A few more pictures

Cade being his happy little self.

Grandma and Cade

Grandpa and Brayden playing with the big, big ball

Here We Are Again!!

We are so excited to be visiting with Katy, Corey, and Cade again. We arrived here last night after an enjoyable drive down. We stopped at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory (Again). This time Sam was with us to enjoy the cactus garden. He also indulged with a little chocolate.

Brayden and Cade played so good together all night.

Here is Cade and Brayden all ready for bed. Don't they look adorable?? 

Keep watch, I'll post pics as often as possible

Chad heading to Bulgaria

Chad is on his way to Bulgaria to renew his visa this weekend. He'll be gone 5 days I think. They're the first 12 missionaries to be subject to this new government regulation of having to leave the country each 12 months to renew visas. I know the missionaries in Russia have to do this, but I'm not sure how often. I hope to hear from him even if he is on the move.

Here are some pictures the senior couple sent for Chad. He's been having a hard time getting pictures sent lately from the internet cafe. Thank goodness for senior couples.

Farewell meeting with Alosha Okolit. They visit Okolit's weekly to take the sacrament to their daughter who can't walk and to 80 year old Galina who can't get to church. Okolit's love them.

Dam on Dneper River. Biggest hydroelectric dam in the world when it was built around 1920

Working at a member's dacha (country garden plot)

Mikhail's (Man in white on left) baptism, September 14, 2008. His wife was baptized exactly 7 years ago.

Elders singing harmony for the baptismal sevice

Vova went with to street contact with their brand new signboards

Happy Birthday Tyler

I know he doubted if the day would ever come. There were days I doubted. Well, here it is . . .

Tyler turned 18!!! Happy Birthday Tyler!!!

We love you and we are so proud of you. We know you are going to do great, and someday you will be a killer lawyer. Go Tyler!!

I was mentioning to Tyler that at least he hasn't had a red, white, and blue cake for his birthday every year like Chad (Chad's bday is July 4th). He was glad about that, so for fun this year, I got him a Halloween cake.

Tyler and Brayden before the party.

Tyler blowing out the candles.

Tyler and his friend Emily.

Somehow . . . there was a cake fight.

A Beautiful Fall Day

Today was a perfect day for a Fall drive. The air was cool and the colors are really starting to come out. Sam and I go on quite a few drives each Fall to watch the change in the leaves, but today Becky and Brayden came with us. We asked Kyle to come, but he had some playing plans and didn't want to be stuck in a car with us. We had some clouds and even a few showers, but we didn't let that stop us. At one point we did take refuge under a tree to keep from getting too wet. As usual, it didn't last long.

Sam in his new "tree hugger" jacket

Me humoring Sam by letting him take the picture, and my mom by putting it on the blog.

Brayden and Gma sitting on the rocks.

It just didn't matter what we did. Brayden would not smile when Becky was holding him. Oh well, this picture still turned out cute with or without a smile.

However, he would smile with Gma.

Check out Becky's blog for more pictures of our day.

Welcome Home

I try to keep you up to date on the events of my family, but Sam is all about safety, especially internet safety. Anyway, Sam just got home from Texas. He was there helping with the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. Lucky for him, his dad lives only a short distance from where he was staying. Sam managed to get in 2 quick visits with his dad while he was there. Sam was happy to go and help, and I'm happy to have him home again.

Chad's Band Memories

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Now that's Sweet!!

We have a neighbor who's daughter just got proposed to. Here is the video that shows the whole thing. Let me set it up for you just since the volume is a little low. Phil sets up a sound system in a neighbor's backyard. He hides a mic in another neighbor's mailbox and has a 3rd neighbor ready with a camera.

Phil goes to the door and tells Alicia they need to go for a walk and talk. They walk down the sidewalk where he gets the hidden mic. He then proceeds to dance and sing with Alicia in the street. Phil then kneels in the street and proposes. Alicia's son brings out the ring and it's official.

Congratulations Alicia and Phil!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNK2XTcvwjk

Newest Picture of Chad

Well it looks like Chad did not get transferred. He will have been there nine months by the time the next transfers come around in another 6 weeks. He looks real good. Just a little over 10 months before he comes home.

Our niece, Angela, just got home from her mission in Russia. We are anxious to see her again and we wish her the very best as she adjusts to being home.

Welcome Home Angela

Just for my Mom

So, I talked to my mom today after work. I'm not very good at calling or talking on the phone. In fact, the older I get, the more I realize I don't like talking on the phone. Who would have ever thought that. As a teen I was typical when it came to phone time (go ahead, ask my mom, she can verify the hours I used to spend on the phone). I'm not exactly sure when it changed, but I don't like talking on the phone now.

Anyway, back to my mom. Today she informed me that I don't have enough pictures of me on my blog. Really?? There's a reason for that. I'm the one taking all the pictures. Then she tells me to get someone else to take the pictures and especially of me.

Now I know that Sam would agree with that, but it's my camera and my blog so I get to decide.

I have decided that I don't like pictures of me. It just doesn't matter what I'm doing or where I'm at, pictures of me never turn out good.

However, trying to be obedient and to simply make my mother happy (which I am trying) I've decided to add a few of me that are at least . . . decent.

Remember Mom, this is just for you.

Here I am before I cut my hair. We were on a drive over the Nebo Loop looking at Fall colors.

Another picture on a Fall color drive.

Back in the day when Kyle was smaller than me, we went to Santa's Village near Lake Arrowhead.

For Kyle's 10th birthday he got a snowboard. We took him up the canyon to try it out. Doesn't all that snow look great??

Sam got me my favorite cake for my birthday, a Fudge Drape (chocolate and mint).

Remember, this was just for you, Mom.

Love your favorite daughter!!

Let Us Never Forget

I'm hoping this week that we never forget the heroism we saw that dreadful day. I'm hoping this week we can all remember the sacrifice being made by so many sons and daughters on our behalf. I'm hoping this week that those same sons and daughters may return home safe and proud  for a job well done. I'm hoping this week that we stand together as Americans,  proud of our country and the freedoms we enjoy. This week especially I pray that God may bless our country and her people. This week especially I give thanks to God above for the priviledge to having been born American.

A Few More Pics

Can you tell me how someone so little and blonde can have someone so big wrapped around his little finger? I keep asking Sam if his head hurts from being wrapped so tight, but he keeps pretending that he doesn't know what I'm talking about.

Yeah, Right!!

I took this picture of Brayden in David and Jenny's backyard.

On our way home we stopped to look at the Devil's Washbowl. It was spectalar.

It was so windy. Becky tucked Brayden inside her sweatshirt to help keep his legs warm.

Kyle is wearing his new coat we bought while in Vancouver. We got it on sale for 60% off the lowest clearance price. I love those kind of sales. We laughed a little when Kyle started wearing it and it was still August. That Idaho wind was really cold.

Linda, Lynn and Me

Random Party Pictures

Jenny's Surprise Bday Party

David did such a nice job surprising Jenny for her 50th birthday. The family voted on going bowling for the evening. The way I understand it, Jenny said she'd stay home while David and the kids went. She was out voted on that as well. Once they got there, the girls went into a room (where we were waiting to jump and scream at her) and acted as if they'd seen something great (us) that mom had to see. Here's Jenny when she walked in.

All 3 sisters, Naomi, Marilyn, and Rachel, and her 1 brother, Sam was in attendance. She was probably most surprised to see her daughter, Dallis and one of her new grandbabies, Ruby, there from Texas.

Todd, Naomi holding 11 day old Ruby, and Rachel

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATY!!

The baby girl is no longer a teenager. Katy is 20 today. We hope you are having a great birthday. We are thinking of you and wishing you were here. We love you.
Dad and Lisa

A Moment to Reminisce

I couldn't let today go by without wishing a would have been Happy Anniversary to me and my first husband, Allen. Today would have been 21 years. I am thankful for the time we had and very thankful for the 3 beautiful baby boys we have. I wish things could have been different, but as with every dark moment in life also comes a ray of light. Happy Anniversary to what would have been.

Multnomah Falls

So Much to Tell

We are back from our very fast trip and boy, do I have so much to tell. I'm not even sure where to start. I'll try to get the exciting stuff posted first. Be patient and keep checking back. I'll add more details and pictures over the next few days.

A Windsurfer's Heaven

On our drive back home we stopped along the Columbia River to watch the windsurfers and the kite surfers. Sam was in heaven. I think I'll be able to get him to vacation here now. Kyle was loving the kite surfers. It's on his list now, I'm not so sure. These guys were great. They were flying across the water. You'd definitely need a wet suit, oh yeah, Sam has 2.

Family in Portland

After driving all day, we finally reached Portland. My sisters, Linda and Cheryl, and my birth mother, Lynn, all live just out of Portland. I had really been looking forward to visiting with them since it has been a few years since our last visit. We were all tired, especially Brayden, but as soon as Linda brought out a boat load of cars and trucks, he was happy as a clam.

They also had 2 dogs, Romeo and Boomer. Brayden was not excited at all. Romeo kept nipping (playing) and Boomer kept knocking Brayden down (also playing). After awhile Brayden warmed up to both dogs, as long as Boomer stayed outside or layed down, and as long as Romeo didn't actually nip Brayden.

Brayden wasn't the only one having some fun with the dogs. Kyle was having his own version of fun with Boomer. As soon as we got there, Kyle couldn't wait to get into the pool, neither could Boomer.