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Happy Halloween

We had a Ward Halloweem party in our shop. We had a great time. We had games such as witches golf, skeleton relay, witch hat toss, plinko, ring the bottle, balloon dart, and Halloween bingo. We also had cotton candy, homeade rootbeer, and doughnuts (which we ran out of) We had great attendance and alot of fun. (This was not a good day to be on Great in Eight)

Everyone dressed up!

I had to take a good look to decide who some people actually were.

Our families favorite treat was being tricked by some of our favorite young adults. Happy Halloween!

Chad and I decided to take a couple of days off and go to Yellowstone. It was wonderful. The colors were beautiful, there were NO crowds, everything (most everything) was handicap accessible, and the stores were just getting ready to close until December so we got sweatshirts for half price.

We saw alot of wildlife: Elk, Moose, Wolves, and Bears. Did I mention that we went to the Wolf Bear Discovery Center. We did however see elk and moose in the Park. Kristi was disappointed she didn't get to see any Buffalo.....I don't know where they were hiding. We also saw lots of boiling pots and geysers and the most beautiful waterfalls ever!

"The miracle of the changing seasons...inspires feelings of love and reverence within us for God's marvelous creative handiwork." M. Russell Ballard

Yellowstone in the Fall

Conference

Happy Birthday Karson! Go BYU!

We woke up to snow today! I was so surprise when I looked out the window. The weather man said it was going to rain. The kids and Chad had fun making a snowman inbetween Conference seesions.

Birthdays and BYU

This weekend we went to Provo to celebrate Gracie and Jared's birthday. (Sorry Jared we didn't get a picture of you) Happy Birthday Gracie 1 year old and Jared 25 years old!

We also got tickets to the BYU game. Thanks to Kristi our tickets were upgraded. Instead of sitting in the nose bleed seats we sat on the 20 yard line 10 rows up from the football players. Notice our BYU attire.....Last year we went to a game and we were the only ones without BYU shirts....so this year I was not going to go to the game without being properly dressed. BYU got killed but the Jones' still had fun.

I Did It!

I know it has been awhile since I posted...and you were wondering if I could remember how to do it...but I Did It! Kiley changed my background paper and made me feel guilty for not doing my part. I still don't know how you bloggers can post so many pictures...my computer takes 15 minutes per picture. Summer has come and gone but some precious time was spent with family and friends. We camped at 1000 Springs this year. It was pretty cold but we still had some great times.

Our family spent 1 week hosting a couple of girls from Taiwan. I practiced my 5 Chinese words on them and they were really impressed. I took them to Shoshone Falls (they really wanted to go the the Grand Canyon and to the Statue of Liberty; but, I told them it was just to far away) I hope Mindy is not checking my grammer and punctuation!

I now have a ward calling as the activity chairman....so I have been busy with the 4th of July Breakfast, 24th of July Celebration, Fair Food booth, Ward Campout, Ward Service project, Crop Walk, and Helping Hands Service Project. The church is still true even in a Home Ward. Chad is the Ward Mission Leader and we are also busy trying to reach out and invite. Thanks again Kiley for updating my paper. (Now I just need to get you to do the pictures and post for me)

Life After Young Adults

After being released from the Young Adult Branch. We have been struggling to find things to do to keep us busy. Chad has taken up the game Sudoku and has come very good at it. I'm thinking of signing him up for some sort of competition.

Kristi keeps up with the young Adults by stalking all of there blogs. (Thanks Mindy) We signed up to play softball in our ward just so we could see the young adults once a week. We have not recieved a calling from our ward yet....They asked us to clean the church last week and we were so excited to finally be able to do something....

I have kept busy working in my yard.....It just hasn't been as rewarding as working with the youth. Good news though....they asked us to come to their boating activity this Monday for FHE......It better not rain.

Birthday Celebration at Melcher!

Kristi and I celebrated our birthday up at Melcher. It only took five breaths to blow out the candles. Kristi , you are getting so old!

We had so much fun eating, visiting, and of course 4-wheel riding. The mountains were so beautiful. Everything was so green and there were wild flowers everywhere...we even saw quite a few deer.

Volleyball Champions!

Our last HURRAH with the Park Avenue Singles Branch consisted of winning FIVE volleyball games back to back. Unfortunatley, our first game we had to play and eliminate the other team from the branch. We started playing at 7:00 pm and we didn't get done until after 10:00 pm! It was worth it because we we ended up earning the title of Burley West Stake 2009 Volleyball Champions! It was fun going out with a bang.Compared to the other wards in attendance we had, by far, the largest cheering section!Kristi was the biggest super fan!

The Best Three Years

These last three years have been the best serving in the Young Adult Branch. I have received much more than I have given. I cherish the friendships that were made in the branch. I have gained so much from the Young Adult's Christlike characteristics. I want to be just like them. We have had some great times and I am going to lock them up in my heart so they can never escape. It is really hard when you have to leave "Zion".

Chad was released as Branch President on May 3rd. It was a sad day for all of us. Kristi refused to go to church that day, she hates sadness and good-byes. The Young Adults were so good to her. They have blessed our lives beyond measure.

What does the Lord have in store for us next? What will life be like after the branch?

A Done Deal!

Chad's younger brother just got married this weekend. We are so happy for Cree and Amanda and we wish them the best. Hip- hip-horray!

Spring in Idaho

Yes, this is spring time in Idaho. Two Sundays in a row we had snow! (if we would be living in Mississippi they would have cancelled church)

We were blessed on Easter Sunday because it was a beautiful day almost 65 degrees! The saints here are praying for moisture so two days after Easter it is snowing again! Count our many blessings!

Spring in Idaho

Talent Show

After many attempts to post pictures of our Branch Talent Show....I will just post this picture of Harry Pitts....until I can get a few tips from my children.

Branch Talent Show

Talent Show

Fancy Nancy

Here we are in our "Fancy Nancy" attire.

The Branch Sisters really know how to dress up for Enrichment. We had a wonderful evening. We had a light dinner, and then Sister Charmaine Ralph spoke to us about being our best selves.

Mindy gave us a literary reading on "Fancy Nancy" and we dicussed ways it applies to us and our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

Mission Prep

Kristi has been taking the mission prep class at Institute. This is her second semester taking the class. She liked it so well she wanted to take it again. Her teacher is so creative she makes learning so much fun. Her teachers' name is Mindy Haws, she is actually my second cousin....long story. (Mindy also teaches the gospel doctrine class in our branch....I have learned so much from her class) In her spare time she teaches at the Burley Junior High. Chad and I take Kristi to institute and then we go out and visit those members of our branch that don't attend. We visit three young men quite often and the last few visits they actually turned off their video games and listened to us. I think we are breaking them down. We love it...it is kind of like a missionary experience.

No Church Due to Snow!

We got already for church when Eric got a phone call stating that church had been cancelled because of the snow....Being from Idaho we just didn't understand. If they lived in Idaho they would have to cancel church from the months of November til April.

Luckily we were able to go to the temple on Saturday before the HUGE snow storm came.

Trip Across the States

Here we are at Liberty Jail. Our love for the Prophet Joseph Smith increased here. Last time we helped Kiley and Eric move we just drove straight to MS and then to Maryland to help Cree ( we saw things on the way we would like to see so this time we took some time to see a few things)
Here we are at Eric's school.

Here we are on Beale Street (some famous blue singing street)

Here's Chad eating some famous BBQ ribs. mmm fingerlickin' good!