Christmas Skype!!

SOOOO awesome to talk to our boys!

Trying to show brother to brother.

Tears of joy.  So happy to see each other.  

But they laughed and smiled a lot too.  

Saying goodbye.  So super hard.  

Til next May.  

Missionary Packages

These seem to be ruling my world lately! Spain, Norway... and finally California. Hopefully we sent some authentic Sharp Christmas cheer their ways. We miss them!!!

Happy All Hallow's Eve!!

Gru, Vector and I'm not sure. I spent lots of time shopping and creating for the two costumes- and Clayton gets some freaky eyes at the last minute.... Guess which costume the kids were crazy about at school- Yep. Clayton's was a hit.

2 Down, 4 to Go!

Our wonderful Spencer entered the MTC today!  I have set up his blog over at 

www.thesanfernandoservant.blogspot.com

Our hearts are heavy and we've had a long day.  We miss him horribly and our house already feels

MUCH too quiet with him not here.  But we have a feeling he's having the time of his life.  

Our Trek Adventure

Will and I both had a really good experience.  It was so much work- but so worth it!

A hobbit, a giant, and a dwarf.  

What a wonderful experience to be there with our boys!  

We had such a good time with the food committee!  They were all a blast to be around.

Father/son challenge for the stick pull championship.  Spencer won!

In this one you can see Will flying over the top of Spence.  :)

Brother against brother.  

It really was exhausting work.

We were lucky to have some of our closest friends there with us- They went as ma's and pa's.  

The taught the kids square dancing... and salsa dancing.  ???

Spencer sang a solo one morning at the devotional.  The song was all about having nothing to fear in our journeys.  

The women's pull was so much harder than I had expected it to be.  

I was asked to be an 'aunt' the night before and join a family that they thought might need extra help.  It was so exhausting.  I had thought it wouldn't be a big deal at all, but I was extremely wrong.  

1.2 miles of uphill, with a couple of steep areas.  This was Brig greeting me a the top.

One of my favorite photos.  I know what she was thinking...'Dan, give me a second.'  

Another of my favorite photos.  Waiting for the families to come in at the end.

How many people does it take to stir oatmeal?  

The food committee had some down time in between meals while we waited for the kids to arrive at each spot.  We played several hands of Dalmuti.  

The Hoedown.  

Always keeping track of exactly how much we used of what, and what was left over.

I loved Sean's hat.  

What a great experience!  One we won't forget.  It was eye opening and humbling to gain a very small understanding of what our pioneer ancestors endured and sacrificed for the Gospel to thrive.  I feel so blessed to have the heritage I have and to come from a legacy of so many amazing Saints.

Spencer's Call

What a Whirlwind of emotions!!  Here we go again...

Time for Another Call

I guess I'm going to have to start updating this blog as well.  I've been blogging faithfully over at Preston's mission blog, but now Spencer is expecting his call any day.  We were hoping for this week because we have family in town, but it looks like it will be next week.  The holiday may have thrown things off, we aren't sure.  We just recently returned home from a great trip to San Diego with our good friends, the Adams.  I thought I'd post some pictures on here on our trip there. 

Mormon Battalion

Tourmaline Tide Pools

Anthony's

The dolphin I saw off of SeaPort Village

Sea World

Mission Bay

The jelly fish were everywhere in the water.  Really. 

Old Town Coyote Cafe

Brigham won the contest of the 'greatest' find.

Our matching shirts the Adams had made for us all. 

 

Notice Will- he's a hobbit.