Firestorm 2007

Last week the fires started in San Diego, and we were glued to the computer with a live stream of coverage. Trying to not use the cell phones as we were asked not to, that was the only way to track what was going on. Our hearts and prayers were going out to those we love and I must admit that I couldn't stand it at a couple of points and cheated and called a daughter or two, OK maybe more. This picture was taken on Sunday, Oct 28th, the winds having blown smoke all the way to Utah. Usually you can see Antelope Island out the front, can you find it? We love you all, and had many inquiries at church as to how our kids were.

Texas Deer Hunt

Doug went to Texas this year to hunt in October. He had a great time and hopes to be able to do this hunt again in another couple of years. This a white tail deer and the antlers are not as big as the mule.
It is a fairly large hunt compared to where he has gone before. It covers an area of 43,000 acres and some guys traveled 45 minutes to get to a spot. His friend Bruce is the guy in the white shirt in the middle bottom and his wife his the white shirt to his right. Doug is the back center.

Guatemala

In June, Jaren took a trip to Guatemala with two of his seminary teachers as guides. It was such a great trip and these are just a few of the pictures (over three thousand) that were gathered and loaded onto a CD for everyone. They are totally out of order and to be honest I'm not to sure which some of the ruins were. They started out by going to the Guatemala City Temple and doing baptisms and a service project to deliver clothes for missionaries at the MTC there. They then went to the National Museum and the Kaminaljuyu Ruins in Guatemala City.
This is actually the end of the trip, swimming in the Caribbean.
Swimming Misol Ha waterfall, I think!
Tikal Ruins, there are over 3000 buildings buried in the jungle.

Brother Adams and his wife. This was the first time she had gotten to go. Parents of 14 children.
Brother Scott Pearce, I have never seen anybody so enthusiastic. He must be a great seminary teacher, and I know the kids love him.
On the way to the Chicanna ruins.
One of the many meals, unfortunately one meal made everyone sick, except for one guy that had already been sick and wasn't eating.

Jaren heading out for a swim.
Jaren of course took a book and fell asleep.

Took a boat ride up the Usumacinta River to Yaxchilan, covered today in vines and jungle. Where they stayed in a hotel that you could hear the jungle around you.

Jaren wanted his hair cut short, so he wouldn't have to worry about it on the trip. Here he is hiking up the volcano.

These are the orange shirts for the trip, they handed them out at the SLC airport before departure. Really helped to find the group as they were all assembling. Jaren is standing next to BJ, he is Debbie Comstock's nephew.

This was great experience, even though he never says much, I could tell he had a great time. His roommate Danny turned out to live just a few blocks away and is now at BYU Idaho going to school. They had a a super time.

Monticello Hunting

Jonas' first deer, the smile says it all. Mine is that he called at 6:50am to tell me all about it. I was so thrilled for him and that he called to tell me. What a cutie!

This is a Kurt map, he is the outfitter telling them and showing them where the deer have been seen. He serves in the stake presidency in Monticello and Doug helps him with the farming if he bags his deer early enough.
Jaren went to be moral support and took lots of books with him. On Thursday Doug was worried that he had run out of books, and I told him don't worry he will just reread the ones he has.

Doug and the boys went to Monticello on the annual archery deer hunt. Jaren got to hunt last year so it was Jonas' turn this year. They had a great time and the rusults are off to the taxidermists of course. Pretty soon there will not be room for me in the office! Although Jonas says he is hanging his in his room.

Flaming Gorge

Most of the group.
Learning to clean a fish!
Hanging out at the campfire.

Setting up camp.
Some of the great food, they were fed like growing boys alright.
Jonas without his rash guard and needing a little sun.

Isn't the point to fall off!

In July the Teacher's and Priests went to Flaming Gorge for their high adventure trip for the summer. It is a beautiful lake and the boys had a wonderful time. I sent a camera with both of them but they were so busy having fun that they forgot to take pictures. So...I found a leader that had been thoughtful enough to and he made a copy for me. Thank you, Brother Cline!

After hearing all that they did, wakeboarding, tubing, skiing, cliff jumping, crawdading, fishing, and eating of course, I did understand. Thanks to their great leaders for keeping them so busy!

Doug's birthday

Doug had a birthday on the 29th of July and there is a restaurant in the Provo/Orem area that he really likes called Tucanos. It is a Brazillian grill place. So while Broc and Joanna were heading that way home to go home we met Jenna and Casey there for a little celebration. This is Doug while they sang Happy Birthday to him!

Smiley Jared

Jon wanted to get in on the photo op.

He came out to watch the fire also.

This little guy just smiles all the time. I figured I would share his smile with all of you too!

Farmington Fire

This picture was taken Sunday morning by the mayor of Farmington. My friend is on the city council and sent it out. Our house is directly below the house on the left of the picture that is being framed and right behind the house with the big overhang. These pictures made it look a whole lot closer than it felt.

While Jocelyn was here we had a fire on the hill behind us. She said now I get to take some pictures of a fire! We stayed up most of the night watching its progress as it crested the hill and started moving down. Some people were very worried but I was pretty calm, being as we have easy access out and the wind was blowing against it. However I did go over in my head where everything was if we needed to leave. The street above us was put on voluntary evacuation not to minimize the concern from the fire officials, but compared to California this seemed pretty mild. It was kind of wierd to think that all I really needed to worry about was if my family was safe and then to realize that the big fires in El Cajon had taught me that. I will always be grateful to have learned that a house is not important.
The firefighters to the rescue. On Monday we were at a neighborhood Barbeque and everyone started to clap and cheer as they went down. They had been here for three days and we were all grateful for our "heroes".
Helicopters and planes made drops on Sunday morning when they could get back in the air. It had come to within 574 yards of our home.

We know how many yards because of Doug's handy dandy binoculars with a range finder in them. Jon liked to look through the extra pair and was always wanting to look through his "knockers" with papa. That was just to cute not to mention. I am sure he will be bored next time he comes and will be looking for another fire like his daddy works on.

Boy has Jonas grown

We went to this museum several years ago before we had moved here and Jonas barely cleared the hub. He and I thought this was really to see how much he has grown and I definitely need to do some digging to see if I can find the old picture to compare.

Ride 'em Cowboy

Jared in "the" hat.

Jon loved the outfit. I bought these cap guns thinking that the grandsons would like them, but Jon just liked to pretend shoot. He definitely did not like the noise. I am sure Trevon and Ethan will be a different story though. I guess I should explain, we have a big closet under the basement stairs and when it was finished being drywalled I knew it would be the perfect toy room. I found a cute fabric that had kind of a western print and so I ran with it. I recently found a Barbie for the girls that has a Western outfit called of course, California Girl. I am thrilled each time the kids come to add another handprint to the wall and measure how tall all my cowboys and cowgirls have grown.

Hill Air Force Base Museum

Jon getting a closer look!
He really wanted to touch and those straps were so easy to go underneath but he did great and we only had to explain it once, but this missile was a little too tempting and he really leaned in on this one.
He followed along with Jonas and the two would just wander around looking at all the airplanes.
This was an airplane seat that he could sit in, we thought they should have at least one airplane cockpit open for pictures.

Jocelyn, Jon, and Jared came for a visit and one morning we headed off to the museum at the Air Force base with Jonas so Jon could see the airplanes. (Jaren was still at EFY) He loved seeing all the big planes and every time I go I learn something new. Did you know that the Japanese sent air balloons over the Pacific with incendiary devices to go off on impact. The plan was to start forest fires and such. Many reached the States and three landed here in Utah. Several landed in Oregon also and one when a family on a picnic was investigating it blew up and killed the mom and her five children. The press cooperated with the government to not release this information hoping that the Japanese would not continue if they thought it was unsuccessful. This thinking worked and they ceased sending them. I don't know about you, but several things were new to me in this story, not the least of which is the press being helpful.