Achoo!

For the last few weeks, every time I get in my car it is covered in a thin film of yellow pollen. As I start to drive away, either in the morning or after work, the pollen particles blow away. It actually looks pretty cool, reminding me of those sand frames with water and bubbles that you could flip over and watch filter down. Anyway, last night it rained and this is what the parking lot looked like this morning: The rain gathered the pollen into pools. Can you believe how much of it there is? It's a good thing I don't seem to be allergic to it, otherwise I'd be constantly sneezing.

All Done

Saturday morning I took the train back to San Diego so that I could go to Kim's graduation as a Nurse Practitioner.

Although the views were amazing, I was almost late when the train stopped for a while. Any time there is an earthquake greater than 5.0 the tracks have to be inspected for damage. Luckily it didn't take too long and I made it in time.I sat with Karen, her friend Catherine, and Dan and his parents. Cheryl was home with Karen's baby as she'd seen the commencement the night before. Congrats Kim!We drove around the gorgeous campus, then headed to nearby Old Town for dinner, where we met Kim's friends, Vivien and James. After eating at the same place I ate with Amy a few nights before, we walked up the street to the Mormon Battalion Visitors Center.It was pretty high-tech, with Harry Potteresque moving pictures and different rooms representing each leg of the journey. James volunteered to sport all the gear the soldiers carried.

I also got to try panning for gold.

Exhausted, we went to Kim and Dan's beautiful home, where I was finally able to see Cheryl and little Sam.

Kim's family is just so warm and loving. I'm so grateful the timing was perfect for me to be able to see them!

Conferences Conferences

Highlights from the conference at the Hard Rock Hotel in San Diego:

• Mexican food with Gretchen, Michelle and Kara. Kara is hilarious and asked Ed, our server, if she could call him Jose. Ole!
• Meeting my old friend Kim for breakfast Monday morning before meetings started. Delicious fresh strawberry pancakes.
• Found out the Dublin project I had been working on forever finally closed!
• Beach Blanket Bingo (old Frankie & Annette movie from the '60's) party at Tom's house.

The directions are always incredible.

Singing waiters and a live band entertained us. Mike did a little of his famous dancing.

I got to see the administrators for my centers, Denise in Greenville, SC...

... and Kara in Frederick, MD. We're sporting the party favor sweatshirts.

• Felt earthquake in my hotel room, Tuesday around 5:30 pm. Being on the 11th floor, the entire building swayed and made me dizzy. This is the first time I've felt an earthquake, even growing up in Salt Lake City.
• Padres game with Rob, Michelle, and Jeff. Very entertaining to sit near Giants fans. Didn't compare to a Red Sox game, though.

Highlights from the ASCA conference in Anaheim included hearing from Ben Stein of Ferris Bueller's Day Off fame (he's really an economist!) and a surgeon who was really quite inspiring. I would elaborate, but my notes are packed in a box somewhere right now. ;)

Happiest Place On Earth

I LOVE Disneyland. When I found out there was a free day inbetween the ASCOA conference in San Diego and the ASCA conference in Anaheim, of course I bought my ticket to the happiest place on Earth.

So Wednesday morning I took a train to Anaheim, affording amazing ocean views. A real conductor even punched holes in my ticket. I hadn't been to Disneyland in five years (just a few times to Disney World), but I still knew it like the back of my hand. ;)

I spent the morning in California Adventure, so I could go on Screamin' and Soarin'.

One new thing is that different Disney characters are now in Small World. Their little Small World faces are so adorable.

I tried not to be really creepy since I was by myself, but made some friends with some in line for the rides. It was just fun to get to talk to kids. Don't get to do that so often in Boston.

The rides are so much fun and I even ran into the Russell's who grew up in my neighborhood in Utah. I sure love this magical place!

Ugh for May Gray

This spring our ASCOA conference was held in San Diego, so of course I headed out a few days early to play a little. My friend Amy was also kind enough to fly out for the weekend. As I flew into California and started walking around, my heart just felt at home in the West. Such a comforting, good feeling.

Little did I know that Amy was having flight drama, with a cancelled flight and no more direct flights that night. Luckily, she was able to find a connection in LA. She even met an Australian world traveller on her flight to make up for the hassle. Dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory made us wonder if our server was from Texas or had an alternate lifestyle. After dinner, we encountered some interesting folk walking around the Gaslamp Quarter. Fun part of town.

Saturday started with a yummy breakfast at the Broken Yolk Cafe, followed by a major shopping spree at Horton Plaza. I'm not a big shopper, so I tend to buy a lot all at once instead of a little at a time.

For lunch at California Crepes, I ate the best guacamole and salsa I've had in a long time. Mexican food is not the best in the East. After exhausting our pocketbooks, we returned to the Hard Rock hotel where we stayed and tried to go to the pool to soak up the sun that had peeked out between the clouds. I seriously thought we stepped into MTV Spring Break. There were people everywhere and not an empty chair to lay out on. After standing there awkwardly for a moment, we returned to our room.

That evening I was able to try Pink Berry, which my cousin Jenni always raved about when she lived in Cali. It was rather delicious.

After Amy got a haircut, we took the trolley to Old Town for a little Mexican Food. We got to the stop and got off, but couldn't see Old Town, so we jumped back on the trolley. Unfortunately it was the last stop, so the trolley went back the other way. We had to ride down a stop (which was in a kind of scary area) and back before finally making it there. Old Town is adorable, though, so it was worth it.

The next morning we took the early ferry to Coronado...

...entertained by the little girl pointing out the banana boat. Her friend wouldn't let dad take the size sticker off her pants because it was pink.

Walking off the ferry, we discovered that there had been a race across the bridge to Coronado that morning and the place was crowded with runners. After a healthy breakfast of cupcakes (chocolate cheesecake with chocolate chips) and bagel sandwiches, we set off to walk to the other side of the island.

One nice gentleman set off his car alarm when we stopped to take pictures of flowers. Nice, dude. At least the pics turned out. ;)

We arrived at the Hotel Del Coronado, but unfortunately the gray fog didn't burn off like it had the day before. We walked around the shops and drank some hot cocoa just waiting for some sunshine but it never came.

We decided to sit a while on the beach anyway before heading back. I'm die hard when it comes to tanning. ;) Thanks for coming to play that weekend, Amy!

Mommy Love

I was asked to speak in church for Mother's Day and wanted to share a little of my love for my mommy...

Me and my mom, in front of the Boston temple

As a little girl I thought my mom was the most beautiful woman in the world. I loved to draw her black hair, brown eyes, and red lips. She's only 4'11", which I didn't realize was short, because everyone was tall to me then. My mom was born in La Paz, Bolivia. She lived there until she was 18 years old when she and her identical twin sister came to America to attend BYU. Their whole family converted from Catholocism when she was 16. She had actually met my dad, the last week of his mission serving in La Paz, and he was also attending BYU. Two years later, she was married and now has three daughters, one son and nearly eight grandchildren. My mom is very talented. She's an amazing cook, knits, crochets, sews Halloween costumes and an amazing blessing dress for her granddaughters that will be an heirloom. She is incredibly gifted with children and can make even the rowdiest boys behave. To be honest, I am not best friends with my mom. We are very different, the least of which that she is a night owl and I liked to be in bed by 9 pm when I was in high school. Despite all our differences, I love my mom dearly and know that she loves me.

There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be "full-time moms," at least during the most formative years of their children's lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else. (Elder Russell M. Ballard, April 2008 General Conference)

As a little girl, my mom could wrap me in her arms and I remember feeling an overwhelming sense of love and completely safe. I knew my mom loved me, because she didn't make me eat vegetables. I hated "green" as a child. She always supported me at every concert, awards ceremony, and volleyball game. I would light up when I saw my mom there. I knew my mom loved me, because she loyally wrote me a letter every week on my mission, even though my letters came less often with the pouch in certain areas. I knew she loved me, because she prays for me. The last while, it's that I will get married, but I remember how touched I was to know she prayed to Heavenly Father on my behalf.

What a wonderful thing you have done as mothers. You have given birth and nurtured children. You have entered into a partnership with our Father in Heaven to give mortal experience to His sons and daughters. They are His children and they are your children, flesh of your flesh, for whom He will hold you responsible. You have rejoiced over them, and in many cases you have sorrowed. They have brought you happiness as no one else could. They have brought you pain as none other could. (President Gordon B. Hinckley, October 2000 General Conference)

My mom taught me to value education. In 3rd grade, if I didn't finish my vocabulary lists, I was punished, too harshly in my opinion, but I learned that it was expected that I finish my homework. In 6th grade, I had drawn some pictures in pencil for my science food chain assignment. My mom made me get markers and color it. When my teacher handed back papers, she held up my assignment and chastised the rest of the class for not putting more effort into the assignment. I would have been included, if not for my mom. I'm sure the other kids didn't appreciate my mom that day, but I did. She always encouraged me to do and be my best. She went back to college when I was in junior high and I saw how hard she worked. It was a good example to me.

My mom also taught me the importance of family. When I was growing up, she only had her twin sister nearby, in Orem, but almost every weekend one of our families would make the hour drive. My abuela lived with us until the rest of her family came to America. My mom always took care of her, and still does. She visits or talks with her almost every day. With our Latin blood, I remember some heated arguments, but I always knew that family stuck together and no one else could say anything bad about us, without incurring the wrath of all of us. I learned about my Bolivian heritage from my abuela. She taught me Spanish. I remember her always singing and playing with us, my favorite songs being arroz con leche, and waking up the wolf (lobo, lobo). She would dance in the kitchen, waving a dish towel to substitute for a handkerchief. I am so grateful for my mother and grandmother this Mother's Day. I hope that I can someday love my children just as much and teach them all that I have been taught.

Lilac Sunday

Apparently this was my year to get to attend all the things I'd missed out my last two years in Boston. Mother's Day is also known as Lilac Sunday at Arnold Arboretum. It is the one day a year that picnics are allowed on the gorgeous grounds.

Cami assembled a fun group to enjoy delicious sandwiches, salads, and fruit.

Joanne, Cristi and I in our Fall, Winter, and Spring gear. It may have been a little cold that day.
We laughed all the way out of the arboretum, singing, dancing, and spinning...

Wicked Good Concert

Idina Menzel performing with Boston Pops? You better believe I was there! I have been a fan ever since I won the Wicked Lottery five years ago and saw her perform as Elphaba from the front row.

My friends Christine, Alison, and Rachel came along.

While all of her songs were amazing (I loved a lullaby she wrote for her son), the highlight of her performance was definitely Defying Gravity.

After intermission, we participated in a little Beatles Rock Band sing-a-long, with live accompaniment by the Boston Pops. So fun to sing Yellow Submarine. :)

They concluded with a little Fourth of July preview. Gotta love Boston Pops!

Science and Sailing

Joy and Jake graciously left me two passes to the Museum of Science that they weren't able to use when they came to visit. I somehow waited until the day they expired to use them, but my good friend Rachel was able to come with me.

We started off with a little electricity show... loud and awesome.

See that stripy black and white cone? Well, when you look at it straight on...

...it looks like this (THINK):

My favorite was an interactive exhibit about what makes people who they are. Loved this fun shadow camera.

This little tidbit was interesting to me and totally made sense. The closer people live to the equator, the darker their skin is, and the reverse, the farther away, the whiter their skin is.

This fun display let you choose how far on the spectrum you are for five different traits. Each affected a song (pitch, tempo, beat...) that represented your unique personality.

The next morning Rachel and I went sailing with my friend Sharla and her fiance Ben, who is a member of Community Boating. I don't have any pictures because I didn't want to risk getting my camera wet, but it was such a fun, relaxing ride. Thanks a bunch, Sharla and Ben!