Happy Thoughts

Today, these are my happy thoughts... The things that kept me going when I was over scheduled, over worked, and underpaid ;)

This picture of my little man! (my nephew easton)


And the thought that i'll see my not so little man tomorrow...

Post Overdue and ENGAGED!!

I realize some of you might be wondering why I haven't announced some very important information into the blogging world ;) Or maybe you haven't wondered, but regardless...

I'M ENGAGED!!!

MAY 22, 2009

Salt Lake Temple

On February 16th (President's Day) the cutest, sweetest boy in the world asked me to marry him, and I said yes!

Landon Essig and I were connected by my little brother Scott last May, and we talked on the phone almost every night for about a month and a half before we finally met face to face! We met in person on July 4, 2008, and have pretty much been together since then... Well figuratively that is... We have been the king and queen of long distance!

Our relationship...

Started as a Utah--California relationship...

Moved to an Ogden--Logan relationship...

Spent a month as a Utah--Europe relationship...

And has spent time as a Heber--Centerville, Boise--Logan relationship...

As we like to say... "Convenient" isn't really a word in our ship... We like to make it as tricky as we can I guess--(and spend as much gas money as we can)

Anyway, 8 months later, we finally figured it out and put a ring on it ;) haha... Kind of crazy how life goes, but I surely love him so much, and we're so excited to start our own little Essig family and grow old together! (And, in our case, grow up together too!) :)

i tag Alyse Katherine & Kaitlyn

I got my first official tag! haha! Thanks kylee :) 

i am blessed.

i think hard.

i am happy with myself, and my life.

i have dry skin. haha

i miss my family.

i fear the dental hygiene clinic, sometimes. 

i feel hungry.

i smell like i've been rained on.

i usually sing.

i search, ponder, and pray ;)

i wonder if i'll have enough patients this semester

i regret buying a pair of jeans that turn my legs blue!

i love little ones, especially my nephews.

i care about details.

i tell my mom everything.

i worry about being too slow in dental hygiene.

i am not a boy.

i remember when i make lists.

i believe in "good"

i sing to landon. he says i'm a walking musical.

i don’t always shower.

i don’t like all action movies.

i write very little, now that i clean teeth for school.

i win when i don't think i will.

i lose my car keys more often than any person should.

i dance in my boots.

i wish i could be guaranteed financial security.

i never defy authority

i listen, but there is no sound

i don't understand economics.

i can usually be found in ogden, logan, or heber.

i need a treat, maybe a cookie.

i forget to drink enough water.

I tag Ali, Jenna, & my sister (if you want to do it :) You definitely don't have to...

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!

I met him!!

I finally met beautiful baby Noah Scott Blake!! He's the sweetest thing in the world! I have so enjoyed my time cuddling this little one for hours at a time! It's so much fun to be here with him, and of course my cute nephew Easton is just as entertaining and adorable as ever! Sure love these two little guys! If only I lived a little closer!

Easton got his "nigh-nigh" (binkie) because he's been sick... amy might not like this picture on the blog as proof that he got to have his binkie! haha... so at least they know it was justified aim :)

Something Tender for a Thursday

For those who don't know, the past two summers I've been a counselor at a camp called Be the Best You Girls Camp! This is a camp for teenage girls... It's much like EFY, but just for girls :) If you want to see what it is all about, you can check out their website at this link! http://bethebestyoucamp.org/

Anyway, at BBY we are able to be a part of many service projects, and today while opening a file for school on my flashdrive I came across this video of a sweet woman I met while throwing a princess party for the special needs women in the area! She was an absolute treat! Here is a little song she sang for me! (don't mind the poor sound quality of my camera and my voice at the end--i don't know how to edit it out...haha)

Here are a few more pictures from the event... It was so fun, and was especially neat because some of the teenage girls who had come to the camp had never had experience with women with special needs. It was truly a delight to watch these women be princesses for the day!

My sweet, sweet baby!

On Tuesday, November 11, 2008, our family was blessed with a beautiful addition! Sweet, sweet

NOAH SCOTT BLAKE

We've been so excited to have him, and now that he is here, I can't wait to meet him! I don't get to see him until Thanksgiving, but I know it will be close to heaven when I finally do! My nephews melt my heart, and are an absolute joy to be around.

I sure love my little Noah already, and I truly can't wait to have him in my arms! How amazing it is to have these little bundles in our lives!