The Mission Call

Marshall received his mission call to the Villahermosa Mexico Mission.

He will be leaving on 16 February 2011 just two weeks before Brooke returns from her mission in Argentina.

I just wanted to learn how to swim!

In January I decided to swallow my pride and I started going to an adult swim class to learn how to do the front crawl better. After the first couple of times I didn't know if I could do it or not. Jeff told me that I had to go 5 times before I could decide whether I wanted to quit or not. I continued like he said and eventually started to really enjoy swimming. I think the swim instructor Jane Hudzol took me on as her summer project. After I learned how to swim she talked me into training for the base triathlon. I told her that I might try, but I knew I really wasn't going to. I have never ran in my life and I had just learned to swim.
Well, I have now been training for the base triathlon for about 8 weeks with a training group. It was a great experience, and I met a lot of new people. On Thursday 16 July we all went out to dinner to "carb" load before the big day.
I didn't sleep much last night, so I was not sure if I had it in me to finish.
We had to swim 400 M, bike 12 miles, and run a 5K. I thought I had my counting right, but my timer didn't say anything to me until I was out the door and at my bike. Apparently I still had a lap to go. I was pretty mad that they had let me get so far away from the pool. I just about gave up, but I didn't. I got back in the pool and finished. I am so glad I did!

It started to rain part way through the bake portion of the race. There was lightening so I thought they might call the race, but it started to clear up and by the end it was sunny again.

I was the oldest competitor to do the whole race. There was one guy older than me, but he was on a relay team and only ran. I definitely think I should have gotten a special award!

Your're A Good Man Charlie Brown

Taylor played Charlie Brown in the Summer Performing Arts production of "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. He did a fabulous job!

Who's counting?

Brooke has been on her mission almost 7 months! I miss her but the time has just flown by. She is happy and healthy and loves the people in Argentina. She has been in San Luis since she arrived, but was recently transferred to Mendoza. She fell into a 6' deep canal one day when it was raining so hard that they couldn't tell the difference between the sidewalk and the street, and a week later they were caught in another bad storm and she said they were wetter than when they fell in the canal. This is a picture of the canal they fell into.

Brittney and Paul both graduated from BYUI on 9 April 2010. Britt in Special Ed, and Paul in Mechanical Engineering. It seems like Britt has been in school for a long time, but since having Avery her class load was reduced for a few semesters. Aside from that we are so proud of her. She passed her portfolio board with no recommendations! and also her student teaching. They said she was very professional. Way to go Britt!

Jeff and I had so much fun with Avery. She is so cute and so smart. She looked at me one day and said, "Grandma, you have blue eyes." I knew she talked alot but was a bit surprised when she said that. She will be two in August. She loves reading books, and spent a good deal of time on Grandpa's lap doing that. We can't wait to see her again (Britt and Paul too) and hope they will make it home for Marshall's graduation in May.