October Tricks

and treats.

Lonny had meetings in SLC before, during and after General Conference, it was Emily's spring break from school, Jenny and Jon had just moved to Utah and were expecting a baby, Geoff had fall break from school, my nephew was getting married in Logan, and the stars had aligned so we could see the kids and the grandkids and all the chaos that means.

Honestly, it is not too much fun to fly back and forth between Peru and the US.  This time we flew from Lima to Atlanta, which if you look on a map is pretty much straight north and 6 hours of flying.  The flights to the USA from Lima are all at night.  Our flight left right before midnight.  From Atlanta we flew to SLC which is another 4 hours.  Those flight times for such a distance probably don't sound so bad but the two hours in traffic to arrive at the airport and immigration and customs and security in and out of the country and baggage claim and the ride to wherever you are staying is exhausting.  I have some twenty stamps in my passport (which is a mere 18 months old) and every stamp earned with blood, sweat and tears.  Anyway . . .

thank goodness, the visit was so awesome.  We stayed at Jenny and Jon's spacious "bed and breakfast".  Justin and Miranda and kids also stayed conference weekend.  Eric showed up.  Lonny occasionally made an appearance between meetings.  It was loud and messy.  Geoff, Alayna and Adelaide arrived week two.

Emily and I shopped for things we needed (wanted) to take back and stayed one night in SLC with Lonny.  We had a visit with a friend (and former Seminary student) from Peru who lives in the states now.  I wish I had a photo of him across the table topped with cheesecake,

but he is standing behind Emily in this picture from last year's youth conference.  I really miss having him in seminary, he always asked good questions.  I must also include the photo of him below taken on Emily's phone while she was in a Just Dance competition (which by the way she won that day) at a stake youth sports day.  Her friends took pictures of themselves while they had her phone.  This particular one is precious.  Ha.

  

One of the things I had been working on since July was superhero clothes for the grandkids.  Last Christmas when the whole family was together we had a pirate party.  Who could forget this?

 The grandkids said do it again so hopefully they gather together for giving thanks with a superhero party.  I had someone make the tulle skirts for the girls because frankly, I don't know where to buy superheromakinfabric in Lima.  I had acquired shirts and shorts and superhero underwear (completely necessary) and boots last summer.  I made the logos in Lima but had to buy the fabric for capes in UT and sew them while I was at Jenny's.  The whole thing was an ordeal but some cute kids looked adorable prethanksgiving partay.

And on my last day in the USA, Jenny woke me at 5 a.m. to say they were on their way to the hospital.  I was so happy to see little baby Luke 10 days early.  We took the kids to see their little brother Saturday afternoon.  Kirsten was apprehensive to hold him at first but then could not quit.  Colton was such a little sweetheart.  He immediately asked if Luke was their baby and could they take him home?  And he could not stop kissing his little face.  Max did not notice there was a baby.