Washington D.C.

Austin got to go a Learning Forward Education Conference in Washington, D.C. and I invited myself to join him.  We flew out of Calgary to Minneapolis, and then from Minneapolis to Washington, D.C.  We had some excitement as we were leaving Minneapolis.  We had left the gate and were starting to taxi out to the runway.  A lady right in front of me told the flight attendant that she was sick and couldn't fly. So we had to return to the gate.  The lady got off the plane, and then the flight attendant came and searched her area. Then about 20 minutes later the captain came on the intercom and said that when someone gets off a plane, it raises a safety concern.  So they had us all get off the plane again and take all our stuff with us.  They even brought in dogs to check for bombs.  Everything was clear, so 2 hours later we flew out.

Cody Toone, Austin's vice principal, had flown out 2 days earlier and had rented a car.  So he picked us up.  The convention was at the Gaylord Convention Center, and we stayed right across the street in the Hampton Inn.  It was perfect.  We were right next to the Potomac River, and there were Christmas trees and lights everywhere.

They went to their conference in the day, and then we were tourists.  The first day we went to Mt. Vernon where George Washington lived.  George was a great leader and a great man.  We need more leaders like him.

We drove to a parking lot and got on the subway.  We rode to Arlington Cemetery.  The lady at the Visitor's Center said as we got there, if you hurry you can make the 4 o'clock changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  So we grabbed a map and started walking.  It was a little farther than we expected.  As it got closer to 4 pm, we started to run, but we made it just as the clock tour started chiming.  It was worth it.  I love watching their precision and respect.  It was one of the memories I had of Washington D.C. when I went with my family when I was 14.

Next we walked to the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

We were worn out and hungry after walking and walking. We ate delicious steak at this restaurant  the first two nights.

On our second day of being tourists, we drove to Annapolis, Maryland to the US Naval Academy. My Uncle Boyd and Aunt Jeanene work there. Luckily we got to meet up with them and have a short tour. Austin had actually never met my aunt. It was awesome to have a tour and see the beautiful buildings and the flags the Navy has captured.

Next stop was the Washington DC Temple. It is beautiful every night but especially with Christmas lights. We met up with David & Pat Mudrick, friends of Austin's dad. After we walked around the Temple visitor center, we went to eat with them in a little sandwich shop where locals eat. It was yummy!

Austin and Cody went to class on Wednesday morning. And then it was time to fly back home. Our first flight from Washington DC to Toronto was on a small plane. We had to ride in one of these buses out to the plane and climb right on the steps to the plane. We were on the front row of the plane. We pretended we were first class. Then before we took off, the flight attendant said he needed one person from the first four rows to move to the back four rows so the plane would balance out. So Austin volunteered to move back.

We made it safely back to Calgary and then our drive home to Cardston. 

Ours kids rocked it while we were gone. They just took care of each other, and Jill got everyone where they needed to be. They did need a little help from neighbors and friends to get everyone where they needed to be. They even fasted on Sunday!

This was a picture of them all ready for school on Monday. 

They also had a photo shoot before church!

Austin's Birthday

We knew we had to do a better job of celebrating Austin's birthday this year than last year.

We went to his school office on Sunday to decorate.

 Grandpa & Grandpa came over for a steak & potatoes dinner and cheesecake. We had some pre-present opening entertainment with Lucy and Carly belted to each other trying to do attempt a flip.

Sadies Dance

Jill asked Wyatt Olsen to the Sadies girls choice dance at the high school. The theme was 50s. Her friend, Bailey Nelson, asked Wyatt's cousin, Shody Perry.  The boys said they wanted to plan the date, but we didn't really know.  We were on standby to cook dinner all day. Then they finally said they would pick up the girls about 8.  It ended up that they didn't have dinner. Each of the four boys they were with borrowed a truck and all the trucks pulled into every driveway to pick up the girls. 

They went and got ice cream on the way to the dance.  They had a fun time and they looked so dang cute.

Hanna also went to the dance - but without a date. She just went with her friends. Thanks to Elizabeth Bevans for sewing her poodle skirt for her.

Guardian Angels

The girls all loaded their horses and Jill drove the truck and trailer as they were headed to rodeo academy, just like they do every Thursday. I come a little later with some dinner, and then I can also leave early if I need to if I have my own car.

I watched out the window to make sure they got onto the driveway okay since there was some snow and ice. Then the next time I looked up, I could see the trailer tail lights at the end of the driveway. I could tell they were stopped, but I thought Jill must have been taking the truck out of 4-wheel drive. Then it was taking a while. Then she called me. Mom, I am in the ditch.

I called Austin as I got in the car to drive out. Then I got to the end of the driveway, and called him back and said, "You definitely need to come."

There were already two trucks that had stopped to see what was wrong. The first was Matt Nelson and a friend he was hunting with.  He drove by on the highway and could tell the truck was in the ditch and watched them unload the horses.  Matt Bevans also stopped.

The driveway was icy and as she started over the cattleguard and onto the road, the brakes locked and she was sliding and she tried to turn and ended up in the ditch. They were so lucky it didn't roll.The girls were fine.  Lucy and Hanna climbed out their side windows and they unloaded the horses. The horses were fine. 

Matt Nelson started to think of a plan to see if his truck could pull it out. Or maybe his truck and Matt Bevan's truck. Then Austin got there and they did try pulling with both trucks. Not quite enough.

Then along came Rod Olsen and his Dad, Dee Olsen. Then Brad Sommerfeldt and Ernie Olsen pulled in. I called our neighbor, Marvin Leavitt, and he came with his big tractor. When he got there, he said, "This is not as fun as the last block party we had."

They decided to unhook the trailer and pull the truck out first.  With some effort and thinking and trying, it worked.  The only damage to the truck was the driver's side of the box of the truck was quite dented. Then they figured out how to get the trailer pulled out of the ditch and onto the road.  The trailer was fine.

I took a few pictures, mostly to document it for insurance.  When we came back to the house and showed Jill, she told me that if I would have taken pictures of the other side we could have seen the angels who were holding up the truck and trailer. There were some who helped her slow down and not to roll.  Then Hanna said that Leighton (Austin's brother who died in 1997) had said, "Hanna, stay calm."

Besides the unseen angels, we are thankful for the angels we could see who came to help. It wasn't a coincidence that Matt Nelson, Matt Bevans, Rod Olsen, Brad Sommerfeldt, and Ernie Olsen were driving by, saw the lights and came to help.  We are also thankful that Marvin and his tractor were close by and could come and help. Marvin had been on vacation the past 2 weeks.

It could have been so much worse, and we are thankful that the damage was minimal.

Earlier in the day, Hanna, Lucy, Carly and I had spent the day in Lethbridge shopping. Hanna had bugged those girls and was bugged many times that day. But as soon as they got out and had the horses unloaded, Hanna gave Carly her coat and Lucy her gloves.  They went to put the horses back in the field, and it took Hanna a couple minutes to get the gate open, especially because her hands were so cold.  When it really counts, Hanna is the best sister.

We are thankful for the Lord's protecting hand.

Whipples Forever

My sister married this fantastic fella on November 1, 2008. On the eve of their seventh anniversary, they added these two gorgeous girls to their eternal family at the Mt. Timpanagos Temple.

Brooklyn Molly Whipple & Brylee Tricia Whipple

Grandpa Reeve

Lucy & Lindsey

Hailey, Hanna & Jill

My seven quality siblings

We enjoyed a delicious soup & bread luncheon.

Rachelle had a story to read, You Are Here for a Reason.

"Life can be tricky, there isn't a doubt. You'll skin your knees trying to figure it out. But life works together, the good and the bad, the silly and awful, the happy and sad, to paint a big picture we can't always see...a picture that needs you, most definitely!" Welcome to the family Brooklyn and Brylee, we love you! #familiesareforever #youarehereforever