Friends

I love being able to reconnect with such dear friends (and family) when I go to Utah. In March, I was able to have lunch with Viola. She was my traveling companion when I was Miss Utah. It was so nice to catch up with her though it was difficult to learn of her mother's health condition. I loved having her meet my children as we spent many nights talking about the family I'd like to have some day and the man I hoped to marry. She has always had such a great listening ear. We were also able to have Mindy and her cute girls Brielle and Chloe over for lunch. Jackson loves Chloe and they were able to have fun digging through Nana's toy closet. I can't believe how quickly these girls have grown up and hope that they get to move to Kansas City next year (fingers crossed!). My best friend Melissa and her sweet girl Whitnee also came over for lunch. Melissa and I have been friends for life. She is always so much fun to be around and is consistently kind and happy. I love that about her. I feel totally at ease around her. The kids and I also drove to Riverdale where I met my two best friends from college: Maika and Holly. These girls amaze me with all they are doing with their families, in addition to winning marathons and triathalons all over the U.S. They inspire me by their determination and goodness. I'm so grateful I was able to spend time with these wonderful friends while in Utah (though there are many others that I'd love to be able to see when we go out their next). I feel richly blessed to have such good people in my life.

Park Valley

I grew up in a small ranching community in northwestern Utah. I had a wonderful childhood complete with a loving family, great friends, and endless amounts of fun on my grandmother's farm and exploring the country. I loved being able to take Jackson and Kate to Park Valley to show them my old house, where I went to school, where I played, etc. It was such a fun day and reminded me of those precious growing up years when your life is shaped by your surroundings. The country will always have a special place in my heart. I loved it then and I love it now.

Updates (from March): Salt Lake Temple

During our Utah trip in March, we loved visiting Temple Square. Jackson started singing "I Love to See the Temple." He and Kate also enjoyed touching the temple. When Jackson first saw the doors to the temple he ran up to them and started trying to open them. I explained he could not go inside until he was a little older and could understand the sacred nature of temples. He was not happy. He cried and tried shaking the doors open. It was one of those moments you realize that they get what you've been trying to teach them and as embarrassed you are that he's causing a scene you're also filled with a little bit of pride about why he's so upset. We loved the statues, the flowers, the food at the Nauvoo bakery and everything about that special place.

Temple Open House

I love the Kansas City Missouri Temple. We are so grateful that we will be living 45 minutes away from a temple. It has been so long since we've had a temple this close. Last Thursday, Jason and I served as tour guides at the open house. I was nervous about what I would say and how I would answer questions, but it was a great experience. I felt inspired to know what to say and actually was very calm when it was my turn to be the "voice" of the tour. Jason, of course, did an exceptional job answering questions and directing the tours he led. It was such a special experience for us both. Then, today, I took Jackson and Kate, along with Irina who lives with us from Germany, to the temple. Jackson was so excited. As soon as the film began he said "There's the temple." It made the people in the room chuckle. It made his mom very proud. He loved carrying the temple pamphlet and thought the shoe covers were funny. He did really well for most of the tour but then got the wiggles and so the end of the tour was a bit more challenging. It was special to have my two children experience the inside of the temple.

Sewing revisited after 16 years

I was inspired by so many Iowa friends who do some AMAZING sewing, home decorating, upcycling projects that I decided to drag out my sewing machine (all the way to Kansas from Utah) and see if I could remember anything. So, tonight, I made Kate a little skirt. It was a lot of fun and I actually remembered more than I thought I would. So, thanks to those great Iowa ladies who helped me get back into creating. (By the way, Jackson was jealous the skirt wasn't for him. I guess scrubs for him might be up next... :)

Hogle Zoo on St. Patty's Day

The last time I went to Hogle Zoo was when I was in elementary school in Park Valley, Utah. Needless to say, it's been a while (like a couple of decades or so). So, I thought it would be fun to take Jackson and Kate to Hogle Zoo. We were happy to have my parents join us for our adventure. Kate loved the Tigers. She got so excited when we saw them. She would growl at them. Quite frankly, I was a little scared of them, but not my Kate. I think she would have tried to pet one if she could've gotten close enough. Jackson liked the monkeys and the giraffes, but favorite parts were the train ride, carousel, and the super-fun animal shaped playground.

Utah, We Love Thee!

The kids and I headed to Utah for 15 days (the most time since we moved from there about four years ago) in March. We stayed at Nana and Grandpa's (Jason's parents home) while there as they are preparing to serve a mission for three years starting this summer. I don't think I realized how much I love Utah and being close to family until we were able to spend this time there as most of our other trips back to Utah have been rushed. I love the feeling I get in Utah: I'm home. I love the sights: mountains, Temple Square, familiar faces. I love the food: can I say Cafe Rio enough here? I love it's beauty and the peace I feel there. Instead of trying to put all of our adventures in one post, I'm going to break each out in separate posts so I can share more details about what we did there.