He Made It!

"Where's Sean?"

After an 11 day delay in the MTC, Sean finally got his visa and headed out to Mexico. He arrived Thursday, April 15th. We got our first letter Monday and he sounds great! He LOVES Mexico and the people, he just can't get over how big the city is! He's not sure what language he learned in the MTC, but it doesn't sound anything like what they speak in Mexico. He's been on some very adventuresome bus rides and loved every minute. After being there just three days, he got to speak in Sacrament meeting. He said his companion laughed the entire time and the sister missionaries just smiled and said he did pretty good for a "greenie gringo!" He loves being a missionary and is excited to "get to work!" It was great hearing from him, we learned a lot...the only thing we didn't learn is WHERE he is in Mexico!

April Showers...

bring May flowers... I don't think so! This is what we woke up yesterday! It really was beautiful, and we desperately need the water, it's just...it's April 6th! Luckily today was gorgeous, the sun came out and melted most of the snow. I love spring in Utah, it's so unpredictable!

Count down to Mexico

Sean is doing great in the MTC. He has been there 9 weeks and was scheduled to leave for Mexico on Monday but we just found out tonight (via a surprise phone call!!!!) his Visa hasn't come through:( He wasn't sure when he would get it, but he thought he would remain at the MTC at least until April 13th. He's excited to leave, but he seemed fine with the fact that he would be staying there a little while longer. It was so good just to hear his voice! He sounds great...very happy.

We got our first pictures last week and it was really fun to him as a missionary. He looks good. He's gained 11 pounds! He said there is always a lot of food and because they are studying most of the time, they don't much exercise in! That will change when starts walking all over Mexico!

Here's a few pics...

This is his "Facebook" pose ;)Jared and Sean before they left

Sean & Jared exchanging ties at the MTC

Jared packing to leave for Guatemala

Jared on his way!Playing Star WarsSean's desk...can you see baby Steele's picture?

Sean and his companion, Elder Bylund

Since He's Been Gone...

After we dropped Sean off at the MTC, we came home to find an empty house and this little guy! My dear friend Tammy had gone to "Build A Bear" and made me my own missionary bear! (She also made one for herself because Jared left on his mission the following week.) When I squeezed the bear's hand, we heard Sean's voice saying..."I love you mom and dad, see you soon!" Steele and I just broke down and cried ...but my "Seanie" bear is my favorite thing!
I felt so sad as I started to think about all the places and trips Sean would miss in the next two years, but then I realized... this "Sean" could come! So for the next 2 years I am taking my bear all the places that Sean would go if he were here and then document them all! Just thinking about the plethora of places I could take him made me smile. Now Tammy's on board and we are taking our bears everywhere! (Much to Steele's dismay.) People look at us like we are crazy...but what else is new? At the end of two years we're going to put the pictures together in a book and give it to the boys. I know they will get a good laugh from it, but not near as many laughs as it will bring us along the way! So here's just a few of the early shots of Elder Larson and Elder Fadel...don't be surprised if one day they end up on your doorstep!

Sunday Dinner

Ready to go!

With his loyal dog!
With his cousin Dalton
his favorite nephew!
Ordering at "Mo Bettah"
Ummm...Yummy!

The Last One...

Wednesday we took what I hope will be our last trip to the Provo MTC! (At least for 18 years!) Sean left on his two year mission last Wednesday. This is never an easy day, saying goodbye for 2 years with limited contact, is difficult at best. But taking our last son, made it even harder.
It's a day of such conflicting emotions. On one hand, we were so excited for all the great experiences and growth that lie ahead for Sean, but on the other hand, two years is a very long time! What we will have instead is the opportunity to watch Sean's knowledge and testimony of the gospel grow. He will have experiences in the mission field that he cannot get anywhere else and they will be the foundation for the rest of his life. He will devote all his time and attention to The Lord, with no worldly distractions. What a rare and wonderful opportunity! So with that in mind, we dropped him off on the curb of the MTC, where a cute, enthusiastic missionary greeted him, helped him with his luggage and escorted him inside. It still leaves a lump in your throat and a hole in you heart, but it's all for a great reason! So we will anxiously await his first letter, and pray for his safe return! Adios Sean!

Ryan, Sean, Jared and NickSean and JaredSean and Ryan

Sean and Nick

Grandma Larson, Sean and Grandma DavisChelsea, Sean and BreAnnaThe brothers!

Dad and SeanMom and Sean

Better Late Than Never!

Christmas seemed to come and go so fast! Isn't that is the way all great occasions seem to go...we look so forward to them and then they are here and gone in a heartbeat. We had a wonderful holiday because we were able to spend it with all of our kids! Here are a few of the more memorable moments.
Soooo cute!
Sean moving in on Nick's wife!
Breaking through the Christmas "door!"
Steele and his "Kirkland Shampoo" ad.
Wicket in her "Snuggie."
Steele's first Christmas

Steele and Aunt Chelsea
The aftermath...
All tuckered out!



Every year...... Steele asks me why I bother to decorate the basement when hardly anyone goes down there. This is why...the room downstairs is my Christmas room! I love it because the decorations on the tree are the ones that we've had since Bryan was born. When he was younger we would go to "Rainbow Gardens" and pick out an ornament or two. The others ornaments are ones that our children made, or friends gave us. They are all dear to my heart!
These are some of my favorites. For their first Christmas, Grandma Davis gave each of our children their own Christmas ornament. (A traditions she continues today with each of her great grandchildren.)
Things I missed this year....the ugly sweater contest, cutting out snow flakes and making Christmas plates!! (We won't miss them next year!)
Things I will miss next year......

The Original Christmas Train!

Blake got a great new camera so we had fun taking some video of the one and only "original" Christmas Train! It has been imitated many times in the 21 years we have had it, but Steele's is
the original! It was shortly after "motion lights" came out, that Steele got the idea to build a train using motion lights to make it look like the train was moving. It was genius! (He should have patented it.) It was so novel when we first put it up that people would stop and take pictures or ask us where we bought it.
Although it is over 20 years old and has been painted and "re-lit" many times, it is still one of my very favorite things about Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
(I wanted to put music with it, but I ran out of time....sorry.)