TIME TO UPDATE!

• Mark just got back from Guatemala.  He was there doing a Dental mission, and had an incredible time.--And--we were incredibly blessed here, and everything  ran really smoothly - We felt so watched over!(I was freaking out before--with the timing--of moving etc, and the Utah people that died in Guatemala the week before.)  Anyway--he has wanted to do this forever, and has had it planned for the last year, and he finally got to go.   He went down with a group of LDS Dr.s --2 from Fort Collins (Kieth VanTassell, and Ken Allen) and the rest from Denver.  They stayed in Chicimunga (I know I hashed that spelling) in a run down hotel, and then traveled every day to different villages.  The villages were way up in the mountains--and they rode in the back of a little truck on winding dirt roads for 2-3 hours each way.   He mainly pulled teeth--since their teeth were so bombed, but it was cool--One day a 12 year old boy fell and broke his jaw (it just happened to be the day they were there) and knocked out a bunch of teeth.  Nobody had any wire so Mark asked if they had paper clips--they searched and found some, and Mark ended up wiring the boys mouth back together with composite and paper clips!  Then taught him--how to take care of it after a few weeks/months etc.  --Isn't that cool?  I am so proud of Mark--what a great talent he has to help people!!! On the last day they were there, they set up shop in Guatemala City to help all of the missionaries waiting to go on missions, but haven't been able to because of their Dental status--they got a bunch of them ready to send out!!!  It was cool to hear the experiences--Mark keeps talking that he wants me to come down next year and be his assistant--We'll see--I would LOVE to go --It scares me to leave the kids though--who knows we'll see.  Someday, I want to go with the whole family as they get older--Mark especially wants to take them down one at a time as they get older--so they can be a part of it too!  What a humbling eye opener--to put life in perspective!

The kids are doing great too! They have been busy with school (they love their classes and teachers!!) -Josh has been totally jealous of Maddie--she has been so busy with taking care of all the neighbors Dogs, cats, fish, plants, hamsters etc while they have been out of town--she is bringing in the big bucks--and it's not fair (he says)!! She has been busy all summer, and is still going, as some of them are still traveling. Thankfully they are all in our cul-de-sac--and it is convenient. She has learned a ton about animals, and which kind of dogs she likes and doesn't, and she found out she doesn't like cats (she is allergic too!) She's also been catching all the local frogs, and craw-dads etc.--Man, this girl is going to be a vet! She loves animals --Where did this come from??---crazy!

Whew--this is way too long--other than that, guess what we've been doing??????  PACKING!   We move into our apartment on the 17--and out of here on the 19th--holy cow!  That's next Week!  I really should be packing--and not blogging--oh well!  We have had a blast --finding old treasures!  The kids found green hair spray stuff from Halloween and we couldn't resist!!  We also found a yummy Christmas chocolate sucker making kit----Allie whipped them up with no problems--and had a treat for the kids when they got home--it has been handy to keep her busy (we won't mention how old that might have been!)  We have found all the missing parts to everything we already threw away--oh the fun!  We have also loved listening to Em and Chad's wedding CD while we pack (can you tell?)  Most of them are from our good old dating days!   It has been fun---but I'm telling ya---it just keeps coming out of the walls!  Unbelievable how much junk we have--We are looking forward to the apartment--and a much Simpler life!!  We told the builder we might just like it better-and have to sell the house!  

We love all your updates keep them coming!!!!! Oh--ya and someday after we move --and then probably move again I might actually get around to making our blog private!!!!