My zoo trip with the Cluffs

So I have gotten a few complaints saying that I need to update my blog and I realized that is has been a while since I have added anything. Anywho last Thursday the Cluff family invited me to go to the zoo with them. I naturally could not turn down the invitation because of the fact that I love the zoo!!!

This is my attempt to get the Hogle Zoo sign in the background. I have to say that it is not my best work. I thought I had it down to an art after Heritage tours, but I guess I still need some practice.

Benson and Me

So I thought I would give a shout out to Benson. I have been dating him for about four months now and he just left on his mission today to Spokane, Washington. He is an amazing kid and we definately managed to have a lot of fun together.

So much to my dismay Benson has a love for motorcycles. Lucky for him Chris managed to get one just before Benson left. Some how Benson convinced me to go on a couple of rides. I have to say I was terrified at first, but by the end I was warming up to the bike. This is us at the Strawberry Days Rodeo. I managed to have perfect timing and came home in time to make it to the Rodeo. It is a shame that you can't see our whole outfits in the picture. Both of us were dressed for the occassion. Let's just say that boots, horse shirts, snap buttons, and hats were involved. We made a great Rodeo attired couple.

Heritage Tours

So for the last three weeks of my life I have been traveling across the country, seeing all the church sites. We started in American Fork, Utah and went all the way up to Sharon, Vermont on a bus. In total we passed through fifteen states and stayed in 19 different hotels.

Here is a picture of all of my roomies. It was Hannah, me, Katie and Marsha. Katie, Hannah and I were all in the same family and Marsha was placed with us at random. By the end of the trip we were all pretty close. Marsha turned out to be a lot of fun. She speaks fluent spanish and was born in Mexico. We convinced her to pray for us in spanish frequently.

For the day we spent in Kirtland we were all dolled up to see the special sites. That was a day filled with sacred sites. We went to the Temple, Newel K. Whitney Store and the Morley farm. All sites were Heavenly Father and Christ appeared.

Niagara Falls was a lot of fun. Hannah and I went down to the Cave of Winds. We were not aware when we decided to go that shoes and yellow panchos were provided. They totally added to the experience! This is Hannah and I on the Hill Cummorah. It was super windy while we were there if you can't tell. It was quite the adventure.

New York City was a treat. We spent the whole day there. Hannah and I spent the whole day running around doing as much shopping as we could afford. Some of the highlights that occured there were my first taxi ride, New York pizza and cheese cake, chinatown, little italy, and broadway.

Gettysburg was a dream come true. I loved it there. Katie and I ran around like such nerds asking our tour guide questions and listening to all the facts he new. My nerdy side definately came through. I also have to say that some of my finest purchases were made there. I managed to buy an ugly sweat shirt and a t-shirt with horses. It was great. Me and honest Abe. This is Katie, Hannah and I in Washington D.C. I loved D.C.. I was sad that I didn't have enough time to see all the sites. I will definately have to go back.

I developed a fond feeling for the laundry mats we stopped by. We had three laundry days. It was quite the experience doing laundry with 50 or so other people. All I have to say about the expereince is if you want to get to know people better do all you laundry together. It takes bonding to a whole new level. Adam-ondi-ahman was one of our last stops. I have to say this site was in my top five. Bro. E. gave an amazing mini fireside about the importance that this site has in our future. I was able to pick my spot there. The visitors center we stopped by in Winter Quarters had dress up corner in one of the museums. Hannah and I couldn't resist.
On our last night of tour we stayed in Cheyenne, Wyoming. They definately saved the best hotel for the last night. The beds were amazing and the food was divine. For our last dinner we had a big banquet. Everyone got all dolled up for our last evening together. Here is me on the last day making an excited face. By the end of the three weeks I was definately ready to be home. Between the hotel beds, the bus, and the three weeks of fast food it felt good to know that I was going to be home.

I love to see the Temple!

One of my favorite parts of the trip was seeing Temples. I really do love to see them. No matter how long the bus trip seemed to the sites seeing the temples made it all worth it.

This is the Nauvoo Temple. This was the first temple we went to and by far my favorite. I was in love. I was lucky enough to get to do baptisms while we were there. The Kirtland Temple. This is the view of the temple from the Sacred Grove. The Boston Temple Here is the Washington D.C. Temple. I was really excited that we stopped by this temple because this is the temple that my parents were married in.

Winter Quarters was the last stop we made before heading home. It was a really cool site because the temple ground is right next to the pioneer cemetary.

Graduation!!!