Utah State

Friday, August 22nd

Modern Art! Modern Art!

I approve of whatever room in whatever building this was at Utah State. Modern art used to be a joke between me and a couple of my friends. I kind of really do love it now though. Was that sentence confusing? Good. It's like modern art. Sometimes it looks silly, but stuff like this is awesome.

Mom and I ate breakfast at the hotel once we woke up and then ran a few more errands while we waited for Laura and Elaine to drive from Ogden to Logan. Laura gave us a tour of her new dorm and university. We ever tried the famous Aggie ice cream. I prefer BYU Creamery. My college has nothing to do with it. BYU just has more options and more add-ins to the ice cream. Don't get me wrong, Aggie ice cream is still great. 

(Side note, Mom dug through the garbage to get her carton for this picture because she had already thrown it away. I didn't ask her to! She's just awesome.)  

The classic "Laura and Emily Pose" Sister Jones always teases us about, in front of Merrill Hall. I'm so excited for Laura and all of the awesome adventures she is going to have at Utah State. I think it would be too cold for me up there. Walking around campus was so fun though. I had to post both pictures because Laura only puts her right hand on her right waist so I had to accommodate her. lol Merciless teasing.

Just out of Logan we found the Pepperidge Farm Factory. Mom bought me lots of snacks. Hooray! The bags to the left are goldfish and cookies that are sold by weight. Soooo many snacks! We just bought a couple of discounted, normal bags.

This American Goldfish Flag behind the register was impressive. 

This is my kind of thrift shopping. Hello pretzels and Milano's cookies. Typical college student.

Crossing into Idaho during a brief reprieve of the strong wind and rain. 

That night we ate dinner with the whole family at the church building. I loved Jaycee's and Luis's cake. Adorable. Uncle Vail got a little choked up while introducing everyone. We ate pizza and then watched the movie of pictures that was going to play the next night at the reception.

Family dinner down. Next was the Bridal Shower! Alexis is too cute. She planned everything and made the cake pops (left picture). We played a bunch of cute bridal shower games that I need to remember next time I host. On the right is Jaycee and I. Love her!!!

Sometimes Siri can't even handle Idaho. Mom and I had horrible service with our new provider. It was interesting not being able to get texts or calls while driving on major highways. It all worked out though. We slept at Cory & Heidi's house with the Sentz girls. Our hosts were in Northern Idaho dropping Chelsea off at school. 

IT WAS FREEZING!!!!!!! 

That is all. :)

On the Road to Logan

August 21st 

Today is the day! I worked in the morning and then went home to finish packing because MOM was here!!! :D This adventure wasn't easy though. We had our cute rental car, but my debit card got lost a few days before the trip and Mom's new credit card didn't activate. Here we go with little money and lots of plans.

A shirt for Bryce, chocolate cinnabears for Dad, cupcakes for Colton (and us), and some lunch. It wasn't easy goings. The picture on the left of us driving, very obviously, the wrong way can prove it. The cupcakes on the left are from the Cocoa Bean. SO GOOD! Honestly, they might have been the best cupcakes I have had in my life. 

Here I am at East High in Salt Lake City. What team? Wildcats! Getcha head in the game! 

Mom was so nice to detour with me to see where they filmed High School Musical way back when. I'm sure they get lots of visitors taking jumping pictures. It was on the way. How could I resist?

<3 Childhood <3 lol Check that one off the bucket list. 

A couple hours after departure and we found ourselves at the Ogden Temple Re-dedication Open House with the Jones. The new temple was breathtaking. It looks a lot like the Gilbert Temple on the outside, but the inside was very different.

I'm so happy our schedules worked out that Laura and I could hang out. It was just the week before she started school at Utah State. 

It's so nice to have your best friend live in the same state.

Trying to take a picture in the reflection pool. There was no way to fit the whole temple and the whole reflection into the shot from the ledge I was standing on. I still think it's pretty though. I love to see the temple.

After the open house, we went back to Laura's aunt & uncle's house to decide where to eat for dinner. Her uncle suggested a restaurant up the canyon. IT WAS THE COOLEST! We ate outside, surrounded by trees and right next to a river.

The food was delicious too. We had a ton of fun. It was us, our moms, and Laura's aunt and uncle. I highly recommend The Oaks. Look at the pictures below. Are you not convinced yet?!?! Go Ogden. 

Mom and I drove the rest of the way to Logan that night and stayed in the University Hotel. Apparently Dad used to work there during his college days. The hotel was really nice. We were so tired from driving and running errands that we crashed. Day One: Success!

Elder Colton Stock

Monday, August 18th

FOUR DAYS! "Four days till what?" A common question you might ask yourself. The answer is four days until my mom flies up to Provo and we road trip Idaho for my cousin's wedding. Lots happened in those four days though.

Tuesday, August 19th - Elder David A. Bednar was the Devotional Speaker during Education Week on campus. Education Week is EFY for adults. There were all kinds of parents and grandparents walking through campus all week to sit in on guest lecturers and workshops. I helped a handful find buildings. Bednar's talk was great. I had to stop myself from giggling as he explained to the older crowd how to use social media like pinterest, facebook, and instagram. 

The Marriott Center was packed.

That night was a rockin Relief Society Activity. Amy and I killed it as archers at the shooting range. We're basically Merida, Katniss, and Hawkeye all rolled into one. ;)

We really weren't bad though. Sometimes our best shots were on targets we weren't aiming for, but it was fun. Good turnout too for a middle of the week activity. I love this new ward.

Actually aimed for that. Holla!

Amy was such a good sport to let me take "artsy" pictures. She's awesome.

August 20th - Time out from the eight hour work day to go to lunch with the Stocks. We ate at Cafe Rio right before they dropped Colton off at the MTC. Colton is serving in the Vancouver, Canada Mission, English Speaking. It's crazy he's gone. When I see missionaries I don't really connect that that is what my friends are doing right now in other states and countries. I missed Colton when I went to college, so this isn't too different. Below is what I posted on facebook right before he left. 

This is Elder Colton Stock. We've been friends since he was 7 and I was 8. In elementary school we made cheesy videos and he broke TWO trampolines along with countless other things in my house. In junior high we would sneak into each other's rooms to play pranks. One time he filled my bed with stuffed animals in the shape of a person. Terrifying. We spent years going to church, watching movies, and going on adventures together even though we went to different schools. Junior year he took me to prom. The summer after high school we worked in a warehouse. In two years he'll join me at BYU, but today he's reporting to the MTC for a mission in Vancouver, Canada. He's going to be a great missionary. Farewell Elder Stock! We'll miss you and see you in two!

Gilbert Glimpse and Pug Tails

Due to popular demand, I spent a weekend at home before starting the new Fall Semester. It was fun to see everyone before they go off to their exciting new adventures: school, missions, etc. This is a BYU Blog, so I'll just stick to the highlights of my time in Gilbert. It's always a good time. 

Bryce was kind enough to replace the lights in our kitchen when he and Laura were over making pizza. The ceilings are so high he used a ladder to get to the ledge and then stood on that to change the lights. Our pizza was pretty good too.

Gellato at San Tan after seeing Guardians of the Galaxy. Both were great. From left to right: Me, Colton, Taylor, Megan, Laura Hawkes, and Laura Jones. As I'm writing this (a month later), the only two left in Arizona are Megan and Laura Hawkes. Laura Hawkes won't be there long though. We're all so grown up.

One of our favorite past times; driving through "the tunnel." It's an alley of storage units. Colton was sitting in the back as we crept through the dark after delivering a couch at Bryce Coleman's house when he wouldn't hang out with us. The highlight of the night was Colton finding a broken Buzz Lightyear foot in the nasty old couch we delivered. Creepy!!!

Outside of the Gilbert Temple with Mr. and Mrs. Reed. I love that Olivia's wedding fell on the same weekend I would be home. In the picture she is holding a sign Evelyn and Lliana made for her and sent down with me. Later that night, Mom, Brianna, Valerie, and I drove to Peoria to go to the reception. It was far away, but worth it. I love weddings. 

Remington Butler presents, The Islands Ward: Young Adult Years.

Colton was hilarious during his farewell talk. No one will soon forget him quoting Pacific Rim from the pulpit. There were tons of people there to support him too. Colton reports to Vancouver, Canada in just a few short days. From left to right: Corinne, Megan, Me, Brianna, Colton, Maddy, Laura Hawkes, Riley, (Remmy), and Rachel. Colton grew up with a great ratio. ;)

Back to Provo!

It's my first time at Winco on another Emmy, Emily, and Leilani adventure. This store is pretty great. It's farther from campus, but cheaper and has bulk options. Look at all this candy!

We're pretty cheesy.

The trip to Winco provided our inspiration for Leilani's birthday treat at work. She was back home for her birthday, but we never forget. I'm not sure if I have mentioned it before, but Leilani loves loves loves pugs. I was craving cinnamon rolls and it worked perfectly with the theme; they look like little pugs tails. (Gross?)

Our superb baking skills put to the test.

Success! We had to taste them while watching another Jane Austen flick.

Emmy, Leilani, and Me

The next day we had a big breakfast party at work. The funniest part was putting pictures of pug's faces all over the Office characters.

Finally posted this. It's been forever. Once school starts, life stops (at least certain aspects). Hopefully I covered everything important.