St. George, Utah

This is the backyard view from Trina's parents house.

I always love coming to St. George. Really, my decision to move to Vegas was based largely on the fact that I was scared to move somewhere completely foreign and not have anyone I knew nearby. Living in Vegas, I knew I'd get to see Spencer and Trina more. It was kind of killing me to live far away from them. Spencer and Trina got married August 24th, 2001, I believe, in St. George. Spencer had just graduated BYU and I was leaving on my mission. We both moved away from Utah at the same time. I entered the MTC August 31st, 2001.

Having Spencer at BYU with me was one of the best things about college. It seems like so long ago, but I remember going over to Spencer's place, or him coming to mine and we'd catch up on everything happening in our lives. Spencer would make me cut his hair, and we'd talk about our crazy roommates, or whatever. Sometimes I'd come home from school and see that Spencer had stopped by because he'd left me a note. When I was just home in Virginia I found one of the notes. I think I had had a hard day for whatever reason, and walked in to see that Spencer had arranged two beanie babies (I really have NO idea why I had these beanie babies in my room at the time) to show a scenario, and the accompanying text read, "Dog's sad because his friend the frog jumped off the desk and died" and then Spencer had arranged the frog with his hands like over his eyes and the dog upside down on the ground. Yes, dumb, but I remember laughing so hard about it. I think I was also pleased that Spencer was able to get past my dumb roommate who had an issue with boys (including my brother...are you kidding me?) in my room.

So, after they got married Spencer and Trina moved to Alexandria. Sammi was born there, and of course, my parents LOVED having them nearby. Not only were Steph and Aaren in Arlington, but they had Spencer and Trina in Alexandria. Spencer and Trina only lasted two years though. I think they always knew they wouldn't live in Virginia for long and also knew they'd end up in St. George. Perhaps, they felt they needed to be somewhere else before they settled down. So, when I got back from my mission. It was maybe two weeks that I was home, before we all drove to Utah. I was starting spring semester, and Spencer and Trina were moving to Provo for Trina to finish up her degree. I moved into Chatham Towne (on 9th East) and Spencer and Trina were in the "Mansion House" (I think that's what they call it), which is the house the Cox's (Trina Cox Swift) own and have their kids live in and they rent it out to friends/extended family. There's like different apartments within this one huge home. It's right across from the Creamery on 9th.

So, coming back from my mission was hard, just because you kind of have to start all over again. My best friends were all married. It would've been really hard had I not had Ann (good friend from Virginia) and MacKenzie (my sister-in-law's younger sister) who also had both just returned from missions to live with. Katie Smith was also in Provo, so that was good too. I just am so glad I had Spencer and Trina right up the street. I was over there all the time.

So, I go to St. George to see Spencer and Trina and my nieces and nephews. They are absolutely adorable. Spence and Trina have 4 kids now. Sammi, Lesil, Kimball, and Isabelle.

This picture was taken over Thanksgiving. We found this little arch hiking. Kimball's on Spencer's back, Me, Hunter, Sammi, Trina, and Lesil. I can't remember who we had left Isabelle with. Well, she wasn't with us.

Kimball just loves to play with Belle and to squash her. Today it looked like he blatantly stepped on her head, but he kind of skipped and got a running start, and I think he was really just trying to do what I was doing with him earlier, which was like a football hustle bridged over him and I run forward and then back. He LOVED it for some reason.

Izzy!

I was sweaty because I had been running around with Kimball. He's so fun to play with.