Stutzneggar

But we just called her Stutz.  Her first name is Carrie, but with 2 Carrie's in the group we preferred to call her Stutz.  She preferred to be called the Queen of Everything. 

(Funny side story...I thought her last name was Stutz for like 6 months.  When someone told me it was actually Stutzneggar I didn't believe it.)

I think the thing I admire most about Stutz is her work ethic.  She was the first one of my roommates to get out and get a job; a "custodial engineer" at a nearby middle school.  That job had great perks...like free toilet paper.  She's always been hard working. But besides that, Stutz is adorable, devoted, spunky and tough.

It took me a little longer to get close to Stutz.  You see...she had a boyfriend back home.  She did whatever she could to catch a ride home with someone every single weekend for a little extra time with the BF (despite our best persuasion efforts to the contrary).  I guess it paid off. After he served a two year mission he came home and married her. 

Now she's just as hardworking, adorable, devoted, spunky and tough to the benefit of her cute family.  She supports that same man as they've moved around the country while he goes to law school.  She has an adorable little girl (named Bentley...is that cute or what?) and another coming soon.

I'm a little sad at my limited number of pictures of Stutz.  But if you recall...she was never around on the weekends and she worked during the week.  I love her just as much, there's just less photographic evidence.  Looking back, I'm pretty impressed.  It must have been hard to go off to work day in and day out while we all begged her to come have fun with us. That girl has always had a good head on her shoulders.

Our lovely rendition of "My Little Buttercup" from the Three Amigos

 

A trip to Temple Square

 

We all had various places to go that night, but felt it necessary to take a group picture.

 

I think I might have realized at this point how few pictures I had of Stutz and I made her take a picture with me then and there.  I'm not sure how happy she was about that.

What college apartment was complete without an inflatable couch?  Just thinking about that one makes me laugh.  

Sophomore year (while her BF was on a mission and we saw a little more of her) Stutz's mom gave her a HUGE turkey.  She brought it back and slaved away all day to serve the whole apartment complex. 

Riding the LTD.  

None of us had a car freshmen year and we rode the bus to get anywhere.  The boy is only vaguely familiar...somebody's high school friend maybe?  It seems like his name was Brett? Did we run into him on the bus?  Why is he in my picture?

 

Picnic on the Quad

 

No better way to celebrate the end of finals week than a slumber party! (Preceded by the best apartment dance party ever!)

 I had to swipe a current picture off her blog to show you just how adorable Stutz and her family are.  My pictures don't do her justice.  Cute right?

Stutz has a busy couple months ahead of her...with a new baby due soon, a husband taking the BAR, a move a few states away, and a little visit with her family in the mix.  I have no doubt she'll handle it with ease.

Miss you!

Surprises let me know she cares!

And Heidi was FULL of surprises!

Heidi was another of my college roommates and the most loyal friend I've ever had.  Can I still call her loyal if we haven't talked in a couple of years?  It's just that she's off on a foreign adventure and time zones make it nearly impossible. 

I was immediately drawn to Heidi for her hilarious sense of humor, her good nature and her infectious laugh...as is everybody.  It's impossible not to love that about Heidi.  But after living with Heidi and developing a deeper relationship, there are so many things I love even more about her. 

Heidi brings out the best in people.  She is compassionate, self-less, in-tune, and a great listener.  Despite her petite size, Heidi is a spiritual giant.  She is a huge nature lover and the most adventurous of all my roommates.  She spent her summers in far off and exciting places; places like Norway, China, Alaska, and Coeur d'Alene.  She has spent the past few years working on her master's degree in England and liked it enough stay after graduating. 

I think it's impossible to find fault in Heidi.  I love her so much.  So much that I thought if I ever had a girl, I'd like to name her Heidi. (Or at least the middle name because I think Spencer thought it was a little funny to name a kid after my roommate.)

The majority of the pictures I have of Heidi are depicting her funny side. For example:

I am happily posing, oblivious to Heidi and Brooke in the background.

I can't tell you what the outfit was about, but I'm pretty sure that was the infamous pan, clearly labeled with Heidi's last name.

 Just for a laugh.

Thanksgiving, freshman year.  Leah, Heidi and Tiffany dressed as Indians. (Excuse my political incorrectness.)

I can't have a Heidi montage without a dog picture.  She loved dogs more than anyone I know.

On a spring break in So. Cal.  Heidi insisted on being buried in the sand.  And Brooke is about to get fresh with mermaid Heidi.

I was surprised how many pictures I have of Heidi, Tammy and I in our Sunday clothes and aprons holding up a dessert we just baked.  Apparently it was a favorite Sunday past time.

 Trying to explain what is going on in this picture wouldn't do it justice.  But I hold this moment as one of my all time favorite college memories.  Leah is on the left and Heidi on the right.  Those girls were a riot together.

Heidi broke the freezer.  And apparently the cupboard in the background. Don't worry, it was Heidi's cupboard. She's the only girl I know to label her stuff with animal pictures.

I think Heidi got these in the mail one day.

Picking wildflowers.   This is one of my favorite pictures.

 

Leah and Heidi.  In braids. 

When Heidi left for her semester teaching English in China I was so sad.  We decided that a pirate party would ease some of the pain.  We even played pin the eye patch on the giant blow-up Heidi that we kept posted on the inside of our pantry door. 

Happy 30th Heidi!  

( a few weeks late)  

Miss you.

Yay! Yay! Yay! for You!

Carrie is one of my very, very favorite people. Ever. No matter how long it's been since we've chatted, she remains at the top of my list.

Carrie has always been full of life and love (and hot chocolate). She was the perfect room mate for me. We had fun beyond measure and a closeness to match. She was always up for a dance party or a good cry. And I value her advice just as much now as I did then.

She is now the mother of four with a husband working on his residency and she makes it seem effortless. If that weren't enough, she's the most talented writer I've ever known. When she publishes her novel, I'll let you all know. I'm sure it will be worth reading.

My stack of favorite Carrie memories captured on film was so huge. I hate that I'm leaving out so many good ones.

Spontaneous Tea Party
...to get a laugh out of some one that was coming over...or something like that.

Freshman year...Up the canyon

Carrie came to visit me in So. Cal one New Years while I was home for winter break.

Ward Talent Show
For some reason Carrie and I thought it would be funny to sing "Take Back Your Mink" from Guys and Dolls. Looking back, it may have been a little inappropriate.

This is how we started the song:And this is how it ended: Our clothes scattered on the floor. I'm willing to bet it's the only church talent show in the history of church talent shows where a strip tease was one of the acts.

We spent a few days at Heidi's cabin one summer. Thinking about that trip makes me laugh. It was right before our junior year. It was the first time Carrie, Heidi and I would all three live in the same apartment. That year makes me laugh even harder.

A Sunday afternoon in the canyon.

Carrie's Fondue Birthday Party

Decorating for Christmas

Luau...I believe it was some one's birthday.

Granny Panties (bet you never expected my blog to go there)

Halloween 2001

I think this was around our last few days as roommates. Can't you just feel the love?

Some days I still miss living with Carrie. Hey Carrie...want to move in?

Jenni, Jenni bo benni...

...bannana fanna fo fenni

It's been a while since I've mentioned my roommates. In case you've forgotten...these girls ARE my sisters. There were seven of us...roommates and neighbors our freshman and sophomore and even into junior year of college. Five of the seven of us grew up without sisters. I think that's what helped establish this sisterhood. We needed (sill need?) each other. Never have I experienced friendship like this. I miss these girls.

This is the year we all turn 30. Holy Smokes! Have we known each other that long? Jenni was the first a few weeks ago. And though I'm late...it's not going un-noticed.

Jenni is such a romantic. She was the first girl you wanted to tell you got asked on a date and the first one you wanted to talk about it with when you got home. (Unless of course the guy she liked asked you out instead...I still feel bad about that.) She had that rule book about dating and she'd read it to us on lazy afternoons. I loved day dreaming with her about getting married.

She had all the best catalogs and hung the best pictures. Jenni had a big box of great sweaters that she'd outfit any of us with for a date.

Jenni went home for the summer after freshmen year and came back in love. I wasn't sure if it was for real because we always thought we were in love. Then Eric came up for a visit the following fall and I knew it was the real deal. She was married soon after.

I love getting glimpses into her life as a wife and mom. She is the most perfect homemaker. I am amazed at all she does and how together she has it...even with child number 4 on it's way.

In no particular order...some of my favorite Jenni shots:

First snowfall of freshmen year...Sunday morning before church.

I think we were all going various places but snapped a shot before we left.

Aggie Ice Cream

College Football (not that we had a good team, but USU did beat BYU this year)

My favorite Jenni picture of all time at our Christmas dance in my apartment sophmore year.

Valentine Breakfast...Carrie...you can thank me for cropping you out of that shot. You think Jenni and I look like we just woke up? You looked worse. (love you)

Chocolate chip pancakes...A Sunday evening favorite.

Bonding up the canyon...wasn't that one of the best nights ever?

Spring break road trip!

Miss you Jenni! Thanks for paving the way into your 30's. Let me know how it goes.

We were merely freshmen...

One fall freshman afternoon quickly turned from this:


to this:

Leah was one of my freshman roommates. She was crazy. I loved her. She was always up for an adventure...especially if you want to define adventure as dating a man DOUBLE her age. (Remember when we thought 36 was really old?) She spent a lot of time with him. But when she hung with the rest of the 18 year olds, you can bet fun ensued. She was full of life.

The 80' s called...

...they want their hairspray back.
And when I say 80's, I'm really talkin' late 80's and early 90's.

I bought a different brand of hairspray this week. It is a brand of hair product I haven't used since my days of permed hair and big bangs. I'm amazed that after 20 years, it still smells the same. From the first spray, a flood of memories came rushing to the forefront of my brain. It was fun.

I was looking for some pictures of myself with some good 80's hair. I'm a little young to have really gotten into the big hair craze of the 80's, but I did get regular perms throughout my childhood. I know by sixth grade I was not only fixing my own hair, but starting to pay attention to style. I wore my bangs mostly curled backwards with a little curled under. I thought it was hot stuff.

I wore my bangs like that for my 6th grade school picture AND I wore a vest that was plaid on one half and a different plaid on the other half. Too bad I don't have that picture in my archives for your viewing pleasure. I don't actually have any pictures with my bangs curled in this manner. But I did round up a few perm pictures for you.

This was probably 1990. Our most horrible family picture ever. I'm pretty sure it never even made it on the wall. But if my hair isn't a sign of the times, look at my mom's.

Aren't my brothers studs? Check out Mike's skinny tie. And do I spy suspenders under Jeff's sweet jacket? Why were they dressed so much cooler than me?

It's all about the hair 'wings.'
Why yes, my shorts are made from the same exact fabric as my over-sized shirt. And yes, my shirt is tucked into them. My brothers are again dressed cooler...I'm noticing a theme.

No hair commentary, but I LOVED that dress.
Aren't school pictures fantastically horribly?
And what's going on in this one? Did I think brushing out my perm was a good idea? At least I got it right with the bangs.

I chose this one only because I'm appropriately holding hairspray...
...and because of the neon swimming suit in the background.

Please note...side pony tail with neon hair clip.

I dread the day THIS hair style regains popularity.