S.I.X.

Happy Birthday Gracie! I can't believe you are SIX! Gracie got to celebrate her birthday with sister Alli and got a surprise today too! She loves her gifts and thank yous to her grandmas - she went right to town on her pillow case and window light catcher - you can see the pillowcase but the light catcher is still drying - may be a little heavy on the paint!

Summer fun

Annual bball retreat - boys do camp - girls do fun!

You can see Alli's blog for other pictures and details, details, details.

Joey's email sounded pretty good. No shooting etc., so has to be better.!

Distance DANCE OFF!

A couple of instructions to view the dance off...click the "go" button on Katie's first and then on Gracie's. Gracie's music doesn't work but it is the same song at the same place so you get the same effect and then you can see the similarities... You may need to turn the playlist off on the bottom.

Ok I figured out how to get pictures off of my phone...

11 inches gone!

It sounds like Joey has had more excitement his short time in Mexico than the rest of his life! First the tongue and now he reports he was shot at a couple times from 5-7 feet. He said they were all fine - but isn't that a nice email to send to your mom? He says he is getting along better in Spanish, but requested peanut butter. He was also pleased to mention that a woman said he was the tallest and most handsome Elder she had ever seen. He also finally mentioned where he really was - Zacapu, Michoachan - I will have to look that up.


Also, yet another Vasher birthday. Happy Birthday Nathan!!!! Someone told me today that it is your golden birthday as you are 23 on the 23rd! Have a great day!

BYU-Idaho Student Body President ELECT -

Nathan Vasher
Congratulations! We are proud of you!

And now back to our normal life. Matthew just completed an entire week of Cub Scout day camp. He had a great time and mastered many new skills - archery, beebee guns, leatherworking, woodworking, and from the looks of him at the end of each day - dirtrolling. Glad he had so much fun!!! Sorry no pictures of the scouter, but that camera charger is still on vacation in SoCal.

Joey reports he has already had some new experiences with food. He was served a nice rice and meat dish with pepper salsa when he bit into some very chewy meat. He ate that piece and moved on to the next and discovered it was still attached to a bone and it was tongue. He said he stopped on the way home and purchased some peanut butter and bread.

Alli had a birthday on the 18th. She is getting to be a real grownup now! She is a great daughter and mother - who could ask for anything more! We love you Alli!

Parents Roy and Pat celebrated their 55th anniversary on the 19th. That's a long time. Congratulations mom and dad!

On the roof...

Joey reports that his companion speaks no English yet can sing "I am a Barbie girl" in English. That's good, that's Joey's favorite song.

The Joey has landed

¡Enhorabuena! Joey ha hecho a Mexico. Él envió un breve mensaje que dice que estaba allí, estaba vivo y escribiría más próxima semana

Irresponsible mother of six...

It's a good thing my kids are sort of self sufficient or I would lose them I am sure of it. Yep, I lost something else. I lost the charger for my camera. I spent some nice money on a nice camera for all of my family's fun events this Spring and lo and behold - no charger. It is probably on vacation with my cell phone charger at the Fairfield Inn across from Disneyland. So, no pictures until I find it or discover a long last cash pile . . . it's possible with my irresponsible past.

I got a phone call from a nice man with a very strong Spanish language accent. Being that I live in Salinas, I didn't think much of it until I heard the words Elder Vasher. My ears perked right up. He proceeded to tell me that Elder Vasher could not call me to tell me he was picking his visa up on Wednesday, but he could. So he did. He continued to tell me what a fine young man Elder Vasher is and he was at that moment installing his air conditioner unit. The man worried that Elder Vasher would hit his head on his ceiling - he had never had someone that tall in his house before. The conversation continued with Elder Vasher relaying a message that he needed more money for his luggage on the trip to Mexico - I thought to myself that the phone call I received a couple of weeks was for more money for the luggage for the trip to Mexico. I am confused or Joey is eating a lot of Whoppers. Apparently he will be on his way to Mexico on the 5th or the 6th. I could hear the excitement in Joey's voice in the background and I am so happy for him. He is such a good boy...

Last night in the MTC

Elder Vasher sent this picture to me today. I didn't realize how much I really missed him. He could always make me smile. He could also make me frown when he wanted...

Joey has an amazing sense of humor and a very sharp tongue - don't know where he gets either of those. He is going to have a great mission and share what he has with others.

For our Memorial Day festivities today, we went to see Indy. You know, Indiana Jones. I will save my opinion or review...Gracie spent alot of the movie covering her ears and closing her eyes.

Happy Birthday shout out to my big brother..

Happy Birthday to my BIG brother Wayne. He is really old now, I am not even sure how old, but much older than me. Let's see...if I am 29 this year he must be 38. he he he he

Some things I know about Wayne. I always thought he was very good looking. He always had good hair. He has two different colored eyes. He (alone) supports the men's cologne industry - sorry. He is a great guy who is a tireless worker. He has a wonderful wife. He has one of the best families ever. Can't wait until you guys come to see us again. We had a great time.HAPPY BIRTHDAY WAYNE!

The missionary and the caveman...

Ok, I know this isn't the right Visa...but word on the street is that Joey's visa came through today and he will be leaving either at the end of the week or beginning of next week. My super sleuth daughter got some inside information. I guess all those Nancy Drews and Babysitters Club books (and every other book) she read as a little girl paid off.
Kyle saw the orthopedic surgeon yesterday and he was told he has a "caveman" injury. Apparently that means that if Kyle lived as a caveman and he had this injury and left it alone for a couple of weeks it would be ok. So, Kyle the caveman has to just wait a few more weeks to let his finger heal and then he is free. "Hey caveman, watch out for that rock"

A boy of many talents...

Noooo, this isn't Kyle on a mountain bike, but it could be. The red shoes aren't his. I imagine this is pretty close to how he looked Wednesday night as he was riding in Toro Park with the young men. Last thing he remembers is someone yelling -"there's that rock". Well we spent the next 7 hours in the ER making sure the humerus, hand and head weren't broken. Well the hand was a bit, and the inside of his head was a bit soupy, but all other bones intact. We have to find out what soft tissue damage he did to his shoulder on Monday with his good friend the orthopod surgeon who operated on his foot a couple of years ago. He has some good scrapes and bruises but is healing and smiling again.

Heard from Joey errr Elder Vasher again - no visa yet, but he will be out of the MTC on his birthday (the 19th) to be a missionary in the Provo South mission while he waits for his visa. A little disappointed but ready to move to ANY next step. The only good thing with all of these delays is that I get to talk to him a bit more than usual.

I found the pictures of the night in the ER:

Hi mom, this is Joey

What? Joey? What a surprise on Friday, a phone call from Elder Vasher. He was scheduled to leave for Mexico on Monday, but his Visa has been delayed. He knew it would be delayed, but then was told it was granted, but found out again it was delayed. So, he may be in the MTC for three more weeks. He sounded a bit disappointed, but he sounded great! I guess I will be able to send his birthday package at the MTC.