From Mom to Kevin

Dear Kevin-

Wow, your mission chart is now half filled in!  Time is flying by. It is hard to believe that you have been in Brazil for a year now. It is so good to hear from you each week and of your hard and dedicated work.  Keep it up and you will continue to be blessed and find happiness in the Lord’s work. You must be a great missionary, if you were able to train your greenie well enough for him to be a trainer!!!!!!   Tell us about your new companion and area.

 This week Rachel had 3 lacrosse games.  Her team is doing very well- they are undefeated!  This is their last week with 2 more games- we’ll see if they can hold on to that title.

 The weather continues to be crazy here- raining, raining, and raining, then a sunny day. We are starting to wonder if they will ever be able to pour the cement where they ripped out our sidewalk.  We call it the moat now, because it is always filled up with water.

Me and Jessica have been working a little on building a structure in the back yard that Jennifer and I started when she was here out of the wood from the 4 trees we cut down in the front.  It is starting to look like something finally- and hopefully with the sun out this week we can finish it.  It is an arbor-gazebo type thing we are building on the cement.  We still have lots of tree branches stacked in the backyard- I’ll have to come up with some more projects to make with them or we will just have lots of firewood to burn this summer!

Rebecca came again for FHE on Monday- and the Elders came too.  Dad gave a nice lesson on one of the general conference talks, sent Rachel off to lacrosse practice, then played some liars dice.  Rebecca and Jessica looked up institute classes, and went to one on Tuesday night.  Jessica looked pretty excited to get out and do some socializing- she’s been home a couple weeks now and getting a little stir crazy.  She has been enjoying cooking and trying out new recipes.  I enjoy her cooking- and her cleaning up the kitchen!  She continues to apply for jobs, but hasn’t had any luck yet.  She has done some babysitting though.  Jessica went to Tanasborne Ward today.  Rebecca wasn’t able to- dinner schedule with her folks didn’t make it possible, but she met up with Jessica later for the CES fireside.  Jessica came home happy- had a good time at the singles ward, then dinner linger longer, then the fireside.  Things should pick up socially as the college students start coming home for the summer.

 The Relief Society had a birthday party on Thursday- They had a Jeopardy game, and I was the host.  It was fun.  They also had a cake decorating contest.  At home when trying to decide what cake to make I dug out all our old kid cake pans.  The girls voted for the Cookie Monster.  So I baked it, Jessica made a giant cookie for him to hold, and did most of the decorating.  It won the most creative.  When I was asked to tell about the cake I told them that I had bought the cake pan for your 1^st birthday.  And what a coincidence- it was your mission 1yr bday too!  So here is a picture of your cake:          

HaPpY 1 Year on your Mission!

We thought of you as we ate it.

  Well, Steven W. is now married.  We went to his reception at his parents’ house last night.  He looked good, and Kristi looked very happy.  We enjoyed the refreshments- cake pops (cakes rolled into balls, put on lolly pop sticks and dipped in chocolate). They are quite the rage here now.

Well, that is all I can think of for this week.    Keep up the great work; we continue to pray for your safety, and success. And have faith in you and your new assignment as Zone Leader. You’ll do great.

 Lots of Love,

MomJ

 PS.  Do you get to call home for Mother’s Day?

We Finally Made it to Summer Vacation!

We had a wonderful week at YW camp.  The theme this year was RSVP -Return to the Savior Virtuous and Praiseworthy. The scripture was the 13^th article of Faith (this year’s mutual theme).  The camp had a party theme- each cabin a different party. 

 The YCLs (Party Police)  welcome all the YW to the PARTY

Melissa was a councilor over 2^nd years and she had a blast – her cabin was the Harry Potter Party.  Jessica was with the 3^rd years:  Dance Party.  Their 4 cabins were Swing (that is where Jess was), Fiesta, Ballerina, and Hip Hop (Rachel was in this cabin).  I was with the 1^st years helping with certification and was cabin mom for the Masquerade Madames.   Jessica was also a YCL (youth camp leader) and they were the Party Police.  They all did a wonderful job decorating thier cabins.  I'll post some pictures when I get copies.

Counselors of the Harry Potter Party Cabin

Masquerade Madams

Dance Party

The  women leaders at camp were all Superheroes. For this skit I was a chauffeur in the League of Extraordinary Women. (all the superheroes bestowed a super power on the YW).  Instead of cabins doing skits this year each ward did one. Requirements were for the skit to each contain a wig, swim noodle, pose, and movie quote.  Our ward did project runway.  All the designers used a noodle in their design, and of course the models each had a wig.  We had “short people” as our judges (Rachel was a head and feet, and Jessica was a set of arms).  Rachel said the movie quote at the end which was "Alas, Earwax". Pretty stupid but fun. 

The Project Runway, Camp Edition  Judges

As usual, camp was one big party, but extremely spiritual too. A great experience for all.  Highlight for the bishopric of course was winning the canoe race on Bishopric night.  They had a nice fireside with us.  Talked about listening.  Getting away from the noise and distractions of the world and listening.  They had us all find quiet places outside by ourselves and listen and pray.  It was a spiritual experience for us.  Brother Atack gave everyone ibuds (earplugs on string attached to nothing) with this note: “iBud  Inspirational listening device.  Take time away from the world to listen to your Heavenly Father.”  Jessica (and the YCLs) did a great job working and planning the camp this year.  She wrote a nice part in the scripture study program on “Endure”  for the devotional on Thursday night and she bore an inspiring testimony on the subject.  Camp ended on a high with Saviors Eve on Thursday night, and testimony meeting on Friday morning before heading for home.

Leete Ladies

Saturday was relaxing being home.  It was nice to sleep in my own bed and take a long shower.  Melissa and Rachel went to a Teri-stake dance at Seaside on the beach.  Jessica and I went to wedding reception, then picked up Brian from max station as he was returning from Montana where he visited his dad and the two of them toured Yellowstone, and did a quick visit with Jennifer in Rexburg. 

Sunday in Sacrament meeting Jessica was called up from the congregation to share her testimony of camp.  She did a wonderful job telling of all the things that she has learned from camp the last 7 years.  After that the Stake president put a new bishopric and we heard testimonies from the old and the new.  A very nice meeting. 

Now that camp is over, and Brian is on his sabbatical, summer vacation can now begin! The weather is being freaky – we’ll have a sunny day here and there, but  today it is raining again.  A very wet year we’ve been having.  We started by working in the yard Monday morning.  The girls ripped out the bushes by the stop sign.  I trimmed the roses.  We will work a few days in the yard each week. For FHE we planned out  (kind of) what we want to do this summer.  We’ll do day trips. Brian will also take each girl on a short motorcycle trip.   Before the reunion in August we will head down and stop in San Jose/San Francisco area and do stuff.  After Reunion do the southern California stuff- mostly theme parks.  We’ll see how it all turns out. 

50's Dance

On January 23, 2010 Jessica and Melissa went to a Stake Dance that had a 50's theme. Of course they had to dress up!

Jessica wore the skirt we had made her for a YW activity a few years back. With a little coaxing she even wore one of Brian's shirts. I assured her that it was what the girls back then really did. With bright red lipstick and pony tail I think Grandma would even say she looked the part!Since we didn't have easy access to Grandma's closet of costumes and old clothes, Melissa and I found her outfit at the local Goodwill. We found this cute red skirt and white sweater. Put it with a red bandanna, black shirt, ponytail, and red lipstick, and wa-la: 50's!We also found a straight black skirt that her friend wore with a blue belt of mine that I'm sure came from my mom's bag of real 50's belts. Here is Melissa with her two good friends from school that she brought along.

Ready to Rock and Roll!

Well- I just couldn't resist- had to add this picture of me and Alan and my friend Laura as we dressed for 50's day at SLO Jr. High. We are actually wearing some authentic 50's clothes! Me in mom's skirt, petticoat, and cheerleader oxfords, and Laura in her mom's dress!

Another Snowy Sunday

It is Sunday, and church was cancelled again today because of snow and ice. We were told again that we could administer the sacrament to our family or join with other families in our neighborhood. We were invited to the Laney's house for service at 12:30. We all bundled up and walked over there. Going across our lawn was an interesting experience. There was an 1/2 inch thick sheet of ice on top of the snow. As we walked it sounded like we were breaking glass as it snapped and broke into big pieces that we could pick up. We didn't leave the usual footprints. Bishop Walker, his wife and son were there, and later we were joined by the Jones family. We opened with song (Jessica on the piano) and prayer (Brian) and then the Bishop shared some thoughts. We then shared testimonies. The Sacrament was given (Brian, Kevin, & Brother Jones), and we closed with song and prayer. Before leaving to visit some other single sisters in the ward, the Bishop took the opportunity to give us a quick tithing settlement. We stayed and visited a while. Kevin played a game of chess with John Laney, Melissa tried out an electric violin of a YA that was staying at the Laney's house, we drank hot chocolate, and visited. Then we bundled up and walked home- it was now snowing again. We had a nice lamb roast for dinner and now are just relaxing. We will probably play a game this evening.

These past two Sundays have been very relaxing. It has made me re-think how we spend our sabbath days. It should be a break from the week. Sometimes Sundays exhaust me.

Here is a picture Brian took last night as we were out playing in the snow and sledding. It shows how much snow we got since the other day when I posted the last picture of our snowman. This is me, Jessica, and Rachel.
Here is Rachel in the green space, now white space, making a snow angel.Here Rachel and I are walking up the stairs by the pool/rec center. The stairs are packed with the snow on the right hand side. This is where we were sledding down. Jessica can make it down the stairs, across the lawn, and across the street. She even made it once into the driveway of the house across the street. Brian and I would stand in the street to watch for cars. We'd tell Jessica when to open her eyes so she wouldn't run into the lamp post. She would close them because of the snow getting in her eyes.

Yesterday Rachel finished her gingerbread house! You may have seen the process if you checked out my dad's blog.

Snowy Sunday

Today it snowed. First we got a call telling us that our 9:15am choir practice was cancelled. A little bit later we got a call from the Elder's quorum saying church was cancelled, but President Bair said that Brian and Kevin had permission to administer the sacrament to our family if we wanted. The third call we received informed us that the Stake Christmas Choir Fireside was postponed until next Sunday. (Brian, Jessica, and I are singing in that).

So we enjoyed a leisurely oatmeal breakfast, and at 11am we held our own Church services. Brian conducted. Jessica played the piano, and we sang an opening song and had a prayer. After the announcements, we had the sacrament service done by Kevin and Grandpa. Brian gave us a talk/lesson that he had prepared for his CTR class. It was on Being Kind to Animals. We had a nice discussion on all the animal stories we could think of that are found in the scriptures and discussed what we can learn from them. We closed with song and prayer. For Sunday school we watched the First Presidency Christmas Broadcast that we had recorded and not watched yet. It was a special day to spend with the family. It was so heart warming to see the sacred ordinances performed in our home by family members holding the priesthood.

For dinner we had sweet and sour pork. Jennifer was a trouper and did all the deep frying. It was yummy and we were all full. Some of Kevin's friends dropped by to say hello, and got to see all the cute braids Jessica did in his hair as he had been sleeping on the couch. He was sore and tiered from his 12 hour marching practice yesterday.

Everyone but me and mom bundled up and went for a walk in the snow. Jennifer got a good preview of what she will be facing in Idaho in a few weeks when she heads up to school. The girls curled up with books in front of the fireplace. Later we had snacks and played Ticket to Ride- The Mom Team won! What a surprise after dad blocked our path. HA-HA!

Well, that was our snowy day. I now hear guitar music coming from the living room.

School has been cancelled tomorrow. I guess mom and dad can't go home tomorrow either- we feel lucky. Maybe we can get them to stay to hear the choir concert on Wed night. Dad has posted a bunch of pictures on his blog, so check that out when you get a chance.