MICHAEL & MARCI FAMILY FAREWELL
October 14th - 15th, 2007

Here is a picture (from left to right) of Julie, Marci and Michael. Michael is Brian's brother, and Marci is his wife. In late summer of 2007, Michael and Marci told us, to our great shock, that they were going to pack up their family and go to Tonga for almost 8 months to serve a dental mission there. We were like I said, shocked, but also very happy for them and very proud of their decision to go. So the family all traveled up to Boise in the middle of October to have a little farewell party for them. I wasn't able to go because I was having some morning sickness, but Brian was able to go, and I was so glad!





Brian went up for a very quick visit, just a few days, so they had to pack in as much fun as possible. Brian took Vaughn with him, but unfortunately, they didn't get any pictures of him. But, to start out the festivities, they had a very nice barbecue. Here is our brother-in-law Danny gnawing on a nice piece of steak.











Here is Brian's sister Rebekah. I guess either all the plates were gone, or they caught Rebekah on the tail-end of a very LARGE dinner. Either way, I thought she was eating in style.












Here's Michael James and Lincoln. Lincoln is Michael and Marci's son, and he and Michael James are really good buddies. They found a cozy spot to talk while they ate their meal.








I thought Brian looked extremely handsome in this picture. He looks so happy, and I know it's because he has a belly full of steak and other yummy foods! Michael and Marci are always great to bring out the best foods whenever Brian and I visit. One time they cooked us steak and salmon, and it was as good as any restaurant, even better!









There were so many people there that you just kind of had to find a seat wherever you could. Here is our niece Sydney enjoying a quiet meal. She is an excellent artist and author. She has been writing books since she could hold a pencil. She also illustrates all her own books, and she is really good.




After the meal, the adults sat down to digest their food and relax. Brian and Danny also took this time to pick the meat from their teeth. And since it was such a fun job, why not do it together?






Jim (Rebekah's husband) knew that the kids were going to just begin their fun, so he busted out his video camera to make sure he didn't miss a thing.








Jim was right about the kids. Here (from left to right) are Maren, Michaela, Eden, Aubrie, Lindsey and Leif. I know the girls were anxious to get as much playing time in as possible since Mike and Marci would leave just two days later. Leif thought he would try to crash their party.




The boys thought they would spend their time doing more manly things like sword-fighting. Here's Kalel and Michael James engaged in some serious combat. Michael knew how tough Kal fights, so he decided to put on full body armor for the occasion.
















Some of the other kids went right for the swing set and enjoyed playing on that for a while. Here is Ashlynn, Michael and Marci's fourth child. She is an absolute nut, but also one of the sweetest girls. She has a great little personality and can make anyone laugh out loud.






Eden (David & Heidi's 3rd oldest) also went for the swing set. Eden is just about the nicest older sister you could ever want. When she was trick-or-treating with her family on Halloween, her younger brother Kai tripped and fell and lost most of his candy down a storm drain. Eden immediately started to cry because she was so sad for him, and then she shared her candy with Kai. Isn't that the greatest story?




Speaking of Kai, here's the little man himself. He is a pretty big and tough kid, but under the bulk is a very tender little boy. I think he has learned from his older sister Eden. We used to rent a basement apartment from Heidi and David (Kai's parents). Heidi would bring Kai downstairs just after a bath when he was a fat little baby and sit him right in front of our door. She would knock and then run away, leaving Kai sitting there bare-bummed and ADORABLE! We would open the door to find him staring up at us, and we would just DIE!!!







Most of the time you can find Kai with his arms wrapped around the family dog K.C. He loves that dog so much, as you can see in this picture!









Kal and Lorna (Danny & Linda's oldest and 2nd oldest) finally got Kai away from KC and were able to pet KC as well. I would love to get a dog for Vaughn, but until we get our own home, I just don't think it would be possible. Besides, Brian is dead-set against any dog at all. So for now, I'm not going to push it. But I hope sometime in the future I will be able to get a dog. I've always loved animals, especially dogs, and especially Great Dane's, German Shepherds and Pugs.



The adults tried really hard to get some of the other younger kids in a photo together. The kids are (from left to right) Heike, Isabelle, Kai, Ashlynn, Lael and Michael James. Michael looked really pleased to be in the picture didn't he? He was of course trying to ruin it, but that makes it so much more interesting. Heike and Isabelle on the far left are known as "The Hair Pair." Don't ask.



While the older kids played together the two youngest kids just had to sit and watch. Here are Annika and Alvin. Annika belongs to David and Heidi, and Alvin belongs to Danny and Linda. I think they're both about the cutest kids in the world (besides Vaughn of course, and all our other nieces and nephews). Heidi likes to call Annika "pink and fat and delicious." You can see why!







Alvin took only a few seconds to realize just how "pink and fat and delicious" Annika is, and then he just had to attack her.











Here's Annika again. I ask you, wouldn't you attack her too?!?! I personally think she is given daily injections of Kripy (I really don't think I spelled that right) Kreme Dough all over her body. I mean, what else could she be made of?!?!











Back to the adults....
The guys thought it was so cool for the kids to get pictures of them taken that they wanted a few of them too. We lined all the guys up together and took some very manly shots. I have to point out the most handsome man in the bunch...he is wearing a bright yellow shirt, a manly 5 o'clock shadow and is third from the right. Any guesses?

Here they are again having a very fun time. I especially love Robert's look (he's in the very front). I'll let you interpret it for yourself.












The women decided it would be fun to try a change ofhair color. Instead of dyeing it, they had Bekah drape her hair over theirs, and it had a very nice effect. Here's Marci in a lovely shade of of chestnut brown. Gorgeous!
















Heidi added a very nice tiger-striped head band for her new do. Heidi has always been a very good friend of mine. We have always enjoyed talking with each other, and I have always appreciated her kindness towards me.















Brian thought the ladies looked so great that he wanted to try it too. The effect wasn't nearly as attractive, although he looked like a great punk-rocker. I think he should have tried it a little longer and fuller, and parted on the side like Heidi and Marci did. But still, he does have a rugged-handsomeness to him, doesn't he?!

















Robert got the idea with the longer hair and side part. And of course he had to add his own naughty flare to it all. What would the world be like without Robert? Not nearly as fun I say!















Jim sided with Brian and decided to go for the punk-rocker look. You know what though, with Brian as the base-guitarist, Jim as the lead guitarist and Robert as the lead singer, they could make quite an attractive combination! Can't you see Jim Rocking out hard core while Robert sings and does weird dance moves. Brian would of course keep it all real with the base line.








Dallin (Michael and Marci's youngest) thought all the hair stuff was very amusing. Sometimes I think Dallin and little Vaughn look so much alike that they could be brothers. This picture particularly makes me think this.
Isn't Dallin the cutest?!



















Michael and Michaela also thought the scene was amusing, so they shared a nice laugh together.







I wanted to throw in just a few more pictures. This is Aubrie, Michael and Marci's 3rd oldest child. She is also a very sweet young girl. I loved this picture of her just because she looks so serene.


















Lael is Jim and Rebekah's 3rd oldest child. Whenever she comes to visit she gives Vaughn a ton of attention. She is a natural mother and very loving. I loved her very tiny dimples in this picture.





















I had to add this picture of Alvin. He is also known as Bays Alvin, Lamilly, Lamdaleeze and Lampateeze. Don't ask, because I couldn't tell you! But, all I know is that he is SO CUTE!!! He is also a very active little guy and loves to be held by his mommy!










And finally we come to the end of this entry. We are so happy for Michael and Marci and their family. We are grateful for all the help they are giving the people of Tonga right now. Michael says that every day at the dental office when it opens there is a very long line of people that need to have dental work done. They are loving the island and the people who live there. I truly admire them because it really is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them. Marci has braved taking their children there and getting them all accustomed to new foods and home-schooling. It has been a great challenge for their family, but it has also been a lot of fun as they would all tell you.

And at last....here's one for the road...


(Yes, Tinkerbell is alive and well, and she lives with Brian's brother David and David's wife Heidi. This is Heike and you have to admit, she really is Tinkerbell reincarnate!)

Love, Lisa