The summer semester at BYU-Idaho is almost over, which means finals....which means I am doing my best to avoid homework. So what am I doing? Creating a blog, of course! Brace yourself, folks, it's gonna be a doozy....because I've got like half of a year to catch up on! Here we go!

Just an FYI---many of the pictures came out sideways and I'm too lazy to change them, so ya'll may be suffering from crookedess necknessess by the time you're done. That's a legit term too. I know cause I invented it.

I spent most of my winter break wandering aimlessly around the house. It's not fun. You don't want to know about the patterns on the walls. I began working as a nanny for a family in my parent's home ward. It was so nice to have a job where I could go in my pajamas and change when I got there! When Chris (Solesbee) got home from his mission in South Africa life got a little more interesting. Melonie and I tried to entertain each other, but it's difficult to do when there's a child involved and responsibility...yada yada. Luckily my friend Chris has neither a child nor an overwhelming sense of responsibility ;)

When Beth came to visit me in April I had alllll kinds of things planned. I even printed out maps and made organized lists-my mom would be so proud. I'm not kidding. Beth flew in to Long Beach airport-cheaper and a greater experience for someone who is coming in from the snow and ice and endless rolling hills of nothingness. Chris and I drove around in circles while she waited for her luggage-and then I spotted her and the screaming commenced! We didn't give her a moment's rest. She jumped in the back seat and we were off! But she didn't know where.....
As we drove in to LA, I thought she'd catch on and the game would be over for that day-well at least the fact that we were in LA. But she was so excited to be in California and to see advertisements that people had actually spent time and money on, rather than something simply spray painted on an abandoned barn, that she hadn't noticed all of the signs. We were merely blocks away from Rodeo Drive when I finally turned around and said, "Beth! Look at the street signs! Does ANYTHING sound familiar!?" And then there were gasps and crys of shock and awe, and much photo-snappping.
So we walked around Rodeo Drive for a bit. Then we toured some of the homes in Beverly Hills, walked along the ultra-tourist trap called the Hollywood Walk of Fame and checked out the handprints at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Whilest there we bought an extremely overly-price-inflated cream puff each. I had to share the experience with her, and the shop I worked at was now closed because of the economy. We walked around the mall...and went up and down the escalators about 5 times, and then we headed over to the Getty Museum1 Beth about died when she realized she was looking at THE Van Gogh painting 'Iris's' and even though I've been before, I discovered a somewhat hidden Degas and just about wet myself. Needless to say, it had been an amazing, though exhausting, day.

And then day two began! We took this one a little more slowly. I showed Beth all the beauty that Corona had to offer-meaning the shopping...and shopping....and......shopping. And we did a lot of that. And I mean a lot. She even braved the swapmeet! (swampmeat, in my opinion). Then we came home and I got her all hotified for her photo shoot at the beach with the ultra-famous and amazingly talented Michele Tolley. I had fun resuming my old post as grip, and Beth worked her stuff without fear. It was Mel's birthday that week, so we celebrated that night at the beach with much rucous and food and fire. I've gotta add here, mom's cake that night was the best cake I have ever had. I don't even like cake.

So the family left and Beth, Chris and I went for a long and arduous tramp through the rocks and sand to get the ultimate photos-with Chris's camera. It was absolutely gorgeous, the beach is truly as poetic as it's made out to be. Then we got petrol and went home. I added that last part so as to explain the photos. DAY 3! Keep in mind, Beth had no idea what the plans were on each of these days. Chris and I got everything ready and packed up, and told Beth what to wear and when to be ready-she was a great sport! We were headed to Disneyland...and I had lied to Beth and told her there was no possible way we could go this time, so she had no idea that that was on the agenda. When we got to Ball Rd. we had her close her eyes and plug her eyes, and I was sure she'd hear something when we paid for parking-but no. And then she kept her eyes and ears closed as we walked to the tram...and on the tram...and walking through security....and TO THE FRONT GATE! She did this for about 45 minutes!!! We had Chris positioned with his camera so that when she opened her eyes at the front gate, he could get her reaction-and it was so worth it. There was much screaming and shaking and jumping in circles involved! We had the most amazing Disneyland day EVER and it was even completed with fireworks! Much to Beth's chagrine (she dislikes the loud explosiveness of fireworks).

And then it was the day to leave. I was kind of a mess, to be honest. Chris checked out the car and helped me pack, and we were off! And then we stopped to shop and get jamba juice...and then we were off again! For reals this time.

We stopped at Cajalco Ghost Town, because it had always been a dream of mine to see it. Shushinsay! No snide comments about how it's nothing in the middle of nowhere! We had fun! We even saw a wedding-a very unusual wedding.
Beth was in awe all through Vegas, but by the time we got to grandma's house we were both ready to be out of the car. We stayed the night at the family's house in Cedar City, and then made the rest of the way to Rexburg. Ben and Amber let us stay the night at their house on Sunday, and Beth and I drove in to Rexburg on Monday and did all of the moving in/checking in hullabaloo.

Much of the beginning of the semester was spent...doing homework. Weird, I know. But exercise was a must! And when the sun was out, Beth and I toured Rexburg and photographed muchos cosas. As seen below.

Then there was the day we decided to venture out of town and see what this cute little general store had to offer. When we pulled up, a HUGE dog-I thought for a moment it was a horse-came up to my window, and a small child to Beth's. The dog sniffed and slobbered me, and the child begged Beth for money. When we made it inside only slightly scathed, we had to plug our noses. I looked to the left side of the barren store and saw that some sort of animal shelter was attached to it. It took all of 10 seconds to see that the most interesting thing the shop had to offer was a package of tortillas-so we tried to make our way out with as much decency as we could muster. And then we got lost and had to turn around and pass it again. That was a fun day-Oh! And I saw Kelsie used-to-be-Laga-now-Potts. I wish we'd gotten pictures!!!

It was decided one day while at Craigos with Mama Kurz (my roommate's mother who stayed with us for a couple of weeks while Emily recovered from back surgery) that Beth and I were going to Virginia to see her dad, and that it would be a surprise!!! Beth found a great deal on tickets, and we made all of the arrangements-I love having people in my life that are as spontaneous and determined as I. By the time came for us to leave for Virginia, we were so excited we could hardle handle it. We drove down to Salt Lake, stayed at Beth's friend's house, and left early the next morning for Virginia! Whilest traveling we hatched out a plan to surprise Beth's dad.

When we got off of the plane, we put our hoods over our heads and our over-sized sunglasses. Beth had her mother in on the secret from the beginning, so we were guaranteed beds when we got there (Beth's parents taken in foster children). We met her at the end of the terminal, and she told her Beth's dad was driving around with the kids, because he didn't want to pay for parking. So she feigned wanting to buy something from a specific store in the airport for a future family reunion, and then kept telling him that she had to go to the bathroom, and the line was long, etc, whilest we waited for our luggage. She was pretty good at her job! He never even questioned her!

We all went to the front pick-up area and decided to separate. Beth and I would stand a ways away and pretend to be strangers whose ride had abandoned them. When Beth's mom got into the car with her dad, she pointed to us (we had put our hoods and sunglasses back on) and told him that she thought we may need a ride. He pulled over to us and she leaned out and asked, "Hey, do you ladies need a ride?" and of course we accepted. When Beth's dad got out to help us put our things in the back, Beth stuck out her hand and said, "Wow, thanks man, we really appreciate it!" and he replied, "Oh no problem, what's your name?"....I almost died at this point.....and she calmly replied, "My name's Beth, nice to meet you, this is my friend Cherie." and he turned to me and was about to say 'hello' when dawning comprehension smacked him in the face-I've never seen anything like it-and he stared at Beth. She threw off her hood and sunglasses and yelled "HI DADDY!" and the man nearly fell over dead. It was epic!!! As we drove home, he kept asking questions about how this was happening and where would we sleep and so on, and just kept staring at her in the mirror. I'll never forget that!

While in Virginia, we managed to cram in sooo many things. First off, let me just say, Beth's parents and little brother and sister are just about the coolest people I've ever met. They were so open and warm and friendly. I've never felt so at home among strangers. That seemed to be somewhat of a trend, actually, as I met more and more people in the south. Going to Beth's home ward was such a fun experience. I hugged more strangers than I can remember, and they were all so friendly-not the fake ceremonious and courteous kind that one usually encounters, they genuinely cared. People in the south are AWESOME! If it weren't for the humidity, there's no question I'd live there the rest of my life.

This is me trying to catch lightning bugs. They are SO PRETTY! I've always dreamed of seeing one...and I'm serious when I say I almost cried. It's kind of pathetic, really....

We toured Beth's old stomping grounds that day, and then went to church the next and had an amazing southern feast with the ward after church. Then we went to Virginia Beach and played in the waves and sand and had such a fun time with Beth's siblings and parents.

The next day we went to a s strawberry farm and picked lots and lots of AmAzInG strawberries! We took them to a family gathering IN A FOREST! There was Virginia Lake just down from us, and Beth and I had soo much fun looking for awesome seashells and taking pictures. I love Virginia. Every angle was picturesque. After the dinner and some time in the pool, we headed over to the ferry that took us to Jamestown and Williamsburg. Oh Williamsburg!!!! How I love thee!

We toured the place quickly, and then Beth and I got tickets for a ghost tour of the town! Beth's family had to go back home so the kids could go to bed, but after they left we went on the tour. We learned about a woman with a temper who fell down a staircase in a building we were standing by, and had all kinds of scandelous incidents, and a little boy who died around the same time as his poor best friend and haunts the streets of Williamsburg, and a crazy lady, and a Native American boy who used to run through the woods at night and so on. While we were listening to a creepy story about a ghostly woman who appears to many who stay in this particularly haunted house, an entourage of cannons volleyed off behind us and scared the living daylights out of everyone. It was overly-perfect timing, and completely accidental! After the tour was over, Beth and I wandered around the College of William and Mary and kept creeping each other out. There were hardly any people around, and it was dark and eerie....it was perfect!



The next day...we had to go home......it was a very sad thing. But it had to be done. However, it'll take all manner of freakish incidents to keep me from returning. That was the second best vacation in my life (next to the carribean cruise!) Oh ya, and I had NASTY mosquito bites-they were massive and itchy and my ankle was sooo swollen. But it was worth it!And so it was back to reality. Let's go baaaack, back to reality! Ok I'm done. I just finished a project Id' been working on throughout the semester and I'll put the pictures below. I took pictures of my roommates and Melonie, my sister, dressed as women from the Old Testament. It was soo much fun! I made their costumes and we all pulled together our jewelry and resources to make the pictures as great as possible. I now have quite a handle on Picasa!


Other ridiculous incidents included rainy-day photos, the wedding of Tarek, our toilet paper friend and his now wife (they now have 5 children as well), a day of playing in the mud-that was midterms. Up Next blog: Beff's Birfday and Day of the Daniel!!!

I'm pretty much caught up here-I'm sure I'll think of something later and have to write a small post. Hope everyone made it through!!!