Hermana Syphus Returns Home!!!!

It was an exciting and emotion filled day today.  

It was all I could do to settle myself down.  

Katelyn had served an honorable 18 month mission in the 

Argentina Buenos Aires North Mission 

and we were all so excited to see her.  

She has loved her mission so much that she will surely have a hard time coming home.  

My heart was aching for her but I was excited none the less!

 Everyone waiting at the St. George airport for her plane to come into view.  

She was due to arrive a bit after noon.

 Liam, Jordan and Linkon.  Not too sure about all the excitement, but happy to be a part of it!

 And there she is, right on time.  My heart was going through major flip flops!

 Grandpa and Grandma Syphus down in the waiting area with Dan.

Talk about crying like a baby!  She walked through the doors and all I could do was sob!  She looked so beautiful and I was so happy to have her home.

Happy Family reunion!   Welcome home Hermana Syphus and WELL DONE Sweet girl!!!

So very proud of you!

Baby Packer Daniel Brent

Baby Packer (Pacman) was born today!

6lb 10 oz and 19 inches.

He looks so much like Linkon did....so so cute!!!

 Kari is doing fine and daddy is a proud papa!  

 Such a sweet family of boys!  

So grateful they are close to us and have the gospel in their lives.

  Love them so much!

I hate being in pictures :)

Joel Leaves for his mission to the Philippines

Got up at 3:30 this morning and finished the last minute packing, had breakfast, prayers and then we were off on the 45 min. drive to the new St. George Airport

 We tried to take a picture in front of the airport door but they automated system kept telling us to get off because it was for loading and unloading only so we had to call this good.

 Joel wasn't his usual happy self.  I think the nerves were finally getting to him but he was still able to keep the tears away.  His sisters, on the other hand, seem VERY happy, even at 5:30 in the morning :)

 And then there's me (mom) trying so hard to keep the tears in.

 Kylie, Greg & Axel made the early morning hour with us.  It was SO good to have them there!

 And Katie and Shaun.  Kari was working and couldn't make it with her family.

 Good byes were so hard.  I cried the whole time and made it hard on everyone else...especially poor Joel.  I wish I were stronger.

I think the hardest part was him standing on the other side of the glass after he'd gone through security to the gate.  He finally let loose and set there crying.  It totally wrenched my heart.  He and Kylie signed a few goodbyes to each other and I just cried.

I made Dan stay until Joel's plane was finally up in the air. 

As a mother who has sent 3 missionaries out I have to say that 

IT DOESN'T GET ANY EASIER!!!  

In fact, Joel leaving may have been the hardest yet, at least the same.  

I will miss his early morning snuggles during family scripture time,

his beautiful happy smile,

his laugh, 

his easy going attitude, 

his "promptly I'll obey" whenever asked to do something,

his "good-night mom, I'm home"

his "love you" WHENEVER he called from his phone,

his getting up in the mornings to keep me company when the girls were still sleeping,

his love of music and always trying to pick out his bass part,

and I'll even miss his teasing towards his little sisters.

The thing that tears at me the most is the "boy" that is still in him that most likely won't be there when he comes home.  But he will surely be a great young man!

It's such a hard thing, especially for mothers; however, the good and great things in life often don't come easy and Joel will do good and great things on his mission.  

We are so proud of him!

Joel's Open House

We had a little Open House for Joel this evening.  He invited his close friends and our families.  I wish I would have invited good friends from our ward, etc., but I just wasn't thinking...just living one day at a time these days.  We had sub sandwiches from Wal Mart, cookies, pecan pies (from Dalley's) and Russian Punch.  It was mostly fun just to visit though.  Once again, great friends and family.  We are so blessed with both!

 Joel and his grandmas

 Grandpas

A few of his good friends.

I'm failing! 

 I started to take pictures, then put the camera down to visit and you all know the rest of the story.  

DARN IT ALL!!!!

Shaun's and Katie's Wedding Day

Shaun and Katie were sealed for time and eternity today.

What a beautiful day.  

The weather was cold, but the beauty of the temple and forever families made the day wonderful!

Shaun and Katie are such a perfect couple and oh, so happy! :)

 This is showing most of those who were there for their sealing in the Bountiful Temple.  

So much love and support!

 Our Forever Family.

Growing more and more each year.

Kari and Rob left there boys at home and Katelyn is on her mission, but everyone else was there.

 Best children in the world!

What a proud mom I am :)

 Rob & Kari, Shaun & Katie, Greg & Kylie.....our married kids

 The Wall family is awesome! 

These are Katie's siblings....none are married....hence the fun picture.  

They are a fun bunch!!!

The reception was held at Florentine Gardens in Layton, Utah.  

It was such a beautiful place.

 Our kiddos :)

Joel, Erik, Kylie, Shaun, Kendyl, Kambree, Kari

 Greg, Erik, Shaun, Joel, Rob

Best boys ever!

Joel's Mission Call

IT CAME!!  FINALLY!

We were in Bountiful, Utah for Shaun's wedding so Kari brought Joel's call up to him and we all opened it in our hotel. 

 It was extra nice since all of our family was there, except for  

 Katelyn who is serving in Argentina.  

It came at a perfect time!


He's going to the Philippines!! When he opened his call in our tiny 2 room hotel with 15 of us squeezing together, he audibly gasped and I started yelling at him telling him to "read it out loud!" :) He read his letter, and found out he was going to the the EXACT SAME MISSION that his friend, Avonlea Dalley was serving in!  Talk about one happy young man!

Shaun's and Katie's Bridals

These two are so photogenic!  

It was hard to choose which pictures to put in my blog.  

We are so happy for them!