My childhood is chock-full of happy memories. I did lots of things: dance classes, gymnastics, soccer, piano, flute, and swimming lessons. I found great ways to relax: reading and Disney movies. And my family went on trips every year. When it comes to my favorite, I have narrowed it down to three: dancing, reading, and family trips.
Dancing
I have been taking dance classes since before I can remember. I took my first dance class when I was 3 years old, but I have no memory of it! I just have this picture in my costume:
When I was 8, we found a lady in the neighborhood who had converted her garage into a dance studio and taught local dance classes. I was put in a class for my age group, and I took ballet and jazz lessons from her for a year. We did a Christmas concert, which I don't remember very well. Then we did an end-of-year (school year) concert. My class did a routine to "My Heart Will Go On" and "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun".
When I was 10, I went back to that same studio and this time took tap and jazz. The theme of the concert was The Wizard of Oz. We did a tap number to a song that wasn't in the movie, but I believe is in the musical (I can't remember the song). And we did our jazz number to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".
When I was 11 I started my decade of ballroom dancing. I took my first ballroom class from the same lady I had taken previous classes from. It was a small class, only three couples. We did a Cha Cha and a Foxtrot for the concert. When I was 12 I went to a different studio, and I participated in my first competition! My partner and I competed Cha Cha and Foxtrot. We got a call back in the cha cha. When I was in 7th grade I started taking ballroom classes through the school. I made the Middle School team in 8th grade, JV Ballroom in 9th grade, and Varsity Ballroom 10th-12th grades. In college I danced on BYU's 10:00 and 1:00 teams, then I danced for a year on Center Stage's adult ballroom team.
I stopped dancing for teams when we were ready to start our family. But I still dance when I can now. Two out of my four exercise videos/games are dancing videos.
Reading
I have grown up with a love of reading. Before I learned how to read, my favorites for my parents to read to me were: The Sleep Book and Bears in the Night. I learned how to read with Dr. Seuss Books and the Babysitters' Little Sister Club book series. My cousin, Spencer, and I would race each other reading the Magic Tree House books (we could read two or three in a day). I also enjoyed Junie B. Jones when I was young. When I was in second grade I read The Island of the Blue Dolphins with my dad. I remember my teacher told my parents that I was reading at a 6th grade level!
When I was in 3rd grade, I discovered Harry Potter, and spent the next 8 years waiting for the new book to come out. I enjoyed just about every genre for my age group you could find. I was always reading something. In fact, I would get "grounded" from reading if I would pick up a book instead of listening to my parents. They would take my books away until I finished my chores almost every day. I also got in trouble for reading when I was supposed to be sleeping! But it wasn't like being in real trouble, it was more of a joke between all of us. My parents absolutely supported and encouraged my reading addiction.
In between waiting for the Harry Potter books, I read other series and authors as well. One that I like, which is similar to Harry Potter is the Charlie Bone series. In high school I really fell in love with the British classics like Jane Austin, the Bronte sisters, and Charles Dickens. I tried, but I really couldn't get into the American classics. I enjoyed The Scarlet Letter, but I did not like The Last of the Mohicans or The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Little Women was fine, but I don't know if I'll reread it like I do Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights.
As an adult I have really enjoyed Nicholas Sparks and Philippa Gregory. I also enjoy the occasional biography or autobiography. After Benjamin was born I really go into religious literature. I read The Ensign every month, and I've read most of The Teachings of Presidents. I also love reading to Benjamin and Luna! Their favorites are Are You My Mother?, Bears in the Night, and The Hungry Little Caterpillar.
Family Trips
Growing up we took family trips every year. We went camping in American Fork Canyon every summer. We would visit my mom's parents in Washington and my dad's in St. George. Whenever we went to St. George we would always go to Zion's National Park. Our favorite thing in Zion's is to take the mile hike to the start of the narrows Virgin River hike, and walk in the river for an hour or two and then come back.
One summer we visited all of my grandparents in one month! We drove down to see my dad's parents, then over to California where we met my dad's step grandma, Grandma Maxine, and my dad's aunt and uncle Sam and Betty. While in California we visit the Red Woods forest. We then drove up to Oregon where we visited with my great-grandma Mary (my dad's mom's mom). We visited Crater Lake there as well. Then up to Washington to visit my mom's parents where we swam in the Columbia River, and watched the light show on the Grand Coulee Dam. On the way home we stopped in Idaho to visit my great grandparents Elvin and Virginia (my mom's mom's parents).
The biggest rip we have ever taken was to drive from Utah to New York and back again. We went to New York to visit my mom's sister who lives there. On the way there we visited: Independence Rock, The Field of Dreams site, Mt. Rushmore, Chicago, and The University of Michigan. While in New York we went to New York City, of course. We visited the Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero (in 2013), Ellis Island, Toys R Us, took a tour on a bus, and saw The Phantom of the Opera. Back at my aunt's house we visited the Sacred Grove, The Hill Cummorah, and watched the pageant. We also visited Niagra Falls. On the way home we stopped at: the Kirtland Temple, Independence, Missouri, Adam-ondi-amen, Carthage Jail, Nauvoo, and Rocky Mountain National Park.
My parents instilled in me a love for traveling! I hope one day to take my kids on similar trips. Right now we take them to California once a year to see Gerson's parents. This summer we are taking them to Coulee Dam, Wa! I can't wait to see what adventures my family goes on in the future.
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