Whitney's Bridal Shower

Well, Whitney is the first of the New Zealand girls to be getting married.  Janet and Anna planned a wonderful shower to celebrate. We had crepes (Savoury and Dessert) as well as a yummy raspberry limeade and Oh Henry bars.  It was really fun to just talk and catch up together.  We had 10 out of the 16 girls! Pretty good turn out eh? Considering 4 were out of the state.

Our lovely cook Anna

The yummy food! 

Heidi and Jessica

 Becca

Whitney and Janet 

 Making Whitney's wedding dress

Just relaxing... now that the dress is made

  Surprisingly it looks almost like it.  Thanks to the quilted toilet paper that looks similar to lace:)

She's got a ring, but we don't... Someday.

Present time! Many practical items were given.  Nothing will top the travel pack that included all the necessary things Whitney needs for her traveling experience (it was a joke about things she needed in NZ)

Cute Girls!

 Well, We are sure happy that P.J. seems to be a good guy. We are super happy for you girl and we can't wait for the wedding date.

Next up, Neeley!

Stewart Falls Hike

My Roommates and I decided to go hike Stewart Falls before Tielle left.  We thought that since it was a week or so into June (June 11th), that we would have a great hike.  This was true, expect we approached some snow because it has been such a crazy spring.  We had to first cross a bunch of snow right at the beginning of the hike.  We went over and under many trees that had fallen when the avalanche occurred. Then, we approached more and more.  One was pretty steep and very slippery.  It was crazy to try and cross it.  Probably not the safest decision,but we made it safe and sound. We saw many people crossing with babies and children and thought how crazy people were to endanger their child's life.  

We made it to the waterfall which fell down underneath snow and then followed a river underneath more snow.  There was a cave that made it down to the water.  I didn't dare go down inside but people said it looked really cool.  I had a fear of the cave collapsing.  On a regular day in the summer, all the snow is not there the ground you are sanding on is like 20 ft lower.  It was a crazy experience and interesting to see such a difference. Check out some of the pictures below!

Beginning the trail!

 Some of the fallen trees

 What a beautiful mountainside

 Lovely Hikers!

 Look at all that snow still.

 Look close to see the waterfalls

 We made it! I wanted to leave quick before the sun melted all the snow we were standing on.

Snow cave

 At the end of the hike, we decided to each make a snow angel.  It was fun, but super cold!

Missing New Zealand

Saturday marked my five month mark from the day that I arrived in New Zealand.  It is really been an interesting adjusting period of being home.  It took a while to get back on a sleep schedule and back use to going to work and class on campus, but I'm sure still missing the culture, the people, the scenery, the activities and more.  Its hard to remember that it wasn't all a dream.  I'm working on a book full of photos and memories and my old blog posts.  It almost makes it seem even more like a dream when I'm looking at the pictures and seeing my face and body there, but my mind is almost saying it never happened.  I've talked to some of the other girls and they are also missing it there.

Someday, I will go back.  I came home with a 20 dollar bill and when I left, Alice said, Don't spend all your money because then you'll have some when you come back.  This post is to one day going back and spending some time in New Zealand!

Here are some of my favorites!