BreaK up...

Just over a year ago I was able to go and spend a few weeks with a tall blond "hottie" and her two beautiful little girls that lived in Salt Lake City in what we like to call the ghetto. I had so much fun! While I was there I was introduced to the grapefruit. She taught me how to cut them correctly and tried to get me to eat them with sugar on them, but I decided that I liked them plain. It was a match made in heaven.


Well just over a year later I am breaking up with the grapefruit. My body decided it was protesting against them. I will not hold this against that tall blond, but thank her for the year of wonderful memories that I had with grapefruits.

Since I broke up with the grapefruit I have a new love, the avocado. I don't like them plain or on anything but a sandwich, BUT give me a sandwich with an avocado on it and now I am a happy girl!!!



I hope this made you laugh!

ShoEs...

The beautiful fall weather brought new footwear into my life. Exhibit A: the boot. I was lucky enough to have 2 of these beauties because I wore the first one out!! I was in this until Jan 18, it was a long road but then on Jan. 18 I was upgraded to
THIS:
Exhibit B:

This lovely shoe was too big for me. The next size down was too small, so I just dealt with it. 2 weeks in this went pretty fast and then on to
Exhibit C:

New running shoes!! Tennis shoes are wonderful for my foot even though it is still so fat that my right shoe is tight on my foot. Oh well he assured me the swelling will go down.
Exhibit D:

Hopefully soon I will be in this!!! I have another pair of heels that I fit back into already, but these not so much! I got them right before I had surgery too and have only been able to wear the one!

Donation...

We did these cakes as a donation for the YMCA fundraiser. They turned out pretty cute. The only thing not edible on the fishing cake is the real fishing line!

$95 Birthday Cake

I think it is pretty cute! I cannot believe someone would pay $95 for a birthday cake though! That is crazy!!!

SimPle JoYs...

I had a wonderful experience last night that made me realize all of the simple joys in my life that I so often take for granted. Last night for the first time since Dec 20, I was able to take a shower without the shower chair!!! My mom finally gave in and said that I could take one without it! I was so happy. I cannot express how much I have missed that, it seems so silly but you go a month with the long process of a shower chair; 2 weeks of that with your leg wrapped in grocery sacks duct taped to your leg hanging out of the shower and resting on the toilet, and you will understand my JOY!!!

These are a few of the other things that I enjoy:
* Playing the piano- I didn't realize how much I enjoy it until I played it the other day and it had been a long time!!!
* A warm fire- As we know my dad can get the house pretty hot, but when I am freezing and the living room is perfect I love to just sit on the couch next to it and relax.
* Catching up with friends! :)
* Good talks with people who encourage me and love me!
* Good books
* Sleeping in until 9- I have been substituting or working early every morning all week, it has been good for me but I must go to bed earlier! I am subbing through next Wed. at least, also I need to work for Debbie more, and get more hours in for my internship.... ahhh I run like a mad woman from place to place!

Side note- Last night Jared and I went to the airport and bought our tickets to go see Chad and Lisa! We are so excited! We were a little frustrated because the flight went up $20 overnight but it will be well worth the money! We have so many things planned and I am counting the days! Julia turns 1 tomorrow! I can't believe how fast the last year has gone!

IT IS cool...

Just admit it... Who would have thought any of us would be interested in a cameoufalge cake? I seriously didn't think it would be this cool! This is the grooms cake we finished Wednesday night!

CAKE 3!!!

This cake was a ton of fun! Sorry the picture is blurry, I need to start taking my camera and not just using my cell phone! I filled this entire cake, and helped decorate it. I still need to practice the smooth ice on the buttercream, but for now I am learning a ton!

CaKe 2

This is what I just finished.... it would only cost you $526.70..... any takers??

ChrIstMas....kinda

Mom's Christmas pressent from Debbie... she loves it! It took the place of the family picture in the living room-rude! (sorry for the picture quality, this was taken on my cell when mom got it)

Lisa took this picture sometime while they were here with her new camera. I hope that she will let me play around with it sometime. :)

This is my Christmas outfit this year... I LOVE IT! Right now I am loving pencil skirts! I like that this one has the ruffle at the bottom. (obv. taken on my cell)

This is the first cake I did at my internship! I am doing it at Desi's Custom Cakes here in Shelley and am loving it! I hand made pearls, did the design (swirls at the bottom, she did the piping for them) but she let me do the honeymoon cake (I forgot to get a picture!) This was the only time I have been able to go because of surgery and it was on the 19 of Dec., but I am excited I get to go tomorrow!!

Foot SurGery...

This was the blessing I had the Monday before Christmas... But it really was a blessing. I was sick of the pain. It was an interesting experience, I had surgery at 8 so I woke up at about 7, and we left at 7:30. Jared came too. We got there (it was just at his office, he has half office half surgical) and I signed in. Then she prepped the room and said to come back. We handed our coats to Jared for her to say that he could come back too. I was thankful he was there but that boy was more nervous than I was!!! He kept pacing and asking me why I wasn't nervous. I don't know why but I just wasn't. I was pretty groggy after surgery, but that night I was able to go to Jared's and do candy bar trains. It was so much fun! I was glad I was able to go because I loved it last year. The picture was taken on Christmas Eve at my post-op appointment. This picture is before my foot even started to bruise as bad as it did though! Christmas day it was so black and blue then my toes turned green, and now the bruising is pretty centralized to around the scar and my toes. I am sick of the boot already, I have to wear it when I stand up at all. I am hoping that this week at my appt they will tell me that I can put pressure on it without the boot but we shall see!

End of the SemEster...

My blog is seriously messed up! I put the pictures on, but while I am posting all it shows is the html/java script so I can't tell where one picture stops and another one starts to put in text under them! Sorry! The pictures I put on are of White glove, the black out and our roommate pic!
For white glove this semester I had the living room, pretty easy! I was excited because I was able to leave stuff on the walls and didn't have to take it all down! Thursday the 17th, from Rigby on to who knows, had a blackout! Right in the middle of white glove, finals, everything! It was crazy! Luckily I was done with finals, and basically the living room, but it was still inconvienient!!! Micah was on her way to take 3 of her 4 finals when it happened! It was out for 3 hours but we had fun! the top pictures (I think) are from that, even though you can't tell because of my flash! We sat in the lounge for a while and ate 3/4 (there were a lot of us) of a gallon of huckleberry ice cream.. I took one bite and decided it was too freezer burned for me, plus I am not really a huckleberry fan. When the lounge started to get cold we moved up to our apartment. We tried to keep ourselves entertained! It was nice just to be able to spend time with eachother not having to do anything else because there wasn't anything that we could do!!
I am glad the semester is over, it was an emotionally draining one, but a good learning experience. I am thankful that I was able to serve as the Relief Society President and for all that I learned while I did that. I am so lucky to have such an incredible Bishopric that cares about me while I am at school! They are amazing!! I ended the semester with 5 A's and 1 A- in chemistry. I know I know... it isn't an A, but I worked my backside off for it and am pleased with what I got!

GranMa

I think I pretty much have the best Granma (I left the D out on purpose... who really says GranDma?) EVER!!! I am so lucky! My Granma King is amazing! She is almost 80 years old and still going strong. She always makes me laugh! I love to visit her and feel bad when I come home and don't get to stop by before I have to come back to school. She is such a great example to me of a giving woman that loves her famil SO much! When I was little and would get sick at school I woudl go to Granma's and she would take care of me. She would let me use the sheep skin blanket, make me soup, and let me watch TV and color. Those days were my favorite really! I decided to post about her because I was editing pictures the other night and found this one from Spud Day that Lisa had taken. I don't know what else to say about her besides I love her so much! I am so thankful you are in my life Granma. I love spending time with you! I love you!

CloSer StiLl....

I have 4 classes completely finished as of this minute! I will finish 1 more before the day is over! I am so excited! I am excited to get to go to the temple on Friday morning! I wasn't able to go yesterday like I have been able to the last month, and I missed it! I love being able to hold a Current Temple Recommend! It is a blessing that I love and never hope to lose!

MorE fInIsHed Up....

2 more things to check off of my list!!!!

• Chemistry Reading
• Philosophy of Design

Can anyone tell I am ready for this semester to be over???

ComiNg to aN eNd....

L-R Ashley Bedke 2nd Counselor, Me, Lindsey Nelson Secretary, Nicole Ellis 1st Counselor


Random, but totally us!!!

Today was my last Sunday as Relief Society president. I have been so blessed this semester to serve the girls in the 87th Ward. I have had an incredible presidency that has supported me in all that I have done. I have an incredible Bishopric that I have been so blessed to work with. I am going to post more when I am home, but I just wanted to get a few of these up! I love these girls!!!

ReVisEd tO Do LiSt....

My list of things to finish before Thursday at 1:00 p.m.:

• Chem Reading-Tuesday
• Philosophy of Design-Wednesday
• Journal Entry for Religion-Wednesday
• Final Mat Board-Wednesday 7:45 a.m.
• Sewing Final-Wednesday 3:15
• Chemistry Final-Thursday 10:30

I am almost there! I am ready for a break! On another note I got my hair cut! Really it was only a trim, but I am in the in-between stage not really short not really long, but it still looks super cute! I will post pictures soon!!!

GetTinG clOseR...

Things that I have done:

• Chemistry Test
• Religion Final
• Family Info Binder
• ED 200 Progress Report
• Journal for Religion
• Chemistry Reading-Mon

I am getting closer... I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.... maybe that is just because I have a headache??

AlmoSt ThEre....

The semester is coming to an end and I couldn't be more excited! These are the things that I have left (in order of due dates):

• Chemistry test-Today
• Journal Entry for Religion-Sunday
• Finish Skirt-Monday
• Family Info Binder-Monday
• Chem Reading-Monday
• Chem Reading-Tuesday
• Ed 200 Brochure- Wednesday
• Ed 200 Progress Report-Wednesday
• Final Mat Board-Wednesday
• Philosophy of Design-Wednesday
• Sewing Final-Wednesday
• Journal Entry for Religion-Thursday 8 a.m.
• 2 pg paper for Religion-Thursday 8 a.m.
• Chemistry Final-Thurs 10:30 a.m.

My list is getting shorter by the minute as I am finishing things up, or getting closer to having them finished up. Thursday after I take my Chemistry final I will come home and pack! I should have the living room for white glove which shouldn't be too hard. Mom is coming up Thursday after school to take stuff home. I will stay Thursday night here because our ward has Baptisms for the dead at 6 a.m. Friday morning. I will go to those and then come home, grab what I needed to stay the night here and be on my way home!!! Plans for when I get home:
Friday:

• Baptisms
• Dentist Appointment
• Unpack

Saturday:

• Christmas Shopping
• Make Chicken Noodle Soup and Bread bowls

Sunday:

• SLEEP IN!!!
• Church

Monday:

• Foot Surgery

Tuesday:

• Recovery

Wednesday:

• Recovery

Thursday:

• Post-op appt
• Christmas EVE!!!!

Friday:

• Christmas!!!!

I am ready to be home. This semester has gone by so fast and I am thankful for that! This winter should bring adventures of its own and I will continue to share!!!

MisSiOn cAlL

JARED GOT HIS MISSION CALL!!!!

I am so exited for him! This is how the afternoon played out. On Friday Jared came over and we did some stuff at my house, then we were about to head out to his house when his aunt called. She asked him if he got the mail and where he was going and thought he was going to call when he opened it. As I listened from the other room I was freaking out! Then Jared was like "My call came and my parents didn't call to tell me???" Well we headed out to Jared's house. When we got there his dad was headed towards the mailbox. Jared was like "Did it come?" No mail. We went inside and Julie said that Nona (their mail carrier, also in their ward) said she would call when she saw it at the post office so they could come and pick it up earlier, but maybe she had the day off.... Jared checked 2 more times, still no mail. Then we started to play Christmas BINGO with his family (a tradition with Julie's side). I talked to Julie about going down to Utah this coming weekend so that I could be there when Jared opened his call. Well at 4:20 (yes I know the time) Jared headed out the door, I asked him where he was going and he said to get the mail, he had told so many time he knew it wasn't coming but he was going to get the mail for his dad. I told him I wanted to come, I put on my one shoe and decided not to mess with my boot, so I asked him for a piggy back ride. I jumped on his back (I wish we would have had a picture of this!) and we headed to the mailbox. He stopped in front of it and I opened it up. I SAW IT!!! I was so excited I screamed, RIGHT in his ear... (sorry about that Jared!!). He kindly told me that now he wasn't able to hear and proceeded to take the mail out of the mailbox. He told me that he wanted to go in calm and not say anything, waiting for them to realize what he was holding. So I jumped off of his back and ran to the car to get my computer (Lisa was going to Skype but that didn't work out, and yes with one shoe on). We went in the house and his Uncle Matt was the only one in the kitchen/family room, Jared showed him the envelope as we headed to the living room. All we did was stand in the doorway and people starting realizing that his call was here!!!!! We gathered in the family room, called who we needed to have on speaker (or attempted to), and he opened it up. He opened it and handed it to his Uncle Matt to "set it up." Matt put the envelope over the letter so Jared couldn't skip ahead but had to slide it down as he read. He will be serving in the Brazil Salvador Mission!!! He will speak Portuguese and leave on April 14, 2010. I am so excited for him and know he will be an amazing missionary!!!!

3 weeks

I have 3 weeks left in the semester. WOW. This semester has gone so fast, and at times so slow. It has been a semester of growth. It has been a semester of tears. It has been a semester that I realized the reality of Satan trying to bring me down. It has been a semester of blessings. It has been a semester of service. I have missed my family a lot this semester and have realized the importance of them in my life and how thankful I am for them. I have loved to be able to come home for quick weekends to see my parents, Karissa and Adam, and Grandma, or skype with Lisa, Parker, and Julia-sometimes I am even lucky enough to catch them when Chad is home. I am so blessed to have such an incredible family and to have them support me in all that I do. I wouldn't be able to do half of what I do without them!
As I have served as the Relief Society President this semester, I have had amazing girls to work with. Nicole Ellis is my first counselor and she can always brighten my day. She is always concerned about me and wants to do anything to help make my job easier. She is INCREDIBLE!!! Ashley Bedke is my second counselor. She was a bit intimidated at the beginning of the semester (this is her first semester and first real time in RS), but she has been incredible with the RS meetings outside of Sunday meetings. She is also always concerned about me and thinks that I am pretty amazing--I have her fooled! :) Lindsey Nelson is my secretary and she takes incredible notes. Whenever we have our meetings she always has the notes from the last one(s) and keeps me organized.
I have the best nephew and niece in the world and love them so much! They brighten my day when I get to skype with them or earlier in the semester when I got to see them. I had an experience earlier this week while I was getting ready for class. I got a text from 'Chad' I opened it and soon realized that Chad was not texting me but Parker was, my first clue was asdpgaspkaignkp--something to that effect. This is kinda how our conversation went:
Kara: Hi Parker!
'Chad': sdoagiand
Kara: How is your morning going?
'Chad': um... good
Kara: What did you have for breakfast?
'Chad': I didn't have breakfast
Kara: oh, are you playing with Julia?
'Chad': No I am cooking me marshmallow
Kara: Lucky, are you making me one?
'Chad': I burnt it
Kara: oh no! Are you making Ashley one?
'Chad': I burnt hers too
Kara: oh no! don't burn yours!
'Chad': No I only burnt yours its on fire on the ground
Kara: Oh no be careful not to burn the carpet!

I am so thankful for that little boy and that texting conversation that made my morning as I was getting ready and had a chemistry test later that day. I miss those kids so much and can't wait until I get to see them again.

Sorry this post is kind of random!

Heavenly Father Loves Me

I was just reading Lisa's blog and was reminded that I am a Daughter of God. I am really stressed right now with everything that is going on but it is nice to be able to go home, and have reassurance from my family that I am trying my hardest and that I am loved. I have a list of things that I am thankful for and that are getting me through right now:

• Family
• Phone calls with Lisa
• My scripture study class
• Reading my scriptures
• Prayer
• Talking to Heather
• Going home for Friday/Saturdays
• Memories

Conference!!

The PIE!
Hillary Weeks

Shopping

I am so lucky to have such a good roommate!!

We had the incredible opportunity of going to conference as roommates! It was so much fun! Apartment 8 went too! (We LOVE them!) We had a lot of adventures on the trip including 11 people and 10 seats, road construction, Taco Bell, 5 people in Aunt Glady's spare bedroom, CONFERENCE!! Shopping, Meeting Hillary Weeks, having a window broke in Mallory's (from #8) car and having stuff stolen, going to THE PIE!!

On Sunday I had the opportunity to go to the last session of conference with Jared and his family. We sat in the 8th row to the right (looking towards) the pulpit! I was sitting right there during Elder Holland's incredible talk! WOW! I love being in the conference center! It is my favorite! During that session I got to see the things that you don't see as you sit at home and watch it. As the intro to the rest hymn (Hope of Israel) was playing, Elder Scott was talking to Elder Holland, when it was time to start singing, Elder Holland grabbed Elder Scott's cheeks and starting singing right in his face! It was so cute and both men smiled so big. After conference President Monson stopped and was talking to two little boys right in front of us and how they were going to be missionaries. I love the leaders of our church! They are called of God and inspired Men!!
To read any of the conference talks click here.

PICTURES!!

Grandma!!! This is an awesome picture from Spud DayOur Maid Matt

Chicken Noodle Soup time.. that onion was killing me! Thank goodness for having Chemistry goggles handy!

We got to go to conference as roommates!!!!

Micah often gives haircuts to the guys that come over... sometimes things get out of hand.

(Matt and Brent)

Making Wingers Sauce!

Pizza Rolls

YUM!!

Micah's Birthday!!

Trying to coordinate for a picture.. I love that Micah is the only one ready!

Lindsey and I at the Relief Society Broadcast which was amazing!!