Funny Story

Last night we had hamburgers for dinner. Emily was really hungry and wanted another half of one. So she cut the bun in half and then cut a hamburger in half. She sits down and can only find the bottom half of her bun. So she's questioning everyone. "Who took my bun? Someone took it. I know it was here a minute ago. Where is my bun? This went on for a while til she gave up and took another one. When she got up from eating look at what was on her chair. She was sitting on it the whole time. We laughed a long time with that one!!

Maddox loves when the camera comes out so we took a picture of him too. Say "Cheese!!:

witch costume

Emily looks adorable as a witch this morning. Steve put the costume together for her. Didn't he do a great job? But what's so funny is the dress Emily is wearing. It's Melanie's from high school. Does it look early 80's to anyone? Do you remember the brand Gunne Sax? It made me laugh but I think Emily looks great in it!! Happy Friday Halloween!!!

Pleeezzz!!!

I have to say that I can't stand this time of year in politics. It erks me the amount of hate that is sweeping though our nation all in the name of trying to get our vote. If we are a nation under God how can we act like this? It's wrong on both sides. How are we going to work together when there is constant fighting? Even after the elections.....how will we get anything done when no one will work together? It's crazy!! I pretty much leave the tv off to avoid the mudslinging commercials. I will go out to vote Tuesday and I have hope that things will get better but I know it will take a lot of work from every individual. And another thing......why so many fear tactics? Is it really necessary? Do we need to live our lives in fear? I don't think so. I honestly think life is pretty great!!
Ok....now I feel better getting that off my chest.

Merry Christmas!!

Ooops....sorry, it's only October. Look at what we got last night. Lots of snow and it's still coming down. The boots are out and ready to go :)

Christopher, Lesa and Maddox

I have to keep updating pictures cuz the grandsons are growing up so fast!!! I want to have lots of pictures recorded of them and the fun things they do.


And Lesa has about 2 1/2 months till our 3rd grandson is born. It is so exciting!!
It's gonna be fun having Maddox and Kingston together this Christmas. Lots and lots of pictures will be taken!!!

Nathan's emails

District meeting. Nathan is on the far left. Some kind of district meeting :)

Dear Father,

So things here are going good, We found 2 new investigators. Which is really good. On lives way up in Reposaari though, which is about 30 mins away by car, so its kinda far, but its a super cool and pretty place so It'll be fun to go up there every week. The other lives here in Pori, however.. he's got a rather large Word of Wisdom problem... cuz hes a chain smoker... during our 45 min teach with him he smoked 3 cigarettes... So we'll have to work with him on that. but I think once he starts reading and praying he will realize then benefit of quiting... I mean it will be super hard for him.. but I think he can do it.

So weather wise things are starting to get cold and dark here... the average Temp is probably about 0 C. So pretty cold.. haha. but its supposed to get much colder. several members and non members have told us that it is supposed to be the coldest winter in 100 years... so that will be fun.. I'll get to say that I went through the coldest winter in 100 years in Finland... Not many People get to say that.. haha...

Welp I guess that's everything I love and miss you. Take care

Rakaudella,
Nathan Peck

Hey mommers
Hey so things are going good here. Neither me nor Elder Karlsson are moving this change so everything will be staying the same here for a couple of weeks. But yeah it is getting pretty cold.. most morning are about -2 degrees Celsius. so its pretty cold, but then it gets up to about 3 by end of the day.. haha.. so not too bad.. hehe.. but yeah its starting to get cold, and we have seen snow a couple of times so that's cool. But guess what... We found 2 new Investigators YAY... so that's quite awesome... however one lives in Reposaari... which is about 30 minute drive away... so that's going to be tough, cuz shes old and cant drive... so somehow we will have to find a way to get her to church. but yeah.. I think there are buses that go up there. so we shall see. but yeah other than that things are going good.. I haven't gotten the other envelope but it very well could be at the office with the package.. so we shall see,. but yeah things here are going quite well and dandy... um not much else happened.. I got a cool Furry hat for when it gets colder... Its kinda like Chris's... if he still has his.. but yeah.. its nice.. but yeah i guess that's everything... I love and miss you a ton!!!

Rakaudella

Look who I got a picture of.....:)

Yep....It's Jaron. He looks so cool and I love this picture!!! I have been waiting and waiting patiently for weeks to get a picture of him in the band. I just got it a half hour ago so up on the blog it goes. I think he looks awesome!! Go Utes!! :)

Last Performance

Last night was Emily's final performance of "The Black Cauldron". She did great!!!

And it was so awesome to have her Beehive class come and support her in her dancing. She was so thrilled to see them and it made my night too!!!
Thank you girls and leaders!! You're wonderful!

Pics. of Timothy, Jessica and Kingston....mostly Kingston :)

I wanted to update my blog of the latest (and greatest) pictures Timothy, Jess and the King :) They are all so cute!! So enjoy!

Try-outs

Emily is staying after school to try out for a dancing part in the school play,"Once Upon A Mattress." There is another girl in her ballet class who is trying out and they practiced the dance together last night. Emily is really excited but also scared that she won't make it. She said that there are 140 people trying out but only 33 make it. So she's scared she won't. But I told her that she needs to try and not chicken out cuz of fear. Even if she didn't make it at least she'll learn something from it.....experience. So she's staying after and she will find out Monday for call-backs.
So why do I feel like the one who needs to throw up?
GOOD LUCK EMILY!! You'll do great!

Finally!

Done and Done!!!!

4am wake-up call

There was no phone call or anything like that. It's just that my eyes opened at 4am and there was no going back to sleep. I did try but everything under the sun was racing through my mind......and there were tons of things to think about, things to organize in my head and appointments I needed to remember. Plus made some new ones in my head. So after 2 hours of thinking it was time to get up and get Em up too.
So far I have gotten a few things done on my mental list but as the afternoon goes on I'm fading more and more. I think I need the IV of diet coke now. Kitchen just got finished being painted. Good thing cuz I was on my last paint brush. Maybe it's the combination of lack of sleep and paint fumes that's making me feel a little blond (sorry blond friends).
All I can say is I better sleep tonight and no more early am. eye openings.

Nathan's emails

Hey mommers!!
Hey so how are things going? things here are going good. Your package came, however I don't have it yet, I have to wait until zone conference or something along those lines, to get it because its at the office and they cant forward packages for free. But yeah its here, If i would have known that it wouldn't take that long I would have told you to send it to my address, but I guess now we now. So this week we are going to find out about changes 8D. we should have gotten change calls on Saturday, however President Brown is gone this week, so this change is 1 week longer than usual, which will make next change 1 week short, which is kinda crazy, But yeah, I don't really know if i want to get transferred, I've yet to keep a comp for more than 1 change and i think that it would be fun to have one longer so, yeah, I would be totally cool with staying here in Pori for another change. Welp.. I do believe that is everything, not much has happened here, but its going good, and it sounds like your all have a good time, and that's exciting that Tim and Jess are going there for Christmas... that'll be fun... welp take care I love and miss you!!!
Rakaudella,
Vanhin Peck


Hello Father,

Hey so that sounded like fun climbing baldy with Emily. the pictures were quite awesome. Haha your email/blog got me thinking about the mountains, because there are absolutely zero here. it is totally flat!! Its very different from home having mountains in our back yard to flatness.. haha... But its cool, I like it here a lot so all is well.

So its starting to get pretty cold here, we saw our first snow the other day, which was pretty exciting, and on our way to Tampere it got down to -3C, it was pretty intense, well, we were in to car so it wasn't that cold for us but, that's the coldest I've seen it yet so it was cool.

Hmm... not much else has happened here, we are still looking for new investigators and stuff so hopefully we can find some of them soon, haha.. but yeah everything is good. Oh and random thing, as you know my companion is from Sweden, and It was a member of our districts birthday the other day and so he sang the Swedish happy birthday to him... and it didn't sound much at all like what we sing... however we got the tune right.. haha... but yeah... after he sang, i sang our version for him... and he just started to laugh.. haha.

Welp i think that be everything but good luck with all you school stuff and everything, I love and miss you,

Rakaudella,
Vanhin Nathan Peck

The Great Baldy Ascent 2010

Emily and I (Steve) decided to make the ascent after my half-marathon in Moab had been canceled. I was rather saddened that something I had worked hard to train for had not worked out, so was feeling morose. But there, staring me in the face was mount Baldy, rising 8700 feet right out side my door. It was time for an expedition to the top and I knew who would dare scale those airy heights with me: intrepid Emily, one of the most fearless explores of our time. From the map you can see there are numerous routs to the top. The northern ascent is made through Battle Creek canyon, a steep rocky clime up onto the flanks of Mt. Timpanogos. We set out about 10am, with hearts light and two camel backs full of water, some candy bars, a sports drink and two peanut butter sandwiches. The leaves were in full splendor because the fall has come so late this year and it was gorgeous.



But, it was hard going. The trail was very steep and poor trail placement up the canyon means that spring runoff gouges out the trail making it like hiking up a creek bed. It was tiring! We rested often:



But it was a gorgeous hike:


As we approached the upper meadow we were exhasted. We reached the point where the Battle Creek trail joined the Mt. Baldy trail in a beautiful meadow. We laid on our backs pondering if we should go on. Well, at least I did, but Emily wanted to go on. Of course here is her condition:



Here is mine:



The trail continued up as we climbed the saddle connecting Baldy to Timp. It was becoming a slog until suddenly Emily started singing marching songs and the time passed more quickly and with less attention to the state of exhaustion as we sang "I've been working on the railroad," The theme to Gilligan's Island," and "There is a Hole in the Bucket." Up, up, up we climbed, but either due to the thin air, the singing, or the shear beauty of the place, we were in a very good mood as we hiked up the saddle:




At the top of the saddle, we came upon some hunters looking for Elk up at the top of the ridge and chatted with them a few minutes. The first people we had met on the trail since early that morning way down in Battle Creek Canyon. They were amazed we hiked so far. We then turned West for the final assault on Baldy. The trail had been rough, but now it was very steep and we were exhausted. But we reached the top! We met a couple about my age coming down and chatted with them for a minute, they were exhausted too. But then we were there! We had climbed 3300 vertical feet. We had summitted! The first thing we did was reach for our peanut-butter sandwiches and take a picture. It was the best sandwich I ever had:



We then called Mom:



She pulled out her binoculars and looked at us standing on the top. It was funny to think that Mom could see us. I pulled out a white long-sleeved T-shirt I had brought in case it got cold and waved it. She could see it. Yes we had made it to the top!




We stayed for a few more minutes, but then it was time to head home:



It was grueling and hard, but throughout it all we could not help but notice the solitude (we saw five people the whole hike just after leaving the crowds that hike to the waterfall just inside Battle Creek Canyon), the beauty of the fall leaves, golden-leafed aspens stridulating in the wind, the deep dark of the old-pine forests on the flanks, and the cool fall air making it a perfect hike.

By the end we were exhausted. It was much harder than running a half marathon. I'm so proud of Emily. We covered over 10 miles on some rough trails, that climbed very steeply, and trust me going down was every bit has hard as going up. When we reached the Battle Creek waterfall we called Lori and she made a run to KFC. This is what she found when she walked in the house:



But we did it! We climbed Baldy and lived to tell about it!

Huh?

Every time I go to class I am more and more amazed at how much I don't know. Last night we learned about wills, living trust, living wills, probates, etc. The whole 3 hours I am constantly taking notes. This class could go on for a few more nights with all the info. we got....and I wish it did. We are doing some things wrong or not doing anything at all. So when I got home I plugged Steve full of information I learned and how we should go about doing some things and changing others. One of the big things that should always be done is to keep communication open to the immediate family as to what is in your living trust and your living will. And also if you make changes to them. I signed up for this class to get some general knowledge of finances, investing and that kind of stuff. I didn't think I would get so hooked into it. I wish the class was year round so I could get more details. It's all just so fascinating.

UEA=

UEA is a two day break from school. Here is a list of some of the things we do/or don't do. No pictures cuz it could be disturbing or gross or embarrassing.

1. Sleep in....unless I have to take Steve to work. Which I did early this morning but tomorrow is another day.
2 .Stay in pajamas at least till noon. The longer the better. Just ask Em.
3. East whatever food that is lying around which includes chocolate of any type....for breakfast :)
4. Brush your teeth whenever you finally get around to it.
5. watching tons of episodes of "Dr. Who." Ask Em about that one too.
6. Having a opened can of Diet Coke in several rooms of the house.
7. Blankets all over the couch and chairs.
8. Bed head :)
9. And lots of naps.

I'm sure there's more but you get the idea. Enjoy your UEA cuz we will!!

Chilean Miners

Do you ever get kinda hooked on a news story? I have with this one. From August when these miners were trapped miles underground and watching the process of keeping them alive and the drilling to get to them. All along hoping and praying they will make it. They weren't suppose to be rescued til December. I think of the families waiting, wondering and hoping their loved ones are still alive and will make it through all of this. So what a celebration to see the first miner come up last night and then more and more!! You have to love our modern technology and the things we can do when we work together for a greater good!! I can't wait till all the miners are finally up!!!

Painting

I don't know about anybody elses home but after living here 10 years (and 4 boys) the whole house needs a major overhaul. So I have been working slowly (emphasis slowly) trying to get some things done.
I've been working on painting the cupboards. This corner one I painted yesterday. It took me all day to just paint the one. Steve says he really likes the white cuz it brightens up the kitchen. My goal.....to have them all painted by Christmas. Hopefully sooner.

Nathan's email

Pori in the background

Yummy Kabab
Hello Father!

Well, so things here are going good, we don't really have any investigators at this point in time, but hopefully we will be able to find some this week. but yeah all we really do now a days is tract which is fun.. I guess.. but yeah... it would be nice to have a investigator, but oh well.. just keep tracting and asking people and eventually we shall find someone ( this kinda sounds like I'm super discouraged, but I'm not.. no worries, All is well)

Hmm.. crazy food.. No reindeer meat yet, I think they eat that more in the north, and sense I have yet to be there... haven't eaten it yet, but hopefully someday.. but the nastiest thing I've eaten (besides green olives) was this dessert that is like a rice pudding type thing, and you eat it with milk... its really gross... I had to gag it down.. twas pretty bad...

So the language is coming slowly... I still struggle with it quite a bit, but I can tell that I am improving, like yesterday, I felt like I was able to talk more fluently... like less stops.. so that was good.. but yeah..its super tough for me, but I'll just keep working and I know that I will eventually get it.

Welp Father I believe that's everything, I love and miss you, and thank you for everything that you do.

Rakaudella,
Vanhin Peck

Hey Mommers,
Hey so it sounds like everything is going good back and home. Sorry about the super expensive package... but yeah.. So you know you don't need to send packages often... If your planning on sending a b-day/Christmas, package(s) just know that I'm totally okay if you only send 1 for both, as in 1 package for b-day/Christmas, and not 1 for each. Cuz I don't want you to spend too much money on sending me stuff because you have already given me so much and everything... So don't ever feel like you need to send me anything.. because I don't want you too feel bad about not being able too. so yeah.. Thanks for everything tho! I appreciate all that you do to help and support me you are the best Family in the WORLD!!
Welp so everything else here is going really good, except the investigators part... we kinda ran out of those..haha.. but we be looking and hopefully we will find some this week.but yeah that's really all.. we tracked most this week and that was about as fun as it can be, so yeah.. Thanks for everything you do I love and miss you a ton!
Rakaudella,
Vanhin Peck

Dance 2

Dance 1

This was hard to shoot cuz it was a small stage for the girls so they were pretty crammed but you get the idea.

Words

Last night in class I learned some new words. And actually I'm glad I learned them. One of the big words I learn is "Annuities". If an investor wants you to invest in an annuity the best thing you can do is to turn around and run. Mutual funds are pretty good but Index funds are best. I had no idea before class started but glad I know now. I wish I had learned this stuff 20 years ago. I think we would have made better choices but "it's better late than never". And I have to say that we haven't done really bad......we could have done better. I hope with this class too, that I can help my kids get started with their retirement. Even if they could only put $5 of their paycheck in a 401k each month while in their 20's up to when they retire at 65 and see how incredibly big it will grow. (They can thank me later for the advice :)) So I'm learning what to stay away from, (don't buy gold....bad idea) what's good and all the options in between. I think I'm going to take another investing/retirement class cuz so much of it went way over my head but I am enjoying it tons and I love getting so much information! I just wish all of it would stay in my head.

Snow

Sometimes people are surprised when I tell them that it snows in Hawaii. It does on the Big Island on Mauna Loa in the winter. No skiing.....the altitude is so high up that you can barely breathe. These pictures were taken in February 1999 when we lived in Hilo. We hiked up a part of Mauna Loa. Emily was carried most of the way. She was only 1- 1/2 years old.
It was a hard hike cuz we were so high up and the air was getting thinner.

Timothy and Christopher were the first ones up.
I love this pic. of Emily screaming. You'll have to ask the kids what happened to the soda bottles and the bags of chips :)
Oh....and we have snow on Timp!!!!