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8/7/11 New tires and fun at the St. George City Park

8/7/11

Hi AJ!

Seems like just yesterday we were talking to you about our quick tire change on the freeway...and it's Sunday again!  End of that story is we went to Walmart the next morning and they told us it was our fault the tire blew (alignment issue) and they would not honor the warranty.  Went to Costco and paid $435 for 4 new tires and then took it to a mechanic down the road to get an alignment.  He wouldn't give me one.  Said I don't need it and that I just had CRAPPY tires.  No charge, No alignment.  (Seems crazy that he wouldn't just go ahead and align it...I was ready to pay about $100 to him, ya know?)  I don't know what to think...if Walmart and Big O are messing with us (they say I need an alignment every time I go in there) or if they really sold us crappy tires. So the guy at the alignment shop said to come back in 3 months and he'll check things again...whatever!

Another busy week flying by.  The girls have been keeping busy playing with friends and enjoying the lazy days of summer.  Oh the good ol days, eh?  My friend Jamie and her daughter Ady and the girls and I went out Friday night.  We took the girls to McD's for kids meals and then to St. George water feature in the middle of town.  I think you've been there.  Just a big fun play stream down by the St. George library.  They ran around in the heat and loved it.  St. George City also installed a $300,000 carousel next to that (everybody's complaining about waste of tax $ money etc) and the girls rode it 3X.  It is 50 cents a ride so it doesn't break the bank.  The LOVED it.  Afterward we took them to a new ice cream joint called Menchie's.  They got to get a cup and put whatever they want in it.  They had about 12 flavors of frozen yogurt. Then they had like 100 different toppings.  Fruits, candy bars, gummy stuff, brownie squares, cheesecake squares, praline covered chocolates, on and on and on.  Katie was lost in little girl heaven for awhile.  At the very end there is some syrup.  The kicker about this place is you have NO idea how much you are spending until you get up to weigh it.  39 cents per ounce.  When Ady put hers on it said 12.5.  Her mom thought that meant $12.5 and she almost fell over dead right there!  Turns out that was OUNCES not the price and it was about $5.  Which is still kinda pricey for a kids ice cream but after the initial shock it seemed quite reasonable!  Katie's and Holly's were similarly priced at $3.5 and $5.  Keep in mind they were set free on this place...it could have been a lot worse!  Any way the girls were very happy with their evening.

Things are getting a little better at work, I guess.  I still have a lot of kinks to iron out but slowly but surely I'm working through things.  All my community service workers dropped off the face of the earth which has been a bummer but I have 2 promises that they'll be back next week...we'll see.  So I have high hopes for a productive couple of days next week.

The girls GS overnighter is coming up.  They have shortened it yet again.  Now it's basically 24 hours.  Go Thursday at 2, come home Friday at 2.  Ok.  So much for Thur, Fri, Sat.  It is actually nice for leaders but a bummer for the girls.  They were really looking forward to a "weekend" not an "overnighter".  We'll eat smores and sing songs.  It'll be a blast I'm sure.

All the girls have started coming back from vacation and stuff so we had a good turn out at YW this week.  Took the girls to see a murder mystery cruise thing directed by Emily Holt from our ward.  The price is $95 a head (fund raiser) on Friday but for the dress rehersal we were able to get in free.  It was pretty fun.  We had 2 cars FULL of girls/leaders.

Today I am teaching in YW.  The lesson is on forgiving ourselves.   You know, once you've completed the repentance process...allowing yourself to move on.  It is a pretty good lesson.  I hope I'll be able to deliver it well.  Not my best thing but I'm gonna try!  There are some really good stories that go along with the lesson so if I can just keep my head together it should be fine.  We've only been having like 2 girls lately in YW and 4 leaders...but I still get nervous.  Go figure.   I don't know what to do with our lame attendance.  The one family takes the 2 girls to their old address most weekends, others just won't come.  I guess just keep plugging away and inviting them and hoping it gets better!  Sometimes I wonder why I waste my time for nobody to come...but then I think of poor Nikki and our new girl Vanessa and realize that THEY want to be there and THEY want to learn and even if you are only doing it for one person it's still worth it, right?!  (I learn a lot if nothing else, right?!)

I guess I'll sign off now.  I hope you are having great success.  Your blog is often spoken of by people so I know that you are touching people here in addition to whatever great things you are accomplishing there!  We are very proud of you and I hope you can feel our love and support for you always.  I hope that you're example will help us with your brothers and getting them to also serve a mission.  What a great life lesson that is.  Imagine if I'd have gone -- teaching YW would be EASY now!!!   (Course you wouldn't be here...!)  





Anyway, I love you lots and hope you know that.  You are amazing.  Keep up the good work! Love mom.

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