Selfie

October 22, 2014

She so good!  Love her!

Region XC

October 15, 2015

Garrett ran in Region XC again at Mt. Caramel Junction on the golf course.  He was quite disappointed he came in 8th on the team and only an alternate.  He has ran at state his two previous years, but he still looked great and finished strong!

 

Another Package!

October 14, 2014

A package came from McKenna!  I picked it up at the post office on my way to Region XC.  It was a real sacrifice not to open it then and there, but instead waited until we were all home again and together to open it.  Letter and funky gum.  One package for each of us!  Haha!  She must like it!  It was like cotton candy at first and turned to gum!  Fun!  But I really think we loved her individual letters more!

Shoulder Angel!

October 13, 2014

We were outside playing our little kittens one day during Jeff's lunch and Leighton climbed up on Jeff's shoulder and declared "Shoulder Angel!" If you have ever watched Studio C - an LDS comedy show, you know the reference!  We got a little chuckle out of her!

Mango Salsa!

October 13, 2014

A first try at mango salsa.  I'm thinking for the labor of love this was...I will just buy it.  But it sure does taste yummy!  Thanks Elizabeth for the recipe!

On His Honor

October 12, 2014

Garrett earned his Eagle Scout and was awarded on Sunday October 12, 2014.  He sure makes us proud of his accomplishment and of the young man he is!

 

Garrett gave his mentor pin to Frank Houston - his wrestling coach, teacher and friend.

Welcomed into the Eagle's Nest.  

Garrett, Cade Harland, (YM Leader) and Jantzen Orton.

Garrett and Jantzen Orton both received their Eagle's that night.

Garrett and his "sweetheart" - MaKayla Dalton

Garrett and his "sweetheart" - MaKayla Dalton

Sure do love this family!  Even Leighton's scowl!

 Bishop Yardley spoke on these 2 Eagle's growth through the years.  This was his "slide show".  The right side belongs to Garrett and the Left is for Jantzen.  He talked about how Garrett (the short one) and Josiah (the tall one) led scouts by example.  He told how they stood out at one particular camp out (the 2 stick figures x 5) and how Garrett stood out for his decisions to be good and do what was right in a situation.  The next down was his eagle - a backhoe used to build a deep fire pit for roasting at the County Fair Grounds.  The next was how his example as the Teacher's Quorum President stood out again.  The left was how Jantzen would freak out with a little dirt in his duffle bag at camp outs.  Janzten is a clean freak.  The next was for a song he made up to the tune of Oh Danny Boy but Oh Scouty Boy.  And the last for his leadership as Deacon's Quorum President.   

 Both these boys are great examples of Eagle Scouts.  They are both hard working, kind, thrifty, and everything else the scouting theme is.  So grateful and proud!

Happy 42nd Birthday!

October 11, 2014

And yes, we did set off the alarm!

True Blue Cold Blood!

October 8, 2014

This girl never ceases to amaze me!  She thought it would be a good day to run outside while the sprinklers were going.  Never mind it's October in Panguitch!  Never mind our trees are shedding their leaves!  Never mind the feel of fall is in the air!  She ran, she had fun, she loved it!  Then she was cold!  Whew!  I wondered if she was normal!

 

Conference Tradition - Girls Night!

October 4, 2014

Girls night.  Conference tradition!  Garrett and Kimber were in SLC attending General Conference live!  Well - at least in an annex - they couldn't get in to the conference center - but close enough!  They said it was awesome regardless of where they actually were.  Jeff was at the Stake Center.  So I turned to the little girls and asked them if they were ready for girls night!  We usually paint nails and such stuff but they asked if we could play blocks.  Absolutely!  I love blocks!  We had a great night, just the 3 of us!

Basketball First

October 2, 2014

Addison is always willing to try something new.  This year it was basketball - 4th-6th grades.  I'll admit it was just a little painful to watch her first game - but as the month progressed her team came together really well and played like champs!  Way to go Addison!  

No plays in the front room...ever again!

October 1, 2014

LOOK WHAT CAME IN THE MAIL!!!  I had an idea - because McKenna had warned me to be on the look out!  

YES!  LLADRO!  From the near capital of Lladro - Spain - not quite the Lladro capital, but close enough!  He even threw in free shipping because she was sending it to her mother and because he is a fan of "Mormons"!  

Beautiful!

Same Temp!

Sept 18, 2014

I know this is a back post, but worthy of doing so...even if belated.  I had been getting ready for bed and decided to check the weather in Spain - just to see.  Any little connection to McKenna makes me happy!  Lo and behold - we were the same temperature!  Ha!  So great!  Oceans and miles apart.  Yep - my little connection!  

Mission Review - September 2014

September has been a great month of change, learning and growing for McKenna.  Her first area - Alcala de Henares has been a great move!  She has enjoyed her companions - 2, a bull fight, a running of the bulls, and of course - sharing the gospel!  

A member wanted to take them to the bull fight and the sisters received special permission from the President to go.  The member helped them get ready - complete with fans and hats!  Sister C. and McKenna in their own running of the bulls!

 McKenna was a little sad to wait for all the letters we had sent to the mission home.

The view of the university from a park they proselytize in.

The Hermanas of Alcala.

Saying goodbye to Hermana C.

Saying hello to Hermana F!

McKenna's caption was "Three nuns from one church and three nuns from another!"  I love the I love you from behind her back!

Having a jamon sandwich!

At the cathedral.

Splits with Hermana D.

Splits with Hermana H. 

Hermana H. is from Canada.  Her parents sent some pictures and she shared them with McKenna - they had traveled to Bryce this summer and were in Panguitch for the balloon festival!  McKenna was ecstatic to say the least "So this is when I really started freaking out - like dancing around the piso!"

McKenna finally received the package we had sent on Sept 11th.  We were worried because the tracking has stated that the package was "undeliverable".  Not that there was really anything too important or costly but that we had been to a wedding and asked family members if they wanted to write a short note to her.  Those would have been a tragedy to loose!  She was so excited she had to read the notes while they were still walking!

And then finally they got back to their piso!

  

  

Tears of joy for home bottled peaches and peach jam!

Addison and I had attached a scripture that applied to each item we sent.  It was kind of fun to look up scriptures we could relate to deoderant, seasoned salt, lip gloss, jerky, and granola...to name a few!

Exploring the old university.

Melting chocolate over a candle during companion study:)

Hermana E. - a recent convert on her way back to Peru.