a desire to share

I unfortunately don't have a picture to post this time of our adorable baby girl, but I did have the urge to blog, so I'm doing it anyway.

This weekend we went and visited my sister-in-law Jolyn and her little girl who were visiting her family in Idaho. I'm so glad we did! We're not sure if we'll be seeing them over Christmas, so it was so great that we were able to make it up there while they were there. I love her mom - and I was telling brooklin that she's her surrogate grandma. I got a killer nougat recipe while I was there that I'm dying to try out. I purchased a candy thermometer today, and located the secret ingredient on a website, which I'm going to try and talk Trenton into letting me get. It's a complicated recipe, but I'm going to try it a couple times (if I don't get it right the first time) and then after a few times if it keeps failing I'll wait for Jolyn's assistance next time I see her. She warned me it would not be a piece of cake. ha. haha.

Anyway when we pulled up to the house, they came out to greet us, and who was holding little Sadie, DAN! It was so natural to see him with his family that I forgot he wasn't supposed to be there! He drove 20 hours from Oklahoma? where he's currently doing a rotation (which is why jo and sades are in idaho to begin with) and he didn't even tell his family he was coming. He just showed up! He's nuts. But he, thankfully, made it back safely. I was especially worried (and I didn't tell him OR jolyn this) because one of my friends from Freshman year recently passed away while traveling from Oregon to Utah, a far shorter trip than Idaho - Oklahoma! Kristi posted a memorial for him - see her blog for further details.

He was a great friend. SO considerate, so candid, super eager to help, and definitely an honorable priesthood holder. Once, in the first week of being together, the roommates and I decided to go on a night excursion late at night which Ryan determined to join us on. We later found out that it was because he had been prompted to first of all come out and make sure that everything was sound- only to find us messing around - and then felt that he needed to stick with us - just to make sure that everything was ok. We all made it back to our dorms safely, but who knows what his being there prevented. He also talked with me on many occasions when I was having doubts about one thing or another, and was always super helpful. He helped me to step back and make rational decisions. He was really good at putting me at ease, and helping me to see things how they really were, and not all drama filled as I usually tend to perceive them. Not to mention his helping me and various roomies learn to longboard, solve the rubix cube, and enjoy rides on his motorcycle.

He was married after serving a mission and recently had a little girl, who were both in the car with him last week. The baby is 100% ok, except for a chipped toenail, and his wife is in intensive care. She sustained major head injuries, and is recovering wonderfully. She is expected to be just onehundredpercent ok. Obviously except for her loss. She only just recently found out that her husband didn't survive. I can't even imagine how she must feel! If you are interested in how his wife and baby are doing - read their blog for daily updates.

So I was secretly EXTREMELY worried for Dan.

Last winter, Trenton and I drove home for the holidays, and to stay in Seattle for an internship he did with Ernst and Young. Before our departure, I was very worried about the road conditions, as my dad has always avoided driving in winter (at least from what I remember - perhaps it was just an excuse not to vacation during the holidays, idon't know). My feelings turned more hopeful when the week before we were to move there still hadn't been a good snow. It was pushing farther and farther into December, and I was sure htat it would be clear roads JUST for us to get home. A day or so before we started moving into the storage unit and getting the apartment ready for leaving it, it snowed. Anyway - I was terrified and would have flown home except I didn't want Trent driving by himself. He was talking to his dad on the phone, and Bud told him all these stories about stuff they'd seen and heard about while driving through the snow - unpleasant kind of stories - which Trenton then told ME about. This did not help AT ALL. It would have been ok if he told us after we had safely arrived, - but he made my fears that much worse. Hah - so anyway this is why I didn't tell Jolyn and Dan about Ryan.

Here is a little video of Brooklin giggling. She gets in these moods where anything we do is so hilarious to her! She's laughed from me just moving my head from side to side, she laughed when I was rubbing her tummy dry after a tub, she laughs at her toys, sometimes she laughs when she gets tickled - I can't even remember some of the random things that she has thought so hilarious! I love her giggles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW--LuBJLv4
enjoy :)

Well, I think I need to hit the shower.

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