Bon Voyage, Mom and Dad!

As promised, I am posting some pictures from the trip I took to Salt Lake just before my parents left for the MTC. Jonathan picked me up from the airport around 11 pm that night, which meant that the windows from the car went down, the music volume went up, and we rocked Salt Lake City until we arrived home. I personally love his hair in the picture....

Camille and her family drove all day and night to surprise everyone by getting to Utah early. We were thrilled, and soon headed to the family cabin built by great, great, great grandpa Whittaker. I still remember when the Cabin got plumbing, so that gives you a bit of a picture of the cabin. It rained all Friday and Saturday, which was okay with us since Saturday night was Karaoke night. I chose to start the night with Tina Turner's Proud Mary, complete with wig and high heels!

Tip: if one wishes to win a family karaoke contest, you must pull out all the stops. This includes using Tina Turner's "Proud Mary", learning the dance moves by watching youtube, using a wig, wearing something that sparkles (you can't show that until after the music takes becomes "nice and rough"), high heels, and jump on the couch as demonstrated in the picture below. Guaranteed crowd pleaser. GUARANTEED. Also, note that C bought a HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL microphone for us to use. And make sure that people take pictures of you that are REALLY (not) flattering. Classic.

We also got creative and created three matching wigs for mom, Camille, and I to wear. Doesn't that sound classy? We made them out of trash bags as we were very limited in our resources.... (below is sweet K modeling one for all of you).

Sunday was a beautiful day, and we enjoyed some family games like Penny, Penny, Who Has the Penny. However, this time we played with quarters. Not surprisingly, the kids were very interested in playing the game because you got to KEEP the quarter once you found it.

Monday was also beautiful, and we finally got to enjoy a few hours of play before we had to return to Salt Lake.

True Love! This was the place where my dad's cousins caught the two of them kissing just after they started dating. They still love each other 35 years later!

I love this shot of the kids. (Not included is the one where we were all doing the "Proud Mary" motions, which is evidence that I really did bring the house down on that one.)

A classic shot of Ben, in his pajamas. I walked this road so many times as a kid, and loved it when my aunts and uncles would swing me up into the air.

Smiling for the camera (above), and what was really going on (below).

Dad with his two "buttercups." Camille and I always thought that was our own special nickname from dad until we discovered him calling our niece by that nickname a few years ago. That was such a funny discovery for both of us!

Mom with baby C.

C and I. She's the best sister someone could ask for!

I'm not sure who won this game, but I understand it was quite competitive...

Tuesday Mom and Dad were set apart by Elder Holland. It was a touching experience, topped off by David, Mike, and Jonathan joining Elder Holland, my dad, and another Elder setting mom apart. I also appreciated Elder Holland's humor. When sweet Ben put his head on the ground and left his legs up on the chair (he's only four, and did a great job sitting still as long as he could), Elder Holland commented that he'd tried that once and it explained a lot. What a great man--so very, very loving.

We returned home and mom and dad began packing their bags. Weird. That's about all I can say on that one. I'm so accustomed to them being at my side while I packed for college, a study abroad in Israel, a mission, again for college, several moves in college, and then the move to Arizona. It was finally my turn, and to be truthful it was a bit emotional watching my mom pack for THREE YEARS. (Are you following their blog yet? You should be. It's so inspiring!)

Wednesday we took them to the Provo MTC (Missionary Training Center) where we watched them put on their tags, took a few pictures, and then left them.

Loved this license plate--we saw it when we arrived in Provo.

Mom and Dad entering the MTC.

Piura, Peru, where they'll be spending the next three years overseeing missionaries and mission work.

All the missionaries in the family: Hawaii, Idaho, Mexico/Peru, Peru, Brazil, and France.

So, there you have it. As promised, though, in three years we'll meet up here (at the family home), to enjoy each other's company:

Children will be older, spirits stronger, and more experience under the belt. Here's to the next three years!