Cute cousins

a bilingual branch, in Avon Co.

Most memorable and significant: this is a tiny building, in a small resort town, where the services are held in a completely bilingual way (like headsets and a live translator in the back!) And Brett, Eli and myself shared our testimonies (in spanglish). Love the Townsend's!!! And boy was it COLD!

simply WOW!

There was so much goodness going on the entire time we were there... for me learning to ski was just the tip of the iceberg! The lovely comfort and coziness of the resort in general and of our rooms made for a perfect setting. The generosity of one person in particular (MARC!) who made it all possible and then made sure all kinds of fun and thoughtful details were taken care of and provided so we could enjoy everything to the MAX was unforgettable and typical at the same time. Being able to spend time, play, laugh, eat, remember, reconnect together as family and friends was...
simply WOW!!!

all ready to go! but wait what about the PASSPORTS?!?!?

While packing Thursday night Eli asked if we had ever picked up the passports for Mo and Leah that we had renewed back in August. Well NO! we hadn't! So we kept on packing and decided to leave early to be there at the American consulate to pick up the passports first thing at 9:00. 

Friday morning the kids were all ready to go! We got to the consulate right at 9:00 and discovered there were no new passports for our two children because the paperwork had never even been processed because they needed our permission to proceed because our children had no social security numbers. They had called and left a message on our home phone (which we had never heard). They told us we could not travel by air without passports, of which we were well aware. It was horrible! We drove back to the house to retrieve old passports, birth certificates and any thing else we could find. All the while talking with the airline to see what they could do for us. Drove fast to the airport where we went straight in to talk to Horizon Air. The woman helping us said she would do what she could, but that it was ultimately NOT in her control. She got on the phone and about 40 min. latter came out explaining that we could not get on the plane. It came as such a HUGE blow. I was already trying to figure out alternitive means or routes of getting us ALL there- through my tears, 

Eli was saying that if we all couldn't go than 

NONE of us should go... it was such an awful feeling! 

Brett wouldn't give up. He asked the woman for the number. She said she would get fined if she gave him that number. "Who do I need to talk to?"  He asked. Who were you on the phone with? 

She said with the U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection or C.B.P.

We googled to get the number. Brett called about 5 different numbers before getting through to the Port of Entry in Colorado. BUT he explained the situation and got us on that plane! We spoke with the US Consulate again and asked that they send some temporary passports to us while there. 

It was a miracle!!!

We arrived at the resort somewhat drained from the emotional roller coaster we had been on, yet excited and SO THANKFUL that we could even just BE THERE! 

And we were welcomed by a HUGE reception of family and friends 

in this amazing and beautiful setting!

This was just the beginning of what proved to be THE MOST AMAZING family vacation yet!

Thanksgiving and celebrating 14 years

 

yet another cute school performance!

 

yummy yummy

Then Brett and I stole away for some time to ourselves....

 

Thanksgiving/Grandma and Grandpa

oh how I love my dear mom and papa. And how very wonderful it was to have them here. Come back soon please! We love you both so very much!!!

Elijah recieves the priesthood

Eli really is such a good big brother. This pic. cracks me up!

Eli and Fransisco have been friends since before birth!

It was so good that Grandpa and Grandma Sulzen were able to come and so special that
Grandpa could ordain Elijah.

It just happened to work out that the big multi-stake youth convention of the year was happening the very weekend after Eli's 12th birthday. He was able to go and make his debut, busting out on the mic. and the dance floor!