Is it really Winter still??? and a little about Moscow, Idaho!

May 22, 2010

A BLIZZARD in the end of MAY!!!

Notice the snowplow and my white-knuckles! HAHA!

These pictures were taken between Boise and Mountain Home.

What a WELCOME home...

Robert and I were on our way home from Moscow, Idaho, where Robert took a 5 day long Mediation for Families Course at the U of I Law School! I went along to hang out in the hotel! Robert and I haven't been back to Moscow since 1991. It was kind of fun to see where we spent 3 fun years. I honestly couldn't remember too much about Moscow until I started driving around. Not much has changed that's for sure! I was a little disappointed that the Godfather's Pizza place in Pullman was gone. We used to go there for an all-you-can eat lunch for really cheap - If I remember right it was $3.99 a person and kids ate free.

Gritman Memorial Hospital

where Matthew was born!

(Pictures aren't that great .... I was driving and taking pictures at the same time! Guess I should have pulled over!)

This is Oakridge Apartment Complex on Indian Hills Drive - we lived in this apartment for the last two years Robert was in Law School (our apt. was the furthest one on the left)! They have totally updated the whole place. It used to be brown wood siding and now it is vinyl siding. I would have loved to see if they renovated the inside of the apartments. The playground was even updated!

When talking to Andrea this week she only remembered a couple of things about living in Moscow ... 1. The Playground at our Apt. Complex and 2. The White Elephant (which is a crazy store in Spokane that Robert loved to go to - it had a bit of everything in it!)

Just a few memories of Moscow, Idaho!

OH MY! Has it really been this long!!!!

It's been over a year since my last blog post ..... my excuse ..... I have been busy!! haha! Haven't we all! Well - so much has happened since February 2009 that I'm sure I won't be able to remember it all but here is a list of a few things ..... (I will come back and fill in some things as I remember them!)

May 2010: I attended Women's Conference at BYU with my friend, Jana Borgholthaus! I LOVE going to Women's Conference and come back trying to be a better wife, mother, grandma, sister, friend etc. ... I think I accomplish being a little better for at least a few days!!!

Eric was nominated as a Natural Helper at school.

April 2010: Taylor flew back with us from England to visit her mom in Boise for her Spring Break. Because of a Volcano in Iceland her trip was extended a couple of weeks. She was able to get back to England until May 3, 2010. Who would have thought a Volcano would disrupt air travel to all of Europe which affected travel to most parts of the World! CRAZY!

Bill found out that he was accepted into PA School in Texas -- YEAH!!! The HOWARD's will be moving to the USA!! I know Texas isn't too close but a LOT closer than England! Congratulations to Bill!

March 2010: For Spring Break .... Robert, Eric, and I went to England to visit Andrea, Bill, and the kids. We had a GREAT time and can't wait for them to move back to the USA!! We miss being around the grandkids!

February 2010:

January 2010: Jason enters the MTC for mission to the Philippine Cauayan Mission. We got to do the Curbside drop off which means you pull up to the curb at the MTC, get out his luggage, give hugs, and off he goes!! Eric gets his Driver's License! Watch out everyone!!

December 2009:

November 2009:

October 2009:

September 2009: Jason decided to go on a mission! Within a month, his papers were submitted and call received!! He will be going to the Philippine Cauayan Mission and will enter the Provo MTC on January 6th, 2010.

August 2009: School Started .... Eric is a Freshman in the High School. First year for the 9th Graders to be in the High School instead of at the Junior High.

July 2009: Andrea and the kids left to go back to England.

June 2009:

May 2009: Matthew enters MTC on May 20, 2009! Because of the Swine Flu he was told no hugs or handshakes were allowed. His group was the 2nd to the last group to be able to have their family attend and actually go in the MTC to watch a video, listen to the MTC President, and say your good-byes. From now on it is Curbside drop off!

April 2009: Busy getting Matthew ready for his Mission to the Puerto Rico San Juan West Mission.

March 2009: Andrea and kids came to visit for a few months. Bill was here for a couple of weeks. We had a lot of fun and miss having them around.

Elder Matthew Ward

has been called to serve in the Puerto Rico San Juan West Mission

(Spanish Speaking). Matthew will participate in a phased training MTC experience -- which means he will spend approximately three weeks at the Provo MTC then travel to the Dominican Republic MTC, where he will receive an additional six weeks of training. His MTC report date is May 20, 2009!

We are so proud of Matthew and know he will make a GREAT missionary! He has such a fun-loving spirit that we will miss dearly -- but are grateful he will be able to share the gospel with those in Puerto Rico!

Walking in the door after what seemed like the LONGEST drive home from Rexburg at 10:45 p.m.!

Where's my call??

Oh the suspense -- I can hardly stand it!!!

We were trying to get Jason (who was in Boise) and Andrea (who was in England) on the phone! The phone somehow hung up on each of them once before we finally got them on speaker phone.

OH Yeah! Puerto Rico San Juan West Mission!!!

Spanish Speaking -- YIPPEE!!

Now where exactly is Puerto Rico . . . to help you here is a map!

As far as we can tell -- Matthew's mission is a fairly new mission. They split the Puerto Rico San Juan mission into the Puerto Rico San Juan West & East missions. The West mission will take in the islands of Aruba, the Netherland Antilles, and parts of Puerto Rico.

None of us even came close to guessing where Matthew was going to go! I think most of us thought he would go Spanish speaking but to the CARIBBEAN -- I don't think that even crossed our minds!!

ANYONE WANNA GO ON A CRUISE IN A FEW MONTHS???

What's a missionary post without a couple then and now photos?!

CONGRATULATIONS -- Elder Matthew Ward!!!

Matthew's Mission Call . . .

is sitting on the kitchen countertop ... waiting ... for Matt to get home from BYU-I tonight!!! Soooo for now this is what I have to look at and I'm practicing lots of self control (I haven't even held it up to the window ... YET!)

So while we are patiently waiting to find out where Elder Matthew Glen Ward is going to spend his next two years -- I have found a little Missionary Mario Video to entertain you . . .

Bryson & Jayden ...

My grandbabies -- I know, I know, they are the subject of each and every post anymore -- but I think you would all agree they are the cutest babies ever!!!

Church Snow Day!!!

I seriously can only remember two church snow days in my whole life and both while living in Idaho (remember I grew up in Canada). If I remember right -- last year we had a church snow day on Super Bowl Sunday and today the 25th of January, 2009 -- one week before Super Bowl Sunday! How crazy is that?!!

I got ready for church -- had just woke up Eric and his friend, Malcolm, and told them it had snowed about 5 inches overnight. Then I received a phone call saying church had been cancelled and get the word out. I told the boys -- who both let out a YIPPEE (shame on them) and then started calling people! WOW everyone I called had already heard from either their Visiting Teacher or Home Teacher!! How Great is that?! We can really get the word out quick. Since we didn't have to rush out the door to church -- Eric had a breakfast request of Biscuits and Gravy (can't remember the last time I actually cooked breakfast). So we enjoyed breakfast together and now are just enjoying a nice, warm (only because we are indoors), peaceful, Sunday! Malcolm has never played Settlers -- maybe we'll have to break out the games here soon!

It is STILL snowing -- I would say we have about 8 inches of snow out there! Here are some pics!

I LOVE ...

seeing my boys with their nieces and nephews! I know they will make good daddies some day!