MAYLIN2007

We got pictures today from Austin. Happy dance. It looks like he is having fun, except for the cockroach part....but even that looks entertaining to him. Looks like he has met some great friends! I will say, seeing the pictures made me homesick for him! The first two are of the day he arrived in Oakland. The top picture is in front of the LDS Oakland temple. Below is with the mission president and wife (baby too) at the mission home. These next two are of Austin's room in his apartment in Concord. This is the outside of the apartment.  So great to see where he is at!!! This is the kitchen area and Austin said the pie his companion made was really good! This is Austin's planner. He takes it with him where ever he goes. It keeps track of appointments and people they see. Here is his living and study area. Sparse, but okay. Austin said they call this bacon wrapped cardiac arrest. He said he won't eat them again. They made him feel yucky. Can...

First and for most, Austin's mission president emailed us a picture of him this week. So glad to get it. It is the first picture in a month. The tie he is wearing is one he purchased at the Goodwill. For those who haven't read his latest letter, here are two fun facts: He turned all his white shirts pink! I mailed new ones off today. His apartment has lots of big cockroaches. Also, he said the heat is killing him. Makes me worry. He says he is okay and drinking a lot of water and he has had to take a nap. I am seriously, a month behind in little stories and events that I want to share on the blog. One is Maylin participated in 100 reading lessons and graduated from this class.....I took pictures, but for all the Ding Dongs in my tummy, I don't know where I put them. So no pictures, but know she got a book and a balloon and got to stand in front of her class!!!  The day the Hunger Games came out, Alex and his buddies went to see it. They were so excited to see it THE ...

Kenzie got asked on her first date this week!! She was SO excited. The boy, Taylor, asked her to their school's spring prom! Kenzie was so busy with school, tutor and soccer, she didn't have time to go shopping for a dress. SO, I went shopping and brought a few dresses at a time home; she would try them on late at night and give a thumbs up or down. The morning of the dance (today) we finally found one that worked! Man, it is hard to find modest prom dresses out there that fit, and work with your personal style, but with much effort we (I should say I) did it!  She looked beautiful. We will give updates on the date tomorrow once she comes home and we get all the details. Here are some pictures of Kenzie and the happy couple. My favorite part of her dress was the fact she wore her white Keds with it! Great comfort and you really couldn't see them and heck, if someone did it just shows she is there to have fun!

During the week we were visiting my parents, we did a lot of hiking. I love to hike. I just love, love, love it. Jay has really never liked to hike, but has gone to humor me and the kids usually go complaining. This time Jay wasn't with us and every one else was happy about it which made it so nice. I hope no one thinks I was hapy that Jay wasn't there. Not at all, it is just a fact. He did 2 little short hikes of .5 each and then one that was about 2.5 miles. They were so nice and wonderful. On one hike as pictured below there was an area where you had to put you feet in little foot holds that had been sanded in the rock and by a rope. Going over was fine, coming back was a bit scary. I am a scaredy-cat, so it was a big deal that I did it! I think that is what I like about hiking....the whole idea of accomplishing something hard! The long trail followed a river and pools through a slot canyon. Alex went swimming in one. He said it was so cold it almost put him in shock. He did...