We left Provo about a month ago, but before we moved, we got to hang out with many of our awesome friends. This one goes out to all you wonderful Westerners!
First off, a shout-out to our neighbors and good friends, Ashley and Jordan Haug ... thank you for all the late nights hanging out and playing games. We call Jordan the "Black Barron," due to his tendency toward cut-throat strategy, especially in Ticket to Ride. And a big thank you to you guys for all the help with moving and babysitting. Here are Ashley and I with our little ones. Arianna and little Kimball got to be good friends in the few months we were all neighbors.
Arianna's little friend Aslynn received her blessing in April, and we got to be there (in Idaho) for it. Here we are with Luke, Bre, and Aslynn Mecham.
Arianna and Aslynn bonding.
Before we left Idaho, we also spent an evening with our friends Austin and Liz Dutton... and their Wii.
Back in Provo, we dedicated as many weekends as possible to hanging out with old friends. We went on a double date with my old roommate Gloria Harris and her husband Kyle, and here is Gloria posing with Arianna. Gloria is expecting a little guy of her own this summer, baby McKennan. We can't wait to see pictures of him!
We also got to go on a double date with Joel and Ami Frost with their little guy, Dain.
Another important baby blessing was that of Megan Joy Muirhead. Brandon and Jenni Mae are two of our favorite people, and we were so glad we got to be there for the blessing of their little bundle of Joy!
After Megan Joy's blessing, we went up northward to West Jordan to visit with my cousin and his family. Here we are with Kenneth and Melinda Flynn, and the youngest of their three boys, Brigham.
Sunday night family dinners will be one of the biggest things we miss. Every Sunday night, we would get together with all the Williamson cousins and do a potluck dinner. Oh, the memories! Here we are with Clark and Bouathong (their little guy Talei was already in bed).
Brad and Leslie Twining, our adopted family, took us out to get malts one last time at Provo's Malt Shoppe. Yummm!
Before we left town, we got to say goodbye to my graduate adviser (and friend!) Dr. Duke Rogers. I worked for Duke starting my sophomore year of college, and then I stayed on with him for my graduate work. So, after 5 years of working together, we finally say goodbye.
And finally, here we are at the graduation party for Ben's cousins Clara and Stephanie. Clara just finished her Bachelor's degree in Recreation Management, and Steph is completing her Master's program this summer in Sociology. The grandparents flew in for the festivities, and we snapped a picture with them before the night was over. I love Arianna's surprised expression in this one!
We feel blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives. We won't forget you, and please don't forget us!
Yesterday we took a trip following the Mississippi river north to Nauvoo, the city established by the Latter-day Saints before they migrated west to the Rocky Mountains. It was a nice day for it: not too hot, not too bright. It was humid, of course, being 300 yards from the river and all, but not unbearable. Touring the restored buildings and homes was fun, and Arianna enjoyed preaching her first sermon in the Seventies Hall and taking minutes in the upper room of the Red Brick Store.
