Happy Mother's Day to me!!

Guess who I got to talk to on Mother's Day?  Yep, you guessed it.  Our missionary!  It was so awesome to see his face and hear his voice.

Eric is doing awesome and I can't believe he's almost been out for a year.  Here's a funny picture of him.  He hasn't changed a bit...

I kept trying to snap pictures when he wasn't paying attention...but I didn't do a very good job.  

Another winner!

Trying to sneak one from the side.  Oh, and we laughed a lot!!

We love you Elder Jones!  Thanks for making my Mother's Day complete!

I can't wait to talk to you at Christmas...just 7 quick months away.  Geez, this is going fast!  Keep up the good work son!  

Brandon turns 17!

Brandon turned 17 years old on April 25.  A few days before his birthday he asked us if he could have a bunch of friends over for a party.  He wanted to invite about 30 people.  Our house isn't extremely large, so we wondered where we would put everyone.  Todd suggested having it at the church and setting up a movie with a big screen in one of the rooms.  We got cake from Costco.  And 11 pizzas from Little Caesars!  At the beginning of the party, everyone met at our house, split up into groups, and went on a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood.  

 

 

Then they all went to the church to eat, play basketball, watch a movie, and hang out...

I hardly know anyone's names, but there's Brandon in the middle... :)

(Ok, Zach Wall is on the left and Zach Park is on the right).  

The boy on the right is Hunter Durfee.  (That's all I know.)

My Mom came and helped!  Thanks Mom!

Andrew Christiansen and Lisa Lamb

 And this is the only picture Brandon let me take of him.  I think I was pretty lucky to get that one.

 Happy Birthday Brandon!  We love you and are so proud of you!  I'm glad you had a wonderful party!  (You're welcome.)  :)

A few more homemade cards...

This one was for my Mom on Mother's Day...

Jacob and the zip line!

Our neighbors, the Willmore's, put up this zip line in their front yard.  It was one of their grandchild's ideas and after hours of some serious trial and error, they finally got it to work.  Of course Jacob saw it immediately.  And of course the Willmore's, who are WONDERFUL, invited him over to play on it.  He was in heaven for a long time...

"Here I go, Mom!  Watch!"

 "Would you hurry up and take the picture already?"  :)

What child wouldn't want a zip line in their front yard?  (or their neighbor's front yard)?  Fun stuff!

Silly Moments and P-Day Adventures

These first few pictures were taken on one of Eric's P-days when he and his zone went hiking at Pluto Caves near Mt. Shasta.  (This activity was post-accident and the caves were dark.  I was a little worried when I heard about it after the fact.  Hiking in the dark?  Couldn't that be hazardous to someone who fractured their pelvis???  It's a good thing I didn't know about it beforehand.  :)

 

And in Eric's words, "And at last I see the light."  HA, Funny kid...

 



Elder Stein, a banana, and Elder Jones

 



Eric says this picture was the "best picture ever!"  They tried to recreate it a few times, but never got it as good as this one.

Elder Stein, Elder Perkins, and Elder Jones...Oh, and the banana

  

 

Elder Perkins and Elder Jones

 

 

The Redding Zone at Pluto Caves

 

 

 Elder Jones, "I'm on a dinosaur."  Yep, looks that way, doesn't it?

 

"Elder White and a member from his ward, riding a dinosaur."  :)

 



 Elder Perkins and Elder Jones "being silly."  It looks like karate Kid to me...

 

 

"Me and the tree are friends."  This picture was taken after Eric's accident.  It was taken in Clint and Laura Graham's back yard.

 



"This is for America!"  Eric's words, not mine...  :)

 



"Our Bishop's wife asked Elder Walden and I one day to teach Sunday School, so this is a picture of Nephi that I drew on the board before class started."  (Oh, I miss Eric's art so much!)

 



 

Trinity Alps!  Elder Jones and Elder Walden

 

Beautiful trees...

 



"I'm ready to keep going, but Brother Houston's pooped!"  So funny!

 



 

This picture was taken before Eric's accident.  He had no idea how much of a "tree-hugger" he would become...

 



Boulder Lake

 



Elder Jones' "champion stance."  Personally, I think he looks like Peter Pan.  :)

 



"I'm in a tree!"  This was before the accident as well...I don't think he will be climbing trees anytime soon...(and I'm okay with that)!

 



 

This is the only picture I have of Eric after his injury.  What you are looking at is the "bruise" Eric developed during his recovery after his accident.  It's of his right side, and he's lifting up his shirt.  It's kind of a weird picture, but you can see the different colors of the bruise. I don't know if the bruise goes around to the front at all.  It doesn't look too fun though, does it?  Ugh!

 

 

  Eric wrote this at the end of his letter when he sent all of these pictures..."Well, I hope you all enjoyed these!  The mission is full of adventures and friendships and I continue to love every second I'm out here.  I'm in the right place.  Love you all!"

 

We love you too Elder Jones!  And we are so proud of you!  Keep working hard (and stay away from those trees)!  :)