Nellie

Noelle

Jessi

SooOooOOooo.......

So... I have been here at school for 4 weeks now and have had a lot of fun!! Its been a hoot and I really do like it but I have learned a lot about myself ha ha so I thought I would share a few of them with you guys:

1. I miss mom's cooking like crazy! After a number of times of burning my meals and making the appt smell like smoke I have come to realize I am not the best cook. I also thought I would NEVER say this but I am getting sick of the traditional turkey and cheese sandwich...which has replaced the meals I destroy.

2. (this one is for you dad) Remember all those times dad would make us go to bed when he went to bed. annoying right..well I think I understand why because it is IMPOSSIBLE to go to sleep when your roommates (in his case,us...the kids) have all their friends over for a game/movie night. I have really come to appreciate dad making all our friends go home during those times because when someone needs to get up early the next day for..I don't know a MIDTERM it makes a big difference. Ha ha love ya pops

3. We all know that I am not the smartest cookie around...meaning I don't get people's jokes half the time, or what is happening at the moment, or I say something totally ridiculous, you all know what I mean. Well I definitely miss you guys for that reason. You just understand that I am that way and just end up teasing me about it. A few of those times have popped up and people reacted different to my stupidity than you guys do. No good ha ha :)

4. When your roommate comes and ask for assistant for unclogging the toilet and then you look like the idiot for not knowing how to use the plunger......ya enough said..we both felt really dumb. Tanks to everyone who solved those problems in our house

5. I MISS THE ARIZONA HEAT!

Well I love school I cant believe I only have 8 more days left. I like my classes and teachers. They are the best! I feel like a lot has changed in this short period of time, I am not going to lie it has been hard living such a different lifestyle but none the less its been good and I have learned a lot about myself. I miss you guys A TON. It makes me really excited to see all of you guys in the next couple of weeks, ekkkkkkkkkkkk I cant wait!!!!! I love you all and hope all is going well, thanks for all of your phone calls, packages, emails, and stuff it means a lot. I love you!

P.S. Here are a few pictures of things I have been up to..nothing to exciting. Enjoy!

this is me and a few of my friends at the Oqurrih temple

the most beautiful place i have ever been, the Teton Mt. in Wyoming

haha what a bunch of losers

Wheee Horsey!

Olivia and Hannah found a way to get a good laugh!

Kid Zone

While we were in San Diego all of us took the kids to a fun little play place. There were so many things for them to do and an area in the middle with tables where all of the adults could sit. The kids had a blast and we had fun catching up.

This Shamu was bigger than Addilyn. She loved it!!

Abby, Carter, and Tag... with hanger guns on a pirate ship.

Addi, Grace, and Carter in the stuffed animal room.

LOVES! Not often I get a picture like this and even though it's not great of either of them, it's still blog worthy.

SERIOUS ABOUT THIS

Hey family,

I was behind someone on the way home from Idaho Falls the other day and they were swerving all over the road. I stayed behind her because it seemed safest. I kept a close eye on the driver to see if they were okay, I thought maybe they were ill or drunk. After a few minutes I could see the driver hang up her cell phone and her driving returned to normal. I don't think she had any idea what a danger she had been.

I see people text all of the time. I so often am waiting at a 4-way stop for another person who is texting instead of realizing it is their turn to go. It is so very dangerous to text and drive.

I am writing to say PLEASE DON"T TEXT AND DRIVE!!!

Even talking on the phone makes you as likely to get in an accident as being drunk on 4 glasses of wine, beer, or 4 shots of booze.

I am hanging up my phone while on the road. NO MORE! The risks are too great and we all think we can do it and we all think we are fine. How devastating if we were to kill or be killed because of a silly phone.

With all the technology and fancy phones that people in the family are accumulating, please don't use it while driving! Please!

Love,
Jessica and Ben

Here's a little more on the subject:
http://www.oprah.com/packages/no-phone-zone.html
I know how some of you feel about Oprah. She is not my hero and she is not always right, but about this, she is right, and I'm not saying it because Oprah said it! I'm saying it because it's true!!!

Here's Lookin' At You, Dad!

Dad-

First, Happy Father's day!

I know this probably isn't the most flattering picture that we have of you, but it illustrates what we want to say so beautifully that I can't pass up the chance to use it.

As we send our good thoughts your way today, I can't help but think about some of the things that make you you. Things like your constant bouncing (be it legs, hands, etc.), your former fixations on doors (and the year 1984), your seemily limitless abundance of work ethic, your spiritual side, your Jimmy Eat World side and, as shown in the pictures above, the fact that you're always looking up.

That last one is one of the things I admire most about you. Let me explain. Everytime we walk in to a new building, you make a quick glance around and then you look up at the ceiling. And while you may be appreciating some decorative sconces or some fancy crown moulding, we all know that you're really pondering the inner-workings of the strucural framework of the building. And you do this (look up, I mean) every time, with out fail.

But the beauty of this "looking up" quirk is that it's manifest in other ways and in other areas in your life. Whether or not you'd like to admit it, we all know that (not so) deep down, you're an optimist. You always manage to "look up" at the brighter side of things. When things, or events, or life, or people are somewhat less than stellar, we can always find you "looking up."

But more importantly and significantly, through your actions and example, you've taught us the spiritual importance of "looking up." You've taught us to "look up" to and aspire toward the temple, to "look up" to the prophet, to "look up" and see ourselves as God sees us. You've taught us that we must "look up" to the Savior; for guidance, for comfort, for forgiveness, for salvation.

So today, on Father's Day, we want to thank you for spending your life thus far being someone that we can all "look up" to. We love you, Dad! Happy Father's Day.