CHRISTMAS WITH THE CROOKS!!

This year for Christmas, my family did something a little different. My mom decided to have the missionaries over for Christmas Eve dinner. What started out as two missionaries quickly turned into ten. We had a night full of story telling, games, great food, ping pong tournaments, air soft wars, wrestling matches, and lots of laughs. It was really fun getting to spend time with the boys just relaxing.

Elder Shimboshi and Elder Flake are the missionaries over our stake. They are great guys!

Even after he told us that he only wanted to decorate one, Elder Flake sat down for about half an hour and frosted these. He's pretty good if you ask me!

Elder Conover, Elder Quirante, and Elder Dill refer to themselves as The Three Wisemen since they are in a tri-companionship. The rest of us refer to them as The Three Stooges. They are over the south end of Brigham. Elder Conover thought he was pretty funny here.

Elder Smith, Elder Leon, Elder Davis, Elder Chidester, and Elder McRae. Quite an odd bunch of boys but we still love 'em!

Alec got just what he wanted for Christmas: a big brother!! Elder Chidester spent Christmas day at our house. He made us some pie. Although it doesn't look the greatest, it tasted great!!

Elder Chidester and Elder Figueroa with us right before we took them back to Malad. It was a great Christmas Day.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NIGHT:

• Conover told us a story about how he grew up in an orphanage and got an orange for Christmas one year. (This was a joke.)
• Leon told stories about: Conover growing up in a dump with 4 pet rats: John, Barry, and Steve (Yes, there were only 3), finding a dead man, and how he thought his turkey was a boy when it was really a girl.
• Leon stuck his tongue in a mouse trap. (On purpose.)
• Davis played us some songs on his new ukulele.
• Chidester and Smith had a huge wrestling match as a result of the air soft war.
• Smith showed us a video of his Pappy telling the Christmas story from back in Tennessee.

We had a great Christmas and we hope you did too!!! Happy New Year!

Peach Days!!!

I got to go home for Peach Days! It was SO great seeing my family and friends! It was hard coming back to St. George!

My best friend Charlee and I were trying to get the missionaries in this picture. It didn't quite work. :( I got to see Elder Davis (the one I have a crush on)! I haven't seen him since June! It was great!!

I ran into my adopted little brother Andy and one of my best friends Matt!!

Tayla, Alec, Charlee, and I about to head on the Zipper!! It was fantastic!!!

College Life

I am now officially a college student. I have completed my first week of school. I have five awesome roommates and we get along great! The weather down here is great! The other day our A/C broke and it was so hot in our apartment that I went and played tennis to cool off!! The ward here is great and I'm getting lots of free food! I'm adjusting to living on my own quite well. I'm not homesick yet, so I'm hoping I stay that way! I have been a good girl: doing my laundry, making my bed, going to bed on time, and doing my homework. If any of you come to St. George, make sure to let me know!!

My first weekend in St. George, Monique came down and we made a quick trip to Vegas! Isn't she just the best??

These are some of my roommates: Haylie, Mandy and Darcee. I've gotten them hooked on my favorite TV show Big Time Rush. It's a Nickelodeon show about 4 teenage boys who form a boy band. They were actually in Vegas but since we are poor college students, we couldn't afford to go. We headed to Wal-Mart and bought some shirts and spray paint. We had our own Big Time Rush party with homemade t-shirts!

Haylie and I are the biggest fans. We are each marrying a boy from Big Time Rush.

A Dream Come True

The last concert of the summer. The best one, also. I must also note that they are better than the Backstreet Boys. (They made me say it.) Anyway, I'm sure you all know how much I love Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand. This is me and the band after my first singing debut: Roger, Nate, my BFF Ashley, me, Craig, Ryan Tilby, and Ryan Shupe. Ryan Tilby is the one in the white shirt. My best friend. He let me request a few songs and they even opened with one of them! :) Then, they sang another one called Oh How I Miss You. They invited me up on stage to sing with them! I think it means I'm not a Crook if I enjoyed singing in front of a few hundred people. I have it recorded but it was too big to fit on here.

Due West and Andy Hackbarth

This weekend I had the great opportunity to see one of my favorite bands, Due West, perform. Two times, actually. On Saturday, my friend, Ashley, and I headed to Sandy to see the guys. On Saturday, my friend, Matt, and I headed to Tremonton to see them again! These guys put on a really great show!!

My best friend from Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand - Ryan Tilby. He opened up for Due West.

Ashley and I sitting in the rain listening to Due West.

Me, Tim, and Matt the Sexi Mexi. (That's what they call him)

Due West - great becasue they are all Mormon!

Brad, me, Matt, Ashley, and Tim.

My new found love, Andy Hackbarth. He is a freakin' amazing guitarist and one of the sweetest guys I've ever met!

"Three boys, in three different towns somehow guitars ended up their hands and after high school, three fools headed East."

Andy and me again! Love this man! :)

The guys of Due West! Such great guys!

Brigham City Temple Ground Breaking

They broke ground for our temple on Saturday. This is my friend Ashley waiting for it to start.

My adopted sister Charlee and me!

President Packer gave the dedicatory prayer. Elder Nelson also came. They are in the middle.

My friend Reece and me turning some dirt!

It was such an awesome ceremony and very spiritual! It was a very neat experience and I can't wait to see the temple!!

Day 6 - Sea World

Cirque de la Mar

Shamu! Alec and I had front row seats! We got SOAKED!! Alec whinned like a baby!

My favorite animal at Sea World was the Beluga whales. I named this one Steve.

This is one of only two performing short-finned pilot whales in the world.

Blue Horizons is the new dolphin show. It was AMAZING!

Day 5 - Los Angeles Area

Shopping on Rodeo Drive! Well, more like walking. WAY too expensive to even walk in the store! Haha. We do go in Gucci though!

Santa Monica pier! Hannah Montana's best friend Lilly had her birthday party here in The Hannah Montana Movie!
Gettin' my kicks on Route 66!

When we got to San Diego we went to visit the family of a missionary serving in Brigham City. This is the Chidesters. They are way awesome! They fed us dinner then let us swim in their pool! SWEET!

Days 3 & 4

Our suite at the Hard Rock Hotel

Me and Bruce "The Boss" Springsteen.

Our favorite ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain.

This is what Alec looked like after riding every roller coaster. I think he looks a little like Edward Cullen. Only better.

Day 2 - More Las Vegas

Sorry this has taken forever, between our internet not working (Don't worry, I survived) and the many hours I spend watching LOST I haven't had a chance to get on. So, here are some more pictures from our trip!

Oh yes, my dad and I made lots of jokes.

Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas!

Lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe. Which one doesn't belong?

The famous Belagio fountain shows. Also home of Danny Ocean's big heist.

The strip from our hotel!

Day 1 - Vegas

The site of the show Pawn Stars. Yes, we are rednecks! (We went there twice.)

Eating dinner at Toby Keith's!

Iron Man!

M&M World!!

Vacation

Ok, the internet at the hotel is very slow. So, if you want to see some pictures, they are on my facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=524374351#!/album.php?aid=185276&id=524374351 Hopefully this works. If not, I will post them when I get home!

BACKSTREET'S BACK! ALRIGHT!

The title pretty much says it all, but just to clarify a few things:

• Yes, the Backstreet Boys are still together, only one of them left.
• No, they are not old and gray. They are between 32 and 39.
• Yes, I love them very much! Possibly more than I did when I was 8.
• Yes, I feel very old when 12 year olds don't know who the Backstreet Boys are.
• Yes, I feel bad for those kids who will never understand the greatness of boy bands.

I went with my friends Rachel and Hillary! Nice shirts, eh?

Opening song: Everybody (Backstreet's Back)

They showed a video of them running down a hall then they jumped, and there they were, right before my very eyes! (Yes, I cried a little.)Now that my boy Kevin is not a part of the band, Brian here is my favorite. He's a cutie! (I'm also in love with their bright red shiny shoes! I want a pair! Hint, hint!)

The show went by very fast, but was worth every penny I paid!! (Yes, AJ is wearing plaid pants. And yes, I'm very jealous. Also, I plan to become a backup dancer for these boys! Don't worry, I will get you some tickets if you want!)

After the show, we had the great opportunity to see the boys on their buses. Well, everyone except for Mr. Nick Carter, who decided he was a little too tired to stand and wave to the people who pay for his lifestyle. I was like 5 feet away from AJ when he got off his bus! This is Brian and his little boy. Sorry, it's not a very good picture, but he is in there!

I love you, Backstreet Boys!!