*Oquirrh Mountain Temple*

Shortly after Adam came home, my family (plus Annie....and minus Matt....stupid work!) went on an adventure to see the new Oquirrh Mountain Temple. Let me tell you, it is BEAUTIFUL! But, find me a temple that isn't, and I'll tell you you're crazy. So I took lots of pictures. How do you pick just one? Well...you don't.

Look! It's a picture of me with BOTH of my brothers again!! Yaaay!!! Adam was a good sport about all my picture taking....he hates it, and I'm a photo junkie (in case you haven't noticed).

What can I say? He's pretty much my favorite 16-year-old EVER!!

You can't really see it too well, but I tried to get a picture of this window because the glass is amazing. It's etched with vertical lines so you can't see thru it, but scattered through out it there are clear star shapes. And it's positively beautiful! Look closely, maybe you can see them.

The view of the valley from the temple grounds is amazing! It completely stunned me. That little white speck just to the right of the center is the Draper temple. So cool!

It's so gorgeous, and the the floor lay-out is different than one I have seen before. The chandeliers are incredible, and they're everywhere! Everyone should really try to take some time to go see this temple. It's totally worth it!

Thanks Mom for getting tickets and arranging everything for us to go see this beautiful temple!

*He's Home!!*

Well, It's been a long time comin, but Adam-O is finally home! What an experience....it really is the best feeling in the world when they come home and you see them for the first time, and you KNOW that they served well....it really just feels so incredible.

Since the rest of the family went up to Washington to pick him up and tour his mission a bit, it was left up to me to decorate the house and make it look all festive and welcoming. And I had fun!! Annie and I decorated the lane with crepe paper and balloons, and I had made a big sign on Sunday to hang up on the front porch. It looked awesome! It was so exciting to sit on the front porch and wait for them to pull up, and to hear my dad's truck about a block away, and then to see them pull right up to the front sidewalk so everybody could see the sign....and they all had great big grins on their faces. It was so fantastic! Of course when Adam got out of the truck and I walked over to give him a hug, I couldn't help myself....I bawled. I am a MAJOR bawller. But it was just so great!

He's the same fun Adam -- just refined. It's one of the most beautiful things.

*So it's about a Month Late...*

I was looking through all my pictures on my camera today, and I realized that I never posted a thing about my awesome birthday dinner! How lame that I forgot my OWN BIRTHDAY! Hahaha! Gosh....I guess I was just too excited to talk about Alaska. And Adam. So I guess it makes sense that I would forget my birthday. Anyhow, it was wonderful! Matt had done really awesome at work the previous month, so his work gave him a $75 dollar dinner to any place of his choice. The sweet man told me that he wanted to use it to take me somewhere really nice for my birthday (I know, I'm a lucky girl). So after some research on our parts, we decided to go try Rickenbacker's. It was so neat! It's out by the Ogden airport, which isn't much to really "ooh" and "aaah" about, but it has this great big window so you can see the mountains that stretch all the way down the Ogden area. It really is quite the stunning view.

The food was amazing! It was probably the best filet mignon I have ever had....and their rolls were the bomb. Yeah, I like bread. The top plate is my dinner, and the bottom is Matt's.

This is the beauty that was our dessert. I can't tell you how delish it was! It was a berry cobbler, and it was to die for! Too bad we were both so full by this point that we couldn't totally finish it off! It was such a fun birthday dinner...and I'll probably never get to eat there again because it was REALLY expensive! Yay for work bonuses! I'm so glad that I am married to a man who wants to spoil me. It feels really good to feel cherished. I love you!

*I Almost Can't Believe It...*

The time is almost here for me to see this cute and handsome face again!!!! In exactly one week it will be his release day from his mission.....and I sorta can't believe it's almost here! My parents and Alex are driving up to his mission to see him and to tour some of the places he has served over the past 2 years. I am so sure that will be an awesome experience, especially for Alex. It's a tradition in the mission that all the missionaries that will be leaving go to the temple the day before with their Mission President.....and my parents are invited. So the first time my Mom and Dad see their boy for 2 years will be in the Seattle Temple!! How cool is that?! I'm certain there will be many tears shed....out of joy, pride and love. I so wish I could be there to witness and experience that.....but, ya do what ya gotta do. Since the fam will be up there with him for about a week, I will get to see him on July 13th. Wahoo! I really have missed this kid so much. I miss his laugh. Honestly, I don't think there is a person on this planet that can make me laugh as hard as this boy can. I love him so much and am so proud of him!!
For those of you who would like to know, the plan right now is for him to report on his mission on July 19th at 9:00 at the River Ward. I'm certain that it will be fantastic!