Reese Got Married!

Ever since middle school I have been friends with three amazing girls. We have been through lots of ups and downs together. Yesterday I got to see my friend, Charisse, get married. It was a beautiful ceremony, an amazing reception, and the bride and groom were just glowing all day. It was spectacular! (I forgot my camera at the temple, so those pictures will have to come later)

Yeah, not the greatest picture, but it's what I have! Aren't they so cute together?

Someone thought that it would be cute to get this picture . . .

. . . meaning we had to climb up the rocks in heels and those skirts! Not a good idea if you are clumsy to begin with!

It's a bird!
It's a plane!
Nah, it's just another camera.

Slightly purple lips.
(It was cold!)

The reception had a band, dancing and these beauties. I was in heaven! flowing chocolate with yummy stuff to dip in it . . . is there anything better?

Congratulations, Charisse! I am so happy for you!

O Tannenbaum

Last night my friend Bethany had a fun Christmas party. She called it a game night, but cards and boardgames were not involved. She found every crazy christmas game you could think of. I worked till ten, so I missed most of the fun. Like drawing a picture of a christmas tree with your hands above your head:

But I did get there just in time for the candy bar game, the strobe light relay, and another artistic activity. We were each given a piece of green paper and instructed to rip it into the shape of a Christmas tree while holding it behind our backs. We then had to decorate it while it was still behind our backs. We were not allowed to look at it until we were done. The masterpieces looked like this:

and this:

and this:

They look like Christmas tree's, right?

Racin' in the Snow

Today was the Red Ribbon Run against drugs. There was a 5K run, and a mile walk. My friend, Bethany, and I did the run, and I talked my family into doing the walk. All week they have been predicting snow for today, but I didn't believe it. I woke up this morning to howling wind and trees bent over. I prayed that the weather would hold off just until after the race.

Apparently it worked, because as the race was about to begin it cleared up a bit and the wind backed off. It was CHAOS! I would guess that over a thousand people showed up, even with the insanely cold weather. The 5Kers started first, so Beth and I were off. Yes, I ran in this hat. At least until it got too hot and I took it off.

As I rounded the first corner the ipod I was using died. So I ran the race musicless. My Newsies couldn't get me through. Thank goodness Bethany was with me! It actually wasn't that bad. When we had about a half mile to go it started snowing pretty hard. I was so excited. I love snow! But I can't believe that it is snowing in October.

As we approached the finish line we began to pass the mile walkers. I was looking around for my fam, and then we passed them! Dad and Karl ran with us the last half block, and we crossed the finish line as I created a new personal best - 28:44. So exciting!

My cute parents.

When we crossed the finish line we all got these medals. Madison wasn's sure how she felt about the race, or her new green marshmellow coat, but she sure liked her medal! It was so much fun! Give me another year and I will have them all running the 5K with me!

Babies!

My sister Lacey, and my friend Katie were both pregnant and due the same week. I always told them that they needed to have their babies the same day so that I could come and visit them. They came close! Ivy was born on June 3rd, and Jack was born on the 4th. I wasn't able to visit them in the hospital, but yesterday we did get together and I got to see the two adorable babies together. Though they were born close to the same time they are so different! We went out to lunch and talked, and I had lots of fun holding babies! When we were at the restaurant the manager came over and commented that we were missing a baby, and asked where mine was (awkward)! Hmmmm . . . welll . . . one day! For now I am great borrowing other peoples babies to cuddle with!

The Adventures of Paula and Katie

This weekend my MTC companion, Paula, came from a land far, far away to spend the weekend with me. We did lots of random things, spoke Portuguese, and had a great time! Here is a glimpse of some of the things that we did . . .

P & K at Lagoon:

P & K Take a Hike:

P & K get smoothies after the hike: (Yes, we are gross here, we had just climbed a mountain!)

P & K taste cheese on a cheese tour: (P's favorite was Squeaky cheese, I liked the Jalapeno cheddar)

P & K go shopping :

P & K & friend Kim Make (and eat) Beans and Rice, YUM:

It was great! After Paula left my Mom commented that she now understands why we got along so well, because we are so much alike! Thanks for coming, Paula!

It's What FUN is!!!

Yesterday a group of us who met in the Brazil MTC went to Lagoon together. We rode lots of rides, spoke in portuguese, and had fun. It was awesome!

Part of our group on the "Rocket"

This is after we rode "Cliffhanger". We were compleatly dreanched!

Seriously, head to toe.

Paula (my MTC companion) and Elder W. from our MTC district

Rididng the Swings

Relaxing with our ICEE's

The Fabulous Four

My friend, Bethany, got home from serving a mission in California this week. It has been so much fun seeing her again! In high school I was blessed with three really good friends (from left- Kim, Bethany, Charisse & me). After graduation we all went in different directions, but have tried to get together whenever possible. Kim and I both left on missions within the same month, and then Bethany four months later, so it has been a long, long time since we have all been together! Bethany spoke in church today (and did an excellent job, might I add) so we all got to sit and talk and reminisce (We even all showed up in white shirts. funny funny!) It was so much fun!

Welcome Home Beth!

Parabêns Kim!

Yesterday my friend Charisse came up to visit so that we could celebrate our friend Kim’s birthday. It was so much fun! The three of us (Plus Bethany who is currently serving a mission and comes home next month) have been friends since middle school. We aren’t able to get together often, but it is always fun when we have the chance! Somehow, we seem to bring out the crazy side of each other. We went out to A&W’s, and then watched a movie at my house (though we seem to do more talking and laughing than watching). It was great!

Kim and I sent in our mission papers at the same time, and both got called to Brazil (different missions of course). We were in the MTC in Sao Paulo together, and then took advantage of the 1 cent postal fee to send domestic letters during the rest of our time in Brazil. At first they were letters of, “I’m never going to speak the language!” and then at the end it turned to letters of, “I don’t want to go home!” It was so nice to have someone who I could write to who was going through the same things I was. Now we can get together and talk about Brazil, and speak in Portuguese together. She is such a great person, and I am so glad to have her as a friend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM!