CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME!!

When Hunter returned home from his mission, he was so excited to show us pictures of the many people that he had the privilege of teaching. In particular, he taught and baptized the Evans family. I was touched by their story and knew they had an impact on Hunter’s life. We talked about going on a road trip so I could meet them & many other people from his mission. This weekend we took the plunge to the sunny california!! We left early Friday morning in a rental car, that gets MUCH better gas mileage than his Jaguar. The drive wasn’t too bad & we saw beautiful scenery along the way. We filled up at an older gas station in nevada that I thought was so awesome! 

Eventually, we arrived in the beautiful northern california around 6pm. The foresthill bridge was our first destination, which is California’s highest bridge. I love bridges & this one was hecka awesome! 

Afterwards, we blasted classic cali-themed songs on the drive to the Fears house in Lincoln. I met Dave last year when he was in the DC area for a business trip. His daughters were so fun, rambunctious, and adorable. I played mega blocks with Chloe and Emma. We had pizza with them and Hunter enjoyed catching up with Dave. 

We stayed with Sister Blaser for the weekend and found a cute welcome sign for us when we walked in. She is an incredible woman who is so kind, loving, and funny! We were exhausted and couldn’t wait to get some rest.

It felt amazing to sleep in on Saturday morning and enjoy a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice from Sis. Blaser’s orchard. I was impressed by how much fruit she grows and picks, right from her backyard! 

We saw the Hume family and had a quick lunch with them. Then we went to the Sacramento temple for the Evans’ sealing. They were going to be sealed together as an eternal family. I was so excited to meet them!! I met all the children & quickly grew to love them instantly. We took some beautiful pictures of their family and I loved seeing how they interact with each other. They have such great love towards each other and you can tell they are best friends. I twirled the little girls and watched big smiles stretching across their face. 

Haley, Betty, and Akasha drove with us to their house for a BBQ. The girls and I walked their dog to the park and we all played in the playground. The youngest, Haley is such a cute girl!! We quickly bonded and became besties as I pushed her on the swings. We played hopscotch and basketball while the meat was cooking. Spontaneously, we rode their four-wheeler around their neighborhood. It was so much fun. The missionaries from their ward joined us for dinner & it was delicious!! 

After dinner, we met up with Gina and Lisa, that I met at conference last april. We went to Leatherby's for a late-night sundae dessert. Hunter & I split a Grandma Grace's Creamery Sundae. Their rocky road, toasted almond, and cookies n’ cream flavors were incredible. and that homemade caramel sauce!!!! AHHHHH so tasty.and creamy. 

I met so many people in the Van Maren ward that Hunter used to serve in that said the most wonderful things about him. Then we raced to the Evans’ ward to see them one last time. I just loved sitting next to little Haley during church, she’s just a doll. I have only just met the Evans family, but I already miss them so much!!! They are such a wonderful family that can now be together forever. We packed up and said goodbye to sis. Blaser. She’s so cute!! I am so thankful for her hospitality and kindness.

Then we headed to Rio Linda for lunch with the Dumm family. haha lots of jokes. They live in a rad little yellow house that reminds me of the movie Up. Jenilyn made a wonderful cheesy brocolli soup with homemade “butt” rolls. haha it was an awesome lunch! Their boys were so hilarious, just like their parents. Stephen is a hulla-hoop champ & Michael can transform to iliterally anything. Their humor compliments ours and we loved playing the game moods with them. 

For our last meal in california, we ate DELICIOUS homemade chimichangas at the Aldridge's house. I love mexicali meals & this was top-notch! Their girls became quite taken with me. It was probably because I can make them fly! haha they kicked by booday in Just Dance. Bro. Aldridge made awesome oreo shakes for dessert while we played the card game And It Came To Pass. I enjoyed hearing about how the parents met at BYU-I and about everything they loved about the ‘Berg. I love their crazy family!!

On our way out, we said our last goodbyes to the Fears, Gina, and other friends. Somehow we drove all night to UT without stopping. 9 hours isn't that bad, right? It was hard with such little sleep, but some coke and jack johnson helped. By the time we reached salt lake city and returned the car, we happily took a glorious 3 hour nap. 

This weekend was incredible & I only wish we had more time in CA!! Our weekend was very packed and we saw so many people, but it also flew by crazy fast! I’m so thankful to all the many families who shared meals and laughs with us. I can now understand how easily it was for Hunter to grow so closely to these wonderful people. They are so full of love, kindness, and happiness. I’m reminded of how magnificent the atonement and plan of salvation is for us to enjoy. Words cannot express how magnificent eternal families are. There’s such peace in knowing I’ll be with my family forever. I was so happy for the Evans family to enjoy and grow from this knowledge and reassurance. Our Heavenly Father loves his children so much!! I loved finally meeting and putting a face to the many people that Hunter talked about in emails and letters. Seeing the Evans’ children sealed to them was such a great experience to see the fruit of the mission labors, "For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee." (psalms 128:2). 

Thank you to all the people that showed us love this weekend! I loved every minute and am anxiously awaiting our next road trip. I’m dreading the cold and snowy grounds that idaho will welcome me back with....:( 
forever california dreaming....

conference weekend!

In our church we have what we call "General Conference" twice a year. It is a time we get to listen to many of our spiritual leaders and I'm so grateful for the opportunity. I love the reminders that help me keep in mind what is really important in life. These messages help me become a more dedicated friend, sister, daughter, student, and daughter of God.

Conference takes place at the conference center in Salt Lake City, UT. Thanks to modern technology, these messages are broadcasted worldwide and can even be streamed via the internet by clicking here. Growing up, I’ve always watched it at home with my family. My mother would catch up on ironing and we would always draw portraits of the speakers and take notes on the spoken words. 

However, this year I was lucky enough to be able to attend conference live at the conference center!! I’ve always wanted to & was beyond excited for it. My friend, Kyra, got us tickets and we were on our way to UT on Friday. 

Her sister, Crystal, picked us up in SLC on friday and we were headed to her apartment in Orem. We were really hungry by the time we started to unpack so Kyra drove us to Panda Express for a late dinner. She hadn’t driven since January and was a little apprehensive, but she was a great driver! That is, once she figured out how to turn on the lights....haha. We slept well & were really excited for conference the next day.

Saturday

We had tickets for the afternoon session, so we had plenty of time in the morning to get ready. Kyra’s friend, Jade, kindly drove us in the busy traffic to salt lake city. There was a HUGE line of people waiting to get in the conference center outside & somehow in the crowd I spotted a family from my home ward.  It was wonderful seeing them!! I love any small reminder of home, even if I’m thousands of miles away. Since we arrived later than expected, they gave up our nice floor seats:( However, I was still so excited to just to be there-even being on the highest tier. One of my highlights was that BYU-I combined choir provided the music for the afternoon conference session. It was awesome to know several of the students who were singing. 

Afterwards, I met up with several of Hunter’s friends from California that he got to know very well on his mission. They were all coming for the weekend to attend conference & I thought it was a perfect opportunity to meet them, since I would be in town too. We ate dinner at Red Iguana, which was incredible!! It was Gina & Amanda's birthday, so we got the awesome musicians singing for the lovely twins. 


We then went to a friends' house for a surprise birthday party for the girls. I spent a lot of time just talking with Lisa, Gina, Mandy, and Amanda. The way they talked about Hunter was so kind, they respected him so much and had the same kind of love that I have for my bro. I'm so glad I got to meet so many awesome from California! 

Sunday

Kyra & I were also able to attend the afternoon session of General Conference on Sunday. It was wonderful! We went to our friend Mckay’s house after and enjoyed a delicious meal with his family. I love General Conference & felt so fortunate that I was able to spend a wonderful weekend with Kyra! 

After we got back to Rexburg, my roommates welcomed me home with delicious red velvet cake. I love life!

victory race, sleepover, and sammy's

Friday

There's nothing more rewarding than a delightful weekend after a busy school week. On Friday, after my roommates & I came back from grocery shopping, we started our party hop. The first party was fun; pizza, kit-kats, and the game “what if…” Everyone gets in a circle and writes a “what if…” question. (i.e. what if you turned into a monkey tomorrow?) All of the random questions are collected and re-distributed. On the back of the slip of paper, you write down the answer to the “what if” question you received. Once again, the papers get collected & passed out among the group. The game starts when someone reads the question on their paper & the person next to them answers the question with the reply they have on their paper. So the reply to “what if you turned into a monkey tomorrow?” could be “I would laugh forever, then cry.” (The reply being completely unrelated to the question & an answer to a different question.) Fun game, lots of laughs. After awhile, we decided to hop over to our next party.

Two girls in our dorm complex were having a birthday party in our lobby, Christa & Jenny. There were lots of elaborate decorations & treats. One of the goodies that I tried was insanely tasty; it had mini marshmallows, chocolate, and some sort of crispy morsel to it. Delicious. It’s like a s’more without the grahams & fire. I enjoyed chatting with friends in our building & meeting some new people. It was a delightful birthday celebration.

After the birthday love, our friend Ryan came over to play card games. He helped us build the IGLOO, we couldn’t have done it without his height and strength! He brought over dorito chips & spicy salsa as a midnight snack. Kyra, Dexter, and I were so exhausted after playing a few rounds that the uncontrollable laughter started. I laugh at anything when I’m extremely sleepy. It’s embarrassing. Afterwards, I brought my stuff to Kyra’s. She’s an awesome friend of mine & we stayed up talking until 3am. Loved it, but not the smartest decision-considering I had to wake up a few hours later & race at 8am.

 Saturday

Somehow I managed to make it to the track and had enough time to warm up before I raced the mile. On Thursday we ran a timed mile during our practice & I tried something new. One mile on our indoor track is 5 ½ laps around and I can get weary by the 4th lap. So I started thinking about a different brother on every lap, since I have five hermanos. The first lap I think of what an intense basketball player Hunter is. On the last lap, Grant’s adorable seven-year-old charm keeps me running strong. The last .5 of the lap, I give it all I have-a final sprint. By using this thought process, the mile seemed much shorter and I got my best ever mile time!! 7:11 and I know next time I can get sub seven. Compared to the LAST mile I raced, I felt much stronger & the race seemed to go by faster. Our team did really well-Rachael, my coach, also got a PR and so did Majken. After all the scores were announced, I said that our team needed to have a victory breakfast the next day.

Later in the evening, my roommates, Kyra, and I walked over to Sammy’s. It’s a wonderful sort of diner place that’s famous for their delicious pie shakes & cupcake shakes. They put a slice of pie into every pie shake, making it so difficult to decide which flavor to get. I enjoyed an oreo chocolate cream pie shake & it was outrageously tasty. Connected to the diner part of Sammy’s, there’s a stage and music concert performance area. Several music groups perform there weekly & who doesn’t love enjoying nice music while sippin’ on a delightful dessert? I love Sammy’s!

Afterwards, Ryan came over and brought everything to make froot loop rice crispy treats. Yummy! It brought back to mind several memories of my mom & I making these sticky treats in the kitchen together. We brought the dessert into the lobby & munched on it while we watched ROBOTS on the big flat screen. Cute movie, but I fell asleep half way through. I feel so old, that I can’t make it through a children’s animation film without falling into some much-needed sleep.

Sunday

Kyra & I aren’t in the same student ward, but coincidentally the weekend that I stayed with her was stake conference. We’re both in the BYU-Idaho 1st stake. how perfect. It was fun getting ready for church together & a good indicator because we’re thinking of becoming roommates next semesterJ  Members of our new stake presidency each shared their testimonies with us & it was an insightful conference. After church, I began making waffles for my team’s victory waffle celebration. Majken, Rachael, and Cameron all came & enjoyed the blissful brunch. I really like that our team is small enough that we plan & enjoy team dinners and gatherings. For the rest of the evening, I spent more time with Kyra and prepared for the school week ahead.

The best thing about Sunday was when Emily came home, she had been in UT for the weekend! I came outside to help bring her things in & to my surprise she led me to a parked car. I was really confused because I thought she had gotten a ride back up, but she didn’t need one. Her parents had driven her car from Colorado to Utah, where she met up with them for the weekend. YAY, a CAR!! Not that I don’t fully enjoy doing reps with my gallon of milk on the way back to our dorms…but I became really joyful when I realized no more lugging groceries home. Of course, I was also really ecstatic to have Emmy back! We get along really well, she’s my favorite roomie and we miss each other lots when either one of us goes out of town:)

wedding and reunion.

This week has been absolutely the busiest and chaotic thus far. I didn't realize how stressful and time restraining college would be, but somehow I survived! Personal Narrative? check. American Foundations paper & power point project? check. Math exam? check. Skeletal Lab Exam? check. Math group project? check. American Foundations exam? check. Anatomy & Physiology lecture quiz? check. I've learned what not to procrastinate & how to take one day at a time. It just seems like there's so much to get accomplished throughout the day, that it seems like two. From when I wake up(7:15 7:30) to 5pm is day one & from 5pm to when I finally get to bed(12:30 1:00 2:00am) is another day. Plus when fhe, devotional, my tutor group twice a week, and track practice every day-it gets a bit crazy. You get the point, I don't mean to be a complainer-but its just a lot to juggle.

Anyways, it only made me more excited & thrilled for our three day weekend-thanks to President’s Day! My cousin Henry was getting married on Saturday & I made plans a few weeks ago to attend. I haven’t seen the other Boodys, my Uncle Rob and his family for the longest time & I was really looking forward to seeing them. I also got really eager and thrilled to see some of my close friends who go to BYU in Provo. I secretly talked with Megan’s roommate & also a great friend of mine, Alissa. Her family recently moved to Utah & she was planning on going there over the weekend, so it was perfect. I had a place to stay & would be Meg’s roomie for the long weekend-whoo! And Megan had no idea, boy was going to be shocked.

friday

After my last exam for the week, it was time to leave for UT! I tried to be a responsible adult & I even made a detailed packing list and everything. But as always, it’s a chaotic scramble at the very last minute to get everything to fit in my weekend duffle. The five hour drive was beautiful. The snowy mountains in Pocatello are a gorgeous sight & they got even better once we crossed into Utah. I love the way the tops of the snowcaps harmonize with the sky.  I loved when we drove through downtown Salt Lake City, there were so many brilliant shops & beautiful buildings. On our way to Provo, we had to make a donut run at Banbury Cross. Strawberry glazed. Delicious. And oh so savory.

When we arrived in Provo, I met up with a relative of mine. Christine’s dad & my dad are cousins, so I think that makes us second cousins once removed or something. She was so kind to let me crash on Friday night. I dropped my things off at her house & admired the vintage décor. One of her roommates was away, so I took over her room. I was anxious to surprise Megan and see my friends, so Christine dropped me off at the dorms on campus. Alissa sneaked out of their dorm room & their RA helped us with our plot. She made up a story about their smoke detector being defective, while I was hiding to the side. After a minute of Megan being a bit suspicious, I jumped into their room & the excitement began. We were both screaming & jumping with happiness. She was so astonished and I was so thrilled to reunite with one of my best friends. 

After the shock initially wore off, I thought we should do the same thing to another great friend of ours, Courtney. We stopped by her room, but she wasn’t there. Meg sent her a text asking if she stop by & borrow her hot glue gun. Court said sure and a few minutes later there was a knock at their door. I panicked & hid under Megan’s bed, squished next to storage containers. She spoiled our plan with being so kind & had brought the zebra printed glue gun. I was sure she had spotted me and I came out of my hiding spot & greeted Courtney. Not the ideal reaction I would’ve liked, but it was great to see her!

Awhile after catching up, we went out to Café Rio for dinner. I had heard of this tasty Mexican restaurant & wanted to try it out. It was delicious!! I love chipotle, it’s my favorite place to eat at and their burritos are the best! But Café Rio cannot even be compared, it has a completely different flavor. I ordered a steak salad & was entranced by its taste. Their tortillas are homemade & make the salad.  I’m so glad they are opening up a few new locations in VA! After the delicious dinner, I went back to Christine’s owl house. She made yummy chocolate cookies & I saw some photographs she was editing from a photo shoot. She photographed the engagement pictures for Henry, and his fiancé, Lily.  They are so beautiful. I was excited for more timeless photographs at their wedding the next morning.

saturday

Christine made me a delicious egg sandwich for breakfast & we left for the wedding. It was raining and we got a bit lost, but we made it just in time to see the bride and groom! They are so adorable together. I got to see my Uncle & boody cousins. It felt fantastic to be able to catch up, since the last time I saw them was quite a few years ago. Henry & Lily were just glowing and they couldn't stop smiling. Ah wedding bliss. Christine took plenty of photographs of all the family, just his, then just hers. It was so precious. I can't wait to see all the pictures from the lovely day. 

 Before going to their reception, Christine & I had a craving for a churro. Naturally, we went to Costco. I also bought a huge bag of waffle mix, clementines, and a pack of healthy choice frozen dinners. I desperately wish there was a Costco close to campus, that place is the best. 

The reception was held at the Velour, in downtown provo. The atmosphere was upbeat, but also tranquil. There were many guests, the majority surrounding the food tables. It's always so hard to choose what desserts to indulge in, so why not try all. There were seven trifles, so naturally I made a trifle of some of the different trifles. The oreo cookie crumb & chocolate pudding definitely made my top three, up there with the strawberries n' creme. I loved all the Beatles songs that the band Timber played, as well as their band's music. It was so cute, Henry got up on stage and sang a special song for Lily with the band. adorable. 

After the fantastic reception, I moved into my dorm room for the weekend. Megan and I caught up for a bit and another one of our great friends, Audrey came over. We all then went to Courtney's room and hung out. My friend Will & I then met up to go running. Utah is significantly warmer and has nicer weather than Idaho, so it felt great to run outside. Towards the end of our 5 1/2 mile run, it started to snow. I should be completely acquainted with this, but it was awful. My eyes got so irritated, but at least we were almost back to campus. We were soaked, but at least had finished running strong! I managed to dry off before our girls' night in at Courtney's friend, Dana's house. We enjoyed delicious cookies & popcorn while we watched "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers." I can't believe I hadn't seen it before, it was such a great movie! It was a wonderful evening. 

sunday

After going to church with Megan, we were both exhausted. We finished our Café Rio leftovers & enjoyed our 2 1/2 hour sunday nap. It was much needed & felt rejuvenating. Afterwards, we invited Court over for a jumping photo shoot. priceless.

 monday

Court, Meg, Will, Isa, and I ate breakfast together at the cannon center. Breakfast foods are my absolute favorite, it was delicious! I stopped by Audrey's apartment to say goodbye & poor thing twisted her ankle:( I was so thrilled I could spend time with her over the weekend, she's hilarious and I miss spending time with her. Megan & I had a sentimental dance party right before I packed up. I miss our dance parties together & this one was especially delightful. 

The drive back seemed much shorter & I was was looking forward to my return. My roommates were happy to see me and I was glad to be back home. Back to the reality of freezing weather and Anatomy & Physiology lectures:) 

sugar sunday

The second we came home from church, we made chocolate chip cookies. They were delicious & get gobbled up so quickly. Kiana & I like making them really small, so there's lots more for us to enjoy. yummy. I think this is becoming a sunday tradition.

 After the cookie delight, I went to the allreds' for dinner. Fluffy waffles, bacon, and tangy fruit for a tasty brinner. I was sent home with more waffles that I discovered are the best after popping out of the toaster. 

Don't you just love sundays?

dieciocho

On one of those crazy hot summer days that makes ice cream melt & provides for a perfect opportunity for a water balloon fight, my friends and I celebrated my birthday. I was psyched to turn the big 18. I could finally...

-become a legal adult

-have my own checking account with a debit card

-exercise my nineteenth amendment right

-order wonderful inventions off TV infomercials

-become an independent taxpayer..whoo!

...and a handful of other things.

Although I'm a "grown-up" I still..

-go to a pediatrics office &usually sit next to a five-year-old in the waiting room...the Batman stickers keep me coming.

-call my parents "mommy" & "daddy"

-snooze with a stuffed animal, a giraffe named Georgie

-watch Saturday morning cartoons, while munching on froot loops.

-order off the kid menu at ihop-the happy face pancake is delicious!

Anyway, the big day was first celebrated while we were in FL. We went to the beach for the day & woah was jet skiing fun! Being an August baby can be sometimes a bummer, most of my friends are usually out of town, but I gotta say being on vacation & being able to enjoy the waves and not having to go to school is a pretty good trade off.

A few days after we got home from Florida, I had an 18th fiesta which was quite a splendid leap into adulthood...which really meant a water balloon fight, BBQ, sparklers, dance party, princess cake, trampoline fun, and s'mores. Throwing this partay together really showed me how supportive, loving, and helping my familia can be. Padre helped me shop for everything we needed for the fiesta. Madre helped everything run smoothly and think of everything I didn't. The hermanos worked the grill, soaked the guests with the water balloons and water bottles, and provided dance and music entertainment. It was such a BLAST! It was so wonderful to spend time with close friends I hadn't seen in awhile & say a last goodbye to some heading out to universidad. I've made so many great friendships throughout HS, especially senior year. Its been hard saying goodbye and not being able to see everyone as often. The fiesta was a perfect close to the perfect summer.

miss this crazy bunch:(

Another delight, my friend Emily planned a wonderful Birthday dinner for a few of our other friends & I since we all had bdays within a few weeks in the summer. I was so excited for the five of us to get together for some delicious pasta, bruschetta, salad, and a yummy dessert. Little did I know, in her basement was a whole crowd of our friends hidden behind hawaiian luau decorations. After dinner, Em asked us if we wanted to hang out downstairs & I got really confused when I saw all the decorations, I thought maybe it was leftover from something they had earlier that week. All of the sudden familiar faces pop out from their hidden nooks & crannies & yelled "SURPRISE!" I certainly was & was so impressed how Emily kept it a secret from us, or at least me. The four of us birthday gals enjoyed a delicious brownie & ice cream sundae-she always has something tasty up her sleeve! I love when the whole gang gets together for a marvelous celebration and dance party. Truly the best birthday ever!!!

It's a Girl! well hopefully...otherwise he better love pink

Our neighbors are quite the adorable family: mom, dad, son, and cat. They are so kind & I was thrilled when she announced that their family would grow by one and that she's due with a baby girl in August. Today we celebrated & gathered for a sweet baby shower. 

I couldn't think of a more capable and deserving family for this baby gal. Their son, James, is an awesome kid to watch while his parents are out & jump on the trampoline with-he's going to make a fantastic big brother! Anyway the shower went really well. Madre prepared DELICIOUS extra thick fudgey brownies that had pink frosting galore and her famous lemon squares. expertise. Another kind neighbor & my mom planned and threw the shower for Katie.

There were also these really cute little cakes spread through the table that were so dainty and perfect, you didn't want to take a bite.Gifts were oh so pink & beautiful, I cannot wait for this child! oops I mean baby. My mom is a sewing pro and has ever since I was a toddler made these colorful baby blankets & coordinating burp cloths for every expecting mom she knows. 

She sews piping along with this ultra silky edging, after given the color preference to be used. I love the one she made this time, soft yellow & pink edging and similar pink theme for the cloths. After presents and cold lemonade, we began indulging in the tasty treats and I couldn't help admiring all the beautiful artwork the hostess' house had. She's an artist, but I didn't know to what extent. 

Here's some of her work:

Accompanying her masterpieces were the coolest souvenirs from all over the globe. I took myself on a little tour...

A little watermelon salesman from Nicaragua in the kitchen. slightly similar characteristics to Luigi.

The most beautiful little kettles and jewelry containers I've ever seen from China.

I haven't seen a doorstop like this at Ikea..

This tapestry is made of thin, colored strands of string.the entire thing, when you look closely.Nicaragua.

The necklace wall. some from Germany, China, Nicaragua, and many more countries I can't remember. who wouldn't want that face hanging from your neck?

Its funny how I've been living yards away from this house with intricate decorations for the past 16 years, literally right in front of my nose, and hadn't the slightest clue. I guess some things are even more beautiful and wonderful when discovered, and not obviously displayed.

enchanting afternoon.