I can hardly contain myself

Travis comes home today.  I've missed him!  Its funny cuz I've been so busy it hasn't really phased me-but I really stinkin love that boy!  It hit me today how excited I am to see him again! I just have to endure the last 2 and a half hours of work, then distract myself till 9:30 when he's due to land.  :D  YAY!!!

Independance Day Party!

So, for the 4th of July Weekend, I went to San Fran again.  Saturday, Travis and I went to His Work Party.  For those who might still be in the dark (I don't know how you would be, I just want to brag again), Travis' work This summer is an internship at Lucas Film.  As in the company owned ad crated by George Lucas-the man who created Star Wars, Indiana Jones-His company included Industrial Lights and Magic-which is the place that does the special effects for ummmm....Practically EVERY awesome movies you've seen in the last 32 years (it was the 32 annual picnic).

Anyways, with that as an Intro-now lets talk about the picnic.

The Company has rules about taking photos, and that we can't post photos....but I can tell you about them! I can tell you about picture we took with a bright red shiney Skywalker Ranch Firetruck-I just can't show you on the internet.  I can tell you about the picture of us in front of Ewok Lake, where we had raft races, but you'll have to ask me sometime to see it. And no, I didn't win the raft races, but our team did get first place in a relay race.  The one where you have to hurry put the clothes on run around the cone then take the goofy clothes off so the next person in your team can do the same.  We did it the fastest out of about 8 or more teams-we were pretty happy with ourselves.  We got fancy blue ribbons and everything.

After the relay races, we got to kick back by the pool, and we ate more food.  They had this field set up like you would picture a county fair-with the big tents and rows and rows of picnic tables, and a tent for getting the food, a tent for getting the drinks.  There was an Ice cream truck-with really yummy ice cream, and the weather was soo hot I was having a hard time eating the ice cream before it melted.  That was a new expirience.

Other things there were to do that we didn't get around to, they had horseback/pony rides, lots of relays we didn't make time for, they had little hiking trails, they had wagon rides around the ranch (we tried to do that, but when we were waiting the horses must have been taking a break or getting switched out-and we went to go swimming in the pool) they had a volley ball court, a field people were playing soccer in-all sorts of stuff.  It was awesome!

Here's one picture I can show-after the day at the ranch, Travis and his roommates all crashed.  I tried to take a nap, but it just didn't happen.  I don't think trying to take a nap works very well.  Anyways, poor guys just had too much fun, and came home and crashed.  Look closely, theres 3 of them!


Other than that, here's what I've been doing:

Scavenger Hunts
Pool parties
Playing on Beaches
Exploring San Fran
Movie dates with Travis
Thursday Night Salsa/Bolero series classes @ Arthur Murray
BART and your there
Softball games
Walks with Travis-one was a 6 mile round trip walk to/From Church!

Here's a few pics:

After the Beasts Lost again-we celebrated the season at a sports place that has awesome sized apetizers half off on Tuesdays

After Touring Lucas FilmOffices where Travis works daily, we explored the area, and saw this place!

Sid and Alex with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background

Me and Alex went on a Scavenger Hunt-and looked for 10 different flowers (we found like 50 different types) but this Rose was SO pretty!

Part of the scavenger Hunt was find 4 vinyards, I like the vinyards!

My mercury is whack!

I have always prided myself on my ability to withstand the cold.

When I was 12, one time my family gathered at this lodge in the hills near Manti Utah for my uncles wedding.  This Lodge had a big wrap around porch-one side entertaining us with a hot tub.  Me and my cousins decided it would be fun to run from one side of the lodge (the hot tub side) to the other in our barefeet-and back.  It was april, but it snowed for us during out hot tub party which is why the run from one side of the lodge to the other was a fun idea.  After soaking in the hot tub, the snow was so cold it burned!  As we ran around, my feet went numb, but I was so "Alaskan tough" that I put on a face and sucked it up for sake of my state pride/ego.  A few of the younger cousins couldn't handle it, so then I carried them part of the way piggy back style-which was also cold, but I was just proving how "tough" I was...and what wussie's they were in the snow. 

When I went to school in Idaho-I refused to pull out my big winter down coat.  It was windy so I figured it was more logical to just wrap up in several layers of polar fleece anyways.  There were two days, only two that winter, that I will admit, to it actually being Cold.  I still say the rest of the winter was only chilly.  However, from the windy city of Rexdburg I did decide that Leg warmers aren't weird, but actually quite practical, and therefore, worth buying and cordinating with an outfit.  

I share these stories, to give you a picture of where my personal thermometor stood before.  I used to prefer cold to heat, I thought, "Theres only so much you can pull off when its hot out, but when its cold you can always pile more on."  My personal thermometer read 70 degrees as HOT.  And About 68 was ideal comfort level.  at 80 degrees, I thought I would fry.

That thermometer worked great for living in alaska.  However, I have a problem.  I'm in California this summer.  When I got here, they were having my ideal weather.  It felt great, but everyone else was complaining about the cool weather.  Then, it started warming up, gradually over the last 6 and a half weeks.  On monday, this pattern Climaxed at 100 degrees, at 3 pm.  And I enjoyed it.  I was outside in the sun, and I remembered my sunscreen, and to reapply it, so I didn't burn.  It was awesome!  Then, Tuesday night, at Sids softball game, it was 70 degrees outside, and I was chilly!  AAAAAH!   Help me!

California screwed up my thermometer! 

I'm gonna die this winter....

My poor future Children

They are going to have a bedtime that is enforced.  Wether they go to sleep or not is they're choice, but they will be in their beds at a resonalable hour, and then they will stay in their beds in the morning till a reasonable hour.   And they better be optimistic, or else we're going to have a hard time getting along.

The most frustrating thing in the world is a sleepy, cranky, pessimistic 6 yr old.

Today, in the world of nannying was a hard day.  But, we did still manage to have a good time at the pool.  There was one point when Alex started throwing a fit over a toy that "I had first."  I told him that his turn is up and he needed to let it go or we would go home.  And no more problems the rest of the afternoon.  Except my sunburn....but that isn't too bad.  I did put sun screen on, I just need to work on the reapplication bit.  :P  Anyways, I'm pooped, he's pooped, he'll crash soon-we hope. So I'm done.  Have a good night!

Note:  Not the Pool we went to today, but that is a pool we've been to.  I took that photo before all the chitlins ran in after the 20 min break.

The Inner Child

Its interesting, this nanny thing.  Like, I've always thought the life of stay at home mom was so glamourous.  When I was little, I dreamed of being mommy.  I was the pro babysitter-high in demand.  The kids loved me, I loved them, and 3 hrs while the parents went out for dinner and a movie just wasn't enough playtime for their kids or me.  Granted, as I'm not a stay at home mom, so this is all just observation, but, I'm discovering that it really is not glamourous at all.  In fact its kinda rough.  As nanny, I'm having a challenge with keeping just one, six year old boy entertained.  This kid constantly tests my creativity, my patience, my energy levels, my tolerance, and even in some cases my capacity for tenderness and love.  I was SO humbled on Saturday, we went to the Redwoods, and Alex fell down, twice. The first time, he barely scratched himself but cried and cried, granted, yes, falling down hurts but I was just thinking "seriously? Toughen up already!"  And then the 2nd time he fell, he busted skin and had a big drip of blood coming down.  He was dramatic and whiney and said he couldn't walk.  I was trying to be like "Hey battle wounds!  This is worth bragging about!"  But he wasn't buying it....finally, Travis-my dear wonderful patient Travis hoisted this big 6 yr old onto his shoulders and carried him part of the way.  I felt so un-compassionate.  I guess we forget what its like to be 6, and what it really is like to think that a bleeding knee is the end of the world.

Back to the glamour topic, I think the mothers who I've met through Sids ward, who invite me and Alex to play groups-have become my heros.  They're selflessness for their children is again, very humbling.  While talking to sis Andrus, it hit me how right now with my situation, when conversing with these mothers, life sounds so exciting, I'm young, I'm in school, making something of myself, I dance, I study, I travel to this place and that place, I'm just at that place where all the doors are opened to me.  But, I hope someday, when my time for motherhood comes, I can be like these mothers.  I really do hope and pray that theres some special power given from on high to us when we become mothers, because even though they say that the nurturing characteristic is just part of womanhood, I know that that alone won't be enough.  For me.  I used to think "Kids, no problem, I got this."  But its harder than it looks, no matter how much babysitting I did when I was 12.

After Travis put Alex back on the ground Saturday, I talked to Travis about it, and he said "Well, I guess I'm still just a big kid."  And I think he has a point.  I was better with Kids when I was more like the kids.  So, my goal is to rediscover my inner child.  How am I going to do this, and stay in touch with it for years to come?  Instead of watching the kids play on the trampoline and sprinkler, I'm gonna hop on with them.  I'm going to chase the ice cream truck, and ride my bike around and around and around the block cuz thats as far as we're allowed to go.  I'm gonna play at the park and paint my toes in fun bright colors!  I'm Going to collect all the catepillers and lady bugs I can find.  I will take time to hunt through the 4 leaf clover patch, and turn my music up loud and sing and dance like noone else is home.  I'm going to wear my sheets like I'm in ancient egypt or rome, and make popsicles in ice cube trays, and be daring and adventurous.  I'm gonna cover my bed in a massive arrangement of Teddybears and pillows and name everyone of them.

And this is just starters!

This Land was made for you and me!

This land is your land, this land is my land

From California to the New York Island

From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters

This land was made for you and me. I love that song, and whenever I think of Redwoods, it pops into my head!  Anyways, Here's some cool pics!  

Travis and I, in the tree.  What a goof ball is he!

So, obviously, we went to a forrest of Redwoods.  Its called Muir Woods.  Its was AWESOME!  The pictures just don't do it justice, Next I want to see the Sequoias-they aren't as tall as the redwoods, but they are massive in diameter, and just after getting a taste of the redwoods, oy.  I love it!  Theres something magical about seeing such magnificent sights, it really puts into perspective how blessed I am-of All God's creations, Man and Woman are his most magnificent.  What simple things trees are, biologically speaking, yet how maginificent and grand-they are.  It sure does gladden the heart and please the eye.  I love it. 

Anyways, Other than the trees, we also went to the beach.  By then my cameras battery had died, so I couldn't take a picture but, despite the cold wind and water and flying sand (Northern California beaches aren't good for sunbathing or water sports....) the sight was beautiful.  I love the way the ocean melts into the sky on the horizon.  Its not a clear defined horizon but the blue of the sky and ocean melt together into this hazy deeper hue of blue-and it was one of those sights that inspires, and makes me wish I was more artistically talented. One of those scenes I wish I could recreate on paper and have on my wall to enjoy for forever.  

The Real Life Energizer Bunny

My cousin Alex, is the energizer buuny.  He has been getting way too little sleep for a 6 yr old, and he just keeps going and going and going!  Just an example, Last night, he didn't get to bed till close to midnight, we expected him to sleep past 9, he woke up 2 mins after Sid left, then he nibbled on breakfast all morning, only had 2 hots dogs for lunch, and didn't eat any dinner-after he spend several hours at the swimming pool in the hot hot sun-should be exhausted right?  Normally his bed time is an hour ago....and he won't settle down.  Crazy kid!

To Utah and Back again-A Travel Log.

Ok, travel Log since Temple square:

   Went to Grama E's briefly then went to Logan with Wendy bird where we went country swing dancing-and I was told I have a commodity, and that "as far as girls go, you're a premium." Compliment came from the buisness major who likes redheads.  Made my night.  Also, saw the beautiful and Talented Erica Colvin, whom I danced with in Idaho.  We were on the Colligiate team together-totally forgot that she was in Logan and starting her own dance studio.  Awesome possum!

   Friday:  Went with Wendy as a volunteer where she works-a Spanish speaking headstart school.  3 yr old Jocelyn is my new best friend, and I fell in love with the troublesome Jose and charming Santiago.  Afterwards, went to the temple for baptisms-and spent the evening back in Tremonton.  I got grampa to Talk. About alot of things, his time in the airforce, where he went, how he also was in the Navy, but best of all what how he met Grama.  :D  He proposed to Grama while they were dancing!  :D  Made my life!

  Saturday, I made cinnamon rolls with Grama Elmer, then Grama Johnson came and got me, and we went to the Ogden Cemetary.  She had the most Beautiful Pink Tulips in her yard, made me kinda sad to pick them because they were SO pretty, but happy at the same time that I could put them in a place to special and share them with him in the way that I could.  Really a bittersweet expirience.  I was actually really glad to have Grama Johnson up there with me-even though she can be frustrating some times, and though I sobbed, having her shoulder there felt right.   

  Sunday, Sacrament with Grama J, then dinner with Elmers.  I met Grampa's Siblings for the first time, The Greats: uncle Delos, Aunt Reva, and Aunt Rada +Dels wife Leslie-whom I love!  She's so awesome! More discovery-Grampa talked alot about the house, how he tried to do a chin up on the bar at the hospitol when he was 10 and had an infection behind his ear-but fell.  Ammusing story.   

  Monday: Porterville Cemetary, where many of my ancesters; the Porters, Kershaws, Elmers, and Deardens are burried.  It was weird, I'd never seen a cemetary where they have mounds over the place where they're burried, and it kinda weirded me out at first, but then we cleaned up Grampa's family's plots, and reshaped the mounds and stuff, and I found out that it has a practical purpose, so, it wasn't so weird.  I also met Rada's hubby Boyce, who is a hoot, and Uncle George, and his wife Joyce, and daughter Lisa.  Then we had a good lunch at Rada/Boyce's house.  Met my mom's cousin Mike, that makes us 1st cousins once removed.  Weird.  

 

Then we (Sid, Alex and Me) drove to Wendover Nevada, stayed the night with Sids friend, and then Tuesday morning Drove the rest of the way to Cali.  Made it through Donner Pass (fun fun fun road!  I got to drive from Winnemucca NV to Sacramento Cali, NV not fun, Donner pass=Much fun!  Steep grades ~7% at one point, and winding roads-SO FUN!  I love driving!)   Then 7:30-9 I had two dance lessons back to back-very awesome.  Learned SO much!  Can't wait till tomorrows!

Today, me and Alex played at the park, made a calendar, found the pool, made copies of some keys, and played a few rounds of Bingo.  He's such a patient kid, which I'm really grateful for.  Tomorrow is his day to choose our lunch though, and he picked Hot Dogs...any creative ideas so they're not so boring?  I think we'll be having them alot....

Temple Square

So, I went today with my good friend Jared Wight to temple square-which I thought I had seen it all, but it gave us something to do while we caught up since we havn't seen eachother in years!  And well, we're walking along avoiding missionaries as best we could be cause they're EVERYWHERE and its always kinda akward because they should be talking to the tourists and nonmembers right?  Well, some got us when we stepped inside the tabernacle.  We chatted for a minute or two, and then asked them if there was anything we should see specifically-I expected them to say the Christus Statue, but was surprised to hear about this presentation on the family (only half surprised)  that most people don't know about because its in a room back behind the Christus-anyways, so we say sure. And oy-it was so good.  Of course, cheezey acting was part of it, but the message was about eternal families-and they were right, there were parts in it for everybody.  It started as just something to do, but ended up being a kinda poinant personal experience for me.  Good suggestion Jared/Sister Missionaries!  Thank you!

Road Trip!

What an adventure that was!  We set out at about 8:15 Wednesday Morning, and about 2 hrs into it, had to stop.  Apparently, there was a Semi turned over that was carrying tanks of Diesel and so east bound I-80 was completely shut down for the day-maybe even through the night while they tried to clean it all up.  :P  So, at the gas station, we got directions around it-which included back tracking 45 mins, and then taking a road through another town and then getting onto Highway 50 and taking that through the Eldorado National Forest.  Which-was kinda stressfull since Sid had to be to Utah for a hearing, and there was alot of rain which had the possibility of turning into Snow (Which would be really bad in California) and it was way far out of the way, but the scenery-was AMAZING!  So Beautiful.  I was amazed at the size of some of the trees there-I have a feeling that I'm really going to LOVE the redwoods.  Highway 80 took us up to lake Tahoe-which was Also a beautiful sight.    But, After we got through there, we headed up toward Carson City Nevada, and then to Reno-then hopped back onto I-80.  I was actually surprised at Nevada's scenery.  I drove from Reno to Elko-and really enjoyed it.  I guess I had pictured Nevada to be really really flat and brown and boring.  It was kinda boring...but there were some hills and it was mostly brown but there was also some green.  So, I enjoyed it.  Plus for part of the way we had watermelon, and watermelon makes everything better.  :)

Save me SanFrancisco!

So, I've rather been enjoying some long lost down time!  Thursday we landed, dropped Travis off at his Apartment and headed back to Livermore-I just showered slept and plunked on the computer for the day.  It was awesome!  Friday, I went for a nice adventure walk, got a little more comfortable here, and went with Sid to his ward party-again, there was lots of down time, but I decided I really like it!   : D  Saturday, Sid helped me figure out the Train and busses to get to The Presidio, and then we adventured with Travis and his roommate Anton, and went to a violin preformance at the Oakland Temple Insterstake building-it was a wonderful preformance by Jenny Oaks Baker.  Note to 4th Branchians, tell Eva!  Eva I think would REALLY like her, we heard peices from her album "Then Sings my Soul, "  best ones if you ask me were Nimrod(Absolutely beautiful, despite the name) and Finlandia (a classical peice that also happens to be the hymn "Be still my soul").  Beautiful woman with a beautiful talent.  Sunday, I went to Sid's Family ward, which rocks, I like them alot.  And then Later I went to the TriValley YSA ward Fireside at the bishops house (Sids Bishops daughter goes to that ward, so, made my connections! YAY).  Which was good, and fun as there were games afterwards.  So now, I'll know a few people when I go to church there.  Woohoo!

Coming up, on Wednesday me and Sid are driving to Utah to get Alex.  We'll be there Thru Monday night, which I'm kinda happy about.  You see, Monday is not only memorial day, but its also May 31st.  12 Yrs ago May 31s was memorial day, and this year not just the 31st, but Memorial Day itself marks the 12th anniversary of my dads passing.  I feel it to be especially fitting that I can go to his graveside this year, just as the calendar has come in one full circle, I feel that my life has reached a point when I can come back full circle, and look at the events in my past without self pity.  There was a time when I wanted to blame everything that happened to me in the last 12 rs on the fact that my dad was taken from this life-but now I can accept the reality that things happen for reasons we don't understand.  And that hard things happen, and that unfair things happen, but that the atonement will make it all alright.  Maybe not now, but with time, with faith, with obedience, I can find peace and assurance in my hope for eternal life.

We made it!

So, I have this habit of not packing till the day I leave (or in some cases the night I leave), so Wednesday morning came around and what did I have to do-everything!  But, long boring story short, I managed, with some time to spare. At 8 Travis and his mom came and picked me up and I had to say goodbye to Elyse and Liam and mommy, that was kinda hard.  I feel like I'm missing such a big chunk of time, like they'll be all grown up when I see them at the end of the summer-so that was kinda hard.  What I didn't expect to have a hard time with, was wanting to go see Robin.  I mean, she's just half an hour away!!!!  I think i'd be better handling it except her mission home called Wednesday morning asking if they could test her for Celiac's disease (inability to really digest gluten)-GAH!  My sister is just half an hour away and sick and I can't go see her and make it better.  :P  Bleh, thats what I think about that.


Anyways, coming into San Fransico was awesome, the weather was bright, warm and clear and we saw the golden gate bridge from the airplane.  I guess part of me wanted to see it because people have said its so cool, but from pictures, to be honest, I wasn't that impressed.  However, flying past it, and then driving past it later, I decided its actually really cool-its a big arrangement of the red steel and cables, but it just has this charm to it....I like it, and want to go see it up close again.  Travis lives practically at the bottom of it, and his front window has a veiw of the bridge, the bay and the big beautiful trees.  Alot of them are eucalyptus and so it smells really nice there too.  Saturday the plan is to figure out the busses back into the presidio and then to explore the City with him and Uncle Sid.


So excited, and loving the sunshine, can't wait till my cousin Alex is here so I can take him around with me to explore-for the meantime, I'm just enjoying the down time.  Its a strange feeling, I havn't had this much down time in ages, theres no chores nagging at the back of my head, no homework pressure on my mind, no appointments or meetings scheduled-its pretty sweet.  It probably won't happen again for a while, so-soaking it up now while I can!  YAY!  

6 days and counting!

In 6 days, Travis and I fly to California.  Why might you ask?  Because he will become a Jedi this summer at the Lucas Film Jedi internship, and I will be playingwith Nanny-ing my 6 yr old cousin and dancing.  Hehehehehe!  I can't wait!  Some of the things I will be doing:

My uncle Sid said that he has a friend who works at some stables-we could go ride horses everyday if we wanted!  I'll be able to ride like this when we're done.

Sid also Lives 3 miles away from an Arthur Murray Dance Studio, I've emailed them and got my appointment for my first lesson set up :D

Some of ^This^ too.  :)

I hope lots of this

But don't worry, I'll be their best customer: 

I'd love to see these:

I'll keep you posted.  

April Showers make me happy

This week was kinda an awesome week-despite its rough start.  On Sunday, my first disaster was at Branch Conference, I'm the choir director and we had planned on singing this awesome arrangement of "How firm a foundation" but 10 mins before the meeting I still don't have my violinist or pianist.  So, the show much go on and we sang a number from the hymn book with Chelsea (life saver) as our Pianist.  That is every choir directors worst nightmare.  Anyways, still recovering from that and a few other personal crisises which also happened during church, I was in Northpole with Travis and I got a phone call from my family that Liam went into the hospital because of breathing problems.  Oy.  So the next few days were busy busy as I played mom and chauffer to Lysie and a friend whom I take to doctor appointments-all the while I also finnished a group project for Sociology and got to all my classes on time.  Tuesday evening, things started calming down.  Liam got to come home, and Travis had a birthday!  <--That was actually all day but I didn't see him till after I was done chauffering and running errands and all that jazz

I must say I was pretty happy with myself, I got travis an icecream cake from Coldstones, his mom made dinner (steak and potatoes, yum!) and I also got him a fun electronic monopoly game and a lightsaber (cuz every jedi needs a lightsaber) and bubbles (Who doesn't love bubbles?).  After dinner we went for a nice walk in the beautiful sunshine and blue skies and 65+ weather, and played 2 hrs of Monopoly and watched an episode of Stargate.  It was a good night.

Wednesday, not much happened, except those creepers at work-see post titled "creepers" if you want that story.

Thursday, after I went to my Chem class and helped my friend get to and from her meetings, I got to go hiking with Lisa Anderson and  Stephanie Dayton-we went to Angel rocks.  We were kinda worried because on the drive we got pelted with rain, but while we were there it was beautiful.  We were all sweating by the top where we enjoyed the veiws and turned around.  By the time we left it was starting to rain again.  After making it back into town, I went out to North Pole to finish the monopoly game with Travis-and he kicked my trash!  He had a total of 69.9 Million at the end and I only had 6 million-the last move I made, I was holding my breath hoping to land on chance and not on his times square property--The most expensive one next that sits right next to go-- he had a hotel on it and the 8 million dollar rent would surely bankrupt me.  So I rolled and sigh of relief landed on chance.  The card read: "Celebrate New Years in The Big Apple, advance to Times Square."  Game over. But, fun way for it to end I guess.

Friday, not much excitement either, but still a good day-went to meetings in the morning, then classes and work was quiet-ish.

Saturday, it was still rainy but it held off while I did the Chena River run with my family.  I made it in 45 minutes, a 5K.  I pushed Liam the whole way while he slept in a stroller. Rulon ran, finnished in 25 minutes, and my Mom and Michelle walked it in 58 minutes with Elyse in a stroller also.  After that, I got some chores done-the world is always jsut a bit better when my room is clean and laundry is done.  Then I got to spend another evening with Travis-we had chicken enchiladas at my house and enjoyed some more stargate at his.  I know it sounds like we're lame watching this show all the time, but I'm in season 6-and almost done, and tomorrow his complete series is supposed to get here-and we're gonna try and have a marathon before we go to Cali. Still, may sound like we're geeks, but I promise we're not.  If you would just give it a chance and watch the show-you'd be just as hooked.  Its hilarious!

Anyways, today was also a productive and relaxing Sunday-Testimony meetings were really good, and its awesome how many new people are showing up for choir!  And I got my temple Reccomend renewed-I plan to go on the Branch Temple trip the 14th/15th-my choir pianist Catherine, and her beloved Jack are getting hitched the same weekend and they asked that I be there for pictures outside the temple since I can't go into their ceremony.  That was special.  I'm so happy for them.  And I'm glad I got to be a part of their coming together-I didn't do much but invite Catherine to come to church in October and be the choir pianist (that one week only-I was begging) but apparently that was all she needed to be called as my pianist and then to become more active and to meet Jack.  Jack always greets me with a Hug and a big "Thanks for finding me my wife" -AGain, I don't think I did much but it means alot to me that I meant that much to them.  Also, about the temple, how exciting that This summer, I'll be just about an hour away from the Oakland Cali temple!  YAY!!!  I've missed the temple so much-Fairbanks really needs one closer to home.  When I was in Rexburg I got to go every week!  I hope I can do that this summer-at least every other week (sing I won't have a car myself....)  And also, today, Travis and I bought our plane tickets to Cali and made some other plans for the summer.  I'm so excited!  We leave in 16 days-which are going to be some of the busiest days of my life, but I'm oh so excited about it!  YAY summer, YAY life!!!