becca jones

NEW BLOG!

2010-07-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

Check out our new blog:

www.derekandbeccasmith.blogspot.com

Add us to your list!

We can't wait to add you!

xoxo

Engaging Photos

2010-07-08T16:39:00.000-07:00

Just a few of our favorite shots.
I love it when he gives me kisses.

Thank you for all the fun Tegyn.

xoxo

We're Engaged!

2010-06-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, June 26th, 2010

Derek asked me 6 words:

"Becca Jones, will you marry me?"

And of course, I said

"YES!"

We actually had been "un-officially" engaged since last Sunday, but Saturday was the day it became official.

I love my ring.

I love my man.

I am so lucky to have Derek in my life!

I cannot wait to become Mrs. Smith!

See you all August 14, 2010 in the

San Diego California temple!

Thank you all for your love and support!

[xoxo]

Dallin's 8th Grade Graduation

2010-06-18T21:29:00.001-07:00

Dallin graduated 8th grade.

Weird.

I remember when he was born. He was so little!

I remember when he was in 5th grade and already taller then me too.

I guess my "little" brother isn't so little any more!

Mom & Dallin
Dallin with two adorable girls from the ward; Rebecca & Kimber!
So glad to see D.J. will have such fun girls to grow up with! I'm sure these three are looking forward to Seminary carpool starting in August! :)

And last, a picture of Dallin and some buddies.

Again, don't be shocked that he's the tallest one- it's been like that since pre-school.

Way to go buddy!

You survived middle school!

On to cooler teachers, high school sports, seminary, and a block schedule!

San Diego Trip

2010-06-07T18:33:00.000-07:00

On our fun trip to San Diego, we were able to:

1. Enjoy a morning reading at the beach.

2. A fun lunch in San Clemente with Crystal.

3. An evening baseball game to see Dallin in the championships.

4. A day at Sea World

5. A sunburn.

6. Old Towne Mexican Food.

7. The Mormon Battalion Tour

8. A morning breakfast party with extended family.

9. A drive up the coast in the convertible.

10. Enjoying the perfect and cool weather.

It was a great trip! We crammed as much as we could in, enjoyed the cool 70 degree weather, and had a blast!

Now we're back to work/school, 100 + degree weather, and being busy!

We're Going....

2010-06-01T21:38:00.001-07:00

We're

going, going,

back, back,

Cali, Cali.

San Diego for a long weekend.

Meet ya back on Sunday.

Afternoon Organizing

2010-05-27T16:40:00.001-07:00

This afternoon I had work off, but don't start thinking I sat around and ate bon-bons.

I organized.

I'm already super clean (I sweep the kitchen/dining floor every day, deep clean the bathroom twice a week, dust every three days,vacuum every two days, etc...), but it was time for the smaller things.

First, the messy make-up/hair basket.

For those of you know really know me, you know I have to be an inch from a mirror when I am getting ready. In high school, I'd just climb up on the counter of the bathroom with my feet in the sink (my Mom and her sisters all do this too- kinda fun).

Roommates and college brought a different story. I now just have a small station in my room with a full length mirror, make-up basket, oh, and a very durable/stained rug- better on there then the REAL carpet.

I organized it so it wasn't so horrible. I also don't wear much make-up, so it wasn't that much of a hassle!

My bedroom was already clean, but it has yet to be showcased on the blog!
Queen sized bed? No, try again. It's actually a queen sized Air Mattress stacked on 3 twin sized foam mattress pads, that were already in the room when I moved in. You're probably thinking, that doesn't work out. Yeah, its a little wobbly to the left side, but I'm 21- I survive!

My dresser used to be home to my amazing and cost effective laser printer. It's lasted be 4 years of college, and I've only changed the cartridge once! No ink here baby! But it was time to retire the printer to a less obvious spot in the bedroom.

Enter.....

My Closet/Home Office!

One side of my closet has my clothes, while this side houses my printer station, teaching supplies/books, gift bags/tissue paper, shoes, purses, hats, and scarves.

Why hadn't I thought of this before? Now, it's just as easy to access, and by a slide of the door, it's hidden!

Oh, the simple pleasures of life. Also, 2 days till Derek is home. He called me last night, he's having a blast, but wishing I were there.

What did YOU today that made your day a little brighter?

Celebrate Good Times!

2010-05-23T15:41:00.001-07:00

Friday afternoon was finally time to celebrate with Derek! After finals, he was ready for a fun weekend and a two week break from school!

He was happy to see his present...

"Scrubs: Season 3".

He now has the entire season on DVD. If you haven't watched it, it's hilarious and totally shows how doctors are just regular and funny people.

Saturday we enjoyed a late lunch at a local BBQ place featured on Food Networks "Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives".

(www.theepittsagain.com)

After eating some great food, we headed over to Chase Field to watch the Diamondbacks!

We scored great seats at a great price!

(www.stubhub.com)

Derek is off to Mexico for a 6 day vacation with his family! This is the first time we've been apart where we won't be able to talk on the phone! Darn international roaming fees!

I have a busy week of work, 6th grade activities & promotion (yes, they used their sweet little faces to get me to chaperone), and preparing for Memorial Day & San Diego!

Just Another Day to Him....

2010-05-17T21:11:00.000-07:00

Becca: "Aren't you excited for your Birthday tomorrow?!"

Derek: "Oh, I totally forgot."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That's what you get when you're in finals over-load.

4 finals. 5 days.

To him, it's just another day to worry about before he can finally relax.

Noon on Friday will be just what he needs.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

25 Things I Love About Derek:
(In honor of turning the big 2-5)

He always makes me laugh.
His laugh gets everyone else laughing.
He always supports me.
He gives the BEST hugs.
He never ceases to surprise me.

Gives me random bouquets of flowers- just because he can.
He supports me in everything I do.
He is focused on the important things in life.
He does great animal impressions.
He can quote any movie perfectly after only watching it once.

There is never a dull moment when we’re around each other.
We can sit and talk for hours and hours and loose track of time.
We love trying new foods together.
He is always a help in the kitchen and loves to be the “Spice Master”.
He takes care of me when I’m sick.

He lets me “dress” him & “style” his hair. (He listens to my fashion advice).
He is driven & focused on becoming a successful Doctor.
He loves his family.
He is the best person to have for long car rides.
He will rewind episodes of “Glee”, “Scrubs”, and “The Soup” on his DVR just to laugh at the same clip over and over again.

He writes sweet poems about me on the fly.
He loves sharing new facts and medical stories with me. I love watching his face light up when he does this.
I could be having the worst day in the world, and he can come and make everything better.
He has a great testimony of the gospel.
He is loving, appreciative, and grateful for me; I couldn’t ask for more.
Here’s to another year, another candle on your cake, and another birthday shared.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day Mom!

In the words of Dallin's 6th grade "Why My Mom is the Best" essay:

"My mom's the best because she's the bestest."

It's to true,

we LOVE you!

(P.S. Derek and I are coming to San Diego around June 2nd for all those who want to visit- give a shout out!)

Cinco de Mayo Soup

2010-05-06T13:06:00.001-07:00

New Tradition: Eat "Cinco de Mayo Soup" every May 5th.

1. Brown, drain, and season ground beef.

2. Throw in pot with drained corn, kidney, and black beans.

3. Add tomato sauce and a fresh white onion.

4. Simmer on stove for about 10 minutes.

5. Enjoy & garnish with cheese, sour cream, and cilantro.

Enjoy!

Summer Wardrobe

2010-05-04T14:17:00.001-07:00

It hit 90 degrees about three weeks ago, but it's been mild since.

My Phoenix summer wardrobe will consist of:

-Shorts

-Cute sandals

-Tanks with a light cardigan

-Simple tops with floral embellishments

An easy way to turn ANY shirt/tank into a funky, cute, and summer style is by adding a simple fabric floral necklace.

1. Buy/make fabric flowers. You can make them as simple or complex as you like.

2. Buy a thick set ribbon.

3. Using a glue gun, place a dab on the back of the flower, and close it off on the back with a small felt circle.

(Ghetto sounding, but I'm not a seamstress)

4. Your necklace is finished! Leave a long enough ribbon length in the back so you can match up all your necklines of your shirts.

5. Enjoy!

I Have a JOB!

2010-04-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

After what felt like YEARS of job hunting,

many, many interviews,

and a continuous effort,

I was offered an amazing job with

Arizona Autism United

To learn more about AZAUnited and Autism, click here:

http://azaunited.org/

Afternoon Stretch

2010-04-21T15:46:00.000-07:00

April 1, 2010- Completed Student Teaching & enjoyed a surprise weekend visit from my family.

April 5, 2010- Started job hunt with a positive outlook, resumes in hand, and a bounce in my step.

April 15, 2010- Still positive & full of energy. Applied to at least 75 places and networking in schools all over the Phoenix area.

April 19, 2010- Had an interview! Went well.. still waiting for a reply. Great things take time..

April 21, 2010

8:30-10:30 Spent 2 hours driving to random colleges (ITT Tech, Apollo College, Anthem College) only to go on wild scavenger hunts around the building only to be told, "You should probably just e-mail *insert name here*.

10:45-11:45 Ate some lunch with Derek.

12:15-2:00 Mapped out 5 Glendale Elementary Schools only to find myself on another scavenger hunt- thank you Google maps- 5 schools who had early release & staff training meetings all afternoon, and a very full bladder.

2:00-2:30- Downed a Diet Dr. Pepper and went grocery shopping for dinner tonight.

2:30-3:30- Online job hunting. 6 resumes to random companies, 2 resumes to schools.

3:55- Headache, stress, sugar cookie with lots of frosting, and blogging.

Alright, my life isn't horrible... I feel like all my friends who have recently graduated or will graduate within the month are feeling the exact same thing. We are worried about our futures & where it will take us.

So, I'm staying positive. Saying prayers, and hoping something will pop up within the next few days. And thank you pink sugar cookie- you made my day.

It's Back to Give us a Laugh....

2010-04-13T17:02:00.000-07:00

It's back.

The sonGs.

The Laughs.

The dancEs.

The Excitement.

GLEE

And I couldn't be more excited!

Good Fortune

2010-04-07T17:07:00.001-07:00

Good fortune.

Time to move on & find a job.

Been looking all week & moving forward.

Wish me luck.

Student Teaching Recap

2010-03-29T18:33:00.000-07:00

It's almost over.

The end is near.

It's a bitter sweet moment, but it's been amazing. I wouldn't have traded the experience for anything!

I decided to make a little something for all my students.

The boys are getting candy, while the girls are getting cute little flower headbands.

A big shout out to all the people who made this experience possible!

Spring Flowers

2010-03-22T15:13:00.000-07:00

What better way to celebrate my Spring Break then a nice surprise bouquet of flowers from the boy?

Tulips are one of my favorites!

Thanks handsome!

Spring Break

2010-03-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

Spring Break.

Laying out poolside.

Job applications.

Tan legs.

Student gifts.

Time with Dr. D.

LOVE.

Wish me Luck....

2010-03-03T19:28:00.000-08:00

Wish me luck

Why?

You do the math.

65 sixth graders

4 teachers

20 parents

science

camp

6th Grade Science Camp

And they want ME to teach survival skills?

Spring in the Desert

2010-02-21T11:35:00.000-08:00

The other night I was driving home from Dr. D's house and everything was normal.

Then, I smelled it.

Freshly cut grass.

It's beginning to look, sound, and smell like Spring.

First, the Dr. has to get through finals week.

From all this weekend rain, I'm thinking a nice, relaxing

hike

will do us some good next Saturday.

Think of Dr. D. this week.

3 days. 5 finals.

[xoxo]

To My Valentine,

2010-02-15T10:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Valentine,

Thanks for the months of love.

Let's look back on and see how far we've come.

First things first, let's thank Ryan,

without him, we'd both be cry'n.

He and I didn't work out,

so you came along and spout:

"Hey, wanna go out?"

After our date, we both knew something was cookin',

and it was perfect since we're both so good lookin'!

So, we decided to start a summer of

LOVE.

Then, your birthday, our first "holiday",

I was so nervous, I didn't know what to say.

So, I made you a cake and brought it on over,

you said you were surprised,

so I said "Okay!"

Then, it was time to meet the Smith fam,

I was nervous again, but you said

"They'll love you."

It was so fun and natural, I knew you were right,

so we went out to catch the biggest fish in sight.

It was this moment you said, you truly "Fell in Love",

and I was so excited,

my heart flew away like a dove.

Now, this time, the Jones family came to town,

and it was time for Derek to want to drown, (j/k).

We spent the weekend together in the good old town of Rex,

Dad pulled out his "list",

and Derek made all the chex.

Then came the hard part,

apart for 4 months.

Sometimes it felt like pushing a handcart.

We made it! Hooray!

It was time to celebrate!

We were back together in the city of sun.

So, now on this day of love,

I sit here and write this message.

You're a sick little boy, with a fever, cough, and headache.

At least it's better then being alone and having

heart ache.

So thanks for all you do!

The flowers are gorgeous!

You're the best boyfriend out there,

and I want everyone to know it.

[Happy Valentines Day]

Long Week

2010-02-09T19:59:00.001-08:00

It's 9:01 on a Tuesday night and I'm exhausted.

I don't even have kids to feed, bathe, and put to bed.

All I have to do is worry about myself,

oh,

and my 26 "kids" I greet 5 days a week at school.

Every night, I get ready for my nightly chat with

Dr. D.

Some nights, it's fun. We talk about our days, laugh, joke, share stories.

Other nights, it's not so fun. We're stressed and tired.

On these nights, Dr. D. is usually studying for a test.

Now, here's where it gets hard.

I support him 100% in his endeavours.

I always tell him "If there is anything I can do, let me know!"

But,

I know that's silly!

I can't take is anatomy test for him.

I can't study diseases for hours on end in his behalf.

I can't see him everyday like we used to in Rexburg.

But,

I can support him.

I can tell him I love him.

I can make him yummy dinners.

I can clean is apartment.

He always says "Thank you".

He is always so happy to see me.

He is always smiling & saying "I love you".

Then I realize,

It's the moments like these, that make it ALL worth it.

New Favorite

2010-02-07T16:25:00.001-08:00

Kids and adults.

Old and young.

One and all.

If you haven't watched this, you are missing out!

It is our new favorite movie!

b & d

The Groundhogs Prediction

2010-02-07T10:53:00.000-08:00

On February 2nd (Groundhogs Day & Rachel's Birthday),

this little guy came out of his hiding place,

saw his shadow,

ran back in his warm little underground house,

and predicted

6 more weeks of winter.

Normally, I would be a little upset,

but this year,

I wouldn't mind six more week of this

[xoxo]

Freeway Cameras

2010-02-03T16:04:00.001-08:00

I enjoy my drive to work here.

It's warm, easy, quick, and a straight shot on the freeway.

However, the state of

likes to have it's drivers live in fear.

You're probably asking yourself "How?"

Well, feast your eyes upon the monsters.

Speed cameras plaster the Phoenix areas freeways.

Ever wonder why AZ freeways are clean, nice, and without potholes.

You have your answer.

Happy Birthday Rachel!

2010-02-02T16:02:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday to my fun, cute, silly, and hilarious sister!

All the family vacations wouldn't be half as fun without this girl. We get laughing so hard, we can't even control ourselves!
Thanks for celebrating my birthday with me, now it's time for me to say:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER!

So This is Love

2010-01-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

[so this is love]
<3

[[xoxo]]

Pizza Please!

2010-01-18T16:40:00.000-08:00

Becca & Derek's BBQ Chicken Pizza

1. Grill pizza dough on both sides.

2. Cover with BBQ sauce.

3. Sprinkle on cheese, grilled chicken, peppers, onions, and cilantro.

4. Grill until cheese is melted.

5. Serve and enjoy.

(Fun for a date night, entertaining, or a quick weekday dinner)

xoxo,

b & d

Glee-Full

2010-01-15T21:36:00.000-08:00

I may be a Loser,

but I love

gLee.

Arizona Lovin'

2010-01-05T16:11:00.001-08:00

Hello all.

Here in Arizona.

Loving the warm weather, sunshine, my roommates, and being close to Derek.

Nervous for teaching, 6th grade boys, and geometry.

Thinking of trying something like this as a writing project.

Not just for my students, but for me as well.

Capture my everyday joys, battles, laughs, and struggles with my students.

I start tomorrow. Wish me luck.

Merry Christmas with Love

2009-12-24T14:29:00.001-08:00

From our family to yours,

Merry Christmas

Memories

2009-12-15T16:48:00.000-08:00

Today was the day.

I packed up my car full of clothes, books, shoes, picture frames, mirrors, and memories.
Played "tug-of-war" with some items, but managed to fit them all in.

Reved the engine & drove.

Drove away from 4 years of memories.

.Cold Winter mornings on campus.

.Hot summer afternoons at Rigby Lake.

.Riding bikes.

.Slipping on icy walkways wishing to be home in California.

.Making so many new friends.

.Watching friends leave and return from missions.

.Watching friends get married and start families.
.Laughing until I cried.

.Late night chats with all my favorite girls.

.Feeling EVERY emotion in 1 day.
.Smiling even though you failed.

.Living on my own & experiencing independence.

.Remembering all the dates with countless boys.

.Remembering the jerks who brought me closer to my Mom & girlfriends.

.Meeting the love of my life.

Every year, I knew I would come back.

Not this time.

Now, I find myself driving away from Rexburg and memories to not return in a few short months. This time, I will leave and go to a new city.

A new place to call "home".

A place to settle down and start over.

A place to make new
Memories

Baby Bradshaw

2009-12-12T15:24:00.001-08:00

On Friday, December 11, 2009

Mitch & Jaci Bradshaw

welcomed

Carson Decker Bradshaw

to their family!

On Saturday, Heather and I went to visit Jaci in the hospital. She looked amazing, and was so sweet to share her baby boy with us for a few minutes!
Congrats to all family members!
Carson is adorable!
[xoxo]

David Archuleta Concert

2009-12-06T14:42:00.001-08:00

On Friday night, Amy, Heather, and I fell in love with......

and his amazing Christmas Album

David Archuleta performed a concert at BYU-Idaho and it was so much fun!

Here is a preview for all you Holiday Lovers out there!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn-Jxl6hA2I

[xoxo]

Thanksgiving Fun

2009-11-29T11:59:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving Break Highlights:

1. Seeing Derek for the first time in 3 months!

2. Playing in Oakley for a few days with Derek's family and friends

3. Getting lots of kisses from this cute boy....

4. Riding horses out on the Ranch

5. Flying to San Diego and spending a few days at the beach

6. Visiting La Jolla and Old Town San Diego

7. Being in warm, sunny, and beautiful San Diego for a few days with family and friends.

Next Thing on my To-Do-List:

1. Finish the last 3 weeks of school strong.

2. Take finals.

3. Graduate.

[xoxo]

Third Grade

2009-11-09T18:51:00.000-08:00

I love my students. Wonder why?

They are hard workers,

They are always trying their best,

They are great team players,

But, most importantly,

they make me smile!

I love teaching and can't wait to continue teaching wonderful students like them! They make my day so much brighter!

(xoxo)

BYU Homecoming Weekend

2009-10-27T18:53:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, Rachel and I drove down to Provo to meet up with

Dad, Mom, & Dallin for

BYU Homecoming Week

We enjoyed the Homecoming Parade on 9th Next to the

Creamery,

Attending the ESPN broadcast,

And cheering on the Cougars during the game,

(which they sadly lost)

Thanks for the fun weekend!

xoxo

30 Days

2009-10-20T15:45:00.000-07:00

In exactly one month

(30 days)

I will see my handsome, smart, funny, cute, adorable, and sweet

Derek!

Be prepared for the biggest celebration in the West!

Star Polisher

2009-10-09T12:00:00.000-07:00

I have a great job in the universe of occupations. What do I do? I'm a "star polisher."It's a very important job. If you want to know how important, just go out at night and look at the stars twinkling and sparkling.

You see, I'm a teacher.

The stars are the children in my class. My job is to take them--in whatever shape they come--and shine and buff them and then send them out to take their places as bright, twinkling beacons in the sky.They come into my room in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they're bent, tarnished, dirty, crinkly, or broken. Some stars are cuddly and soft. Some are prickly and thorny.As I buff and polish, I train and teach my little stars; I tell them that the world cannot do without them. I tell them they can do anything they set their minds to. I tell them they can be the brightest, shiniest stars in the sky and the world will be a better place because of them.

Each night as I look at the sky, I'm reminded of my very important job and awesome responsibility. Then I get my soft buffing cloth and my bottle of polish in preparation for tomorrow…for my class of little stars.

Idaho Autumn

2009-10-01T12:09:00.001-07:00

October in Idaho means 5 things:

1. Crisp Autumn days.

2. Gorgeous orange/yellow/purple/pink sunsets.

3. Days that linger on forever.

4. Picturesque scenes you can't take your eyes off.

5. An occasional snow storm [yuck]

Happy Fall!

New Obession: Eight-Year-Olds

2009-09-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

I am teaching a wonderful class at Ucon Elementary School for the next few months.

I always imagined teaching older students, but I already love these guys!

No, not kindergarten (yikes)!

Miss Jones is loving....

It's only been a few days and I already love these students!

Can't wait for a great year!

Twenty-One

2009-09-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

My Birthday celebrations started a few weeks ago when Mom & Dad surprised me with a visit to Arizona

to see

Derek!

We spent the long weekend swimming, shopping, eating yummy food, talking, and having lots of fun!

While there, I opened my present from Derek, which, he wrapped by himself without scissors- talented, huh? I excitedly opened it to see a

Webcam!

Now we can video chat with each other every few days, which will be a fun treat!

Thanks Derek! I love you!

On Saturday, my roommates and I headed out for some yummy dinner and a movie to celebrate.

Sunday, my actual Birthday, was full of fun, friends, and treats!
For a few highlights:

{Stephanie, Zack, Meghan, Me, Shawn}

I met Stephanie and Meghan last Fall and we've been friends ever since. I love these girls!

Zack and Shawn were Derek's roommates in the summer, so we had lots of fun together and it was fun to see them!

{Spencer, Katie, Whitney, Me, Kyler}

It was probably the most fun to see all these cute kids walk in the door! We all met our 1st semester at BYU-Idaho back in 2006. Spencer and Kyler were gone the past 2 years serving missions, and returned for a fun reunion!

Thank you all for the Birthday wishes!

It's going to be a great year!

09.10.09

2009-09-10T16:56:00.001-07:00

Today was my

{LAST}

FIRST

Day of School

BYU-Idaho

[bitter sweet, but i smiled all day]

What I've Been Up To

2009-08-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

The past 5 weeks at home have been a blast! Here's what this fun break has led me to do:

Spend a super fun day at Mission Bay riding wave runners with these cute kids,

(Thanks Pam & Jim)

Playing with this little guy (Nathan) and his big sister Lilly,

Spending lots of time with the cousins,

Going to Palm Springs with family & friends,

(It was fun to be with The Hoynackis, The Allens, The Blackmuns, and The Jones Families!)

And today I find myself scrambling to finish laundry and pack my bag. Why? We're doing a quick weekend trip to Arizona so I can see......

Derek!

Thanks Mom & Dad for all the fun!

Love you!

It's Offical

2009-08-07T12:02:00.000-07:00

Today I opened my e-mail and was happy and excited to see that I had been placed in my Student Teaching location!

I will be in the city where this beautiful temple stands....

Mesa, Arizona!
I'm looking forward to warm weather (especially since my normal January weather in Rexburg was a brisk high of 20 degrees), pretty views, sunshine, and of course,
TEACHING!

I can't wait to start a new adventure in Mesa!

Derek's Graduation

2009-07-29T09:21:00.000-07:00

On July 23, 2009,

this handsome boy walked across a stage at this campus,

(BYU-Idaho)
and received his B.S. in Economics, and started on his way to

Midwestern University to start Medical School!

(Glendale, AZ)

Congratulations to my handsome, smart, and talented boy!

I love you!

Love

2009-07-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

"Love is cleanliness and sacrifice and selflessness... For love to continue, there must be an increase in confidence, understanding, frequent and sincere expressions of appreciation and affection. There must be a forgetting of self and a constant concern for the other."

-Spencer W. Kimball

4th of July Weekend

2009-07-05T16:29:00.001-07:00

The weekend started off with a BANG!

Before heading out to Utah for the weekend we....

Visited the Idaho Falls Temple,

and ate a yummy dinner in Jackson Hole.

When we arrived in Utah.....

we toured the Conference Center,

walked around BYU,

Played games with the family,

Took Dallin to the MTC,

And went to Stadium of Fire for the

JoNaS bRoThErS!

(yaay. Derek was so excited)

We also saw lots of family (Seb & Precia family, Josh & Rachel family, Bob & Patty, Matt & Shayla family), swam, ate yummy food, and enjoyed the warm sun!

Happy 4th of July!

Fathers Day Visit!

2009-06-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Rachel and I had a surprise visit from Mom, Dad, and Dallin.

We smiled for pictures,

Enjoyed the scenery,

Ate yummy, yummy food,

Ventured out to Mesa Falls,

And spent time with the family for Father's Day!

Thanks for a fun time!

I love you!

Recently....

2009-06-17T15:57:00.000-07:00

"You cannot light a fire in another soul unless it's burning in your own."

-Harold B. Lee-

I Passed.....

2009-06-01T15:22:00.001-07:00

The Praxis Exam!

After graduation, I am now certified to teach school! I'm so excited and proud of myself! Now, I can just focus on this semester and Fall without the stress of trying to pass my certification test!

(Disclaimer: It was pouring rain today, I came home, saw my scores, and couldn't help but tell everyone!)

Memorial Day Weekend

2009-05-27T12:45:00.001-07:00

Location: Oakley, Idaho

Population: 668

Home of the cutest boy in the world: Derek Smith

I have never been fishing before, so Derek decided to take me out to the land his family owns in the basin and fish in their little pond. He swears that a fish hasn't been caught in like 3 years, and guess what? I come along and catch a pretty good sized Rainbow Trout! No catch and release here, I was going to eat that bad boy, and it tasted delicious!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

Smith Family for spending the weekend with me! I can't wait to do it again!

New Best Friend

2009-05-08T16:10:00.001-07:00

Yes!

I am the proud owner of a sky blue beach cruiser,

I LOVE IT!

Beau & Britt's Wedding

2009-04-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

Beau & Brittany

April 18, 2009

Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Kalmes. The wedding was beautiful. Brittany looked gorgeous and couldn't stop smiling at her handsome husband Beau. The little girls were adorable in their matching purple dresses, and the bridesmaids were smokin' hot in their black ones.

A Chapter Ends.....

2009-04-08T21:45:00.000-07:00

A semester ending means I'm one step closer to this....

. Bring on the Rexburg Summer Semester.

. Summer 2009.

.will.

.be.

.AmAzInG.

*Current Graduation Date: December 2009*

Cinco Dias

2009-04-05T16:56:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I'll be in one of the most gorgeous places in the world for my Semester Break.

Any guesses where I'm going?

Yes. Simple as that. I'm going home to Carlsbad. I am so excited to see my family, friends, and of course, my little kiddies in the ward.

How lucky am I to live in such a beautiful place?

General Conference

2009-03-29T20:46:00.000-07:00

Just a sneak peak on what we all have to look forward to this weekend...

Day by day, minute by minute, second by second we went from where we were to where we are now. The lives of all of us, of course, go through similar alterations and changes. The difference between the changes in my life and the changes in yours is only in the details. This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do.

Instead, find joy in the journey—now.

President Thomas S. Monson

Pull out that winter coat again Becca....

2009-03-25T16:55:00.000-07:00

Just when it was looking like Spring,

a little March snow storm decided to hit.

Thanks Rexburg. I owe ya one.

Photo Collage

2009-03-13T15:24:00.001-07:00

This afternoon, I decided to do a fun project that I have been thinking about for a few months. I have been collecting old frames, and fun little things from a local store in Rexburg and decided to put them to good use in a classic photo collage in my room.
I had a BIG empty wall above my desk, and decided to throw different sizes of frames together for a funky & artsy look. I found some really fun key holes and some antique keys, so I decided to put those up too.
I also was feeling extra crafty, and made a simple quote with a plain black wooden frame and a piece of glass. I just used a rub on quote and instant art work!

Does anyone have any other fun & inexpensive ways to bring life to such bare walls?

Training: Week 2

2009-03-12T14:07:00.001-07:00

This week, training has gone really well. I have increased the distance by about a mile or two, so now I'm running about 4 miles a day. I have decided that it's the perfect distance, because, to be honest, 5 is looking a little more challenging than I thought. And, a half marathon is 13! It's still pretty cold outside this week, and WINDY! It's too cold to be outside, but next week looks like it will be in the 50's, which is manageable. It's common to see rainbows a lot this time of year because it's too warm to snow, so it rains quite often!
Next Week: Run outside!

Two Weeks: Run outside & feel the warm sun! Spring is here in Rexburg; the snow is melting, it's getting warmer, and sometimes a jacket isn't even necessary! Can't wait for summer and to be tan again!

Thanks for cheering me on in my goal!

Training: Week 1

2009-03-06T00:05:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been a while since I have blogged about, well, anything! School is going great, and in 5 weeks I'll be home in Carlsbad for a visit! I can't wait! In the mean time, I have some exciting news. I have decided to train and run a Half Marathon!

This has been the first week of training, and I am so sore, but so happy! I love the feeling of accomplishing and working hard for a goal.

Any advice for a 1st time marathon runner?

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T12:29:00.000-08:00

Let's start the year out on a good note- making some resolutions! In honor or 2009, I will be making 9 resolutions I hope to accomplish, keep, and reach in the coming year. Starting today, I have 365 days to complete them, so let's get started!

Exercise at least 3 times a week
Read my scriptures at least 10 minutes a day
Graduate BYU-Idaho early (by December 2009)
Apply and be placed in a student teaching position
Take a teaching job or apply for graduate school
Spend more time with those who need a friend or are lonely
Smile when walking around campus, the store, and everywhere else
Cut back on shopping trips and sprees
Keep a budget

I tag: Courtney Kerr, Katie Wilcoxson, and Alyssa Walker

Happy 2009!

Jones Family Christmas Gathering

2008-12-30T12:42:00.001-08:00

The Saturday before Christmas, we all drove out to Grandpa Jones house for the Jones Christmas Celebration! We started out with a yummy and fun trip to Claim Jumper for dinner where everyone was having fun and enjoyed the food and company. After that, we headed back to Grandpa's house where all the grandchildren read a special letter about a favorite memory including Grandpa & Grandma in their lives.

Then, we did a Nativity scene (which has been a tradition since Rachel and I were babies), and still love doing one each year with all the cousins. We also did a gift exchange with some of Grandma's old Christmas decorations. I was so excited because I love decorations and can't wait to use them next year!
It was a fun day full of fun!
Merry Christmas from the Jones Family!

Reunited & It Feels So Good!

2008-12-28T13:55:00.000-08:00

The past 2 days I was able to drive back to Seal Beach/Los Al and spend time with my wonderful friends from high school. The occasion you ask? Well, Dustin (3 from Left) was having his mission homecoming talk. He just returned from Brazil and is doing wonderful! It was fun to see him.
Last night, I was able to play with all my fun girlfriends- special thanks to Tegyn & Crystal (pictured here) for planning a fun night of pizza, frozen yogurt, and games. It was so fun seeing everyone.
At Dustin's homecoming I was also able to visit with Brad (1 from Left), who returned from his mission in Mexico in late September. It's so much fun to go back and see everyone and how we are all living our lives and being successful in whatever we choose to do. Mike (6 from Left) will return from Guatemala in June- so that will be another fun reunion!

This picture is from February 2005, my Junior Year Winter Formal!

My 1st Grade Class

2008-12-10T14:32:00.000-08:00

The past semester, I have had the wonderful opportunity of teaching 21 amazing 1st graders twice a week in Sugar City, Idaho. Imagine the tiniest elementary school, and then shrink it down even farther. Central Elementary was my assigned school, and it was home to 300 students from Kindergarten-3rd Grade.
Miss Stephanie and I were lucky enough to be with the adorable kids of Mrs. Ball's class. I had such a wonderful opportunity working with these students and learning their personalities and how they all are individually. I'm also glad that Mrs. Ball was an amazing cooperating teacher to work with. She had me teaching everyday and keeping me on my toes like a regular teacher.

A special thanks to-

Mrs. Ball, Ethan, Spencer, Timmy, Gabe, Braxton, Garrett, Marley, Lily, Suzi, Amy, Sawyer, Kelsey, Jaydon, Carson, Kalli, Ben, Taya, Kaira, Megan, & Dylan!

Thanksgiving in Carlsbad!

2008-11-27T19:08:00.001-08:00

This year for Thanksgiving, Rachel, Dallin & I all had the entire week off! Rachel and I flew in Friday night from Salt Lake to enjoy 10 days with Mom, Dad & Dallin. We started the week off with seeing the cousins & family friends. On Tuesday, we all went to Disneyland and enjoyed ourselves there. Here we are before getting on "It's a Small World".
On Wednesday, Megan & I spent the entire day together! It was so much fun to see her and play around. We went shopping, ate lunch at In-N-Out, and had a Hannah Montana sleepover. We even matched & decided that we need our own TV show to entertain ourselves.

Thanksgiving was a gorgeous day. Dallin and I started off the day with a trip to the beach. We snapped a few pictures together and were so surprised by how empty the beach was. I guess Thanksgiving and a quick beach trip aren't usually associated together.

Dallin is so tall! He's growing into such a big boy! After the beach, we headed home to greet Grandpa Jones, Aunt Renay, Uncle Rodney & Shannon, and the Sister Missionaries for Thanksgiving dinner. Mom cooked it all by herself- well, with a little help from me, and it was delicious!

The break was amazing & I can't wait to come back for Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fall Fun!

2008-11-09T23:18:00.000-08:00

Today we decided to go out and take some fun pictures as roommates. Except, Alex fell asleep and wasn't feeling too hot. But we really missed her!
This is a picture that really shows what our apartment is like- always laughing!

A special thanks to Daniel for snapping these pictures for us!
Enjoy!

Welcome to Holland

2008-11-05T13:32:00.000-08:00

My thoughts on becoming a teacher to all students:
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

2008 Presidential Election

2008-11-04T21:59:00.000-08:00

Today was a historic day in the lives of all Americans. We anxiously awaited the results of the new President of the United States of America. Some of us voted for McCain & Palin. Others voted for Obama & Biden. In the end, the ballots were counted and the new president was named. He stood and promised a great change in the nation and to assure that we would all come together and be proud to be Americans. Let's see what the next 4 years brings us & hope that we can stay positive in times of hard ache, sadness, and disappointment. In the end, no matter who would've won, I still and always will be proud to be an American and live in this great country.

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-01T11:37:00.000-07:00

Halloween in Rexburg is always an adventure. This year, my roommates and I decided to be hippies. When I walked out in my costume, Brittney & Alex ( they live in the Bay Area) said I looked like I walked straight off of Berkley's campus. I was so excited!
Yes. The peace sign was constantly up all night.

Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Carving!

2008-10-21T10:43:00.001-07:00

I love Fall! It is probably my favorite season of the year, besides summer, because I love to see the leaves change and smell wood burning fires. But, there is one thing I absolutely have, and always will dislike about Fall..... pumpkin carving. Yes, go ahead.. call me un American.
Everything about it gets my gag reflexes going- the smell, how it looks, how it's slimy and disgusting.... I'm cringing while writing this blog right now!
So while everyone else had fun, I opted to play "Mommy" and take pictures. This was our fun FHE activity last night & we had a blast!
Our cute pumpkin!
I think I speak for all of my roommates when we say how much we love our FHE brothers. They are so much fun and always keep us laughing and having a good time. I'm so glad that we get to spend the semester with these crazy guys!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

Spirit Week 50 Lap Relay

2008-10-10T10:13:00.001-07:00

This week is BYU-Idaho Spirit Week! Our ward participated in a tri-stake 50 lap relay. Our ward was assigned to wear the color yellow, so for FHE on Monday night, we made shirts with our group. So you're probably thinking to yourself, not bad right? Well, lets take into account that it was freezing cold and that I'm not a runner. Besides almost freezing to death, my roommates and I still had a great time. We hung out with people from the ward and just acted crazy. Besides loosing our voices, coughing like crazy, and sniffling noses, we still had a great time!

GO BYU-Idaho 56th Ward!

178th Semi-Annual General Conference

2008-10-07T16:29:00.001-07:00

This past weekend I was able to go down to Utah for General Conference and a huge EFY Reunion. It was so much fun to see everyone from this year's sessions and meet up again! Here's most of the counselors who I spent the summer with. I feel so lucky to have met all of them- they are all so amazing in their own way!
On Saturday it was pouring rain and freezing cold, but that didn't stop us from trying to get into a session at the Conference Center. We waited in the stand-by line and were able to get into Saturday Afternoon Session. It was my first time going to Conference and it was amazing! I'm so glad I was able to spend it with Megan & Brooke too!
On Saturday night, I hung out with my friend Kory Jones who I met while doing sessions in Santa Barbara. He invited me to go with him to conference on Sunday afternoon, and I gladly accepted! It was so much fun to go with him- thanks Kory!

Kory, Becca, Ashley (his sister who I worked with this summer), and her friend Jordan.
It was a beautiful day and a wonderful weekend! Thanks to all who made it possible!

5 Things.....

2008-09-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

5 things I was doing 5 years ago:
1. Learning to drive & getting my learners permit
2. Campaigning for Junior Class Vice President
3. Dancing everyday
4. Slowly becoming obsessed with Los Al boys water polo
5. Dying my hair blond & wearing it long and curly

5 things on my to-do list:
1. Laundry!
2. Study for up-coming tests
3. Clean for clean checks with week
4. Order new contact lenses & glasses
5. Call friends/family more often

5 snacks I like:
1. Pretzels
2. Licorice
3. Chips & Salsa
4. Popcorn
5. Chocolate

5 things I would do if I was a billionaire:
1. Travel the world!
2. Take my family on another Disney Cruise
3. Buy a beautiful home in Southern California for my future family

4. Get all new clothes
5. Travel to 3rd world countries with LDS Humanitarian Services and help people

5 bad habits:
1. I talk a lot
2. I laugh really loud & often at very inappropriate times
3. I organize & plan a lot of things; but I am also very spontaneous
4. I tend to take leadership positions- AKA I'm bossy
5. I love chocolate way too much!

5 quirks:
1. I have really long toes

2. I sleep with the covers over my head sometimes
3. I have a favorite mole/freckle
4. I have too many scars to count
5. I can fall asleep in almost any position; still trying to master standing

5 places I have lived:
1. Seal Beach, California
2. Carlsbad, California
3. Rexburg, Idaho
4. Long Beach, California
5. Provo, Utah

Birthday Fun!

2008-09-22T16:25:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been crazy with school starting, meeting new people, ward callings, and having fun! So, I turned 20 on September 13th. It feels the same as being 19, but I love telling people that I'm finally not a teen anymore! We spent the day playing around and then having ab birthday party with yummy cake and ice-cream.
My roommate Kara turned 19 on September 19th- the golden birthday! We went to dinner, had cake, and then went to a huge party they have in Rexburg every Fall. Also, Dallin turned 13 on this day- he's a teenager!
We also decided to have a little photo shoot- notice the ANTM poses I'm throwing here?
We decided to go gangster to the party... Here we are with some of our buddies. Oh, note to those reading, my roommate Karen was on a date in ALL of these pictures, so more to come with her in them!

Panama Canal Disney Cruise: August 2008

2008-09-09T15:47:00.001-07:00

From August 17th-September 1st we set sail on the beautiful Disney Magic to embark on the adventure of a lifetime! The Disney Magic was docked in Los Angeles, CA all summer doing week long Mexican Riviera cruises. We were more fortunate to go on the exclusive 15 day repositioning cruise starting in Los Angeles, traveling through the Panama Canal and finally closing off in Port Canaveral in Florida. We were also able to go with our cousins and some friends from the ward who made the trip a blast!

Los Angeles, Ca; Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Acupulco, Mexico; Panama Canal; Cartagena, Columbia; Aruba; Castaway Cay; Port Canaveral, Flordia
This is during our early wake up call of going past Panama City, Panama. Rachel and I are here with the beautiful Panama City Temple in the background. It was so amazing to see how the canal works! How long do you think it takes to go through the canal? Try 12 hours! It was so crazy! There were times when the boat was a mere 11 inches from the cement locks we were traveling through.
The next day the boat docked in Cartagena, Columbia. It was the first time Disney had ever been to this port and it was a beautiful city! We spent the day touring and enjoying the beautiful city.
The last day of the cruise is spent at Disney's private island- Castaway Cay. It is gorgeous and exotic. We were able to do a stingray excursion and enjoy our last day in paradise and aboard the beautiful Disney Magic.
This was the perfect way to round out the summer. Thanks to Mom & Dad for making this all possible! We love you!

EFY 2008

2008-09-09T15:32:00.000-07:00

This Summer I was able to do 6 wonderful weeks of the CES Program called Especially for Youth- EFY. I loved going to EFY as a participant and I was ten times more excited when I was able to be a counselor this summer! Out of my hundreds of youth each week I thought I'd highlight some of my favorite weeks. Above is my 3rd week in Santa Barbara, California. I had 14/15 year olds and they were amazing! I was also with an amazing co-counselor Brad which made the week so much fun!
This was my 2nd week in Las Vegas, Nevada and was able to work with amazing 16-18 year olds. These 4 boys were so funny.. I even had a proposal from one of them. They were always making me laugh and impressed me so much with their knowledge of the gospel. Watch out girls, these boys are ready for their missions!
Every counselor wants their last week to be the best week of the summer. These boys did a good job of making my week in Fresno, California awesome. They wrote me a song & even gave me presents. They made it hard to choose who my favorites were.. but no matter what they were amazing.

These 6 weeks were amazing and I can't wait to do more next summer!

I finally....

2008-06-24T18:03:00.001-07:00

...went to the beach! Talk about waiting way to long for a beach day! I've just been so crazy busy with work and babysitting that I haven't had any time to go to my favorite place ever! It is so much more tempting to come to the beach in Carlsbad then in Seal Beach. First, the water is actually clean! I can see me toes in the water and not be afraid of getting Hepatitis after swimming in it. Second, the water is warm! Yes, you heard me, warm! No more freezing cold water! And last, there is no trash, or worst of all, dead creatures washed up on the shore. Yes you Seal Beach lovers, there is a better place to enjoy your summer break... and it's called Carlsbad! So come on down and enjoy what this beautiful beach town has to offer!

Rachel's Graduation!

2008-06-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

Today was Rachel's graduation from Carlsbad High School! Go Lancers- Purple & Gold! Here is Rachel right after they all threw their hats in the air & received their diplomas!
Rachel & Grandpa Jones.

Rachel's friend from Seminary, Whitney, made her that huge white lei! It was beautiful!
Ryan, Danielle, Mackenzie, Madalyn, Trevor & Meredith also came to support Rachel on this eventful day!
Mom & Dad!
Congrats Rachel! We're so proud of you! You'll love BYU-Idaho & we love you!

Congratulations to all 2008 Graduates!

Cousins Visit!

2008-06-08T21:27:00.001-07:00

My oldest cousin on my Mom's side, Seb & his wife Precia came for a visit this weekend! They live in Utah and are camping down in San Clemente for the week. These are their adorable little girls- Zinnia (2), Sophia (4) & Olivia (6).
Okay, okay, so they're actually our 2nd cousins, but when their this cute and little we just let them call us cousins. :)
Yes, the 3 models. Rachel- always photogenic. And these 2 girls got the Tatum dark hair and blue eyes- something Rachel and I didn't. But we love our green ones Dad!
Seb & Precia have their hands full with these 3 beauties! It was a super fun visit and I can't wait to visit them while I'm at school. They live in Orem, so a short weekend trip would be super fun! Thanks guys! Wish you were closer!

Missionary News!

2008-06-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

So, I'm not a Mommy or anything, but this week is pretty exciting when it comes to some of my friends on their missions! These are some of the greatest guys in the world and I love them so much! They have great stories and I love getting letters from them! Let's get started!

Elder Kyler Sutton; Atlanta Georgia Mission March 2007-March 2009.

After serving in Alabama for the past 4 months, Kyler was transferred back to Georgia this past week! He loves the warm winters in the South, which are different from his usual Boise, Idaho ones!

Elder Spencer Anderson; Dominican Republic Santo Domingo West Mission; June 2007-June 2009.

Yep! You guessed it! This Friday is Spencer's 1 year mark! I am so proud of him! He learned Spanish so quickly and is having so much luck there! He's also probably got a super good farmers tan... :)

Elder Tommy Rowley; Zurich Switzerland Mission; February 2008-February 2010.

Tommy, my fellow San Diegan, is living it up this week on the Germany/Switzerland border! He's speaking wonderful German and loving everything about the beautiful country of Switzerland. He's also promised to send me yummy Swiss chocolate!

Kyler, Spencer & Tommy were all roommates up at school my Freshman year. They had 2 other roommates, Jordon & Clint who are both serving missions. Jordon is in the Busan South Korea Mission & Clint joined Spencer in the Dominican Republic.

Elder Adam Hoynacki; Colorado Springs Colorado Mission; June 2008-June 2010.

Adam reports to the MTC in Provo, Utah tomorrow! He's so excited and ready to serve the people of Colorado! He's super sweet and I can't wait to get letters from him!

I love these boys so much! They are so amazing and wonderful! Their letters make my days so much better and I can't wait to see them when they get back! Keep it up boys!

What Time is It? SUMMERTIME!

2008-06-03T13:29:00.001-07:00

Yes! It's finally that time of year! Even though I've been home from the frozen Artic of Rexburg for about 2 months, it's now officially starting to feel like summer! Rachel and Dallin will be out of school next week and the ocean is starting to feel a little warmer.. :) I can't wait for all of the fun at the beach & park with family and friends! There's nothing better then Sunday afternoon BBQ's with friends and being lazy out on the front porch. It's the best feeling in the world!

What are some of your favorite summer memories?

Mother's Day Pictures!

2008-05-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

This year my Dad hired a photographer to take pictures of us for a Mother's Day present for our Mom. Okay, I'm giving fair warning- these are some she took on her little digital camera so we could get a small taste of what the real ones off the professional camera look like.

These are NOT with the correct camera and settings.

I really like this one of the 3 of us.. I just wish we didn't look so HUGE! We decided to not wear white next time.....
I love this one. We actually look like we love eachother!
Cute.
So, when we get the professional ones in a few weeks I'll put up the one we decided for Mom. Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful ladies out there!

Fantastic Saturday!

2008-04-27T13:59:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was such a fun day! Dad was lucky enough to sang us Padres tickets and we got to sit in a box with some of his co-workers! It was a blast! Then we headed down to Santa Anna for Mackenzie's production of "Bye, Bye, Birdie".
I can never miss out on a picture with these adorable kids. Yes, Trevor's getting to the age where it's too cool to smile.
Madalyn and I. I like to call her "Mini-Me". Don't we look alike?
And the star herself! Here she is! She was beautiful and sung her heart out. She was by far the best performer!

Kick off to Summer!

2008-04-13T18:10:00.000-07:00

Although not home from school yet, I thought I'd post these pictures for Aunt Danielle to enjoy! On Sunday, my family spent a wonderful Conference with the cousins in Ladera Ranch. That night, they all came back to Carlsbad to stay the night and have a fun day at the beach! These girls look adorable in this picture don't they?
I love this picture of Trevor and Dallin; I think they look so sweet and cute. Meredith enjoying the wind blown hair look. :)
This picture takes the cake as the cutest ever! I love the rocks spelling out "Cousins" in the sand. I wish I could have been there!

Introducing: Rock Band- The Hoynacki/Jones Project. Yeah, we're pretty dang good!

Can't wait for a fun summer in the sun with amazing family and friends!

Last Day of School!

2008-04-09T13:37:00.001-07:00

This year, finals week was actually really fun! My roommate Brittny turned 20 on Monday, so we made her a cake and threw her a surprise party!
She loved it!
Goodbye to my girls who I love and will never forget! This past semester has been so much fun and I love each one of these girls so much! They have all taught me so many things and I am grateful for their examples in my life. I can't wait to keep hearing from them and keeping in touch! Thank you Courtney, Brittny, Whitney & Kristin for a wonderful semester!

I LOVE YOU!

General Conference

2008-04-06T18:21:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was so wonderful! I always love General Conference, but I've always loved it in April the best because the weather is gorgeous and Temple Square always looks so beautiful! Although, two of my roommates got to go to both Saturday and Sunday sessions, I felt lucky enough just to watch it in our apartment with my friends! I absolutely loved every part of conference this year!
My favorite talk was by M. Russell Ballard; he talked about women and especially young mothers. Now, not even being married myself, this talk might sound a little weird. But, his wonderful words to them and how they can turn their homes into places where their children will learn and grow made me strive to become a woman like that.

What was your favorite conference memory?

A Maneater of Words!

2008-04-03T18:25:00.000-07:00

95 words

Speed test

So thought I'd try out this amazing typing test that I've heard so much about! Courtney is totally obsessed with this. Yeah, can you say sad day? Just kidding. I love that girl. But seriously, finals week is just so crazy we're relieving all our stress through typing skills. Wish us luck this next week!

Brigham Young University-Idaho

2008-03-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

Brigham Young University-Idaho

Jacob Spori Building

Department of Art & Communications

As my second year at BYU-Idaho soon comes to a close, I would like to express my wonderful love for this school. It is a place of learning where the gospel can be brought into any classroom discussion through the guidance of the Spirit. I have always loved this school and the past two years have had ups & downs, but this school has made me the person I want to be my entire life.
Brigham Young University-Idaho

John Taylor Building

Department of Religion & Humanities

It's hard to leave, but I know that I will always have a home at this beautiful school. The summer will be a great time for me to go home and spend time with family, friends, and soak up the wonderful California sun that Rexburg isn't so used too.

Hair Today.... Gone Tomorrow!

2008-03-09T20:35:00.000-07:00

So as some of you may know, I have been trying to grow my hair out since I cut it my Junior year in high school. Back then it was more than half way down my back and blonde! Can you believe that when you look at this picture of me? Well, the growing came to a hault this past Friday when I got daring and thought I'd pull off a Victoria Beckham/Katie Holmes classic bob. Although I sometimes look in the mirror and imagine myself as a little 6 year old girl selling girl scout cookies, I'm really liking it especially when I wear some of my more funky and classic clothes. It's a super fun change and I'd love to see what you guys think of it!

Anyone want s'more?

2008-03-04T15:05:00.001-08:00

Last night for FHE we had a bon fire and roasted s'mores! Besides the fact that it was freezing cold and that we had to share the fire with another group, it was pretty fun! I'd have to say the best part about last night was after FHE ended. We all came home and smelled horrible (from the smoke) & were kinda just going crazy! Whitney also put on her swimsuit and went out in the snow- so cold! Then, some crazy guy from our ward came and totally got us with silly string- talk about messy! Then we got together and watched "The Messengers". Never watch that movie, it's so gross! So, now everyone else has to go and do FHE activities like us crazy girls at BYU-Idaho!

Slouching!

2008-02-25T21:24:00.000-08:00

So this might be new for some of us who aren't from these crazy cold places, like all my FHE brothers! We went slouching, sledding on a couch with skis attatched on the bottom, up at the playing fields! It was so much fun! We couldn't stop laughing when we were going down the hill and flying all over the place! Hopefully next time we can get to a bigger hill and fly down even faster! :)

Carlsbad Weekend!

2008-02-25T21:17:00.000-08:00

This past weekend I had the chance to travel home for some family time! It was such a wonderful expereince and it was super fun to see all my aunts, uncles, & cousins! It was really super fun and I can't wait for summer break to see them all again!
I'm in love with this picture of Trevor and Rachel! It's rare to get a picture of him without him running around and being the cute little boy he is!

Happy Valentines Day!

2008-02-14T21:59:00.000-08:00

Hello to all on the day of LOVE! Today was one of the most beautiful days I've ever witnessed in Rexburg! The sun was shining, the snow was melting, & everyone was excited about clebrating love! We woke up this morning to our apartment being heart attacked, and found out all the girls on the floor had been also. Some cute boys from the ward decorated all the girls apartments! Our FHE brothers also brought us some candy, which was super cute. All around the campus, someone had written "I Love You" with red food dye in the snow. It was super cute and made me smile! Tonight, we had a fun girls night out and sported our favorite red shoes! We had a fun dinner at a cute little resturant, and then went and saw "P.S. I Love You". Not my favorite movie, but it had the word love in it, so it went with the holiday. Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday full of love, laughter, and friendship!

Playing in the Park!

2008-02-11T20:36:00.000-08:00

Today for FHE, we went over to the park behind our house and played in the snow! It was so much fun! Here we are pulling a train down the slide. So, it was pretty cold, but today it was beautiful! The snow is slowly melting away and I even saw a small patch of grass today! What a way to make me smile!

Snow Day!

2008-01-25T12:13:00.000-08:00

So, obviously, living in Rexburg, we're bound to get some snow. Here's just a small little glimpse of what I'm trudging in everyday and what my poor little car has to deal with. Oh, P.S. that's a good 4 feet of not fluffy pixie dust snow, but frozen solid ice. So cold, but so happy. It was about -18 when these pictures were taken, with the low that night being -28; the coldest in Rexburg within the past 10 years.

Pancake Party!

2008-01-21T15:01:00.000-08:00

Sunday nights are always fun. It's a time to relax and just play around. Courtney and I made cookies for some guys in our ward and went around delivering them as a tactic to meet new people. We met some pretty cool ones, and were really excited when we got home.
So, we decided to have some pancakes. Now, this isn't a random occurance. When we arrived at one particular apartment, the boys were eating some pancakes.
So, we made some ourselves. They were amazing!
This post is brought to you by the Garner Kinght Men (AKA Joe, Jesse, Kyle & Jacob) Thanks guys! :)

Rexburg Temple Dedication

2008-01-16T20:30:00.000-08:00

Tonight our ward had the oppurtunity to go to the Open House in the beautiful Rexburg Temple! It was such a cool expereince and this temple is goregous, and HUGE! There are 8 sealing rooms.. wonder why? Ha ha, it's not called "BYU-I do" for no reason. After, our ward had us meet and do a small service project!
Beautiful Courtney and Whitney
Kristen and I being goofs!
Becca-Boo & Courty-Coo! Tomorrow night we have "bootie duty" for a few hours! It's going to be such a fun expereince, and I can't wait for it!

Meet the Girls!

2008-01-13T22:55:00.000-08:00

So, it's a new semester at BYU-Idaho and I've got some pretty sweet roomates! Two are ones that I've had before, and we got 2 new ones this week! Here we go from L to R: Courtney (lived with this year and known since my first semester), Brittny (new roomie from WA who has an adorable boyfriend from Hawaii), Whitney (lived with past year and known since my first semester), and Kristin (a first semester student at the school and Brittny's best friend from home). These girls are awesome! We've had so much fun playing around this weekend & laughing, which we do too much! Ha ha. Just kidding! They're wonderful and couldn't be any happier, well, maybe some warm weather would to the trick!