3 Weeks in Boise, Part II

So, the main reason we stayed in Boise for as long as we did is because my baby brother, R.J., is going on his mission! In the LDS church, 19-year-old boys are expected to have lived worthily and prepared themselves to serve a Church mission for two years. During those two years, they don't do any work, schooling, visiting with family, or anything else concerning their personal lives. They spend the first part of their mission in the MTC (missionary training center) learning how to teach the gospel full-time, and then they go out into the mission field.

R.J. is the first and only missionary in our family, so it's a pretty exciting time for us! Hannah, Joshua and I were able to be there to hear him speak in Sacrament meeting, and we had a wonderful time visiting with all of the family members who came to support him that day. Because he is serving in Tempe, Arizona we also had a Mexican-themed family party for him.

The kdis had a blast with the pinata!
Hannah loves having another 4-year-old in the family, her cousin Lance.The next time we take this picture, Hannah will be 6 and Joshua will be four! (and Seth will be over 30!)

R.J. (Elder Crandall now, since he was set apart tonight) goes into the MTC this Wednesday. We are sure proud of him but I will sure miss him! I've never not seen someone in my family for two years! We are so thankful we had the opportunity to take this trip. Thanks for all the fun and the good care you still take of me, Mom and Dad! and R.J., it's probably too late for you to see this, but we love you!

3 Weeks in Boise

...the condensed version. After the wedding we drove up to Boise and had a small, surprise-early- 40th Anniversary party for my parents at my brother Aaron's house.

Poor Joshie was tired.
During the first week, the kids took a tumbling class at Aunt Tiffany's gym, which they loved,

and then we had a fun, quick weekend trip to McCall. I didn't get any pictures from that, unfortunately. Then Daddy had to go back home, and Hannah got sick, and then Joshua got sick, and then Hannah got sick again! And I was so tired my brains were curdling, but even so we managed to have a good time during the last two weeks. We played games (which is my number one favorite thing to do with my family), Hannah helped Grandpa Buzz plant the garden...

...while Joshua played with the hose,
they read with Grandma,

ate ice cream from the ice cream (wo)man,

and just generally enjoyed themselves.we even had a couple of outings, on to the temple, where they love to see the fountain,

and one to visit my good friend/chiropractor, Afshin. Hannah did great at her first chiro visit (a follow-up to the awful fall she had last year).

And now I feel like this post is getting awfully long so I'm going to save the most important part of the trip for the next post!

The Wedding

Sorry about the long break! We have done a lot over the past few weeks, so it will have to be condensed and broken up. First, we were privileged to be able to attend Seth's brother Ben's wedding in Salt Lake at the end of April. We were so happy to finally meet Allyson, who is a beautiful girl and a wonderful addition to the family. Congratulations, you two!

Hannah LOVED dancing at the wedding reception. She danced with any boy she could get her hands on.

Seth (and kids) with his parents and Grandpa Wright

Megan and me. It was so fun to see her after almost two years!

Joshua laughing at the paper cranes swinging from the ceiling