Happy Halloween!

And so it begins

http://www.uhsaa.org/football/2009/5Abrack.pdf

Today is the first game of the tournament Ty has been practicing for for the last 10 years. GOOD LUCK, PLAY HARD, WE LOVE YOU!

Six

50th HS Reunion

I had a great time at my reunion. Dad was a good sport through it all. They didn't do all the "most children", "grandchildren", etc. like they did at the 40th. The only prize was for the person who came the farthest to the reunion. The people at my table encouraged me to stand up and report even though we really came from SL. I won! Elizabeth Dahl Evans is with me. She and Brian are headed to Florida on a 6 month mission at the beginning of November.

There were about 500 graduates in my class. We had over 100 people at the reunion, of course, that counted spouses. Many came without a spouse, well over half. There were 2 couples at our table and 4 without their spouse. I was abke to visit with many people that either didn't come to the 40th or I didn't get to visit with them at that time. We had more visiting time for this reunion and we used it to the max.

Dad and I went to Olive Garden with Jan and Wes, and Alan and Connie while we were visiting Mom in Laguna Woods. She is all packed and ready to come on November 5th.

Double Digits

Happy Birthday Elise!

Great Minds

Just to show that great kids think alike, check out these two entries posted just minutes apart:

Claire Cooks (Laurene)
My New Favorite Cooking Show (Keryn)

Children of Eden

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for BYU's production of the totally fun Broadway musical, Children of Eden. (Same guy that did the music for Wicked, Stephen Schwartz.) While not even close to doctrinally correct, it is a thoughtful look at the relationships between parents and children, tracing the story of the creation, the fall of Adam, and Noah's flood.

I've probably purchased fewer than five CDs in my life. This was one of them.

Keryn and I are going to try to purchase tickets for a Saturday matinee on Nov. 21. Anyone else interested in coming? Even if you don't drop in for the same show we're going to see, I think you'd totally love the show. I sure did when I saw the last BYU production of it while I was still a student. (The community theater production I saw later left something to be desired.) If the choreography of the animals getting onto the ark is anything like the last time, it will be awesome, and amazing what they can do with a limited cast.

Autumn Mountains

Mission Report

We will be speaking in the River Ridge 6th ward (Kim's ward) this Sunday at 1:00 pm. We report to the high council at 3:15 the same day. We are in the new River Ridge 9th ward that meets at 9:00 am so we will also attend our own block. It will seem like a marathon. We have been attending a two hour block for a year. However, we would go an hour early to set up and the feed the missionaries after the block so it will probably even out!

Thoughts and Feelings

Life still doesn’t seem real. I can’t believe we are home. Suddenly Tobago seems so far away, yet my thoughts are still there wondering if there was bread for the sacrament, who taught the classes, did Alison and Maria make it to sacrament meeting, did Perez get the job, etc.

It was so hard to leave. I didn’t feel like we were finished yet. But then, when are you ever finished?

It was awesome to have so many of you at the airport and at our house at 11 pm when we arrived Wednesday night. It meant a lot to us. We have missed all of you considerably.

A special thanks for your prayers on our behalf. The Lord truly watched over us and angels went before us on so many occasions. I will miss the extra guidance and protection that come with the call to be a missionary. I grew so much in unexpected ways and realize I still have so far to go. We still need your prayers.

We appreciated the blogs and emails from you. We have a greater appreciation for the heritage and blessing that come by our citizenship in the US. The gospel is so strong and vibrant here. The blessing of the temple are easily available here. It was wonderful to be able to feel of your spirits and thoughts through those emails and blogs.

Pictures or Words

We loved Keryns blog about Grandma and Grandpa coming home! We would love some pictures or some other thoughts about it:) We wish we were there with all of you to share this happy time. Unfortunately we couldn't get there. Thanks. We love you guys!

Travel update

Mom & Dad called to let me know they landed safely in Houston. They are back on American soil waiting to board the plane to SLC in a few hours. Can't wait....

ERIC
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
WE LOVE YOU TONS!
Grandpa & Grandma

Happy Birthday, Michelle
We love you!

Mom & Dad

Happy Autumn!

Three big pumpkins...

...and one little pumpkin.

2 Votes for Comments

It is far more cumbersome to login to write a post than it is to click on the comments link to read them. I vote for comments!

Comments

Kim, the reason we don't turn on the comments for individual posts is because they aren't as easy to read as main posts. I think the best thing to do is just respond with a new post, like you did.

I clicked through on Nicole's "Blast from the past" and I can say that one of the tender mercies is that they don't include photos with those old articles. :)

rrrrruby!

wow... she is sooo adorable! and puppy breath is the cutest thing ever! hope you all remain allergy free :)

ATTN: BRAD

Can you add a comment section to our family blog please?

I wanted to tell Nic I think her new puppy is SO cute. GOOD LUCK with that! Hee Hee (evil laugh)

An Announcement

We decided to finally take the plunge and get a puppy. I have been researching allergy friendly dogs for a while (Corbin is allergic to many breeds), and this weekend there was an adoption fair in Page. We found this sweet little terrier mix, and brought her home to become the sister we never had. Meet Ruby.

Happy Birthday Grandma! from laurene ross on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday Grandma

We love you Mom! Happy Birthday.

Cross-Country

Drake and Corbin are both running cross-country with the middle school team this year. They had their first meet last weekend in Kayenta. Corbin had a terrific debut placing 11th in the JV race. Drake , unfortunately, was sick and was way back. He was a trooper to even race! This Wednesday they had their second meet on the rez in Tonalea against some of the same teams. Corbin was 4th and Drake 15th! Way to go boys!

Blast From the Past

As a YW presidency, we take turns teaching the lesson on fast Sunday. This week it was my turn, and the topic was service. I shared with the girls a story from an old New Era. Does this look familiar to anyone? Thanks for being a great example Brad.

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=7ec50e2cbc3fb010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=024644f8f206c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

Texas or Bust

The Hannays are off to Texas! Ty's game will be on Fox Sports Network (FSN) at 10:30am Texas time 9:30am Utah time and 8:30am AZ time. Pray for us and that Ty will remain healthy and have a great experience.

A message to our grandson, Tyler

Ty,

Words can’t express how proud we were as we learned of your outstanding accomplishments on the football field. We know that you have worked hard to develop the skills and strength to lead your team to victory after victory. Now, as your missionary grandparents, we are prompted to share a special message with you.

We have read the story of Ammon in the Book of Mormon (starting with Alma 17) many times. But as we read it today, it had a special meaning. We encourage you to read it soon and consider some important truths. Ammon was blessed with incredible strength and skill. In many ways he reminds us of you. You, like Ammon, have been given a wonderful opportunity to bless the lives of many others. You are becoming a hero in the eyes of your peers. I’m sure the girls are giving you special notice and that you are enjoying the attention. A word of caution – never forget who you are and what your purpose in life is. Keep your guard up and know that the girls that pursue you really only want to share the spotlight and their affection is shallow and fleeting. The girl that will one day go with you to the temple of the Lord will be impressed not only with your strength and skill, but will be most impressed with your humility and righteousness.

You have been wonderfully blessed in so many ways, from loving parents (and grandparents) to being given a mind and body that serves you so well in the field of athletics. Never forget and always appreciate where those blessings came from and why they were given to you. Be a hero, an example, a leader, and indeed a missionary. (What else did you expect to hear from your missionary grandparents?)

We can hardly wait to get back home where we can watch you play. Win or lose we know you will always do your best. Stay humble in victory. Stay happy in defeat. Stay focused on who you are and why you are here on Earth. We love you!!!!!!!

Hole-in-the-Rock

How much do you know about Hole-in-the-Rock? I remember being in an airplane with Dad flying up-lake for some training events. Dad let me go with him a time or two. The pilot tried to point out to me the location from the air, but I never could make it out.

Listening to a favorite podcast, the Cricket and Seagull, I learned about a new book from Gerald Lund that will focus on the story of the pioneers that cut that hole. Did you know that one of the people involved in that experience was also a part of the Willey/Martin handcart companies and that he thought the experience at Hole-in-the-Rock was more challenging?

There is a web page for the book that also has some maps and photos. I'll look forward to reading the book one of these days. I still haven't read the previous series that Brother Lund released that also looks interesting, so I guess I have my work cut our for me.

Nicole and Theo, it looks like you've got your next youth conference all mapped out!

WOW

Nice win Bingham!!

Live-blogging kindergarten, part II

New clothes on...check.
Homework in backpack...check.
Backpack on back...check.
Pictures taken...check.
Tummy full...check.
Time to leave yet...not for 45 minutes.
Over-excited five-year-old boy, roaring like a dinosaur and literally knocking over furniture...double check.

Live-blogging kindergarten

Ezra is berating me that I didn't put him in morning kindergarten. Because then he could be in school RIGHT NOW.

He woke up this morning, and before he even got out of bed he was caroling "First Day of School! First Day of School!" This woke up the baby, but it was charming nonetheless.

We did his first homework last night. (A get-to-know-you booklet.) Ezra needs to learn to stay on task. Mommy needs to learn to let Ezra do his own thing, even if it looks raggedy and messy.

More later! (With pictures!)