20-Yr old LDS woman answers questions at harvard

Day of Faith: Personal Quests for a Purpose - 3. Rachel Esplin from Harvard Hillel on Vimeo.

I really enjoyed her answers! Hey Jason, I think she's single!! LOL!

Going Native

Noah recieved his Arrow of Light for Cub Scouts last night. He really enjoyed the ceremony. They had someone dressed up like an Indian with the head dress and everything. They gave him the award and an arrow that had been painted with markings that represent all the awards and badges that he earned in cub scouts. I was really proud of him.

Then today, I took the kids to the Heard Museum West in Surprise. It's a smaller version then the regular Heard Museum, but once we got a tour guide it was really cool. It's a museum dedicated to Native American artifacts and art. We learned lots of cool things about their basket and rug patterns. One thing I learned today was that Navajo women weave the rugs and always make sure to purposely make one mistake in each rug. This is because they believe only a god can make a perfect rug and they don't want people to think they are a god. So I decided from this point on, I'm not going to be perfect anymore. I don't want anyone thinking I'm a god or anything. So any mistakes I make from now on are on purpose!! (Think that will fly? Well a girl can try!)

Wilson Family Reunion

We had such a great time last weekend at the Wilson Family Reunion. This year is was in Flagstaff, AZ. The kids got to play with their cousins and some woodland creatures like these catapillars. The woods were their playground for the weekend and they never stopped finding new experiences. The kids built forts and had pinecone fights, and played soccer, baseball, and they even walked a tight rope and repelled up and down a tree (thanks to uncle Mike).

Lorie had asked me to take pictures of the twins so we decided what better backdrop then the woods. This was just one of my favorites.

The reunion consisted of Mike's Grandma Wilson and her children and their children and grandchildren. About 50+ people showed up and Mike really enjoyed seeing his cousins, some he hadn't seen in many years.

Kassi enjoyed the woods, we did have to tell her she couldnt' wash her hands everytime they had a little dirt on them!

Mike convinced a big group of us to go explore the lava caves in Flagstaff. I thought it was a really easy little hike so I invited alot of the kids to go. We had about 10 children with two as young as three years old.


Below is the entrance to the cave, it was about 60 degrees in there.

The first part of the cave was the most grueling, it went almast straight down, I did alot of scooting from one rock to another on my bum!

The kids didn't have as much problems with it as I did, it wasn't long before there was just a few of us at the back of the pack and most of them were adults!


Scott and Jared had a great idea with the headlamps. It was the only time I ever wished for one of those!

Here's a picture of us inside the cave we had a pretty good sized group and really enjoyed ourselves.

I Get Paid to Write!...Sort of...

I get paid to write! Well technically I get paid to answer phone calls from my home computer for Uhaul. But in between calls I can write...therefore I get paid to do it. So that counts, right? No? Fine then. I also get paid to read books, edit my friend's manuscripts, edit photos on photoshop, check my emails, update my blog, and answer the handwritten notes waved frantically in front of me through the window. It did take me a while to get out my laptop and realize that I get online with it while I work, so that's why the long gap in blog posts. By the time I finish an 8-10 hour shift of the computer I didn't want to get back on.

So since I last wrote, Jessi's tonsil surgery went well. She is doing better at night, no more gasping for air, at least as long as we keep the cat away. Kassi and Noah had a great trip to CA to visit Grammy and Grandpa Costello. They got to go to the beach a couple of times and even went to the Santa Monica Pier. Grandpa Costello's niece, Isabella got to come and play with Kassi for a couple of days. They are the same age and loved getting together.

Sammi went to Girl's Camp for the first time this summer. She had a great time and really enjoyed herself. Just be sure to ask her about the snake that "almost" bit her. I have a feeling it was a lot further away then she thought!! LOL! Now Sammi and Jessi are in Colorado with thier Grandma and Grandpa Wilson and they won't be back until the beginning of August.

We went to the Wilson Family Reunion this past weekend in Flagstaff, AZ. Mike got to see some of his cousin and aunts and uncles. We had a really great time. I will be posting pictures of it soon, but the pictures are on the other computer and I have to wait until after work to access the internet on it. So be sure to yell at me if I don't post them soon!! LOL!