4 Orphans...Unsupervised!

This is what I found my brothers ages 31, almost 26, and 21 doing this afternoon...playing Rock Band. Somehow they even roped me into playing a few songs with them, although eventually I was kicked out of the band because I am so bad. They said that I was "bringing down the whole band," or something like that. I guess my video game skills peaked in 1995 when I conquered Super Mario 3. I didn't really care that I got kicked out though because I had plenty of blogging to catch up on (as I'm sure you can all see).

We decided to have a party...just the four of us tonight (my sister-in-law is out of town). We played rock band, ate pizza (don't worry mom, I made the boys a salad too), and just messed around. I think we were all just trying to keep our minds off of the fact that our parents really are gone for three years. I'll be honest. When my parents first got their call it seemed pretty unreal but was also kind of exciting. Then we just started focusing on all the things that had to be done before they left and so we didn't have time to think about the reality of it. But now it is real and it is really hard. But thanks to the mind numbing activities of blogging and playing Rock Band I have been able to keep my breaking into tears down to only two episodes today. Yay for me!

I mean, what is my problem? I'm going to see my parents in a month and a half when I stop by to see them on my way home from Paraguay. I guess it is just knowing that they are 25 hours and a 1800 dollar plane ticket away, that I don't really have a home now (although Lee and Kim are super nice and still make me feel welcome at my parent's house... it just isn't the same), that I don't know what I'm doing with my life, that I have no desire to return to Salt Lake in the Fall even though my Grad program and work are there, that I'm going to Paraguay in a week and I don't know anyone there or even for sure what I'll be doing while I am there and I'm totally not ready for that trip, and that I lost 1200 dollars on the stock market today (okay, it isn't lost until I sell, but still...)! Somehow in spite of all of this I feel great and at peace with my life and am fully functional other than the sporadic crying episodes. So yay for Rock Band, Blogging, and three excellent brothers!

The Airport 36 Years Later...

After I posted that picture of my dad in his Superman shirt a couple of weeks ago he said that I "can't post any more pictures of him on my blog without written consent." First of all, I don't know how serious he really was as I am sure everyone loves the fame that my blog brings them. Second of all, I don't know if he can fight me legally on that all the way from Brazil. And, I am being a nice daughter and not posting the picture I have of he and my mom full on hugging at the airport...in 1972, not in 2008. He claims that the picture was photoshopped but I'm pretty sure that Photoshop didn't exist in 1972!

This is my parents approximately 36 years ago when my mom came to see my dad off at the airport as he headed on his first mission to Brazil.

Now they get to go together!





They just had their 33rd wedding anniversary on Wednesday...and somehow he still makes her laugh.

And now they have us four awesome kids too. Lucky them!

On Wednesday night I picked my parents up from the MTC. It was a real white trash moment for me. I had been at work all day, had rushed out of work and down to Provo to be able to pick my parents up in time. I hadn't eaten anything all day other than some soy nuts, fruit leather and a few Triscuts so I stopped by Dairy Queen to grab a grilled chicken sandwich and a Peanut Buster Parfait...I know, a really healthy day of eating. Oh well, I had to hurry because I was supposed to pick my parents up at 7 and my dad doesn't really like Utah and I knew that he would want to get the heck out of there.

I pulled into the MTC driving my mom's crappy Dodge Durango...just imagine...cracked windshield, dirty, and the shocks make this horrible rusted out trampoline sound. I ask the security guy where to park and he says, "Just park in Elder Bednar's spot...he's already gone." So I go to pull in but there is a MTC van parked parallel to the curb behind me plus I'm not used to driving a big vehicle so it is even worse. So I have to make like a million point turn to get in (meanwhile the shocks are making this horrible sound). And as I'm pulling in feeling so white trash and ridiculous Elder Christofferson and his wife are getting in their car parked just one down from me. I tried to act natural as Elder Christofferson stared at me with a "Ooh, I hope she doesn't hit Elder Cook's car" look on his face. That's the last thing I would want to do...hit a church car (hence the million point turn). I wonder what happens if you hit one of those Toyota Avalons. Do they garnish your tithing? Well, luckily I didn't have to find out.

So I got safely parked and tried to time the eating of my peanut buster parfait between all the GAs I was parked between getting into their cars... I already felt trashy enough without having Elder Scott see me chowing down on some Dairy Queen (although I bet he would have loved to have a good old Peanut Buster Parfait like I was having rather than that fancy cheesecake and stuff I bet they always get served). Oh yeah, and then I saw Elder Nelson and his wife get in their car and when they pulled away I noticed that she was driving (probably because she is quite a bit younger than he is) but still...maybe that means that my dad still can get into heaven even though he makes my mom drive everywhere.

Anyway, after waiting for what seemed like forever (due to the fact that my dad is a big time talker and had to talk to every person he saw on the way out of the MTC) we finally got out of there and headed back to Idaho. But not before I had one last white trash moment as I opened up the car to load my parents' stuff in and had a couple of vitamin water bottles fall out and roll under the car. Don't worry, I picked them up. Anyway we got home late that night and my parents spent Thursday packing, visiting with family and friends, and just doing last minute things...just small stuff like my dad teaching my brothers the family construction business and telling us everything we need to know to keep the house, farms and ranch in order. Yikes! I'm glad that most of that is my brothers' responsibility.

Then early this morning we headed to the airport to see our parents off for three years. It was hard to see them go but I know this will be a good experience for them so I tried to keep a smile on my face for them. Luckily I was there to look over my dad's carry-ons before he went through security as he doesn't travel much and had packed his razor and several things of liquid in his carry-on. We got it all fixed though. We visited until it was time for them to go through security and board their plane. We tried not to make too much of a scene as we said goodbye but three years is a long time. Good luck padres...you'll do great!

MTC

Here are just a couple of pictures of my parents at the MTC I thought I'd post just to keep the family member blog leeches and blog commenters up to date since it might be a few days or weeks until my mom gets a blog or letter out to you all. Enjoy!

I think this picture is of some or maybe all of the couples going to Brazil. My dad said that the couples going to Brazil were the most fun couples at the MTC but he may be a little biased.

Apparently my mom is a little confused and thinks that they will be serving in some island chain off the coast of Brazil...at least that is what it looks like in the picture. I showed her this picture and she said, "Oh, are you supposed to point to exactly where you are going?" "Well, it doesn't have to be exact I guess" I told her, "but you should at least point to dry land." She said that they were in a hurry or something when they took the picture.

See you later MOM and Dad!

This past weekend my family went down to SLC to take my parents to the MTC...role reversal, big time. Now it was our turn to give advice, help pack, and drop off at the MTC. Luckily they didn't make us watch some outdated movie, get us all crying and then make us say goodbye. They are a little easier on the senior couples I guess.

But before we get to that...on Friday we went to The Church Office Building where Elder David A. Bednar set apart my dad to preside over the Brazil Fortaleza mission and then Elder Earl C. Tingey set my mom apart. They were great blessings and it was nice to be there as a family.

Afterward we went out to eat at Ruby River thanks to a gift certificate given to us by Audrey, one of my most loyal blog readers. Later that evening we had family pictures taken on Temple Square (I know so cliche...but we didn't have a lot of time to go somewhere else because Russell had to get back to Idaho to work) by Jen Fauset, the girl who did Lee and Kim's wedding. Luckily there were some that turned out pretty good considering I felt super ugly that day, my mom is famous for closing her eyes and my dad and Russell don't smile much. But hey, at least we got a family picture taken while we are all still together.

On Saturday we headed down to Provo where we stopped off at J Dawgs, a little hot dog stand that anyone who's gone to BYU will know about, so my parents could have their last meal as free people before entering the MTC. It was my mom's request. She loves J Dawgs.

Then we took them to the MTC. We pull in, my mom is driving of course since my dad doesn't drive in Utah...we should have at least thought to switch out drivers so my dad could save face, but oh well. All the MTC workers were greeting my parents by name (which was kind of weird) and jumped to help them unload their stuff. It was roasting hot in Provo so we headed into the main lobby to visit for a few minutes. My mom and dad got their name tags and then we took a few pictures and my dad and brothers punched each other in the stomach a few last times. Luckily it was the toned down version of their little wrestling and fighting matches since we were at the MTC.

We wished them luck and said goodbye. There was no sobbing as we will see them for one more day before they fly out. So we'll save the sobbing for later. Lee, Kim, Ty and I then went to Macey's so we could get random stuff (which included Hostess Snowballs...it is a long story) to send my parents in a package...just in case they already missed us. It was a fun weekend as a family.

Eating at Ruby River

My MOM with her mom

Finally a normal picture of Lee and Kim so I thought I'd post it...no offense guys, you are normal looking...it is just that you are usually making weird faces.

I like this picture of my mom and dad, but somehow like a retard I got 01/01/2004 imprinted on all of the pictures from that night so if anyone knows how to get rid of the date on those pictures please let me know!

The boys...bugging each other as usual


My dad will talk to anyone, anywhere and about anything...our whole lives we have thought this to be annoying or weird (as Russell's face shows in this picture) but I think his lack of fear to talk to strangers will make him an excellent missionary.

Mil, Kim and Gma waiting while the guys get their pictures taken


Ty looking good in his blue tie

Due to some really cute, but painful shoes, Kim needed a lift back to the hotel


Mil is excited to have one last J Dawg

Normal people usually go to lunch at a nice restaurant before going to the MTC...not us, we went to a hot dog stand!

The kids minus Russell

Making the drop

My dad got such an excited look on his face when they gave him his name tag...I really do think he is excited to be a missionary again...scared to death but excited

This one is just scared to death...just kidding mom, I'm sure you are excited too. You'll do great!

What a great Senior Couple!


The end.

Happy Father's Day to a Super Dad!

Okay, first of all my dad is going to KILL me for posting this picture. He doesn't normally allow anyone (or the sun) to see his lower arms...I have never before this seen my dad wear a short-sleeved shirt.

I don't really care though because my dad is leaving in 4 days and will be gone for 3 years...how much damage can he do with so little time and so many other things to focus on?

So Happy Father's Day to my SUPER DAD!

I love you!

I'm Going to TRY to Stop Whining Soon...I promise!

Yeah, I know, you are like "blah, blah, blah all Becca does anymore is whine and complain about her life lately." That's what I thought at least when I read back through my blog posts from the last month or so. And I'm sorry for whining and complaining...especially since some of the changes and things going on in my life are self-induced. I really do not like change and don't do too well with it. I guess I'm not any worse than most people...I think change is hard for all of us to adjust to, but I am maybe just more vocal in my complaints. And I've been all serious too, which is something I try to not allow myself to do too much on this here blog. I guess that is just what state of life I am in right now...a serious, get serious and figure out where you belong and what to do with your life state of life.

A week from today my parents will enter the MTC and will be off on a 3 year mission to Brazil. So okay, I know that I'm 28 years old, you don't need to remind me, and that my parents leaving shouldn't be such a big deal or such a hard thing for me, but it is. I'm going to blame it on being single, sorry but I am. I guess by being single I don't have anyone else but my parents, brothers, sister-in-law, and extended family. The family that I grew up in is my family...that's it. They are the most important people to me. And although I have pretty decent brothers that will be around and a great extended family it just won't be the same with my parents gone. I decided today that maybe what is so unsettling to me is that I'm losing my home base. I'm playing capture the flag but that safety zone of home base is gone for awhile and so I'm just running around in circles trying not to get slaughtered by the other team.

I realized too that I haven't been very good at keeping blog fans updated of what page I turned to in my Choose Your Own Adventure book. I guess I just got so busy lately that I forgot to mention that I did get some things figured out. Here's how things are scheduled to play out for the next few months. I took a leave of absence from work for most of the summer and am home spending a couple of weeks with my family before my parents leave. Then I'm off to Paraguay where I'll be doing some humanitarian work, some of which will hopefully count towards my practicum for my graduate program. Then on the way home from Paraguay I'll hop up to Brazil and visit the parents just to make sure they got settled in all right. I'll be in South America for 7 weeks and then will come back to SLC, hopefully find a place to live and will start school and work again in the Fall. So there you have it. I am excited for the summer and hope it will be AWESOME.

Welcome Home Tyler!

Yay! My little brother got home last night from serving an LDS mission in the Uganda Kampala mission. He served about one year in Uganda and one year in Ethiopia. We are so glad to have him home safe!...especially now that he is home and the real stories of how things really were are coming out.

I love watching when missionaries get home...especially when I actually know the person coming home. I have to admit...when I fly into the SLC airport and there is a family or two waiting for a missionary to come home, I always have to stop and watch while I'm waiting for my luggage to get on the luggage carousel. I know that I don't even know them and so maybe it is sort of weird to be excited when someone you don't even know comes home, but there is just a special feeling of a missionary returning from a mission well served.

So here are ton of pictures from last night for those of you who care and weren't there...

The crowd begins to gather...of course my family couldn't be normal and have normal sized balloons...we had to have the 3 footers...that's just how we are I guess

Lee entertains Grant while we wait... actually I think Grant entertained Lee



The crowd continues to gather...

Lee gets bored while waiting and begins to choke Kim...luckily security was close by

James is getting pumped to see Ty

Really pumped!

(even though he is too little to probably even remember Ty)

Kim and I are excited too!

The moment is getting closer...

WELCOME HOME!

Me and my little bro

3 brothers



3 more brothers...

and already staring to wrestle each other



Me, my Gma and my Madre

And it was my Grandma's 82nd Birthday...how fun!


Enjoy your 15 days of togetherness Ty, mom, and Dad!



Catching up


The Birthday Girl

Lee used his domestic skills to make Ty a cake

Lee is so excited to have his little buddy home (and to eat some cake!)