The Perfect Summer

This summer has been absolutely fantastic. I've spent it babysitting and hanging out with friends. I've also been going to the temple every week because it was one of my goals. It has been a great time.
I've met so many smart two year olds, and I've definitely been able to improve on my mothering skills for the future.

My best friend and I have been going on trips opposite weeks of each other, so I hadn't seen her in 3 weeks until Monday and so we celebrated hanging out with ice cream and Popsicles, vey typical of us. Now she's off in Hawaii enjoying the sun as I stay here mostly babysitting so I can save money to go to Hawaii next year.

The temple is a great place. I am Mormon, and we believe in the Plan of Salvation where after we die everyone who wasn't a member of our church can become baptized. But since their bodies are no longer able to be baptized, we go to the temple to become baptized for them. It's kind of confusing but if you go on www.lds.org you can learn more about it.

I hope everyone is having a great summer as well!!

So this beach we went to is really lame, and shouldn't even be considered a beach anymore, we only go there for bonfires because there is grass. I think that's why it says kooks? 

Sour Patch Popsicles are the best

Do you hear the voice?

We hear the voice!

 EFY this year was absolutely amazing. I went to Santa Barbara with my sister and her friends, but I roomed alone in order to meet new people. We rode the train to Santa Barbara and back after the week was over, and I think the train made it so much more fun.

 My roommate's name was Margaret and she was pretty cool. She was training to hike the grand canyon rim to rim, and she completed it on Wednesday of this week. 

All of the girls in my company(which usually consists of 13 girls age 16-18. There are a lot of companies to make up one group)had come alone which made it easier to make new friends and not be cliquey. It ended up being super fun! One of the girls in our company pretended she was Russian the first day and I totally believed her the whole time until they made her tell the truth.

It ended up being a fantastic week filled with lots of fun/random events!

Escorting is a big deal for EFY... Everywhere you go you basically have to be
escorted by someone of the opposite gender haha

It was my counselor Greg's birthday the week before on the 4th but we celebrated it again

Funny story about my guy counselor: The first day we had our "welcoming" meeting where all of the counselors dance and sing, and basically make it seem like they are really cool(even if they aren't, but they usually are). He was sitting next to me during one of the videos and there was a beat playing in the background so he started free styling and coming up with his own words making sure that only I could hear. From that point on, I knew he was going to be the best.

The food was delicious...

This is my friend Max, he and I matched almost everyday but it wasn't on purpose

Ice cream every freaking meal. Mmmm

Before getting on the train to go to Santa Barbara

Reenacting Breaking Dawn

The girls in my company. They were all so amazing

My favorite girls, Courtney and Lora(she was the girl with the Russian accent )

This was basically all we did on the train because Brigham is super talented

Courtney and I with our counselor Cali on the last day

A bunch of kids during free time.
(From left to right: Jessica, Hunter, Emily, Me, Max, Lora)

We go crazy during lessons
(From left to right: Lora, Taryn, Hunter, Me)

No explanation, but we match again

We didn't know each other before this week but we had learned a bunch
about each other before from our friend Brandt, this kid's name is Blake

My roommate Meg. We almost forgot to get a picture together

Kory taught me some cords on the ukelele. He felt really cool

Some of the boys from my company
(From Left to Right: Max, Bailey, Me, Cole)

This kid became one of my favorites on the last day. His name is David
and he wants me to let you all know that he has swag

Santa Barbara Bound

Dear Everybody,
I'm heading to EFY this morning. Alone. In order to meet new friends and become more spiritual. Here's to a great week with new people!!

Lots of love,
Kenzie

My Life's Notes

My EFY Counselor from last year was on So You Think You Can Dance this year

Just a preview of Girls Camp from all last week

Dear Meredith(my sister),
I am so super jealous of you since you were able to sit directly behind Zooey Deschanel during the taping of SYTYCD that you went to. She is my girl crush, and part of my crazy obsession of 500 Days of Summer.

Dear Dirt,
I'm finally free from you!! Long, hot showers are amazing.

Dear Summer,
I finally feel like it's Summer. Which, I am so very grateful for.

Dear San Clemente,
It was nice to visit you again, I miss my old friends.

Dear Large Whiteboards,
You provide hours of entertainment.

Dear Church Leaders,
You are AMAZING!!! I am so grateful for everything you did to help put camp together this year and make it beyond wonderful.

Dear 10 Fingers Game,
I had to play with 5 fingers last night because my friend and I already know too much about each other.  We still never finished the game in 2 hours...

Lots of Love,

Kenzie

Welcome to Utah(AKA Land of the Mormons)

Last Tuesday on April 24,2012, My aunt passed away from cancer after a long battle. Even though we knew she was going to pass away soon, it was still really sad to the whole family. Her husband, wrote a lovely little blog post about her passing here if you would like to read it, and her whole battle experience is written here.

A short summary would be that she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and from her radiation she got a brain tumor which ultimately was what caused her passing. Through all of the trials she stood strong, and was always positive. Her journey is one of strength. She left behind her husband, daughter, and 3 sons.

This weekend though, my family went to her funeral in Centerville, Utah on Monday. It was a beautiful service.

Here is my Aunt's casket at the Cemetery with her husband, daughter, and 3 sons

At the luncheon after the funeral

Since we drove 11 hours to Utah, we found all the time we could get to go visit some of the newly remodeled areas in Salt Lake City. Here are some pictures in the new shopping center that was recently remodeled:

Everyone, but Mom

My sister and I

Our whole family in front of the Salt Lake City Temple

A cool water feature that makes it look like you are standing in the water

Temple again

The car ride home consisted of LOLLIPOPS

We had a 2 story Hotel room... No Biggie

We did think it was pretty cool though, especially because our parents were on the other side of the hotel ;)

My Life's Notes

Picture from a while ago when I constantly wore band tshirts and my hair in a bun... HAWT, I know ;)

Dear Spring Break,
I know there isn't supposed to be the greatest weather after today and tomorrow, but could you please change that?? If not, it's fine though because I will just HAVE to go to LA with a dress and rain boots.

Dear Pyromaniacs,
Start a fire and blowing coffee creamer into it. I guarantee you hours of fun because it is a serious adventure.
(P.S. Don't forget to wear protective goggles and clothing. Please use responsibly)

Dear Church Leaders,
Your lessons on Easter were beautiful. They really brought the spirit. And I loved the video we watched in Young Womens.

Dear Food,
Please stay delicious as my friends and I walk up to the hill overlooking the golf course.

Dear Eyes,
Now that you don't want to let my contacts help me see, I am so stoked to go to the eye doctors today.

Dear Life,
Follow President Hinckley's counsel from here.

My Life's Notes

I love to follow some Bloggers out there, and one of them does a segment called "Life's Little Notes" where she writes notes to herself. I decided I should do this for more experience.

A few "cute" pictures of me on some random Saturday night a few weeks ago

Dear Hunger Games fans,
Yes, I went to the premiere of the the movie, and no I haven't seen it twice to post my lovely thoughts on it. I promise it is coming soon though.


Dear Self,
Why do I always act so dumb around boys? They are only people like you except they are just a little bit more manly.


Dear Neighbors,
I loved dinner last night! It was absolutely delicious, and it felt like Thanksgiving.. Lucky for you my family never got to have a good Thanksgiving feast last year.


Dear English Teacher,
Your baby is really cute, but seriously do we really have to write an essay on A Tale of Two Cities?? I read the book and I think that should be enough.


Dear Self(again),
Stop getting really excited and hurting yourself. Saturday night was bad, and you really don't like the gnar bruises you have on your knee caps or the bruise on your finger.


Dear Mormons,
Didn't you love General Conference this weekend?? My favorite session was the Saturday morning one. If you didn't see them, you can watch them here.

Thoughts-of-mine Thursday

Today I'm missing this guy:

*November 2010, 2 nights before he left for South Africa*

This is my Cousin, Scooter. He is serving a mission for our church in South Africa right now. He has almost been gone a full year, which means he only has one more to go. I want to see him now, but I know it is important for him to serve the people in South Africa so they can learn of the truthfulness of our gospel. Being the Holiday season my Grandma has had all of us write letters for him and he'll open one a day. I hope he likes them a lot, and I hope it helps him teach the people of South Africa.

Spreading the Gospel One Prayer at a Time...

About a week ago I was babysitting my neighbors, like a normal mormon teen would do obviously. It was a pretty easy job: reading, brushing teeth, praying, and going to bed. I didn't realize that praying could take so long to debate about. These kids are 3&5 and they remind me of myself almost. I've never really had a non-member babysitter babysit me, so it was never a problem to "teach" the babysitter how to pray. Anyways, these kids go around and they all say a prayer starting with "Dear Jesus..." Well they came to me and wanted me to say a prayer. I of course start with the traditional "Dear Heavenly Father" and I didn't just end it with amen, I said "In the name of Jesus Christ, amen". These kids thought I was absurd though and fought me against the prayer after I said it. I'm grateful for this experience because of 2 things. First, I was able to share with them the importance of praying to Heavenly Father. Second, I was able to think about and remember why we pray to Heavenly Father. I truly am grateful to have the gospel of Jesus Christ on the Earth today. Praying to my Heavenly Father gives me peace and comfort with my trials. I know that if I put my trust in the Lord I will be able to acheive even the hardest of trials. I love my Savior Jesus Christ!