So Long, Farewell

September 20th was Jordan's parents talk in church before they left on their mission (otherwise known as farewell). They report to the MTC October 12 for 5 days of 'training' and then leave for the Marshall Islands for 18 months. They've known since the end of May when and where they were going but needed the time to finish farming for the year and get everything else in order. Though they've needed every minute, I think they are ready to start this new chapter of their lives.

We really like Hensel Phelps Construction (Jordan's employer) except that vacation time is very scarce for the first few years. We were able to spend 10 days in Idaho for Christmas last year due to where the holidays fell and borrowing days from this year, and Kent & Kathy stayed with us for a few days at the end of February. McKay & I spent an evening with them in June but unless a miracle happened, Jordan would be the only child to not be able to go to his parents farewell. It's just too far and not time to make the trip. We thought it wouldn't hurt to ask Jordan's project manager if Jordan could take Monday the 21st off to be able to go and see his parents one more time before they left. His manager has actually asked Jordan about his missionary service and Jordan had told him his parents were planning on going. When Jordan asked, the answer was 'Sure!'. So he excitedly bought a plane ticket, reserved a car and tried to keep it a secret so he could surprise his parents. The secret was kept and Jordan had two very surprised parents when he showed up to the Westside High School Homecoming football game his brother Tyson was coaching. He said they stared at him for what seemed like minutes but was probably only 10-15 seconds, trying to figure out who he was. :) Too bad no one had a camera running then!

Part of the reason they may have had such a hard time recognizing him, beside the fact they knew he couldn't come, was probably because he has lost so much weight since they saw him in February. One of Jordan's sister Nicky's post biggest loser competition goals was to do a mini biathlon: ride a bike up Smithfield Canyon and run back down, about 5.2 miles each way. Jordan did it with her and Shawn met them at the top to do the run down.

Between the three of them they have lost about 145 lbs.

Kent & Kathy Moser with all 8 children.

top LtoR: Todd, Tyson, Kim, Kelli, Jordan, Shawn
Front Lto R: Nicky, Kent, Kathy, Robin

Spouses added with Lisa & I photoshopped in. Can't even tell can you? :)

Monday morning they went for a 4-wheeler ride. Jordan loved it! Beautiful, but very cold.

Last ride for 18 months.

Nicky, Kathy holding Kamden, Kent, Jordan, Shawn, & Todd holding Jarin.

Steep hill. If you look closely, you can see Kathy behind Jordan. :)

McKay and I were just going to hang out at home while Jordan was gone. Now McKay is 2 and we have to buy him a plane ticket, it was just too expensive for all of us to go to Idaho. Then I found out my cousin Cory Theurer was giving his talk in church before leaving on his mission on September 20th and decided to drive 5 1/2 hours to Palmdale to go to it. The Thursday before we left McKay really helped me a lot. He is the designated rinser when we wash dishes and loves to take the hampers to and from the laundry room. If I am not fast enough, he'll load the washer with everything too! It was really nice that he was so eager to help and he really is starting to be a real help.

All the family who attended. My mom and sister Chantelle played their violins for the musical number for the meeting & my brother Chris enjoyed re-connecting with people he had served with on his mission. It was fun meeting people he knew and having them tell us what a great missionary he was and how much they admired him. Grandpa & Grandma Cardon (my Mom's parents) were also there so it was wonderful to spend time with them. McKay is a 'papa's boy and followed Grandpa around everywhere and asked him for cookies. (He saw Grandpa carrying them into the house for the dinner and so McKay KNEW he had cookies.)

Siblings: Kathryn, Brant and Cory

McKay was playing the ukulele and he held it up to his neck, like a violin. GREAT connection buddy!

McKay also enjoyed playing Aunt Mary's drums. He seemed to remember them from when we were there for Thanksgiving. Every day, he'd 'practice'.

Wake up everyone! McKay's gonna play the drums! Then the piano. Then the drums again. :)

Kathryn's baby Ariah is about 5 months old and McKay kept good tabs on her. He'd retrieve the ping pong ball and gently put it back in her hands until the next time she dropped it and he'd get it for her again.

They are watching a Baby Einstein we brought with us for the drive down. McKay was very patient and would let her grab his shirt for balance or play with his shoe he'd move coincidentally in front of her face. The only time he didn't like it was when she fell across his lap. Can't blame him too much for that!

I wasn't quite ready to make the drive back home again by Monday morning so McKay and I hung out for another day at Aunt Mary's. We went swimming again & McKay missed having Aunt Chantelle & Uncle Chris help him slide down the slide into the pool. He loves to swim. After his nap, we went outside. I sat in a comfortable chair while he played in a shaded & fenced in area. Someday I'll have a fenced in yard, but for now I am happy with having a yard at all! McKay was entertained for quite a while playing with the dog. He'd roll the ball down the ramp at the dog & laugh when he jumped up to see what hit him. He always made sure the dog had a ball too and he'd lean down so he was face to face with the dog and wave & say 'hi'!

McKay & I were both so tired by the time we got home that we both slept for a couple of hours and I even beat him to sleep. It was a good weekend with strengthened relationships all around!

And they'll all be good missionaries!
Cory's Mission blog: www.eldercorytheurer.blogspot.com
Kent & Kathy's Mission blog: www.kkmosermission.blogspot.com