Highlights of 2008!!!Disclaimer: While this post is mostly for journaling purposes, it may be used for entertainment purposes... However, when it get too long, or you wonder why I put certain events & pictures in, just remind yourself that one day I, Alyse, will want to remember these things, and that is why it is both long, and full of things you may or may not have wanted to know... :)
I kicked off 2008 with a New Year party at the Schwabs home in Bountiful! Sure love this family!
January I was still on the Ogden LDS institute council! This was at our "Winter Leadership" retreat at Sherwood Hills!
I was over Evening Programs at the institute, and this was at our "fiesta" for the evening class students! We actually had to kick that pinata rather than hit it with a stick because of Institute policy--apparently when someone loses a tooth it ruins things for the rest of the bunch ;)
We had a lot of snow in Ogden in the beginning of the new year... So much that we got a SNOW DAY!! I woke up early one morning to go to a 6:30am meeting when I heard over the radio that Weber State University had cancelled classes for that day! My roommates and I decided to play in the snow and then warm up with some chinese food from Golden Jade right by our apartment!
In February I spent some time in Boise... It just so happened that my sister wanted some camera practice?!
March brought my 20th birthday, and a few other things too! I remember I took a test on my birthday, went out to eat with some friends, and had people over for dessert pop corn and games!
Also in March, over spring break, I took a trip to Oregon to do some service work there with Habitat for Humanity! Weber State took a group of students for the week and we built those lovely complexes pictured above.... And yes, it did rain the entire time, and I did share two showers with about 20 girls after muddy days, but it was so worth it!May was a big month for me that brought a lot of change! Along with finishing up another semester at WSU, I... 
finished my time on Institute Council...
was awarded Health Science Student of the Year...
ran a half marathon...
watched my baby brother graduate from high school...
got a job in Centerville nannying my two little loves for the summer...
was asked to be the WSU ambassador president for the 08-09 school year...
and last, but oh so definitely not least... Got a little love connection via email and phone started with a cutie boy named Landon Essig :)
This summer Jyordan, Jacee, and I went on so many adventures!! We went everywhere from the zoo to the moon!! (as pictured above :)) I love these girls so much, and still keep in touch with them!
In June I was a counselor at Be the Best You Girls Camp, and had a group of 15-16 year old darling girls to spend the week with!
On the 4th of July I finally met the boy I'd been talking to on the phone since May. We met for the first time in a parking lot in Santa Monica, California! haha
Also in July... I came home to my favorite flowers after a long day! So sweet! They were definitely a highlight of 2008! :)
Before going back to school I knew I had to get in a fly fishing extravaganza with daddy! 
Besides, who wouldn't want to wear these awesome waders, right?!
August retreat for the WSU ambassadors
Going back to school meant entering a new world for me this year! I started the dental hygiene program at Weber! I can't believe I'm already one semester down, and I'm happy to report that I loved it!
One weekend in August, Landon and I (with family and friends) went to a demolition derby in Logan--appropriately dressed of course ;) Landon looks a little too convincing dressed that way don't you think?!
This September I was called to the Relief Society presidency in my ward... This silly picture of us with the elders quorom presidency was taken just recently for blackmail--okay not really for blackmail... But this calling has been a great experience!
Landon finally made it to Heber in September and had an eventful time full of Laneri's, haircuts, and watermelon?...
October... For Halloween this year Landon and I decided to be a hunter and a deer! We hung out with his family, and then went to an institute halloween dance which turned out to be really fun!
These are the cute Logan girls in 206 who put up with me many nights! I spent the night at their apartment so much that at one point, even my name was on the door that is in the picture above!
On November 11 this year our family was blessed with a new little one! Noah Scott Blake!
Thanks to new little Noah being so tiny, we also had the privilege of spending thanksgiving in Boise at Amy & Todd's home! It was a fun time filled with turkey, baby, bowling, and movies, and I loved it!
When Landon finished with his final projects this semester we had to celebrate his long semester in the Huntsman Scholars program!! --celebration complete with sparkling juice and a present! haha
Now I'm finished with my semester too, and the break has been so relaxing! Landon just came to Heber for a bit and we played the piano, played rock band, ping pong, board games, and visited with my family!
We even got new cowboy boots from Savers and set out to do a favorite or ours last night--country dancing!!!
2008 has treated me well, and I'm looking forward to see what 2009 has in store!
