Aubrey J & Aubrye Lynn

Aubrey J and Aubrye Lynn, as we called them when they were little, were back together today and both of them spoke in their respective Sacrament Meetings.  

Aubrey J spoke about Patience though Trials and Aubrye Lynn spoke about her mission experience, after just returning from the San Diego Mormon Battalion Mission.  

Aubrey and Aubrye were each others 1st friends back when they were 2, and we love that their friendships have continued over the miles and through the years.

Jett hand-me-downs

Jett is now the big dog in town.  

Jett weighs in at 6 lbs. with Tate weighing in at 4 lbs.  

This week Jett gave Tate a hand-me-down snow coat that he had outgrow.

They are good furry friends

Salt Lake Temple & Lights

We took advantage of an open afternoon today to do Baptisms for the Dead in the Salt Lake Temple.  This was the first time Emily or Brenna had been inside that temple.

After baptisms, we changed into warmer clothes and enjoyed the lights around Temple Square

Black Friday Bowling, Records, & Vegan Donuts

While everyone else hit the stores for Black Friday, we hit Bonwood Bowling in downtown Salt Lake

We gave points for Style and Speed during our games.  Here are a few of our winners

After bowling, we did do a little shopping at a local record store, upon finding that the Cookie Sop next door was closed.  We tried several cookie stores, and they were all closed.  What's up with that?

We finally landed on a fun little donut shop.  

We all love donuts, but not these donuts.  Strike out for us today on finding a good downtown treat, but the girls did like the wall art.

So much to be THANKFUL for

Our hearts are full this Thanksgiving Day - Thankful for all of the good people in our lives, for the gospel of Jesus Christ, our family, our health, and the ability we have to learn and grow.  We are thankful for Missionaries - those serving in the field, those who had Thanksgiving dinner with us, and our special sister missionary in the MTC and for these fun cousins who came to hang out with us.  

Thankful hearts all around!

Provo Fun

Change of plans for Thanksgiving Weekend.  We had planned to head to California for the weekend, but there is so much that needs to get done (includes gluing hundreds of rhinestones on one of Emily's dance costumes) so decided to make it a stay-cation long weekend.

Tonight we picked up Aubs in Provo while Elan was working and had dinner at Braza's (one of our favorites)

Then we headed to The Key Escape Room to try to solve a murder mystery.

We need to figure out who the killer was, where they were sitting during the poker game, and what weapon they used, in order to Escape before a bomb went off .

It was close, but we made it out with a few minutes to spare.

We pretty much Rocked It.  Sure love this crew!

Rhinestones

Did someone mention Rhinestones?  Rhinestones are our lives this weekend.  Luckily this is Costume #3 of 3, so we are nearing completion. Yay!  

Jett Update

Jett has now been with us for almost 3 months.  His transition into our family was seamless - maybe because we too have a house full of kids, maybe because I look and sound the same as my sister Ally who took care of him before us, maybe because he is so easy going, maybe just because he is Jett

We know he is missed by the Bloomer Family and hope they enjoy these pics

Jett sharing his space when we offered to babysit a neighbors dog for a few hours

Jett in his favorite spot, he used to sit exactly like this on top of Bloomers couch

Jett the 'quasi' CEO of SunnyDecals

Jett showing his mean side.  Must have been bugged about something

Resting in his bed by the window

Soaking in the sun by the front door

Squished in between the pillow cushions, he did not put himself into this position

Little Jett

Meet Tate

Aubrey and Elan recently got a 2nd dog.  Meet Tate, short for Tater Tot.  

Tate in his dog carrier - Jett hanging in his sling

BYU Application - Completed

Lindz has been working on her BYU application for a few weeks now.  In that time, she has completed her Utah State application, been accepted to Utah State, and received a 90% scholarship to Utah State, but she is still hammering away at BYU's essay questions, ecclesiastical endorsement, transcript transmittal from Bingham and Salt Lake Community College, and letters of recommendation.  Tonight she checked off the last box and hit the SUBMIT button.  Though a decision will not come for another 3-4 months, she is glad to be DONE!

Seattle

Cheap tickets to Hawaii means LONG layover, but when it's just the 2 of you, it's fun to have extra time to explore.  We visited San Diego on our way out to Hawaii and Seattle on our way home.

Train ride out to the city

Pike's Place Fish Market

Infamous for the workers through the fish

We knew about the fish throwing part, but we didn't know the about the part where the workers have the fish lunge at you while you view them.  Aagh, they totally got me.  Would have been a great Candid Camera moment.

Oh the beautiful flowers, rows and rows of beautiful fragrant flowers.  I could have just stood and admired the flowers all lafternoon

My cute hubby

Seattle Space Needle

Neither if us had ever been to the Space Needle, and from what we understand, we got an unusually clear day with blue skies and no rain

What a view from the top

I was super brave and stood on the rotating glass floor -  even laid down on it for a minute 

One last look before we headed back to the train to the plane to take us HOME!

Hawaii

 With all the responsibilities we carry at this time, we are usually not very spontaneous.  But - ALOHA! We saw a small window in our calendars that looked fairly open, so we book our flights and headed to Hawaii.  This trip was unlike most trips we take - up until a few days before we left, we had no place to stay, no car, no plans, just 2 plane tickets and 2 people looking for a little down time to relax and rejuvenate.

We did a lot of jungle hiking through mud and waterfalls; not sure if we were soaking wet from sweat or humidity

Lots of walks along the beach

Lots of driving around the island

Lots of eating - including Shave Ice

and about anything we could find with avocado or guacamole on it, especially Taro Rolls

Lots of time on our balcony reading or checking in on work stuff 

Time in the Temple 

Visiting Pearl Harbor

Polynesian Cultural Center

Hawaiian Pro Surf Competition - a 1st for both of us

We could watch the pro surfers live on the beach or on TV

We learned that if you want to be in the ocean at the North Shore - come in June

If you want to watch others be in the ocean with 15 foot waves crashing down on them - come in Nov

We were able to go to church in Pearl City with the Ikarri's

Sister Ikarri is one of Kay's roommates in the MTC and she just adores her!

We were all so happy that our families could meet and spend the afternoon together. 

They are beautiful people that live in a beautiful land!

Such a great week together in Hawaii!