. I am always blown away by the pure beauty of the earth. Heavenly Father is incredible! 

This picture was taken on a random outing to watch the sunset from the base of Y trail head. It was so pretty! 

I love to see the temple

A few weekends ago, my parents were in town and we visited the Open House of the Brigham City Temple. The last open house that I had visited was in Corona del Mar, CA so it has been a long while. Even with all the heat, people, and waiting it was a fabulous experience. I was reminded of how simple the temple really is.  We come to learn and make covenants with the Lord. When we have done our own then we come and do them for those who no longer can. 

Then last Sunday I was able to watch the dedication of the temple and was again reminded of the same principle. I was studying right before it began and found specific blessings that the Lord promises to those that faithfully attend the temple... 

1) we will be armed with power

2) Christ's name will be upon us

3) His glory will be round about us 

4) His angels have charge over us

(D&C 109:22)

The Temple President, Preston Checketts, added another blessing to this list - Our lives will be more simple. I truly believe that. As we attend the temple we will be armed with the power of the Lord and because of those blessing and power our lives will become more simple. Our priorities will be inline with the Lord's and we will be happy. 

Happy Birthday McKay

I absolutely love birthdays! It's always so fun to do something and remind someone that they play an important role in your life. September 13th marked the birth of Heber Mckay Perry. 

Keri and I made a poster with 24 things that we appreciate about Mckay. It was fun to make. 

Friends + Chocolate

There's honestly not much to say for this one. We said that there would be a chocolate fountain and people came. It was an absolute blast! I estimated that over the course of the night we probably had about 100 people. It was a success.