Fall Break

Over fall break McKay and I made a quick trip up to Washington to see my parents and my grandma who will be 96 this month! It was a short trip, but we made the most of it visiting family, taking a trip to the Darigold cheese factory in Sunnyside, and to Boehms chocolates! I was sad I didn't have a camera (I gave mine to Colton to take on his mission)because it would have been nice to have some pictures of everyone. But, then on the way home I remembered we had Colton's iphone which has a camera. Maybe not the best quality, but better than nothing! So we started snapping pictures out the window of the car as we made the 9-1/2 hour drive home. Pictures going over the Blues....

a picture of us crossing the 45th parallel (halfway between the equator and the north pole)...

and a picture each time we crossed the Snake River (we snapped the first 3 of them, but missed the last one!).

McKay got a lot of experience driving and I tried to relax while he was doing it!

A Roast, Cotton Candy, and the MTC

These last two weeks have been busy ones. First we attended the Daniel Family Roast--oh, I mean Colton's Farewell. That was where the ward, family, and friends learned that maybe we aren't so good when it comes to family scripture study and family home evening. On the bright side, we won't be asked to speak any time soon on how our family fits scripture study or FHE into our busy schedules! Colton actually did a very good job with his talk. We all found out what a sense of humor he has and that his testimony and desire to serve a mission are strong. And despite how awful we are at having consistent scripture study and FHE, we do love each other and support each other.
The one food request that Colton had for his farewell was cotton candy (can you call cotton candy a food?!!). I rented a cotton candy machine for the weekend and we all finished the weekend on a sugar high. I attempted to use the machine and came away covered with wisps of cotton candy from head to toe (note to self: Never wear black when making cotton candy!). We appreciated the family and friends who were able to share this day with us. It meant a great deal to Colton. It was especially nice to see so many of his college and high school friends who had driven long distances just to spend the day with him and support him as he takes this very huge and important step in his life.

On Wednesday the 28th Colton entered the MTC. We met as a family at the Provo Temple before his report time and took pictures and said our goodbyes. At 12:40 pm we all squished into Devin's truck and drove to the MTC. There were missionaries all lined up waiting for the new missionaries that were arriving. One came over as we pulled up to the curb. Colton's bags were unloaded, he gave each of us a hug, we said goodbye and he went off with the missionary who greeted him to find his room and get settled in. It was much easier this way. I know he will do great things in the Carlsbad Mission. He is excited to get out there and teach the people and share his testimony. Can't wait to hear about his experiences and see the change they will bring.

Wedding Day-August 4, 2011

What a beautiful day! It started out very stressful as we spent 30 minutes driving around looking for a parking place but it ended very nicely!! It was so wonderful and such a blessing to have so many good friends and family there to share in this special day with us. Colton was able to be in the Salt Lake Temple with us as we watched my dad seal Devin and Krystal together for eternity. The luncheon went very well thanks to some dear sisters in the ward who helped in the kitchen and many of my cute young women who came to the house to babysit the younger kids. And many thanks to family and friends who took some beautiful pictures at the temple. I didn't even think to bring my camera! At the luncheon I got up and told about how when I was pregnant with our fourth child we took the boys with us to the ultrasound appointment where we found out we were having our fourth son. I swore the boys to secrecy and told them we should let everyone else be surprised when the baby was born. Devin was about 7 at the time and a few weeks later his primary teacher asked him whether his mom was having a girl or a boy. Devin said, "I can't say. All I can say is that there are no girls allowed in this family!" We are happy he has changed his mind and allowed a girl to join our family! Bill got up and told about how he first knew how Devin felt about Krystal. It was when he found Devin sitting in his truck crying after dropping Krystal off at the airport in January to go to school in Hawaii. Devin and Krystal just seem so happy and it's fun to watch them together. We love you two and are so happy that Devin has married such a beautiful girl who makes him so happy.

Camping-Summer 2011

In between the Wedding planning (and the stress of those plans!) we were able to get away a couple times and head for the clear air of the Utah mountains. Of course it couldn't be stress free as each time we went we had to replace a trailor tire! But even that couldn't dampen our fun. June found us up Heber way-just past Daniel's Summit. We had a relaxing 3 days as we fished at Strawberry Reservoir, went 4 wheeling, taught Kaden to jump rope and of course ate very well (we never go hungry when we camp!). In July we got away to Smith Morehouse Reservoir for more fishing and relaxing and good food with good friends.

Mission Call

Two and a half months ago Colton received his mission call. I was up the canyon at girl's camp, but knowing his call would most likely come on Wednesday, I came home. We all made our guesses and wrote them on the outside of the envelope. I told him that he would be going somewhere cold like Norway or Siberia since after coming home from Dixie in May he walked around the house wrapped in a blanket because he was so cold!! The anticipation was just like Christmas!! Colton opened the envelope and read the call to us. He will be serving in the California Carlsbad mission and leaving on September 28th!! I am very proud of you Colton and your willingness and worthiness to go for two years and serve the Lord and the people of the California Carlsbad mission.

LAX

From the title you might think I'm blogging about the LA airport, but to some of us LAX is shorthand for lacrosse. This spring McKay played on the Pleasant Grove Freshman/Sophomore team (he is #8 in the pictures!). He had a lot of fun and switched from playing Middie to Attack. Saturday was their last game and although they had a disappointing loss he played well. And even if it was their last game it hasn't stopped he and Braden and Jeffrey from practicing. Almost every day you can look outside and see them practicing their shots on goal and hitting the wall! I think he will miss playing on a team until they start playing fall ball in September and I will miss watching him and cheering on the Viking team!

Spring Break

McKay was feeling like all his friends were having great fun on their spring break while he was stuck at home with two parents and two brothers who couldn't take time off of work, so when I got my work schedule and saw that I had Thursday and Friday off and didn't have to be back to work until Saturday night we packed up the car and headed down to St. George. Thursday afternoon we tried to grab Colton and head over to Zion's, but since he had a Philosophy paper due, McKay and I decided it would just be the two of us. We had a great time hiking to the lower, middle and upper Emerald pools and waterfalls. Then we headed up to Weeping Rock. It was beautiful and the weather was great for hiking.
The next day Colton skipped his classes and we all went back to Zion's. McKay really wanted to hike Angel's Landing, but being the acrophobic that I am I told him no way! So where do we go but on a hike to hidden canyon. Sounded to me like it would be a nice stroll to a----well, to a hidden canyon!! It was hidden--way UP a steep climb and around a cliff. Who makes these trails?!! There I was hundreds of feet up clinging to a chain that is attached to the face of the cliff! But when it was all over the boys were so proud of me. McKay called Bill to tell him I had conquered my fear of heights. Well, that may not be exactly true. That fear is definitely still there!
Our final day in St. George Colton took us to "The Crack". It is exactly what the name implies-a crack in the red rocks north of St. George. Colton tells me that you just turn sideways and you can go all the way through it. Well, maybe my beanpole of a son can go through it sideways, but not his fat mama! Did I mention that I am also claustrophobic? I got to the entrance and took one look at it and said, "No way are you getting me through that thing!" I stood there and took pictures as they slowly got further and further through the crack and then I turned around and met them on the other side!

After experiencing "The Crack", we went down to Dixie and Colton gave us a tour of the campus. We even found a Hunt family relative listed on the monument to the first settlers of St. George. Amos Hunt and Rebecca Wiggins Hunt were my great, great grandparents. Pretty cool!!

It was hard leaving the warm weather and Colton, but in just two short weeks he will be done with school and back home for the summer. I hope he brings the warm weather with him!