Hello!!!

Hi, How are you all?... well, that's all I have time for.

Maren :)

I <3 Excel

Excel is my new best friend. It does everything I ask it to, just how I ask it to. Who needs a boyfriend when I can have excel? Excel I <3 you.

Maren :)

hey ya'll

So while I was gone, I became Texan... weird huh?

How is it going? Today I am in Portland with SQHS choir using my friends computer. I will soon be in my own room taking a shower and do possibly a little bit of homework. My friend Krystal's computer is mine except touch screen and smaller. These people are great. I think that you will get more of an explanation of my time here when I get back Saturday or Sunday but I also am having fun. Today we went to Seaside, Oregon. Who can not LOVE sandy beaches in the NW?
I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE I LOVE THEM. If anyone wants to make me happy, take me to a sandy beach and let me play around without shoes on... hehehe

Let's see, what else is going on... The TV in my room is playing the weirdest thing ever! It's like people wearing medieval clothes running around and doing weird things... One of the guys looks like Snape.

I think that I am going to go take a shower now... and sleep and do some homework. ok... I love you all.

please have a good night and give me a ring if you're bored...

Maren :)

For those who care (a.k.a. Kristine)

Here are my senior prom pics. I went with Tim Hoyt, which was really fun. We definitely went to Olive Garden and made masks for the masquerade theme out of kids menus, crayons and our straws. Tim asked the hostess for a stapler and we stapled the straws to the menus. Then we went to Mallards where I got Peanut Butter ice cream and Tim got nasty rose flavored. It most definitely tasted like really strong perfume. And it got stronger in your mouth. My hair was done impromtu but Rhea! Thanks Rhea!
I think I look crazed. Maybe I am.... you tell me!

On the deck...


The dance was ok. We mostly sat on the deck and waited for people to come out to us because it was pretty hot in there. It was at the Bellwether in the restaurant. It was really pretty. The dance itself was not something I was willing to dance to... but other than that it was really good to see all of my friends, which was the ultimate goal. We ended us leaving at 11:10 I think. Much earlier than anyone there. The biggest surprise and happy thing of the night was that Aaron Doud and Melanie Pierce (both friends of mine) won Prom King and Queen. They are totally underdogs and there were a ton of more popular people there but I was sooooo happy for them. What a great memory.
My dress was compliments of Gail Hildebrand and my closet. Yaay for using resources. I also used Mom's jewelry box and quickly made the starfish necklace. It was great and I'm wearing it right now.

I do have to admit though the best part of the whole night was being able to come home and talk to my parents guilt free and know that I have fun and was safe and would wake up in the morning still absolutely worthy to enter the Temple. I definitely wanted to cry and some of the things I was seeeing at the dance and some of those pictures are forever burned in my mind but I am completely worthy. Which I owe to my Mom because she is an awesome mother and taught me the gospel. The sad thing about the dance was that if those people had the gospel they wouldn't have to look for happiness in another mortal being like themselves. Don't get me wrong, spouses and family are pure joy ( wink wink... or so they say bahahaha, but seriously, they can be) but they were looking for happiness and fun in the wrong place...

I love my MOM. I would not be who I am without her and my Dad teaching me the gospel and instilling in me that knowledge and love for it. I know that not everyone has that in their parents, my Mom didn't. So I am grateful for this opportunity.

I love you all. Good night. Hope you enjoy the pictures.


Love Maren :)

4 Places to go, 3 Drivers and only 2 cars...

That poses a slight problem. Any suggestions? I have a choir thingy, Mom has to be at the stake center, Dad: the Institute and Sophie the YMCA... this is funny. I am totally willing to ride my bike down the hill to the concert thingy, but I might have told someone I could give them a ride. Oh by the way, Cabaret Concert at the Northshore Church on Marine Drive by my house, you have to pay but I guess it's going to be really good... I actually haven't heard as many of the numbers as I should have. Although the ones I did hear were amazing. The proceeds go to SQHS Concert choir... but please don't feel like you have to come. Just a suggestion if you're bored tomorrow. oh yeah, 7 pm.

So I am definitely going to be an aunt to DA DA DA DA DUH a NEPHEW. My family and I looked at names today. Unfortunately, we really have no say. I guess I'll just have to wait to name my children... I may already have a few names picked out, but maybe not.

Well, my first day of work was good. I do however think that I am getting a cold. That's not very good. So I'm going to go to bed.

goodnight!

Maren :)

Oh Hey!

First of all, I would like to say that Elder Bednar's talk at the CES fireside was INTENSE. I HIGHLY recommend that everyone watch it. It was so good.

I kind of feel like I dropped off the face of the earth this weekend, which was nice. I must say that I am soo blessed and if I ever complain to you or anything of that nature you have my permission to slap me nicely or to get up in my face and remind me that I am selfish and stupid. I have just been sooo blessed this weekend, last week, this week (I know, it's only Monday)... I am grateful and should be even more grateful.

I'm tired so I think I am going to go hit the hay. Guess what?! Tomorrow I find out if I'm having a niece or a nephew or both! Wouldn't twins be great! Although now that I say that I will have them and hate it.... oops. I also start my new job... wish me luck.

Sleep tight! I'm going to hunker down here, it's getting windy... :0 oh no....

I love you, sorry this blog was boring. I don't have any great stories to share. Well we did almost lose Cody this weekend at the cabin. We were walking up to see the sink hole in the road and he didn't see us turn so he went straight while we turned. We walked all the way home looking for him and then we hopped in the car and found him oober confused in the middle of the now dark road... that was scary, we all thought he was a goner. let's put it this way, no more night walks without a leash for Cody. We almost lost the boat too. The little boat got flipped over in the sand and buried in a foot of sand, we lost the oars :( The big boat was anchored but drifted 1/2 mile down the cove because the wind was so bad. It took on a lot of water. Sunday morning we got it out safely first thing and now everythings good. It was scary though. That windstorm was intense... Chip did NOT like it.

Well goodnight for real!

love Maren :)