While in California, we were able to meet up with one of my friends that I worked for when we lived there. It was so great to see her and we ate at this awesome restaurant where they cook the food in front of you. Yamato's--it's a Chinese place and the chef was amazing--doing tricks with his cooking utensils and creating some great flames! We had lots of fun! No pictures though because I always forget to take pictures.
Then we got together with the Sweet family. They took me in when I first moved down there to be with Parley. They live up to their name--Tammy has the most loving heart and she and Bob have raised some great kids! It was so great to see them!
Us with the Sweet family, minus Amy and Bob
Us with the Sweet family, minus Amy and Bob
Then it was off to Arizona to see my sister! We had so much fun and were able to be there on her birthday (pretty much the most awesome present she's ever received, right Lena?!) ! We went wake-boarding, Lena and I went shopping, the married folks did a Mud Run, and Parley was able to meet up with a family he had worked with on his mission. Overall, we had such a great time! Thanks for a great visit Lena and Ryan!
It was so fun to meet the M family and get to know them!Then it was off to Texas to see Parley's family. We were there for a week and it was so great to be there with almost all the siblings. We were even surprised by Parley's sister and her family who all came over for the get together! One main event of this reunion was Parley's brother and his wife were sealed in the San Antonio Temple. It was so wonderful to be there with them as they received of the blessings that the temple can offer!
Paige and Parker had so much fun with their cousins and Aunts and Uncles. Paige however was a little reserved when it came to Lita (Grandma Jones)--she's that way with all women. But on the last day I was able to snap this picture! Hopefully next time Paige will be more open!
Should I tell you how she did it? It started out with some chocolate....need I say more? :) Paige is a true woman! I'm glad you finally got some snuggles from her, Lita!
Then on our way up to Colorado our camera broke. This is the last picture we were able to get:
In Colorado we were really hoping to see Great Grandma Jones (Parley's Grandma) but she left for Arizona a few days before we got up there. Darn it! I guess we'll have to work out some other arrangement to see her. While there, though, we did get to meet up with some friends of ours--Josh and Emily and then we got to stay with Aunt Louise. She is such a hoot and we had a great time seeing her new house that she had remodeled! I love it! We can't wait to go back and spend a little more time there in CO and see more of our relatives! Sorry to the friends and family we missed this time. But we'll be back!
Next up was Utah where we stayed with my friend April and her husband Dave! It was so fun to see them and we are grateful to them for letting us stay there! Come visit us in WA!
Our final destination was Idaho. The day we left UT, the town where my family lives had canceled school because they got so much snow. Thus, we were a little worried about the roads. However, they were awesome. We felt so blessed! When we got to my parents house, we immediately built a snowman! He was over 10 feet tall! Parker named him Frosty!
(yes, I am wearing capris. yes, it was cold)
That night we stayed up late and joked about having another snow day but we really didn't think it would happen. When I woke up, I was so surprised to not hear anyone stirring--we did get another snow day! That day we went sledding! We didn't get a third snow day, but Parley, the kids and I still got to play in the snow that day! Parker decided Heavenly Father had sent the snow just for him! :) I think he's right. Parker definitely loved it!
This trip was so wonderful. I feel so blessed that we were able to go on it and I feel so blessed in the way that everything worked out! Our family is closer because of it and we were able to build and nurture relationships with our extended family and friends! Thank you to all of you who took time away from your schedules to see us and to add to our experience!
We are so happy to be back and to be celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is my goal this season to do as President Monson suggested: to create a spirit of love that will “fill our homes and our lives and linger there long after the tree is down and the lights are put away for another year.”
Paige and Parker had so much fun with their cousins and Aunts and Uncles. Paige however was a little reserved when it came to Lita (Grandma Jones)--she's that way with all women. But on the last day I was able to snap this picture! Hopefully next time Paige will be more open!
Should I tell you how she did it? It started out with some chocolate....need I say more? :) Paige is a true woman! I'm glad you finally got some snuggles from her, Lita!Then on our way up to Colorado our camera broke. This is the last picture we were able to get:
In Colorado we were really hoping to see Great Grandma Jones (Parley's Grandma) but she left for Arizona a few days before we got up there. Darn it! I guess we'll have to work out some other arrangement to see her. While there, though, we did get to meet up with some friends of ours--Josh and Emily and then we got to stay with Aunt Louise. She is such a hoot and we had a great time seeing her new house that she had remodeled! I love it! We can't wait to go back and spend a little more time there in CO and see more of our relatives! Sorry to the friends and family we missed this time. But we'll be back!Next up was Utah where we stayed with my friend April and her husband Dave! It was so fun to see them and we are grateful to them for letting us stay there! Come visit us in WA!
Our final destination was Idaho. The day we left UT, the town where my family lives had canceled school because they got so much snow. Thus, we were a little worried about the roads. However, they were awesome. We felt so blessed! When we got to my parents house, we immediately built a snowman! He was over 10 feet tall! Parker named him Frosty!
(yes, I am wearing capris. yes, it was cold)This trip was so wonderful. I feel so blessed that we were able to go on it and I feel so blessed in the way that everything worked out! Our family is closer because of it and we were able to build and nurture relationships with our extended family and friends! Thank you to all of you who took time away from your schedules to see us and to add to our experience!
We are so happy to be back and to be celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is my goal this season to do as President Monson suggested: to create a spirit of love that will “fill our homes and our lives and linger there long after the tree is down and the lights are put away for another year.”
“Let it be a time that lights the eyes of children and puts laughter on their lips,” he said. “Let it be a time for lifting the lives of those who live in loneliness. Let it be a time for calling our families together, for feeling a closeness to those who are near to us and a closeness also to those who are absent.
“Let it be a time of prayers for peace, for the preservation of free principles, and for the protection of those who are far from us. Let it be a time of forgetting self and finding time for others. Let it be a time for discarding the meaningless and for stressing the true values. Let it be a time of peace because we have found peace in His teachings.
“Most of all, let it be a time to remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds and the worship of the Wise Men.”
Merry Christmas!
4 comments:
How did you get the middle and head on that snowman? That is the biggest snowman I've ever seen and we get a lot of snow here and have built some big ones. The biggest required us to get a piece of wood to prop on top of the bottom snowman piece to roll the middle section up. And it was only about 6' tall and half as fat. I can't even imagine!
Well, for the bottom ball it took my dad, my brother Kent, my husband and me all pushing to get it that big. Then the second one we put on a blanket and hoisted up. For the top, Kent got up on a ladder and the rest of us lifted it up to him! Lots of fun! :)
It looks like you guys had so much fun!! And that we got stationed on th wrong side of the country to get to see you!! LOL we miss you guys SOOOO much!! Chase still talks about Parker (and you haha) ALL the time! Hope you guys have a great holiday season!
we are so sad we didnt get to spend more time with you this time...you should have heard the grief the kids, esp. Eric gave me about not getting to see you!
we love you all!
Merry Christmas!
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