Let them eat Black Forest cake

So this last week I went to our stake Sommerlager, or summer camp for the young women. It was so fun and although hot, very beautiful!! This is a few of us from our ward before heading up to the cabin. Left to right: Me (14), Josie (12), Rachel (17)

We had to hike up to our cabin and the three of us decided to take the steep shorter way up which was hard but definitely worth it for the views!

This is the Alpspitze we could see from our cabin.

And the other side.

So we finally got there and it took about three hours. We thought we were going to have to carry our whole packs up, but then they told us those were going up in a trailer so we only had to carry our lunches. But we took victory pictures with our big packs on anyway.

That night we played get to know you games and got split into teams for the week. I was in the team "Aller Kraft" or "all power" (from the scripture D&C 4:2) so we made a cheer and this was our banner.

They had this really cool idea where there was a mailbox and everyday the girls could write notes to one another and put them in there and at night they were all dealt out. It was such a good idea and the mailbox was always full or over flowing. It made me so happy to see the support and love all these girls have for each other.

Writing notes.

That night Rachel and I realized we had matching shirts from fsy last year for our pajamas!

The next day we had some workshops and then had a scavenger hunt. Part of the scavenger hunt was for the group to write a song about all the members of the group and perform in front of everyone. (There were about 30 girls in total) So our group decided to write a rap. I have a video, but sadly it was too big to upload, but that's why I had this sunglasses and hat get-up.

Our service project for the week was to crochet hats for kids with cancer and it was fun, but VERY frustrating at the beginning as you can see.

"Go through!"

I finished a stitch!

Then that night we had an awesome fireside about unity.

On Wednesday they told us we were going to take a "short" hike to a lake. So we set off and we hiked and hiked and hiked....and hiked. It took about three and a half hours of climbing where the whole second half was steep for us to get to the lake, but we did it! The water was probably the coldest thing I have felt in my life! It was so cold, but we swam and made it back down and had a campfire with s'mores that night.

The next day they had planned for everyone to hike again, but they made it optional because everyone was so worn out from the day before! So of course Rachel and I decided to go! We went with a few other girls on an easier hike while three girls climbed all the way to the top of the Alpspitze.

We encountered some lovely cows on the way with some loud bells!

The views were amazing as always!

We even found a few little seats to rest in along the way!

Almost there!

We hiked to the a lookout over a gorge and there were a lot of para-gliders there.

Here we are on the lookout. Left to right: Jessie (one of the leaders), Me, Rachel, Lara, Anna, Luisa

We stopped and ate lunch at the top and the leader thought it was hilarious that we were so behind on our hats that we brought them and crocheted up on the mountain.

That night I finally finished my hat! I stitched too tight or something so it was pretty small, but I was proud of it anyway.

That night we had a really nice testimony meeting under the stars.

Friday morning a few of us woke up really early and watched the sunrise. Sadly I forgot my camera, but it was AMAZING, the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen: over the alps.

Then we hiked down and finally got back home! Rachel and I took a picture of our matching shirts we colored at camp. You can't see it very well and it doesn't make much sense, but it is what we decided our first album cover would be if we have a band someday. I had a dream about it and we thought it was so funny that we put it on our T-shirts.

So then I made it back home all safe and sound and all was well. I was so happy I had the opportunity to go. It really strengthened my relationships with all the girls in the stake and definitely helped my German! I saw how much work the leaders put into the week and it made me so much more appreciative. My testimony was strengthened and my friendships with the girl grew. It was an amazing experience I hope I can never forget.

So this last week our family took a trip down to Switzerland for a week so that Tanner could go through the temple for the first time. So on the way down we stopped at a gas station and got some lunch. There was this little box by the cash register that said American candy and I got this and it just reminded me so much of home!

On our way to Bern we stopped in Zurich at the Freitag store. It is this company that makes bags out of recycled tarps from trucks and bicycle inner tubes and Tanner got one for his mission. This is what the store looks like and you can go up on the top and look out over the city.

Looking out over the river...

So this street has significance because it is the street that my great great grandmother on my Dad's side, Rosa Bertha lived and grew up until she moved to Utah when she was sixteen. I am so grateful for what she did and it was so cool to be there.

SO beautiful

Tiny alleys

Then we went up on the old city wall and looked out over the river.

This little park was perfect and and the weather was perfect!

Tanner even found an old man to play chess with!

When we got to Bern this was the view out of our hotel window.

So the next day we went to the temple!! While my family went through a session I did baptisms with an Italian and French group. It was super cool.

The next day we decided to go see the alps and drive to Interlaken and Grindelwald. This is walking around a little place called Wilderswill.

Lots of cow bells!

The alps and Tanner!

That night we went to the grocery store and because Swiss Independence Day was August 1st, we saw a cake with the National Anthem on it. I wonder how that tasted...

On Friday we went back to the temple and Tosha did baptisms with me. We finished about an hour and a half before Tanner and my parents so we sat in the lobby and read and slept and slept and waited....

And finally they came out!

After the temple we decided to go back and look at the alps because it was more clear.

If you look really closely in this picture you can see a small waterfall and Tanner wanted it to look like it was coming from his water bottle so this is the best we got.