Fun Getaway!

Oct. 10, 2016

Dear Sister Kristina,

Well, we got back home from our little trip to Utah late last night and the girls had to face the harsh realities of getting up for school again. Leah had the hardest time and I wasn’t sure she’d even get up this morning. She has a real anxiety about things sometimes that just stops her in her tracks. I’m hoping she has a good day.

Dad is off picking up the dogs and getting a new prescription for Leah. We’re going to carefully try some focus medicine again. The ladies are here cleaning and are always asking about you and your mission. The house is so quiet without the dogs, haha, but I know any minute they will come barreling in and want to play.

We left last Wed after school and headed for Utah. It seemed like a long trip this time because we went all the way to Steve and Carolina’s. Their home is so beautiful and they make it so nice to stay there. We ended up staying with them for two nights and then stayed with Allen and Lisa for two nights. It was fun being able to spend time with both of them. The first night dad and I stayed up late talking with Steve and Carolina and catching up on everything and everyone. Gio and Jen live in St. George and like living there. Isaac is still living in Spain. Axel likes his new high paying attorney job, but has to work a lot of hours, Dakota finished nursing school but failed at her first attempt to pass the exam, so she has to wait now and take it again, but in the meantime she’s working at an assisted care center and loves it, Kassie is loving being a mom and her little girl is so cute and chunky. Savannah and I got to play with her one afternoon while the guys and Leah and Nikki went golfing.

It was kind of a shock to see Alex in person since he has this long beard now, but I kind of think he likes shocking us. :) We of course went to all the food places that they don’t have in New York, so we hit Costa Vida, In N Out, Mo Betta, JCW, etc etc. He hasn’t found a job yet, but says he’s not worried, but I hope he finds something fairly quickly. Kirk joined us for the weekend since Sarah and the little girls were in Canada, so it was fun having so many of us together.

After the guys went golfing, we went to one of Chloe’s soccer games. She’s so good. She scored three out of the four goals, a hat trick they call it. Most of the weekend we had Chloe, Nash and Kade with us too. After the game, we were supposed to go to the Samoan dance class, but Leah was really adamant about not doing it. Not sure why. We ended up just going to dinner and then hanging out at Steve and Carolina’s. Dakota and Downing came over to visit too and even Taylor Starr stopped by after she got done doing baptisms at the temple. It was great seeing everyone and Taylor is really loving BYU.

Here we are watching Nikki’s Youtube videos. We were all laughing so hard.

I forgot to mention that Savannah and I went to your new apartment complex and I signed the contract for winter for you. You’re in Claire’s room and the manager was really nice. It’s only two blocks from campus and you will walk up the stairs that lead to the testing center. You’ll be in apartment G11 on the second floor. We didn’t get to see the inside, but here’s the outside:

Just a goofy picture showing you how much hair Nikki has…enough to share with two others. :)

On Friday we met everyone for lunch including Keith and then he asked if we wanted a tour of the President’s Loge at the football stadium. He had just finished updating it. Wow, what a great view of the games! The general authorities often sit up there too and dignitaries. He showed us the Cougar Club room too that they updated. Here are a few pics:

Going in under the stadium to the Cougar Club room.

Nikki just thought even the drinking fountains were cool.

Then we went back outside and entered the elevators. I never knew those round tubes even had elevators in them. 

Not real good at the selfie taking, but we’re in the elevator. Charmaine is there with us too and there was even a TV on the wall that isn’t shown.

This is the beautiful view, much better view without Alex in the way. haha

Allen and Lisa joined us too.

The seats were comfy! It was so nice of Keith to take us there. We loved it.

That afternoon, Alex and Savannah took the girls including Charmaine to hang out at the mall and get ready for Nash’s birthday party. Dad and I went to Herriman to visit my Aunt Marr and my cousin Steve and his wife Diane. They live in such a pretty area. My cousin built a home with a walkout basement apartment for my Aunt and Uncle. Now that my uncle has passed away, Marr just lives there and said it feels so nice to be so near to her son and it’s made things so much easier, so I’m very happy for her. It was fun catching up with my cousin Steve because we were very close as teens and young adults then went our separate ways. Here we are standing in the backyard of their home:

This is the back of the house. Dad and I stopped by Grandma and Grandpa’s house for the rest of the afternoon, then headed back to Spanish Fork to Martin’s for Nash’s birthday. We conveniently missed the first part of the party at Nickelmania. haha But at their house, they opened presents and had pizza and ice cream. Nash is now officially six. Kirk met us for the party.

Friday night we stayed with Allen and Lisa, Kirk stayed with us there too. The guys went golfing in the morning except Kirk, he stayed with us girls. The girls all got their nails done, then Kirk took Nikki to Color Me Mine for her birthday present to paint a piece of ceramic pottery. While they were doing that, the rest of us girls hung out at RiverWoods which is close by. Remember that’s the place where the Provo beach is. Afterwards, we all went to lunch at Magleby’s and Taco 180, then headed up the canyon to go to Cascade Springs. Allen, Lisa, Malcolm and Maggie all came with us too. The fall colors were already going away, but it was still wonderful just being outdoors and walking.

We ate at the famous Dairy Keen in Heber after the hike. Great milkshakes!

In Allen’s backyard having fun with fire.

Sunday we all went to the Samoan ward. It was wonderful as usual and I’m so glad Kirk, Alex and Savannah, Chloe, Kade got to be there too. They loved it and got to meet some of our friends there. Afterward we all had dinner at grandma and grandpa’s and played silly games, well…mainly Alex did the silly stuff. haha 

We got to face time Sarah and the girls whom we missed terribly!!!! Here’s a cute pic of all the Canadian cousins. I love little Haylee’s face in it!!

Sorry about so many pictures this time, but that tells the story pretty much. A fun time for everyone. I hope you’ve had a great week and I’m so excited to hear from you. Things are definitely falling into place for your after mission life. The manager said that it was rare to have someone move out in winter and especially in the exact apartment you wanted and even in the room you wanted!! You’re meant to be there. 

Thank you for being such a wonderful example of a faithful woman of God. I know that it lifts those around you, but it has lifted us here at home too. Keep up the hard work and always remember how much we are praying for you and love you!!!

Love you sooooo much,

Mom xxoo