October 2010- Crisp Fall Air

October started off on a high note with a victory from the Aggies over BYU: 31:16.  All the students rushed the field!  We were some of the first ones down there as we had camped out hours before the game to get some front row seats.  It was a momentous event after a losing spell since 1993.

I was able to help out at the USTAR building dedication.  USTAR is a state technology and research innitiative that is expected to bring in millions of dollars, many new jobs, and many well known engineers, chemists, etc from around the nation.  The building, which was dedicated in Logan, will operate in joint function with USU.  The new (very large) building is at Innovation campus behind Lee’s Marketplace.

Jake & I also got to head up to Bear Lake for one last time this season for a Huntsman Scholar retreat.  The program rented out a very nice cabin.  We enjoyed food, fun, and games (and, darn it…had other obligations that required us to leave before the next day’s planning with our committees).  Jake had a service project up the canyon (adopt-a-highway) to attend with his Accounting club.  I was lucky enough to hook up with the Peterson girls and head to Gardner’s Village in the south SLC area for a day filled with shopping, food, and fun!  It was the cutest little area and so incredibly decked out for halloween.  Larger than life sized witches were about the entire village. 

I got to go on my first business trip Oct 11-12.  I flew down by myself to Las Vegas to meet up with others from my company who were there.  We were exhibiting at the Las Vegas Convention Center for the ABC Kids show.  It was mainly attended by retailers of baby, toddler, and kids product from around the country and around the world.  It ran Sun-Thurs, luckily I only had to miss two days of school for it.  I was there Monday and Tuesday to meet with with marketers, advertisers, forum representatives, and editorialists.  It was a great experience- really long days, but lots of fun!  It was incredibly beneficial to actually meet face to face and talk with those I work with often, but mainly through email.

Fall break was an absolute blast!  We went with the Peterson’s to Park City for the weekend.  It was just what we had needed- a relaxing vacation.  We stayed at the Canyon’s Resort- absolutely the most amazing hotel room I had ever been in.  It was much more like a house than anything.  Fall is a perfect time to go, as the rooms are not nearly as outrageous as they are in the winter.  We had fun eating out on Main Street, playing lots of games, spending time at the pool, and had fun at the Park City Ski Resort- alpine slide, roller coaster, and zip line.  Oh, and of course I can’t forget… shopping at the Outlets! 

Recruiting season is upon us.  I spent one day recruiting for Huntsman Scholars at an Idaho Open House (for HS seniors) and another night recruiting with the Ambassadors at the Cache Valley Open House.  Even with USU’s scholarship parameters raised, they have been happy to see ever increasing application numbers.

USU’s homecoming was fun.  I walked Main Street with the Ambassador float in the parade and then gave a campus tour before meeting up with Jake at the football game against Hawaii.  Normally Hawaii does not have a tough football program- probably why we scheduled it as the homecoming game.  Unfortunately, this year was an entirely different story, and sadly, we lost.

On the 26^th we had fun at the Ambassador’s Cowboys and Indians party!  We played many Cowboy/Indian type games…including some scalping… and enjoyed some yummy dinner!  Grandma’s handy dress-up storage containers surely were useful in putting together our outfits. 

After the party we ran over to the pumpkin walk, as it was the last day it would be open.  It’s always fun to go and see what creative things people are able to do out of pumpkins!  Other pre-halloween fun we enjoyed included carving pumpkins with the Roskelleys and a corn maze for FHE.  Jake also finished his two-week Boy Scouts’ Training (a total of 11 hours!). He’s glad to have that done!

On Oct 29^th Jake turned a whopping 24 years old!  We celebrated by going to Café Sabor with the Petersons and opening presents and having cake at their house afterwards.  A couple days later, we went to Aggy’s Sports Grill with the Roskelleys and enjoyed pie and presents afterwards as well.  I gave Jake a football for his birthday.  That night I found him holding it in bed, as he was about to fall asleep- needless to say he was quite excited about it!

At my work we all dressed up on Friday and made a Halloween flash mob dance video- it was quite entertaining!  Jake had to work Halloween night.  I kept myself busy by answering the door for our cute neighborhood kids, attending the first Aggie Bball game of the season, and then went with my family to visit grandparents afterward.  Grandma and Grandpa were, of course, dressed to the hilt!  And, Grandma’s famous holiday sugar cookies were amazing as always!

Happy Fall and Thanksgiving!  Love, the Petersons