Going to the MTC!!

September 29... it's the big day! We are up at dark o'clock to catch our planes!

 Even though it is still dark, we are all ready to go!

 Brother byes! I think Brandon is a little sleepy still!

 Up Up and away!!! Trent is on Delta and me and Kristin are on Southwest!

 But we practiced this when Brandon went and as is tradition... Uncle Dan is there at the airport waiting for all of us to arrive!

Someone suggested to us that we go to Temple Square to take pictures before we drop him off at the MTC.

 Talking to the sister missionaries!

 The landscaping was absolutely beautiful everywhere!

 We checked out some of the statues.

 Here we are in true family fashion... we are perfectly imitating the statue behind us!!! See.... mom is holding baby brother and big sister is looking on!!! We had to have a little fun while we were there!!

 We wanted to send Trent off with a full tummy.. so we took him to Tucanos Brazillian restuarant.

 I HIGHLY recommend this place!!! The food is served a little differently and everything is WAY yummy!!

 Our good friend Sarah and here daughter met us there.

 Oh yeah!!! I just had to show some of the desserts we had!!

 We had a great lunch... but it is time to go!

 Ok... this next part lasted only like seconds!!! We pull in to the MTC...

 Look over on the sidewalk.... the is a huge line of missionaries... TONS of them... they are there to SNATCH away the arriving missionaries... (Ok.... they are also cheering and smiling and waving and taking good care of the arriving missionaries... but they do it VERY fast!)

 We are cheering and waving at them out our window!

 He's out of the car, got his stuff...

 A couple quick hugs...

And he is gone in the sea of Elders... never to be seen again.... well... not really... but we will have to wait two years to see him!! I miss going in and having the little program... but really this way is better and there is NO time for emotions... and all the missionaries outside keep everything upbeat and exciting and fun!!

It was a great day and Trent is VERY excited to be there!! Life is good!

Getting ready to go!

It's been a busy time... Brandon came home and he and Trent hit the stores to finish up shopping. I think every store they went into heard about their missionary story! Pretty cool!

 So now it's Tuesday night and it's time for Trent to get set apart as a missionary!

 Here he is at the Stake Center... This is another one of those amazing experiences that you can't record... only keep in your heart... President Salmon met with all of us and we had some great counsel and great discussion and great testimonies!

 Now we have Elder Lewis... and it's time to say goodbye to family and friends.

 Some people came over to say bye and Elder Lewis and Brandon went to visit others and say bye!

 BUT WAIT!!! What's THIS?!?! We are not packed yet... MOM to the rescue?!?! NO! I quit packing for the boys when they were scouts..... Uh... it's like 9:00 and we have to get up at 3 so we can leave by 4 so we can be to the airport at 5 so our planes can leave at 6!!!!

 YAY!!! big brother to the rescue!!!

 Yes... he is talking on the phone... but this call is good cuz it's from the BIG brother Dustin!!! All three boys together... I love technology!!!

 Packing is underway..

YAY... almost finished... that looks much better! In just a few hours he will be on his way!!!

Family bowling!!

Trent loves bowling... so for our family activity before he left we went bowling!!

 We are ready!!!... ooohhhhh... which one to choose!??!?!?

 I think almost everyone made a strike!!!

 AND... I think almost everyone made a gutter ball...

 That's why we didn't use our real names on the scoreboard!!!

 I think Trent had a great time!

We all had a great time... it's always fun when we're together!! (and we're always a little silly when we're together too!)