Elder and Sister Paulson

Mom and Dad entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT on Monday, August 17, 2009. They left for Bulgaria on August 27th. They are currently serving in the mission office in Sofia. Walking from our house to the MTC. This is the back fence, at the end of our street!

With the grandkids

We made it!

One last hug (or 7 or 8)

Traditional photo op

At the doors

A few hours off on Sunday to come say goodbye! We went up to the temple for some pictures.

I can't remember how to say "Elder" in Bulgarian--something like "Stereszhna"--but "Brother" is pronounced "Brat."

Sister is pronounced, "Sestra." When they arrive in Bulgaria, they will get new tags that have their last names in the Cyrillic alphabet, too.

August

August was a great month. The first week was scout camp and band camp. The second week was band camp and the county fair. The third week, my parents left on their mission to Bulgaria and school started. The fourth week was a flurry of activity.
August was also a sad month. We attended 3 funerals: My cousin (distant) Jeremy Clawson died suddenly at age 36; Matt Bastian (Jared's cousin and friend from high school) lost his father; and Jared's cousin Cathy died after a long illness, also at a young age. Visiting with "Belle" at the fair.

The only ride Elizabeth was brave enough to ride. She liked it but said that was enough.

Elizabeth met "Cinderella"

David and Sarah

John and Jacob in the Tilt-A-Whirl

Paul, Jared, and Robert on the Tilt-A-Whirl

Elizabeth loved the beehive!

Paul's "Indigo Bunting" won a first place ribbon.

So did "Desert Sprint"

and "Paradise Cove."

Jake's new look, thanks to the dentist.

Cute Davy boy!

The girls were happy when Jared got back from scout camp with a beard!

Happy campers

Robert lashing a project

Exciting classes

Will, John, and their two ecology teachers

Silver Moccasin

Silver Moccasin is a Boy Scouts of America National Youth Leadership Training Camp in the High Unitas of Utah. Boys from all over the state come for a week to learn how to be leaders in their own troops. The next year, the boys are given the opportunity to interview to become staff members themselves. If they continue on the staff in following years, they are considered Senior Staff members and they do the teaching and leading of the new participants. It is a fantastic program. When Will first went at age 12, we couldn't believe the change that took place in him. He learned very valuable skills and started implementing them right away. We wholeheartedly support this camp. This year Will was the Instructor and one of the Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders. John was a Troop Guide for the second year in a row, and Paul was a participant for the second year. We hope that next year Robert will also be able to participate. Here are a few photos that John took during the week. It was cold, rainy and even snowy, but they had a great time.

Summer Ecology Field Studies Class

Will and John had the great opportunity this summer to take a two-week Ecology class with Mr. Myrup. They did field research and had a fantastic time. They took overnight field trips to the San Rafael Swell and the High Uintas.

Dinosaur tracks

Collecting fossils

The class

Ancient paintings

John had a great time! Will had a great time, too, but John had the camera!

I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy

We liked having my parents here for a few weeks in July. Though they were staying with Kevin, we got to see them fairly frequently.

Jared prepared to install the toilet.

4th of July Parade--John had his wisdom teeth taken out the day before and was too miserable to march. Will was in it, though.

Miserable!

Paul really liked these stilts at Grandma Gina's house.

Oldroyd extended family reunion--again Jared did the grilling. Kids had a great time.

Will and Andrew love to play games.

Oldroyd cousins!

All in a row--just missing Matt, who is on a mission, Aubri and Amber who were at the UN in Geneva, Switzerland for an internship, and baby Daniel.

David's birthday money grab.

Cousin hike to Stewart Falls.

Brrr!! That's melted snow, ya know!

Sarah loves this LOVE outfit.

Will likes summer vacation.

Stunning magesty

David likes to paint. We came home one evening to find him thus. Who was babysitting, anyway?

State Little League Tournament in Lehi. They won this game, but lost their other two. It was fun, anyway. Jacob got hit in the wrist by a pitch and we thought his arm might be broken. It wasn't.

Robert holding his brand new cousin, Ashlynn Grace Freeman. We took a trip to California to visit family and friends, and for my 20th High School Reunion.

Elizabeth and her cousin Rachel playing in the dirt just after their baths.

John holding Ashlynn. Passed out from the heat in the RV, despite the popsicle! Our A/C went out at the beginning of our trip.

Jacob and Ashlynn.

Checking out Freeman Shorin Ru Karate.

Visiting Grandma Cooper in Ione, California.

Welcome to Chico! My hometown.

My friend, Michele, and her brand new husband, Kevin.

Penny Candy in Live Oak was always a landmark for me. We got to stop this time and got snow cones that gave us headaches. Oh well! It was Jared's and David's birthday.

Fun in the sink.

Sarah wearing a wig to match Hannah's hair. Silly cousins!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Davy!

Coloring in his new Color Wonder book.

Happy Birthday to Jared and Seth, too! (And Jim and Kim!)

Will holding Ashlynn.

Driving through the beautiful canyons of California on our way back to Utah. What a fun trip we had, even if it was H-O-T!!

As soon as we got home, Paul had his wisdom teeth extracted, plus 6 baby teeth--all molars. How was he supposed to chew?