Okay, she really did leave!

Lindsey had Wednesday off of training so I took work

off and we all met at Spaghetti Factory for lunch!

Friday night before she left we had pizza!
Little Sarah is going to miss her!

I honestly think it will be hard on Rodger not

to have Linds around. He has no one to tease.

Not exactly sure what Ash is doing!

Neither does Sarah!

From the next few pictures, I guess there is

something going on that is amusing. Although

by the look on Lindsey, she obviously thought

it was strange!

Of course, instead of Cortney showing her

smile she has her head down instead of

wiping her smile away!

Rodger helping Lindsey get her new Mac all

set up!

Sarah checking out her Grandpa!

Joey will definiately miss his ping pong

partner. They honestly would have some

pretty intense games. They were addicted!

Still checking him out!

Saturday morning. Lindsey all packed and

ready to go for 5 months. Isn't she the

cutest thing ever!

Ash had spent the night because

Dave was out of town.

Brad came and picked us up. We went and

picked up Sarah and Chelsea.

Yes, Cort was home sleeping!

Lindsey holding Sarah until the last minute!

Checking her bags! At this point Chelsea

turns to me and says that Ashley said,

"oh, I think I'm going to cry!" Well as

soon as Chelsea told me that it was

all downhill for me, which inturn

started all of us! (Well not Brad - yet!)

So cute!

The security line kept moving so it was time

to say good bye. Hardest thing ever. I really

don't know how missionary moms do it!

We all stood back watching her with tears.

Brad said to us, how proud he was of her!

I had to agree!

So no more farewell parties and pictures.

Linds has been there for 2 1/2 weeks! It

seems like months. Brad, Chelsea, Sarah

and Cortney just got back yesterday from

going and staying with her. They had

a lot of fun and she is doing good. I

leave in 1 month! Along with Sarah

and Chelsea again. Cannot wait!

The First Farewell to Lindsey Lou!

On Monday, January 3rd we all got together

for dinner and games for Lindsey. Here

she is with Caroline.

A little help right before dinner. Lindsey got

to pick the menu. We had little smokies wrapped

in bacon, (my choice) for appetizers. Then she

choose pizza meatballs with spagetti and salad and

garlic bread. Dessert was rice krispy treats

with M&M's.

Just enjoying our dinner!
Lindsey never forgets to invite her Dad,
Angela and Caroline and Ava. So glad
that they will come!
We ate dinner and visited, then we went
downstairs for games. Although Rodger
played a little game with the kids
before hand.
I printed up 22 pictures of random pictures
of Lindsey and made doubles of them. We
played memory with them. Caroline was
the winner, (well other than her Dad who
received help).
Then we played the new found "Telephone
Pictionary", taught by Ashley and Dave.
(keep in mind that is totally unnatural for
Dave and Ashley to like any game!)

I got to play with the kids during that part.

Lindsey having fun with her sisters before they

left. She went and saw them the night before

she left also.

Yes! This is permanent marker that Dave drew

on her. She is always such a good sport. How

are we going to survive without her! (I

all ready know, because it's been 8 days

but that will be in the next post!)

We love you Lindsey and will miss (and

do) you dearly!

Christmas Day ~ 2010

Lindsey said the other day, "Oh Christmas

morning is going to be fun!" "I get to run

down the hall all by myself!" How sad,

she's the last, but I tried to make it fun.

This girl runs off of no sleep, but she is

always happy, even though her eyes

are shut. The pillowcases are what I

made for the rivalries in our family.

Christmas at the Covingtons!
It's so nice to give a gift and have Joey have
to put it together for a couple of hours. Sorry!
Little Gracie and Sarah getting ready
for her morning bath! (I accidentaly
took to long and she had a little
accident in Chelsea's lap!)
Later on our get together at Cortney and Rodgers.
This is Dan, Lindsey's friend. He was stuck
going to the family party.
A yummie dinner and fun!

New family picture time! Yours and Mine!

Although some of Brads are missing. You

will see them in the next post!

Sarah's first Christmas!

Opening gifts from their Dad and me!

I'm so lucky to have a family that all gets

along and we have so much fun together!

As you have noticed I tried out the collage idea.

I think this is my 5th post today, sorry but I

had to get caught up. That's what happens

when your youngest moves out and I have time

to kill. Upcoming posts: Lindsey's farewell

parties! Happy New Year!

New Cars ~ New Wheels!

I never have gotten a good picture of Lindsey's

new car that she got a couple of months ago.

This picture was actually a few hours before

she wrecked it. She loves it!

And honestly I couldn't forget to post these

gigantic things! Ashley says they either get

weird looks or some real sweet looks!

Christmas 2010

What would Christmas be without "The Sisters"

Party? Jacki and Kev were nice enough to

have it at their house. Jacki wanted to do

the manger scene, but I kind of forgot and

didn't bring the costumes! Next year!

So we just hung out and ate and enjoyed

everyone's company!
I try to get everyone's pictures but then it
seems I always miss someone. The Hatch
Family wasn't there yet and then I guess
I was done taking pictures?
I don't know the details about the car but I
do know they drove to Idaho to pick it up.
I guess I should have gotten a picture of the
whole thing but Kevin's face is the best part.
Thanks for a fun party!

Christmas Festivities Begin!

Last year with my christmas bonus, I took everyone

to "The Roof" for dinner. We had such a great

time. We had a private room that over looked

the capital and temple square. This year I wanted

to spend the money a little differently and all of

my kids agreed. At one of the gyms I teach at,

they had Sub for Santa. I loved how they organized

it. You knew about the families situation and what

they needed. We ended eating at Chelsea and Joey's

before we left to go shop!

One 35 yr. old mother had her husband die, June

2010. She was left with 4 boys and no life or

death insurance. Another mother has a daughter

who was disabled. Her father committed suicide

on her birthday. Another family just had their 15

week old baby and has another son and the

father just lost his job. So . . . .

Everyone was helpful and honestly trying to

pick the best thing for each person we had

to buy for. Rodger couldn't come at all and

Dave was only able to make it to the dinner.

Joey was a good sport and volunteered to

be the photographer. From the pictures

below you will see that it kept him very

entertained!

I think we were there about an hour and a

half, so there was time for fun!

I'm sure people were wondering what
in the world are they doing!
There was a dance game and Isaac had quite
the crowd watching him! The picture of them
looking at a shirt, they were seriously figuring
out what shirts to buy for the boy.
I have the cutest family!
There was never a dull moment!

Who says shopping can't be fun?

At this point Chelsea is probably thinking,

"Joe, do you know that my Mom will be

putting these pictures on the blog?!"

And. . . she did! Keep in mind, he's

the photographer!

We went home and wrapped all the gifts and

delivered them the next day. I believe this

will be just as memorable as last year.

Chelsea told me later that Isaac said the

cutest prayer about the families we helped

for Christmas. It made it all worth it!

Thanks to my kids for all their help!

(P.S., if you click on the pictures they

will go bigger.)

More Christmas to follow!