Our Missionary Daughter...3 1/2 months to go

As I was blogging today, I realized that I needed to share about my missionary daughter. She has a website of her own that I post pictures and letters on, but I felt like I needed to share a bit about where she has been over the past 15 months. Shea is serving a LDS mission in Edmonton Canada. She is a devoted missionary that loves the gospel and her Savior. She has grown so much through this experience and has learned to rely on her Heavenly Father through some trying times as she serves Him. She is a very dedicated missionary that loves the people she associates with and who loves serving her Heavenly Father and the people of Edmonton. We are so proud of her diligent service and of her ever strong testimony of the Lord's true Church. We are excited as she embarks on the last 3 months of her mission and look forward to having her return home. Here are just a few of my favorite pictures of Shea on her mission.
Elder Kitchen returns home. Sister Whittaker and her companion Sister Bowen

I can hear her giggle as she is freaking out over a members gila-monster.

Sister Whittaker, member Pam Lamont (she came to visit us), and Sister Bowen

On her Birthday!

After about 6 months, she finally gets to drive.

All bundled for the weather

One of her 11 baptism's, or as she corrected me "They aren't my baptisms"

She saw a car in Edmonton with UTAH Plates

Delivering a Book of Mormon via a doggy door

Happy 4th 2008!!

By the Edmonton sign

At the call center in the MTC

District 24B in the MTC

Pointing to Edmonton at the MTC Map

Sister Whittaker and her comp in the MTC.....Sister M

Welcome to the MTC

Summer Swimming Lessons

One of my favorite things about summer, is watching the kids swimming lessons. The last few years we have been blessed to take swimming lessons 3 doors down at our neighbors the Kings. They have been great neighbors and friends. Kathy (the mom) was Logan's swim coach and all of her children are swimmers. Marianne is Easton's teacher and she does a fabulous job. We are so lucky to have them close. McKay is Jensen's teacher and does a fabulous job as well. The boys are becoming great swimmers and it's always great to have options.
My favorite picture of the day!

Jensen doing the back stroke.

The agony of swimming laps

McKay and Jensen

Having some play time before Jensen's lesson

"Mom watch I'll do something crazy!"

Marianne and Easton

Putting on his fins

Doing laps with the kick board

Diving for the rings. Marianne told me the other day that she could tell he was a Whittaker...competetive!

Nemo nice goggles!

The Ruff and Tuff.....

Yesterday was "Pick up your football equipment day". Needless to say, it is also "Don't take of your pads and helmet day". Jensen has taken it upon himself to make sure that Easton is prepared for his practices and also taken it upon himself to beat the crap out of E so he will be mentally and physically ready. I don't know if the Mom can take too much more of the abuse and tears. Easton is one tough cookie and if his brothers have anything to do with it, he will grow up to be tough enough to play for BYU.
Down, Set.....

Catching a pass

Such focus and determination....without a choice.

Catching a pass after being taught the moves and routes by J

Happy Birthday America!

Since Boomer doesn't help out with the Stadium of Fire, we have made a new tradion. We take the boat out on Utah Lake, pack a lunch, relax and enjoy the day. This year we went out both Friday and Saturday since Boomer had Friday off for the holiday. We really had an enjoyable 2 days. Gege and Pop went out with us on Friday, and had a relaxing ride and afternoon. We were so glad that they went out with us and that we were able to spend the day with them. After Friday's day of boating we hit the Owls game and fireworks after. Sorry no documentation of the game, all of my batteries were dead in my camera's.

On Saturday, we met our good friends the Taylors out on the lake and had another enjoyable day of boating. We are so blessed to have such great friends and family to celebrate our country's birthday and realize how blessed we are to live in a country where we can do all the things that we do. We have been blessed by so much and for this we are truly grateful. "God Bless America"
The boys finally talked Easton into going for a ride on the tube.

Such manly.....men?! They think they have to flex all the time, I think to just make sure they still have muscles....or do they?

Jensen on the board

Logan on the board as well....

The lucky mom....

....who's even luckier to have this hottie!!

Hey...Yogan! Nice hat!

E and Bubba jumping in the lake

The Taylor Family

Logan's special purchase from New York...Yes men the shorter shorts are coming back!

Gege needed a life jacket...Boomer's driving scared her a bit!

Pop....loved watching the kids! and so did Gege.....

Jordyn's off to Ghana

Jordyn left for her Humanitarian Service Tour to Ghana Africa on Thursday July 2, 2009. She was so excited and yet very nervous at the same time. She has wanted to go on one of these tours for a very long time. She is so excited to serve and to associate with the people of Ghana. She will have a very exciting and adventurous experience which I am sure will make her grow and mature in many ways. We are so proud of her and her desire to serve others. She is going to make an awesome nurse someday as she nurtures and loves the children of Africa.
At the airport

The Bishop and his wife. The bishop's wife makes amazing dolls and the bishop makes scripture covers to sell to the tourists. The Church is close to the temple.

A darling girl at the school that Jordy will be teaching and helping at. Jord loved her hair!

Jordy volunteered at the hospital the first day and took the vitals of many infant patients. Many were sick with malaria. She loved the experience and can't wait to go back.

This little girls name is Stephanie and she ran to Jordy after church for a hug.

This young man wants to marry Jordy and "share love" Yikes! She reminded me she had seen the movie Taken and that she would be smart. I told her to trust NOONE! They are in awe of the blonde hair and her beaustiful smile.

Home for 5 weeks

Some other children at the school. Jordy says that they love to get their pictures taken.