The Adventure Begins

So Preston left yesterday morning.  They changed his itinerary again last week.  They emailed him to tell him he'd be flying out early Monday morning.  We were quite devastated- but it ended up okay.  We had to change things up a bit.  We were still able to do most of what we wanted before he left, although it was tricky.  We went to the temple together last Wednesday evening, when Teano went through. Then in St. George, we were able to go do family baptisms, with Preston baptizing us.  It was a really wonderful experience.  I'm so glad we made that a priority.  On the way home from St. George, we stopped and ate at Rodizio Grill.  (Preston wanted to eat there for lunch before we left for the airport, before they changed his itinerary and that wasn't possible.)  So we got that in as well.  His setting apart was wonderful.  It was a good experience for all of us.  Preston was really tired Sunday night after that, it was emotionally draining, so we didn't spend as much time as I had hoped together as a family.  But it was fine.  We got up really early on Monday and ate breakfast and then left for the airport.  The whole day was something I won't ever forget.  The anticipation I've felt for 19 years leading up to that day.... it made it all the more surreal.  I can't believe my son is in Spain.  I can't believe that will be his home for the next 2 years. I can't believe it's here, and happening.  Where did the time go?  How do I miss him so much already?  I set up his mission blog.  It has more details about everything and it has his first letter.  It's www.thespanishshepherd.blogspot.com

 at the st. george temple.

 right after his setting apart.

Getting close

We got Preston's itinerary today. He leaves for Madrid on Tuesday, March 19th at 3:15 pm. He flies through with a stop in Detroit and in Paris.  His Visa came in, so he will be spending all of his MTC time in Madrid. We're a little bummed he won't have the Provo experience, but he's excited to get to Spain. I can't believe he's leaving in two weeks!

We had Spanish food on Sunday, to practice for all of the food I'll be making this Sunday, at his Open house.  I spent about 3 hours making paella. I didn't love it, but Preston and the boys did. I guess that's good enough.

blizzard skiing

 

the one day we decide to spend the money and take everyone skiing. 

it was absolutely freezing, with a temperature of 10 degrees before the windchill. 

thankfully, they all enjoyed the skiing anyway. 

Best Gift Ever!!

 

while we were at home taking pictures to send to June for Christmas....

(many of us are wearing our Norwegian clothes)

 

she was busy packing so she could show up and give us the best surprise ever!!! 

June made the holidays for us this year.  it was the coolest gift we've ever had.  ever. 

Spain Malaga Mission!!!

Boston Part 1

For the last 10 years, I've wanted to visit New England in the fall.  This year I actually got myself on an airplane and Will took me there.  We were gone for 11 days.  I took over 500 pictures.  (i'm only posting a handful- it's hard to pick which ones to add.)  It was everything I had hoped it would be.  I absolutely love the history of our country!  It was beautiful and the things that we got to see were amazing.  I would take a trip of sightseeing historical places over lounging on the beach any day of the week.  (although i really love the ocean.)  Actually standing in the places where such incredible things happened- it's completely thrilling to me. 

boston.  early in the morning on start of the freedom trail.

this is in the granary burial ground.  its the cemetery where paul revere, benjamin franklin's parents, and the victims of the boston massacre were burried.  the minutemen come out to roam the streets on the weekends. 

quincy market.  right on the freedom trail. 

this is the north church.  it was in this steeple that they hung the lanterns to warn the people that the british were coming by sea to attack. 

the sign says sleepy hollow cemetery.  it's in concord, ma.  we spent a day visiting concord, lexington and cambridge.  this is where many famous authors are burried.  alcott, thoreau, hawthorne...

walden pond looked more like a lake.  it was very big. 

they've made the whole place into a very quiet and quaint tourist attraction.

in cambridge we visited harvard.  the buildings were fantastic, but the campus itself didn't seem as manicured and nice looking as byu. 

touching the lucky foot of john harvard.

mt. auburn cemetery.  the most beautiful cemetery we visited.  it was one of the highlights of the trip for us.  this is where nathaniel bowditch was burried.  he is one of my childhood heroes.  i've always had a thing for him.  very inspiring man.  Carry On, Mr. Bowditch has been a favorite book as long as i can remember.

his memorial. 

mt. auburn

the colors and vegetation in the cemetery were spectacular.

the next day we travelled on to salem, ma. 

the salem witch trials have always fascinated me.  i always thought the pinnacle of halloween celebrations would be to be in salem during halloween season.  it was great, but not what i expected.  we heard the real festivities begin at night, but we also heard it can be a bit uncomfortable.  this is the real deal here.  they have over 1000 wiccans living there, in the small town of salem.  so we opted to take off and leave before dark. 

this home is one of the original homes that dates back to the witch trials- with the judge who ruled on the trials living here, amongst others. 

the trials took place in 1692.  its amazing to think that actually happened at all, let alone in our country.

this is the house of seven gables in the background.  nathanial hawthorne's home is located right beside it. 

diners, drive ins, and dives.  they didn't disappoint.  it was really great food.

this woman was just walking down the road.  she had just come from the tailor where her dress was being finished, so she wore it home.  she said she had lived in salem for 8 years and she figured, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. 

we drove to york, maine.  it was definitely one of the most gorgeous areas of the trip.  beautiful land, right beside the ocean.  it was awesome. 

i was the only one who was brave enough to run out into the ocean.  (that doesn't happen often.)  it was freezing cold, and nobody else wanted to get sandy.

it was a super long beach.  the tide was back really far- and my feet were numb.  serious.

there was a man out there clamming, and i wanted to get close enough to watch him. 

this is the nubble light house at cape neddick.  it was soooo pretty.

some lucky people live here.

we drove up to sharon, vermont.  this is the memorial of joseph smith's birthplace.  it is tucked away in what feels like the middle of nowhere.  but they said they get a lot of visitors.  people who have no idea what they are coming in to see.  it was very peaceful and pretty there.

it was probably the coldest day we had on the trip. 

the details of the marble monument were unbelievable.  how they got it there, the way it was carried.  very cool stories.  it's the largest solid piece monument. 

alaska

these pictures aren't in any kind of order.  blogger is being a pain and it took me forever just to get anything on here. 

out on the deck, in cold fog. 

formal night.  we spent most of our time eating, seriously.

in our cabins.  four to a room.  wow- it was tight.

formal night, again.  with their $20 drinks.

coming into juneau.

at a lookout in juneau.  i especially enjoy spencer's and clayton's faces.

brig poses for photos more than any of my boys.  it makes me laugh.

 

this really great catholic church right by the whale watching lookout.

 

whale watching lookout

the mendenhall glacier.  it was so much more fantastic in person.

there are warning signs all over for bears.  while i was taking pictures of the glacier, will and the boys walked down a path and saw a mother bear with her two cubs.  they were on a walkway about 4 feet above them. 

 

in skagway- where it just really soaked us. 

this awesome seal was there waiting for the salmon to come out from the river into the ocean. 

we had lots of down time.  lots. 

coming into the fjord. 

such beautiful scenery.  i have hundreds of photos. 

last formal night. 

honestly, we just ate and ate and ate. 

in Victoria.  the boys LOVED it here. 

even though Lincoln isn't showing it.  they had some awesome candy shops.



oh canada!

the parliament building

 

so much of our cruise looked like this- playing games.

at the beginning- leaving the seattle port.  it was seriously windy.

as we arrived.  we were all shocked that the ship looked small.

at snowqualmie falls, in washington.

in skagway, at a river where they did natural salmon spawning.

again, it really soaked us that day. when we got to the ship we were literally dripping!

 

 the glacier in the tracy arm fjord.  like always, so much cooler in person.  there was giant ice floating all over in the water. 

parliament building again.

the fjord.  oh yeah, we had to get up and be out on deck at 6:30 a.m. to see the ship come into the fjord.  it was freezing.  everyone was bundled up- and the whole ship was out on the deck.

 our assistant waiter, Anthony. 

we got comfortable toward the end.  apparently.  bringing his pillow along? 

and i got bored and started photographing food. 

couple times i saw him like this.  one in each hand.  he learned it from his dad.  no joke.

 



preston taught quincey to swim on the cruise.  he'd had lessons in the past, but got it down good on the trip.  it was a heated pool.

right outside the harbor in B.C.

at the fisherman's wharf in Victoria. we stood and watched people feed this sea lion that wouldn't leave for a long time.  finally, will decided to go buy some fish to feed it.  when he got back the sea lion took off and never came back.  it was kinda funny- even though the boys were disappointed.

 

mini glaciers all over by mendenhall.

a view of our ship from the lookout in juneau.