Our day at Pinederosa..... "Ethan's".....Park!!!

The Andrews took Tristan to the Temple for his first time yesterday,
(Congratulations Tristan)
so I watched Savannah, Ethan and Jackson for the day!!!

We went to the park, swung on the swings, had lunch,
swung on the swings, had a scavenger hunt, swung on the swings!!!
(The swings are Ethan's favorite)

I have a feeling that Jackson will grow up to like the swings too!!!

Of course we had to spend some time kissing Jackson...

I guess I wore them out because when we got home Ethan flopped
on the couch and stayed this way for about two hours!!!

While the boys slept, Savannah and I finished her baby doll quilt
and started on a skirt for herself!!!
Sorry no pictures but we will update you later on the progress
of the skirt!!!

(Today I am not doing anything!!!)

HUMP DAY!!!

Today is Matthews 1 year anniversary
for being on his mission!!!
WooHoo!!

He is having a great mission
and helping many of the Mexican people.
He is in Culiacan where the Mission home is located.

The funniest story that Matthew has told us lately is when
he and his companion met a man on the street and asked
him how he was. After initial greetings, the man said he
was occupied at the moment.
But the Elders proceeded to ask if they could just take
a moment of his time to tell him about the restoration.
Then the man told them he was deaf!!!

I will have to remember that one when
telemarketers call!!!

Just one year to go Elder Sorensen!!
You are doing a great job!!
Love you!!!

Christmas Eve in Mexico!!!

We received some of Matthew's pictures yesterday!!!
The Mission President and his wife had the Elders in the area over for dinner
and activities on Christmas Eve.
They are getting ready to act out the Nativity....

...can you guess what part Matthew played!!!
I don't know how he was talked into playing Mary
but he is always such a good sport!!!

The ward gave them gifts for Christmas......

...and on New Year's Eve they had a barbecue at
a members home.
It looks like they ate very well, but I would be
surprised if Matthew ate any of these onions!!!

Keep up the good work, Elder Sorensen!!!

Two Christmas' in one !!!

How much fun is one Christmas!??!
Well, times that by two, because we had twice the fun this year!!!
Before going to California we spent Christmas (about a week early)
with Chris and Jen!!!
We had dinner, opened gifts, played games and watched Chris play
with his new toy helicopter!!!

They thoughtfully gave me really cute "Brighten" earrings
(my favorite brand)
and this really cute star to go with my starless Nativity!!!
Now it looks complete!!!

Then after flying to California to see Jennifer, Tyson,
Berkleigh and Merrick, we spent Christmas with them.
Berkleigh got a kitchen set which she apparently loved because after
seeing it we had a hard time getting her attention back on opening presents.
Uncle Chris and Aunt Jen got the twins this tent set which they also loved.
After we set it up for them they played in it for hours!!

Jennifer painted this watercolor picture for me of Seacliff beach in Aptos
where I grew up. Past the pier is a cement boat which has been there
since 1919. It use to be a restaurant and dance hall until
the depression when it was left empty.
Now it is a home for seagulls and pelicans.
Because we will not be going back every year to visit my parents,
(my Dad just moved to Washington to live with my sister and her family)
Jennifer knew how much I would miss this beach.
I love this picture and hung it up in a special place as soon as
we arrived home.
I have such thoughtful children!!!!

We also did a four way call on Christmas day with Matthew, Chris,
Jennifer and Mom and Dad.
Matthew is doing great and is loving his mission.
He was just transferred from
Mazitlan to Culiacan which is were the mission home is.
He is having trouble emailing pictures home but hopefully
we will have more pictures to share soon.

We feel so blessed at this time of year to share this wonderful
Christmas season of Christ's birth with our family and friends.
We hope all of you have had a
MERRY CHRISTMAS and will have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

20 years ago today.......

Happy 20th Birthday Matthew!!!

We love you and we are
so proud of you and the
great work you are doing!!!

Hope you have a terrific day today!!!!

Love from the Fam!!!
Mom, Dad, Jennifer, Tyson,
Merrick, Berkleigh,
Chris, Jen and Thunder!!!

Thanks to everyone who sent Birthday cards to Matthew!!!
I am sure that he will love them and all of you for thinking of him!!

Dedication

It has been a year today since my Mom passed away.
She was always such a great Mom to my sister and I and wife to my Dad. She was dedicated to us which was obvious by the way she was always involved in our lives.
She taught us to sew when we were young. Both Mary Jane and I completed 10 years in the 4-H program where we won many awards for our clothing and sheep projects.

Mom came with us each year as we attended 4-H summer camp.
Because the bathrooms were so far away from where we camped,
she would get up early each morning
and bring us water so we could freshen up and brush our teeth.
(Looking back, I think she just wanted to hurry us along,
but we thought it was because we were special!!!)

Mom was also my room mother every year at school until I grew out of having room mothers.
She always made special yummy treats for each of the holidays.
We were always the envy of the other classes.
She did all of this at the same time my Dad working as a carpenter.
She was always right there with him getting him supplies, painting
and helping with whatever he needed.

By her actions she taught me to be a kind and caring person.
They were always helping others, and actively, attended church.

We love this picture of Mom holding Berkleigh for the first time.

Mom loved to sew, crochet and knit. She always had a project that she was working on and many completed so she was ready to give anyone
who needed one a baby blanket or a hand made towel.

Mom loved flowers and hummingbirds. She had a collection of vases. And she loved to pick up and collect rocks from different placed they had visited.

Her favorite President was Ronald Reagan. When he was governer of California, he visited the Santa Cruz county fair. She crossed the barrier to shake his hand and get his picture. She might have had more pictures of Ronald Reagan than most of the rest of the family!

More recently, when we went to visit, Mom didn't usually
feel well enough to go out.
But this summer, we talked them into going to the beach for a barbeque.
Dad loved helping Tyson cook the hamburgers.
It was a great day.
(We always got a kick out of Mom's sunglasses!!!)

That same summer we also talked them into going to see the 10:00 pm showing of the
"Pirates of the Carribean".
We thought they would like it--- but not so much!!
Movies have changed a lot since they had seen their last one
20 years ago!!!

Mom was always really proud of her 5 Grandchildren and 7 Great Grand Children.
We love you Mom!!

It's a contest!!!

Matthew's birthday will soon be here on November 22nd.
So join in the fun to see how many birthday cards Matthew
can receive by his birthday!!!
It takes 3 weeks for him to get his mail,
(plus the wait in the mission home)
so if you send him a card sometime this week he should
receive it before his birthday!!!

Here is his address:
Elder Matthew Sorensen
Mexico Culiacan Mission
Rio Choix 888
Colonia Rosales
Culiacan, Sinaloa 80230
Mexico

This is not pouch mail. Cards are not allowed in the pouch mail.
So the cost of the card will be 72 cents.

Thanks for joining in on the fun!!!