The Christmas Season

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I just love the Christmas season!!! Finals are over (YAY!!!), It's finally starting to feel and look like Christmas outside, our house is all lit up and so beautiful, everyone is kind to one another (for the most part), two weeks off from work (YAHOO!!!), Christmas music all around, Mom's delicious egg nog smoothies, catching up on movies I have missed due to homework, visting friends and family, Christmas dinner at the Madsen's, my little wal-nut dropping in (you know who you are), and last but certainly not least...a wonderful season to center my life around Christ.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas season. I love you all and am so blessed to have the friends and family I have. Have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Our Favorite Head Witch

Grandma (The Head Witch as I call her) and her best friend Dora were the main attraction at the Trunk or Treat this year. As you can see, they went all out! Grandma had decorated these witches hats years ago for an afternoon enrichment activity, and the senior ladies have been wearing them on Halloween ever since. Grandma loves holidays!!! She makes absolutely every holiday a special day. Keep it up Grandma!!!

Here are the witches and their pet, the black cat....or personal assistant as I call her

Bless my grandma, Father, for she is too cute!!!

The Head Witch with two of her favorite people in the world, Jeff and Emma Vincent.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!

On October 2nd (and all throught the weekend actually) we celebrated grandma's 83rd birthday!!! When I got home from work on her birthday, she was so excited and told me about the great day she was having. She received so many cards, gifts, flowers, and phone calls. In fact, every time she tried to go to bed that night she would get another birthday phone call. She loved every minute of the day. Then on Friday, Susie, a family friend from Michigan came into town and took grandma out to lunch to the Cheesecake Factory. The rest of the weekend we just enjoyed our company and watched general conference. Thank you to all who made grandma feel so special and loved. Grandma said she had such a wonderful birthday this year, that she now plans on having another 83 birthdays. I hope there will be some people much younger than me to help her celebrate in 83 years, because I really don't think I will be here in the year 2091 to help!!! I only hope that if I live to be 83 years, that I will be as happy, beautiful, loving, kind, and compassionate as my grandma is now.

Frustration!!!

Calculus = Death

Anyone who really knows me knows that I hate math with a passion!!! I'm sure just because of this fierce hatred, I am required to take a CALCULUS class for my Hospitality Management Major. Go figure! I have officially been in this class for a week and a half, and I am already certain that I'm going to die. So...the million dollar question is, "how am I ever going to survive?" No, I'm not just asking a rhetorical question. Really, please tell me how I am ever going to survive!

Along with this class that I now call "DEATH," I am also taking Hospitality Law and Global Tourism. If I can just handle my law professor's chipmunk teeth, and my tourism professor's deep Asian accent, I think I will survive these other two classes. Maybe.

If I do die however, know that I love you all! And Wendy, I am leaving my blog to you.

To Death, Kim

Sorry I'm a Slacker & Thank You Melanie!!!

I'm sorry it has been so long. Things have been so busy. Things like a basement flood, my Ethics and Values class (who knew a class on ethics and values would be so difficult!), and just life I guess. Anyway, I will try to be better, but I do have a heavy class load this fall semester. Lets just say I will do the best that I can.

Melanie, Thank you for the honor of this prestigious, wonderful, and exciting award. And, FYI, I absolutely loved coaching your young women's team way back when. That was and will always be something I cherish. I guess you could have called our team 'defeated,' huh? You were awesome and such a great fouler!!! Good times.

So, there are rules to this award.
1. Post the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who nominated you.
3. Nominate 7 other people for this award and add links to their blog.
4. Leave a message for the people that you nominated!

I am usually very good at following rules, but I really don't know 7 other bloggers, so that may be a problem. Anyway here goes. The winners I have chosen for this amazing award are (drum roll Sparky!)......

*Elder Chris Clark @ http://www.elderclark.com/: Chris is my cousin who is leaving for the MTC in Brazil Tuesday August 5. I had the honor of watching him grow up into the amazing man he is today. I am going to miss him so much, and want to wish him all the luck and blessings in the world. I love you Chris!!!

*Tammy @ http://merryweathermama.blogspot.com/ : Tammy and I have had many good times together including....Strawberry Days Parades, Scrapbooking, BBQ's at Paul & Leslie's, Bunko games, just to name a few. Congrats Tammy, and I love you too!!!

Well, I guess that's about it because everyone else I know that has a blog has already received this prestigious award. Thank you again Mel, you are the best and I love you too!!! (I pretty much love everyone...pretty much)

A Wonderful Weekend with Chris Clark

What a great weekend! My cousin Chris went through the Mt. Timpanogos Temple on Saturday preparing to go on his mission. I am so happy that he chose to come up here to Utah to do this. On Sunday in Sacrament meeting, Chris gave an awesome talk. He is going to be an amazing missionary if you ask me (though I may be a little biased). He talked like a return missionary, not like one just ready to leave. Chris has so many family members, and friends who love him, including me. I don't know what I'm going to do without him for two years, but Brazil will be blessed to have him. Chris, you are going to be awesome, and I'm going to miss you so much!!! Have faith, not fear. I love you!!!

Chris and his wonderful parents

Chris and his amazing Grandma Clark

Chris and his awesome family

Chris and his truest friends

Chris and his loving former Bishop

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time to remember. A time to remember those who came before us and paved the way for the life we live today. Ever since I can remember, Grandma and Grandpa has instilled the tradition of going around to the graves of our loved ones. What a wonderful tradition. I think I learn something new every year from the stories Grandma and Mom tell, and of course the ones Grandpa used to tell when he was here with us. Happy Memorial Day!!!

Grandpa

My cousin, Doug

Uncle Stan

Grandma's sister, Donna

Leslie's Grandma and Grandpa Huntsman

Alaskan Cruise

We are back...actually we got back last Friday, but I haven't had any time since then to post on my blog. Alaska was AMAZING!!! What a beautiful place! We cruised to Ketchikan, Juneau, Hubbard Glacier, and through the Inside Passage, then to Victoria British Columbia Canada before heading back to Seattle. The Hubbard Glacier was incredible! We were plowing right through all the ice, in between ice bergs, and watched a family of seals. On Juneau, we loaded Grandma on a little float plane (sea plane) and flew over five glaciers and landed at an old hunting lodge called the Taku Glacier Lodge where we were treated to a fresh Salmon dinner and just enjoyed the beauty of real Alaska. The whole experience was so awesome and Grandma did really well. Here are some pictures of our Alaskan journey.

Sailing into Ketchikan

Creek Street in Ketchikan

Mom & I awaiting Hubbard Glacier

Hubbard Glacier & our ship Celebrity Infinity

Grandma is so excited for the flight

What an amazing experience!!!

Mom, G-ma, and I at the Taku Glacer Lodge

Somewhere over the rainbow...what a view over Juneau!!!

A ship with a view

Back to Seattle

Graduation Weedend

What a fun weekend!!! I took my last final on Thursday....yay! Afterwards, at work, Kerri surprised me with balloons and a beautiful platter of chocolate covered strawberries...thanks Kerri! On Friday, Mom & I went to watch some of the UVSC convocation for the School of Business. On Saturday we had the dinner party. We made homemade "Cafe Rio". Paul, Leslie, and the boys were here preparing their home for rent. I am so happy it worked out that they could plan it this weekend. Kim, Eric, and the kids came from Salt Lake, and Kerri from across the street. We had a great time. We had key lime cheesecake and chocolate covered strawberries to top it all off. Thank you everyone who has been so supportive, for all the cards and the well wishes. In August it is on to my Bachelor's!!! Love you all.

Thanks Kerri!!!

Do you see my empty seat on the platform?

Homemade Cafe Rio...YUM!!!

Leslie, Paul, Justin, & Chris back where they belong.

Eli loved the "dirty" strawberries!

Poor Amara only got to suck on dry cereal.

The Key Lime Cheesecake was awesome!!!

Finals Finale...

Well, I just finished my last final. This one was much easier than my Macroeconomics final. I am so happy to not have to worry about that Macro class anymore!!! I should have known it would be bad when I found out my professor's name was Gooch! Anyway...its over. I'm so excited to have a few months off before I continue on for my Bachelors Degree in the fall. Thank you everyone for your support, love, and prayers. Now lets PARTY!!!

Achievement Award

Well, last night was my Achievement Award Ceremony. I think it went good, but mom says I'm too modest to tell you about it. So, I am turning this blog entry over to mom against my better judgement. Mom......

What an amazing night!!! Kim was honored and presented with an achievement award for being the top student in her field. The School of Business Dean called the 15 students the "Cream of the Crop" of Utah Valley State College. Kim is graduating with her Associates in Hospitality Management with a 3.98 cummulative GPA. She really deserves this recognition. I am so proud of her! Sniff, sniff.

This is craziness!!!

Mom & Grandma...my two greatest supporters

The Award

Finals

One down, one to go. Thanks for all the encouragement and love....gotta go study now!!!

30 Years Old!?!?!?!?

I can't believe I am 30 years old!!! We had a fun day today. Mom and G-ma gave me some nice career clothes to help me find a new job this summer. Then Kerri came over and we headed off for The Cheesecake Factory for lunch. It was awesome! Then we drove around to see the progress of the Draper Temple and the Day Break Temple. When we got home, there was a wonderful bouquet of cookies on my porch wishing me a happy birthday from Paul, Leslie, Chris, and Justin. Then throughout the whole day I received four singing messages from the Lattas on every phone we own!! I also received birthday calls from Aunt Pat & Uncle Frank, Kim & Eric, Susie, my best friend Janna, and a personal call from Eli! It was a really good day, now back to studying for my finals. Thank you everyone for your love and birthday wishes. Here are some pictures to prove what a great day it was....

Mom, G-ma, Kerri, & I at The Cheesecake Factory

That burrito is as big as G-ma is!!!

Mom & I

Everyone knows how much I love attention...

Yum!!!!


Draper Temple

Day Break Temple (Can you believe Eric designed this?!?)


My bouquet of cookies
Thanks Paul, Leslie, Chris, & Justin!!!

Chris' Mission Call

BRAZIL, JOAO PESSOA MISSION!!!

Chris just opened his mission call a few minutes ago and is going to the.....(drum roll please).....Brazil, Joao Pessoa Mission! He had a web-cam and a conference call set up so we all could join in his exciting night. I am so excited for him!!! He will enter the MTC in Brazil on August 6, 2008, and will be speaking Portuguese. I am so proud of him and am looking forward to seeing him serve his mission. Thanks, Chris, for letting us be a part of this fun night. Can't wait to see you next week! Love you, and congratulations!!!

Elder "Tyler" Clark enters the MTC

Tyler at the MTC

Tyler and his proud parents

"Don't forget to write, brush your teeth, comb your hair........"

"Bye Grandma!!!"

"It's official, I have my badge! Just call me Elder Clark."

Tyler is now at the MTC, as I blog. What an amazing experience!!! I am so grateful to have had the privilege of joining Gary, Terri, Grandma, and Mom in seeing Tyler off at the MTC this morning. Thank you Gary and Terri for inviting me to partake in an experience I will never forget. Tyler is going to be such a great missionary, and he is ready to go. I am so proud of him! This Gospel is true!!! And, Tyler will soon be spreading it all over the Tulsa, Oklahoma mission area. All who come in contact with Elder Clark will be loved and blessed for sure.