Ode to California

Well.. Kevin and I have moved to California for the Summer.
Mmm... who could resist the beaches and nice weather.
I definitely couldn't, especially after being in ice-cold Rexburg aaaaaalllllll Winter! (Brr...)
This was Rexburg:


And this is wonderful WARM life in California:


I might be a little bit biased towards California. It's not that I don't love Idaho, it is beautiful there, but I can only take the cold weather for so long. I am just basking in the beautiful weather here. :) I love being outdoors and doing things. So far this summer we have gone camping, wakeboarding, boogie boarding, jet-skiing, sea-dooing, had a beach bonfire, went on several bike rides to various places, played in tide pools, went to a car-show, I biked in a triathlon (Kevin did the whole thing and came in 5th), and spent a few days at the river. It has been a great summer so far, and I hope it continues to be great. Although it's only May, who knows what other surprises and adventures this summer will have in store!

My Aunt Laura Jo

I have to take a moment to say a few words about my aunt Laura Jo. Here is a picture of her, her sisters and my grandma at my wedding:


On Monday May 13 at 3:30pm my aunt was killed in a car accident. She was driving home from work, the wind was blowing across the freeway causing a white-out. She slowed down due to the poor conditions and lack of visibility and was rear-ended by a semi-truck. She died on the scene...

This was such an unexpected tragedy. My aunt was a wonderful woman, kind hearted and always doing things for other people. She was a great aunt and was always very generous. My heart goes out to her and her family. I am grateful to her for giving life to my five cousins, 2 of which have had a great impact in my life. I am grateful to know that her family can be together forever after this life, and that her children will have the opportunity to see their mother again.

Her Obituary:
"Shelby —Laura Jo Parker McKamey, 55, a speech language pathologist from Shelby passed away May 13, 2013 due to a car accident south of Sunburst. She was struck from behind by a semi-truck during a white out by the alkali flats... Survivors include Laura Jo's husband, Alvin McKamey; her children, Brandon and Kristal McKamey, Russell and Brigette McKamey, Sandra Jo McKamey, Alvin James "AJ" McKamey, and Lucas McKamey; and her three grandchildren, Kyra McKamey, Porter McKamey, and Logan McKamey. She is also survived by her parents David and Wyoma Parker; her brother and sisters, Bruce Parker (Jan), Rebecca Wheeler (Denis), Jill Howells, and Shaula Holt (Kelly); as well as many nieces and nephews.

Laura Jo was born in Great Falls, MT, on September 21, 1957. Her father was an Air Force Navigator and she had lived in Montana, Utah, and Alabama. After he retired, the family settled in Bountiful, Utah, where she grew up and graduated from Viewmont High School in 1975. She attended Brigham Young University where she studied Elementary Education. She then went to the Utah State University to get her master's degree in Speech Language Pathology. Laura Jo married Alvin McKamey on June 17, 1980 in the Logan Utah Temple. They had five children. She has lived in Shelby since 1990 where she had become a large part of the community. Laura Jo was involved in Special Olympics, Destination Imagination, Fine Arts Parents, and any other program her children were involved in. She loved to sew and quilt and watch basketball games while reading the complete works of Shakespeare. She will always be remembered as a multitasking magician accomplishing things in a day that did not seem possible.

Laura Jo was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in every capacity that she was asked. She had a strong faith in Jesus Christ and the healing power of the Atonement. She was loved by all who knew her and her influence will be forever remembered."