Austin's ordination

On April 20th, Austin turned 12. We didn't have a friend party this year, instead focusing on his ordination and his ability to do baptisms for the dead. On Easter Sunday, his name was presented in Sacrament Meeting to be ordained a deacon. They also announced that he completed his Faith in God program. He had worked really hard on Faith in God, especially in the past few months. Rob's parents and grandparents as well as Ken and Tracy and their kids came to the ordination, which took place in deacon's quorum meeting. Rob ordained Austin and afterwards, Austin was asked to bear his testimony. He didn't use any of the forms of traditional testimony bearing, but said that he felt like something had been handed to him, like a basket of eggs, and that his job now was to take it and take care of it. He also said he felt older somehow.

After the ordination, everyone came over for dinner. These are some pictures Ken took with his awesome camera of Austin with his grandparents and family.

Last night, we took Austin to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. We needed 4 endowed brethren to perform the ordinances, so we got Rob (baptizer), Ken (recorder), Grandpa Paul (confirmer) and Grandpa Doig (witness). Austin, Alyssa, Kaylene and Paul were all proxies. The mothers and grandmothers watched. It was super special to be in the temple with our family. Also, I was concerned that there wouldn't be a jumpsuit that Austin could wear, and that he'd be too short for the water level, but it all worked out fine. He had the smallest jumpsuit which worked well just being rolled up in the legs. Also, the water in the font came to about his neck. It was perfect, and there was a really nice spirit there.

Wagon Wheels West

Last week Alyssa took part in her school's play, "Wagon Wheels West." It was a comical story about a town along the Santa Fe trail which is tormented by a mysterious outlaw "the snake" who robs wagon trains and local citizens. A civic minded local woman forces her brother to run for mayor to clean up the town (since women can't hold public office). Meanwhile a wagon train loses a wheel and comes to the town of Vinegar Bottle to get their wheel fixed. It turns out that Smiling Slade Clagett, the local Saloon owner is in fact the snake. He has been hiring outlaws to do his dirty work (and paying them in beans & with a tiny shack to live in). However, before things resolve, the wagon master gets accused to stealing a diamond necklace (He is framed by Smiling Slade and the Saloon lady and his side kick, Sue Flay). Wagon master Chuck Wagon is condemned to hang at "low noon." Meanwhile, outlaws kidnap Candy Cane, a girl who is part of the wagon train, and who is Chuck's romantic interest. She escapes with the information to free Chuck from hanging. Chuck then wins a shootout with the Snake, the new mayor is elected and it's happily ever after.

Alyssa played the part of a woman stranded in Vinegar Bottle who wants to join the wagon train. It was not a really big part, but she did have several lines and was on the stage for much of the play.

The play was really fun and very well done, especially when you consider all the limitations they work under...such as giving a part to everyone who tries out, not being able to set up the stage, lighting and technical until a few days before the performance, and being in a room with terrible acoustics which requires the kids to wear microphones which occasionally don't work.

Jedi Training

For Preston's birthday this year we decided to have a Star Wars themed birthday party. It was one of the easiest and funnest parties any of our kids have ever had. It started with an invitation with a picture of Yoda on it and the following text:

Young padawans. Come to Preston’s Birthday party for training you must.

I sense that you will report on Friday, March 25^th 11 am-1 pm at 14 Centennial Place.

Complete Jedi training you will and face Darth Vader you must.

Jedi lunch will strengthen you to withstand the trials.

“Come or Come not. There is no try.” 403-758-6525

When the kids arrived they had to do several training exercises to prepare themselves to become Jedi. First they had to destroy a storm trooper by throwing a bean bag and breaking the tissue paper storm trooper by aiming for the hole that was behind its picture.
The kids had to shoot the death star, and like Luke, they had to try and hit the "sweet spot" that would destroy it. Not pictured, the kids had to pass light sabre training which was reminiscent of when Luke had to use the force to get the ball that Obi-wan used in his training. The kids had to use light sabers to keep balloons afloat for 10 seconds.
The kids also had to comb through the asteroid field created when the planet Alderon was destroyed. At the time, some rebel ships were flying though the area and got destroyed in the asteroid field. The padawans' mission was to find the destroyed ships and rebuild them. (There were little lego star wars x wing and rebel fighter kits hidden in some of the asteroids. Assembling them was a great hit and the kids loved it.)
After Jedi lunch, including "yoda soda", presents and cake, the young padawans had to face the final challenge. They had to face Darth Vader. They were armed with silly string and had a great time forcing Darth Vader to surrender.

There were a few minutes at the end for the kids to play with the birthday toys before we presented them with certificates for becoming jedi masters. They also got their own light sabres (glow sticks) and got to take home their lego ships.

Men in Black

I bought these suits last year for our boys, but they only started wearing them recently after we forced them. Pretty sharp, eh? These two boys will not be so similar in height for very long. A moment to remember!

Jazz Duets at the Cardston Music Festival

On March 16th, our kids performed Jazz duets at the Cardston Music Festival. Austin is playing secondo with Sam Jackson at Primo. Alyssa is playing primo with Karah Orr at secondo. They all played really well and got first place in their respective categories. Austin and Sam got a score of 85 while the girls scored 86.

I missed the performances because I had Mark in Calgary that day for 3 appointments. The last one, Cardiology, took 2.5 hrs, by the time they did the echocardiogram, electrocardiogram and we met with the resident then the doctor. The good news...his heart is fine! The bad news, that left me leaving the hospital at 5 pm just in time for rush hour. No chance of being in Cardston for 7 pm. I am sorry I missed the performances, but glad that Granny and Grandpa, Monte and Sherylee and Rob were all there. The kids got treated to DQ afterwards, too, so it was all in all a great night.

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.

Individual Photo Shoots