My Florida Family!

In the words of Walt Disney, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."

On November 6, 2007 I got a letter that changed my life. I was chosen to participate in the College Program at Walt Disney World. This was a dream of mine... I mostly wanted to go because I had a broken heart, didn't know where to go because I thought life was over? Where better than to go to Walt Disney World! The "happiest place on earth" right?


I started the most "magical" adventure of my life thus far on Jan. 28, 2008, the college program. I pulled in to Vista Way apartment and started to follow all these signs that had Mickey Mouse on them. I just thought to myself, here we go I can't even wait! This was the answer I was looking for all along. I kept looking around and EVERYONE was dressed up in a costume running towards the bus stop. Just made me more excited. I couldn't wait to see what my costume would look like. I got in line behind a girl from Utah State. I didn't know her before we just found each other in line. I was so nervous\excited to start the "magical adventure" I got my housing assignment and was well on my way.


Day two, My mommy left so I was really there to stay. I got up early to find out I would be working at the Emporium in the Magic Kingdom... Wow what is this place? Little did I know I was going to basically live there for the next seven months of my life. That night my roommates and I went to the Magic Kingdom to see Wishes!!! Only the best fireworks show ever!!! I went into the Emporium just to see what my costume would look like. I couldn't even move in there. I couldn't believe how many people fit in such a small place? I didn't know what to think of it... The costume was a little weird.... But I was just so excited to be there.
Fast forward to the middle of my college program, I really started to get to know the people I worked with. We would have to work until 2,3,4,5,6 in the morning. How can you not become best friends when you are together all the time? We all truly started to rely on each other. We didn't just work together anymore, we started to become a family. We learned all about each others lives and where we were from. Everyone thought I was a little weird because I was Mormon? They couldn't believe I was 21 and never drank before. We would hide in the stockrooms from the managers to procrastinate work. I also taught EVERYONE the Utah song! Now all of my fellow CP's can sing " Utah people working together, Utah what a great place to be" I would even bet now they miss me singing it to them?
I found my true love at the Emporium! The PLUSH wall. I would stock that wall every time I was on stock. I LOVED making it look prefect. One night after making my plush AMAZING I counted how many were on the wall. 4,642 Plush later we were done counting. Pretty crazy how two of us would stock the wall two maybe three times a night. Man I miss it now.The best part about the Emporium were the Krispy Kreme donuts we would get every night. David Lee was the delivery man. I of course became really good friends with him. We had a bond right from the beginning because my name has LEE in it and so does his. He was so sweet to bring us four dozen donuts a night. We would look forward to seeing him every night.(Probably the reason I gained weight in Florida but it was worth it.) The other great part about the Emporium is the soap opera you live in... there were SO many secrets in that place it was crazy. Not only between the cast but with the managers as well. I really at times felt like I was on Days of our Lives. It was the greatest! It just brought us all closer together.The saddest part about Florida that know one EVER told me about was saying goodbye to the ones you grow to love. You truly and deeply fall in love with EVERYTHING around you. There is not one thing I don't miss living in Florida. Every single one of the people there touch my life in one way or another. I am so grateful I got to know the people there. I think about it every single day. How lucky I was to be apart of "making the magic."My fellow CP I don't know what life would be without you. you all blessed my life. I am so lucky to have friends not only across the country but across the world. I learned so much from each other you. I got to know you all in such different ways. I feel like I could come to any of you for anything and you would be right there to help me. I am truly blessed to have all of you in my life. I am so glad we still stay in touch. I love being your friend!Ashley Pawlak, Megan Brennan, Emily Serres, Laura Kelly, Sam Bremer, Jess and Chelsea Irons, you girls are the girls I can't live with out. There is so many things I could say about each of you, I got to know all of you in a way that I will always remember. I am SO lucky to have gone to Florida and gotten to know each one of you! I turned to you in my hard times and my happy times. I believe in life everything happens for a reason, I know the reason I went to Florida was to meet all of you! I am so lucky that you all became like sisters to me! You are the friends I will cherish forever. Thank you for making me such a better person because of the people you are. I have known you for one year and I am so happy there are many more to come. I am so lucky that I get to talk to all of you still on a regular basis. Thank you for the best friends you are to me!!!



My older friends that worked in the Emporium that I got to know and love. They acted like I was their little girl. Beatrice, Miss Faye, and Nagan especially would always worry about me. I learned so many things I will never forget from these women about life and the expeirences they went through.

Florida will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart. That is where I truly understood how to love people for who they are. I learned so much from every person I came in contact with. I learned every person has an incredible story about life, I was the lucky one who got to listen to them. I am so lucky to have been in Florida for eight months of my life, I will NEVER forget the memories I made there or the people I met! Thank you for being apart of my life! "Thanks for making the MAGIC!!!"

Welcome to the 22 club!

Happy Birthday to my Paigey! Today is Paige Laura Nelson Staples birthday! I love birthday's!!! It is such a great time to remember the person and what they mean to you. Paige and I have been best friends since we were about 8. ( say 8 because I don't remember what grade it was that I could finally play at reccess with Paige) I have spent many birthday's with Paigey. I think everyone except for last year when I moved to Florida the day before.... Sorry about that Paigey... There are not many people that you know your whole life? I have been lucky enough to have Paige as my best friend for 14 years. I don't remember not knowing Paigey! She has\ will always be apart of my life. She is an incredible friend. When Paige is around you know it is going to be a good time. She just makes the everyone smile when she is around. :)

These are the 22 reasons I love my Paigey!

1. She let's me call her Paigey!
2. She loves being Mrs. Staples!
3. She loves Dr. Pepper.
4. She loves York bites and will always sure because she wants you to love them just as much
5. She will ALWAYS watch Friends with me.
6. She ALWAYS has a bad first day of school.
7. She is an incredible listener.
8. She gives excellent advice
9. She is VERY supportive.
10. She is always happy.
11. Her cute dimples.
12. Whenever you take a picture with her she grabs the camera and says, "Oh my gosh earse it." when really she is the prettiest one in the picture.
13. When Jordan and her started to date, Jordan and I would play the game "who knows Paige better." I was good until I moved.... Now he would kill me.
14. How she will always call you a gem when you do things for her.
15. When she calls me Emo- Lee- La just like my family
16. When I came to surprise her for her wedding, She really thought I was going to miss her wedding... hahhahha
17. She will always let you borrow her clothes.
18. We fight like sisters
19. How everything she owns is from the Gap!
20. How much the little things mean the most to her in life.
21. How she is AMAZING at fixing electronic things
22. How she is the best friend anyone could ask for and I am lucky enough to call her my best friend! Love my Paigey!

Paige is incredible and if you don't know her you should. I promise you will not regret it.... She just makes life better!!! Paigey welcome to the double peace sign club! Happy Birthday!

Laugh or cry through life!

Ok, I don't know if it is just me but when you look at that picture you just have to smile! so those of you who know me, know that I try to be a VERY positive person in life through out every situation. Those of you who don't know me don't you think it is a little weird you are reading my blog? You don't even know me?

Anyways, I have always said, "you can go through life either laughing or crying, so you might as well laugh." This is the motto I have always tried to live by. Whenever something bad comes up in my life, my natural reaction is to cry. I think it is because I am an overly senitive person, so i let things get to me that shouldn't. The way I let my emotion out if to cry. I think crying is a great thing. But I think laughing is far better.

So I have been thinking to myself, how do I change this natural reaction to cry and start to laugh when things aren't going the way I had planned them. Well about two weeks ago I was laying in bed and I couldn't sleep. This is very unusually for me because usually I fall asleep within the first three mins. of when I lay down. After 25 mins and I was still laying there. I started to think about my life? I started to think where am I going with my life? Do I make the best of every situation? Am I enjoying my life right now?

All these questions brought me back to the motto "you can go through life either laughing or crying, so you might as well laugh." So as I was laying there and I started to think about my day. I didn't have the best day, I thought, but little did I know you can pick the good out of anything. I decided to pick ten things I did that day, where I started to laugh. Mostly things I was grateful for that day. This totally changed my attitude and I went right to sleep. The next morning I decided I am going to try and make other people laugh today. While I was in the shower I started to think of ten things I could do to make people smile that day.

For two weeks now I have been saying ten things in bed at night that made me laugh during the day, and ten things in the morning I wanted to do to make other people laugh. This has COMPLETELY changed my attitude about life. I have laughed more and connected with people I never thought I could. My attitude is more positive because of it.

Just try it and see what it does for you! These are pictures to make you smile! :) one of the ten today!

One Year Mark for my Kaitsey!

One year ago today was the last time I saw my best friend Kaitlin before she left on her mission to Frankfurt, Germany! One year down and six months to go!!! :) I am so proud of her for being on a mission. I know she is the best sister missionary out there. If you don't know Kaitlin you should because she just brightens your day when you see her. She always makes you in a better mood when she is around.

I can't remember a time with out Kaitlin in my life. This year was the first time I had to do something with out her. She went on her mission and I moved to Florida in the same week to start our adventures without each other. It was hard but letters keep us together. My 22nd birthday was the first birthday I spent without my Kaitsey around. :(

The 12 things (one for every month she has been gone) I miss about Kaitlin the most!

1. I miss whenever I saw Kaitlin she will wave at you with not only one hand but two!
2. I miss playing Saved by the Bell trivia.
3. I miss her laughing at all of our inside jokes!
4. I miss going running together
5. I miss watching Cinderella story movie
6. I miss all of her Shade tank top. I think she has 50.
7. I miss that she ALWAYS had a cup of water with her
8. I miss her knowing what I am thinking at the same time.
9. I miss her room ALWAYS being clean. AKA OCD
10. I miss her blond moments (she is a brunette)
11. I miss whenever I would go over she would be wearing her slippers
12. I miss when she would get mad at you in German, before she knew German.

I miss my Kaitsey, but I know she is where she is suppose to be. She is so happy being a missionary and I can't wait to hear all the stories she has to tell. Miss you Kaitsey!

Snow Shoeing!!!

Today I got to go snow shoeing for the first time. I have never been before, Jordan, Jay, and Chelsea have all been but I was a rookie. My ball of love partner in crime Heather Fawson let me borrow her snow shoes so I could go. She is the greatest! We went up Logan Canyon, to a place called Oil trail. It was BEAUTIFUL!!! We all had a blast. We went up the side of the mountain and when we were coming down we started to go down this cliff, great for my first time. I loved being in the outdoors for a day! Here are a few pictures from the day!


The whole group at the end of our journey!
Jay and I right after I went backwards down the side of the mountain!
Jordan was our leader and he did a great job! Thanks Jord
Chels and I getting ready for the adventure
SO pretty outside!
Jay getting ready to start up the mountain again
WE LOVE THE OUTDOORS!!!

Chels fell down the mountain so she decided to take a picture of us getting down successfully
That was the mountain we both fell down!
Snow shoeing was an amazing activity for the day off. I will definitely being doing it again in the near future. If you haven't tried it yet, you've got to!

making memories one picture at a time!

This year for one of the many resolutions I made I am trying to take as many pictures as possible. At least one every day of 2009. I feel it is a good way to remember my year. It has worked so far. Sometimes before I am going to bed I remember and have to take a pictures of something random but usually I am pretty good at remembering when an event is happening. These are a few of the pictures I started with.


Trevor came up to visit and we decided the one word that describes our relationship best is SUCCESS!!!




Ash, Trevor and I at Poetry and a BEV one of my most favorite things we do together as Aggies! I was so happy Trevor got to come.



Trevor is back in the HUB!!! Utah State misses you!




Trevor and I doing our sexy faces!


Dropping Ka off at the airport. I was so sad but it is ok
because WE will be together in FLORIDA soon!

FELICITY NIGHT! greatest show on TV!!!

Christmas break!








Emily and Nolan came over last Monday night and they were acting all weird because our friends were over. They took Ashley Hall into a room and were being VERY stranger. After Chels and I's friends left they came out of the room. They said we didn't want to tell you this until it was just you two but WE ARE ENGAGED!!!! They told us the story! I am so excited for the JETTS!!!

Happy 2009!

New Year's is one of my favorite holidays! It is a time to set goals and improve yourself. It is also to make memories, that is what we did to ring in 2009!!!

Last year on Dec. 30 we decided we were going to go to Vegas to ring in the new year. The Taylors, Sam, Brett, and the Henshaw brats (myself and MJ) took the trip down, since we had such a wonderful time together we decided we needed a repeat for 2009. This year we decided to take the FUN BUS to Wendover!!!!

I have always heard great things about the FUN BUS, but have never experienced it for myself. I decided when better than New Year's Eve. The Taylor's were in so that means the Henshaw brats had to be present. This year we decided to include some great surprise's to make the trip number one! Kate, Kristin, Gentry, Brett, Tyler, Chad, and Mairin. We left Salt Lake City around 6 o'clock. The FUN BUS provided us with drink as if you were on an airplane. The best part about it is the host gave up cups of ice and then came back around with two liter Coke and Diet Coke to fill our glasses. A little different than an airplane but still enjoyable.

Next up on the FUN BUS was BINGO! Two members of our group won! Brett and Ashley! They won a teddy bear and a lucky dollar. Lucky for them. We pulled into Wendover about 8 o'clock. The best part of the FUN BUS is you pay 15 dollars to ride it. They give you back a coupon book with a dinner and five dollars cash back! So really you pay 10 dollars and get dinner. GREAT DEAL if you ask me.

We ate for about two hours making all our New Year resolutions. Last year in Vegas on New Year's Day we were sitting in the Inn and Out, we decided as a group everyone was going to give something up for the year 2008. I choose to give up my favorite drink Dr. Pepper, which I completed. This year we decided to keep the same tradition. I am going to give up french fries. Hard thing to give up because they are such a filler when you eat out but I am going to give it a try. MJ and Ashley were going to do that last year but didn't make it through. We will see how long I can make it.

To ring in the New Year we were in the Rainbow Hotel in the bar area aka dance floor where a band was singing the greatest New Year's song I have ever heard. Right before the New Year we were all dancing an a fight broke out right next to MJ. Good thing Kate's motherly instances came out because she grab MJ to safety. Thanks Kate for saving my sister. We dances for a few song then we were off to lose more money!

Overall Wendover was such a great decision to ring in 2009!!! If you are looking for anything to do next year consider the FUN BUS! You will NOT regret it! Happy 2009!!!