Family is the BEST

I was so lucky to have my mom, dad and Devin come and visit us here in Vermont! We were excited to show them around...even if they missed the fall colors and were left with brown, wintery Vermont! They brought the Wii and Sawyer loved playing bowling and Just Dance with Uncle Devin every chance he got. We had so much fun together and it was, as always, really hard to say goodbye. I had someone ask if it was nice to have my house back and honestly, I would have kept them here forever. I love you guys!
Here are the rest of the highlights of their trip so I can officially be all caught up!

Joseph Smith Memorial Nativity and lights

at the hearthstone from the house Joseph Smith was born in

Cold Hollow Apple Cider Mill
We watched through this window as they squished the apples into yummy cider

Devin liked the "Vermont Trash Compactor"

We drank cider and ate fresh, warm apple cider donuts....yum!

Ben and Jerry's Factory Tour
We told them it was Clara's 3 week birthday and they gave her a pin that said Its my Birthday on it!

Kate lost her first tooth!

And everyone got to love on Clara

Goodbye Devin!

Today Devin entered the MTC! I talked to him a couple of times on the phone in the past few days and I was on speaker phone when everyone said goodbye at the curb of the Mission Training Center. He seems so old and brave and....manly! I LOVE HIM! I posted more pictures on his blog. If you're interested, check it once a week for his letters!

Devin's new blog

The big reason for my recent trip to Tucson was to be there when my little brother went through the temple for the first time in preparation for his mission. I was so glad I was there for it and I am so proud of him!
I have created a blog where I'm going to put Devin's mission updates and letters. The first post is up! I put a link to it on my sidebar so check back often!

Happy 19th Birthday Devin!

(This is late....but I was there to celebrate with him so its okay.)

Happy Birthday little Brother!
I can't believe your 19!
Thanks for being a great (yet reluctant) uncle to my kids! They love you!
Thanks for being a great little brother!
Thanks for choosing to serve a mission! I can't wait to get letters!
And thanks for being such a great model!

(I am SOOO excited to be back at my computer to finally look at all my vacation pictures!)

And the lucky mission is....

Calgary, Canada!

Congrats to Hilary who is the big winner! You are entitled to something awesome! (My mom also weighed in with Canada at the last minute, but she's already getting something awesome from me when I see her in a few days!)

Devin will be serving the people of Calgary for 2 years. He is giving up school, dating and friends to serve the gospel of Jesus Christ and I am so proud of him!

We love you, Devin!

Its here!

Devin's call came today and we are eagerly awaiting tonight when we can open it all together. Here are the guesses so far!

Jared:
New York
Mexico

Danielle:
Florida
Samoa

Rika:
South Dakota
Poland

Ami:
California (spanish speaking)
Japan

Ryan:
Alaska
Botswana

Jen:
Michigan
Fiji

Hilary:
Montana
Quebec, Canada

Emily:
Texas
Brazil

Lori:
Oklahoma
Madagascar

Jenny:
Pennsylvania
Brazil

Kristen:
Kansas
Spain

If you haven't guessed yet, there is still time. You have until 9pm Houston time to guess!

I've waited my whole life for this!

I have a little brother going on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Devin finished his papers and has sent them in and I can't be any more proud or any more excited!

I've had friends go on missions and cousins go on missions and have heard stories about missions, but I'm so excited to have a brother go! Someone who you feel bad if you seldom...or never...write to! Someone you bake cookies for and send to them because you love them that much! Someone you miss terribly on major holidays.

Have a mentioned I'm excited?

And whats funny is that Ryan's little brother, Jesse, is the same age as Devin and just got his call to Milwaukee, WI! So now I'll have 2 brothers out at the same time!

While we wait for Devin's call, I thought I'd have a guessing game.

Where do you think Devin is going to go on his mission?

leave a comment with your guesses. You can have one guess inside the states and one guess abroad.

example:
Tucson, AZ
Italy
(those aren't my guesses....I'm still thinking.)

You don't have to know Devin to play. The person who guesses closest will get a prize.

Happy guessing!