4.26.2015

Elder Heflin,
How's it going? We loved the patriots day pics and letter. So fun! How is the work going? Are you able to find and teach your own investigators? Or do you mostly travel around and help other missionaries? How are things with Elder Lee ? We haven't heard much about your new companion... :)   What is a typical day like? What is the best thing lately? What has been the toughest thing lately?  Picture of your new apartment?
Our week has been good. We are getting excited for the end of school. Bryant told me tonight that there are only 18 school days left. Wow. I can hardly believe it is almost May.
We work pretty hard on Saturdays lately. We (Dad) make the popcorn Saturday morning about 10:00am and then the boys and I bag it up as Dad heads down to set up the baseball fields. We follow with all the popcorn and snow cone stuff and I usually have a snow cone line forming even before I get fully set up. Yesterday we got home a little before 11:00pm.  Long days... but very good days. :)   Dad's work schedule is 6 pm - 4 am right now. He uses some vacation hours so he can go into work a little later on Saturdays (usually about 8pm). He loves to watch our kids play and helps ump and keep things running smooth. Then he works all night ...      Good guy. :)    Our league is headed to a Diamondbacks game on May 8th. That should be a great night. A fun way to wrap up the season. Our last game day is May 16.
Not too much else is going on. Preston just wrapped up track season. Nana and Papa are coming over tomorrow for FHE to teach us a little about our family history. That will be fun.  Mother's Day is coming up and we are excited to hear from you! Do you have any idea yet on how that will go?  We have 9-12 church. We won't be home until about 12:20 at the earliest that day. Let me know what you think.
Love you so much!! Have a wonderful week! Work hard and be happy !! ;)
Love, mom

Popcorn helpers who are loving the chance to learn to work... and earn a little spending money :)

Caramel, Kettle, Caramel Cherry (big hit), and White Cheddar

Brenna's "Mets" warming up

Watching "The Avengers" with the boys Sunday afternoon. Bryant looks very concerned... :)  His favorite is "The Hulk".  And Captain America and Thor and Iron Man... haha

Sunday evening cookies with my helper

4.19.2015

Riley,
How's it going?? I hope you are sending some pics this week. Can't wait to see your companion, Where you live, Harvard square... And anything else you can send. Don't forget to send those extra pics you had of people from Waterbury when you get the chance. I wouldn't want them to get "lost" in the shuffle.
What is your new address?
So this has been a good week. Mostly track, baseball, scouts and homework. The usual. :)   Usual is good.
What is your "usual" like these days?

The boys went to a fireside tonight. Derek Wengert spoke about his mission.  Thanks to your great example and others around us, the boys are looking forward to WHEN they go on a mission. (Not IF). That is Bishop Lamoreaux's goal for the boys in our ward (when, not if). Preston and Wyatt sure do look up to you. They are excited for your letter each week and try to imagine what life is like for you. Thank you for making it real for them!

Dad is working the night schedule right now. He goes in at 6 pm and gets home at 4 am. He uses vacation hours to be able to go in a little later on Saturday nights for baseball.  He only gets a few hours of sleep before church on Sunday's these days. Poor guy. But he is there! He is pretty amazing. He is working really hard and does not have much down time. He is enjoying and staying REALLY busy selling things on eBay.  (When he's not at his "real job"). We know the post office lady really well now.  Haha.

Sure love you! Have a wonderful week ahead!  Proud of your efforts!  Work hard!!
Love,
Mom

Boys track won first place at an invitational. First time to win first place in 27 years!! (Pic is just of distance team)

 Nerd Day Preparation.  We have so many pairs of glasses from years of bad eyes around this house :)

And here they are on "Nerd Day".  Wyatt did not want to participate.  Too cool I guess. :)

Bryant's class recited the Presidents of the United States during the assembly Friday. They say it in a rap form. Bryant killed it :)

U of A Invitational -Preston

Kevin and family are still loving the ice cream truck. He only plays "the entertainer", like you. (Makes me miss ya)  

We participated in "Comcast Cares Day" at Marana High School. There were hundreds of people that showed up Saturday to give service to the school. We worked in the wash cleaning up weeds and trash and even filled in an area that had eroded from rain water. Good day of work.

I made 200 snow cones Saturday. !!! Miss it ?? ;)

Wyatt at bat. -All the kids did great!

Elder Ross leaves tomorrow AM to head to Utah. MTC on Wed. I'm sure you know. Just thought I'd pass this pic on. He is excited!  

4.12.2015

Hi,
How's it going in Cambridge?? So excited for your new challenge and adventures!! Tell me all the details :) Who is your new companion? How's that going? Where do you live? How many elders do you live with? How did the zone conference go?
We have had a good week. Mostly regular stuff. We were surprised to get a package from you and cannot wait to open it ... Haha. What's up with that?? :)  Saturday was picture day and the team showcase for baseball. It was a long day but good. It actually zipped by. I am making a TON of snow cones these days. People are still asking about you and I'm able to tell them all about what you are up to while I make their snow cone. :)  Each of the kids are doing really well at baseball. Brenna has been pitching for her team and Wyatt just started pitching for his team. They both are really good!! Especially Wyatt who just filled in on Saturday and turns out he is a rockstar of a pitcher!! Bryant played first base yesterday and got almost everybody out. Last week he played 3rd and had a double play.  Preston is doing well and having fun with the older age group playing. We seem to have a lot more people coming out to games this year.  Ms. Egan is making some great food and the environment is so fun.

We were excited to learn of Jon's new mission call to Mississippi. He had his farewell talk today at church and he spoke of some experiences that he had in phx. He sounds ready for the challenge and excited to get going!
I think of you everyday Riley and am so proud of your efforts! You will be blessed for your hard work!  Keep it up!!
Love you,
Mom


Look what we got in the mail on Friday!!!  We were so excited UNTIL we saw...  this "don't open" note. We have been obedient but are wondering  -what in the world- ...? ;)  Is it just extra stuff you didn't need from moving?
Can we open it on Monday??

My favorite Easter basket toy this year :)  Mr. Potato Heads are so fun !

Bryant learned about tools at his den meeting this week.

This is Bryant and me at the Mother / Son Bingo Night at the school. It was fun. Bryant was disappointed that he never got "bingo" tho. Haha   Wyatt came too.  He sat at the table behind us with his friends (to be cool :)

This is our group pic from Saturday's team showcase.

Brenna pitching :)

4.5.2015

What a nice day! I sure love General Conference! Even more special because today is also Easter! What did you do? Did you ever get our easter package??  I sure hope so!
What a blessing to hear from our prophet and church leaders!!  Can you believe President Monson announced a Bangkok Thailand Temple?!!  Dad says when he was there, there wasn't even a stake center!  Really awesome!  So many good talks. What was your favorite? I loved Elder Hollands.  (And many more...:)
We had Nana and Papa and Trent over for dinner after conference. It was nice and relaxing.
It was a good week. The last day of March I took Brenna and Bryant to eegees after a dentist appt. Brenna was sad that it was the last day of "lucky lime".  We looked online for the flavor of the month for April. And it was --- Flamin' Hot Cheetos !! Whhaatt?  We could hardly believe it. It sounded so gross. Aaand turns out it was an April Fools joke. Haha. (Found out the next day). The flavor of the month is actually blueberry lemon. Very funny eegees ;)
Preston and Wyatt have stepped up to be dad's helpers for kettle corn. They bagged for dad and he said the two of them took twice as long than you did by yourself. :) They will get the hang of it I'm sure.  Baseball is going smooth. Yesterday was our second week of games. The weather was HOT the first week. We had a record heat of 94 degrees. Yesterday was beautiful tho.

1. Transfers this week??
2. Pics this week?
3. How are you really feeling? Is your tummy all better? Or are you still dealing with some issues?

I'm excited for your new adventures ahead. Whatever they may be. ;)
Love you so much!!
Mom

Last day of Lucky Lime.  Brenna was sad.

April flavor of the month? Really??

Finally put up our family pics

Picacho Peak

Dad, Preston and Wyatt making popcorn.

Brenna's choir, led by Sister Crockett, sang at the Red Rock Community Church Easter Program on Saturday morning.  They sang "Miracle" and it brought the spirit to the day.

The Easter Bunny found us :)

AND... a few more...
The big hit was the silly string left by the Easter Bunny... what was he thinking?  ;)

A little break to hear from the prophet.

Brenna's new thing.  She practices all. the. time.

Wyatt and Brenna wanted to do an Easter Egg Hunt.  I was making dinner, so I told them if they pulled it together, that would be great! They used candy and coins and a few $1.00 bills to make it interesting.

To make it really interesting, I put a $5.00 bill in one of the eggs and hid it myself. All of the kids looked and looked...

Preston was pretty happy with his dollar find along with a few starbursts...

but the big winner of the day was Bryant!  Thanks Wyatt and Brenna for pulling that off!! Very Fun!!

After dinner we played a rousing game of "Hedbanz".  So FUN!