San Diego!

Gerilyn watched our kids for a week while Rick and I went on our Church History Workshop.  She said that she was thinking about going on a little road trip after we were back and wondered if she could bring one or two of the kids. I thought Janelle and Jaiden would be the best choice.  The older kids already get a lot of fun activities through EFY, camps, and youth conferences and the two youngest would be more difficult to travel with.   Gerilyn decided on San Diego and wrote the girls a letter to announce the "surprise" to them.  After reading the letter Jaiden shouted, "AWESOME!!"  Janelle, however, was close to tears.  She said that it was just so far and she missed her mom and dad and just didn't know if she was ready for such "a big step."  I called her on our way home from Las Vegas and told her to think about it and she could decide in the morning.  Well, she decided to go and she and Jaiden had a wonderful time!  They left right after church.  Janelle wrote in her journal every night.  She said they they drove seven hours and went 463 miles before arriving at the hotel.

Here is what Janelle wrote about Monday:  "...we went to Old Town (very very old).  We went to the Mormon Battalion visitor's center and went panning for gold.  The pictures of people in the army could talk and move!  Then we went out to eat at a place called Cotixan and we went to the Pacific Ocean!  Then we went to another beach (in the same ocean) with real sea lions and seals!  Then we swam in the hotel pool..."