New Years Resolutions-in February

So I'm tardy. I love looking at everyone else's posts on their blogs, but have not kept up mine. So I will repent, and try to do better. So much has happened!

In December, David went into the MTC. He arrived in Alabama in January. I thought I would post a few pictures of him.......because it makes me happy that he is serving.

David had to attach a picture of himself when he submitted his papers. We had a lot of difficulty with this, because he didn't want to cut his hair, so he decided to submit his papers without a picture. The bishop added his comments, then asked where the picture was? David no longer had access to the site, because now the bishop has added his information.

Oh wait, first David had to cut his hair and get his picture taken. He didn't trust mom, so he went over to Dan's house and asked him to cut it, oh and would Ashley take his picture? Ashley wisely took a picture of David before. Dan cut his hair, styled it, had David put on a snazzy suit of his, and Ashley took his picture. She said she should have put up a before and after picture on her blog, because the difference was so striking and she would have gotten a lot of business off of it. I don't have her before picture, but I have one taken not too long ago. You be the judge:

(by the way, the green behind david is the wall in Ashley's house. Isn't she stylin? Sigh, I don't have her talents)

So, we sent the picture to the bishop via email. It was too large for him to attach, so we formatted it and sent it again.....and again......finally, Steven had to get on board to help with the technical issues to get his papers sent on. It delayed his mission call by about 5 weeks, because we had to work around the bishop and the stake president's travel schedules. (let this be a lesson to small bears, do it right the first time!)

But it got done, and David is on his way!

Here is a picture of Mom and David the day he went into the MTC at the W....

Yes, it was a little strained.

And here is a picture of David at the MTC. The rules re: mustaches must have changed.........

Germany

Lee, my mom and I had the privilege of going to Germany to see Emily and her family, and to meet Lyndi.  

We went to a walled Medieval  city-Rottenburg.  It was incredible to see something that has been there for so long......

we were there over Easter, and everything was decorated with eggs.

Kids will always find something to play on.....

Lee and Lyndi

While we were there, Ayla  had a birthday....

And the girls played dress up....

Lyndi in her first tutu....

We had a wonderful time, and wish we could see them more often.

April and Alyssa are in Town!

Matt got called out on a ship with little notice, so April decided to hop in the car and come see us!  Hurray!  Now she just has to stay long enough for Alyssa to decide to really like Mimi.  Grandpa Bob and Gary even came down to see April and Alyssa!

While the family gathered to say HI!, group pictures are a must.  

It was interesting in editing the pictures, we had some world  class faces being made.  Look at some of the winners, and one family had the title all tied up.......

Trip to Seattle

Lee and I got to visit Holly and Randy and Matt and Rebecca and their family.  It was great!

 

On the way up there, we stopped in a small town called Cottage Grove.  The town is famous for their covered bridges, a novelty on the west coast.  They were beautiful!

 

We stayed at Holly and Randy’s the first night, and they introduced us to fondue on Friday night, and Indian food Saturday.  Both were fabulous!  Lee even went out for Sushi Saturday night.Proof:
 

 

Monday Matt’s family and we went to the Children’s museum.  There was so much to do!  The girls first went to milk the cow

 

While they were doing that, Rebecca got to ride the horse,

 

 

It was tiring just watching the girls play!

 

Brianna and Asia (with a little bit of help) built a go cart and took turns riding it:

 

Asia and Brianna flying an airplane-


Uh oh……

 

.

 

 

Brianna discovered a fossil-look out National Geographics!

 

Asia loved seeing far away (it’s okay that she looks in the large end, she’s using  her imagination)

 

Brianna decided to play Rapunzel:

While grandpa hid behind his shades inside and took a snooze

On the way  home, we attempted to see the beautiful Oregon coast.  Visibility was about 20 feet. 

 

It was very apparent why lighthouses were needed.  We headed inland. 

 

 we got off the coast, the whether opened up, and the sunsets were beautiful.

 

We stopped at Sequoia  National Forest where we saw the largest tree in the world!  Here’s Lee in front of one tree, not the largest.

 

We could even drive through a tree!

 

 

Trip to Seattle

The view from Morro Rock was incredible, but the climb up was exhausting. 

 

You can see the steps to the top in this picture.

 

There were petroglyphs right off the road, and another beautiful sunset. 

 

It was a wonderful trip, do I really have to go back to work?

 

L