The past few months in review!

Fun with the boys at Lowes!  Will was out of town and I was trying to be a dad... I think it took me 3 times as long to help them build their fire trucks than it did the other dads.  Some of them felt sorry for me and helped me unbend my screws (I ruined about 10!)

This was hilarious...  Owen started "chasing" (scooting really fast towards the DARE dog! And screamed when he turned around to shake his hand.

Grant started soccer in September and has been playing on a team of boys he didn't know.  When he started, we couldn't even get him on the field and just this past weekend, he scored his first goal!

Aunt Linda came to visit.  She taught us how to make cool hats and sewed the boys some rockin' pirate pants!  We loved having her over for a week.

We went to a pumpkin patch a few days before Halloween and the boys loved it.  Hayrides, pumpkins, pony rides, petting zoo, bounce house and a maze. Our new tradition.

 

 

Our ward Halloween party/dance... no one told us it wasn't a costume party.  Owen is supposed to be an

umpa-loompa from Wizard of Oz

LOVE my pirate boys!!

Camping in Cali

Last month, we took an impromtu vacation with 6 other families in our ward.  We set up camp in San Clememte, CA and then spent the next 3 days playing on the beach, eating donuts at "Surfin' Donuts" and staying up late with friends.  I think we'll so this again next year.

 We decided to go to Newport for a day trip and meet up with Bri, Roger and Celia.  No Mike though.  He was working a thousand hours or something.  Grant was super bummed we couldn't go to Celia's house and eat lunch at the little table with "special drinks."

Will caught some waves.  I tried and failed... couldn't swim out far enough.  Does this concern me, especially with a triathlon coming up in 3 weeks?  Yes, it does.  Could I possibly drown in the Pacific?  I hope the Kayakers see me first.

Guess I forgot to get pictures of our bike rides, runs, camping spot and Grant's girlfriend.  But those were all part of the experience.  By the time we traveled home, we had very tired and sunburned boys.  They loved every minute.

Mission President in the Philippines

My parents met each other in the Philippines, while Dad was serving in the air force and Mom was working on the base as an "airforce brat."  Dad never did serve the mission he wanted to, because he married Mom about 6 months after they met.  He had only been a member for a little over a year, and knew that someday he would get that chance to serve.  Almost 40 years later, after raising 7 children and 14 grandchildren Mom and Dad returned to the very city where they honeymooned... wearing missionary badges.

On June 22, 2012, my parents were set apart by Elder Oaks to serve as mission president in the Baguio Philippines mission. It was a cherished experience to sit in Elder Oaks' office and talk to him on a personal level. My grandparents, parents and Elder Oaks shared memories of the Philippines, reminiscing about the cockroaches the size of your thumb and the constant humidity in the air.  They all commented about the humble and kind people of the Philippines.

After their setting apart, we gathered with Mom's side of the family at a park for one last party... until Will and I snuck into the MTC that is.

So fun the see my parents at the MTC!  It was 11 years ago that I was there basking in the spirit!  I love this picture with Grant holding Grandpa's hand, walking where the missionaries walk.

But I have to say that Mission Presidents are spoiled there.  No dorm rooms with bunk beds.  I'm talking Marriot rooms, bottled water, fresh flowers, refreshments and mints on the pillow.  Spoiled. Rotten.

Had to take the map picture

Mom and Dad, we are so proud of you for gladly serving the Lord half-way across the world.  You will love every second of it and cry your eyes out when you must say good-bye.  We love you and wish you all the best.

Utah or bust

We have been to Utah 3 times in one year.  That's alot of driving with 2 kids, but this trip was packed full of great memories, family and advendture.  The main reason we went was to see my parents getting set apart for their mission (found in the next post...).  But before and after that happened provided a few picture-worthy moments.

First stop: Moab

We dragged Amber and Dallin's family with us to the 110 degree heat of the arches.  I guess I didn't realize that Utah is still a desert.  The arches were sooo cool.  We even met Katie and her kids there for a quick tin foil dinner.

After my parents left for the Philippines, Will and I left for Zion National Park!  Linda was able to watch our boys for us, allowing us to pack in several more miles and dangerous climbs.  We did Angel's Landing, Emerald Pools, Observation Point, the Narrows and Weeping Rock.  Maybe 22 miles in a day and a half.

  

When we got back to Provo, our kids were happy Aunt Linda was tired, I'm sure.  I did think it was funny that Grant ran out in his PJ's (it was late afternoon:)  What a cool aunt.

Grant told us that the highlight of his vacation was "driving a boat" and he said, "Brody tried to drive it, too, but I was faster..."  It was in this same lake I did my first open-water swim a few days before we left for Zion.  That water is thick. And gross. 

 We ended our trip with the Magelby family reunion.  We went to Heber and stayed in cabins for some pretty comfortable camping.  Grant loved the marshmellow guns.  Thanks, Liz! 

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Oh, and on the way home, we had to stop in Zion's again with the boys.  We knew Grant would love the Narrows and hiking through ice cold water.

Who knows?  Maybe we'll be back in Utah one more time this year. 
We wouldn't mind going to Zion again...