FEBRUARY 25TH 2020!

Two suitcases and ready to go at 4am.

An early morning for us all, but one that we were happy to make.

Enjoying the last few minutes with smiles.

Then he said it was time to go.

Last hugs.

A father sending his son for the cause of Christ.

It could be a LONG time before these two see each other again.

Sariah was the least teary-eyed.

These two were not trying to hide their tears.  Saying good-bye to a big brother is not easy.

Good-bye Elder Hales.  We LOVE you!

This was my facebook post: 

About a month ago Talmage decided we needed to read "The Hobbit" to the little boys before he left.  He checked it out from the library and before bed most nights he read to me and the boys--complete with all the voices and dramatization, even hand actions on occasion.  It has been sweet.  He finished reading the last two chapters to them last night.  Afterwards, I tucked three SOBBING little boys into bed.  This morning at 5am I took this picture as we said good-bye.  About the last thing Talmage said with tears in his eyes was, "there and back again before you know it"--straight from the Hobbit.  I didn't realize how perfect that story would be right before he left.  We can't wait to hear about all your adventures Elder Hales!  We'll hold the Hobbit Hole down for you while you are gone.

Good thing it was National Pancake Day to soften the sting.

Special Moments

Bryant being honored at the Big Bend Meeting for being chosen as a Youth Representative for the Washington D.C. Electric Co-op Trip.  (Hyrum went with them because he remembered the prizes they gave out last year.  The prizes they won weren't that impressive but they said the BBQ was fantastic!)

Talmage was set apart Sunday afternoon, February 23rd, by President Larsen (who took this picture for us).  It was a very special blessing and President Larsen blessed him with some wonderful gifts of the Spirit.

This very copy of "Jesus the Christ" went on its first trip to England in 1972.  Since then it has been to Ukraine, Australia, the Phillipines, and Brazil.  Now it is headed back to England.  Pretty Cool!

Saying good-bye to cousins.

One Last Hurrah!

Blake and Julie Stock were so good to let us use their Beach House at Rockaway Beach in Oregon.   It was so nice and so close to the beach!!

After Talmage's Farewell, we had a big family luncheon at the church and then piled in the van for one last road trip all together.  We got to Stock's beach house after dark.  We had dinner, turned on the fire, and snuggled up to Talmage reading a few more chapters of "The Hobbit."

Everyone was eager to hit the beach first thing Monday morning. 

I have never been to the Oregon Coast when the weather was SO NICE.  Sunshine and no wind.  We couldn't even fly a kite.  It was amazing!

Talmage found some sort of egg stash.  As always, discovering nature's treasures.

Pretty soon he was down to his shorts and in the water--in February!!

Bryant also found treasures--a barnicle.

And Sariah was busy with her perfect YOGA poses.

There was a little bit of a drizzle on our walk, but it didn't bother us.

A re-enactment of the cutest picture ever.  Not quite the chubby cheeks like last time.
Monday at lunch I went to sit down by Talmage and all of a sudden he let out a blood-curdling yell.  It scared all of us and we had no idea what was happening.  Turns out the foot of my chair was on his bare foot but we were all terrified and my heart was racing so fast it took a minute to slow back down.

Monday afternoon we headed up to the Seaside Aquarium.  Hyrum is ready to feed the seals.

A little hands on aquarium.

The coolest part was when an octupus moved across the glass right in front of us.

Afterwards, we treated the kids to their first gelato.  Rex says, "Gelato is amazing."  Bryant passed on the communal gelato and instead figured out revolutions, lengths, and circumferences of a ceiling fan system on leather belts. We stayed up late and watched "John Carter" on Monday night after FHE.

Monday morning we slept a little late but the kids wanted to get back to the beach.  They were working hard on this sand creation.

Like Grandpa says, "There's nothing like the ocean."

After the beach we hit the Tillamook Cheese Factory.

Pretty incredible set up.

After the cheese factory we went to a rocky beach to find agates.  The little boys really wanted to find agates!

It was pretty fun treasure hunting.  There were all kinds of beautiful rocks.

Bryant found a tiny crab in a stick.

God's handiwork in the sand.

And one final photo of the whole crew.

We almost lost one, but not quite.

Close-up of Hyrum's expression.

LOVE, LOVE this crew!

And... one more YOGA pose.

All of our treasures.

Did I say one more YOGA pose?

Got to get all angles of course.