Bear Lake, Birthday, and Such

Have I mentioned yet that I am working here and there in Logan this summer? It's great. I'm part of the orientation team for USU. Each month I come down from Montana a few times and join 40 others in educating incoming freshman on USU policies, procedures, blah, blah, blah. But really it has been a great time. Last week we took a three day retreat to Bear Lake. Huzzah.

The peeps at the lake were super sweet and snuck in a cake for my twenty first birthday. Everyone made it a fun and memorable day for me. I also took a few hours the day before to hang out with the family down at the home forter. Mother, of course, made a delicccious "Brookie Cookie" and strawberry cake in honor of my birth. We also celebrated by eating out at Red Iguana in Salt Lake and having some random friends over for dessert. People were extremely thoughtful all day sending texts, facebook messages, cards, making phone calls, you name it.

Bear Lake was gorgeous. After an overload of social-ness I took a sever of time for myself one morning and attempted capturing a bit of the beautiful scenery surrounding us.

And driving back to West. The sunset- UN. BE. LIEVABLE. But honestly this photo doesn't even come close. I caught myself pulling over and snapping photos three or four times. Beautiful.

Day Forty Five

Some recent highlights from the West Yellowstone life:

• Visit from mother and grandmother. So relaxing- time in the park and time to catch up.
• Visit from father and first time fly-fishing. Fabulous and unforgettable.
• A day off to visit Salt Lake.
• Birthday celebration for myself and Jake Simmonds. [Cake. Friends. Spakings. Party.]
• Three incredibly thoughtful birthday packages from people I love and miss.
• A new/local blog to read from: mantanamountainmen.blogspot.com.
• One or two days that exceeded 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
• White Water Rafting with the Wild West Pizza crew. (On a slight tangent, I'll have to mention how much I love EVERYONE that works here. The busser boy, the cooks, the bartenders, the owners. All so wonderful and great friends to me and Melissa. We're already sad to leave).
• Snow. Yes, it still snows occasionally up here.
• A new purchase from the North Face. Should I be saving? Yes. Do I also allow rewards after 80 hour weeks? Most certainly.
• New Jack Johnson and Norah Jones albums. Both good with a couple of tracks that I've set to repeat.
• Waitressing nightmares. Everystinkingnight. Maybe I'll expand on this one day.
• Tips. Tips. Tips.
• The stars. They are beautiful and overwhelming.
• A night off to sit and watch The Blind Side. What a great story and film.

Marmot.

Bubble.

Look carefully.

More.

"Home, home on the range."

Bear sighting- often times the ultimate Yellowstone goal.

Henry's Fork fly fishing.

Happy Birthday.

Everyone can also notice my favorite part of this picture:

Rachel.

Woot. Woot.

Loved this one. You can clearly see why.

Drew, aka mr.imcamerashy

I have nothing to say about this.

The women of our apartment.

Me and Co-Worker Tracy's pup. Precious.

How did I get this?

This morning, I was happy to wake up and see on my cellular phone the displayed date of February 4, 2010. Happy Birthday Dad!!! I have more than a few reasons to be thankful for him.

Get to know Grant Foster:

One of the hardest working individuals I know

One of the most accepting family members I have

One of the most avid big-game hunters I've met

One of the most honest individuals I know

One of the best drivers in a snow storm

One of the only people that can make me smile on a bad day

One of the most committed parent-coaches in Davis County

One of the happiest guys I know

My dad is truly one of a kind.

What's in a Birthday?

What's in a birthday? In other words.... what is all the hullaballoo for?! Eat some cake, receive some gifts, talk to some old friends, and maybe even get 42 facebook "Happy Birthday" messages. Right? Wrong.

In the last while, birthdays have become a bigger deal to me. I think for a good eight or nine years I really forgot WHY it is that we celebrate these days. Today, I celebrate the birthday of one of my dearest friends in the world: Lauren Nickl. Today isn't just a day where she can get a free dessert at Chili's and have a few pictures taken. Today is the day that friends and family can be thankful that she was brought into the earth on this day. Because of Lauren I have a wonderful friend and example to me. Because of Lauren I aspire to be a better friend, student, and person in general. Because of Lauren I have had some of the greatest memories and experiences ever.

very old ... :)

what we do best together

May we all celebrate those who enrich our lives and make us better people.

Happy Birthday Lauren Nickl. Love you!

Good to be nineteeeeeeen

Well yes the day finally came, the day of my birth this year. June 2, 1990 at 7:22 p.m. (same time that president Lincoln died). This birthday is shared with a few friends that I have: Natalia Smith (girl was friends with in elementary, probably haven't seen her for 10 years or so), Matt Mackay (friend from my home ward), and Mike Wright :) one of my good friends who is soon to be leaving to Jamaica (mormon missionary ha)! So- Went home to Bountiful for the weekend- somehow miraculously got 3 days off of work! Woo! It just was awesome slash perfect slash really nice. After working a couple of jobs, I rolled into btown around 1 in the morning and got to give my papa a hug and kiss before he left the next morning on a business trip. Next day was a sunday. Oh my mother is an angel. Made me my favorite breakfast- biscuits and gravy- then we did some church, went to Jim Allred's farewell (tear tear), then .... the Birthday dinner! New York Strip Steaks, pineapple (fav fruit), delicious spinach bread sticks, salad, potatoes. oh my. Then had the family and good friends over for dessert. home made triple layer chocolate/vanilla cake! Lucky girl, I know. Went boating the next day with the boys, hung out with corrine and mom on the actual birthday, saw the weirdest movie with my mama (The Brother's Bloom), ate at the Pub (french onion soup = divine), did some shopping and just relaxed . Was sad to leave, but you gotta do what you gotta do. After my long drive home I was very happy to enter into the double wide and see my room mates safe and snug in their beds. So- as of now there's not a whole lot to be unhappy about. Life is good and I have everything I could've asked for. Sigh of Joy. Now back to work.