Our trip to Utah

We went to Utah over General Conference weekend so that we could attend the Sunday Morning Session of Conference. Summer, my Dad, and I went to conference while Stuart stayed with the boys. I was very grateful for this opportunity. The entire conference was amazing, but during Elder Holland's talk about the Savior the Spirit was extremely strong. It was so quiet in the conference center and it was just amazing.

We had a great visit with Derek's family and my parents. The cousins loved playing together. I particularly appreciated how much Hyrum played with Spencer. Many times Spencer feels left out of the games that Summer plays and so it was wonderful to have older cousin Hyrum take him under his wing.

We went to Temple Square to see the Joseph Smith movie, went in their heated pool (the famous Saratoga Springs naturally heated with hot springs pool) and also did an Easter Egg Hunt. I really enjoyed some adult time with my brother, sister-in-law, and parents. We also got to see Lisa's family and Shawn's family which was a great treat. It is amazing how much all of our 10 Utah cousins have grown. I just love my nieces and nephews (and of course their parents too)

Summer decided to write a report of her trip to give to her teacher so here is her view of our trip,

Summer's Notes from Sunday morning session of conference.
"Apr. 5, 2009 Right now I am at confrence. You can not imagine. The choir is singing to us. I am getting tired. I like sitting by Grandpa. I feel excitement rolling up my back. I am going to be baptized this year. They just brought a little golden harp. The presidency just came out. I love today. I feel joy. It is prayer time. Some just said the prayer.
Dieter F. Uchdorf- Walk in His footsteps. Testimony strong. Patience. craft our character. our faith. Now is the time. We come his disciples and walk away. It is never to late. The church needs you. He is our salvation.
Neil L Anderson- Humble. Love. I know who I am. My testimony blossomed. Power of God. Goodness sacrifice faithful parents righteousness personal power loyalty build up the power of god. I am going to stop."

Summer got tired of writing notes (and I can't blame her) so I will fill in what she particularly loved about conference. She loved President Monson's story about the mother who lost her children and husband. I think her favorite part was the Mormon Tabernacle choir. As we were walking in she heard them singing and she did a little jump for joy. She asked if she could join the choir. I told her some day. It was just an awesome experience.

The following are Summer's journal account of our trip.

Page 1
"My report on going to Utah. Right now I am in my Mom's white mini van. I am looking outside my window. There is not a lot of flowers. Their is a lot of cars though. I am eating dots. Dots are good. The clouds are gray and white. I am excited. It will be awesome. Bluch! I don't like the dots any more. I gave the dots to my little brother Spencer. He handed it to my mom. That is all I am going to write today. I will write tomorrow."

Page 2
"We are back in the car again. We stayed at my aunts sisters house. We had a great time. Now we are traveling to my dad's sister's house. I have not seen them in a long time. I feel sick. There are lots of hills of dirt. I am having a bar and juice for breakfast. I feel merry. There is a big rocky little mtn. Oh no! My juice spilled. Some of the wet juice is on my shoe. We are at the gas station right now. Well I am going to stop writing for the day. I feel sick."

Page 3
"Today I am going to conference. I am very excited. I drove, rode the train with my grandpa and my mom. When we got there, there was protestors. A protester is a person that goes against somebody. Then when we were inside. The ward tabernacle choir sang beautiful music. We listened to wonderful talks in the middle. I felt happy inside. We were on a tall balcony. We had a great time. Later when we go home we did a fun Easter egg hunt. The girls got pretty little princess eggs. There were 36 eggs. We split them up. We both got 18 beautiful eggs."

Page 4
"Right now we are in the big mini van. No we are not traveling. We are going to Ikea to eat lunch. My uncle is leading the way. We are listening to good love song. There are many farms and horses in Utah. Utah is fun to go to. We are also going to a heated pool. I do not know what time we are going to the pool. We are happy to be in Utah. Anybody would want to live in fun Utah. I think they grow potatoes here. I don't know. We are in Lehi, Utah. We are at a stop light. Now it is green. The mountains have layers of white snow. I wish it was snowing down here in California."

Page 5
"Today we left my cousins house. I am crying now. I can not stop. We are going to my aunts house again. I don't think her kids are home. Maybe one or two are home. I love my cousins. I miss them too. We had such fun. I wish I could stop thinking of them. I am never going to forget my cousin Rebekah. She and I are the only girl cousins on my moms side. I am not crying any more. I am going to stop right here."

Summer just loves family. Every time we visit family she bawls (and I mean bawl) when we leave. I love that she loves her extended family so much!