Five and Alive

January 2012 Review

Connected...even in scrabble (actually Bananagram) tiles

Sam with a whole banana in his mouth

Snowman building with neighbors Eric and Beth Alleman.

Snowman neighbors

A visit from Uncle Wesley

Bedtime routine...books in the blue chair

Nothing quite like a campout in the middle of January...in your living room.

Girls with all their bedtime friends, ready to campout

I found Sam in our pantry whimpering, scowling, and covered in Cocoa.


I think this may have been one of the worse food messes that I cleaned up from my kids. (Knock on wood.) :)

Amelia's 4th Birthday Party

Amelia's Little Einstein's 4th Birthday Party. Friends: Kayla, Brianna, Eric, Jade, Jasmine, Amelia, Natalie, Beth, and Abby and Sam are in front.

Angel Food cake with blueberries and ice cream at Amelia's request

Amelia is a special daughter. We've learned so much from her already. She has faith and courage beyond her years. We love you Millie!

Sisters!

Sandberg Grandparents join in the fun too

During Matt's 2nd Year of his BYU MBA program, I became very involved in the MBA Spouse's Association. I was in awe by the women's talents and dedication, I learned so much by serving in the presidency, I learned to love BYU on a whole new level, had a ton of fun, and I made some life long friends. Here are some photos of my BYU MBASA experience, and some of Matt and his buddies from the MBA program too (especially the PhDers).

MBASA Opening Social- At the Hinckley Alumni Building on BYU Campus

Two ladies in the MBA and Graduate Offices who were the MBA Spouses' lifeline to all our fun and service- Christine Roundy and Idon Openshaw. Always so nice to me.

The Dining Hall where all the spouses gathered to meet and eat and hear from Sandy Bertha (daughter of Dick Marriott)

Sarah Moss (Secretary), Moi, Lindsay Gonzalez (MBA Spouse), Sandy Bertha,
and Lisa Cole (Vice Pres)

MBASA Writer's Group...

and some of my BFFs

These ladies inspired me, kept me laughing, encouraged me in my writing, and were true friends. Included in this picture are: Carley Tall, JoDell Hervey, Nicole Clawson and Kimber Albrechtson. Good times. Miss these women.

And two more BFFS who didn't make the last picture cause they were on the other side of the circle....Sarah Rodgers and Rayana Johnson. Just remember me when any of you are a famous authoress.J It all started right here. :)

Fondue Night for the MBA Spouses

GOTHE (Gifts of the Heart)...

An amazing goods exchange for the student community

The hard working committee- Lisa Jones (2nd from left) headed it up and did a fabulous job!

Best organized goods exchange ever!

More goodtimes with MBASA Friends

Lisanne's birthday dinner at Olive Garden with friends

Two of my favs- Natalie Gunter and Erynn Wilcox

At the MBA Talent Show, we were graced by some belly dancing wonders.

Our rockin' MBASA Intramural Volleyball Team...so much fun: Angela Willams, Kirsten Tanner, Erynn Wilcox, Krissy Harris, Carley Tall, Tressa Fischer, me, and Melanie Howe

Our MBASA Presidency- Sarah Moss (Secretary), Lisanne Steele (Treasurer), Me (President), Mandy Karlsvan (Head of Committees), and Lisa Cole (Vice President). Some of the most talented women I've ever had the pleasure of knowing and working with. They were each completely dedicated and worked really hard to make it a memorable year for all of us.

Book Group- yes those are bras hanging on the fireplace. Thank you Nicole. These ladies were also some of my dearest friends from the program (several also attended writers.) Such great discussions. We read all kinds of books from Winnie the Pooh to The Awakening (that was the book we read in this picture...thus the "bra burning" joke). Loved these ladies insights, humor, questions, testimonies, and genuineness.

Closer up view of book group friends: (top row) Cheryl Williams, Brett Miller, Nicole Clawson, Becky Lancaster, (middle row) me, Becky Packer, Katie Fowers, Margot Belnap, Robin Watson, and Brittany Crane, (bottom row) Krista Peery, JoDell Hervey, Erynn Wilcox, Natalie Gunter, Danika Dunn, Liz Malone, and Emiko Dodson.

Caroling with the Elderly.

MBASA Closing Social at Aspen Grove Lodge

I was very pleased with our closing social, I must say. We were able to save enough money from our budget that year (thank you Lisanne), that we rented out a big room at Aspen Grove lodge and had a catered dinner and party. Karaoke, dance dance game, and general visiting and fun in general. Then we also offered a sleepover at the lodge for those interested. It was my first night away from Matt and the kids since getting married, and I had a blast!

Great times and great memories with great friends.

Friends Brittany Crane, Carrie Christensen, and Jen Anderson

Elaine Haynes, me, Becky Burt, and Laura Arias

International spouses and friends: Jimena Richards, Eveline Gargano, Sucely Falabella, moi, Svetlana Traynin, Sara Misiego, and behind her is Debora Mijangos.

First Year favs: Krista Peery, Becky Packer, Margot Belnap, Liz Malone, Katie Fowers,
and Nicole Clawson

Me and Laura Gastelum (her daughter Aubrey went to preschool with Natalie) and we became good friends.

2nd Years

2nd Years again

1st Years Silly

2nd Years: (back row) Jen Anderson, Brittany Crane, Tressa Fischer, Becky Lancaster, Wendy Pippin, Jamie Nelson, Cat Lyon, Marianne Denison, Emma McInelly, Lisa Cole, Natalie Gunter, Courtney Haynie, Amy Eaton, Sarah Moss, (bottom row) Lisanne Steele, Mel Mealey, me, Lindsay Gonzalez, Brooke Farnsworth, Mandy Karlsven, Christine Brown, and Kathy Bills.

Back: JoDell Hervey and Brittany Crane, and front is Rayana Johnson, Kimber Albrechtson, me, Amber Penrod, and Mel Mealey.

Me with my Italian friend Elena Genovesi

Me with friend Robin Watson (a fellow aspiring writer)

Friend Sarah Rodgers and Moi

Tonya Miller is a winner

At the closing social sleepover dancing it up- Tonya Miller, Jen Anderson, Brittany Crane, Natalie Gunter....and i can't tell who the other two are

MBASA Board for 2011-2012...(top row) Sarah Moss (Secretary), Lisa Cole (VP), Tonya Miller hidden (Service Committee), Lisa Jones (GOTHE), Sara Misiego (International Committee), Cheryl Williams (Communications), Tressa Fischer (Family Committee), Kirsten Tanner (Fellowship Committee), and (bottom row) Amy Eaton (Spiritual Committee), Mandy Karlsvan (Director of Committees), Natalie Gunter (Head Guru), Jen Anderson (Fitness and Wellness Committee), Brittany Crane (New Moms/Extenuating Circumstances),
and Andrea Marley (1st Year Rep)

Fieldtrip with friends up to the U of U Art Museum. Katie Fowers (an Art History Major) gave us a personal tour. So cool. Left to right is Nicole Clawson, JoDell Hervey, Heather Cowan, Margot Belnap, Katie Fowers, moi, Robin Watson, and Brett Miller.

A blurry picture of me and my cousin Stephan doing the blues at the talent show.
Thank you Stephan!

The Wilcoxes

Matt with friend and MBA 1st year group buddy Adam.

Matt, Adam, and Everett Crane

Neighbors, friends, and MBA peers- Melanie and Jon Lopez

Me with Sarah Craig (I passed the MBASA President baton to her)

PhDer friends...me, Sarah Rodgers and Mel Mealey

PhDer BFFs- us with Sarah and Zach Rodgers, Mel and Christian Mealey

Graduation Day!!

BYU MBA kids...best ever....Amelia, Natalie, and Sam

Matt with BFFS Christian Mealey and Zach Rodgers...more school for all three ahead in New York, Texas and California

BYU MBA family

The happy graduating couple (even with Matt sporting his 'stache.)

PhDer BFFS-from left is Lidon, Jared Miller, James, Christian Mealey, around to Matt, Zach Rodgers and....(sorry Matt knew some better than me). :)

The happy couples. We love these friends and miss them dearly! Occasionally we still do skype and google chat with them.

I love and miss these ladies...Tonya Miller and Sarah Rodgers. Now supporting their husbands through their doctorate programs at U of Washington (Millers) and Stanford (Rodgers).

Dad with kiddos

Matt with BFF Jared Miller...do you like how I keep calling them BFFS?
The guys use that term. :)

Matt with Professor Brad Agle (spelling?) A great mentor and friend to Matt- he had a big impact on Matt's experience being a positive one. Co-authored an Ethics book with him.