Eagle Court of Honor

We held Kjel's Eagle Court of Honor on New Years Day.  He became an Eagle back in August, but he waited to have his Court of Honor when TaraLyn and Breanne would be able to attend.  We had a great turn out and so many people helped with the Court of Honor.  Rick Burton was the Master of Ceremonies.  Joel Dulude, Jeffrey Olsen, and Will Burton gave the Eagle Challenge.  Warren and Tim Wharton participated in giving the award and the Eagle Oath.  There were eight eagles present to sit in the Eagles nest.  Kjel did a good job on his acceptance speech and in giving his mentors pin to Brother Wharton.  We had yummy refreshments that were left over from the reception the night before.  Good Job Kjel!!!!

What did I do in 2011?

I obviously didn't get around to blogging in 2011.  Here is why:

In January I was called to be the Stake Primary President.  Although it is less stressful than being the ward Primary President, it has kept me busy.  Each month we have a ward or branch conference to attend. (sometimes that can mean a 1 hr. to 2 hr. drive to and from the conference) I have a monthly Presidency meeting. I have traveled around and done some cub scout training with the different units. And I have traveled to Knoxville twice for different training. 
In March we traveled as a family to Portland Oregon for my brother Varon's wedding.  We traveled from Portland to Moses Lake WA to visit my parents.  Then we drove back to Portland for the wedding.  Then down to the bottom of Oregon for the reception and back to Portland.  We had a great time being with family, the only draw back was that we all took turns being sick.  It wasn't pretty! Here is a picture of my father, brothers, sisters, and Varon's new wife Mandy.

In May Warren and I tagged along with my sister Kim and father to England for 10 days.  My father served his mission there and we were able to go back and see some of the areas that he served in.  We also met a really nice family that he baptized while he was there.  We spent some time in London looking at the sites.  We went on two different day tours looking at castles, the White Cliffs of Dover, Cathedrals, Stratford Upon Avon, etc. 

We arrived home a few days before TaraLyn graduated from High School.

The first of July we made a three day trip to Idaho.  The truck was packed with TaraLyn's things for college including her cello.  We stopped in Nauvoo to take in the sites and got to listen to Vocal Point.  The next day we stopped at Mt. Rushmore and then continued on to Rexburg to see Kjirsten.  (We had Will with us......he had returned from his mission a week before.  Both of them were extremely nervous to see each other.  But obviously that turned out well.)

We spent the month in Idaho/Utah visiting family and friends, attending the Jones Family reunion, and attending Kjirsten's Graduation from BYU-Idaho. 

These are the Jones cousins that were all born in the same year that Clayton was born. (2000)

After graduation we packed all of Kjirsten's things in the truck and drove back home.  Will and I drove back in two days. (Warren had flown back home earlier).  We were ready to be out of the truck by the time we got back to TN.

Then the next month (August) I drove back to the west with Breanne and TaraLyn to take them to school with a vehicle.  We took the long route and drove to Las Vegas first then Idaho.  We spent four days in Vegas working at an ASEA convention for my sister Kim.  We had a blast being there with Kim and my friend Mary and her boys.  Plus, all three of us earned some money.  After the convention we drove to Idaho and got the girls all settled in their basement apartment at Grandpa Jones' house.  I was able to fly home this time.

 

Before flying home I was able to attend my niece Reilyn's baptism and be an escort for my sister for her endowment session in the Draper temple.  It was a very special day being with family and participating those ordinances with them.

I arrived home just in time for Stake Conference.  I know that doesn't sound all of that exciting, but it was a big deal for me.  I had my first Stake Training that I was conducting and I had to give a talk in the  Sunday Session.  I survived and was sooooooooo happy to have that weekend over. 

In October we went to Atlanta to attend the temple with Kjirsten for her first time. Then two weeks later we traveled to Nauvoo for Kjirsten and Wills sealing.  We were so thankful for those who came and supported them.  My sister Kim flew into Atlanta for the endowment session.  My Aunt Anita, Uncle Arlon, and Aunt Carla drove from Utah/Idaho for the wedding in Nauvoo.  My father, Varon, and Mandi flew from WA.  We had friends from Decatur that drove over for the day.  Marta, Talon and Natalie drove from TN to be in attendance.  And the Burtons were there of course.  It was a beautiful weekend in Nauvoo and the sealing was beautiful. 

The end of November Warren and I took a week long trip to Virginia. We visited the Washington D.C. temple, civil war battlefields, Thomas Jefferson's home at Monticello, attended a murder mystery dinner, and relaxed. 

This month we are happy to have Breanne and TaraLyn home for Christmas.  Next week will be Kjirsten and Will's wedding reception.  The next day we will start the new year off by having Kjel's Eagle Court of Honor.  We will have to post pictures of these events later.  It has been one busy year.  I think that I was away from home for about nine weeks of the year.  CRAZY!!!! 

Each year our Bishop challenges us to go to the temple more than we did the year before.  This year I just tried to go to different temples each time.  I went to the Columbia South Carolina temple, Portland Temple, London Temple, Rexburg Temple, Draper Temple, Atlanta Temple, Nauvoo Temple, and Washington D.C. Temple. 

Nauvoo Wedding pictures

Here are my favorite pictures from the wedding.

Who's wearing my pants?

The other evening as we were getting ready for dinner, Clayton came walking into the kitchen with his hands on his back pockets and he said, "Hey, these aren't my pants!"  I looked at the pockets to see who's pants he was wearing and they were mine.  The ones with the bedazzaling on the back pockets.  He had worn them to school.  Of course it was my fault for putting them on his pile and what should I expect when he has to get dressed at 6:00 in the morning.  I laughed all the way through dinner and the whole rest of the evening.  I told him that I was glad that I had someone in the house that I could share clothes with now that all of the girls are gone.  At least he had worn a long t-shirt with the jeans, it covered the back pocket.  And they were my skinny jeans, so they didn't look overly big on him.  He did have to wear a belt and roll them up on the bottom.   Ohhhhh, it was the funniest thing ever.  I am still laughing. 

Will and Kjirsten's Wedding

Will and Kjirsten were married October 22 in Nauvoo, Illinois. They chose this date, because it was their fourth anniversary from when they began to date each other. They dated for two years and then Will served a mission in Guatemala and Kjirsten attended BYU-Idaho where she graduated with an associate degree in General Studies. Here are some pictures of the perfect day in Nauvoo.

The Burton Family. Rick and Sandy are Will's parents. Garrison and Amy are his brother and sister. Jen is Garrison's wife.

The Jones Family minus Breanne and TaraLyn. They are in the middle of the semester at BYU-Idaho and couldn't make it. So we are having a big party/reception in December when they are home.

Everyone who came to the temple with us. Burton family, Jones family, Grandpa Larsen, Uncle Varon and Aunt Mandy, Aunt Marta, Talon Natalie & Lila, Aunt Anita, Uncle Arlon, Aunt Carla. And then our friends from Decatur, Illinois. The Bunkers, McFarlands, Hughes, and VanOrdens. We are so thankful that you came to support Will and Kjirsten. We loved seeing all of you!

Grandpa with his oldest grandchild and first to get married!

The Larsen/Raymond family.

Thank you to the Burton's for the luncheon afterwards. Kjirsten and Will went to Myrtle Beach for a week for their honeymoon. They are now back to normal life. Will is attending Northeast College working on generals and is working as a waiter at Carrabas. Kjirsten is working at Zaxby's. They have been having fun setting up home in their apartment.