CHRISTMAS FAMILY FUN

Sunday night we gathered as a family at Bryan's home. Snow was on the ground and it is finally seeming like Christmas. We all were assigned to bring a dessert. We started out by each family having a 100 piece puzzle to put together. The Porters with the oldest children proved to be the winners with Jared and his gaming playing family in a close second and Bryan's last.

Then it was off to 106 trivial questions about Christmas. I think that we got to 50 and then on to the next event. The christmas bells which Wyatt made. I get them out every year even though there are moans and groans. When we are through everyone admits they are really quite fun. After grandma Ballard handed out her stockings to each of the children that she has been shopping and filling for the past several weeks. Fun was had by all as we finished up with desserts and visiting. Trish's parents from Safford joined us as they are up for the Christmas holiday. After being a little scroogy this year I am finally feeling the Chritmas spirit. I am thankful for the Savior and this gospel that we enjoy that allows us to be together. In this time of strife and sometimes sorrow it is good to have faith, hope and charity.

Beathing Problems

So we got a letter from Dustin stating that he has been having problems with his asthma. He has really not had to use an inhaler for probably two years so this was concerning. I contacted the mission president down in Mexico (who does not speak any English) via e-mail and they said they would get him into a doctor as soon as possible. I have not heard as of yet how things have gone. Just a worried mother that is too far away to personally take care of her son.

It hurts my heart!

Go Dons!

So Samantha just finished up volleyball and decided she would try out for basketball even though it is not her favorite sport (peer pressure). Well they had 3 days of try outs cutting people every day and on the last day she called me in the morning almost too excited to talk clearly------She made it! Back to 2 hour a day practices with 2 games a week. She is on cloud 9. She hardly has time for much else which she hates, but I like because it keeps her out of trouble. Kylee is playing basketball with the City of Spanish Fork. Trisha, my sister-in-law and I are playing on the same team volleyball with the City as well. It has been a lot of fun so far for a bunch of old women.

Flu Shots!

So my family thought that they were going to get out of getting their flu shots, but I surprised them and brought them home to give (benefits to working for the County Health Department). Samantha and Matt were fine about it, but Kylee was a big baby about it. She finally gave in and took it like a woman. Then Seth came over Sunday for dinner and his stitches to be taken out. Oh, he sliced his thumb open at work and had 7 stitches. So he actually took the stitches out himself, but was about to faint with the flu shot. A grown man......you big baby! Love ya!

THE MTC

Dustin loved being in the MTC. The letters he wrote where so different from the boy we left there. He has grown in stature and spirit. Love ya, man.

Don't know where he got that tie.

His companion was the District Leader so he was able to attend all of the fun meetings with him. He was from Mesa, Arizona and was 6' 10". Dustin said that everyone knew when they were coming because they would just look for his companion above the crowd.

Dustin was able to call from the airport during his layover in Dallas/Fort Worth headed to Mexico. He arrived safely and is feeling a little overwhelmed. He is asking us to send big bags of candy for the kids because they always ask him if he has American candy.

Food Storage

So I have always been big on food storage, but my brother Bryan is crazy now!

He developed a chart that you can plug in the storage you have to see how many months you could survive. I really wondered. But with the basics, wheat, beans, rice and that we have well over six months. Now my goal is the pictures above. The 3 month worth of food you would really eat. Ya know, cake and muffin mix, spagettos, pasta . . . . . . Matt is pushing for a new gun and ammo which he thinks goes along with being prepared especially because there is a gun show in Salt Lake this coming weekend. I think he is just wanting to get out bottling hamburger. We are striving to get our house in order amongst the worries of the world. A friend shared with me this quote from President Packer (no it is not from the talk of his recently swirling around) "When people are able but unwilling to take care of themselves we are responsible to employ the dictum of the Lord that the idler shall not eat the bread of the laborer". I have been known to be an idler over the years, but hopefully have turned into the laborer in order to care for my family.

Sweet Young Women

Samantha and the Mia Maid class planned and carried out a secret luncheon for a single woman in our ward. They decided to do a Halloween theme.

Mummy pizza was served.

As well as dirt with headstones. Pretty creatative I thought for a bunch of girlers.

Halloween Fun

We usually carve our pumpkins for FHE before Halloween, but this year we did October 31st. Where the time goes I do not know! It is so great to have the girls old enought to basically do this messy chore all by themselves. After carving pumpkins we headed to our ward's truck or treat which was a big success with great turn out.

Kylee's 13th Birthday Party

Better late than never. Here are photos from Kylee's birthday bash from September.

We took the girls bowling. Later came home fed them pizza, cake and ice cream

Fun was had by all (glad that it is over!)

Kylee 7th grade soccer Jaguars take 1st!

So Kylee's soccer team took first in the season. She was really excited

They gave out awards at a pavillon where they also had the Spanish Fork TV Channel filming. We saw them on the television the next Saturday. Groovy!

They were also shown on the Spanish Fork Press
Couldn't get it to scan very well, but wanted it for memories.

Seth Turns 22

Kylee's Birthday

For Kylee's 13th birthday I picked her up from school and we went to Orem and ate lunch at Chili's and then she ditched the rest of the day. We went shopping at Target and then off to Sams. It was fun. Matt and Seth are down in Blanding 4-wheeling and will be home on Sunday. Tonight we are off to Kylee's soccer game. She played this past Wednesday night where she scored the only goal which gave her team the win. The only problem was in the last minutes of the game she came down wrong on her ankle and sprained it. We will have to see if she will even be playing tonight. It is still swollen and quite black and blue. We are taking cupcakes though to share with the team to celebrate her birthday. Kylee was also set apart just recently as the Beehive President. She is such a good girl. We have so loved having her in our family. She has been collecting bugs for her science class this past week. We bought a net and her and the neighbor kids (she got them all involved) collected over 20 different species. Someone is knocking at our door day and night with bugs they have caught for "Kylee's collection". She will take them to school in the next day or two and "pin them to a board" . . . . . . gross!

Samantha's Team Pictures

VOLLEYBALL---GO DONS!

Tonight the girls kicked off their volleyball season against Payson. They actually won. They play the best out of five games and the girls won the first three games. We were so proud of Samantha she is actually a really good server and spiker. Can you believe that it cost Matt, Kylee and I $14 just to get in. Their season consists of games on Tuesdays and Thursdays so that is going to quite a bit of money to go and support your child.

The are called the Spanish Fork High School Dons! GO DONS!

Gone For Two Years

Unloading at the MTC. We realized the night before at around 10:00 p.m. that the set of luggage that we gave him for high school graduation did not have the biggest size that he needed. We were wondering how we were going to get all of his stuff into the two smaller bags we had. So at about 9:55 Matt and Dustin headed down to Shop Ko. We paniced for a little bit but it always seems that things work out when it is what is supposed to be done. Dustin gave a wonderful talk this last Sunday he had quite a few comments on it. He had some friends from Texas come, they were already coming to BYU, but came early to see Dustin off. Then he had several people from Sams Club come even some non-members and Dustin said "See mom I am already starting with my missionary effort". We had a family dinner later that day and then neighbors and friends stopped by later to wish him well. I think it made him excited about going.

Jared and Trish could not make it for lunch so they caught us in the parking lot at the MTC to say their good byes.

When they take you in the big room and have a little meeting the spirit was strong. Then the dreaded time came and they asked that the Elders go through this door and their family go through another door. So we said our good byes. Matt and I were very tearful to say the least and Dustin tried hard not to show much emotion as he huged us and quickly went for the door never looking back. Walking out to the parking lot I looked at Matt who was bawling like a baby, it was bad. We talked about how much we will miss this boy. Even though this is a very happy time because he is going to serve the Lord it is a very emotional one because we will not see him for two years. I am so excited to receive his first letter. He is scheduled to leave the MTC October 26th and head for Mexico.

Lunch at Brick Oven

Brick Oven was one of Dustin's favorite places to eat. Since it is up by the MTC we stopped for a last lunch before saying goodbye.

Family Pics

Saturday morning before Dustin left for the MTC Kirk Johnson took us over to the golf course and we took family pictures. I think that they turned out pretty good for last minute. It was really windy that morning.

First Day of 9th Grade

This is Samantha's first day of 9th grade. Can you believe that she conned Kylee to get up at 5:30 a.m. to curl her hair like this, crazy! I told Kylee she needs to start charging Samantha. Kylee's first day of school was yesterday and I forgot my camera so I will take a picture of her tomorrow.

Samantha made the sophomore volleyball team and this is the bag that she has to carry to school every day. She has practice from 3-5:00. She was really excited. They 3 days of 4 hour practices in which they made cuts every day. She was finally one of the 12 girls left standing. She is really excited.

Ward Campout

Matt roasting the perfect hot dog.

Bishop and Mark Lomenick. Trouble?!?

Kami Asay and a Patey boy working on a family flag.

The Friday before school the ward scheduled a campout at Payson Lakes. We wen for dinner that night but did not stay overnight. Everyone seemed to have a great time. This month has been deemed family month in our ward which means no meetings. No young men or young women, no presidency meetings, no welfare or ward council. I have to admit it has been kind of nice to come home and just relax on Sundays.

Domestic Diva

Kylee did most of the cutting of the corn.

Last week we picked apricots at Aunt Ann's house and bottled them. I guess this is what you do when you move to Utah!

CORN PICKING

Grandma Mitchell called us one morning and asked if we would like to go corn picking. So we got up at 6 a.m. and headed to Lake Shore a town pretty close to Spanish Fork. Bryan, Andy, Jared and a friend Jennifer came as well. We probably picked 0ver 200 ears of corn. It was a lot of fun! After we blanched the corn and cut it of the cob and froze it. We ended up with over 30 bags of corn.