Blast from your past....

Hi Landon and Mason!  

Excited to hear about transfers in both your missions this week!  

Dad and I had a great time in Arizona!  It was in the 75's and felt perfect.  It was funny cause the people that live in Arizona thought it was a cold weekend.  It was a perfect weekend in our eyes.  

Dad and I enjoyed the first day just the two of us.  It's been a long time since we have gone away just two of us.  Hasn't happen since Grace was born.  We enjoyed flying together and planning the day just the two of us. 

First we went to Scottsdale.  It's a nice town in the Phoenix area.  We rented two electric bikes.  Wow that was fun, you don't even have to pedal if you don't want too.  You almost feel like you are cheating a bit cause it makes bike riding very easy.  We enjoyed riding along the canal and then through some really nice neighborhoods in Scottsdale. 

After the bike ride we enjoyed an ice cream sundae.  I got a call related to my calling in church so I guess you never totally leave behind your responsibilities.  

We ate a lot on this little trip.  We found a taco restaurant that Cameron ate at a lot while on his mission.  It was very authentic Mexican tacos in Dad's opinion.  We liked it so much we went back again the next day with the Roenfeldts and the Hatches.    And we also enjoyed more ice cream.  we need need to go on a diet after this trip. 

But the main reason we went to AZ was for Madison's wedding.  We were able to attend their sealing and it was very nice.  The Gilbert Temple is very similar to the Payson Temple.  It's very big and  beautiful!  

The Biddulph family is excited to have Eric in their family!  

Auburn friends! We had fun with these guys.  Once they got into town the night before the wedding we spent most of our time with them.  Having "Talk Feast" (what Jon called them).  We had a lot of fun laughing with these guys.  

The reception was beautiful and fun too.  

Getting ready to send them off. 

The next morning before Dad and I needed to catch our flight we had breakfast with everyone (including the Beechers -not pictured)

Then we caught a short hike to work off some of the food we ate during the trip.  

Back in Utah Grace was having a great time at the Findlays.  She was so excited to be babysat by them.  They took her on this hike to see this big flag that honored a mayor that was recently killed while serving the military.  Grace did the pledge alliance when she saw the flag.  Melissa said she is very patriotic.  They also took her to McDonalds twice and to see a movie.  They said it was good practice for when they are grandparents.  

Jack also played hard with Gracie.  And of coarse Henry and Grace were buddies too. 

Lydia and Jacob did well at home.  They were very responsible.  On Friday night we left money for them and the Fotheringhams to go to dinner.  Brett and Kaitlyn took them out and they had a fun time.  

While we were gone Lydia also got brave and asked Mr. Rymer for a selfie too. 

On Saturday, Lydia was in a singing competition at BYU.  Originally I thought it was the Saturday before, so I felt bad when I realized it would be while we were gone.  We got her and Jacob a ride to BYU and gave them money for lunch and they had a fun day.  Lydia first sang for three judges and then based on her score she was invited to be in a concert later that day.  The concert was also judged.  There were high school students and college students in the concert.  Abby Miles from Auburn was in the concert with Lydia. There were different divisions based on your age (HS verses College) and three different genres.  The concert was 3 hours long!!  Lydia was in the HS musical theater division.  And guess what she got 2nd place!!!!   We wish we could have been there but Jacob was a good support.  With that placement she got $75, tickets to the Hale and a gift certificate to a music store.  She was very excited and we are proud of her.  

 While she was eating lunch at BYU guess who she ran into..... Tanner! 

Then back in AZ we were getting on our flight heading home.  We didn't have the best boarding number so we were toward the back of the plane.  It was a full flight and we thought perhaps we might be lucky to have an empty seat next to us.  Then someone came rushing onto the plane and look who it was!  He took the last seat which was next to us and we had fun catching up with Mendy.  He wanted to know all about you two and talked about how much he loved you guys.  He was traveling back to UT after a MCO rehearsal in AZ.  He is busy with MCO and going to the U.  He will be done in April.  His health is good and the cancer is gone.  He still goes regularly but he is pretty clear.  We had a nice visit with him.  He told us that his conducting wands got him in trouble going through security.  He said the took him in a room and asked him what they were and checked them out.  We had a good chuckle.  

We told him that you (Mason) want to do MCO when you go to BYU.  He was excited about it and said you have his full support.  

Love you very much!