Disneyland

When Mom found out Colby had never been to Disneyland, it was made a priority during Christmas break. But, once we got there spent over an hour in line just to get a ticket, we decided this wouldn't be the best experience for Colby and decided to go back another day. So, Colby's first disney adventure was only to the front gate (and downtown disney).

Snowboarding (in California)

{warning...graphic pictures follow}

Started out like this...

...but ended like this.The in between looked something like this...

. . . and this.

But don't worry. We got him a balloon and some meds and he was just fine. Thanks Dr. Dad! Who says Orthodontists can't puts stitches in legs.

Next Stop, Vegas Please

Colby had never been to Vegas, and since we are moving soon, we figured we should take a stop and stay a night.

what's vegas without the fountains

a little excited, eh?

there was an amazing christmas display in the bellagio. these snowman were made entirely out of flowers.

chillin' at the grand canal in the venetian.

Looks like Colby and I will be in ARKANSAS a month from now. Colby accepted his finance position with Wal-Mart's headquarters and will start on January 19. We are excited to start this portion of our life together and look forward to all it will bring!

4 Things...

4 Things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. purchasing ankle cut socks to replace all the tall socks!
2. Riding my bike to school early with a helmet (I was a safe person...) then doing my hair in the bathroom with tons of butterfly clips. My helmet would have messed up the do.
3. Playing the flute in the Dartmouth Middle School Band.
4. Wearing Braces

4 things on my list to do today:
1. Call the CEO of TWG to discuss my recent job offer
2. Work on my market research final project
3. Write 15 pages of personal goals for my personal finance class
4. Clean our apartment

4 Things I love about my husband:
1. He loves me no matter what!
2. He is great at helping out with chores at home. I think his favorite is hanging up the towels that I sometimes leave on the floor... ;)
3. He is brillant, which I have learned more this semester as I have had two classes with him.
4. He has an amazing testimony!
5. (ok, I couldn't stop at 4...) He has an AMAZING personality and can carry on a conversation with anyone. For me, that is amazing. He is such a people person.

4 Jobs I have had:
1. Sterilizing orthodontic instruments at my Dad's ortho office. Somehow I thought this was the coolest thing when I was 12. I have since learned better.
2. Office receptionist at the Ortho office
3. Manager/Secretary at Do it Right Construction
4. Sales Associate at Gap

4 movies I have seen more than once:
1. August Rush
2. Legally Blonde
3. The Notebook
4. Step Up

4 Places I have lived:
1. Richmond, Virginia
2. Hartford, Connecticut
3. Rochester, New York
4. Hemet, California
5. Provo, Utah
6. soon to be Arkansas or Texas
(ok, that was more than 4)

4 Places I have visited:
1. Southeast Asia (Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Hong Kong)
2. Europe (Greece, Italy, Spain, France, England)
3. Mexico (Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Matzatlan, Cabo San Lucas)
4. States (Alaska, New York, Idaho, Wyoming, DC...)

4 T.V. Shows I watch:
1. anything on The Food Network
2. House
3. The Office
4. recently I have been watching animal planet and discovery channel with Colby

4 Things you may not know about me:
1. I am (mildly) allergic to some fruit: apples, peaches, pear, plum, nectarines,
2. I GRADUATE from BYU in 2 WEEKS!
3. I hate Spiders. If I see a scary looking spider or hear a spider story, it is almost guarenteed that I will have nightmares about them that night.
4. I love pumpkin seeds. Colby and I carved pumpkins the day after halloween just so I could cook the seeds. Store bought ones don't usually do it for me.

4 People I tag: Drew Rucker, Jessica Brothers, MC Sommers, Jessi Blackham (and anyone else who wants to do this!)

Job offers

So apparently my interview in Texas went well yesterday. While I was on the plane heading home I got a call from the CEO of Texas Wasatch Group extending me an offer!! Exciting! If we take that offer we will move to the Dallas area and begin work the beginning of February.

Well, Colby also has an offer with Walmart's finance department in Bettonville, Arkansas, Walmart's headquarters. I think we would both rather be in Texas than Arkansas, but we have to decide which job is better for us. Wish us luck! Any comments/suggestions/advice/networking opportunities are greatly appreciated!

where I will be tomorrow...

Quick trip . . . leave SLC at 8 am, return at 7 pm. I guess I should start practicing with my "y'all" :)

Check back soon to see what we did over thanksgiving.

a first

Colby left this morning for interviews in Arkansas with Walmart's finance department. They flew him out a day early so he could stay at a hotel and be well-rested for his interviews. That is wonderful for him, but means I am left here all alone. :( I know I will be able to get a lot accomplished, but I haven't spent a night alone since we were married. To make it even better, he will get home tomorrow night around midnight, then head back to the airport the next morning morning at 6:00 am for an interview in San Fran. Wow. Busy man. Let's hope something works out!

Finally. November 4th. Now, go vote.

Sadly, I have to work during the close of polls so I will miss being able to watch one of my favorite things on the news. sad.

OUR PLACE!

Ok so I have been holding off posting pictures of our place because Katie and I figured that everyone would come check it out. But it has been about several months that we have lived here...I am posting pictures of our little apartment!

The walk-in closet is Katie's favorite part by far!
Here is (obviously) our bed and balcony
Here is the kitchen/living room with the barstools that we painted and stained.
There is a washer and dryer in our apartment which I think is key.

Only the strong survive?

I decided I needed to post about some of the recent job hunts but Katie has beat me to it and used some of my material! All well here it is from my point of view. I am always telling Katie that I feel like I really don't even have time for school with all of the applications/interviews/work/and more interviews and applications that we are doing every week. Unfortunately I have yet to secure a solid offer, neither has katie, but we are both making good ground.

I tend to like a quote from Charles Darwin that a particular professor continues to recite to us. "It's not the strongest that survive, but those most able to adapt." With this thought in mind I am a Finance major interested in banking...which means my prospects are lower already based on past events and whatever the next year might bring. I have decided to apply to many different "types" of jobs.

Recently I was in San Francisco for a final round interview with Accenture ( A tech. consulting firm)... I as of yet have only received emails from the head recruiter apologizing about how long it is taking. I guess they are having a hard time coming up with compensation packages and determining how many offers to give out. Here are a few pics from my adventures on my first trip to SF. The other 2 dudes are also BYU students that were there interviewing. After our interviews we headed off to see a few things in SF. It made me feel like a missionary again running around Pier 39 with suits and white shirts on.











For those that are interested here are some of my past interviews:
1. Accenture-Technology consulting
2. Walmart-Finance department
3. Bessemer Trust -assistant account manager (asset management for Ultra High net worth)
4. Oppenheimer Funds-Equity research investment banking (Semiconductor/tech. division)
5. Greenstein, Roghoff and Company-Advisory practice
6. PriceWaterHouseCoopers-transactions services or Business advisory
7. Wellington Management-Equity research (asset management)
8. Apple-Finance/operations department
9. IBM-Finance Department
10. Zions Bank-Commerical Lender (somehow missed this one)
11. Lockheed Martin-Financial analyst
12. Citibank

These are just some of the companies that I have been interviewing with...I have a fly-out this next week with Oppenheimer and I had an interview with Bessemer Trust today so only time will tell!

Lindsey

I just got a hilarious email from my mom about cute little Lindsey. I am trying to get her more into blogging (which she asked me to start for her) so told her to post about it. :) check it out if you want a good little laugh about my cute sister.

thejergensenfamily.blogspot.com

12 credit-hour job search

We sure have been busy lately. It has been hard to find time to just sit and relax. We have been so busy with school, work and job searching. Colby made the comment today that it is like we are taking a 12 credit hour job searching class...except they don't teach us...we just do the work. My past three days have been filled with job search stuff. Monday, General Mills Information session (which I had to leave work early to attend); Tuesday, General Mills company research and 1st round interview (squeezed between work and studying/taking a business law test) and today, 2nd round interview, personality assessment, "how would I respond to this situation" test, and a short standardized test. WOW. All for General Mills. I really am interested in the company and would love to be there. And that is just me, with only one company...I know Colby is super busy as well. He had four interviews scheduled for the week. Hopefully something works out...and hopefully those jobs can be in the same state for each of us :) Well, I'm off to work til 10:30.

Gap's Give and Get...

previously known as

FRIENDS AND FAMILY,

is coming up soon at

Gap.

Basically, I can give out

30% off (your entire purchase)

coupons to any of my friends and family (which out course would be YOU). If you live close by I can give you a pass, otherwise Gap will email one to you if I give them your email. I need to turn in names ASAP, so comment on here and leave your email and phone number so I can get you the great discount! Come on, who doesn't want to save 30% on
really cute clothes . . .

Back to the "first dates"

Saturday was such a fun night for Colby and me. We were both home that night (which has become rare for a weekend night) so decided to take advantage of it. Usually when we are both home at night without homework to do we end up cuddling up on the couch and watching a movie. I really wanted to get out and do something and Colby thought that sounded fun as well. We brainstormed a few ideas, and ended up doing "typical Provo first dates..."

We started off going to the huge park out by the freeway with a fountain just like the one on Friends and a huge spinning swing. It kinda reminds me of the swinging swings at amusement parks (minus the motor doing the footwork.) It has a tall pole in the center with branches coming out at the top with swings attached (the swings form a circle around the center). If you run around really fast while holding the swing, you can jump on the swing and then it keeps spinning around. so fun! Sorry for the bad description.





We went from there to Walmart to pick up a few art supplies. I had a friend who used watercolors on a date to paint pictures of each other and Colby had an idea to get colored modeling clay. We bought the watercolors and clay, but didn't have time to use it. :(

BYU has a huge bell tower with really bright spot lights lighting it up all night. We had heard that the lights get so hot you can roast marshmellows over them. We gathered up tin foil, hersheys chocolate, graham crakers and marshmellows and hit up the lights. It was funny, because while we were there we scared a couple or two away because we had already claimed the spot. So, apparently BYU students really do this! It was a lot of fun. Colby started asking me the typical "first date" questions like how many people are in my family, etc. It was really funny. I'm glad that I am way past that stage with him.

And, since all that went SOOO well, he even took me back to "his place" (which finally is my place too) and we watched a scary movie. So first date, right. Come on, sometimes those guys really need an excuse to cuddle. It's totally how Colby got me to cuddle with him the first time.

thought i'd share...

So, I am a little obsessed with purses. Last night, Colby pointed out that I had 5 purses out in our front room. Oops. Well, here is a chance for us all to win a free purse. Who doesn't love free things, especially when they are PURSES!

(Thanks Liz for the head's up!)

New Member of the Blogging World!

When my Mom was up here last week she mentioned she would love to have her own blog. Well, being the AMAZING daughter I am, I set one up for her. She actually hasn't even seen it yet, so don't expect posts too soon, but make sure to check it out soon and add it to your list of bloggers.

thejergensenfamily.blogspot.com

Congrats Nate and M.C.

Last Friday Nate and M.C. finally tied the knot. They are so in love and so ready to be married. I was so grateful to be able to be at their sealing. It was the first sealing I have been to since my own. Thanks, Nate and M.C. for including me. Sadly, Colby wasn't able to be there. He was busy interviewing in California. Take a look at the cute newly weds!

Gap, Inc.

I am officially employed! I have been working at the Gap for the past few weeks and have really enjoyed being there. But even more exciting than just working there...I GOT MY FIRST PAYCHECK. Granted, I would have loved bigger numbers to be on the check, but hey, I will take what I can get. :)

Job searching officially begins...

With Colby flying out to San Francisco for an interview last Friday (still trying to get him to blog about that one), information sessions, the career fair, and more interviews, Job searching is undoubtedly here. I can't believe I am to the stage in my life where I am looking for a full-time job. Being married adds a whole new twist to it though...we kinda want to stay together. Ok, actually its a requirement that we stay together (sorry Colby, you can't loose me that easy). So it makes it really hard for me to be motivated to research companies, etc. when we will probably end up where Colby gets a good offer and I will find a job there. Oh goodness...wish us luck.

Wyoming

I haven't had a chance to write about my amazing trip to Wyoming. I was once again amazed at the beauty of Star Valley. Last time I was there it was covered in 4 feet of snow, which was its own kind of beauty. This time the valley was green and beautiful. I could have stayed there so much longer, but was grateful for the three days we were able to spend with the Heiner parents. They were so great to us. They even let us take home raspberries. Yes, be jealous...they were to die for. Thanks Mom and Dad H!

Somehow Colby convinced me to get on the back of his motorcycle with him. Luck for me I had some good in laws reminding Colby not to scare me too much or I would never go again. Sometime I think he forgets I am a girl. All that aside though...it was kinda exhilarating. :)

We spent one morning herding the cows that had been out grazing this summer. It was quite an experience. I even got to help a little. I was instructed to "form a wall" with Mom H to prevent them from going the wrong way. If any of them came toward me I was just supposed to wave my arms. You tell me what you would have done. Well, I got scared and just ran the other direction. Oops. Luckily it didn't cause any problems.

I had never been to Jackson hole, so we went up one evening for dinner. I am convinced the Tetons are better on the Idaho side, so we drove a little further up so they could try and sway me to liking the "true side...Wyoming" better. Sorry guys. I'm staying strong to Idaho. Granted, we didn't see them straight on.

While in Jackson we caught a glimpse of Air Force two, Cheney's plane so went and checked it out.

Picking wild service berries

Colby loading the bails of hay onto the truck. They then took them over and bagged them. It was fun to watch, but I was content being behind the camera and hanging out with Buddy, the faithful dog.

Part of the Heiner farm. Isn't it just beautiful? If you want some of it let me know...because I happen to know someone who really wants to sell part of it ;) (That's for you Mom H!)

Mom H out bailing hay.

We took the 4 wheeler up the canyon. Colby even let me drive a bit. :) Here are a few pics from that adventure:

Yes, that small thing is a snake and yes, I tried to hold it but I got freaked out.

We were mesmerized by this moose for quite some time.

At the Raspberry patch. Not sure if more are in the buckets or our stomachs at the time of this picture.

But don't worry...we made it back in time to catch 3 quarters of BYU's first football game. Go COUGARS!

The Joy of Finding our WARD...

You would think it would be easy to find your respective ward in "Happy Valley" now wouldn't you? That is exactly what Katie and I thought as we set out on our first Sunday together in Provo. We actually didn't have internet at the time and thus we were unable to get on mormon.org to check the local chapels and meeting times. To solve this Katie decided that we should just get up early and get ready so that we can watch for people going to church....needless to say this didn't happen. We were on our way to my old singles ward when we ran into a member of the elders quorum and he told us that the "family" ward was in an hour. Obviously Katie and I ran back up to our apartment and chilled for an hour and attended the family ward. It was at 1:00. Once at the ward, I ran into a couple old mission friends and others that I haven't really talked to since my freshman year. Long story short...Katie and I have totally gotten used to the "single-student" wards that are deathly quiet....and it showed because when the meetings started and it actually got loader! There were soooo many kids running around and families with tons of kids that we were so distracted that we didn't even pay attention to the speakers or in Sunday school. After all of this we decided it would be cool to go to a "married student" ward for our last semester here at BYU.

From there we hear that the "married student" ward from our area meets at a chapel over by the football stadium. We go there the next week and see more people we know, the ward seems great, and several people come and welcome us to the ward...that is until we tell them where we live! One younger married woman tells us, "Oh you are in the wrong ward...I am taking you to the bishop's office so that we can find out where you are really supposed to go!" This ward was at 9:00. We practically got kicked out and ended up missing the rest of church so we went back to our apartment and watched "Finding Faith in Christ" (a gift from my Mission President) for our own little Sunday school lesson.

The next week was the area stake conference where over 100 stakes gathered for a video conference.

Lastly, this past week we have decided that the 10:30 ward over by Costco in Orem is our ward and we have confirmed this with Mormon.org. We get there only to find out that there must be 20 wards having church in any given room in those two large buildings. Sadly we found out that the information wasn't up-to-date on the website and that our "Married student" ward had been moved to 2:30. We gave up and just went to another ward so that we could just go home. We met more friends there and they were excited to have us in their ward, but unfortunately we had to tell them that it was only for the day....

So now we have finally found out that church is at 2:30 (sad day...church til 5:30) but we have yet to go there once! Hopefully this week turns out better!

"A Sunday Afternoon..." picnicing in the colorful, fall mountains

For our wedding we were given a picnic basket, so we figured we should take advantage of our Sunday afternoon and use it. We got home from our {wrong} ward (yes, another one...that's another story), packed the basket and headed up the canyon. I loved seeing the trees. They are so beautiful this time of year. It is so much prettier than fall in California where the green leaves turn brown, shrivel up and fall. Here the red, green, yellow and orange leaves are so vibrant and beautiful. I wish the camera could have really captured the beauty! We had our picnic just past aspen grove. We loved eating our tuna sandwiches, amazing spinach salad, fresh cookies and sparkling cider out among the aspens. We had some great conversation. All in all it was a great afternoon. Thanks, Colby!