Big Foote's Blog

Date Night!

2011-07-20T13:57:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago David took me on a bigger date than usual. :)

It at all started with a some text messages
D-"Lauren, what's your favorite kind of sandwich?"
L-"Probably a BLT with avocado, on almost burnt wheat bread with a very thin layer of mayonnaise, why?"
D-"Just wondering. Do you like chocolate pudding?"
L-"Yes...why David?"

....No response....2 hours later at about 1:45pm....

D- "I rented us a two-seater bike we can pick it up at 2:30 :)"
**Side note, I'd been wanting to ride a tandem bike for months! I was ecstatic! He's so good**

So he picked me up at about 3pm on a "bicycle built for two", we rode to Smith Park just a little way away from my apartment and he had packed us a picnic, with perfectly toasted BLTA's with a thin layer of mayonnaise, chocolate pudding and mint Oreos (my favorite).

Now, we were a pretty good team on that tandem bike right from the start, but then we tried to switch places, so I was in front steering and David was in the back 'letting' me steer (bad idea). He was so used to steering and having control of the bike that he was trying to do that from the back, causing me to slightly loose control in the front. He was freaking out, I was laughing and screaming and shouting at him to just hold his arms still and we wouldn't fall over, but that was a hard thing to do after he'd been in control to begin with. We quickly switched places again so we both weren't so stressed out.

With us back in our rightful seats on the bike, we rode to The Dollar Store and bought two kites for $1...they were cheap to say the least. We rode our little bike to another park close to my apartment and flew/tried to fly them. Mine quickly broke so we were down to one, we got David's up in the sky a few times...enough to take a picture and we were done. **Just some advice-avoid Dollar Store kites**

We continued the night just riding around Rexburg on our bike just enjoying each others company. We finished the night by watching a movie at my apartment. I was happy as a clam. :)

Now it's finals week. I'll be done with my tests tomorrow afternoon and then I'll do all of my packing and cleaning the rest of the day Thursday and all Friday morning! Then it's off to Boise for a few days, Utah for Hannah's wedding, then California to visit David's family and see his old stomping grounds! :) So the wedding and California trip will most likely be my next post!

More Spring Semester Pictures

2011-06-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

The Dominguez Family came to visit Rexburg and the Foote Family Reunion was in Twin Falls!

Again, I don't have many words. Just pictures for now. Life is good. Only 4 weeks left of the semester!!! WOOT!

Spring Semester-Picture Update

2011-05-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

So I realized I hadn't posted any pictures from this semester at all...and it's midterms already! I don't really have words to say, just pictures to show. :)

Oh...but I will say this: BEST. SEMESTER. EVER.

Easter! We drew names and did "Secret Easter Bunny's" for each other. AND we had David play the Easter Bunny for all of us and hide eggs for an Easter egg hung! So fun! :)

Cyndi got her hairs did

Boise trip for Ashlee's bridal shower=Pedicures with the littles :)

Late night pearly white cleaning parties! So much fun.

David and me after our date to Olive Garden and a Paul Cardall concert (amazing).

Snuggie Fashion show!

**Probably all semester Cyndi has been asking me if I have ever worn my Snuggie with a belt around the middle...so this time when she asked I just did it! And so did she!

And Meagan!

And Karoline!

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So our roommate, Mandy (far left), is always in bed by at least 10pm (usually 830 or 9)...but last Sunday night she was up until midnight! We we all in shock!

Karoline turned 22 on May 27th and we celebrated at Famous Dave's with our FHE brothers (and David).

The roommates! It's a rare occasion for all of us to be in the same place, so we always take pictures when it happens. :)

The whole birthday group! We were missing some of our FHE brothers, but it was still so so fun!

I walked around "blind" for 4 hours on Friday. It's for a Special Ed class I'm taking called "exceptional students"...so later on in the semester I get to get a feel for what it's like to be in a wheelchair! :)

Throughout the four hour period of blindness on Friday I had a different mask for each hour, so I let all of the roommate wear one for us to take a picture! (Courtney was also doing it at the same time so we had 8 masks total.)

Just yesterday Meagan, Karoline and Cyndi all ended up in purple...so I changed my shirt to match and of course we took pictures! I love my roommates!

Us in our purple and our adorable table! The flowers in the middle are mine...from David. :) I'm so lucky.

Just my Cyndi and me. I love her. :)

This is our "Family" wall. It's taken all semester to get it put together, but finally yesterday I took it upon myself to get it finished, and we love it!

This frame (courtesy of the D.I. $1.50) has a picture of each of our real families and then fun family quotes down the center (Sorry big sisters, the picture I had with you guys in it was too big for the frame).

This one is our apartment family. :) JeeHye gave me this picture frame for my birthday and I love it!

Well that's all for now! We are doing a big apartment group date tomorrow and our plan is to take lots of pictures! Maybe I'll get around to posting them by the end of the semester. :)

A REAL Teacher...

2011-05-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

This week I got to experience a small taste of what it will be like to be a real teacher...and I loved it! I got to teach a lesson of some sort every day except today, which meant a lesson plan or some sort of preparation before hand so that I could communicate in the most simple way possible.

For one of my classes this semester I get to go to Central Elementary School in Sugar City, Idaho. I help in a first grade classroom for two hours every Tuesday and Thursday morning. I got to teach science lessons on electricity this week! We learned about static electricity on Tuesday and then circuits/flashlights on Thursday! I love my first grade class and it's always good to see their faces light up and hear them say "Hi Miss Foote!" when I walk into the classroom. They love to show me their work when they are finished and they LOVE that my last name is Foote.

**side note: the first week I started helping in their class 'foot' was one of their spelling words. Needless to say, I was the star that Thursday when I got to introduce myself**

Anyway, this week was awesome. I can't say enough how blessed I feel to be at a school that allows Sophomores/Juniors to go out into the field so early on and develop their ideas and knowledge about teaching. I already know, after just three weeks, that if it weren't for these few short weeks being in the classroom, I would have been in for a BIG surprise when I went to student teach.

I love school. I love teaching. I can't wait to have a classroom of my own. :)

My camera refused to take a clear picture, but this is my name tag. :)

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T12:14:00.000-07:00

I have the best mom in the world...

...and the cutest ever...

...She loves her mommy so much...

...She loves her babies...

...And her Grandbabies...

And all of those people love her too...especially me. Happy Mother's Day my Mommy!

Birthday's/Family Pictures

2011-03-22T19:43:00.000-07:00

Mom, Taylor and Reagan...this is for you because you are most likely the only ones that care...oh and maybe Carisa. :)

These are pictures from Meagan's surprise Birthday party, and Michael Metcalf's Birthday dinner (Russian Chicken...yummm). AND we took roommate pictures for next semester! We are all so excited to live together that we couldn't wait any longer and just had to do it now (also the girl with a good camera is going on a mission in April so we had to do it before she left!). We love each other. :)

And there you have it. I'm sorry the posts aren't more frequent, my camera is out of batteries and I have misplaced the adapter so it's hard for me to upload pictures anyway. :( Thank goodness for neighbors and roommates with working cameras!

Miss you guys! Taylor and Reagan (and Carisa) I wish you could come to Rexburg with the family on Saturday! Mom (and family) can't wait to see you so soon!!!

Since "Idaho Chicken"...

2011-03-04T13:30:00.001-08:00

I have...

Eaten lots of brownies...

Provided Courtney with all the jewelry and hair accessories she'd ever need...

Tried to fix the shower...

Had LOTS of dance parties...

....

....

Played in the snow...

Gotten a letter from Preston...

Gone country dancing (and turned into a ghost...oh well)...

Gotten flowers for Valentine's Day (if you wanna know the story text or call me)...

Decorated my wall by my desk...finally...

AND....Made MORE Idaho Chicken...

It's an apartment favorite...

***SIDE NOTE...in the Spring, three girls from the apartment next door (who we also knew last year and moved over to the Pines with), are moving into our apartment! Talk about BEST APARTMENT EVER. We already have so many plans for our lives as roommates! I'll try my best to document them on here. :)

My Motto...

2011-03-04T10:59:00.001-08:00

Since my roommates would probably think I'm crazy if I did this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg

I listen to this instead...
Listen to it. Love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6rqbzuOFtA

For about two weeks now, whenever I'm feeling stressed or like I want to give up, I listen to this song. It's my little pump up song, if you will.

Kansas Weekend!

2011-03-03T18:42:00.000-08:00

Three words...

BEST. WEEKEND. EVER.

Okay I'll write more than three words...

So I forgot my camera at the hotel the first day and a half that I was there, so there aren't even any pictures of Oaklie in her precious little blessing dress or anything, but I assure you the grandparents have plenty to go around. I'll see what I can do about getting some of those. But even without pictures of every single minute I was there, it was still the most amazing trip ever. I hadn't seen Matt since Christmas 2009, I hadn't seen Reagan and Preston since the family reunion in June, I hadn't seen my mom since December 28th, my dad since January 3rd, and I had NEVER seen Oaklie! It was a weekend full of reunions!

We played hard the whole time we were there. Matt gave a beautiful blessing to his baby girl, and I think it was even more special because, not only were both grandpa's there, but Matt's little brother Josh was able to stand in the circle with them (Josh was on his mission when Preston was born). We got to go explore Kansas and a little bit, we checked out the new temple being built in Kansas City, we explored the "aquarium", Preston played in the water...overall it was such a good time!

Preston is so grown up, talks so much and so clearly, he loves his parents more than anyone, he loves his little sister Ickie...or is it Oldie? Maybe Olkie? I think by the end he was saying Oaklie pretty clearly. :) He even said my name..."Warlen". Preston and I were buddies on Monday morning, while Matt and Reagan when on a belated Valentine's date. I was the happiest girl ever, to say the least.

Oaklie is two months old and as precious as can be. She's got the sweetest little face and body anybody could ever ask for. I can't wait to watch her learn and grow!

Here are some pictures of the weekend...seriously not even half of them...I can't imagine if I would have had my camera the whole time!

This is my favorite picture ever! :)

Thank you Ogle's for being such great hosts and having such adorable, fun little kids. Thank you Dad for finding me a cheap flight so that I wasn't the only one that hadn't been to Kansas anymore. Thank you mom for bringing my El Pato jar to me all the way from Boise so that I can actually use my El Pato. Thank you Preston and Oaklie for making my heart so happy. I'm so blessed. :)

Idaho Chicken

2011-02-13T15:40:00.000-08:00

I made lunch for the roommates today...Idaho Chicken. It was delicious. I have lots of left overs, for which I'm super grateful. The roommates loved it, one of them even told me it tasted like her Mom's! :) Today is a great Sunday.

That's all I have to say...just thought it had been awhile since I posted so I wrote whatever came to my mind (of course it was food).

OH and I just remembered...First Women's Glee performance on Tuesday at devotional. We are singing "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need". It's a beautiful song about Psalm 23. Read it, then listen to the song. It makes my heart happy. :) Wish me luck!

PS for some reason it's not letting put a link to the song on here, but YouTube search "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need-Mormon Tabernacle Choir", it's the third one down. LOVE IT!

I got....

2011-01-08T15:45:00.000-08:00

Yep. I get to sing this for Women's Glee. Be jealous.

Late night fun...

2011-01-07T11:03:00.000-08:00

Because I am sick, I allowed myself to take a nap yesterday. This nap that was only supposed to be an hour and a half turned into 4 hours (it was amazing). But, when it was time to go to bed I wasn't sleepy, so what did I do? I made Meagan, Courtney and Jessica put their hair in a side pony with me (sorry mom) and we had a little photo shoot/dance party (with no music). Talk about hilarious and fun!

I have 18 chins in this one...oh well!

Pet Peeve...

2011-01-07T11:01:00.000-08:00

Oh how I love my roommates....

Floor Plan

2011-01-06T13:34:00.000-08:00

Dear Mom & Reagan,

When you walk in the front door you are in the kitchen, with the family room on the left. If you walk straight back from the front door you will see the two bathrooms and the vanity on your right as well as Meagan and my bedroom. The other two bedrooms are on the left side of the hall. Is this helpful?

Love,
Lauren

PS The first two days of classes have been good, minus the fact that I have a nasty cold. I can't stop sneezing and coughing. MER. Please bless it will be gone by next week.

OH and how could I forget...a heat wave has hit us today...25 DEGREES!!!

My New Home...

2011-01-04T18:38:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are pictures from the last two days...

Okay so they are in a really random order because my computer is being weird. Yesterday we ate as roommates and watched the Bachelor. :) Today we shopped and found ourselves some super good deals on cute things for our apartment. We hung curtains in the front room and decorated our entertainment center with cute, colorful blocks the have "The 9 Be's" on them. We got pillows to put on our couches so they aren't so plain....AND...hopefully by this weekend we will have the wall painted the color that WE want... Not fry sauce color, like it is right now!

So far just the 109 girls are here, we supposedly have two other roommates, but they are nowhere to be found. All we know is their names are Sadie and Emily and they are cousins. Hopefully they're fun! :)

Oh...and here is a picture just for my mom because she told me "that side pony has got to go"....

I promise the side pony is strictly a moving/cleaning day, homework doing hair do. OR if there is some sort of 80's dance party of course. :)

We're #1...

2011-01-03T23:13:00.000-08:00

Yep, I live in apartment #1. I'm back in Rexburg and loving it. I know I promised a post about the roommate road trip forever ago, but I have yet to get the pictures from Kallene. So while that is put on hold I will promise you a picture tour of my apartment..........by tomorrow night. Things are still being put in their proper place (we just spent 45 minutes trying to decide how or front room should be arranged), so our goal is to have it MOSTLY done by tomorrow. As for now, here is a picture for your enjoyment....

"Reunited and it feels so GOOD!!!"

Until tomorrow...

Update

2010-10-07T23:19:00.000-07:00

A few posts back I talked about taking pictures of everything I do while I'm in Boise this Fall...well I've tried my hardest and here they are...

Mom Turned 50!!!

Puzzle's At Gramma's!!!

Road Trip to Utah With Suzy!!!

DAVEY!!!

Spencer went to Homecoming!!! (GO BRONCOS!)

Some of the 18th Ward Laurels in the same group!

Apartment 22 Roommates in Boise!!!
(more from the Provo reunion to come)

Kurt and Shea got married!

Playing with Josh in Provo!
(and talking to Brooke on the phone)

We were so lucky and got to go to the Sunday Afteroon session of Conference!

Back with the roommates again =)
(I promise that post is coming soon!)

I love Temple Square!

Okay I'm done now. This is a call to both of my sisters...POST SOMETHING NOW!

kfineseeyalaterbye

14 Days...

2010-08-27T14:46:00.000-07:00

Until I am reunited with these people again...

I'm so excited, words cannot describe.

Summer!

2010-07-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

I'm back in Boise and so excited for the next 5 months at home! :) My semester ended (finally) and now it's back to work at Intermountain Orthopaedics on Monday! I'm so happy to have that job back, and to get to work with Carisa again! I'm looking forward to a fun filled "Summer" break!

Here is a list of goals/things to do over the break...

-Swim a lot
-Go camping at least twice before it gets too cold
-ROOMMATE REUNION with Apt. 22 girls! :)
-Take a week long trip to Kansas and Virginia to visit the sisters.
-Read a book or two (ugh)
-Take pictures of everything I do

Okay, well that's all. I'm so happy to be home again and I cannot wait for what is to come! I miss all of my roommates, but we'll be reunited again in no time!

Let it be known...

2010-07-12T11:07:00.001-07:00

................I AM STRESSED................

Talk to you in 2 weeks.

OH...

2010-06-11T21:55:00.000-07:00

How could I forget...I also get to see this little man...

ANNDD his Mommy too, but I couldn't seem to find a recent picture of them together anywhere! They get to come for the Family Reunion the last weekend in June. Sadly Matthew will be stuck in The Dungeon of Knowledge and won't be able to join us. :( We will miss him, but we are so grateful he is sharing his family with us! :) We will miss the Garner's too!

Missionary Month

2010-06-11T21:19:00.000-07:00

With midterms coming to an end and the last stretch of the semester ahead of me, I've realized summer is a necessity. Being in Rexburg, Summer really doesn't come...at all, but I'm determined to finish this semester out with a bang and make the most of my 1 1/2 month summer in Boise. It will especially help having this guy home...

...to play with chidewalk salk with me and just to stay up till all hours of the night chatting like old times! He gets home in TWO WEEKS!!!

This guy...

...will be home in just THREE DAYS! I can't believe it! He flys to Virginia first because the whole Garner family will be there for Charlotte's graduation! Then he will be in Boise and I get to play with him! :) So hepe!
And this guy...

...gets home in ONE WEEK!!! I don't know when I'll get to see him, but I'm super excited for him to come home! :)
And this girl...

...is home and as great as ever! I've gotten to play with her a few times and MAN is it the greatest! She was an amazing missionary and had such a good experience. I love her to death. I'm a little bit jealous because in the Fall all of the Apt. 22 missionaries plus Ernbrella get to live together again in Provo. Let's just say I will be taking lots of P-Town trips in the Fall. :)

June is going to be a great month, but I'm ready for it to be over and for everyone to be home (and school will be that much closer to ending! heh)!

Life is still good!

It's a good day...

2010-05-15T14:48:00.000-07:00

I took a test...this is what I saw when I walked out of the beloved Testing Center

"92% Way to Go!"

YESSS!!!! Best feeling ever.

Now if only that will happen when I take my math test next week.

GOINT!!!

2010-05-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

So, Friday is a day that I have been looking forward to for the last 18 months or 82 weeks or I can even say 576 days (which is OVER 18 months fyi)...can you guess what it is???

I get to hear this girls voice and see her face again...

Doesn't this picture just make you happy? It does me.

To say the least...I'm excited.

Ice Caves!!!

2010-05-02T19:12:00.001-07:00

On Saturday a big group of people from my ward went the the ice caves that are about an hour away from Rexburg. SO FUN!!! Let me just warn you...most of these pictures were taken in the dark so I was trying super hard to not blink when the camera flashed. So my smile and eyes are extra intense. :D

APRIL

2010-04-29T17:26:00.000-07:00

My deepest apologies...here's another picture update...life is good. :)

These are all pictures from my Birthday! I'm 21!!! And Ashlee came just for me! :) I miss Holli a lot, but I love my new roommates Courtney and Hannah(they probably think we're all crazy...oh well!) I've just been called as the 1st counselor in the Relief Society presidency and I love it already! It's going to be a great semester! I've go 16 credits this semester, and I can tell. Each class is just has a bigger work load than last semester...lots of reading (and we all know how I just "love" reading). Anyway...I'm doing my best to stay on top of everything! I'm counting down the days until Sister Kallene gets home...7.5 to be exact!!! AMAZING!!! I love missionaries.

Oh and ps, that picture that I'm giving the "stink eye" to the camera...I just had to put it up, I think it portrays our personalities so well. :)

Channel 4

2010-03-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday, at my final science group meeting for the semester, my group members and I somehow started talking about children's television shows (we got our work done, Mom, I promise). Of course the first one that came to my mind was Arthur, we mentioned Sesame Street and Zoboomafoo and had a good laugh about the cheesy, yet educational shows we watched when we were little. But, if you are a Foote (and maybe if you aren't, I wouldn't know),thinking of any show on Channel 4 makes you start singing...

"Having fun, isn't hard, when you've got a library card!" -Arthur

"A-A-R-D-V-A-R-K" -Arthur

"ZOBOOMAFOO! With the Kratt Brothers! While walking in the woods one day, Chris and Martin saw something strange..." -Zoboomafoo

"Butterfly in the sky! I can go twice as high!" -Reading Rainbow

"Sunny day, sweepin' the clouds away! I'm on my way to where the air is sweet! Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?" -Sesame Street

AND who could forget...

"Come on and ZOOM come on and ZOOM come on and Zoom-a Zoom-a Zoom-a Zoom!"

I really enjoyed taking this trip down memory lane this week. Hopefully this put a little smile on your face, too!

Now I'm going to watch some Zoom episodes on YouTube. =)

Speaking of Zoom...

YUMMMMMMMM

Update...again!

2010-03-21T09:55:00.000-07:00

Here you go, Mom...

Since taking roommate pictures...Holli has made us delicious BBQ Chicken Pizza (multiple times)

I got to go home again, for a wedding and missionary homecoming (Jonny Roberts) and farewell (Hermana Sarah Bowen)

The roommates and I went on a run (literally) at 10:30pm to Horkley's for huge soda, for only $0.79!!!

James and I went to Utah, the same weekend all of my roommates went, so we sorta had a little girls day out for Meagan's Birthday!!! (Us at the University Mall...they all went shopping crazy!)AND the reason I went down was to see Nathan and Erin (for their birthday's) it was great!

OH...and on the way home from Provo, I got to stop in Pocatello for just a few minutes and see Brooke! Best. Day. Ever. =)

We celebrated Meagan's Birthday at 12:00am on March 10th!!! Happy 19th Sister!

Went on a (sort of) group date with the roommates (minus Holli) BOWLING!!! We all put our hair in pig-tails...I love my roommates.

And finally, the last two days have just been Meagan and me. We've had sleepovers in the living room both nights, we watched 7 Brides for 7 Brothers on Friday night, woke up Saturday morning and took our Science test, then went to James' swim meet, then watched The Proposal (love) AND New Moon (boo), then ran to the store and got snacks, came home and watched the BYU v. Kansas State Basketball game (better luck next time Cougars). Then we made cake balls!!! SOOO delicious. I don't have pictures of all of these things, but here we are making the treats! YUM!!

All in all this sememster has been fabulous! Only three weeks left of the semester including finals week!!! I can't believe how quickly this semester went! Hopefully Spring and the rest to come follow suit. :)

Next weekend I am going back to Boise for two more wedding receptions and possibly a mission report from Elder Michael Stephen Henneman! It's crazy how two years has already gone by! I'm getting old.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

2010-02-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

I miss you!

GIRL!!!!

2010-02-04T14:12:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I received a text message that went something like this...
"More pictures please and more BLOG"

So here you go Mom...

Since visiting Boise I have...

gone Ice Skating with Meagan and Keeta...

Had some...okay lets get real...TONS of crazy, spontaneous nights with the roommates...

Gone to the Temple every week...

Had the carpets cleaned in our apartment...(Hallelujah)

We love this man forever.

Made a new friend...=D

And, of course, taken Roommate Pictures...

I am so blessed to have such great roommates!

Love you girls!

New found love...

2010-02-04T13:57:00.001-08:00

Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 Music

I have always liked his music, but this week when I pulled up my blog and "Man in the Mirror" came on, I realized how much I love it. Keeta can attest to how happy I got when it came on. I could not stop dancing...I needed more. Needless to say, I now have a Michael Jackson Pandora station....and I haven't listened to anything else all week.

Thank you, Michael, for blessing the world with your talent.

Callings...

2010-01-31T23:00:00.000-08:00

I have been in Rexburg for about a month now....

I've been to my ward 4 times total...

I have three callings.

Almost 1 per week! AHHH!!!

My first calling is just a given, everyone has it, a Visiting Teacher. Although I have not had the opportunity to visit my girls, I am so grateful for the opportunity to grow closer to my Visiting Teachees and my companion, who just happens to be my roommate Meagan! :)

The next calling is an FHE Mom. Every ward I've been in I've had a Family Home Evening calling...so I knew this one was coming. I have a great family and I am, once again, very grateful for this calling.

Now, after the FHE calling came I thought I was safe. I thought I had it made with my typical "mom" calling. Boy was I wrong. I got the call last Saturday night to come meet with the Bishop the next morning before church. I am officially a Relief Society Instructor. SCARY! I have the great priviledge of teaching the sisters in my ward from the different General Conferece talks.

I taught for the first time today...I was terrified...but it went really really well. The lesson this week was taken from President Uchtdorf's talk entitled "The Love of God". If you do not remember it from October, I would highly recommend reading or listening to it again. It has blessed mine and I guarantee it will bless yours.

Oh how grateful I am for this chance to strengthen my testimony not only through the words of our Prophets, but through the other girls in the Relief Society!

"We Are Family..."

2010-01-21T13:31:00.000-08:00

Once upon a time two people fell in love and became a family of 2....Then 23 years later they had created this...Which made them a family of 8...
"I've got all my sisters and me!"
Then the oldest found her one true love and made them a family of 9...
And daughter #2 did the same....and THEY started a family of their own
Making them a family of 11...

And they are still as in love as ever...if not more...

"H BUP TUCANA" (I didn't know what else to put right here)...
And they all lived happily every after!

I love my family more than anything!!!

Thank you Brooke Mack!!!

There's No Place Like Home...

2010-01-18T21:35:00.000-08:00

No. I'm not homesick.
No. I'm not ill, dreaming of the Land of Oz.

No. The Wicked Witch of the West did not kidnap me.
No. There is no Yellow Brick Road in Rexburg.

Yes. I went home to Boise this weekend.

Yes. It was a last minute decision on Saturday night.

Yes. It was a surprise.

Yes. We left at 11:22pm and arrived in Boise at 4am.

Yes. It is one of the best decision I've ever made.
Yes. I love college.

Although I was not exactly playing the part of Dorothy this weekend, I did have my three trusty helpers with me. My two roommates Holli and Meagan and our FHE brother Jake, who was my sidekick in making this trip happen. I'm so grateful. I love Boise and like I said, there's no place like home.

Approximately 11:14pm Saturday January, 16th, 2010... BOISE, ID here we come!!!

Holli and Meagan first timers at MERRITT'S!!!!

Boise Captiol Building

Posing with the statues in Downtown Boise!

All of us heading back to the 'Burg

Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us unexpectedly attack your house! We had so much fun!

Lauren=Employed!!!

2010-01-14T19:53:00.001-08:00

That's right. I got a job today. I am officially a BYU-I Testing Center employee. And the best part? I GET TO WORK WITH MY ROOMMATE!!!! Best. Day. Ever!

Update from The 'Burg

2010-01-14T08:48:00.000-08:00

I love it here!!!

I love my roommates, I've made a few new friends, we have really great FHE brothers, and I believe it or not LOVE my classes! I get to dance again. Oh how I've missed early morning dancing for the past 2 1/2 years. I even get to have my dear friend Alissa Williams in class with me. Just like old times! I have seen lots of people that I know and have made some sort of connection with almost anyone I meet, whether they've served a mission with one of my friends or I knew them when I was 4 years old and we've reconnected (true story). Yesterday I was able to got to the Rexburg Temple. A-MA-ZING!!!!! I hope to go once a week! What a great blessing it is to have a temple so close! I love it! Until next time, here are a few pictures!

The roommates (L-R) Keeta, JeeHye, Lauren, Meagan...we have a 5th roommate Holli, but no pictures with her yet! Soon though!

Spaghetti Night with our new friends Erika, Erica, Ariel and Kaila!

Of course Keeta and I watched the Fiesta Bowl and of course we wore our Bosie State T-Shirts the first day of school. =D GO BRONCOS!!!

I love to see the Temple, I get to go there all the time!!! I'm so grateful.

Watch Out...

2010-01-02T00:04:00.000-08:00

Here I come!!!!!

Intermountain Orthopaedics, how may I direct thy call?

2009-12-21T21:56:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I said I would tell you all about my new job…well here it is...

I have been working at Intermountain Orthopaedic since August 21^st of this year. Most likely anyone that is reading this already knows my family history with IO, but I’ll give it to you anyway. Reagan started the trend and worked as the switchboard operator for the summer and Christmas Break of 2006, then handed the torch to Taylor who worked there for 6 months (Jan-June) while she was engaged and newly married. She then handed to torch to Carisa (not directly, but almost) Renberg who controlled that switchboard for a good 2 years (and some months)…she’s awesome. Carisa now works downstairs in Rheumatology Front Office! And I am working just down the hall from her! I will admit, I do feel a tiny bit out of place for not knowing how to run switchboard, but what can ya do?

I started out as a temp. working at the Pioneer Plaza clinic. I was hired right as they were switching to a new computer system so I felt a little less frantic about learning a new job because everyone was learning at the same time. What a blessing! After about 2 weeks of at Pioneer the shifts changed…I was working 3 12 hour days a week. Let me tell you, it was nice having 4 days off, but those 6:45am-6:45pm days were KILLER!!! But about 1 week before my 90 day temporary period was up the shifts were changed back to normal 8am-5pm/5 days a week. Thank goodness! And when that changed I was asked to move from Pioneer to the Elk’s Rehab Hospital location. I won’t lie, I was way bummed to be leaving the ladies I worked with, but I also was very happy to get to be in the same place as Carisa. On November 23^rd I was hired on as an official IO employee meaning, my pay raised, I could receive benefits AND I got to punch the clock!!! =) Life is good.

I love my job!!!

But I’m leaving in less than 2 weeks...

The story behind the title of this post...

When working the switchboard you answer "Intermountain Orthopaedics, how may I direct your call?" but when someone (Taylor) is reading church literature in her down time it comes out "Intermountain Orthopaedics, how my I direct thy call?"...Carisa is guilty of this one as well. =D

Road trip!!!

2009-10-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I treated myself to a road trip. I visited Brooke in Pocatello and then everybody else in Provo. I didn't get any pictures while in Provo, but as usual Brooke and I took lots to share! I had such a great time seeing Brooke's cute little apartment and meeting some of her new friends! I especially enjoyed the fact that her Bishop's wife is the Pocatello dance team coach! We bonded. :)

Here are just a few pictures of my visit to Poky. Of course there was a late night Taco Bell run and a small dance party and swinging!

Reunited!!!!!

Sunday best!

A windy little Sunday Swing Session! It was perfect.

Sunday afternoon on my way to Provo I stopped in Alpine to see Shay and Jason's house they are building. Here's what it looked like two weeks ago, it's supposed to be done by the end of October!

This is for Kallene. I know she is on a mission and won't see this for SIX MONTHS, but I took it anyway...just for her.

This is for Reagan and Matt (and Brock). I missed the Minidako...Mikadon...Minidoka County sign, so I just got the Rupert one. And yes, I took this while I was driving.And this is for Taylor...Yes, I was driving while taking these road sign pictures. Just ignore the bugs.

THE TREES OF HAPPINESS!!!!
They are seriously beautiful right now. This picture does not do them justice.

All in all this trip was nothing short of perfect. I love that my work schedule allows me to take trips like these.

More to come on my new job and the latest happenings in my life!

Summer 2009 Picture update

2009-10-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

So it's been awhile...I apologize. Here are some pictures of my summer. I think Summer 2009 has been one of the best so far!

In May my roommate Ashley was married and I was able to go to Burley for her reception!

Brooke Graduated!!!
Audrey Graduated!!!
The parents went to Kansas for Baby Preston's blessing and I was left with the children. We had fun.
Fourth of July with The Cousins!!!
Backyard camping. Best. Thing. Ever.
Pyro? oops.
Family camping...we were crazy.
Nightly swinging at DeMeyer Park.
Brooke and I took Zach (Brooke's little brother) to the first BSU scrimmage to watch my kindergarten buddy #54, Mikey Ames.
Backyard camping adventure #2
Taco Bell at midnight was a frequent summer activity of Brooke and me. This man became our best friend. =D
Aimee's Senior Violin recital. She did amazing and Brooke did too.
Parachute came to the fair!!! They are so good.
And to finish off the summer the Ogle's came to visit! I finally got to meet that chubby little Presto Man! I love him.

Dear Summer,
You left me this weekend.
I will miss you.
Come back soon.
Love, Lauren

I Can Hear the Bells

2009-07-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

Since 8th grade Rachel Rouse and I have talked about/planned/imagined the day we get to go to the Temle with the man of our dreams. Well, that day was made reality for Rachel this past weekend. On July 17th, 2009 she was sealed for time and all eternity in the Boise Idaho Temple to Mr. Layne Boyle...a perfect match, if I do say so myself. I loved being able to see her so happy and in love with her new husband! It was a beautiful reception and she looked gorgeous as ususal!

Its so crazy that people my age are getting married! Although, I will admit, I am grateful for the excuse to see everybody again at receptions!

Congratulations Rachel and Layne!

My Big Little Brother

2009-07-22T12:40:00.000-07:00

Today it hit me hard (literally) that Kanon is and forever will be bigger, stronger, quicker and most likely wittier than me. The story goes like this...

Kanon has a Nerf Gun. I'm in the bathroom straightening my hair. He comes in and stands next to me, "sup Norm?" BANG...he shoots the gun at the mirror, it ricocheted off the mirror and nailed me right in the eye. He laughed, but quickly realized I had his bullet and was making my usual threat of putting it in the toilet (gross I know, but its the only way I can get him to stop). Before I could even get the toilet seat open his foot was on it stopping me from throwing it in. I quickly run out yelling "there are other toilets in this house!"...I didn't even make it up the stairs before he was grabbing my ankles, pulling me to the ground. We had a good 10 minute wrestling match before I escaped (for maybe .2 seconds) and threw his bullet in the toilet.

Victory for Lauren?

I think not.

Without hesitating he grabbed it out of the toilet with is bare hands! I then realized he wasn't even phased by my self proclaimed, 'master plan' and started to run. He, once again, out-smarted me and threw his nasty, toilet water soaked bullet at me as I ran down the stairs...it got caught in my hair for a second, then fell out and touched my hand. I was screaming and almost crying.

Victory for Kanon?

Always.

As hard as it is for me to admit that my little brother will probably always beat me now, I love him and wouldn't change it for the world!

Love you BUBBA!!!

"BABIES"itting

2009-07-06T22:55:00.000-07:00

For a whole week I had the priviledge of watching these little cuties...

Kade(2)>Savanah(7)>Chloe(5)

What a blessing it was for me to get a taste of life as a mommy. I loved every minute with those kids and I'm so grateful, yes grateful, that the Garner/Searle family went to Hawaii so that I could play with their babies. We had so much fun and I loved watching the kids play with each other and I loved playing with them! Here are some pictures of our week's activities! We had a blast!

If you look closely you can see the giraffe in the backgroud...he's trying to be as tall as the giraffe.

We played on the trampoline, played on the swing, we went to Burger King and played on the toys, we played with Pyper and Kanon, we played with the cats, we went swimming, and we even got to have a picnic and go to the zoo for Chloe's Birthday!

I miss being a kid.

Thanks Savanah, Chloe and Kade for playing with me! I miss you!

The Climb

2009-05-03T11:45:00.000-07:00

This week I got to see the Hannah Montana movie twice. LOVED IT!!! Such a cute fun movie and as my mom says "it makes everybody happy". Just an all around great movie. Highly recommended.

Now this post is not just about the awesome-ness that is this movie, its about what I got out of the movie. Her newest song is from this movie its called "The Climb". In the movie it is inspired by her new cowboy lover, Travis (SOOO cute).

He says to her, "Life's a climb, but the view is great".

I've been thinking a lot about how spot-on that statement is. Life is going to be hard, but when you get over that rocky spot on the mountain you can look back and enjoy it and then turn back around a keep going! Or...as you are climbing, you know the reward at the end. What a great view it is, eternal life.

I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be on this Earth to be tested and then to succeed. I am grateful for the little moments in my life like this that I am able to take a step back and recommit myself to the Lord. I am so excited for the rest of my 'climb' through life.

Here's a link to the music video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NG2zyeVRcbs

Happy Birthday to Me...

2009-04-24T15:51:00.001-07:00

from Sister Kallene Cutler!

Monday the 20th was my Birthday. The week before, on the 10th, I received a letter from Kallene. Just a quick little note about General Conference and such. Then on Thursday (yesterday) I got a PACKAGE in the mail from her. Greatest day ever! And today I received not one, but TWO post cards from Kallene. Hearing from Kallene 3 times within a seven day period!? A-MA-ZING! I loved every second of it. Here are some pictures of what I've received from Kallene in the last two weeks.

I am so proud of Sister Cutler. I know she is in the right place, doing the right thing. I love her with all of my heart and I'm so proud of the choices she is making (oh dear...I'm like a proud mother hen). Anyway...Thanks Kal-dawg!!!

Preston Matthew Ogle

2009-04-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

HE'S HERE!!!
Ok, so he's been here for like three weeks, but I am still excited and still love him just as much!

Preston Matthew Ogle

Born April 4th, 2009 2:27pm

to Reagan and Matthew Ogle

Weighing in at 8lbs 9oz 22 inches long

Mom and baby are healthy and SOOO happy

Isn't he adorable? The answer is yes.

He's a happy baby.

So little

Easters

STRETCH!!!

Although I haven't met him yet I love him more than anything. I can't wait to meet him!

LOVE YOU OGLE FAMILY!

Memory Lane...

2009-04-03T22:25:00.001-07:00

I was just able to take a small trip down memory lane with my good friend Emily Norris. As I was talking to her, giving her updates on Reagan's pregnancy and all the jazz, the "remember whens" started happening...and we've got enough of those to last a lifetime. Although, one in particular made me laugh a little bit harder at and made me miss Emily a little bit more...

The Tale of the Foote Family Sunburns:

It was spring break my 7th grade year. We were all very excited for this week because we got to go to Sun Valley and go skiing. Taylor and Reagan had gone before, but it was my first time, as well as Spencer and Kanon's. Now, I don't remember much about the actual vacation/skiing part, but I do remember the drive home. We skiied for a few hours just before piling into the van to drive back home. As we sat in the van it wasn't even 10 minutes before we all started complaining about our faces being on FIRE. Yes, that was the feeling. I remember my mom turning around to look at all of us and her face just dropped. We were instantly bright red and swollen. The sun was shining bright that day, and none of us had worn sunscreen onto the mountain. Bad news. We immediately stopped at a store to find some sort of relief/mosturizing cream, then made the rest of our journey home.

When we got home all we did was lay around with cold wash cloths on our faces, constantly putting aloe vera on our faces. We even asked Emily's dad (who is a paramedic) to come over and take a look. We were 'diagnosed' with 2nd degree burns and he wrote up a prescription for burn cream. Our skin was so tight that when we smiled, it hurt, when we looked down, it hurt...everything just hurt. We all missed a few days of school because of our condition, but were right back to everyday life soon enough.

This was a horrible, painful experience and unfortunately we would not let Mom take pictures of us, so sadly we have nothing to document this time.

Here is what Emily remembers:

She remembered coming over to my house and all of us saying she wasn't allowed to make us laugh, but she wanted to crack a joke so badly.

She remembered when she first saw me, my eyes looked like they were "a mile apart" because my nose was so swollen. She was so worried that my face had been permanently deformed from this sunburn.

She remembered Spencer's HUGE blister on her cheek.

She remembered that my mother didn't get one ounce of sun while skiing because the make-up she put on the morning contained SPF-15.

Luckily, we have all completely healed (or we like to think so) and we have learned our lesson in sunscreen.

There's nothing like a good memory.

Love Love Love

2009-02-16T00:48:00.001-08:00

Last year on Valentine's Day I was in Provo with the girls of 22. Two days before we had started our apartment blog (apt22@blogspot.com) so that we could keep track of each other as we all went our separate ways. We decided that since there were six of us able to post on the blog, that we would create topics for each of us to write about. Our first topic was "Valentine's Day". We were to write down our thoughts and feelings about this day of love...we were a split apartment. Three of us like the holiday and the other three had words for this day.

I am here to say, that my feelings have not changed...I love the holiday no matter what my relationship status is. I love love...whether it's between a man and a woman or best girl friends...it makes me happy.

Last year I went to the Creamery on 9th and got kids meals and watched a love movie with my roommates (I can't remember which one)...this year I was at the dance competition all day then had Mac and Cheese with Ashlee for dinner, went salsa dancing with a few other girls and some guys, then of course ended the night with P.S. I Love You...a love movie. I love Valentine's Day...my opinion will never change. Here are a few people that I love...

**Just a small side note...if anyone ever tried to propose to me on February 14th, I would say "no, ask me again tomorrow"...SO not okay with me.

Greatest Talk Ever

2009-02-16T00:06:00.000-08:00

So, this is a bit overdue, but last Sunday I had to opportunity to listen to Elder Jeffery R. Holland speak to the Boise Stake. It was amazing to see him somewhat "out of his element", in other words not on the TV reading his talk. I honestly don't think he had anything written down...he had nothing but his scriptures when he stood up there, and I don't even think he opened them once...and he spoke for 45 minutes!!!

Although his talk had from one another, he somehow managed to make them all work together. I learned so much from him! Something he did, that really caught me off guard is when he quoted a song by Bryan Adams...like really? He listens to the radio? He was talking to the youth of the stake about how much their parents and leaders care for and would do anything for them. "Everything I do, I do it for you". First of all, I love that song. Second...JEFFERY HOLLAND just quoted it???!!!

It was an amazing experience that I'll never forget! He has such a great sense of humor and he's REAL! I mean obviously, but sometimes I feel like they are some sort of celebrity that I will only ever seen on TV, but he's a real person...I SAW HIM! He goes out to dinner and listens to the radio just like you and me! So great!

I am so thankful for the chance I had to hear him speak to and bless the Boise Stake. I know with all of my heart that he is a man called of God to counsel and teach us on the earth today. I cannot wait for General Conference in April!

GIRLS NIGHT IN=ZERO DOLLARS SPENT!!!

2009-02-07T22:03:00.000-08:00

Last night was the beginning of an amazing tradition. Ashlee, Jessica Harris, Kirsten Clements, Brooke Turk, MiKayla Cook, Brittney Brown and myself had our very first Girls Night IN!!! I'm sure some of you are thinking "who are these people? Lauren has never mentioned them before". Well, this may see weird to you, but we hardly even knew each other before last night! We met throught the guys and we just decided we wanted to be friends! We were lucky and hit the jackpot!

Jessica Kirsten and Brooke are all roommates and are in the same ward as Chad and Brett and all the guys.

Jessica is from Idaho Falls, Idaho and Brooke and Kirsten are from Boise and graduated from Borah!

MiKayla and Brittney both graduated from Centennial, Britt in 2007 with Ash and I and MiK the next year in 2008. They are Ashlee's roommates now and I think they are a perfect little group!!!

Sadly Kimi (Key-me) was sick and couldn't come, but she is from Twin Falls, Idaho and graduated in 2008 as well.

So, our girls night IN consisted of, first, getting to know each other. Then we changed locations to "watch a movie", which never happened because we had a small outburst of craziness and picture taking then got to talking. Pretty sure everyone knows how girls can talk...well we were over at Ash, Mik and Britt's apartment until almost 4am!!!

All of us...(Back L-R: Me, Kirsten, Brittney. Front L-R: Ashlee, MiKayla, Brooke, Jessica)

FEET!!!!!!(I cannot believe I participated in this...YUCK...but oh so funny!)

Circle of heads! Classic girl picture. We were all laughing so hard at this point, if you can't tell. It was out of control!

I love these girls so much and I cannot wait to get to know them better and grow closer to them! They have all changed my life and I've only known them for a little while! Our plan is to have a Girl's Night In once a month and a Girl's Night Out every other month! I cannot wait to make more memories!

LOVE YOU GIRLS!!!

Apt. 22 and (sweet) Liberty Square girls

2009-01-21T00:09:00.000-08:00

For the past week I've been thinking a lot about the amazing roommates I was blessed with during my year in Provo. I have become best friends with these 10 girls (cumulative) and I would not have it any other way.

Thank you will never be enough. My life has been blessed by these girls in so many ways I did not even know were possible. They have all been such wonderful examples to me in my life and I cannot wait to stay friends with them all forever!

Let me just brag for a little bit about my roommates...

Three of them are currently serving missions in Honolulu, Hawaii, Rancagua, Chile and Spokane, Washington. Another with her papers in, just waiting patiently for her call!

One of them is married in the temple to a fine young man. Another engaged to be married (to an Idaho boy...WINNER!)

And the last four are full time students at Brigham Young University, majoring in everything from Accounting to Physiology and Developmental Biology (yes, she is going to be a doctor).

Without these girls I would be incomplete. I am so overwhelmingly grateful for the memories I have made with all of these girls and I cannot wait for the many more to be made throughout our lives.

LawnErning!!!

This is sideways, but she really is doing a headstand on my back. We called this Apartment Acrobatics!

Yes, we made a human pyramid in skirts and high heels. You gotta do what you gotta do.The first of many late night photo shoots. 22's signature..."The Wink"

Miley Cyrus "I Can't Wait to See You Again" Music Video night.

Belting out Moulin Rouge after we finished filming our Miley music video.

HOGLE ZOO!!!!

A-P-T 2-2 Flamily PicturesYAY!!! Everybody's gotta have a High School Musical jumping picture, right?

I miss you girls and love you all so much!

'Tis the Season

2008-12-11T07:59:00.000-08:00

On Monday night for Brett's FHE they made Gingerbread Houses. With limited supplies and little success, Brett left wanting more. We decided we were going to make a house of our own! So last night we created our masterpiece...we are pretty proud, to say the least. Enjoy!

So focused

CHEESES!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Recently...

2008-12-10T10:09:00.000-08:00

My mom asks me every day if I've put anything on my blog...the answer is usually 'no', but not today! YES!!! Here's a short update of my life lately.

I Work....

**This is my cute little "office" in the basement of the Supreme Court House!**

I Play...

Brett, Robert and I went bowling one day... I killed both of them. Not a big deal. :)

I watch football and freeze...

Cousin Audrey and I at the Capital vs Centennial football game...freezing. Audrey is a senior at Capital this year and I totally went into the Captial territory wearing a maroon Centennial sweatshirt. YIKES!!! I do not remember the score of the game, but Capital won. Darn.

AND.....

I chop all of my hair off...

Usually I wait until I can get an appointment with Uncle Kurt to cut my hair, but I had had it with my long hair. I was ready for something different. I was very hesitant going to another place for such a big change (For the most part I can handle a trim done by someone else), but Saturday was the day. I couldn't wait any longer...I called the salon at 1:30pm and was in the chair by 2:00! I am pleased with the new hair, and now I'm thinkin' its about time for a new color! Any ideas?

I have also been asked to help out with Sweet Liberty (the dance team I danced on in High School)! I go to 6am practice every Monday and Wednesday, I attend halftime performances and I even get to go to competitions with them! They have their first competition this weekend in Jordan, Utah! Although I cant be there this weekend, I'm so excited for them and can't wait to get the competition season going!!!

I don't have any pictures of Thanksgiving, but MAN was it a blast! We started the day at 9:00 with a Turkey Bowl! Nothing ever really happened, the teams were all uneven and it was freezing, until...Zach's extended family showed up and we joined forces! I only lasted about an hour and a half (it was freezing, I guess I take after my mom), but they played for probably 2 1/2 or 3 hours! Then everyone came home, helped prepare the meal and ATE...and ate...and ate...and ate. Ok you get the picture. There were 30 people in the Foote House that day, and what a great day it was! I loved being with extended family and was so happy that Taylor and Zach were with us this year! All this married/sharing my sisters business isn't so great, but then again the Garner and Ogle family's share with me, so I can't be too bitter. :D

I am so excited to see Mommy Reagan, Daddy Matt, and Boygle over the Christmas Break! It's been forever...and what a weird thing to see Reagan with a belly! I love that little baby already! I'm definitely going to be the favorite Aunt...and Taylor if you think differently, you're wrong.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall...

2008-11-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

As I sat at the Supreme Courthouse, listening to the scanner pull each page in and spit it back out, I suddenly smelled sunscreen. Weird, I know, but this got me thinking about how much I love Summer. While reminiscing Summer's past, I realized how much I love all of the seasons. This year in particular my love for the Fall has increased. Every Fall my Mom is obsessed with the trees and I have finally paid attention to their beauty and have begun to obsess over them as well. I realized, also, that Fall=Cooler weather=HOODIES=AMAZING-NESS!!! There is nothing I love more than a nice cool day with a sweatshirt on! Although, most of you know, I do NOT like being hot and I do NOT being cold, I'm going to start appreciating the change of seasons from now on. I believe the transition from season to season is one of the greatest blessings we have on the Earth. I cannot wait for the snow to start falling! :D

My Oldest Friend...

2008-11-15T23:21:00.000-08:00

...and my best friend.

Most of you probably know this without any hints, so I'll just tell you now:

ASHLEE MAREE HARRIS

We have known each other for 14 years. We have danced together. We were in the same ward for 12 years (our families still are). We laugh together. We cry together. We've gone to Utah, California, Texas and Wyoming together. We've been to girls camp together 6 times. We've had hundreds of sleep overs together. We've won together. We've lost together. We read scriptures together. We pray together. We counsel each other. We rely on each other. We even live together

Without Ashlee I, one, would not have half of the memories I have, and two, I would not be who I am today. We've had our ups and downs, but through it all, Ashlee was there ready and willing to work things out. I cannot put into words how grateful I am for "My Ashy". She's been there for me throught thick and thin. She's been my rock for so many years. I can trust her with anything. Our friendship has helped my testimony grow in so many different ways. She's a spiritual giant, the best friend anyone could ask for. I'm so lucky she's mine.

I LOVE YOU HASHY!!!!

I tag...

Erin, Ashley, Amy and Krystin.

I've Been Tagged!

2008-10-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

**8 Favorite TV Shows
Oprah
That's So Raven
Hannah Montana
Extreme Makeover Home Edition
What I Like About You
So You Think You Can Dance
American Idol
What Not to Wear

**8 Favorite Restraunts
The Olive Garden
PF Changs
Casa Mexico
Cafe Rio
Panda Express
CPK
Zupas
It's fast food, but I love it...Wendys

**8 Things that happened yesterday
Woke up late
Worked at the Supreme Court
Worked at the Dentists Office
Ate Taco Bell
Talked to Grandma on the phone
Got another job offer
Watched Gilmore Girls
Ate Mac & Cheese with Ash

**8 Things to look forward to
HSM3 this weekend with Krystin
Krystin coming this weekend
Turkey Bowls on Thanksgiving day
Becoming an aunt
Sleeping
Shopping soon
Seeing my Utah friends again
Missionary Letters

**8 things I love about Fall
Crunching Leaves
The smell outside
Halloween Candy
The trees AMAZING colors
Hoodies
Corn Mazes
Sun sets earlier
The first snow

**8 Things on my Wish list
To play the piano better
Be an inspiration to someone
Learn to cook more things and better
Stay close friends with all of my roommates...forever
Not be so paranoid about everything
Keep up with my friends on missions
Make a difference in my Primary girl's lives
Stay happy and healthy!

**8 People I'm Tagging
Taylor
Reagan
Amy
Garrett
Erin
Shelly
Krystin
The girls of 22

Bustin' Loose at El Ro Day O!!!

2008-10-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I attended a BSU Stake mock-rodeo, full of linedancing, mechanical bull riding, barrel racing, ropin' and good food! It was so much fun to learn new, fun linedances and to watch the cowboys get thrown off the bull! Here are some pictures of my adventures at the Rodeo with the boys!

Brett and I watching the bull ridin'

Chad. Steve. Brett. Matt. Ryan. Dan

Posing for the camera!

**Okay so there is a hilarious story behind this picture. Everyone was out on the dance floor, when Brett realized he hadn't seen Ryan for awhile. Brett went off to look for Ryan, and there he is...standing with this 'barrel', posing while three random girls were taking his picture. We all about died laughing, then Brett and Chad joined in.**

Ryan. Shaun. Steve. Matt. Brett...the one time that night they didn't whip out a cowboy stance when the camera came out!

Needless to say...I had a blast!

COWBOY UP!!!

ALOHA!!!

2008-09-30T08:39:00.001-07:00

What a weekend! Sunday morning Sister Kallene Cutler spoke in the Meridian 18th Ward Sacrament meeting. She will be serving a mission in the Hawaii Honolulu Laie Temple Visitor's Center. What does this mean? One word:

REUNION!!!

After 5 long months, a wedding, and two mission calls, the girls of 22 were finally all together again! Kaccee came from Texas, Gina, Erin, and Teresa made their way from the Happy Valley and even Ashley (my summer term roommate) made it up for this special day! Words will ever describe how happy this made me! They all arrived Friday night, except for Kaccee, who's flight got delayed and she didn't make it until Saturday morning. Friday night we had a huge slumber party, and when I say slumber party, I mean the typical girl sleepover; we were up until 3:30 (some of us 4:30), there was talk about boys, our life's stresses, and even a small pillow fight broke out! SO fun!

Saturday morning we went to breakfast with Erin's sister, Cara, at a cute little restaurant in downtown Boise. It was so yummy and yet again another fantastic, hilarious reunion! After a yummy breakfast, I got a call from Kaccee, she made it!!! Kallene had just picked her up from the airport and we hurried back to see them both! We quickly said hello then headed back to my house for some major group naptime, while the Cutler's and Kaccee went to Westside Drive-In! Ash, Teresa, Erin and I fell asleep for about two hours and although we wanted to sleep for the rest of the day, we got up and got busy right away.

We made our way over to DeMeyer Park and played some Wiffleball (a Cutler favorite). We were only there for about an hour, but it was well worth it! Then off we went to quickly freshen up for the Relief Society General Broadcast. In only 20 minutes we went from this...

to this...

What a beautiful broadcast it was! Never thought I'd say this, but I love Relief Society! Sisters Beck, Allred and Thompson are amazing women! Immediately following the broadcast the Cutler's put on an AMAZING Bunko party at their house! I was the champion Binko-er and I won a pair of Christmas socks...such a perfect Cutler gift! Erin and I, (and some extras) then, made our way to Wal-Mart...LAWNERNING!!! She and Teresa were getting Kal a gift, and Ashlee needed M&M's. :D We then went back to Kallene's, had one last 'Partment Parley and flamily prayer. Talk about bittersweet.

Sunday morning we all met again at the church to listen to Kallene. She, as always, did an amazing job! She got everyone excited for General Conference this weekend, and expressed her excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Lord for 18 months! She is going to be an amazing Sister missionary and I cannot wait to hear her success stories! I then taught my Primary class, the girls went to Sunday School and Relief Society, and we headed home. Brother and Sister Cutler made Hawaiian Haystacks (how appropriate) for everyone to enjoy after the block. What a great way to end an amazing weekend; good food and good friends! I am forever grateful for the Cutler family, for their friendships to me and my family. After some visiting and laughing, the Utah bound hit the road, and the weekend came to a close.
How blessed I feel to have such a solid group of friends. I couldn't ask for anything better! Thanks to all who came this weekend! I had so much fun, and I hope we can do it again soon! Texas anyone?

Work Work Work, All day long

2008-09-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

Wow it's been awhile! Boise is great! I love being here with Ashlee and my family! A lot has happened in the last month since my last post...here's another update!

I started working at Prevention Dental for Dr. Stephenson, using my skills in the front office! I love it there, and I love the ladies I work with. I am working all day (8-5) on Monday's and half day (8-1) on Tuesdays @ 11 dollars an hour (one word: AMAZING). The office is moving locations at the end of October and I'm hoping to get more hours when we switch! I love it...but that isn't all. A girl I work with at the Dentist's office offered me a job, through her husband! I am working at the Idaho Supreme Court, down in the basement all by myself, scanning paperwork into the computer! I get to create my own schedule and it's so laid back. I wear jeans and flip flops, I listen to music all day, I can come and go as I please (I just have to get 19 hours a week)...and look at me...blogging at work! Just listening to the sound of the scanner crankin' those papers through, what a glorious job...(especially for 10 dollars an hour!).

I have been so blessed with job offers since I've been home, it's amazing. The same day Jill called me to tell me about her husbands job offer, Zach called me and said his parents are going out of town in November for a week and a half and need someone to house/babysit! I am SO there! Not to sound worldly or anything, but it is so nice to have money again! Payday's are the best! Next payday Ash and I are gettin our nails did! I CAN'T WAIT!!! It's been way too long (and I've even considered getting a pedicure...weird?).

Besides working, I have been with Ashlee a lot. At the beginning of the semester Michelle Petty was still in town and we played quite a bit too! We made a trip down to Utah over Labor Day weekend and it was so fun to see everyone again! I've also been called as a Primary Teacher in my ward and I love it more than anything! The Primary Program was last Sunday and man oh man was it great to be up there again singing those songs! I teach the CTR8 class, and it is just 6 little girls! They are so fun, but sometimes crazy! Along with my teaching assignment, I was called as the Ward Young Single Adult Coordinator. This means I am supposed to coordinate with the student/singles wards for activities for those of us in a home ward! I haven't really done much with that one yet, but I'm excited to see what I can do in the future!

So, that is my life right now. This weekend is going to be a party weekend for sure! All of my Utah friends/roommates are coming to Boise for Kallene's farewell! What a bittersweet time for everyone! I haven't seen most of these people for months, and I'm so ready to play with them again! Also, Kaccee is coming all the way from Texas to see us...and she just got a mission call last week! CHILE!!!! I'm so excited for her! This also means I'm trying to plan a way to get out to Texas for a visit with Kace before she's out of here! Congrats Kace!!! Okay well that is all, my life is very busy and I love it!

UPDATE!!!

2008-08-21T20:37:00.001-07:00

My life since the Foote Family Reunion has been quite eventful if you ask me. When I got back to Provo from Twin, it was school school school. I finished my Dental Office Program so now I am officially qualified to work in a Dental Office! I feel pretty good about that. I came home the first weekend of August for our family friend/sister Carisa Renberg's marriage to a very lucky man named Tyler Brown. She was beautiful, the day was perfect and I am so grateful I was able to be there like we've always talked about. ALSO that weekend I found out some of the greatest news, that I've been waiting for since I've had a married sister...I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT!!! Reagan and Matt are expecting their first little one in March! I couldn't be more excited. Sunday I made the journey back to Provo but this time with my mom! We drove Taylor's car down, Mom, Reagan and Matt stayed the night in Provo and continued their trek to Kansas Monday morning (Reag and Matt are moving to Kansas for Chiropractic school).
I enjoyed yet another week in the 'Happy Valley', then once again packed up the car and back up north I went. I basically moved everything home on this trip back. Kallene and I were riding buddies...we blasted the WICKED soundtrack, stopped at Maddox, Idahome Road, Rupert, and The Trees of Happiness (finally, I'm alumni!). All of these stops were made for a good reason of course! Seven hours after leaving Provo, we arrived in Boise for another wedding weekend. This time it was a good high school friend, and dance team captain Kelsey Peterson (now Tanner). She and Grant looked amazing, and everyone knows they are so happy and in love! Sunday rolled around and I was back on the road to Provo.
One last week to hang out with Taylor and Zach, finish working, and to clean and check out of my apartment. Despite my main reasons to return to Provo, the highlights of my last week in Provo were getting to babysit little Troy 'Bear' Pickett (Kallene's nephew). Seriously, the cutest baby I've ever seen. Friday night Kallene, Stephanie Young and I had a sleepover at Taylor and Zach's apartment while they were at their ward campout. It was a blast, watching the Olympics and Sister Act 2 on the big screen, and to just have one last girls night in Provo! Saturday Taylor took me to the airport and I flew home to Boise for the final time. I mean, obviously I'll go back to Provo someday, but I officially live in Boise now and I love it! I just did all of my laundry (for free...amazing), and I'm starting to feel at home again! It's crazy how you can get comfortable enough somewhere that home is hard to adjust to.
Now, I admit it I'll miss Provo a lot... Boise is just so much better. I definitely enjoyed the year I spent in good ole P-Town, but now I'm ready to work hard and make some money! I'm so excited to start this new chapter in my life!

I Love My Family....

2008-07-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

...and here is why:

They can be cute

They can be crazy

They play hard

They dress the sameThey eat good food (a.k.a. Granny's Root Beer Floats)

They jump high...("I can run fast")

And last, but definitely not least...they love me for me. (and Papa gives me sweet caps)

Missionary Mania

2008-07-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

Every time I receive a letter in the mail from a missionary it, not only makes me excited, but it gets me thinking about all of the other Elders (and even a few Sisters) that are out serving the Lord. Over the last 7 days I have gotten two missionary letters, one from the Provo MTC and one from Arkansas. Reagan got me thinking about this the other day. She told me that her mother-in-law was asking her how many missionaries I knew, Reagan said.."something like 17". So this made me sit down and figure out exactly how many missionaries I know. By the end of the summer I will know: 24 Elders and 3 Sisters PLUS Kallene will be going shortly after, as well as Kaccee and Teresa! Then we get into the friends I have that have just graduated...talk about intense. Because I love where people are serving/going, I will jot down a list of the missionaries I know out in the field right now and where they are serving:

Elder Craig Alder: Little Rock, Arkansas
Elder Scott Bird: Sacramento, California-Laotian speaking

Elder Matthew Anderson: Buenos Aires, Argentina-Spanish Speaking

Elder Neil Wallace: Rapid City, South Dakota

Elder Tyler Deleo: San Antonio, Texas-Spanish Speaking

Elder Zach Miller: Samara, Russia-Russian Speaking

Elder T.J. Ruff: Winnipeg, Canada

Elder Matthew Stoker: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Elder Josh Malmgren: Sao Paulo, Brazil-Portugese Speaking

Elder Jonny Roberts: Tegucigalpa, Honduras-Spanish Speaking

Elder Michael Henneman: McAllen, Texas-Spanish Speaking

Elder Josh Ogle: Santa Rosa, California-Spanish Speaking

Elder Avery Garner: Bengkok, Thailand-Thai Speaking

Elder Mitchell Hatch: Micronesia, Guam-English Speaking

Elder Michael Metcalf: Sao Paulo, Brazil-Portugese Speaking

Elder Brock Cutler: Kobe, Japan-Japanese Speaking

Elder Kurt Workman: Cuernevaca, Mexico-Spanish Speaking

Elder Clayton Welch: Geneva, Switzerland-French Speaking

Elder Paul Manwill: Antananarivo, Madagascar

Elder Shane Stephenson: Vancouver, Canada-English Speaking

Sister Kiku Beaufort: Hiroshima, Japan-Japanese Speaking

Sister Noel Ellison: Donetsk, Ukraine-Russian Speaking

Sister Rachel Briggs: Barcelona, Spain-Spanish Speaking

Sister Jessica Ogle: Nagoya, Japan-Japanese Speaking

So, not that any of you care about that, but I'm just a little bit on the proud side of these people. They have really helped my testimony of missionary work grow so much over the past year and a half when they started leaving. As hard as it is for me to watch them go, I love every second that they are gone...especially when I get letters from them! They are all amazing missionaries and have really raised the bar as high as it can go! I love each of them with all of my heart...they are amazing people, and every place they are serving is very lucky to have my missionaries there! Yes, MY missionaries is what I like to call them...I have decided that I am secretly waiting for all of them. :D

Here are a few pictures of some of these great people

Well there you go. I've just been on a missionary high for the last few months, so this is my tribute to all of my friends out there! I'm so grateful for each of their influences in my life! I LOVE MISSIONARIES!!!!

SYTYCD Top 14 Elimination

2008-07-03T20:31:00.000-07:00

Okay so this is officially a venting post about the So You Think You Can Dance results show tonight. All I have to say is WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?!?! Taylor, Zach and I watched it tonight and, believe me, we've discussed all possibilities that would have been more crowd pleasing, and we decided the best choice would have been to keep BOTH Matt and Kourtni and give Comfort and Thayne the boot.

We've decided the judges have made a selfish decision by choosing Matt and Kourtni for elimination tonight. Just because the judges didn't want Matt anymore, they had to take Kourtni too...all because they didn't know who'd she'd partner with if Matt wasn't there. The order of elimination for the girls has been messed up since last week when they sent Chelsea Traille home before Comfort. It should have been Comfort first, then Chelsea Traille, THEN Kourtni. Kourtni just needed a chance to have a different partner...she has WAY better technique than Comfort, not to mention her background and training is 100% easier to work with. Her solo tonight was amazing...ten thousand times better than Comfort's. In my personal opinion Comfort should have gone home right after Suzie, who should have been first. I think Rayven should have gotten to stay longer, I mean really...she is trained in ballet. I dunno about all of you, but as a dancer I was taught that ballet is the center of all dancing....if you've got ballet training, you've got it all.

So here is the order the female eliminations should have gone...of course this is just my opinion:

Week One: Suzie...really I just never liked her or anything she did...I know at least two people that tried out that would have done 10 million times better than she ever did.

Week Two: Comfort...she's just not impressive to me. I'm not gonna lie, she's amazing at her style of dancing, but with all of the other styles she's never "wow-ed" me. Ew..I'm just a little bitter that she's still on the show.

Week Three: Rayven...she was good, but not quite good enough to be in the top 14. I definitely would have liked to see her continue in the competition for longer than a week.

Although I do not agree with the girls eliminations thus far, but I definitely agree with the guys. Tonight's decision is a little sketchy for me, but I'm not to upset about it. I think I'm just done with Thayne...I don't neccessarily hate him, I mean he's a really great dancer, but just not very exciting. So I'm hoping and praying Thayne and Comfort go home next Thursday. I'm just very VERY over Comfort, and I won't be at all devastated if Thayne goes.

On a happier note I LOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVEEE Chelsie Hightower...just like Mary Murphy said last night she is 'towering' over the rest. She is probably my favorite individual contestant, but my favorite partnership is definitely Twitch and Kherington. I've loved Kherington ever since her audition in California...and I loved Twitch last season. He just makes me almost cry every time he dances. He's just a freestyle dancer with hardly any training, and he busts out amazing routines week after week. My other favorite couple is Katee and Joshua...one word: AMAZING!!! Like really, I have nothing to say other than they give me chills every time I watch them dance.

Well, this is all...I still love this show even with the poor decisions the judges have made this week, and I cannot wait for the weeks to come! We Love You Kourtni!!!

PLAYLIST!!!

2008-07-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

Alright, so my goal for my blog today was to create a playlist of songs that I love and bring back great memories...Here's a list and small description of why they are on my blog. Enjoy!

Jeans On by Keith Urban: This song will forever remind me of my first year being a Girls Camp youth leader. My mom was in charge of camp that year, like every other year it seems, and she changed the words around to this song and created our 2005 Girls Camp theme song! I just loved that I got to have my mom and at least one sister with me at Girls Camp every year I went...and sometimes even my dad!

Rockin' in the USA as well as Jack and Diane by John Cougar Mellancamp will remind me of road trips with my dad. All of us children would always want to listen to some Broadway musical or Disney movie soundtrack, but my dad wasn't always the biggest fan of those. Although, he did tolerate it for the first little bit of the trips, eventually we'd be listening to some John Cougar. It would just make me happy to see my dad singing along AND we all learned the words too!

Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis: So earlier this year Ashlee called me up and told me I had to listen to this song and she kept checking up on my to see if I'd listened yet. It did take me awhile to actually listen to it, but when I finally did I was instantly in love with it. AAANNNDD last week on SYTYCD Chelsie Hightower and Mark danced a heart wrenching hip hop to this song. Lets just say every time I watch I get goosebumps and almost cry. Love it!

A New Day by Celine Dion: This song reminds me of a lot of people. Heather Walt, Erin Avondet, and just recently Kherington and Twitch from SYTYCD. Heather can sing just like Celine...and especially this song. Erin and I heard this on a commercial one day and we about died laughing just thinking about Heather singing it. Kherington and Twitch did a gorgeous Viennese Waltz to this song on last weeks episode. They are probably my favorite partnership...but Chelsie Hightower is my favorite individual! :D

No Air: Yet another SYTYCD winner. Katee and Joshua did a tear-jerking hip hop to this song the first week of competition. Once again...a dance that makes me get chills and almost cry.

Walkin' In Memphis by Lonestar: Two words: Kallene Cutler. This is the song she did her dance solo to her senior year. Kallene is one of my best friends and every time I hear this song the memories just start flowing through my head. Love you Kaldawg!

My Front Porch Lookin' In by Lonestar: In the eighth grade, when I started listening to country music, Lonestar was one of the first groups I knew. This song is probably one of the cutest songs I've ever heard...it'll never get old!

Reflection from Disney's Mulan: So Mulan is my favorite of the Disney musical movies so I just chose one song from the movie because I love all of them.

Inside Your Heaven by Carrie Underwood: This song will forever remind me of Garrett Harding...to make a long story short, he is close to obsessed with this song. Also, from the first time I saw Carrie Underwood at her American Idol audition, I knew she was going to go far. AND it was kind of the beginning of my country music days, so I just loved her because she sang country. Haha

Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles: My junior year on dance team was such a fun one. This was our Large Dance song, and I loved this dance so much. The adrenaline that I would get when I performed this dance was insane. I actually loved all of my dances that year...and this was the year we swept the whole Nationals competition in Texas. AMAZING!

Cuppycake from Strawberry Shortcake: Pyper and my mom always sing this song to me. They called me just a few weeks ago with a 'present' for me...they both sang into the phone this song. Basically, Pyper's voice is just like this little girl's, so it's one of the cutest things I've ever heard.

My Little Girl by Tim McGraw: This song is just one of my favorite country songs ever. Also, I always think of Kelsey Peterson because when she came back to the ISI dance competition as the reigning Miss ISI she danced to this and...you guessed it, I bawled my eyes out. I miss dancing and the people I danced with so much.

Stand by Rascal Flatts: This song came out just before my last year of girls camp and I immediately thought it should be a church song. Our Girls Camp was all about being the Light and standing up for what you know and believe, no matter what comes your way. Basically, I fell in love with this song instantly.

Heaven by David Archuleta: Pretty much David is my hero. He is only 17 years old and sounds like this. I'm nearing obsession when it comes to David. And this song is just amazing, so the combination only makes for double-amazingness!

Okay, so here are my current favorites mixed with some of my forever favorites! Hopefully you enjoy at least one of the songs! Thanks for reading!

My life at the SWEET Liberty Square

2008-06-30T15:46:00.000-07:00

So here is a photo update of my life since I moved to Liberty Square in April...

Erin and I loved sitting under our beds!

Every Wednesday night Spring semester Krystin (and sometimes me) played on a bowling league! SOOO fun! Bowling makes me miss high school!

We had just finished video chatting with Kallene and Teresa in London! We missed them so much, but look how happy we got when we got to see their faces! Now we miss Erin.

We went to the Hogle Zoo!!! Me. Annie. Erin. We had so much fun! Definitely a memory that will last forever! The giraffes were for sure our favorite!

Okay, so we are posing all hardcore, but what you can't see is we have roller blades on our feet. Lets just say we are pretty big deals. We've been on several 11pm blading adventures, and let me tell you there are plenty more to come...but they may soon turn into scooter (as in razor scooter) rides!

This is Kaccee, Cole and me at Gina and Rob's wedding dinner! They were sealed for time and all eternity on June 14th, 2008 (I called it), and we got to all reunite again. Kaccee and her mom and sister flew up from Texas and Kallene flew back home from London the night before. We all missed our little Teresa, but it was still such a great weekend in Salt Lake! Congratulations to the happy couple!

Here we are at the reception! She was glowing!

The morning after Gina's wedding my good friend Kurt Workman gave his mission sacrament meeting talk in Farmington, Utah. Kallene, Erin and I rode the bus up to Farmington and spent the day with him and his family and friends! He entered the MTC this last Wednesday, and hopefully I'll be hearing from him soon! He is going to such a good missionary, I can't wait to hear about his success! Add one to the list. ;)

Kurt with all of his Idaho girls...yeah we pretty much like him a lot!

Alright, so my camera broke and I am in the process of figuring out how to get it fixed. Here is an update (no pics yet, sorry) on my life since Kurt's farewell.

Kallene moved in with me at Liberty.

Erin left to London for the semester.

Teresa got home and even came and visited for a few days!

I got a new roommate (other than Kallene) named Ashley. She is from Texas and she is 100% adorable! I'm feel so blessed to live in the apartment I do, with the girls that live with. They are all amazing.

Scootball has been re-popularized, Kallene, my oldest sister Taylor and I all have scooters and are in the process of getting fourth team member to get it going again!

My little sister Spencer was at dance camp in Ogden for 4 days last week and Taylor, Shaylee, Ashlee (Shay's little sister) and I surprised her, and got to watch them do the dances they had learned! Spencer is so good, and her legs are so long and she has beautiful feet...yes, as much as I hate feet, Spencer has got some great ones.

Tomorrow I am going up to Bountiful, Utah with Taylor to attend one of Taylor's best friends, Heather Bateman's, wedding luncheon.

This weekend, being the 4th of July, Krystin Kallene and I are all driving up to Boise that morning to play and celebrate with our families! I'm so excited to go home...I haven't been for a whole month! Crazy, I know. I love Boise!

So there you have it, my life the last 2 months! Hopefully it was enjoyable and be prepared for more updates...especially when my camera is fixed! Ta Ta For Now!

Welcome!

2008-06-30T00:34:00.001-07:00

Hello all! Today, my roommates and I were sitting in our front room when somehow blogging was brought up... We all realized we shared a love of blogging! Amy and Ashley already have fully developed blogs, and as some of you may know my former roommates of 22 have a joint blog, so I decided I should get my own! So here is to a new adventure in the blogosphere! Enjoy!