We love Kartchners!

Well, I think this will be my grand finale post from our trip. And, it would be extremely ungrateful, if it did not express the love and gratitude we feel for the Kartchners. In case you think I am flattering them, here is an incomplete list of things they did for us.

1. provided transportation. We did rent a compact car, but still relied on help from Kartchners whenever we transported the whole family (especially Mark). Under the category of transportation, Sherylee met us at the airport and dropped us off there as well.

2. Provided amazing accommodations for us. Our family took up three bedrooms and a closet. I also arrived with suitcases all full of dirty laundry and left a week later with all clean clothes, so i guess I took advantage of their laundry quite a bit too!

2. Sherylee fed our family 3 square meals and lots of snacks, catering to our family's pickiness for a whole week.

3. Sherylee took care of all of our kids for over 3 days while I went with Rob to his education conference. This included providing all of Mark's care. Monte was out of town at the time so she did this all by herself.

4. Provided entertainment for us. Sherylee took our kids to some parks, went shopping with Alyssa and I, took me to her RS brunch, let our boys ransack their lego collection, took our kids to The Lego Store and a mall with stores Alyssa wanted to hit, watched movies with us, etc.... Sherylee also took us to the Salt River and took pictures of our family, too. She also arranged for Hal and Shelley and some of their family to come visit while we were there. Monte also helped Austin build a bow and arrow!

5. Monte and Sherylee cleaned up after us, repeatedly. My family is not the neatest, and Monte and Sherylee took care of dishes, sweeping, vacuuming, tidying, etc after us.

6. Sherylee highlighted Alyssa's hair. Alyssa wanted this done, but I had no experience so Sherylee did it while I watched and learned.

7. The final thing in my incomplete list, is that they all spent time with us and showed love for us in spite of all the work and expense we cost them. They made us feel so welcome and loved. We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed their company and their hospitality. Kayden spent a lot of time with us too, and he really made the kids feel special! We are sad that Kartchners live so far away from us, but really love going to visit them.

Thank you Kartchners!
Monte sporting the cap used to pull out hair for highlighting. Nice look!
Who me?
Sherylee loving Mark after church.
At the salt river.