News from Brazil!!!

Out of the MTC and into the field! We were so excited to get pictures from Cameron's mission president-- which is an American from Bountiful! Aren't they cute?

These are the two other missionaries that came with Cameron. They are both from Brazil.They left the Mission President's home and went to a transfer meeting and were met with all the Elders singing "Called to Serve"! His mission President commented that, "They are an awesome army of the Lord!" Good luck Elder Field!!

"Chick" Night

Every Sunday night after dinner the male members of our family cower in fear. No, not just because they're afraid they might have to help with the dishes, but because they're afraid they might have to...da-da-da-dum watch a "chick-flick". Cowards! So I decided to plan a "chick night". It's my female version of "fight night" (a night when all the men, and a few females, get together and watch a couple of overgrown adolescents try to kill each other--for money.)

Becky (Kyle) was home sick but here's the brave crew that attended. Stephanie, Becky, Me, Cheyna, Brinley (Cam's girlfriend) and down at the bottom there's Lexy.

Jayda bug was there and it looks like she's trying to decide if we made the right movie choice, "A Walk in the Clouds".

Before we started we filled up our plates with goodies and admired Stephanie's new haircut (something they DON'T do at fight nights).

Here's what's left over of our spread. And what's that? A hand? A male hand, sneaking into the treats!

Ahhh...now we know the reason for the fear. Unlike fight night, after watching a good chick flick, we know what a REAL man is. So take THAT Rampage Jackson and...Terrible Tidbit (or whatever their names are).

Circus Circus

Ernie got free "kid" tickets to go to the circus in the Kaysville arena. They traded the usual horse poo for Elephant dung and in spite of the smell we all had a ball! Well, almost all. Here's what Jaxson thought of the whole thing. Not a fan of lions and tigers or bears, oh my. He kept saying, "I think I'll go to the car."

Jake brought "circus peanuts" (the candy kind, of course) and we bought cotton candy. Hmm..which was more fun the tricks or the treats?

Cheese!

Here's a cute shot of Becky and little Jayda Bug. Jayda liked the trapeze girls the most. (Well, she didn't get any circus peanuts!)
Kenna on Grandpa's lap enjoying the dog tricks. That was her favorite. We were sad that Cheyna was home sick-- but glad we went. When it was all said and done it really wasn't hard to tell who enjoyed the circus the most. They say you can take the man out of the circus (haha) but you can't take the circus out of the man. (Or something like that.) Yes Ernie was the biggest fan and you can bet he'll be first in line the next time the circus comes to town.

Mission... Joys?

The clock was ticking away. January 6--coming way too fast. And goodbye's? The tough part of the mission. Brinley and Cameron enjoying some of the last minutes together.

Early morning January 6th. We were thinking the MTC in Provo was a rough ride! Here we are minutes away from watching Cameron go through the gate...alone. It was then we wondered where were all the missionaries and parents lining a room of excited 19-year-olds? So they go out one door, and we go out the other. WAY easier than sending them to who knows where...did I say ALONE? ALONE!!

We lined Cameron up like Ronald McDonald and everyone got a chance to get their picture taken with him. Here's Kyle, Becky, Kennady, Jaxson, and Hallee by, of course, Elder Field.

Cassie holding Mailee, Addison, and Livie just enjoying the moment.

Jake and Becky with Adam, Lexy, and Jayda...and... it's a bird, it's a plane, no it's Addison!

(sniff, sniff) Briant and Stephanie at the bottom of the escalator saying goodbye. We all rode up, hugged him one last time and watched him walk away. Oh yeah... painful. But, he'll be a great missionary and we'll be here in 2 years to line him up again and take the same pictures--our smiles will just be a little brighter then.

Christmas

'Twas a beautiful Christmas Morning and all through the house were the "big kids" getting up but not quiet as a mouse. What's that? It looks like Cam got a....could it be? A white shirt!

And Chey? Could it possibly be...tickets to "Wicked"!

New boots Cass? Love the look!
Here's Livie checking out what Santa brought her. Nothing's as much fun as kids at Christmas.
Our entire family got together for breakfast! Here's Stephanie and Aly shootin' the breeze after our stomachs had been fed. It took 3 breakfast casseroles, 2 batches of muffins, a pot of hot cocoa, and of course left over wassil, but we did it!

Uncle Bri puttin' together the scooters. Jaxson and Adam are actually holding still long enough to see how they look.

Ahhhh....a satisfied customer. Santa has to be happy about this one.

This speaks volumes. All I have to say is, "and to all a good night."

Cameron's Farewell

Sooo... I got a camera for Christmas and the kids are trying to "teach-an-old-dog-new-tricks" so I'm trying out... blogging. (If that's a word) Christmas vacation this year included Cameron's farewell. This is Cameron holding Addison with his girl friend Brinley. Cute huh?

Our family and friends are wonderful and such good sports. We had wall-to-wall people and so they all just cuddled up and had a good time. Here is Briant and Stephanie in their "spot" listening to what looks like a great story.

Just another shot to show how cozy things were. The backs and heads can be identified by me but might choose to remain anonymous therefore this is just cute little Becky (Jake's wife) and Aly listening to something they weren't sure they believed. (Looks like a couple of courtesy smiles to me.)

Cheyna and cousin Aubree (Mary Jo's youngest daughter) striking a pose for posterity. Gotta love it!

I think we might have fit someone in that spot right......there! What do you think?