Does the Milk Drain Clockwise Here?

Milk is ordered for the student homes by boxes of 5 gallons. Depending on the house, it can take a little over a week for 12 students to drink a full box. However, it takes about 15 minutes to drain a full one into the sink...

(We weren't sure how long the milk had been waiting outside prior to being put back into the "cow"so we erred on the side of caution.)

A "cow." (Photo from here.)

Return of the Prodigal Blogger-Part 3

It's been way too many months since I've been on here other than to read your blogs. So, here are a few of the promised items. (Since space for pictures is so limited, I've put together collages to show several of the pictures from a few of the promised items, and hopefully, I'll be quicker at getting this updated. So here goes...)

1. Sid's valiant return from the South Dakota Rapid City mission on January 19, 2012. His flight was delayed over an hour. Not much to do in the Pocatello airport while waiting for an inbound flight. So we killed time as best we could until finally, the plane landed and we were able to see Sid again after two years and 6 days.

2. February 9, 2012 we gathered again as a family to celebrate the marriage of Jacob Dee Christensen and Amanda Marie Horrocks in the Salt Lake Temple. Then all day Saturday was spent changing a gym into a reception hall. The final result was amazing and the Bride was happy with how everything turned out.

3. For Valentine's this year we joined 10 other couples for a pot luck dinner, bowling, and dessert. We had a great time with everyone.

Also, I splurged on Dan's gift. We set a budget but I managed to get $30.00 knocked off his gift so that it came in under budget! SCORE!!!!! This was what I settled on for Dan this year:

4. This year, the day before my birthday Dan and I went exploring. We headed north and went to Sun Valley for the day. I'd never been there and Dan hadn't been there in 20 years.

We strolled around the resort and through the town of Ketchum, Idaho. The ski resorts had just closed and the summer season functions hadn't started yet so it was fairly quiet. There were some Easter events but they were all the next day...and we wouldn't be there.

Part of my catching up is now finished; brief but recorded. Yet to come...

1. Dan's 50th Birthday Extravaganza
2. Grandpa's funeral
3. West Yellowstone Trip

He's Baaaaaaakkkkkkkkk!!!!!

Thursday, January 19, 2012 we welcomed home Elder Sidney Robert Horrocks from his faithful and honorable mission in the South Dakota Rapid City Mission.

WELCOME HOME ELDER SID!!!!!!

(Details of these and other adventures coming soon.)

Caution: Laughter Likely

We just received an email from Sid letting us know his 5th and final area for his mission--Rugby, ND to open a new area and train a new missionary! (Or for the next 6 weeks at least, I suppose he could have one more transfer but it's not likely as they usually train a new Elder for 2 transfers.) Here's a little from Sid's letter regarding this new transfer:

"I've been given a special assignment. Rugby, ND is a new branch and the area has never seen missionaries before. I will literally be going in and starting from scratch. And I'll be with a new missionary! Rugby is...almost literally in the middle of nowhere...This is missionary work at its rawest and purest form. President Layton told me that he spent a lot of time fasting and praying about who he was to trust with the assignment of opening this area and getting the work started there. I am honored to be trusted with this assignment."

I looked for Rugby on our map . At first I could only find Minot (next closest area in his mission) but thanks to Google Maps, I was able to figure out which direction to look to find his new area. It's an almost 11 hour drive from Casper (his current area) to his new area and just over an hour's drive to Minot. He thinks he's closer to Canada than Minot but again using Google Maps it looks like Minot is about 2 hours drive closer than the Canadian border.

He included a few pictures with his quick note. This one had me laughing out loud because there seems to be an appropriateness to it!

 

Maybe that seemed so appropriate after seeing pictures like these from his most recent 4-some companionship:

Sid's view from inside the bathroom...

(Can you find all three Elder's faces?)

The view from outside the bathroom...

(They are either super fast or Sid was in there for a VERY long time..)

I'm so excited for our goofball to come home! Only 89 days from today until Sid is home!

Presidential Contemplations

Several weeks ago I drove past this billboard and thought of Sid:

I sent a copy to Sid and asked him to label each person for us so we'd know who was which companion. He just called dibs on Thomas Jefferson.

About the same time I took my picture, Sid took this one:

What a wing-nut.

November = Birthdays

November is the month we get to celebrate both Sid & Amanda's birthdays! Since Sid's on his mission, we did our shopping for him early so that there would be time to ship his package. I've been adding last minute notes to Sid's envelopes lately. Well...his birthday package was no exception:

 

 

Amanda's birthday is a few weeks after Sid's. We were lucky enough to be able to be with her the night before and morning of her birthday this year. (So no boxes with messages all over for her.) We had a great visit and loved being able to stay and celebrate with her at her house.

 

 

Both were spoiled with things they needed and wanted. We are so lucky and blessed to have these two great children in our lives!

Pictures from Sid!!!!!!

Sid just sent us a few pictures and I thought I would post them here with his descriptions. Now they are together and I won't forget the details. Plus you can share in the joys of his pictures. :)

The first 7 pictures are from his first area and 2nd companion, Elder Stucki. The last picture is from his new area.

Rockin out at the Branch Fourth of July Party Brandon

Elder Stucki and I at Sioux Falls

The Pachecos

The flames that consumed the tie representing my 6 months

The Howey's vette I drove (shh!)

Jakki and Kim

Jake and Katie

PowWow

Here's a little excerpt from the letter we received today from Sid: "Happy September 13, 2010! This day will only ever happen once, so don't let it pass you by! It's a beautiful, crisp fall morning here in McLaughlin, SD (yes, I've had to admit it is now fall here) and I'm slightly sleepy, looking forward to spending a small portion of my P-day taking a nap!"

Enjoy your September 13th too!

Catch-up Time-A Few More Random Things

Before Sid entered the Missionary Training Center (or MTC), he made sure our mermaid towel holder was modest:

 When I saw it I burst out loud laughing. Of course we left it covered when we moved. :)

There were many good-byes before our move and Sid entering the MTC. After Sid's talk in his ward his mom hosted an open house for him that many friends and family attended. In addition to many of Dan's family members my sister Lynette & her husband and girls drove up from Utah to be there for Sid's talk. Cambree and Shayla were thrilled playing with the dog that was supposed to be outside:

I think Cambree could have played with "Molly" for hours if Mom & Dad would have let her.

The next evening we held a Horrocks Family Home Evening (or FHE) where we gathered to say our good-byes and share some advice with the departing missionary and he with us. Again, many family members were there in support (and some were there in spirit).

Dan, Matt, Neal, Kevin, & Ann (Horrocks) Loveland.

Roman & Aidan Horrocks

 

Amanda, Gideon, Mark, and Amy Horrocks

Mark, Adian, Kelli Horrocks, Ann Loveland, Amy and Roman Horrocks

Emily Loveland giving a hug to her cousin and best friend.

(Yes, same Emily blogged about here.)

Dan's cousin Kelli saying good-bye to Sid.

(I love this shot and made sure Sid had a copy. Can't remember if I sent it to Kelli or not, guess I'd better get one sent just in case.)

We weren't 100% serious while gathered together, we had some fun moments too...

Jackson Horrocks being a bother brother to Roman.

Amanda helping Matt & Gideon compare their hands...the boys are only a few months apart.

Jackson hamming for the camera.

  

Kelli, Emily, & Amanda catching up and sharing some stories about life.

Dan showing off his Christmas gift (a blanket with the sites of Pocatello on it) to Aidan, Matt, Sid, and Neal.

A few more blanket audience members, Emily, Kevin, & Ann.

A final family picture before Sid went into the MTC two days later and Dan & I headed to Washington the next week. The good-byes until we meet again...

Is He Live or Is He Memorex?

Yesterday we received the following from Sid's Mission President:

We both laughed pretty hard after reading the letter. It has to be one of the funniest letters we've ever read. Very direct, straight to the point, and pretty hilarious! :) We're hoping that Sid wasn't just Photoshopped in...