Giving Thanks

We found many reasons to give thanks this year. It started out with a great Schnike by Krista on Summer. Krista surprised her by showing up Monday night instead of Wednesday morning. It was a grand reunion.






NOT a picture of the Summer/Krista reunion. Just a random picture that we have...oh...300 just like it.


We headed to LA Tuesday night (only Krista and Summer actually got there, Bill and I made it early the next morning though.) We had lots of fun hanging out with Jamie and LaDon and Ally. This is how we spent Thanksgiving...yeah, it was rough, but someone had to do it.


(That's Kris and LaDon in the surf)


Ally is half mermaid, she LOVES the ocean.




Summer had a great victory on the climbing rope. If you look close at the rope on the right, it's Summer on her way down. LaDon and Krista had both struggled to TRY and reach the top. Summer walked over and swoped up that rope like it was an elevator! All our jaws were on the ground, especially Krista and LaDon.





Summer and Krista were looking forward to the great dinner.



Ally was thinking, "Man, I have some weird Aunts."





Bill and I left for Virginia late that night. Sadly, Jamie and LaDon had to leave for the funeral of their friend who died so tragically in Utah. Kris and Sum returned to Colorado. They did get to go see all the lights at the LA temple. We are grateful for temples and knowing that families are forever.




We met up with Charina (who was in Virginia for Thanksgiving) and Jimmy and his parents in Washington DC at the temple. It was just the sweet and peaceful experience that we needed. It reminded us of what's important in life and how extremely blessed we are at this Thanksgiving and always.

Prediction Race 09

This is our third year in a row to go to the prediction race. The point of the 5K is to predict how long it will take you to run the race, leave when there is that much time on the clock and then in theory everyone in the race finishes when the clock hits zero. It's really fun. The winner is whoever is the closest to their predicted time. This was Summer and my first time running in this event, we usually just watch. Here we are before the race. Summer's prediction, 27:22. Mine (I just walk) 40:50.

And the winner was, not us. But of all the people we knew who entered the race the winner was...Vickie Roy! I came in with 4 seconds to go so my time was 40:46. Summer came in at 27:37. So we were both very close to our predictions. It was a fun way to spend a Saturday morning.

A Trip to LA

Well, this week I took a trip to Los Angeles. I met up with Charina for a celebration cause it was JAMIE'S BIRTHDAY!!! We spent most of it in the car cause that's what you do in LA. But, we did get to go shopping and eat some great food. The greek food was amazing! Jamie and LaDon have a wonderful apartment. And best of all we got to see ALLY.

Her morning hair is the best, but is followed closely by her, "I'm pooping face."

Her little brother is growing along and Jamie looks pretty amazing for 6 months pregnant.

One of our intended jobs while in LA was to take some bridal pictures of Charina at the LA temple (just a couple miles from Jamie's house) but when we got there, there was a whole army of volunteers putting up Christmas lights EVERYWHERE!!! We managed to get a few pictures without light hangers in them but we'll have to try again in Washington DC. Here's a sneak peak of Charina as a bride.

Made ya look!!!! Of course I can't show you that, but rest assured she is gor-ge-ous!!!!

So, I went to Virginia last week. It was so beautiful with all the leaves changing colors and everything. I ran across these two kids and thought, maybe I'll take their picture...not that there was a lot to work with...


Plus the photo shoot "ended" before it began as Charina got stuck in a tree.

But as we pressed on, the pictures were a little stiff and stuffy.

But then we discovered the magic ingredient to make great pictures!

Jimmy tells me, it was their first time kissing, ever! Imagine that and I caught it on film!

With enough incentive we had no problem taking some really great pictures.

So, I would consider it a great success! Thanks for the great time Willis family!