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. 

Farewell again, Sara Beara!

Our missionary is up on the board and ready to head out to Montana! The long wait is over.

Sunday evening, we had some family over for a potluck dinner and farewell to Sara. 

Freia and Laney

Sammy laughing with Grandpa Alger

Sara and Cadie

Sammy and Grammy

The big boys

Papa, Freddy, Gavin and Bubba

Little Ben

Ryan

Sara and Freia

Awesome gospel conversations, the best part of family gatherings!

Steph, Sara, and Laney

The Papas, these two fellas are the cutest!

Lilly, Tim and Laney

Andrew, Papa, and Freddy

Gavin, Steph, and Bubba

Look at all the love!

The littles

Ella, Tori, Freia and Peter

Ben teaching mischief to Sam, twisting his arm hairs together. 

Sam thought they were melted, but their just tied in knotted balls. 

Goodbyes with Lilly Jensen

Sara and I go on almost nightly walks. Monday night, we went on our last one for the next 16 months. I sure will miss this girl and all the fun we have together. 

But Montana needs some of her sunshine.

Tim was up late being silly and prolonging his goodbyes.

He needed to include his foot in this one for some reason. 

I'm sure it made sense in the middle of the night.

Everyone asked to be awakened to say goodbye before we left for the airport, just before 4:00 am.

Some of them remember it, and some of them were too asleep.

Luckily, we had a little time to be together at the airport, before sending her off. 

It's so hard to say goodbye. She will be such an incredible missionary. Sara has a heart of gold and love of God and of God's children. She will serve and love with all she has.

Until we meet again, my darling Sister Alger!

Of course life carries on, important things happen, things like the 1 minute cracker challenge. You have to eat 6 saltine crackers, in 1 minute, no liquids, just crackers. It's harder than it sounds. Daniel came close, but no one did it.

Daddy and Laney

We had MCO rehearsal on Wednesday, instead of Thursday because of Halloween. Brett Stewart conducted rehearsal and we had an album release party for the new Millennial Song Album!

Brett signed our cds and talked with the kids for a few minutes.

The Surprise, AZ MCO kids!

Halloween night, Laney and Zanna went trick or treating with friends.

Cat in the Hat

Winnie the Pooh

Daniel and I went to Gammage Theater, and saw Anastasia the Musical. He was so cute and wore a tie to match my shirt. I didn't tell him what we were doing until a couple hours before hand.

He was so surprised and super excited! He had told me that this was the only thing he wanted for his 16 birthday (which isn't until March). It was a wonderful performance and a great date night!

The sets were nearly all digital. It was incredibly beautiful and scene changes were superbly smooth.

Sunday night, we sang hymns together around the piano. It has been a while since we did that. It's so much fun that we can sing with all 4 parts and Daniel as our accompanist. We were short on girls without Sara. I'm sure her heart was singing with us.