Martins Cove

Bright and early Monday morning Kaytlyn down through Maria attended Stake Conference. This year we drove out, via Le Bus, to Wyoming. Although it was a very long bus ride, it was so worth it! On the bus we where put into "Families". [[Those where the people we would be sharing a tent with.]] There was about a 7 mile walk with nearly 100lbs worth of clothing, water, etc., on a handcart that we where required to take along the trail to our camp site. It was rough, but such a wonderful experience.
On Tuesday, our second day there. We walked a few miles to reach "Martine's Cove". What a wonderful experience. Sister Santiago and her sister, Sister Harper, sang Hymns, and other pioneer songs the whole way there. As they lead everyone else around us into song, the spirit was so amazing. It was so wonderful. Before walking through the cove we ate lunch, and then got a blessing from our Stake President. It felt amazing.
I walked through the cove with two of my good friends, Alan Barney, and Josh Gootee. I was filled with gratitude to be able to walk through with them. Throughout the time I've known them they have been an insperation, and so kind to me. The spirit that comes with these two young men is just unbelievable.

After everyone was out of the cove, we headed over to the river to hear a story. And have the chance to walk through the river. I didn't go in, and I wish I had. Though, Kaytlyn, Mara, and Joshua went through, along with so many other youth. It was way nice to watch them walk through. A lot of the young men offered to carry across so many of the young women, it was just unbelievable and kind.

The walk back to camp was a real rough one. While not having eaten much in the past two week, I had gotten myself real ill. I tried to hang in there and just go through with it. But being dehydrated, and exposed to too much heat, heading toward heat stroke, it was real hard. We got to a point where all the men where taken to the top of the hill, and us women sat on the grass. The 1st councelor in the Stake Presidency talked with the Women about how big of a roll we play. While the 2nd councelor in the Presidency talked with the men about... men stuff.
The Young Women then took the carts and had to, by ourselves, run up the hill while the men watched us, not being able to help. The feelings, and responses I heard from some of the young men was just so unbelievable touching.

Later that night we had testimony meeting. The stake presidency bore their testimonies then sent us back to our individual camp fires to have smaller testimony meetings. It was nice.
Pretty early Wednesday morning we left for home. The walk back to the buses was cool, then very hot, then for about the last 3 miles it rained so hard. That was one of my favorite moments.

While it rained and everyone got soaked I felt the spirit most. As I mentioned before, Josh G. bring a lot of courage, and warmths. He pulled that hand cart the entire way back to the bus. Without any complaint, in a short sleve white shirt. While everyone else moved out of the way so that they wouldn't have to walk through the mud, Josh just took that hard cart straight through. Not even thinking twice. Just thinking that we could get sick if we got stuck out there for too long, he wanted to get us all into warm clothes, and on the bus as soon as possible, without becoming real ill. He was so sweet. It was... incredible.

Youth Conference this year has been my favorite. It is one that I will remember, and cherish forever. I am so glad that I chose to go, instead of going because my parents said. I chose that I would go, and enjoy it.
One last thought, a few days before I went to youth conference I was talking on facebook with my friend Jordan N. (Who is in my stake.) As I told him how I felt about going on the trek and how it just didn't feel right to me. He replied telling me he was in a hurry and had to go. Seconds before he logged off he said "Leah. You will be blessed if you go on the TREK." Those words just hit me so hard. He made my experience at trek amazing by saying those words. It changed my attitude about so many things. I'll always be thankful to him.

Super Saturday.

Today was Saturday. Not really different from any other day in the summer, except for the fact, it's the only day before Sunday. After taking a morning time shower I got on the computer to chat with friends. A few moments later I found out that we where going to the "Utah Lake Festival". My first thought; "Oh no! My hair!". It was still soaking wet, and I figured it'd frizz. ahh! Well, we still went. Kaytlyn down to, the youngest, Emma got into the car with my wonderful Father and drove out to the Festival. They had facts, face painting, fishing, and food. It really was a party! We didn't stay very long. Just long enough to see what was going on, vote on some pictures. And have my Father take a picture of us children in front of the Lake. It was a nice way to spend my morning. (:

After the lake we drove by the "Provo Farmers Market". But decided we would go look around there next Saturday. (They will be there every Saturday throughout the summer.) We went home and got work done, then played around. Youth Conference starts bright and early Monday morning at 5 o'clock. My sweet Mother unpacked and repacked with us kids for the TREK double, then triple checking to make sure we had everything. Just after 5 we went to the final weigh in at the Stake Center. Finally! After words we went to buy pizza for dinner.

After dinner my dear Mother took Maria, Gabrielle, Emma and I to the Provo Town Center to see the new movie "UP". It was a very fun movie. I'd suggest it to pretty much anyone. (:
-Here is a photo of Maria and I just outside our car after the movie-
After failing at trying to convince My mother, along with Maria, to go to Maceys and get ice cream cones. We went home and ate some ice cream we had there. Of course. It was delicious.

Today was quite the day. I love being able to get out. And even better. Getting out with Family! They can be a blast. (:

Too much!!

I have sooo many pictures from the way too and from California, and everything in between, that need to be uploaded and posted. But I just don't seem to find the right moment to get them up. So gradually over the summer I will update everyone with what happened in California this summer.

Now, lets go back in time to Wednesday June 3, 2009.

We arrived home about half past 7 in the morning. Most everyone was exhausted and went straight to bed. I was one of them. I slept from about 7:45-10:30. The rest of the day was... hmm... how should I put this... a "Relaxing Hectic Day"? Everyone sat around, watching Movies, playing games, catching up with friends online, or playing with the neighbors kids. It was kind of nice to be back. That night was when it started to get crazy. Mom was trying to get everything organized, and went out shopping for the youth conference TREK trip Kaytlyn, Mara, Joshua, Maria and I will be attending. (So nice of her.) As it neared 5 or 6 o'clock at night mom was just finishing up my 2nd skirt for the TREK. As us kids that will be going, packed our buckets that aren't allowed to be over 17 lbs.

(Surprisingly my bucket weighed the least, 10.5 lbs. and only filled up half the bucket!)

I finished packing, and needed something to entertain me until mutual, so I took photos of everything going on.

-Mother dear finishing my skirt.

I asked Ria to show me how excited she was for TREK, this was her response. Classic. Ria and I are not very excited to be going on TREK. Yes we know we should be excited. But it just hasn't hit us yet. We have talked it through, and are trying to be positive about the whole thing. I hope it all turns out well!


So... We are girls? I forgot what these expression are. Probably something along the lines of
1. "What does your face say to meeting at the Stake Center by 5 in the morning?"
2. "There's going to be dancing!"

What's cooking?

Today was everyone's first day on the job. My sweet mother put together a list of jobs for us to accomplish today. Everyone was lucky Maria was assigned with the job "Cookies". Maria and Kaytlyn worked together in the kitchen making "No Bake Cookies" and "Oatmeal Cookies". [[Two of my personal favorites!]]

Getting closer to the end of making the cookies, Kaytlyn headed off to work, (At Famous Footwear). So I helped finish up. (:

Joshua was put in charge of mowing the Front and Back Lawn. Besides being a bother to me while I was trying to do my job, Weed Whacker, he did an excellent job and finished up fast. After he finished his assignment, he Gabrielle, and Emma walked up to Wasatch Elementary School to count and measure... things... on the black top for Joshua's Eagle Project he hopes to accomplish this summer.

After he finished up at Wasatch he came home to play some video games, of course. He asked if he could play "Wii Fit". And got right on it. He loved it so much! Him, Kaytlyn and I got a few good laughs out of it. Watching him 'exercise' was lots of fun. He's got a lot of "Upper Body Strength." ha. I love my little brother!

For today, Emma was responsible for "Picking Up".

[[Side note: Kaytlyn took everyone to the Library today to get some books. As we where on our way Kaytlyn was making sure we all knew what our jobs where. As she went over it, and came to Emma's name she said "Emma: Picking up... hahah. But that doesn't mean picking up boys!" Emma replied with something like: "I get to pick up boys?!"]]

Emma Picked up in the Living Room, and Family Room.
Afterwords she got Gabrielle to play the Wii with her.
(As shown in the picture above.)
They seemed to have a great time.
Summer should be a blast!

Everyone's at work.

School ended a week ago. So summer is in. As school was finishing up, I asked my friends what their plans where for the summer break. The majority of the replies I got where; "Oh, just sleeping in until at least noon!" Sighh. I wish more people would realize what god has given us. And what we are able to do. There are so many arts and crafts, and other fun activities you can do. That don't cost money, or are hardly expensive. I'd suggest that everyone gets their recommended hours of sleep, but do that by going to bed early, and rising early.

-In my family this is what we do in the summer time;

• It was decided last night that we have Breakfast and Scripture Study at 8:00 A.M.

• Gabrielle and Emma asked to be signed up for summer school at Wasatch Elementary Monday- Thursday. So they attend that from 9-12.

• Meanwhile Maria, Joshua, Mara and I try to get our jobs done. My dear Mother and Father are both working. So it's up to us to make sure that the house is clean and presentable. Mother dear writes out our names on a paper, and lists one job per day, that we will do for the next two weeks. I think it's a wonderful idea.

• When Gabrielle and Emma come back from Summer School they are responsible for getting their daily job done. There is usually no complaining when my mother writes out the list like this. Once we see that others have things to do as well, we visually see that it's not unfair at all. We all live in this house. And we all need to do our part to make it a "Heaven on Earth."
  

The Ending.

Looks like our trip is coming to an end. This trip we:

Saturday

• Arrived in Chino California at Aunt Sheila's house Saturday night to see the newest, and cutest baby in Chino, Abby and Jordans new daughter.

• Loaded up again, and went to drop by Grandmas house to say hi, and drop some stuff off, then go to dinner at Ita's house.

Sunday

• 9 O'clock in the morning we where at Grandmas Church. Then by 11 O'clock we where at Ita's ward for another hour of Sacrament meeting.
• From Church we went straight to Rose Hill Cemetery to visit Benjamin's, Ito's, and other family members grave sites.
• Then Sweet and Sour meatball's with Grandma.

Monday

• For Breakfast we had Mini Muffins. Yummy.
• By 8 we where on the road, I think, headed for Six Flags.
• We spent the day, from 10:30-6 (Open-Close) at six flags.
• Got dinner, Inn-n-Out. (DELICIOUS!)
• Went to Ita's house to say hi. We where all very grumpy (Except me of course, (; )
• After we got back to Grandmas, most of us where knocked out.
• Kaytlyn, Karla, and Peter went to Target to get peter Board Shorts.

Tuesday

• Grandma gave us "Before Breakfast Appetizers" they where delicious strawberries.
• We then went and had morning rice, and menudo at Ita's.
• Then went back to Grandmas to change and get ready for the beach.
• Went to the beach, and spent the afternoon there.

Now

• Kaytlyn, Karla, and Mara just went to Jump the wall and run over to the 99 cent store.
• While Maria and I sit and talk.
• Mommy took the other kids to Ita's house, it's Ita's birthday so we are having her Birthday dinner over there.
• We are leaving California at 6 (6 California time, 7 Utah time), and should be there around 6 tomorrow morning.
  

Two Minute Briefing

Hello everyone!
This morning has been very... interesting. Everyone has been running all over grandmas house.
I just finished breakfast, delicious mini muffins and fruit, so mouth watering!
I have been in and out of the back bedroom, where my parents are staying, fixing my outfit, hair, and make-up all morning while my favorite daddy sat working on some stuff at the computers making those Father like comments as I walked in and made my funny noises when my hair didn't look right.
As I was doing my hair for the last time, so I hoped, Dad was clearing off pictures from his phone.

*Reminder; today is magic mountain. He wants room on his phone, and camera to take pictures of his lovely daughters... and 2 of his sons screaming their heads off.

When dad chuckled and said "Oh gosh you girls are silly." I knew he was looking at the pictures I recently posted. Of us girls getting ready in the bathroom.
hahah I love the memories pictures bring from the past. It's always like a news flash.

Speaking of news, you all should become followers of my dads news blog. He updates it regularly and always has great input. I was listening to my Grandma, and mother dear talk about it yesterday. I've looked at it too and it's just really well done. You should all go and check it out, that would be wonderful!!

http://noticed.twominutebriefing.com/

Home sweet home.

We safely made it back to one of our families favorite spots. Whittier California.

Yearly our family makes a trip to our home town Whittier California, just outside of L.A. (So I'm told). It is always such a delight.
We hardly have any problems during the 10-12ish hours it takes us to drive there.
The time in the car is usually spent: Sleeping, laughing, talking, or eating.
I loved, for the last hour, co-piloting and listening to the 4 different conversations going on in the back, that all, some how, ended up forming together into one conversation.
We safely arrived to my grandmothers home just around 5, I think, Saturday night. We then later went to eat dinner at my Tio Victors house.
We had a great time seeing our cousins. As well as finally getting to see Mikeys new finished home. It's so gorgeous.

Today was Sunday, duh. Church was at 9 so around 7 everyone was eating cereal, or grapefruit, YUM!
Getting closer to 8:15 us girls all hurried to finish brushing our teeth, doing make up, or fixing our hair.
I suppose daddy thought it was silly of us, and way funny that we would cram us 4 girls in and out of 1 (1 of the 2) bathroom doorways. So he took a photo,
here is Mara brushing her teeth.
Maria brushing her teeth while I do her hair with my eye liner, and mascara in my mouth,
and Kaytlyn getting ready to brush her teeth right after fixing her hair.
It was quite the morning.

We attended Sacrament meeting at Grandmas, then went over to Itas ward for their sacrament meeting. Even though we where all really tired, it was a great experience.
After the meetings we all got back in the Van and headed over to the Cemetery to see our beloved brother Benjamin. Along with Ito, and other wonderful relatives.
The Cemetery always brings such a wonderful feeling to me, I really enjoy every opportunity we can while we are in California to go to the Rose Hill Cemetery to see Benjamin.

After the Cemetery we went and had lunch at Itas while we visited. Lunch was DELICIOUS. We then came back to Grandmas house and now currently having "nap time". Dinner will be around 6. Grandma says we are having meatballs... well at least I hope! (:
I love California and wish we could come more often, but once a year is just fine with me.
I'm so thankful to the lord for providing us these opportunities to come and visit with Family.
It really is just so wonderful. The weather has been a bit cold. But of course, gorgeous.
It was so nice on our way here talking with my daddy about the weather, and places that we where passing by, he knows SO much. I love talking with him.
Tomorrow is Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Hopefully Tuesday will be the beach.
Then Wednesday we should be back to Provo in the late afternoon.
So a very short trip, but well worth it.(:

Random Pictures?

Cute little nephew Josh (Genevieve and Mikes Son). With Kats Senior Ball Mask.

After Family Dinner on Sunday, Mother and Daddy sat outside by the tent.
How adorable. I LOVE THEM!

Kat, and her best friend Karla went to Senior Ball in the same group.

Friday night we had a little camp out in our backyard, some neighbors came to cook hot dogs and such, it was a lot of fun. Daddy and I played the guitar.

Kat is a Honor Graduate.

Me, at MIA- Graduation Night.

Joshua was taking random pictures, so I took one of him.
[[Graduation MIA Night.]]

Maria (Top) and I (Bottom (: ) Where seeing who was darker.
*NOTE!= Don't draw on your Temple, parents are not huge fans of it.

Joshua was taking random pictures during the MIA Graduation Night.

Walmart

This summer Kat, Mars, Ria and I are going to be attending our Provo Peak East Stake Youth Conference. (Wow talk about long name!) This year we will be going on the "Trek" (Also known as, Martins Cove).
Monday night my mother took Ria, Mars, and I shopping for fabric for our skirts and bonnets. All the young women where put in charge of making a skirt, that goes down to your ankle, and a bonnet, to protect you from that firey ball up in the sky.
It only took us about 2 hours to pick out what fabric we wanted.
Mars will tell you "It only took me like 30 minutes!"
Ria will say "Mine just took under an hour!"
And my mother will probably say "Leahs took the longest! Ugh Leahs now a days!"
haha(: It was a wonderful time to spend together.

My mother and I almost got 5 hours in of spending time together last week.
Monday we didn't have school so my mother took me to get my DRIVERS PERMIT!
Yes, I got it. My mother took me to go driving almost a week later, but I still went,
I made up excuses for my bad stoppings, such as:
"Oh My Gosh! wow. Sorry mom! There was a penguin!"
Yeahh... She didn't seem to believe me for some reason...
Anyways, that took about 2 hours on that monday.
Then (The next time I can remember...) Thursday she took me to the doctor (Ahh! :/).
That only took about 2 hours. She wasn't very happy she'd been missing so much work.
I tried to convince her to hang out with me for one hour on Friday.
She disagreed right away! Her excuse was that she had to go to work,
psh! (: I LOVE MY MOMMY!