The end yet the beginning~

Well Happy holidays Everyone we hope that you all had a great Christmas and we look forward to a wonderful New Years! We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas evening with Wendy and Terry and and Sara and Bryon and the girls, and Grandma Arda. We had a GREAT Christmas and hope that you all did as well.This has been an amazing year! We are sad to see it come to an end, but with 2008 bringing many exciting things our way, we can't wait.With my sister Jenna graduating from High School, the arrival of the baby, and Jason coming home- this summer will be a busy one! We are proud to say that my Dad was able to be home through the holidays and we are hoping that's where he stays for awhile, what a strength he is to us and everyone who knows him. We are also pleased to say that Wendy has started Radiation and so far things are going well.... We love her dearly and know that things will go smoothly- we are with her every step of the way. I want to let our missionaries know how much we enjoyed talking to them on Christmas- that brought great joy into our lives and made for a wonderful Christmas Day! They both sounded so good and we are so proud of them for serving our Heavenly Father! We have recieved a TON of snow and it's still coming.... Bryan has enjoyed conquering it and plowing his way- will soon reach the top of the City Creek right behind our apartment. The goal being, to snowboard down the other side!!

Throughout this year Bryan and I have witnessed many testimony strengthening miracles and we are truly grateful for each of those opportunities. They have made us better, stronger people and brought us closer as a couple. Regardless of what form- everyone faces trial and tribulation- and we feel blessed to have experienced so much and yet remained strong. The Lord has blessed our lives in so many ways and we are so grateful. Bring on 2008- We’re ready!!!!!!

The day AFTER Christmas~

Well we are very excited to Announce that we are expecting an new addition to our family. We are due in July and counldn't be happier. We found out the first of November and Bryan is very proud of me for keeping it a secret this long, but let me tell you- IT WAS HARD!!! I have been very sick and I hoping that doesn't last much longer. It's been quite commical- Bryan battled the flu a few weeks ago and so we took turns for two days throwing up in the bathroom!! NOT SO FUN~ but we are excited. I am three months along next week. We had our first Doctor's appointment the day after Christmas and we were able to hear the heartbeat! It was quite an expirience and I think it made the whole thing feel more real to both of us. We are anxiously awaiting to find out what the gender is.... Bry obviously wants a boy and I honestly have no preference I would have fun either way- as long as we have a healthy baby we don't care!

We were just getting home after hearing the heartbeat and grabbing a bite to eat and as you can tell we were all smiles!!! It was a very exciting moment!!!!!!!!

Off to the Farm to Finish Christmas~

This is Bryan on the way to the Farm on Christmas Day and Below is Anna and I Cheesin for the camera! She loves to pose!
Below is Grandma Arda (Who I love to death) Opening the gift we gave her! Isn't she so cute!

Below is Bryan making faces at me- he was anxious to open one too!! And Miss Anna with her Unicorn that Grandma Wendy gave her- she thinks, and I quote, "That it's SO Beautiful- so very beautiful," And she informed Bry that he couldn't touch it cause he was a boy and boys will break it!!!

We really got a kick out of the girls. They were so shocked when the presents were gone and there wasn't any more to open!

To the left is Terry Opening his gift from us and Wendy cleaning up after everyone.... And Below is Sara making faces and Bryon waiting anxiously to talk to Matt!!! We were all able to talk to Matt- He sounded so wonderful and Bry and I were excited to tell him our good news of him becoming an Uncle for the 3rd time! He was very excited for us. He is enjoying Australia despite the heat and is glad to be staying in Darwin for at least one more transfer!

Christmas~

This is our tree this year! I am actually really sad to take it down. I have loved it. It's deffinately one of my favorites so far. With Dad having so many ups and downs and all the back and forth between here and Burley and here and Salt Lake, work being so busy, and having awful morning sickness- it took me awhile to get it all up and now that it is, I'd like to leave it for awhile!! :)

I tried to make things fun this year and make sure that "SANTA" came to our house! This is proof- the stockings are filled....

This is me on Christmas Morning opening the Shoes Bryan got me.... he did a GREAT job picking them out I love them!

This is me BEFORE the pandamonium of prestent opening began! After talking with Jason for quite some time and eating a very yummy piece of French Toast- I was dying to open one! Jason sounded great! He was very excited to learn that he was going to be a TIO(Uncle in spanish) for the very first time. It was great to hear his voice. He only has 8 months left!

Here's Bry- he FINALLY got to open a present- He was very excited to finally get his helmet!!!

This is the wonderful mess we made! I can't imagine what kind of a mess adding a child is going to create!! The two of us alone destroyed the living

room!!!! (And what fun it was too)

Trip to Temple Square!!

This is everyone at Temple Square- Dad was in the hospital at UofUand we were all there to visit him. Bryan and I in front of the Temple. It was so beautiful!!!! The lights were amazing!
Me and Jordan and Jayme in front of the fountain. Jenna and Mom forgot their coats! Silly girls!!!This is in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The spirit that was there and on Temple Square was incredible! Such a feeling of Christmas and the True Meaning... the nativity was really neat.

October comes to an end.....

Well hey Everyone...... October is finally coming to an end..... Just one more week! I can't even believe it. It seems like this whole summer and fall have just been one big blur!!! I have given you a little insight on the lives of our missionaries and their happenings! They are both doing well.
Halloween is next week and I'm sure we will have some fun pictures to share after that! I am going to attempt to be Medusa with the help of Bryan's Aunt Kel. Sara is going to bring the girls over and we are going to dress them up all cute and take them trick-or-treating and then it's up to Arda's for the evening. She is the Queen of Halloween and that is the happening place to be. As far as our lives in general- there is not much to report. We are workin and our callings keep us very busy. On top of being the Mia Maid advisor I also have the opportunity to coach the Young Women volleyball. I enjoy that very much. They are a great group of girls and they learn quickly. I am happy to add that we are, at this point, UNDEFEATED! We are probably going to go to the regional tournament. It's a blast. I am excited for December- There is a group of women in the stake that get together on Thursday nights to play and it's a blast I love it! Bryan is working as well. Thankfully, work for him is slowing down a bit so his schedule is a bit more like a normal person. He goes to the stake center on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to play basketball with a group of guys at about 6:00 in the morning before work. He really enjoys that. Hunting season is underway- Bry has been going to Preston when he can to hunt with Terry (his Dad) and Uncle Richard. So far- there have been no NEW heads with antlers added to the collection. Other than that we are just same 'ol same 'ol. We hope that all is well with everyone and love hearing from you all. It was so good to see Chuck and Teresa, Connie, Debbie,Grandma and Grandpa, and Ralph and Teresa last month. We love you guys and hope that all is well!!!!! HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!

Elder Pollard- Honduras

LEFT: Not sure what he's pointing at but he looks good doing it!LEFT: Jason being Jason with a comp. BELOW: A young girl that Jason was able to baptize. Doesn't he look sharp in his whites!!!BELOW & LEFT: YESSSSSSS Idaho Potatoes!!!! Yum...... Jason is doing soooo well.... He seems very happy and is loving Honduras..... He is working hard. There is a small family with several kids and a single mother... he emailed and told us that he'd like to buy this little family a Turkey for Christmas..... he is such a good guy with such a big heart, especially when it comes to kids. He seems to enjoy his companion they are getting along great. About 2 or 3 weeks ago he emailed and told us a story- he said that they were playing Futbal or basketball- I can't remember which and he had hit his head pretty bad, it gave him a pretty good headache. They are teaching lots and just trying to keep up. Jason's new goal is.... He is going to speak nothing but spanish for the remainder of his mission. He'd like to get a little bit better at speaking the language. He is feeling quite comfortable with it, but having American companions they still tend to speak alot of English, so, he and a fellow Elder have decided that they are going to speak strictly spanish for the next 11 months of their missions. Jason, overall is doing well and we love him tons. I can't believe that he will be home in 11 months. That is so crazy how fast it's gone... LOVE YOU BUD!

Elder Westerberg- Australia

This is Matt doing the Lord's work and experiencing Australia- ABOVE: Matt with his Mission president and his wife. ABOVE: Matt's new friends!!! From what he tells us the Aborigines are a very interesting group of people.LEFT: Matt with an Ostrich. BELOW & LEFT: Matt doing who knows what!! :) Matt says that it's very humid in the area he is in- he's always hot and sweating to death. In one of his emails Matt told us that he enjoys playing rugby- he says it's a very fast paced game and there is not very much contact involved- which he likes. He says they are quickly becoming very good. Matt is very dedicated and works hard. He is trying to focus on the spirit and teaching people. One thing that Matt has told us that cracks us up is that he is slowly but surely getting fatter!!!! LOL hmmmmmmm...... does that sound familiar to ANYONE???? That is one of his constant goals..... working on not being one of those missionaries that comes home a bit thicker than when they left!!!!! Now I am convinced that it must run in the family. :) He says that the member feed them GRACIOUSLY, and they get very offended if you do not except what they give you- full or not! That's about all I know for now.... they are just teaching alot and trying fervently to get some commitment out of someone! We sure love him and wish him luck! Matt will be coming up on 5 months! WOW- time does fly!

Hair Time

Anna and Audrey getting their hair cut! They are such Drama Queens we love it!!!! They both LOVE to see themselves in the mirror! That's quite neat.

Anna LOVES Uncle Bry!! They had quite the conversation....

Havin SO much fun!

The girls LOVED Jess's "BIG COOL CHAIR" as they called it. What fun.. Bryan and I after the crowd was gone~

Jess's "SILLY" pumpkin!

This was my "SILLY" one as, as the girls called it!!! I decided it needed eye lashes to make it a bit more feminine and afterward Anna said- "That looks like you Jess!!!!" Here she is all settled in her spot next to the scarecrow that I made-ready to be lit!

Pumpkin Carving for Family Night!!

LEFT: This is Anna and Sara Carving Anna's "HAPPY" Pumpkin!!
BELOW: Audrey and Uncle Bry Carving her pumpkin she was so excited she could hardly stand it!!!




BELOW:Our good Friend Darcy and her daughter Jada with Jada's "SCARY" Pumpkin!! All three girls were so excited to carve their pumpkins.