Pretty Pink Set Up

Emily's shower was so fun and all the food was so good.  Everything was pink... very fitting when you are having twin girls.  I loved Brandi's clothes line!  It was so cute and added the finishing touch to the decor!

Emily's Baby Shower

 Take 1

 Take 2

 Take 3... I guess it will have to do..... I have a major problem with closing my eyes!

We had Emily's shower and it was so fun!  We did a pink and black theme.  She had so many people, great food and so many cute gifts!  We are so excited for Emily and the two sweet baby girls that will be here before we know it!

Sam's Letter- August 8, 2012

Hey family it sounds like everyone is doing awesome! So last week Elder Ivey and I went to a Yankees game and had an awesome time! Elders Fairbourn and Smith didn't want to go because they didn't want to spend the money, and they had already gone last year. But the Yankees played the Orioles and destroyed them! We left about the end of the 6th inning and it was Yankees: 11; Orioles: 2. So it was a fun game! We scalped tickets for 20 dollars. It was seats on the main floor in the midst of all these Jewish kids! It was some camp. The guy who bought them says that he buys those tickets about 50 for 100 dollars. They were good seats though! So after that Elder Ivey and I just split for the rest of the day and went tracting in his area and taught a lesson with this really cool family!! Thursday Elder Fairbourn and I had a lesson with one of our investigators and it was good. She isn't progressing very well so we might have to drop her, but we will keep trying to teach to her needs! Then we tracted some more and taught a lesson, and then taught English class. Friday Elder Smith and I did a split in my area and had a lot of appointments. The only bad part is that they all canceled! So we tracted all day and we were able to teach three lessons, two of which were in Spanish! It was a pretty good day! And we knocked on this door and it was these men painting and the guy who opened the door was either high off of the paint fumes, or super drunk! But he kept saying he was so tired and Elder Smith asked if he could give him a card and the guy put his head down and I think he fell asleep, but then he woke up confused and took the card and we left. It was weird but funny! And here is a good tongue twister: Rear Wheel Well (say it five times fast). Saturday we tracted all day and we were able to teach one lesson which is good. Then we had an appointment with a member. This was the first time Elder Fairbourn and I had seen this family, and they are super nice! The dad isn't a member but he loves the missionaries and he came to church this past Sunday! Then after that we went to Throggs Neck which is a super nice area in the Bronx. The sister missionaries gave us some referrals and we went and looked them up, no success though. Sunday we had our normal meetings, and then we went tracting some more! No lessons though. MONDAY was an interesting morning. So we had zone meeting at 10:30 and we got there and there was this SUPER drunk man who was pulling on the doors yelling, "Let me in." So we went and sat and talked with him outside and he stunk really bad, like alcohol. He said he wanted a blessing, and two of the Elders in my zone had said they already gave him a blessing but we said a prayer with him. He also was in like hospital scrubs, and his pants weren't tied very tightly so we saw his lower half quite a few times. Haha, but after that we called the APs and the said to call the police. So we did and the ambulance came and were having a hard time trying to get him to come in the van. And he didn't like that we called the police on him, and said he was going to come back and cut all of our heads off. Welcome to the Bronx. So they were able to get him and then we had our zone meeting. Then we went and tracted some more and got a lesson from that! Then we had a Noche de Hogar with Hermano Guevara our ward mission leader. Maria, one of our investigators came! It really was designed for her. We talked about Alma 32 about faith. She knows the Gospel is true, she feels the spirit and knows its the truth, she just wants to convince her mind that it is true. But she definetly had a good time and felt the spirit! Tuesday we did some more tracting and taught a lesson. These past two weeks I've been hitting records with lessons, my own records which is sweet! But then we went to Maria and Martas and taught about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and invited them to be baptized. Marta said shes ready, but will wait for Maria. And Maria just wants to make sure that this is the truth. But she knows that she needs to be baptized. It was a good lesson all in all! So today for Pday we are going  to Five Guys! I'm soooo excited! Its a little bit out of our zone, but we got permission, and the ZLs are coming along too! Then we are going to this shopping center in Co-op city. Then I'm not sure after that! 

So for transfers I think I'm leaving, but not 100% certain. But don't send me any mail though, until after next week when I tell you about transfers. So just hold on. And I don't remember a Will Claye. But that is really cool! I heard Usain Bolt won the 100m dash again. Did he beat his record? Well I love you all! Be safe and healthy. Hope all is well!! 

Sam's Six Month Mark

Sam has been on his mission for 6 months!  That is a 1/4 of his mission.  He is doing so well and is such an amazing missionary.  We are so proud of him and all his great service and dedication to the people in New York City.  We Love you Sam!

Garage Sale with Figs=So Much Fun

I wish we had more pictures of our super, colossal, fun filled garage sale at the Figs!  I drove to Maricopa with Hayden and Blake in tow.  Chase and Lauren stayed home with Dad.  When we got there we decided to go eat at Headquarters for dinner.  It was so good.  We even had great entertainment provided on our way in and on our way out thanks to a man who definitely was 10 sheets to the wind.  Wow!  He was interesting and very intoxicated.  After that we went to Yogurt Jungle and I got the best yogurt.  Then, we went back to the Fig's.  We were tired and knew we would be getting up very early.  Linda, Carley, Hayden and I slept in Linda's bed (by candlelight).  It reminded me so much of the good times I had spending the night with Linda.  Josh slept in the family room with Colten and Blake.  We got up bright and early in the morning and took everything out for the garage sale.  We (I mean Linda) had SO MUCH STUFF!  The garage sale was a great success and we had a blast!  I wish everyone could have an Aunt Linda... she is truly the BEST!  Cody made a drink/ice cream, smartie sucker run for us and they made the whole day that much better.  After we got most of the garage sale cleaned up we ate at Penascos.  Linda had been telling me about this place and that I would want to "lick my plate."  Well, that is TRUE!  I wanted to lick my plate.  It was DELICIOUS!  I could eat that sauce like soup.  It was so good.  After that we went back to Linda's and crashed for a little bit and then it was time to go home.  Thanks Figs for giving us a WEEKEND  we will never forget!  It was awesome!

Blake Hates Football

It is that time of year again!  Flag Football!  I thought I would be smart and sign up Chase and Blake for flag football... same league, practices and games.  Well, Blake had told me that he did not want to play but I thought that once he got out there he would like it.  The first day arrives.  I get Blake to his team and he begins his practice.  After a little bit Chase and I were walking back to Blake's practice and one of the moms comes up to me and tells me that Blake got hit in the face with the football and he is not wanting to get up.  I go over to him but I dare not say anything yet.  (Blake does not like to be asked what is wrong or fussed over- he will eventually tell me what is wrong but he does it on his terms).  When he finally rolled over to his back I asked him what was wrong... are you hurt, can you get up????  He said...."I hate football!"  I asked him what he hated about it and he said, "I hate running and catching the ball!"  I guess that ends his football career.  He is only 7 but I am pretty sure he will never want to play anything similar to football.  The next day I signed him up for Lego Club (this was his first request before I decided to choose his talent for him).

Sam's Letter- August 1, 2012

Wow a new month!! July definetly has been the fastest month so far of my mission. And Elder Fairbourn said it only gets faster! Crazy!! So last P-Day we went to Orchard Beach and had a great time! We first played some volleyball on the courts they have and then we went on the sand and played catch with a football and had a great time. Our whole zone went, which is about 10 missionaries, so not to many. We then went and ate at Subway afterwards. Then Elder Fairbourn and I went and looked up some former investigators to see if they were interested or if they even live there. No success but it was still a fun day! Thursday we went to one of our investigators named Brenda and gave her a Book of Mormon and asked her to read it! Then we did some more tracting and then taught English class that night! Friday we did more tracting and didn't have any success. But as we were going home this cool guy started to talk with us and has talked with missionaries before and said that we could come to his barber shop anytime for haircuts, for freeee!! Which is nice. Saturday we went to Throggs Neck which is the name of a city in our area and had some refferals there. We were able to teach two lessons and gave a Book of Mormon to one of them who is really interested! Then we met up with two other Elders in our district to give a blessing to an investigator. It was really nice and she even bought us food! So the whole day on Saturday my body was itching and I didn't no why. I had little rash spots on my arms, so I was like dang it! So we went home and I took my shirt off, and had a rash all over my body! It was crazy! So I took some Benydryl and took a cold shower and went to bed! I woke up on Sunday it was gone. But by 7 o'clock it came back! It wasn't as bad though but it still stunk! We tracted on Sunday until about 8 and then went home. But its gone now and hasn't returned. It was the weirdest thing though! Monday we just tracted. And Tuesday we tracted and then had a lesson with Maria and Marta and it was awesome! We talked about baptism with them and Marta (the mom) said she is going to wait until Maria (the daughter) is ready. So Marta is read to go! And Maria just has a few questions but is progressing!! They will be baptized! We took our ward mission leader Hermano Guevara with us and he can relate with them so good!! It was an awesome lesson! So today for Pday we are going to try to go to a Yankees game!! It will be fun and I will tell you all about it next week! Well hope everyone is doing well and havingfun, especially those at the condo! Thats crazy Lindsay and Billy are moving! Wish them the best of luck! And yes black is sweet for scripture cases! Well I love you all and hope all is well! And if you could send my credit card with the package! Oh and today we saw a man wearing a thong. His shirt was a little short for him and it was just hanging out. "Its a thong!" (quote from Shrek, ginger bread) Love you all!