BYU Women's Soccer Game

It is tradition for Marshall's and Lynnlee's soccer team to go to a BYU women's soccer game. This year it ended up being a rainy night and it was the same time as our ward Halloween party. Lynnlee and Sienna stayed to go to the ward Halloween party. The rest of us battled the rain. We had ponchos and rain coats so we stayed dry. It was a great game and BYU beat U of U so that was awesome!

James in Villa Del Rosario

James and his companion opened a new area called Villa Del Rosario. It is a small town a couple of hours east of Asuncion. There is no ward and no branch. There are three members, a mom and her two kids. The member lives 6 miles away. They don't have a car or bikes. The first time they walked there was very rough for him. The difficult thing is that after they walked there, met her, gave her a spiritual thought, they had to walk 6 miles back. Round trip was a couple of hours. So crazy! 

One of the Sundays they had members from a near by town join them for church at the member's house. 

James said the chocolate milk there is so good! They had pizza one of their first nights there. He said his companion makes a really yummy chicken dish for lunch every day. I think his companion is a great trainer and good at many things. Elder Romero also got rid of a wasp nest by lighting a piece of toilet paper at the end of a stick. He put the smoke near the wasp nest and was able to get rid of the nest. 

They were the first to move into this apartment, so they had to set up their washing machine; well, his companion did. 

My Mom's Birthday

My Mom's birthday is October 28. We were going to have an October birthday family dinner on the Sunday before, but my Dad was still mad, so we didn't get together. It was sad. 

Ali organized a sibling lunch. Kasey couldn't make it. The rest of us met up at Aubergine. It was fun to catch up with Betsy and talk about how much life has changed since my Mom passed. 

We miss our mom so much! She truly was the heart of the home. It is so hard to not have her in our lives anymore. 

My mom loved sloppy joes so I wanted to make that for family dinner. Since my kids don't like those, we had hamburger soup instead. My mom also liked that and she taught me how to make it. We had popcorn for dessert because my mom loved to make popcorn and she made the best popcorn. 

Sunday Night Walk

We decided a little late on Sunday to go for a walk. The sun was still out when we left but by the time we loaded up the car and drove to the trail, the sun was going down. Kade was grumpy and did not want to go. Lynnlee hadn't dressed warm enough so she was not happy. The rest of us were just trying to make the most of it. I brought Chewie which was a bad idea for the distance. It was a little bit of a struggle scootering while having Chewie on the leash. We went from Nort Lake Park to the marina and back. It was getting darker and we had to hurry. Thankfully the moon was close to being full so that helped see for the last stretch. 

I love how these trees frame the picture. The moon was so pretty.

Even though our group wasn't the happiest, it was still fun to get out. 

Lynnlee at Sadie's

Lynnlee asked Luke to Sadie's. Her friends were in a group together. They planned a really fun day! They started off at our house and carved pumpkins and played games in the backyard and in the court. 

The theme of the dance was Monster Mash. They went as Mavis and Johnny from Hotel Transylvania. 

They took pictures at Dry Creek Park. 

They had dinner at McKayla's. Everyone sent items for copycat Cafe Rio. Then they went to the dance. After the dance, they went to Eden's for dessert and games. Lynnlee said it was a really fun date, and Luke was really fun to talk to and hang out with. 

Missionaries in Paraguay

I saw this posted on the Paraguay Facebook page. It's so amazing!

James in Paraguay

I had so much anxiety and emotion on Tuesday, October 20. It was the day James was flying to Paraguay. We didn't know what time his flight was, so I watched his location all day. I had clinical, so that helped keep me busy, but I was very emotional during lunch. It was one month since my mom passed. I felt so nervous about James leaving the safety and routine of the MTC for Paraguay, without the security and comfort of the MTC. 

This is the picture of talking to James on his last P-day in the MTC. 

His flight wasn't until late that night. He had a red eye to Paraguay and got there Wednesday morning. He got to call us quickly and let us know he made it to the mission home safely. That was such a relief!

He got to see his friend Junior, who he played soccer with. Junior's mom has been awesome and so helpful as we prepared to send James out. We were hoping Junior would be his trainer, but it didn't happen. Oh well, at least they got to see each other.

It's good to see that James's luggage situation worked out. 

These pictures were posted on the mission's Facebook page. They made me so happy!

James met his trainer, Elder Romero. He is from Peru. They get along great.

This picture is out order but it's too tricky to change it.

They took them from the airport to a garden in Asuncion where President Kimball dedicated Paraguay for missionary work. So cool!

James looks so grown up! 

Hunting

The boys went hunting opening weekend, Monday, and Wednesday. On Wednesday the boys got out of school early. Tag got lucky and shot a deer. Marshall wrote up the details and it will be posted here.