Gotta Love the Fam.

So last Tuesday Kate somehow got into this crazy giving spirit and decided that it was my birthday. So she gave two presents just for me.

 From off her very own feet.

So then Brendan gave me a present as well.

My very own tooth brush to brush my teeth. I know. So giving.

So as of last week I have officially instated "quite time". This is time that Kate has to play and not watch TV. But what it is really is nap time. So on Wednesday I walked up stairs to put a few things away and found this.

She had come out of her room and fell asleep on the top of the stairs in front of my room. I thought it was super funny.

So on Wednesday it rained ALL day. Then Thursday there was fog ALL day. And of course it was the wet, misty, dizzley fog (that didn't lift til about four in the afternoon). Thursday night there was apparently a storm. So anyways. On Friday morning we backed out of the drive way and guess what? There was snow on the mountains! And I guess maybe I would have been a little excited to see snow however it totally scared me and made me totally nervous. But here are a few picture of the mountains.

Sorry about the stop light.

So then on Saturday I thought about having my very own quite time until I got invited to go the zoo, and since I haven't been since the first day I got here, I decided to go. Let me just tell you. Apparently in the middle of the afternoon when the sun is out is the time to go because they were all out and ready to party like there was no tomorrow.

So here are some of the other animals that I was able to see or haven't shown everyone yet.

Here is Pumbaa and his family. (he he)

So I saw this bird thing and thought it was super cool.

So this is Timon. The last time I went meerkats were no where in site. They were probably hiding because it was cold and raining.

Arthur was out and present, ready to party as well!

So then as we kept walking and looking and we saw this deer just standing on the side of the road just hanging out wanting to play.

So I thought I would take advantage of the photo op.

As we kept going we came across the moose again and I just really liked how the moose was just lying there,

 enjoying the afternoon like everyone else. It just made me so happy.

So fact about Ashlynn if your didn't know. For the longest time I have wanted a sloth. I just do. I just love them and the fact that they really don't do anything. I just think that they are they funniest things ever. So as we walk around this room that is a big circle there were smaller monkeys and, my fave, SLOTHS.

Just hanging out like sloths do. They just made me extremely happy. I just love them and want them so much. One day...

So as we were coming out of the room I see this thing sitting right outside the door and for some reason I got so scared. I thought walking by may scare it, and then it would have attacked me with it's furocious beak. But it was ok. I threw my friend in front of me and made a break for it. Don't worry. Luckily we all made it out alive. 

So one of the things that I wasn't able to see last time were the lions. So I was very excited to know that they were also ready to party.

 I call this one Nala. 

 And these ones don't have a name. Yet...

So I have been waiting for a package from home and today I finally got it.

I think this is probably one of the first box packages that I have received (that I can remember it) and it made me very excited.

I just really liked that my name was on it. Kinda like my credit card.

So I received a few of my cookbooks, plus a new one. Thanks mom! Some new contacts, a dress hat for the winter, and this lovely note .

Thank you guys! It really just made my whole day..

And I really like the new book that i got. It had some yummy stuff in there that Corinne and I are excited to give a test run. We're thinking that we'll start with one of these tonight.

Haha. Just kidding. Beth and Eric have our shaker til Friday.

That's how we do it in the Hood. Childhood.

So, this last week was so much fun. I'm sure I say that every blog but it is true. So far, it has been one of my favorites. We found out the Saturday before last that the pre-school had a leak so there would no be school that week so they could do repairs. So not gonna lie. At fist I was kinda bummed because I realized that if Kate was home in the mornings I would no longer have the quiet/scripture reading/cleaning/errand running/personal/blogging time as much as I have had and had grown accustomed to. So a little bummed. However, it turned out that I just had so much fun it was crazy! I honestly felt like Kate and I (and even Cammy) just played the whole week.

So first of all, Saturday:
The Preston family (minus Jeff and his family and Grandma Preston) all came over to play. We had a BBQ and roasted some more s'mores. So I first showed all the little kids what to do and they pretty much thought I was magic.

Sunday:
It was Family Sunday so both YSA wards were combined because they introduced all the new and/or returning members who just got back from school plus. . . all the new cadets. So they were all there in their little cadet uniforms with they families. And it was actually kinda fun because all these little kids were there so it was a little nosier like family ward and not just dead silent.
So then after church my friend taught me how to make Filipino Lumpias which were pretty amazing. If you don't know what they are they are pretty much like the Flipino version of an egg roll but are skinny like a taquito.



These were not them but just to give you an idea
So then Brendan thought it would be cool to go and take a small evening look around Garden of the Gods which is this place with a whole bunch of different rock formations that are hundred of years old. A friend told me about it when I first got here and it didn't sound too exciting but it was actually really cool. We were not there for very long so we didn't see a whole lot but here are a few pictures.

You can kinda see it but on the top it looked like two camels kissing. 

It's a wolf howling at the moon!

So Monday (Labor Day):
Corinne and Brendan got to sleep in while Kate and I just woke up and hung out. Then later that afternoon we decided to go on a small, last minute hike to this place called Seven Falls. (Because it was so last minute we didn't get to go all the way in to see the water falls but we stopped and decided to play at this little creek.)

Kate and Cammy both loved playing and running in the water.

I thought this was a cute picture.

So while they played I thought I would go and look around and take a few pictures for myself

So then after we played for a little bit we hiked back and then went to this Mexican restaurant for dinner where we also got some fried ice cream. Oh. It took me back.

Tuesday:
So once Kate and I woke up we ate breakfast while she watch her morning Netflix. After our morning ritual we started playing with some play-doh. She decided that she would make a birthday cake for her sweetie Gaston. This is all imaginative of course, but she comes up with it all on her own.
So after play-doh Kate changed into one of her ballerina outfits and started dancing to her requested Disney songs that I would find on YouTube as well as her Jewelry Box that I have to wind-up when it stopped playing.
One of the things they are teaching the kids in dance is how to skip; however because they are only four it is either a one legged skip or more of a gallop. So while she was doing her one leg gallop thing to her jewelry box, I taught Kate how to skip! I was so proud of myself and pleased with my teaching techniques. Brendan had tried to show her a few weeks ago but it didn't work. So I love that when I did it she was able to pick up on it. So this is a video I took randomly during the week so there is no music or great costumes, just pride.

Now imagine jewelry box music playing and her dancing in this. . .

She thought she was pretty legit. To legit to quit. Until she got tired..

So after she danced her little heart out we got ready and went to the store. Let me just tell you, home girl is nuts! First of all she says, "Hi. I'm Kate. Who are you?" to EVERYONE. And, that day of all days, everywhere we turned there were fruit snacks displayed so she was constantly asking, "Can we get fruit snacks? Can we get Nemo ones? No. Scooby-Doo. No. I want Spider-Man fruit snacks. Look Asher Dora!" So just about every time we saw a different one she changed her mind; however she finally decided.

Wednesday:

Wednesday at 7:30 in the morning I get this phone call, and luckily I have been up so it didn't wake my up or anything, but it was the Second Counselor in the Bishopric from the Family Ward and called to asked if I would give a talk on Sunday. Of course I said, "Yeah. Of course. No problem." But yeah. That was the last thing I was expecting.

So then a little later Kate woke up and we did our morning ritual. We played with play-doh again for a little bit before I had to leave and get ready for Institute.

I just love institute. I just think that Brother Palmer is such a good teacher and I just really, really enjoy it. Not to bash on my past Seminary teachers either; I can just add him along to that great collection.

So then I came home and found Kate now wearing her Snow White dress. What she now had discovered how it bellows out. So she would stand on the couch,

then jump on to the floor,

and admire her dress. It was quite funny to see her do this for quite some time and act like every time was the first time she had ever seen it.

So then I decided that I would vacuum. I have recently discovered that I really enjoy vacuuming because I really like making the lines and patterns in the carpet. It's like my own version of a zen garden. And I totally would have taken pictures except right after I finished and went to get my camera Kate ran across then carpet and started dancing and then rolled all over. Then spat on my heart. Not really; but that's what it felt like.

So after I vacuumed we decided to go on a bike ride. It was really fun. It mostly consisted of Kate talking (and talking) to me while huffed and puffed up the hills. I forget that it is just a little bit harder with her on the back. However I have noticed that it is getting easier so that is way good for me and my legs. And that means that I can either increase my nesquick hot chocolate in take in the mornings, my oreo cookie in take in the afternoons, or my ice cream in take after dinner. So yes. I would think that is a plus.

Then Wednesday night was my night time Institute class which I just also love. Brother Goss is also a great teacher and is way funny. Little example. He was talking and some guy raised his hand and said, "I don't mean to interrupt," and then Brother Goss said, "Well you already have so just carry on." But it was so funny and everyone started laughing. And right after he was like, "Oh. I'm just kidding. Just kidding," and then said how he enjoys when we talk; but it was good. Good way to end the night. We can add him the collection too.

Thursday:

Kate and I went to her dance class. The best part was probably how Kate was able to show off her amazing skipping. All the moms were pretty impressed. We were pretty much rockin the show. So then after dance we went and continued on with our Thursday rituals which is after dance we go and get a green apple-cherry slush from Sonic. We just love Thursdays! They bring such happiness and excitement.

(This is an older picture but you can feel the joy.)

Friday:

So Friday we decided to end the week with a semi-bang and went to the park which we haven't been to in forever. So Kate, Cammy, and I walked down to the park. On the way there Kate tried so hard to walk Cammy but because she would jerk on the leash so hard whenever she picked up a new scent that I thought it was probably best that I held it while Kate co-piloted.

So once we got there we did the usual. 

Swing

Climb the jungle jim.

Play in the Sand. You know, all that jazz.

Brendan was out riding his bike so he came and joined us after a while. Cammy loved that!

Kate and I did the slide together for a while. Then I showed her some life lessons.

How to go up the slide.

(I just like how my thigh on the left looks in this one but I don't think you can see it very well.)

So one I made my way to the top and then

it was Kate's turn.

Please excuse the little bit of underwear sticking out from the top.

We were very proud when she got to the top.

While we climbed, Cammy swam in the little pond that is there. She loved jumping in, running out, standing right next to me, and then shaking off all the water. No lie! She would do it every time. I smelt like wet, pond dog.

Later that night we went rock wall climbing and bouldering which is free climbing with out the ropes.

So this is me bouldering.

That's when I got to the top!

And when you get to the top there is a slide to slide down. Way fun.

So this I start climbing the wall. Which might I add, I totally owned.

That is me looking down from the top honking the horn so all of CityRock knew I reached the top.

Then the repel down. I pretty much felt like SpiderMan. It was great.

Saturday:

I pretty much worked on my talk. I watched Kate for the morning while Brendan went hunting and Corinne had to run into work. But then they three of them went to this birthday party for a neighbor so I stayed home and wrote my talk. It was nice. It took me a while but it all worked out. Later that night we all went out to sushi and then this yogurt place called Yo-Yogurt. I had been there before but Corinne, Kate and Brendan had not. It's pretty much like a Daddy-o's. . .but better. And I really like Daddy-o's so that's saying something. Probably just because it had more of a variety. It was yummy.

Sunday:

I gave my talk in the family ward. It was way nice. Corinne came for Sacrament Meeting to sit with Kate and show her "fill-in" mother support. I loved it. 

So it was kinda funny. First of all, right before the passing of the Sacrament one of the priest (I'm assuming he was a priest) walked up to the bishop and told him that they didn't have the bread yet. So the counselor gets up and tells everyone that we'll just continue on with the program and start with the talks. So luckily for my, I was the first speaker. I was a little thrown of just because I  was hoping I would have been able to read through my talk one more time, but instead I just stood up and started in. Oh. And my topic was "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" just in case anyone was wondering. 

So then, maybe, about a third into my talk I noticed I kept saying "um" a lot and was talking a little fast. So then, out of no where, I just say, "Ok. I'm sorry. Let me just give you a little heads up about me. When I get up here sometimes I get nervous so then I just say "um" and "like" a lot and I am just so sorry." And then i just start talking again like it was apart of my talk. They kinda laughed at that, but then I said the next sentence and then said "um" again! So then I said, "Ah! There it is again." So then they really laughed at that. But after I said that I slowed down and didn't say "um" or "like" as much. So that was good. 

So then the next lady who had only been married for 9 years gets up and says, "I am very thankful for. . .(hesitation) the youth speaker that spoke and the things she said." 

So yeah. In front of everyone, not only did she totally forget my name, but then called me a youth speaker as well. I know I am kinda small for my age, but I am almost 19! So then afterwards some of the young women came up to me and started asking me if I was a laural, so I would just tell them, "Oh, no. I'm 18. I'm about to start school soon." But it was funny. 

 So I felt kinda lame but afterwards a lot of people came up to me and introduced themselves and said that I did very well, and that I did a really good job, and that they really enjoyed it and the things I said. The first counselor told me that I as very mature for my age and well beyond my years. I thought that was extremely nice and flattering.

All in all, I just thought it was a super good day to end the week. I would think so.Especially when you go out with a Sunday night ice cream sundae. Thank heaven for yummy chocolate sauce!