Sisters, Snuggies, Sushi and SUMMER

I've been home in Nevada for a little over a week now. Let's just say that I'm loving it. I love being home! The 6-week summer break is the only time I ever move home during the year, and it's just for a few weeks. I visit for a couple days during Thanksgiving, Christmas and Spring Break, but that's about it.

I'm a Junior in college now, so I'm realizing that my summer-times spent at home are numbered. I'll be graduated and living who knows where doing who knows what in no time!

Enough dwelling on that. I have had a fabulous time at home and it's only been 8 days so far. Here's a few little things that have made it great!

I get to play with these love buttons and all of their awesome siblings!

I get to be apart of moments like these where Lindsey and Hannah can't stop laughing at ordinary things Natalie is doing (ha you had to be there)

I get to have lunch and play with some of the greatest people I know!

I have time to read whatever I want. Bonus points if you can guess the book!

I hardly ever have to drive, Natalie and Taryn have taken care of that for me :)

And soooo much more. Don't even get me started on the food!

SUSHI NIGHT!

Apparently Sunday night is Sushi Night (New family tradition I wasn't fully aware of). Anyways, we all gathered in the kitchen and got to work on rolling dozens of different sushi rolls. The possibilities were endless. Dad would assign us one to make and then we'd give it to him to cut up and set aside so that we could eat them all together.
 When we had made 12 or so different rolls, we tried them out, one roll at a time. Mom would read us off the ingredients in each one and tell us who made it, then we'd discuss whether we liked it and if it was a keeper or if it was a dud. If it was a good one, we'd then name it. Some of the names included The Jazz Combo (in honor of Daniel),  The Valedictorian (in Honor of myself), The Vegas Roll, The Watchdog... ha and many others that I can't quite recall.

(See my newest facebook album for more pictures of our Sushistraveganza!)

It was sooo much fun! Making them and eating them and naming them. I looove Sushi night! We seriously made sooo much and ate way too much, but I loved every minute of it!

So yes, being home has been so, so good so far. It's nice to be with the family again, although I sure do miss having Travis live just around the corner and I dearly miss having Brandon here with us, and I'd give my eye teeth to have Derrick, Brittney and Molly live close by. Lucky for me those missing five will all be here in just a few weeks for our second annual Jared Rust Family Reunion. YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!

Love, Noelle

"Where My Kids at? Where My Kids at?"

 
So...today I was thinking about one of my GREATEST memories today.
 The summer right after I graduated high school and right before I left for college, I had the opportunity to be the CTR 6 Primary teacher.

 These were the three lovely ladies that I taught. Elise,Kyra and Ally. Each Sunday was an adventure for sure :) SUCH a great adventure. I found some pictures I took during our time together, and I just HAD to post them. So I picked some of my favorites, enjoy :)

This one reminds me of Claire :)

Haha this was a lesson on holding grudges and forgiveness

This was during a lesson about Missionary work. We role-played King Lamoni (Ally) and Ammon (Elise)

Missionaries!

 

So pretty much, I totally miss being in the primary and being able to see all these awesome little kids whenever I want. I'm sure Rexburg has tons of little kids hidden somewhere in married housing and what not, but I haven't been able to find too many.

However, last semester Holly Garlick and I discovered one way to semi-fill this void in our lives.

Every Tuesday morning from 8-10 we had the opportunity to volunteer at the Rexburg Government Funded Preschool. 

BEST two hours of my week pretty much. I wish I had pictures to show you how adorable these kids were, but unfortunately we weren't allowed to take any. Julissa, Adelaide, Yurie and Jackson were the names of some of my favorites. We got to have dance-time with them, play out in the snow, read books, listen to the lessons, and much more with them every morning. It was such a good experience. If you're in Rexburg and you need volunteer hours or you just miss playing with little kids, look this up, you won't regret it :)

Me and Molly!

 And what kind of Aunt would I be if I wrote a post about little kids and didn't even put up a picture of my most favorite young'un ever!