So, Utah... We Meet Again!

Saturday morning came waaay too early, and after staying up all night to finalize my packed suitcase and clean my mess of a room, we made it to the airport at about 8:20 for our 9:30 flight.

This was taken just before bidding 'adieu' to Cam, Trev, and Lance. Kevin and Audrey were still sawing logs at this point... and who could blame them? It was rather early!

There are two notable things about this picture:

1.) I am wearing not one, but TWO coats along with my snow boots

2.) I have one checked suitcase, one small carry-on suitcase, and a messenger bag for the next year-and-a-half. My dad made the comment, "You've packed less for your mission than you have for most two-week vacations!"
Can I get some applause, please? :)

We landed in Salt Lake, and after sleeping lightly {or not at all!} the night before, we were all exhausted. We stopped at Hires Big H for some super chilled rootbeer in a mug and burgers. mmm... delicioso!

... Here we go!

5... 4... 3... 2... 1... Happy New Year!

Lance and I got all dressed up and spent our New Years Eve at Main Event. We arcaded it up and bowled a couple of games. There was a barbecue buffet, and free fountain drinks. We had a great time!

Here we are at the entrance

...and again in the roller coaster simulator

We played air-hockey twice, and I beat Lance TWICE!

Then we bowled twice, and he beat me-- TWICE!

Me, with my eight-pounder

...And Lance with his sixteen-pounder!

The actual countdown was rather anti-climactic because Lance and I were playing a gun arcade game when he looked down at his watch and said,

"Oh, it's 12:03... Happy New Year!"

Happy New Year...

When we left Main Event, we went to Cam's house for our midnight waffle breakfast to celebrate 2010!

Our table looked beautiful!

Kevin was proudly flaunting his Spurs win that night-- Cam was doing her best to keep him under control...

Ready for some fresh squeezed Arizona orange juice

"Larry" and "Curly"

Waffles

With fresh strawberries on top

and delicioso turkey bacon on the side!

We all then played rock band... Daddy was quite the singer!

He rocked it!

Trevor drummed like no other...

...And Lance was amazing on the guitar-- as always!

At the end of the night, we were all exhausted!

Molly looked like we all felt...
It was definitely time for bed when we all got home!

Here's to an amazing 2010...
Happy New Year!

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow!

As long as I remember, Grandma Jones has always had some sort of animal in the fenced in yard behind her house... on our last day in Arizona, we introduced Audrey to the Washburn's livestock!

There were moo-cows

And horses!

These equines were so great at posing for this photo-op!

Then we went to Tick-Tock's to pack up the trailer and everything at her house! Audrey was in fine form--- she was so excited when she figured out she could fit this ball IN her mouth!

Pretty blue eyes!

Here she is again, playing with the only other blue-eyed member of our family

While Daddy was on the roof fixing Grandma's solar panel, Kevin was in charge of getting the trailer all packed and road-ready!

The REAL reason we took said trailer up with us to Arizona is to bring these bad boys home. Dad's weight set dates back to his high school days... He's been wanting to bring them home for years--
Mission accomplished!

We so enjoyed Arizona this Christmas... There were a lot of wonderful memories made, I feel like I made a new friend out of my cousin Kari, Audrey learned how awesome Pine is, Mom learned how convenient a cement turkey pit is, Cam and Kevin added a lot of humor to the trip, Trevor was pleasant the whole time, Daddy got creative and MADE shadow boxes for mom's Christmas gift and decided to become a scrapbooker! Life is so good :)

A Fairytale of Humble Proportions

Once Upon a Time, in a land not so far away called Pine, Arizona, a beautiful maiden named Cheryl and a handsome young man named Kent, decided to build a darling little cabin. It was hard work, and while the cabin was under construction, this is where the young couple lived:

It was a humble little lodge in Strawberry, Arizona where light shone through the logs when the sun was up. It was cold in the winter, and hot in the summer-- so they were ecstatic when at long last, their cabin was finished!



And who wouldn't be thrilled? It was a beautiful cabin that was finished just in time for them to welcome their beautiful bouncing baby girl, Chelsea, into the world!

Here's the 'young maiden' with her granddaughter on her inaugural trip to the family cabin!

Trevor was in such a great mood our whole Arizona trip... He even helped mama do the dishes!

After we had Tacos Sunday night, Mom, Cam, Kevin, Trevor, and I played a rousing game of Scrabble...

Trevor looked so scholarly looking through the dictionary! He was on my team... We did great!

Mom's so good at this game, she was able to be on a team with herself!
Cam and Kevin played together, and they kind of cheated a lot-- We'll have to put them on separate teams next time! ;)

This wood-burning stove is awesome! It radiates so much heat-- just don't open the door when the flames are going at full blast! Trev learned that the hard way!

We had lunch (because we missed breakfast) here Sunday morning, and breakfast (because we missed it the day before) Monday! I think this is one of Daddy's favorite places in the whole world!

It was so nice to spend some time up here with the people I love before I leave for a year and a half... We definitely made some great memories, and I can't wait to bring my own family up here one day!

"You're Never Lost When You Can See The Temple"

Christmas Lights on the Mesa Temple grounds are quite a sight. In a place with such beautiful lights and scenes depicting Christ and other events from the New Testament, you can't help but feel the spirit.








Saturday morning, Mom, Dad, the grandmas and me went to the Mesa temple. I have grown up admiring Mesa temple's lovely simplicity and beauty, and I finally was able to go in! It's even prettier on the inside!

Mesa's temple is on LeSueur street... How awesome is that!? :)

Group shot sans Daddy-- he was getting the car cuz it was super cold outside!

"You are never lost when you can see the temple. The temple will provide direction for you and your family in a world filled with chaos. It is an eternal guidepost which will help you from getting lost in the “mist of darkness.” It is the house of the Lord. It is a place where covenants are made and eternal ordinances are performed."

-Elder Gary E. Stevenson