We had a fun February! It started out with us hosting two Taiwanese boys for a week. Michael and Jack (Jack has glasses). We picked them up from the airport on Sunday afternoon. They had just eaten on the plane, so instead hanging out at our house, we took them to Antelope Island for a couple of hours. They had never seen buffalo or the Great Salt Lake before, so we thought that would be a unique thing. It was a super overcast day, so there weren't great views of the lake, but we did find a few buffalo!
We had a lot of fun with them throughout the week! They had stuff planned with their group on some of the days, and on the other days we got to do activities with them. Grant and Ryan were awesome to take them to school with them and let them come to lunch with them and their friends every day. Jack and Michael were both so nice and fun and really funny! We loved talking with them in the evenings and learning about Taiwan and their culture. We had fun looking up their homes and night markets on the Google street view. They were super grateful and polite. We loved having them in our home!
We taught them how to play pickleball, and took them to see the Bountiful temple.
Jack was super picky, and Michael loved everything we gave him! Jack was very good natured about it, and so we laughed a lot. They also brought us a lot of fun Taiwan treats to try.
Ryan and all his friends bleached their hair! Sometimes its hard to pick him out in the crowd of blonds!
They did a cultural presentation for all the families who hosted and Woods Cross students. It was fun to learn more about Taiwan games and treats and their culture.
Saturday night was the Sweethearts dance at the school. Both our boys had been asked, and after we got them off with their dates, we helped get the Taiwan kids to the dance. It was their first dance! (They don't do dances like that in Taiwan--I'm sure it was an eye opening experience!) Grant went with Claire and Ryan went with Holly.
For dinner on Sunday, we met at our friend's house, the Tibbitts, who were also hosting kids. There were a few other families with Taiwan students there and they invited their friends to come talk to the kids about their family's mission in Taiwan (as mission presidents, and then the two sons also served Chinese speaking missions). It was really fun!
The next morning we said goodbye and dropped them off at the airport. They were so sweet! We were sad to see them leave! They left us some sweet letters and treats down in their bedroom that we found later. What a fun experience!
Some other things happened in February: I finished Ryan's t-shirt quilt! This is a labor of love, because I am not a gifted sewer, and it shows if you look too closely! But, it is fun to do and fun to see all his cute old t-shirts and remember the fun things he has done.
Dustin and I had a getaway to the Anniversary Inn in Salt Lake. We went the day before Valentines, so it wasn't busy at all! We always have fun and love spending time together!
The night of Valentines, both of our boys were out with friends and so the Valentine Lady had to leave their treats for them around the house. Bummer!
She's full of pranks, that crazy lady!
And the next day Ryan went to Sweethearts Dance #2 with a girl from Bountiful High School. Their dance has a dress up theme, so his group was pirates. Dustin's Trek shirt is coming in handy again...
We LOVE talking to this girl each week!! She recently got transferred to Yuba City and she is figuring out her new role as an STL (sister trainer leader). She is learning and stretching and growing!
Avery went to California with her friends over the long weekend and tried surfing and loved it!
That same weekend, we had a little different weather and we went snow hiking, which was beautiful.
My cousin, Derek, gave us some Jazz tickets, so we took our friends, the Giles and had a great time at the game.
February flew by and now we are a week away from the end of 3rd term for the boys and Ryan has submitted his mission papers, and Dustin and I are looking forward to a trip to Scotland in the next month! Much to be excited for in March!
