Hair Cut

On Saturday I decided to cut my hair.  It was something I had been wanting to do for awhile I just needed to get of the courage to do it.  I cut a total of 9 inches off and I LOVE it!  My head feels so much lighter and my hair is much more healthy. 

Undergraduate Research Day

Last week, Utah State University held the Undergraduate Research Day.  On this day undergraduate students presented their research and were awarded for their work.  I won the award for the Undergraduate Researcher of the Year for the College of Engineering.  This award nominates me for the award for the Undergraduate Researcher of the Year for the University.  The results will be announced this weekend at the Robins Awards.

Dr. Joyce Kinkead (VP for Undergraduate Research), me, and Dr. Ron Sims (Biological Engineering Department Head)

The Undergraduate Researchers of the Year for each of the Colleges with the Peak's who sponsor this award.

Winter Update (In April)

It snowed all day yesterday.  Yes, SNOWED! It looks like a winter wonderland outside and it is April.  I know April showers bring May flowers but what does April snow bring?  I've been wondering that every year that I've been in Logan.  According to one of the professors that I work with it means deer coming down and eating all of your tulips. 

Now this post wasn't just to talk about the weather (contrary to what you may be thinking at this point) I do actually have some exciting updates.  First, Ryan received a research assistantship at U of W.  This will cover the cost of tuition and provide a monthly stipend.   We truly are so blessed to have the cost of graduate school covered.  However, Ryan did not get the NSF fellowship.  We think he will have a good shot next year since the only reason he didn't get it this year is because they thought he changed projects too much.  Obviously they don't realize the purpose of undergraduate studies is to figure out what you are most interested in so you can have a defined course for your graduate work. 

We really enjoyed conference weekend.  On Saturday Ryan planned a potluck for our ward in between the general sessions.  It was fun to get together with our friends from the ward and enjoy some good food.  I'm so glad he implemented this activity that he observed on his mission.  During the Saturday sessions we primed Ryan's old boss's basement.  It was fun to have a job we can work on together and to get a little messy!  We will paint the ceiling this weekend and then in two weeks we will do the walls.  Ryan's dad and brother drove up to Logan for the Priesthood session.  After the Priesthood session we met for dinner at Chili's.  I continued the tradition of getting there early to get us a table before the after conference rush started.  I found out that they were offered tickets to go to the Sunday afternoon session but Ryan and my brother declined because they wanted cinnamon roll french toast.  So on Sunday we enjoyed a day in pajamas and good food.  We had the requested breakfast and then a lasagna and bread sticks for dinner.

Lastly, there are only three more weeks of classes and then finals.  Which means four more weeks until graduation!!!!! For those of you who are interested in coming.  Graduation is at noon on Saturday May 7th at the Kent Concert Hall at USU.

Spring Break Trip

Spring Break was two weeks ago but I am just really behind at updating the blog. Ryan and I drove to San Diego this year and stayed at a WorldMark condo.

Day 1 = San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo = ginormous

Ginormous = Skyfari

Most Exciting = Rino fight! (Blood was shed)

Funniest Part = Huge orangutan with a empty peanut bag over his head 

Biggest Animal = Elephants

Day 2 = Coronado

Coronado = Bike ride around the "Island"

Bikes = Beach Cruzers

Beach Cruzers = No hand brakes

No hand Brakes = Alyssa can't stop because I forgot to back peddle

Walk around the shops = stop for food at Panera Bread

Beach = White kids from Logan get sunburned

Day 3 = Ocean

Ocean = surf lessons

Surf lessons = Wet Suits

Wet Suits = Exposed, freezing feet

Alyssa Surfing = Flailing under the ocean waves

Ryan Surfing = Riding in all the way to the beach

After Surfing = Salty, smelly mess

Evening = Walking Sunset Cliffs

Day 4 = Fun in the Sun

Morning = Laying out on the beach

Laying out on the Beach = Restlessness

Restlessness = Adventure at SeaWorld

SeaWorld = Getting soaked by Shamu, Walking in an underground tunnel surrounded by sharks, and seeing a Manatee

Day 5 = Begin the Drive Home

University of Wisconsin-Madison Open House

Two weeks ago Ryan and I flew to Madison, Wisconsin for an open house at the University there. The day of the open house Ryan headed out and enjoyed an entire day at the university. That morning I had a meeting with a biotech company there. After that my day was wide open so I took a nap! It was nice to recover from the long day of traveling. After I was well rested I went exploring. Our hotel was right by the Capitol so I walked that block. I observed the many protesters, tons of hole in the wall pubs and those cool building that on the corner of a diagonal street. That night Ryan and I tried a new restaurant called the Old Fashioned. It centers around food from Madison. Me being the picky eater that I am went with a normal burger and Ryan tried the homemade Mac and Cheese. The next day we headed back to the University to tour WEMPEC (I can't remember what it stands for but this lab is dedicated to power electronics and machines). It was so great to get to see what Madison and the university are like. After visiting we feel like this is where we should be so we are going to be moving to Madison this Fall. It is crazy to think we will be living in the Midwest. The funnest part about it is my mom has said that she wants to live close to her kids so she wants to move around the country with us. Well my mom not only moved close to where we are but she moved there first. She knew where we were going to be before we did!