Seattle Temple Trip

Nicole went to the temple for the first time on Saturday with the youth from the Pt. Townsend Ward with her cousin Regann. My Dad, Gina, Spencer and I were able to attend as well, along with Ryan and Rhonda. (Regann's parents, my brother and s-i-l) While we were in the temple, Matthew waited in the lobby with Mayson, Harmon, Nolahn and Payton. Here are some pictures from the trip and the lunch afterwards.

 Rhonda in the waiting room of the temple.

 This is what happens when you leave your camera with 3 boys who lose their brains when they are together unsupervised.

 from left to right:

Mayson, Matthew, Nolahn, Payton, Regann, Nicole and Harmon

Ryan's kids 

 The girls

 the boys

 Me with my kiddos

 Me with Nicole on her first day at the temple

 Spencer in front of the temple

 Ryan in front of Spencer in front of the temple. He wouldn't move! He thought it was funny. I thought it was funny after he moved, I had a photo and then we were at the restaurant.

A reflection of the temple in the driveway. This photo was an accident but it's AWESOME! 

 Me and Gina

Ryan, Rhonda and Matthew at the restaurant after the temple 

 Dad and Nolahn

 GROUP SHOT!

Matthew's awesome 'tuck in' job 

bff Matthew and Mayson 

It was a wonderful day!

Weekend Update...and a random photo too

Our family spent the weekend in Bremerton at my dad's house. He met us in Bellevue on Friday so we could attend the temple together. On a side note, WHAT A BLESSING it is to see my dad inside the walls of the temple! For so many years, he was absent. I'm so thankful! Before we headed home from the temple, we ate dinner at a little ma/pa restaraunt across the parking lot from Deseret Book.

Saturday and Sunday we watched all sessions of General Conference at the Bremerton Stake Center, minus the Priesthood Session. The guys drove up to Chimacum (as opposed to Chinook--what I noted in my last post) to attend that session with Ryan and eat ice cream afterwards.

Here are some of my favorites from conference:

Favorite Talk: I can never narrow it down here are my top 2--that tied for first place.

*Elder Larry R Lawrence 3rd talk, 5th session

*President Thomas S Monson 4th talk, RS General Meeting

Favorite Quote: At this point, some of you may be thinking, that's all fine and good, but what does it have to do with flying an airplane. Well, let me tell you... President Deiter F Uchtdorf

Favorite Song:

Both of them performed by the MTC Choir at the Priesthood Session.

*Hark All Ye Nations

*Called To Serve

There is something special in the voices of all missionaries that are just beginning their missions. They are beautiful.

I also loved Home, preformed by the family choir during the 2nd session. A LOT.

Favorite Moment:

Looking at both Nicole and Matthew listening to conference and taking notes. Sometimes they were drawing a picture or doodling, but I read the notes they took and they are good. It makes my heart smile.

After the 5th session of conference we went to the cemetery my mom is burried in. While we were there the kids took the time to find 'Grandpa Graves' ' grave also. He is not their grandpa, but he is their cousins' grandpa and he took them in too when we visited and told them to call him Grandpa. They like that they can visit both him and their grandma at the same cemetery. He was also a great example to me during my teenage years and I loved him very much. I miss him and my mom. A lot.

Next we went to Wendi and Larry's house and ate homemade french bread. It was delish.

We got home last night at 9:15 and we were all asleep by 9:30. It was a fun, spiritual and uplifting weekend. I love it.

This Weekend

Here is a picture of the Seattle Temple I took on Friday night. I like it. When Ken and I go to the temple we bring Nicole and Matthew with us to wait in the waiting room. They get about 2 hours to feel a special spirit you can only feel from the temple. While Ken and I were there on Friday, they took my camara and went outside for a photo shoot. Among the blury sideways pictures and the ones taken of the inside of one of my child's mouth (who shall remain nameless) this picture was present. One of the kids put their scriptures in her lap and took the photo. I LOVE IT.

I put this puzzle together last night while the guys were at the priesthood session of conference. They decided to drive up to my brother's ward in Chinook. So I had an extra hour to work on it, after I took my nap. I really LOVE this guy.
I also love this guy. He said he didn't mind if I posted this picture, but he was concerned about the caption I might tag to it. Taking the whole photo into consideration...my dad acting--'special' and my brother behind him not really knowing what's going on, I'm taking suggestions for possible captions to add to this picture. I'll start with a comment that he would say to us often, maybe not with this expression, but according to my teenage mind fits the question...

Say WHAT?

Brains!!! Need more brains!!!--Kate

Did anyone else go to the store yesterday between sessions or after 2nd session and feel like they were breaking the sabbath?