New Family Pictures!

Before Austin left for his mission we wanted to get family portraits done. I struggled getting them done.  I am 20 pounds overweight from chemo and I really didn't have a lot of hair.  I knew in my heart this might be the last time I have all of my kids together for a while.  Also, the next time we might have some other people in the picture! (I can only hope!) After I talked to our photographer, I felt like I had to go for it.  I am glad I did.  Marissa, once again did an amazing job!  Her web site is HERE

We had already taken senior pictures of Austin, so we had some mission ones taken of him.

This one is my favorite.

So Much Fun!

Austin wasn't in the MTC for long.  (The MTC is the Missionary Training Center.  If you want to learn more about it, click HERE.)  He was only there for 10 days because he was called to a state side mission.  So while he was there, we really didn't get too many letters or any pictures from him.  Then last night Don had his open house.  One of his students used to be in our ward.  Then their family moved.  Their daughter went into the MTC the same day that Austin did.  She is going to the Philippines.  The family went to the open house and showed Don this picture.  We were super excited.  They e-mailed it to Don, so now we have it.  There are a few things that hit me, when I look at this picture.  First, he looks happy!  Second, he looks like a missionary!!  Yep, he has the tag on!  It made my day to see this picture!  There were so many kids from our stake in the MTC at this time.  It is neat to think they were all together!  Fun!

First Day Of School!

Today was the first day of school for Aubrey and Ian.  I got up early to make Aubrey chocolate chip pancakes.  Then the phone rang!  It was Austin calling us from the airport.  He was on his way to serve his mission in North Carolina.  We were so happy to hear from him!  He sounded wonderful!  I have never heard Austin sound so happy!!!  The most tender moment happened when we woke Ian up to talk to Austin.  Ian just cried!  He misses his big brother so much.  Austin played video games, board games, nerf guns, and would include him in some zombie war!  It has been so hard on Ian having Austin gone.  It just broke my heart seeing him so upset.  Austin was great with him.  Ian has been so nervous about Middle School, and Austin kept telling him he would be fine.  Austin was so encouraging!  I think it was just what Ian needed to start his first day of school!  Aubrey gave our map of North Carolina a big hug!  Now that state has her brother for two years!

Aubrey looked awesome in her back to school clothes.  She was rocking the vintage shirt with the pearls!  Let me tell you, she has her clothes picked out for two weeks!  She is ready.  Unfortunately when she got to school she found out that her schedule was a mess.  She freaked out!  They gave her an art class for last period!  Art class...what the????  That wasn't even one of her choices!  Here is the thing, she is on the dance team and needs to be in dance class during last period.  The guidance office told her that they wouldn't even talk to her for a week.  She was freaking out.  After many texts from me and her Dad she calmed down and went to her dance teacher.  The dance teacher was frustrated because she had sent many e-mails to the guidance office telling them what girls needed to have last period dance.  She told Aubrey that she would take care of it because she needs Aubrey in class now!  We just have to wait and see what happens.  Aubrey loves her photography class!  She is super excited for that!  Maybe she can help me learn to use my camera!  The rest of the day went well for her.

This year I don't have any kids in elementary school.  That is so strange for me.  Ian went to the middle school!  He was nervous all week.  We kept on telling him it would be fine.  He went to the open house and walked around the school, but he was still nervous.  As we drove up to the school he asked me to sit for a bit with him in the car.  Dang, that kid is sweet!  Then I told him it was time to go.  I watched that boy walk into the middle school by himself, and my heart broke!  He looked too little to be in middle school.  I worried about him all day!  Then I picked him up and he was so happy!  He had an awesome day!!!  He loves all of his classes.  He even has some friends in his classes!  It is so good! 

So we survived the first day of school!  It was a good day!

Ian's first Scout Camp

Now that Ian is 11 Years old, he is an "official" Boy Scout. The LDS Church does not allow 11 year old boys to go to Scout Camp until they are 12 years old; however, the Bishop of our Grand Canyon Ward allows 11 year old boys to attend Scout Camp as long as their father spends the whole week with them as an adult leader. Since I have the entire month of July off of work, I volunteered to not only be an adult leader, but to drive boys in my SUV and haul the camping gear trailer.  On July 15 -19, we left to go to Ian's first Scout Camp at Camp Raymond near Flagstaff, Arizona. Ian had a fantastic week and I loved being with him. I was so proud of his efforts and attitude!!!!! Not once did he complain about camping, the weather, or attending merit badge classes all day long. In fact, Ian worked so hard that he earned 6 merit badges during the week: basketry, reptile/amphibian study, geology, first aid, environmental science, and mammal study. For those of you unfamiliar with the Boy Scout program, Environmental Science is one of the hardest merit badges to earn. Ian attended 2-hour long classes every day - all week long, wrote multiple reports, and completed over 3 hours of observations on his own time. He had a great week and we both look forward to Scout Camp next summer.

Ian reading about how to weave a basket.

 

The weaving process begins....his two baskets turned out very nice.

Writing a report for the Environmental Science merit badge.

Ian posing next to a large canyon that bordered the Scout Camp.

For his First Aid merit badge, Ian participated in a mock disaster drill.

Ian saving a patient with no arms...remember it is all pretend!!!!

 

It poured rain on us everyday at camp. On the last day of camp it rained and hailed so hard that a flash flood river was created near our campsite.

Ian and the other boys spent hours chopping wood,,,,,it was more fun than playing a video game. Every time the boys had free time, they would take turns chopping wood.

Here goes Paul "Ian" Bunyan chopping wood. 

What? Chopping wood is awesome and so am I!!!!

Some of the boys at Scout Camp with Ian.

~Don

What My Boys Do....

Here is a great video that gives great insight to what a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is like.  We are proud of our boys and their decision to serve!



Why Do I Keep Mission Blogs?

There are many reasons why I keep a mission blog for my boys.

1.  It helps my son's keep in touch with their families all over the country.

2.  It helps other people who are not members of our church understand what my son's are doing.

3.  It is like a journal for my sons.

4.  Then I print up this nice book for my sons with all of their pictures and letters.  This way they can keep it forever!

Not bad!!!  I am very pleased with how Zach's book turned out. I hope he loves it!

Click here for Austin's mission blog!

Drop Off Time

After going to the Salt Lake Temple, Austin was ready to go!!!

We stopped at the Conference Center and met the best tour guide!  Brother Bass was so excited to see a future missionary.  He kept hugging Austin.  He loves his calling, being a tour guide at the Conference Center!  He was awesome!

Then we drove to the MTC.  We were stuck in a traffic jam for 25 minutes.  It was so frustrating.  We were suppose to meet family for him to say good-bye to, but it wasn't going to work out with the traffic.  Austin was happy to get to the MTC.  Once we got there, it was time to go.  We were in control when we hugged him, but then he looked back twice and it killed us.  We just started to cry.  I mean messy crying, but Austin didn't see it.  He was already gone and we were in the car.  Then I turned back to Don and said, "Go get my son!!!"  Of course Don knew better.  I am sure he wanted to go back and hug him too!  I just wanted more time and more hugs with this boy.  He always hugs me and loves me.  I will miss that!  We will miss his fun loving ways, and personality.  We know he is doing the Lord's work, but it is still hard.  One thing for sure, he looked so happy!!!  He was ready to go.

Salt Lake City

We drove to Salt Lake City the day before Austin reported to the MTC.  We had dinner with his Aunt Diane and Uncle Doug and then spent the night taking in the sites.  Of course we went to temple square.

We also went to the capital building.  Let me tell you, that is one happening place at night.  Lots of couples and romance going on!

The next day Don and Austin went to the temple and Ian and I hung out.  I will always treasure that time.  It was so great to sit at the temple with him and talk with him.  We had so much fun.  He is a sweetheart!

We went to the Church History museum.  They were celebrating 100 years of the church being involved in scouting.  We had to opportunity to work on the Scouting Heritage merit badge.  It was so fun.

The museum also had some original Norman Rockwell paintings on loan from the National Scouting Museum.  They were amazing.

This is not a Norman Rockwell.  This is another artist that painted this after 9/11.