Yay for EFY!!

Ok I'm sorry family (Kristi and Laura) that I have not updated anyone in forever but life has been so crazy!! Efy is going GREAT! I am loving every minute of it. Everyday is jam packed with activites for the youth and I had no idea how much work and time counselors put into these weeks! I'm so tired everyday but it is so worth every second.
My first week was a bit of a challenge. There were 44 youth total, so 4 counselors and a group of 10-12 youth in each. I had 12 girls and all of them were so cute! Our guys in the other hand were a bit hard to deal with. At efy we like the guys to escort the girls wherever we go and for some reason our guys wanted nothing to do with our girls which really broke my heart because that's something everyone looks forward too. So there was that then there were 2 boys that liked to sneak off and not tell anyone where they were going. That made things really scary at times since we are responsible for these youth.
Thursdays are the counselors favorite days at efy. It's where we get to hear them bear their testimonies of the gospel and see the light in their eyes. It's a very rewarding day for the long hours we as counselors put in.
Here are some pictures from that week. The first one is my whole company. Companies are what we call when both the boys and girls are together. This week we were called "Away to Escape."

This is a picture of my group of girls.

Here I am with my other counselors Mellissa, Jake and Brett.

My second week was so much fun! I loved all my youth and my co-counselor Dan was so fun to work with. It was a very small session. There were only 18 youth in our group total. It was exciting because I had Jon Schmidt's son Spencer in my group! He was such a sweetheart. I also was able to meet Jon Schmidt. How cool that was! But our boys were so sweet and just listened and escorted the girls. It was a very fun, easy week. I loved it! Here are some pictures from this past week.
Here's our group. We were called "Raised in Incorruption" this week.

This is my co Dan and Spencer Schmidt!

So now I'm about to start my 3rd week and I am sad that it is going by so fast but I am excited to meet my next group of girls. I can't wait for this week. I have met so many counselors and have made great friends so far and most of them are working this week so it's going to be twice as fun :)

New Camera!!

Well I'm a little late at posting this but that's life for you. I finally caved and bought the camera of my dreams! The Canon Rebel XTi. There was a great deal through Best Buy for the camera, a case with an extra battery, and then a zoom lens that is not cheap. I went back and forth for like a day and finally decided that it's been years that I've been wanting this camera and I am in a place, money wise, that I can afford to get it. Thanks to Best Buy I now get to pay month to month, which I did for my other camera and loved it! Plus, it's intrest free! WHHOOOPPIIEEE!! So I have LOVED the camera so far. I haven't had too many opportunities to use it yet. I was able to get some pictures from Dayna's dance rehearsal, Maren's band concert and then just random other pictures. I can't wait to get to school and have actual assignments of things to take again. I loved having that.

Life has been good but hectic here! I have been busy planning all my EFY nightly devotionals and it's been going really well. I've been given the topics along with other resources for each night and so far there's been so much that I want to share that I have to cram into a 20 min devotional! I have about a week left until I leave and I was finally able to get my room out together. I've only been home for 5 months and it took me that long to get everything done! I have also been reading the Twilight series again. I started Twilight last summer while I was in Utah and then wasn't able to keep reading them since I started school and I never have time to read anything on the side. So I am almost done with New Moon and it has been quite a ride! I have stayed up reading until almost 2 am the past few nights reading. Last night I finally had to put my book mark in and close my book and make myself go to sleep! But they are very good books and I highly recommend everyone reads them!
I've been spending a lot of time with one of my best friends Bart. Yes it's the same Bart that I dated back in high school for those of you that know my dating life. Bart is leaving on his mission to Houston, Texas in 2 weeks from today and so we've been cramming in as many Twins games/movies/NBS playoff games/puzzles as much as we can! It's been fun spending time with him this past month. I've been able to see him grow so much and I can tell that he's going to be a great missionary! The people of Texas don't know what they're getting!

Well here are just a few of the pictures I have taken with my fantastic camera. Hope you all enjoy!

Utah, Texas and a Proposal...

Well I am back and finally able to write about my fabulous trip! I was so good
to get away for a bit and spend some time with my Florida girls and then the
Texas girls. I don't even know where to begin with Utah but I will give you a
short version of everything that happened. Well arrived in Thursday morning and
there was already plenty for us all to do! I met up with some of the other
girls and the oh so scrumptious Cafe Rio and had lunch. I got to see Kate and
Peter before they left for Kansas City for the summer, we all went to a really
nice breakfast place in our pajams and no makeup during UVSC's graduation rush
might I add...I got to go to a UVSC graduation for my friend Laura's sister. I
went country dancing and hiked the Y. We went to Chili's (our favorite and it's
a Florida girls tradition that whenever we're all together we go...even though
not everyone was there this time :( ), I watched Juno 3 times haha, had a picnic
with Sarah, I was able to see lots of mom's side of the family where we were surprised by both Lindy and Kelsey when they told us they were BOTH pregnant!!! So exciting. I also got to see my Dad's parents. But one of the best things that I got to help in was with Laura's sisters proposal! We went up into the mountains and rode horses that belonged to a friend of there's and while the proposal was happening we rushed back to Laura's and whipped up dinner for them! It was so fun and I was glad I could help out in such a wonderful thing. I loved being in Utah and I can't wait to go back in less than a month. I was only there for 5 days and by the end I was so tired! Those girls kept me very, very busy! Here are some of the many, many pictures taken while I was in Utah:

Well it was then on to Texas to fulfill my bridesmaid duty to Brittany. It was
so fun to see her and to help her and her family out with cutting up food,
helping with bridals, running errands, tying bows, filling food trays and so
much more! I loved every minute I was there (well besides the unfortunate drama that surfaced from somewhere else...). It was crazy to see my friend get
married to such a wonderful guy! I was there from the very beginning and they
are more perfect for each other than I could've ever imagined. They are going
to have such an amazing life together and I can't wait to hear about it all!
Haha. But the day of the wedding was so fun! I was so grateful that I was able
to be there to help and support her and her family through everything. I loved
Brittany's family too! I felt right at home as soon as I walked into the door.
Her parents are the nicest people I have ever met and her siblings are hilarious
and crazy! I was so glad to finally get home though. I missed my family a lot and I was tired of traveling! Plus I realized how much I love my car!! Well here a once again just a few of the many pictures taken in Texas:

Hope you all enjoyed! Until next time...

What a glorious weekend!

I had one of the best weekends of my life in a long time. It was Stake Conference for our stake out here in Minnesota and we had the privilege of having Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Kent D. Watson of the Seventy attend. What a wonderful men they are! You can tell how much they both love the church and all the members. We were taught some amazing things and shared amazing moments together. I was able to attend the adult session since I am 19 and considered an adult at church! I was then able to go to the youth session where Elder Bednar and Elder Watson held a Q & A for the youth. Man are the youth of my stake amazing! They had such remarkable questions that they asked and got some amazing answers. To top this weekend off we had a 71 degree day!! And it's continuing on into today. Life couldn't get any better :)

I leave for Utah on Thursday morning and I am so excited I can't even tell you! I am so ready to get out of Minnesota for a little break and to be around people that are my own age for once. Don't get me wrong I've loved being home it's just that I need people my own age to be with for a little while. But this is the big trip where I fly to Utah for a few days and then off to Texas for Brittany's wedding!! I can't believe she's getting married so soon! I was able to get my bridesmaids dress made and so that's a huge thing I got checked of my list. Now I just have to get a present...ohh man Bee I don't know what to get you! I also am in my last week at Boom Island :( I am very sad that it's ending but I have loved being able to work here and learn as much as I have learned! It's been a great experience filled with great people and it's too bad that it's coming to a close. But on the bright side now I am going to have time to finish putting together my room and reading all the books that I have yet to read!! So I am ready and excited for that. Hope everyone is well! See you next time :)

I've been tagged...

I have finally been tagged to do one of these things and so here are my answers!


A-attached or single: single and hopefully for awhile...I've still got lots to do!

B-best friend: My parents, my sisters (well...getting there), and My Florida girls! And a few choice others. (I had a hard time picking just one. You can't pick just one for this question!)

C-cake or pie: Hot Apple Pie :)

D-day of choice: Hmmm...as of right now Tuesdays. All my favorite shows are on that day!

E-essential item: Chapstick

F-favorite color: Pink

G-gummie worms or bears: Either.

H-hometown: Maple Grove, Minnesota

I-indulgences: Shopping Online! (Oh Lindy you and I are the same!! We can never resist a good deal online!)

J-January or July: July by far!

K-kids: none.

L-life is incomplete without: Many things, but mostly my family and friends.

M-marriage date: Hmmm I'm going to predict mine since it hasn't happened yet....October 9th, 2010! Let's see if that actually comes true!

N- Number of Siblings: 3 sisters--Maren, Shelby and Dayna

O-oranges or apples: apples, but I love oranges too!

P-phobias or fears: car accidents...they give me the chills.

Q-quote: "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." D&C 6:36

R-reason to smile: All the many things in life that have happened, are happening, and are to happen!

S-season: Fall. I love the changing of the leaves. It makes great pictures!!

T-Tags: Kristi Aase and Brittany Dethloff.

U-unknown fact about me: I have a new found love for Jane Austen. I know that's not really an unknown fact but since no one really knows then I figured that might work? haha.

V-vegetable: Green Peppers

W- Worst Habit: getting to bed early...it's something I REALLY need to work on come June and July...if not EFY will kill me!

X-Ray or ultrasound: Well I've only had an x-ray so I am going to have to say that.

Y-your favorite food: Oh too hard...can I say everything? Ok I'll just round it down...Cafe Rio Chicken Salad! Haha.

Z-Zodiac sign: Virgo.

Yay Me!

So I finally got up enough guts to get my hair cut really short. I have NEVER had it this short before but I was just getting SO stinkin sick of my long hair (even though my mom will probably cry over the fact that it's gone now...) but it just wouldn't do anything and I know that part of the reason is because I'm style-dumb or whatever it is you want to call it. So I went in today and I was so nervous! Haha. But Ann (my hair dresser) cut off my pony tail and BAM instant short hair, there was no turning back! So far I am loving it and I can't wait to play around with it and see what I can do. I didn't get it blow dried with a round brush today so hopefully I'll get a little more "bounce" and volume when I do that.
Here's before:


and after:


and here's the lovely pony tail that I hope to donate seeing that it's over 8 inches! I'm planning on sending it into Beautiful Lengths. But here it is:


Well that's about it for this post. I hope you enjoy the before and after pictures. I tried to get some good ones but then again who likes pictures of themselves? Not me that's for sure...toot-a-loo for now!

Last night we had the fabulous opportunity to go and see the theater production of High School Musical. It was FANTASTIC! Dad gave Me, Mom, Maren, Shelby and Dayna tickets for Valentine's Day this year, which we were so surprised and excited since we thought it was all sold out. So after a full day of nannying for me, we went out to T.G.I.F. and had a good dinner and then left for the State Theater downtown. We were able to get awesome parking and were able to get in our seats with 15 minutes to spare. As the show started Dayna leaned over to me and excitedly said "I can't believe this is actually happening!" The show was SO cute and I am so grateful to my dad for pulling some strings and getting us those tickets. The other fabulous thing that happened yesterday was the fact that we reached 58 degrees!!! WOOOO!!! Spring is finally here and I am so happy that the snow is melting and that I don't have to layer up anymore. Today was yet another beautiful day. Here's a picture proving once again that it was a warm day.



My mom and I went to the Art Fair held twice a year here in Minnesota. It was at Canterbury Park. There was 5 HUGE areas of all sorts of booths ranging from frames of pictures to stars to blankets. Man you name it. But...the best part of the whole day was the fact that we couldn't find our car when it was time to leave! It took us about 45 min to walk around this huge parking lot until we finally found it. It was ridiculous! I was also joking when I said it was the best part of the day. Well here are some more pictures from the festivities last night. Enjoy!

Happy April Fools Day!

Well we Minnesotans got a real trick played on this past weekend. Even though it wasn't actually today that it happened it was still a cruel trick of Mother Nature to play. Last weekend it was so beautiful! Sure a tad chilly and windy but the sun was out and it was a nice couple of days. Sunday was actually the warmest day the news said. I believe it was in the 40's but I'm not quiet sure. Well I woke up for work yesterday and to my surprise (I actually knew about it the night before but still...) it was snowing yet again. It will never stop I tell you! I don't know if I want to come back and live in Minnesota after the winter that we've had...well anyways I didn't get a chance to get any pictures yesterday but here's what we woke up to today.

Luckily everything was melted by the end of the day. Ok not everything but it is supposed to be in the 50's by this weekend so things are looking up! Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful April Fools day!

Easter Pictures!!

So I was finally able to get the internet working in my room and so here are the Easter pictures. I have some from dinner and the egg hunt and then some are me just messing with the camera and the beautiful flowers we had! We didn't have a very sunny warm day so I also included a picture of the weather. Easter is such a wonderful time of the year for everyone to celebrate. I am so grateful for the gospel that we are blessed with everyday. Things have been going a little rough for me these past few days and it's been hard for me to see the good in certain situations and people. I know though that I have been given this trial, this challenge, for a reason and one is to make me a better person and to be stronger. Knowing those two things are what's been getting me through each day. I am so grateful for a loving family and supportive friends that are there for me. Ok, sorry I got all touchy there...but I hope everyone's Easter was wonderful. Until next time...!

Take the Quiz here!

I took a quiz today to see what Jane Austen character I am...and it said that I am Marianne Dashwood! I've only seen Emma once and read 1/2 of the book but I loved her character and I felt for her while watching the movie. Man I am a sucker for Jane Austen movies/books!
Yesterday we had our big Easter feast and I took lost of pictures which I am going to be posting later. I am at work and so I can get access to the internet where as in my room on my computer (where the pictures are of course..) I am not getting a connection. So as soon as I do I will post. Besides we are doing our Easter egg dying tonight so I can included those pictures as well! Anyways, we had a really fun night! Flem and Kristi came over with there kids and we had a wonderful dinner and then we watched Enchanted, one of my Disney favorites!! And of course I can't forget the shows that both Maddie and Abby as well as Dayna put on for us last night. I'll see if I can upload the video of Maddie and Abby's. Then we played a game of Hot Dice aka Farkel! Oh how fun it is to play Hot Dice with Kristi. Both her and Flem are a hoot! Overall it was a wonderful day filled with a good church day, yummy food, and wonderful family!

Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright, hey...EFY!

So I know that most of you know that I got asked to be an EFY counselor this summer but you probably haven't heard the whole story and I know you, laura, are going to be wondering how it all went down. Well so I had the interview, waited for what seemed like a million years to finally get an email from them end of January saying that they were interested in hiring me but needed the proper forms to continue the process. So I filled out the forms, sent them in the next day and once again sat and waited to hear back. About a week later I heard back from them and they had received my papers but I hadn't filled one out all the way so I had to redue it and send it in again...what a pain I know! So another week goes by and I get about 4 emails from them, meaning they were offering me 4 weeks of efy sessions all at BYU Provo, which is awesome, but I wished there would've been more. Well then I get to reading the weeks that they want me and one of them is the week of the annual family beach trip. Well I've already missed the past 2 years of the beach thanks to girls camp and then summer semester...so I did not know what to do at this point. I thought "well what if I'm supposed to go to this EFY session, what if I am supposed to be there to help a certain youth or what if...I'm supposed to meet someone special?" So all these things went through my head as I thought about what I needed to do. Then as I thought about missing yet another year at the beach I figured if I don't go this year I don't know when the next time I will be able to go. For the next 2 years at least I'll be in school summer semester and then what if I get married who's to say that we're going to be able to go and all that so I really felt that it was important for me to go to the beach and spend time with my mom's side of the family. So I sadly declined that one week of EFY but accepted the other three. I then sent them an email figuring that other people were going to need to turn down a week and so since I deferred summer semester this year why not ask for more weeks. About two days later I got an email from the EFY Offices asking for me to do 2 more weeks at BYU Provo! So I have a total of 5 weeks now which is great! I am so excited to work with the youth and to teach them more about the gospel. EFY is such an amazing experience and the Spirit is so strong there. Plus there's really cute guy counselors ;) haha just kidding family, but I'm really telling the truth, they're cute! I really lucked out with the weeks and where they fall during the summer. My first 2 weeks are from June 9th-14th and the 16th to the 21st. Then I have a week off and then I'm back on from the 30th to July 5th so I'll be there for the 4th of July which I am really excited for! I've never been there for the 4th so we'll see what happens. Then I'm off for 3 weeks which one week of that is the beach. I am then working July 28th-August 2nd and then my last week is the 4th-8th. So my plan is to just stay out in Utah for the months of June and July which is going to be awesome because I have so many family and friends out there to hang out with!! And that's the story with EFY. Hope all is well!!

Ok I sorry the pictures aren't working on the blog but just click on the thing and it will take you to them!!

Ok I am so sorry that I am so behind on this!! It's been over a month...and oh so much has happened. Christmas was great. We had almost the whole family here (wish you could've been here Steve and Laura). We had a really good dinner and then an hour long performance by the girls which was really cute actually featuring a funny 12 Days of Christmas dance by Flem! Then opening presents of course! What a great Christmas for the year 2007. Both my dad and Flem hosted a "Are You Smarter Than An Aase Brother" New Years Eve party at our house for some couples in the ward and their non-dance aged children. It was really fun to sit/participate in all the activities and food that were there. We were having so much fun that we almost forgot to ring in the new year! On New Year's Day Maren was brave enough to do what's called the Polar Plunge here in Minnesota with a bunch of the YW girls. It's where a bunch of crazy people jump into the frozen lake! I really wanted to go but I couldn't find my suit so I went as the photographer. Of course the day that we go is one of the coldest days it's been all winter and it's one of the coldest Polar Plunges there's been. So I froze just waiting for Maren's group (the Guppies) to come out and jump in. Of course with my luck i was filming the YW girls right before Maren and right when Maren was getting ready to jump my camera flashed "Full Memory Card!" HA! Everyone was a little mad...! The funny thing was about 10 minutes or so before the whole thing started, they had to stir the water because it was already freezing after 15 minutes of sitting there. It was that cold!! But it was really fun going and I am wanting to do it next year! Well there were too many pictures to put up so I decided to just put together a little slideshow. But at the end there's some pictures that some of the family took with Photo Booth on my computer. There's one of my dad and I...you can totally see the resemblance. Father like daughter anyone? Hope everyone is staying warm!! Love you!

Steve & Laura's new link

Forgive me for doing this but I'm taking over my (Giles Family)families blog & making it my own because my extended family hasn't been really posting to it & it's to hard to find the time to keep up with both. So Paige has posted it as a link so please check it as often as you like to see updates on us. I still don't have much time yet but will do my best to get up Thanksgiving photo's & more posted. Miss you all! Love-Laura

Christmas with the Florida Girls!

Here are some picture's from Kate and Peter's Christmas party this past weekend in Utah. It was so good to see everyone and it was the first time since Kate's wedding that all 8 of us have been together. Kate cooked up some amazing food! Lots of goodies that we all couldn't keep our hands out off :)

BubbleShare: Share photos - Print Christmas Coloring Pages.

Here are the pictures from Thanksgiving! There's not much, it's mostly the house but I had a really good time being at home. I didn't want to leave because the house is so pretty and it was fun seeing my family but the only thing that is getting my through these next 2 1/2 weeks is that I get to go back home for a couple of months!

Avery & Regan

Avery is getting so big!!! These are when she was only a week old so in the last 3 weeks she's grown so much. We had her weighed last Friday & she was just shy of 10 pds! She had gained 1 1/2 pounds in a week! She's such a stinker because I was thinking she wasn't getting much cause she's alwasy falling asleep when she eats which I thought was why she was wanting to eat every 1 1/2 to 2 hours. But noooo, she gets to "have her cake & eat it too!" Not fair!
Crazy to think that we've now entered the "double stroller" stage of life. Thankfully we haven't yet reached the "minivan" stage but if I'm promised a new van like Kristi's than I'm all for it!
Avery enjoying her 1st bath at home on Oct. 29th.
Farmor & Farfar are visiting right now & enjoying their granddaughters. We'll take some pics & post them soon. Love you all & miss you!!! Paige, please take pics of your house & post. Thanks! Laura

Avery home from the hospital

Here is a video from when we brought Avery home from the hospital on Oct. 24, 2007. For some reason I couldn't get it to post through the blog so I set it up on photobucket. Regan was more impressed with Jasper than with Avery. Enjoy! Laura

Halloween

I am sorry these pictures are late in posting. I hope you enjoy them. I will be better at getting the Thanksgiving pictures up. Abby has a swim meet this weekend and otherwise we are doing home projects. We are looking forward to seeing Paige this weekend too.