Father's Week at U of I

Conference weekend also happened to be Father's Week at the University of Idaho so we took a few days to drive up and visit Laura. It was a busy week for her with Ag Days also going on at the same time, but we did get to spend some time with her. Roger & Laura on the staircase in her sorority house.

Bonding at the Vandals football game

My favorite - Tuba Men in Skirts

Our hotel was in Lewiston because everything in Moscow was booked so we spent a little time along the Snake River at the port of Lewiston. It was a fun weekend trip and Roger was glad to be out of the tractors for a few days.

Laura Moves to College

We've been talking about this all summer but reality has finally hit...Laura has moved to college. We were worried about getting all her stuff in her car, but she made it fit. This is a lot different than just moving to Rexburg. She can't run home for something she forgot.

We--we being Laura in her little Civic, Samantha Perez, Laura's best friend in her Camry, and Rachel and I in my Camry left Thursday morning, August 14th and drove convoy style the eight and a half hours to the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.

Laura, Samantha & Rachel. Behind them are the dorms they will be staying in this week.

Laura and Sam wanted to join a Sorority so they needed to be there on the 15th for Rush. The process of joining a sorority commonly begins with a "formal recruitment" period, often called "rush week." There are 300 girls going through "rush" this year. They are divided into nine groups and will visit the nine different sororities houses to meet the members and learn about the activities and events the house is involved with and get a feel for what it would be like to be a part of that particular group. After "rush" is over, Laura and Sam should have an idea of which house they like, and the members of each house will vote on who they will ask to join. The houses then give the girls a "bid" or invitation to join and each girl has the choice of whether to accept or decline. They took all their cell phones away their first night there. The idea being each girl needs to make her own individual choice without influence of parents or friends. Being cell phone less for five days was quite disconcerting for both Laura and Sam. To tell the truth, I'm not real comfortable with it either. So we won't be able to talk to her until Wednesday or Thursday after they have chosen which sorority to join.
Yes, it was terribly hard to leave her and we will miss her greatly. But we know that Laura will do awesome no matter where she goes to school. We are so proud of her. We love you Laura!

Happy 18th Birthday Laura!

It's All About Laura.

This has been a memorable Senior year in high school for Laura. She has been involved in a lot of activities that have opened the door to many more opportunities. This last week has been especially busy, full of award banquets and graduations from Seminary and High School.





Thursday, May 15th, as member of the Rigby FFA Chapter Presidency she helped plan and put on the yearly awards banquet for over 100 people. It was a fine steak and potato event. Awards were given to the students with Laura receiving several for individual and team competitions. Roger and I also received an Honorary Chapter Degree. They tell me it is for our support of the chapter and the three children we've put through the program. I personally think it has to do with all the potatoes we've donated; baked and dutch ovened. This is a picture of Mr. Hale, one of Rigby's FFA advisers, praising Laura for her achievements before presenting her with The Star Agribusiness Award.

Sunday, May 18th, was Seminary Graduation. There were about 45 youth from the Menan Stake that graduated. Six from our Menan 3rd Ward. It was a nice and short graduation with some outstanding speakers. Did I mention that Laura was one of the two speakers? She did a fabulous job. She made her mom and dad proud.

Left to right: Melissa Mortensen, Laura, Kaitlin Gunderson, Jessica Gunderson, Jared Miller and Dan Crandall

On Wednesday, May 21st, was finally the big day. Graduation! Whoo hoo! The ceremony was held in the Hart Auditorium at BYU-I. We are so proud of Laura and excited to see her start the rest of her life. You go girl!!