Fall Break--A little loop of the West

Fall Break was a spontaneous little roadtrip around the West! We didn't know exactly where to go, so we got in the car and drove. This is where we ended up, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, Prescott, AZ (pronounced Pres-cut), where we are now, and perhaps a jaunt over to the Grand Canyon. Pictures later, the cord didn't quite make it on our spontaneous trip!
It was great to get away and enjoy time together. I told the boys and T it was beautiful to get to know them again! It is therapeutic to leave regular life behind for a few days. We are all so busy with all various duties that is was the first time since June that we spent that much quality time ALL together. We got close-knit again, it was wonderful.
First, we went to Vegas for a few days. We took the twins shopping for their birthdays. They turn 17 on Tuesday. WHAT????? Oh man, that was 17 years ago? It is incredible how fast time flies. We called Treasure Island on the way and the rooms were fairly cheap, so we sprung for it. We took the boys on the NY/NY roller coaster and also to a show, comedian "Frank Caliendo" the impressionist. . . It was hilarious.
THEN, we went to the Hoover Dam on a dam tour. (haha) It was something we've always wanted to do. It was actually shocking to hear all the amazing details of how the dam came to be and how its purposes are life changing for the West. 56 million people in SoCal depend on the electricity and water. We walked into the deepest tunnels, looked out one of the "vent" doors on the wall of the dam, the one Harrison Ford leaps out of in "The Fugitive", (does he leap out? I forget), saw the stairs that take you from the bottom to the top, (whoa, that was eerie) and just appreciated seeing that after years of wanting to.
Now we are in Prescott, Arizona. WHY? haha. Well, IDK. !!! T wanted to investigate this town. We think it would be a good place to retire. It is always about 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix. Cheap real estate??--haven't seen that yet. It is 5,000 ft. elevation. . . At home we're 4200 ft. elevation,which is surprising. It is very arid, desert terrain. Charming, though. It is located southwest of Flagstaff.....check it out on a map. We think it's a pretty nice town. It has a Wal-Mart, Costco, all the restaurants, shops. . . I wonder what the LDS population is here? With B & R moving to Phoenix, it could be a good place to meet up for the holidays. I dunno.....it prob. won't happen. We're just dreaming and taking a look at a lovely town.
Tomorrow we will drive home and get back to the Monday "grind".
I hope we can swing a stop at the Grand Canyon. We'll see, it's a pretty long trip home.

Celebrating lil' Matt before the MTC -- They say it only takes about two years before you stop missing him!

Our Son, Matthew is in the MTC in Provo. It's been three days. We're all so happy for him to be in that glorious place, 2500 missionaries strong, all working for a common goal. He's the tall one in the long-sleeved white shirt, in case ya didn't know. Some of my co-workers thought the missionary was David, in the suit!! haha!! People die when I tell them David and JJ, the one wearing the short-sleeved white shirt are twins. They'll probably leave for their missions in January of 2012. Matt will be back by then for a few months. These are some fun pictures of the Sunday when Matt gave his farewell talk in church.

I love this picture of me with my siblings. Mike, Amy, me, Di and Steve. There are two more sibs that couldn't make it. Their names are Janna (St.George, UT), the oldest and Jeff (Jacksonville, FL), the second to youngest. My mom and Dad are serving a mission in St. Louis, MO, and couldn't make it either. We missed them, but we know they had other obligations. For those of us who made it, it was the funnest time to be together again. My two sisters, Diana and Amy in the picture with me down lower, SURPRISED me by flying in on Sat. . . . calling me, asking me about Sunday's farewell, chit chatting, and then dropping the hint, "is there enough food for two more?" . . . uh???? I DIED .....what????? you're coming???? you're here?????!!!!!!!!!! It was so awesome!!! We had some great laughs about that and just in general. We quote some movie lines and sing songs like "In The Hollow of thy Hand"--with harmony and cracking up. (Don't worry if you don't get it, it's an inside joke.)
The day (wed. 9/16) we took M to the MTC, we went to Macaroni Grill for an early lunch, drove up the canyon to Bridal Veil Falls, and just enjoyed the last few hours being together. It was as sweet as honey.
The MTC "curbside drop off" was actually a great experience. Two random missionaries came up to greet us (who had been in 8-10 weeks already, learning their language) and, after talking with them, we said our goodbyes, and up the hill they went, . . . . with our son. One was pulling the suitcase, the other was shaking his hand, as I turned to glance. They were beautiful, they were shining in the sun, hey, they would've been shining even if there was no sun. They're full of the Spirit of God. It was a beautiful Fall day. Matt was smiling, so were they......they just scooped him right up and into the loving arms of . . . . the MTC. Then I got in the car and wept all the way home. When I got home, I thought about his bedroom being empty for two years and got choked up all over again.
Our friend Ron Floyd says it only takes about two years before you stop missing him. haha. Our friend, Holly says the drop off at the MTC/being in the MTC is what it's like when we die and go to heaven. Two little angels greet you, escort you away, through the doors, and everyone else is left behind, living in this world without you. haha, a little dramatic!
I am looking forward, now, to hearing about all the great work he'll be doing in Honduras, along the Caribbean Sea and the people he's going to meet and help them change their lives for the better, strengthening families, couples. It's going to be a great experience for the twins and all of us to get "into it" with Matt. I'm anxious for the blessing of having a missionary to propel our family upward.













Out for sushi with Steve, my brother and his great and adorable wife, Jenn.
Matt with Jessica, Tanner and Davey. The most cherished friends.
That is Matt's Grandma & Grandpa Tenney. Two people that are the salt of the earth. There were a whole host of Tenneys here, it was great to have them.

Costa Rica, business trip with Trent September 1st

Wow! Costa Rica was a paradise! Hot, humid, green, full of animales, muchos animales of many kindos. . . . you can imagine. More on that later. Here is the staff that was helping T host the trip. There were 170 distributors and their signif. other that attended. T and I loved the air, the beauty, the beaches. It trunked me out a little when I came back to be a school teacher, it was a rough week back . . haha! Plus, with Matt leaving a week after this trip, it made it hard. But I'm glad I went, it was a relaxing trip.

Picture Wall

We're making our house a home by adding a few picture walls. This was a labor of love. Enjoy

What's happening at our house in July

New Dining Room Table and Chairs












Lehi, Utah North Stake

Youth Conference

JJ & David and some of their friends





























































This was quite eventful! The huge cement pump truck came at 7 in the morning. We wanted to have cement poured on the East of our house where there was just gravel. We had to take out the air conditioning for a day. True hardship, you know me. I am a baby when it's hot.
So, the guys ran out of cement at the end, so the pump guy said he could run some water up the ginormous tube to bring the cement out that was still in the tube. The only problem was, once the cement started flushing out the tube there was no stopping it, so my poor little pumpkin plant that was doing so well got showered in cement. Oh dear, it was shocking. It took them 4 hours to smooth and manicure the whole cement area perfectly. wow.

more NYC, Mt. Vernon, Annapolis -- 10 fun days with Brooke

Serendipity 3, upper East side, "frozen hot chocolate". wow, a caloric overload! Look at the chandelier that was above our heads. We went there after a day at Central Park.


























Mt. Vernon was amazing, educational and inspiring. It was my first visit ever. The cupola on the roof was a genius way of ventilating and/or cooling the mansion. George is buried on the right and Martha on the left. 25 family members are buried behind the black door there. As you may know, George Washington


lead as President of the U.S. from this house, the white house wasn't built yet. MANY many famous people in history stayed at the mansion. The bedrooms, parlors and furnishings are grandiose--beyond your wildest imagination. Check it out online! The paint colors alone are shocking. If you want to know more, please ask me! ha ha. No, JK!! -- go to the website.









We went to Annapolis, where the Naval Academy is . . . . here are some of the officer's homes. Charming, dontcha think? This is us on a harbor excursion, it was a beautiful and historic place to be, quaint and chariming.
The Welch performers. This was happening on the "mall" one day -- I had to put this pic. on, they were adorable. .... and since the Barlows are Welsh, well, ya know. A bit of trivia....... Q: in the early 1800's how much do you think it cost for one person to come over on a ship (1 way) from Wales to NYC?
A: 6 pounds, which was considered a fortune.