We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo!

Since today is Michelle's birthday, we looked online for some fun things to do here in Rexburg or in Idaho Falls and we found out that there was a zoo in IF. So we decided to that we would leave at like 10 this morning and take Serena (Dave's car) and go to the zoo and then just hang around in Idaho Falls for a little while. We went to the zoo and it was pretty fun. We're college students but it was fun to see the animals and we talked to them and they sometimes would "respond" to us. It was cute. The zoo closes tomorrow until April so its good that we went before it gets too cold. Some of the animals weren't there due to the "inclement weather" so that was a little annoying but most of them were there. The animals were super cute but most of them were really tired and so they were just sitting in the sun. There was this monkey who was crazy. He was just swinging and swinging and swinging. He also started looking through these potato sacks that were filled with toys and newspaper on the floor of his little enclosure and he was getting so fed up with them; he was throwing them and just looking angry which was super funny. Jessica also got really close to a monkey's face and he got really made and slapped the glass. It was a little frightening. We did get to pet and feed some goats and they were crazy when they heard the food. We also fed some ducks which was fun too. It was pretty fun and really cheap. Here is the monkey:

After that, we went to lunch at Olive Garden which was so delicious but we were all SO full after. We like couldn't even move. Our server was kind of weird to us but towards the end, she was really nice. We then went back to the mall just to look around. We went to Claire's because Jessica needed a pearl necklace for choir and we found some friendship bracelets so we all bought matching friendship bracelets which is pretty cute. We just kind of looked around and they bought some shoes and lotion and other stuff so thats good.

Hay isn't for Horses

Tonight, Erin's brother invited us to go to the Straw Maze and since he has tons of connections, we got a slight discount which was fun. Erin, Jessica and I went (Michelle was doing homework) and there was actually a lot of people but it was pretty awkward because we didn't really know anyone except for Dave (her brother), and Thomas (Dave's friend) who we've hung out with before. It was still pretty fun and Jessica and I found the end (after getting some hints from a guy who was walking on top of the hay bales) but Erin decided to leave us so we went back in to try to confuse and scare people. It was pretty funny.

After we all finished, we decided to come home but once we were back in Rexburg, Dave called Erin and asked if we wanted to go to DQ so we went and got some blizzards (in the 38 degree frigidness). Since my initials are DQ, I've wanted to get free ice cream from them but I tried it in Washington once with Dad and they didn't let us get the ice cream but I'm hoping they'll let me here in Iceburg because they're so much nicer. I was going to try tonight but I realized I didn't have any ID with me so I thought they wouldn't let me. But we're going to go back another time and test it out.

When we got home, my jacket was COVERED in hay and so I shook it out on our balcony and so it started "snowing" hay which was fun. And I looked like a complete idiot but I didn't want all the hay in our apartment so I decided to make a fool of myself.

I love how my Thursday nights are really "Friday" nights because I don't have class on Friday so its the weekend. All of my roommates hate me for it but I LOVE it! I don't feel bad going and partying it up because I don't have school the next day or homework to do (well, I do have homework, just not due on Fridays).

On Saturday, we're going to the Idaho Falls Zoo! :) We're going for Michelle's birthday and it closes on Sunday until March (or May; I can't remember) so its basically our last chance. I'm pretty excited. AND its only $6 to get in! WOO idaho and their cheap activities.

Oh, College...

Talk about a sigh of relief. This week has just been absolutely crazy. I now feel like I know how stressful college can be. Yesterday was absolutely ridiculous and today was day two of the insanity. I had my first class yesterday at 9 and then when I got home at 10, I finished the homework that was due later in the day and then I wrote a paper for a group project that was due today. Then I went to my 12:45 class followed directly by my 2:00 class. I got home at 3, took a food (dinner?) break and then went to the library at 4:45 to study with Megan for our Geography test and then we went to take our test in the testing center. We didn't really know what to expect on the test so I'm pretty happy with my 82% on it. Hopefully I'll be able to improve that score for next time though. Then I went back to the library to work on a group project for American Foundations. I left that at 8 to come back home and work on all my Comm 140 homework that was all due today. A project plus discussing the reading on an online discussion board. I also had to make an individual powerpoint presentation for the American Foundations project. I was working on homework religiously from 8-midnight. Exhausting day.

Today, I had to go to my Geography class, immediately followed by my Communications class and then I came home for 30 minutes to each lunch at 1:00 before I went to go and work on a Science group project. we worked on that for about an hour and then I had to go to American Foundations. Luckily, our group didn't have to present AND we got out of class early AND he basically told us what was going to be on the test. I came home and studied it for a little while and then I went to take the test because I heard that there was a 2 hour line at the Testing Center. We only waited in line for about 20 minutes so it wasn't THAT bad and the test was pretty easy. Hopefully I'll do as good as I think I did.

Now, I'm catching up on TV while drinking Stephen's Candy Cane Hot Chocolate with whipped cream. What a wonderful start to what is looking up to be a wonderful weekend. I don't really have all that much homework which is fantastic.

Oh, it was also freezing yesterday and raining and today wasn't much warmer. Oh Iceburg, why must your eternal winter start in October?

Only in Rexburg...

So today, Jessica and I walked to Broulim's to get some groceries because there was a bunch of delicious fruit for really cheap. It isn't that long of a walk and we took our backpacks so that we'd be able to carry our stuff home without having our arms break off. We each got a little shopping cart which was fun. We saw Dave (Erin's brother), Thomas and a bunch of their other roommates which was funny because Erin is never with us when we see Dave. We talked with them for a little while but not really because we were both shopping. Jessica and I bought probably a little too much and after we checked out, we were loading our backpacks with our purchases and a guy who was paying behind us looked at us and asked "Do you guys want a ride?" We didn't know if he just felt obliged to offer or if he sincerely wanted to give us a ride home so we both just kind of stood there and looked at each other. We finally excepted and he warned us that he didn't have that much room.

We got to his truck and we put all our groceries in the bed and then we got in the truck. It is a three person truck but it is mighty tight with that many people but we were just glad for a ride. I sat in the middle next to him and he warned me that he had to shift gears and he wasn't just trying to touch my leg. Which was pretty funny. He drove us back and it was super nice. His name is Nate and he offered to help us carry our stuff back into our dorm but we could definitely do it so we just let him leave. I feel a little bad because he probably went way out of his way but he was SUPER nice about it, and way fun to talk to. Oh and he was also pretty dang attractive which didn't hurt at all. This is the second time that this has happened to Jessica so I guess I'll just always have to go places with her when I buy a lot of stuff.

Well, in other news, classes have definitely started getting a lot more demanding and time consuming. I have a huge group project for American Foundation due on Thursday (we're meeting tomorrow), a Geography test tomorrow (which I'm studying for with my friend tomorrow), a Science Foundations group thing due Friday, a project due for Mass Media, plus various reading and other activities for all these classes and more!

I also went to play water polo last night and it was crazy. There started out with 4 girls (two came later) and a bunch of boys and they were rambunctious. It was pretty intense. But it was so so fun to just play again. Although, the pool wasn't deep enough so at one side, we could touch the bottom. Jeff was there and he was really nice and excited to see me which was funny.

I still haven't gotten a calling but neither have a lot of people in the ward haven't so its not a big deal.

I think that is all the important news. I can't really think of anything else that is noteworthy so I guess I'll go and do homework now.

Bittersweet Tears

I just got off the phone with Nicole, who is in Orem currently and is entering the MTC in less than an hour. That is the last time I will talk to her on the phone for a while. Luckily, I'll be able to talk to her at Christmas and and then again next Christmas but that just doesn't sound very close. We talk basically everyday even when we are two states apart. She is one of my best friends and I don't know what I'm going to do without her for these 18 long months. The fact that she is so close almost makes things worse as well. She'll be a 3.5 hour drive from school and a 1.5 hours flight from home. It seems like that would make it easier to deal with because she will be physically closer but she is just as far apart from us as if she was in Australia or Russia. But it does mean that when we go to Temple Square next, there is a chance that she'll be there, waiting to give us a tour. But we don't go to Temple Square that often but I think I might be heading out to Utah in January for another missionary 'farewell' so maybe I'll just have to stop by to see Sister Quist.

A Day for Bandaids

So yesterday, we had church at 9:00. And we had set up a showering schedule so that we'll all be able to shower in the morning before church. Well, that plan didn't really work out all too well and I was supposed to shower at 8:00 but I didn't get in the shower until 8:15 or so. As I was rushing to shower, I cut my right leg twice while shaving but I didn't notice until I was out of the shower. I used two new bandaid dots to cover those up, which was annoying. They weren't that bad of cuts its just so frustrating when you cut yourself shaving especially since I NEVER cut myself....EVER.

Okay, then after church, we had a grilled cheese party at Jessica's friend Michelle's house. We met a ton of cool people and it was pretty fun. Except that we were the only freshman yet again. (We had gone to a bonfire on Saturday night that Erin's brother always does and we were the only freshman in a sea of seniors...) It was cool to just met more people in a more relaxed setting especially since I wouldn't have really met them in any other circumstances.

For dinner, we decided to make crepes. Well, Michelle and Erin made them and I kind of helped and Jessica provided all the ingredients. We decided to invite our neighbors who we always talk to as we walk down the stairs and they always have these crazy parties. There weren't as many people as there usually are but they came up and we had a good time with them. It was delicious. After dinner, since I didn't really help make it, I decided to do the dishes (since our dishwasher is broken so we have to do them all by hand). I had basically washed everything except for a few things and as I was washing a knife, it kind of slipped into my hand and it cut my index finger really deeply. So I was bleeding pretty profusely and so I tried to just keep doing the dishes while covering my finger with a paper towel. I took a little break to try to help it stop bleeding but it didn't really stop. It kept bleeding even after I put a bandaid on it for a while. But I put neosporin on it when I went to bed last night and it is still tender to the touch but it doesn't look as bad anymore. Hopefully I don't have a scar forever.
here are some pictures for your enjoyment!


Day One (Sunday 9/13)






Day Two (Monday 9/14)







On a side note, I also got a nasty bruise on my inner knee last week. I'm not exactly sure what it is from but it was quite painful. and it is still pretty gross. This picture of it is from friday or saturday I don't remember which.

BYU-Idaho: the first week.

So, on Monday morning, I flew from SJC to SLC and then to Jackson Hole. Then we drove to Rexburg and checked in and whatnot. We bought stuff that I needed and we unpacked everything. For dinner, we went to Fong's which is a Chinese restaurant and wasn't really that good but whatever.
Tuesday we continued shopping for more necessary items and we ate lunch at the Thai restaurant downtown. It was delicious. Then we set up a checking account at Wells Fargo and just walked around campus finding my classes. We also went to Idaho Falls to buy a nice coat which was way quick but then we had to buy some winter boots. AND that took forever. probably 2 hours. and 10 stores later and we got some which are pretty decent. I liked others way more they just didn't fit right. Jessica invited her cousin over and he brought his roommates so we hung out with them for a while until they had to go home because of curfew but it was fun to get to know them and they were pretty funny.
Wednesday, we went to DI and to the Distribution Center and then to Albertson's to get some groceries for my little apartment/dorm. We then unloaded it all and then went back to the Thai restaurant for lunch (because its just that delicious) and then we went to Great Harvest and got some delicious bread. We came back home, took some pictures and then Mom and Dad left to go back to the airport. That night, we have whats called "I-Night Extravaganza" which is basically a carnival for college students. There are games and activities and a dance. We did a weird little frog-toss game and then we played lazer tag. After that we went on this inflatable obstacle course that the National Guard was in charge of and it was SO hard. They were hitting it and making everything move and pushing it so that you could barely do it. but it was still pretty fun. There was a dance that we also went to for a little while. There were just so many things to do and we hardly did any of them. It was annoying because there was a pretty long line for most things but we did some pretty fun things regardless.
Thursday, was the first day of classes and my first class started at 9:45 so I went to that and I was only supposed to have 15 minutes between that and my next class but we were done way early so I had a lot of extra time. It was a way boring class and I dropped it today and added a different one so thats good. The next class I had was to about Mass Media and I really like it. and we also got out pretty early. My next class was American Foundations and it was pretty funny. I really like the teacher but the class seems like kind of a lot of work. Its going to be fun because we had to get into teams and I really like my team so hopefully it'll be fun.
Friday, I didn't have any classes so I slept in and just kind of hung around doing homework and miscellaneous activities. The weather outside was gorgeous so Erin and I took our nice chair from our family room and set them out on our balcony for a good little while and we sat out there doing homework and watching videos on youtube and stuff. It was enjoyable. Erin then went on a date with a creeper guy and so we decided to go to the Crossroads cafeteria and spy on them because we thought they'd be there but they weren't which way pretty sad. She also left her phone at home on accident so we can't even text her to find anything out. oh well.
So tomorrow is Saturday and I don't really have much planned except for doing homework and hanging out. I'm pretty excited for church on Sunday and to meet our ward and stuff. It's going to be great.
So far, I'm loving college and I really like my roommates. We get along great and we've had some pretty fun times together. :)