Awesome Friends!

We were invited to join the Smiths for family home evening. We love them so much, and were happy to have some time with them. Sadly, most of their kids have grown up and left for missions, college and marriage. Spencer is the only kid left at home, so I think he was happy to have us join in.

Anne, Dan, Daniel, Rich, Tim, Freddy

Laney, Andrew, Spencer, Steph, Susanna

Dan is the stake president of the Surprise West Stake, our neighboring stake. He works closely with the missionaries in the area. While we were there 3 sets of missionaries dropped by. These cute sisters took the group picture for us and snapped a couple of selfies. They were adorable!

Wednesday night, at the church activity for the youth, Daniel was being silly and jumped off a table. He hit is head on the lowered part of the ceiling and cut it open. It wasn't deep, but it bled a lot. 

We took this one for Sara. Just some of our music buddies sending love to her in Montana!

Steph, Tim, Sebastian, Lance and Gabe

Homemade salsa is the best! We made and ate a ton this week.

Rich and the kids prepped the yard and planted winter grass a couple of weeks ago. It is coming in beautifully! We just mowed it for the first time. The green is so pretty!

The crepe myrtles are just starting to get a few colored leaves. So exciting!!!

Sunday evening, we had Lance and Sebastian over for dinner and fun. Lance had never been to our home before; he was way over due. We had Panang Curry for dinner. YUM!!!

Then we had family scriptures with them. It was great, and Lance had lots to add to the conversation.

Gavin joined us and then we all went to the piano. We sang and sang and laughed and had fun!

Lance played the piano for us as well, I just didn't get a picture.

There may have been some dancing too.

Lance had to leave for work a little before 10pm. Sebastian stayed the night. Tim, Sebastian and I talked and talked long after everyone went to bed. Eventually Tim fell asleep too, on Sebastian's shoulder. We kept talking, however, until about 5:30 am. We are crazy, but we had such awesome conversations about faith, and growth, all the things we've learned since we met a year ago, what we can do to improve and continue to grow. Sebastian is an amazing young man. He is such a great friend to Sara, Tim and me, and all the family, for that matter. He's like sunshine, so happy and always looking to improve. Love that guy!

Luckily, there was no school the next day, because it was Veteran's Day. I did sleep from a little before 6 am to 9:15 am. It was worth it. and, surprisingly, I was totally functional and not sleepy.