Ciao Ali Ciao STG

I feel as if I have been bidding a lot of farewells this week, but I am not the only one saying "au revoir St. George" (or rather ciao). One of Harbor and Duran's best friends, Ali, a girl I consider a little sister, is setting out on the brave journey of being a nanny in Italy. I couldn't be more happy for her! Ali is such a great girl, and considering I have known her since she was in the 4th grade I am completely qualified to make such a statement as to her character. She just graduated high school and with my brothers leaving on their missions come September 7th and nearly everyone else off to school, I think she felt like she needed an adventure. Only, she took it one step further and actually did something about it, which sadly is more than I can say for most of us, my self included. I gave her some of my clothes, some big hugs, and lots of advice on how not to look like a tourist. I am so proud of her and I have no doubt she will do great things! Also, Ali is going to be keeping up a blog (or at least intending to) on all the great things she does so please go check it out and show her some support!

To celebrate her European travels, my departure for school, and Harbor & Duran's leave on a 2 year LDS mission, we gathered the neighborhood kids and took one last trip to Denny's. The midnight outing was bitter sweet, but much more on the sweet side of things. There had been lots of hanging out with family, friends, and even people we don't really know, but it was a joy to have the "neighborhood siblings" together for one last time, well for the next couple of years at least. I am going to miss everybody, but I am not going to morn their loss just because we are separating. Believe me, there will be plenty of communication thanks to good old modern day technology!

Ciao!

Ali modeling her new clothes

My brother Duran

Duran and Harbor. Can you tell their twins?

Ali and Priscilla.  What good friends they are

My (tallest) littlest brother Ryker with Spencer (aka Fiddy Spence)

Kami, Ali, and I.  The neighborhood girls.

Fiddy Spence striking a pose.

Ryker.  Would you believe he is 6 foot 2?

Denny's food...yummy

(Window) Shopping in Vegas

This last Tuesday I took a short 2 hour road trip to Vegas with the purpose of accompanying my (fake) little sister as she does some birthday and school shopping.  As word of the trip spread the number of participants rapidly evolved to include: my mother, my little brother, my (fake) little brother/little brother of my little sister, and two of their friends.  Road tripping with soon to be high school sophomores and juniors was super entertaining.  At that age they are old enough to be independent, but too young to have really become streetwise. There is an innocently awkward in between stage, made even more prominent due to the fact that we come from a small "city".  However, if it were not for their blissful stage in life we probably would have felt foolish cruising in the escalade down Las Vegas Blvd with the windows unrolled while singing and dancing to Sister Wife by Alex Winston.  Instead, we thought we were the coolest thing to ever grace the Blvd.  It was a real shop till you drop trip; The girls made off with multiple bags full of clothing and accessories, I even "splurged" to buy 3 items: a VS bra, H&M tights and knee high socks.  All in all I am pleased to say it was an absolute blast, and the break I needed from all my moving preparations.