Tuesday, August 18, 2015

My Baby is 20 Years Old!



Happy Birthday Elder Chamberlain!!!!!!

Happy 20th Birthday to my Oldest Child!  Elder Chamberlain is in San Raphael, Argentina and on his birthday he is also celebrating having been in the mission almost 14 months now!   We are so very proud of him and honestly are so happy to read his letters and hear of the growth he is experiencing.  

 His district got together and surprised him with a birthday breakfast complete with french toast and birthday cake!  Sounds exactly what a bunch of 20 year olds would want to eat for breakfast! ha ha!  The hermanas made him a paper lizard and gave him a box of fun notes and cards from everyone.  He told us in his letter that this group has been the closest to him of his entire mission they feel like "family" to him.  As a mom, I am super thankful that these missionaries have rallied around each other to strengthen each other and give support so far away from home.
 Elder White, the one sitting next to the left of Kohler, has been such an amazing and fun companion for him.  He is from Tucson, AZ and they hope to connect up after their missions.  Elder C says he has helped him through so many things and has been such a positive and hard working missionary.

This is Elder Houghton and he was Kohler's Zone Leader---just went home this last week.  Elder C is going to miss him!
 This is a family Elder Chamberlain really loves, even though he said they lived illegally in California for over 7 years.  oops!
 Here is Elder Chamberlain's pench (apartment).
 Kohler's bed is the one under the window.  Yep - he sleeps in a sleeping bag every night and he's super grateful for it because it has been really cold lately!

 This is his apartment from the street view.  He said the little shop next door is like a mini-market that has just a few food items but they rarely shop there.  I'm just glad to see that the apartment doesn't have barbed wire fencing surrounding the complex like his first area.  Yikes!!!  That was scary.  I'm so glad he is in a much safer area--plus the apartment is WAY nicer and I'm so happy for him to have it a little more comfortable.  Although, he says they still don't have hot water showers but he is used to it now.

Monday, August 3, 2015

Baby Dean's Blessing

 Yep - so we drove down to California for Baby Dean's blessing and of course, the day before, we HAD to visit the American Girl Doll Store with the Davis cousins because HOW FUN IS THAT?!











 I was so glad my mom could join us.  What a treat!

 Matching dolly hats for the cousins!

 We had to stop at the Los Angeles Temple on the way home to add another temple to our collection!
 It was a dream come true to see Hailey with her fun cousin, Olivia, at the American Girl Doll Store and Cafe for lunch.  They had an absolute BALL and actually, so did the moms!!


 Dean-O!

 Tony gave such a beautiful blessing and here is the whole darling family with Baby Dean!