Herschel's Farewell Part 2

So as part of Herschel leaving for 2 years, we had a family party where we had lots of family come over for food and fun.  Doesn't he look good?

The girls at the party: Heather, Caroline, Me, Melinda, Julibeth, Rachel, and in front is Emmie

Same except we've got Shelly

Alyssa, Westin, Ethan, Cordell, and the horse April

Westin petting the pig

Cordell, Westin, Ethan, and Jason

This was the first horse experience

I told her I wouldn't put this on facebook, I never said anything about my blog.  Thanks JB for the pic!

Sunset in Genola: one of things I miss a lot

We went for a horseback ride around the fields and town.  The last one for Herschel for a while.

This year's baby

I don't know what Jane was doing, but it was entertaining

Andrew and Henry on April and Rootbeer

Herschel on Diamond

I went to the park with my oldest friends.  We've known each other since we were five years old, and I love them both.  They both have kids, and their two daughters were born on the same day in the same hospital.  I kind of felt left out.  Haha!  They're so cute though!

Bailey and Tiffany

Emily and Bailey

Jeffrey, Bailey, Brooklyn, Seth, Linnea, and Tiffany

The drive home brought a cool scene:

We took Herschel to the missionary training center on July 20th.  We took pictures at the Provo Temple.  He was excited--for him anyway.  He's going to be great!

Herschel's farewell trip to Utah part 1

So my oldest brother Herschel, who is 19, left for his mission on July 20th.  We dropped him off at the MTC, and had a great time with the family before he left.  Here's some pics!

The drive up to Utah

Singing showtunes with siblings

Cordell and the only (sniff) calf on the farm

Cordell and Caroline with the horses

The chickens in the coop that my brothers and dad built.  Aren't they cool?

Jo Jo and I hiked to Bridal Veil Falls and went to the Pizza Factory.  My roommate Jenny said it best when she said that if she had known that Arizona didn't have a Pizza Factory, she would have had second thoughts about moving here! 

Pizza Factory breadsticks: The best in the world!

Bridal Veil Falls

Side view of Mt. Timpanogos

Monkeying around

Herschel and Dad

Andrew and Caroline

Herschel on the swingset that Dad built

  

Goofing off in the back yard

Fireworks are legal all month in Utah, which is out of the ordinary, so we celebrated!

Camping!

Oh how I love camping!  I wish I could go more often, alas, having a job that makes me work weekends doesn't allow for that too often, and having friends with real jobs that work Monday through Friday doesn't help either; not that I blame them, sometimes I wish I had a weekday job.  After some adventure finding the campsite and going down unknown dirt roads, we camped in a fairly cold place on the rim.

Maryann

Sarah and Maryann with "Indian Toilet paper" leaves (I tried to google it, but it came up with questions like "Do people in India use toilet paper" etc.)  It is a very soft leaf though that grows on the ground.

Lake trip

Sarah, Jakeb, Maryann, and Maryann's brother and I went to Saguaro Lake in April.  Maryann has a waverunner and we enjoyed that a lot.  It was great!  I've never ridden a waverunner independently.

Sarah really enjoyed the cheeseballs

Spring break vacation

So I apologize that this will be brief and mostly pictures.  I know people want updates and this is the quickest way to do it.  I went to Utah for my family's spring break.  Elmina and I made candy for Easter. 

Customary Weeny roast in the back yard

As a family we went to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point and Cabella's fish tank.  Sharon and I went to a place where we can paint our own ceramic stuff and made bowls.

Latest family photos

When I was home for Christmas, we took family pictures cause it's going to be a while before we're all   together again. Edith left on a mission to Florida, Tampa, Spanish Speaking at the end of January.  Herschel left to his mission in North Carolina, Raleigh this last week.

Everybody from left to right: me, Heather, Edith, Henry, Andrew, Dad, Elmina, Mom, Cordell, Herschel, Melinda, Matt, Caroline

The boys: Herschel, Andrew, Cordell, Henry, Matt

The girls: Melinda, Elmina, Caroline, Edith, me, Heather

I know, I know

OK people, I know that I've been a slacker lately, but I do have an excuse.  I was living without internet, and going to library to blog was absolutely cumbersome.   Don't you worry little campers, it's coming!  I've got internet again!  It'll be great!  Much like this food was!  Betcha can't wait!