evan, lindsay, nina, elena and esther

I think this picture is the best one to describe our trip down to Utah to see Kyle into the MTC. It was a victory! Why? Because we almost didn't make it. You know that you're doing something important when there is opposition and obstacles to overcome. On the way down, Inga (a fitting name for a Saab) overheated three times!! That had never happened till this trip. Luckily we learned to manage the temperature/engine fickleness and made it to a car rental place at the airport and then to a Saab mechanic in SLC. Meanwhile Kyle waited at the airport and he finally asked Aunt Eva to send another ride for him to pick him up. Despite the car problems, we actually had a lot of fun, and THEN I was consoled by some delicious mole smothered enchiladas from a really great restaurant in W SLC called the Red Iguana, recommended to us by Heather and Ross. I had been skeptical because of the high caliber home made mole I ate during my mission. But I was so impressed. It made my heart sing. I wish that I could give you all a sample of it via this blog. Maybe one day technology will be that advanced. Finally we made it down to Pleasant Grove and got to spend the next 20 ish hours with Kyle himself and the Bernfelds.

Going into the MTC with Kyle was such an edifying experience. I was awash in all the feelings & memories of being in the MTC myself almost 6 years ago. (has it really been that long??) Sooo many good memories. I'd say it was one of the richest periods of my life up until now. Evan was reminiscing too. There was a whole new dimension to it this time. We couldn't believe how emotional the mormon "Isn't it about time" commercials made us!! We were trying so hard not to sob from the 30 minute onslaught of cheesy spiritual short films, one after another!! It must have something to do with us being on the verge of becoming parents. We didn't want to leave, and we wished we could follow Kyle around the MTC with a video camera and watch him on his first day. We left him his first little care package in hidden in his luggage. He is going to serve in the San Bernadino California mission. It was a tough decision for Kyle to leave epoch and the other parts of his life behind for two years to serve a mission. We are so proud of his courage and faith.

After we said goodbyes to Kyle we met up with Rosalie!! I LOVE the food that's available in Utah if you know where to find it -- we had Chilean torta and some empanadas for lunch with her before we headed back up to get our car. It was a great day and a half trip.


Kyle ready to head over to the MTC


At the famous MTC entrance sign. Contrast Kyle's excitement with Evan's profound emotions. This is the last time we'll see him in two years.


Aunt Eva, Katie, and Spencer with Kyle


We were surprised when Brianne showed up unexpectedly to say goodbye to Kyle!

ONE MORE THING! Evan is super excited this week because he finally got something he's been wanting for a long time - a wacom tablet, this awesome graphic design drawing tool. He also got a really nice new scanner to supplement his work. He owes me a kitchen aid now. Or some other expensive and highly desired toy. :) Kyle made this little ditty with the wacom pad:

The fall semester is here again, which means sleepless nights of studying and tests for most students. Yet I find myself in a somewhat new situation - I get to take fun classes for the last time before I graduate in December!! Since there's only one class that I need to graduate (a solo special topics research class for my econ minor), and I'm unemployed (other than the task of creating a human life... pretty tiring job!) I decided I'll take as many fun classes that I can fit into my schedule. And while the weather is still warm I get to balance my new body atop my bike and roam around campus, which is also fun. So far, my biggest thrill is my book arts class that started today. I'll learn how to bind books and maybe do a few other things like marble paper by hand and use the old school letter press. The teacher is this great lady Sister Simpson, who happens to be my friend Jordan's mom, who abandoned ship to join BYU-Provo so I haven't seen him in a few years bless his heart. I'm also trying to get into a sewing class, a humanities of Islam class, and maybe a newly offered class called the developing world. We'll see how it all comes together and I'm excited!!

Evan is taking some awesome classes too, in order to wrap up his Associates. That way after December we'll be at a point where we can transfer if we want to. We're looking at which schools would be a good fit for Evan to continue studying graphic design, including the possibility of staying here at byu-idaho!! This semester is going to be a busy one for him - full class schedule, freelance graphic design, comic frenzy, and he'll be spending a few hours a week with a team designing a BYU-I scholastic journal for 2008. He works so hard! Luckily a lot of what he does is stuff that he really enjoys. He jumps in head first and does such a great job.

In the excitement of my book making class, I randomly found this paper cutting artist online. I'm amazed at how much these plain white paper sculptures take form. You're looking at shapes he created from the paper in the image. Look closely at all the amazing detail this guy spent time on.