Trek!

Courtney and Dillon went on a Pioneer Trek to learn and think about their pioneer heritage.  They walked about 15 miles over three days and slept out in the open, under the stars.  The got dirty.  They sang songs, and learned about some of the people who walked those plains long ago.  Their own great, great grandpa Willard Richard Skousen walked across the plains, riding mostly on the shoulders of his dad, James Niels Skousen, who came over from Denmark in 1862, so his family could have religious freedoms and a better life. 

We are thankful everyday for the sacrifices of our ancestors.

 Before:   Clean and Ready to Go!

Courtney's Trek Family...The Williams Family

Dillon's Trek Family...the Romans

 After the 3 days of walking, walking, walking.

  

After:  Tired, Dirty, and a bit Sunburned.

How Many Desserts Can We Eat On One Vacation?

ummmmm...A LOT!

Oh, how I love me some NEW YORK CITY

and all the fun times and good eats to be had there!

 We started off our dessert escapades

at Carmine's with:

the "Titanic"

 and the Tallest strawberry "SHORT-CAKE"

I've ever seen

We took a boat ride to get a 

great view of Lady Liberty

 Can't go to NYC and not go to KATZ'S DELI

Best Pastrami on Rye in town!

 "SPIDER-MAN, Turn off the Dark"

Spidey was soooo cute!

oh, and so was M.J. 

The acrobatics in the show are uhhh...mazing!

 "Rice to Riches"

gotta get some rice pudding!  

Even if it's just cuz the bowls and spoons are so cute!

 Dinner and dessert at Shula's

So tasty.  Loved it!

 A 3 hour tour.......

No, not on Gilligan's Island.

We went on a Brooklyn Neighborhood Bike Tour.

BEST part of the whole trip!

 Getting ready to go tackle that

Manhattan Bridge!

 A view of the Brooklyn Bridge that

we're about to go climb : ) 

 Lovin' Brooklyn Heights

 At the Top of the Brooklyn Bridge, whew!

So, after this 3 hour bike ride, 

we DESERVED a treat.  right?

We made our way right on over to: 

STAND 4 

for a Toasted Marshmallow Shake

And by the way...you DON'T want to share!!

The "girls" at Rockefeller Plaza

Some of "other" foods we loved.

I swear, it was non-stop!

and ya...I'm paying now.

 Banana Pudding at Magnolia Bakery

Oh yum!  btw...we bought 2 other desserts here too!

 One of my favorite spots!!  Joe's Pizza in Greenwich Village

If you get there...make sure to go grab a slice!

 Black and White Shake

seriously?  Way Yummy!

I told you...A LOT!

I made "Elder Johnson" a Blog!

So...I'm really bad at keeping up this family blog, I know.

But, since Elder Johnson "Tyler" will be (or better be) sending a weekly email,

I'll have something to blog about, so I made his very own!

Check it out here!

Dillio's Birthday!

Dillon's 14th Birthday...

We had the usual, of course! 

weird...I know where Tyler is

but, where is Cameron?

as of May 28th...one month later

his PRESENT still has not arrived.

dumb

Let Your Light So Shine...

Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

—Matthew 5:16

I'm so proud of this young man!

He was so excited to get to the MTC

and so happy to serve.

His letters have been fantastic and uplifing.

I coudn't be happier!!

Watch out World!

We have another driver in the house...

anyone want a head's up before they head out?

Just kidding!! She's actually a really good driver,

and perfecting her skill everyday.

Yes, that means she asks to drive somewhere, EVERYDAY!

신혜진

During the month of January, we hosted a Foreign Exchange Student

from South Korea.

Her name in Korean is

신혜진

or Shin HyeJin.

We just called her Amy.

We had so much fun with Amy here. Amy learned from us,

but we learned so much from Amy too!

We took her to see her first "live" basketball game

with CHEERLEADERS!

It's like "Jacks" but with ROCKS!!

She taught us Korean games.

and we taught her a few also.

We took her to Texas Roadhouse,

she sat on the saddle of course...PRE-BIRTHDAY style.

We had fun picnics in the park...

We took her out to dinner and showed her fun American traditions,

like chocolate shakes and huge hamburgers!

Amy celebrated her birthday while she was with us,

on the same day as Jessica's!

We shared our tradition of

"Baskin Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cake" with her.

This was Amy's last night here...we REALLY miss her,

but she's on facebook and skype!

So...once in a while, we get to still talk

to our long lost family member.