We haven't posted in MONTHS! Here are some photos of our time in the USA. We have had such a blast so far, and we are SO excited to see Tay this week.
Will loves the snow!
June and her 2nd cousin, born 3 days apart. June and Ariella both have German blood running in their veins, but June was born with her Dad's olive coloring, and Ariella was born with her mothers South African coloring. June and Ariella became fast friends.
I was so excited to take the kids to Temple Square. Will was excited that 'his' temple was the same as the one on his pass-along card.
This is such a beautiful temple. It was pretty darn neat to hop in the car and drive a short 20 minutes to this beautiful place. They were setting up the Nativity that day on the grassy green as we were walking around, so we got an up close view of this peaceful scene.
Halloween with Jaime and her kids, and my dad. Buzz Lightyear's favorite was the can of soda someone gave as a treat. He sipped that can the entire trick-or-treat walk. He didn't seem to care much about the actual candy he was so involved in that soda.
"To Infinity, and Beyond!"
Papa B. with June Bug
Will helping June get her final touches on her costume.
Since we landed in SL, and for the first 2 weeks we were here, Will was obsessed with the mountains. I still am. After not having mountains for so long, flying into Utah was nothing short of spectacular. Will kept asking me to take him to the mountains. We finally went with a friend to lunch in the mountains in a cute, little secret cafe we found. This didn't fill his mountain craving, so after we went on a short hike up Olympus. We climbed until he was done. He's one strong hiker.
We went to the Red Barn in Santaquin with my sister the first week we were here. We took a tractor ride to a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, huge slides, kids sandbox, etc. Being out in this crisp, fall weather was just the Utah welcome I had wanted.
Bill and June
Will is thinking, "Where is everyone?" He's used to seeing crowds of people, and high-rises instead of empty fields.
While we are having our UT fun, this is what Taylor is doing...Look at that focus in his eyes.
Lookin' good! And fast!
At our home, reading to Will. Will loves to be read to. There are some books in our home, like these, that can only be read by Taylor or our nanny, Xiao Wang. I don't read Chinese.
This October our family was really fortunate to be able to travel to Taiwan. The lady pictured below runs this rice shop. When Taylor served his mission in this area, he would get his rice lunch every day from this sweet lady and while eating he would run through his Chinese flash cards. Her shop is called Peng Ge. On our way back to the airport we stopped here for lunch, and of course, to say hi. I was outside taking a picture of her stall when Taylor walked in. All I could hear was her screaming inside she was so surprised and excited to see her good foreigner friend again.
In the pumpkin patch.
In Taiwan, on the beach. Will LOVES the beach. No surprise since he loves water.
Will and June, relaxing on the beach together. I kinda chuckle at these couple photos. They look like an old married couple enjoying the warm sunny weather, shaded by the umbrella. June's namesake comes from Taylor's grandma, and Tay's grandpa's name was William (Bill). I never met either of them, but I can picture them together on the beach just like this.
Lookin' good, as always :)
When we first got to our hotel we hurried out the door for a quick walk on the beach. We should have changed into our swimwear, but didn't think we'd swim. Will had to get in, of course. We didn't mind letting him swim in his undies, this is common in this part of the world.
View from our hotel. You can see the pool where I would swim laps, and then just beyond you can see the ocean. There is a road running between these two bodies of water where Taylor would pass every morning on his early morning bike ride. If you were to drive 10 min. south you would hit the Southern tip of Taiwan.
Here are the kids in front of the Grand Hotel, Taipei. The Taiwan mission was re-dedicated at this same hotel when I taught English here in 2006. Taylor was also visiting me in Taiwan at that time, so we attended the dedication together.
The Taipei city view from our balcony at the Grand. You can see Taipei 101 in the distance. Isn't it a beautiful place?
Wills birthday gift. Specialized was able to help Taylor get a Will sized jersey to match his Dad's. Will is proud to look just like Dad.
Will-3 years old.
Will and I on a bike ride. We live in the 'suburbs'. There is space to run, bike, and swim! Through pretty landscapes too, but as you can see, still lots and lots of buildings, and high-rises in the distance.
This past summer-heading to our pool for a quick swim.
