Brent update

 In the post about Flat Stanley you can see a picture of a man with what appears to be severe scoliosis, this man appears to be malnourished, we take for granted the blessing of food, not to mention our living accommodations.

 They are digging a footing for a house--you have to click on this picture to see the pure happiness on his face, there is just something about Brent and mud.

 A hose and a little water- do you think they'll last him another 7 months?

This is Brent's family, he just finished training Elder Sin (far right) and Elder Scott is brand new, Brent's the "dad" they are his kids.

We're in

We are in!  St. George Marathon 2012.

Squished!

Squished weekend, that's what I would have to call it, Brian's graduation, Kyle's birthday, and prom!  Whew.  Let me round up some pictures.

Bri, Sarah and Maddie @ Cheesecake Factory

We got to Provo on Wednesday night for Brian's graduation.  We went to SL for dinner and to check out the new City Creek Mall. 

                                            Kerri and Bri

Papa's boys!

 Graduation!  Thursday.

 We are so excited to have Bri, Sarah and Madison in Irvine soon!

Yay--the end, these were the best smiles!

Sarah's mom and grandparents

 Bri's luncheon @ Olive Garden

Dave, Bonnie and Maddie

Bri's graduation gift from all of the Kenison and Wright families, a bike!  What else could it be, for a Wright?

We had a great time getting to visit with everyone, it all just went so fast!  Friday was Kyle's 18th birthday, his friends threw him a surprise birthday party and he had a great time.  We hurried home on Saturday to make it back in time for prom.

 Kyle, Bryan, and Riley

Kyle, Riley, Tyler and Bryan

They had a big group that went on a party bus, prom was at Santa Anita this year.

So Kyle had a great birthday celebration without us, but we knew when we got home there was one more gift he needed, his phone was barely hanging in there.  We added a line so we would have a phone when Brent got home, we got a go-phone for now and then Brent can upgrade when he gets home.

 We put the go phone in Kyle's gift bag on top, here he is extolling the virtues of the sleek, minimalistic design of the go-phone!  After digging a little deeper in the bag he found--------

Yay a new "real" phone!!

Happy Birthday to Kyle

Happy Graduation to Brian

Flat Stanley goes to Cambodia

Brent's cousin Brandon, isn't he cute, he reminds me of Brad, you can just see the sparkle in his eyes!  He sent Brent Flat Stanley, here are Brent's pictures he sent back to Brandon.

VIP

Grandpa is here to spend a week with us!

Miss Ava

I got to meet my new great-niece Ava Leigh (did I mention she is of course named after me) last night!  She is beautiful, thanks for the wonderful visit Erin and Matt!

I think he was happy for the rain!

Brent and Friend

Brent is dong well in Cambodia, he is still in Battambang where he is a district leader and trainer.  His companion Elder Sin does not speak any English.  I am sure that will be good for Brent's Khmer and for Elder Sin's English.  Brent teaches him English for an hour every morning.  He is recovered from his salmonella and feeling good.
Other family news:  We had a great trip for spring break, the boys skied Eagle Point for one day, I was going to ski the next but they complained so much about the bad snow we just hung out and ate, they snowmobiled and we enjoyed the company of Brian, Sarah and Maddie, and Kev and Ally.
Next up this weekend:  San Dimas Stage Race

Miscellaneous, holiday weekend

 The season is upon us!!  The boys were kinda slow to get back to racing, this was actually their first race of the season, they did Imperial Classic on Saturday.  Both of them raced very well.  This year Imperial Classic wasn't in Imperial, they moved it to Brawley where they did Cattle Call last year, I think it was a good move.

 Valentine's Day was this week, but weeknights are pretty busy at our house, so when Craig asked me what I wanted for our Valentine's date, I rather selfishly said I would love a trip to IKEA, so on Friday I got my belated date.  You just gotta love a man who will suffer through IKEA with you.  I picked out a piece of butcher block that will eventually become the new island counter top.  You have to love him even more 'cause there's going to be a bunch of honey do's in this process!  So we're off to a start, I cleaned the island cabinet base with  TSP substitute, and then read there is a better product called Krud Kutter so Craig went over them a second time with the Krud Kutter.  I was all set to paint the island white and stain the butcher block a dark brown color, but now I'm leaning towards black island, natural beech counter top and the rest of the kitchen cabinets white with black granite, and the floor ohh don't even get me started!!  Tomorrow is primer, and then check back in a few days to see if I did black or white.

This is the butcher block I picked out, it remains to be seen what color it will end up.

Brent's Birthday Card

Happy Birthday son!  We all love and miss you, next year what do you say, birthday celebration at the cabin?  It'll be the best!  I hope you are recovered enough from the salmonella to eat cake!  Enjoy, we are thinking about you.

Kerri's Valentine's day

The bouquet of balloons that Kendall and the boys brought to Kerri's work last night!  They brought her 30 balloons (driving the Walmart employees crazy picking them all out), they also each picked out a bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates and new pajamas.  They were so proud of it all marching down the hospital hallway.

Roasted Rat

 Brent really doesn't ask for much....

this week he did ask if I could send some mac and cheese

I'll get right on that!

When you are very, very, good......

 and after you have eaten snake and crickets......

look what you can find, even in Cambodia, I am pretty sure the search was worth it!

New Skills in Cambodia

Brent planting rice.  I told him it looked like a lot of fun, what boy of any age doesn't love the mud.  He agreed except for the leeches. (Hey Grammy and Papa do you think Colusa County could use his rice skills?)  He celebrated his one year mark on January 5!!!!  This Friday he will be transferred from Takhmao to Battambang, It's about four hours north of where he is now.  He's pretty excited for the change, but will miss his comp Elder Hall.  In Battambang he will be a district leader, I told him I was pretty sure district leaders would have cell phones so they could call their moms, he said, "haha mom, I've got a cell phone in my pocket right now" so umm I guess no phone calls till Mothers Day......
We love and miss you Brent, I will try to get some Christmas and cabin pictures up for you....

Brent's gift to Benyin

 Brent gave Benyin a white shirt and a tie for Christmas, I'm pretty sure this is the most joy Brent has ever had giving a gift.