A Utah Celebration

We drove in late Thursday night, attended an 8:00 a.m. graduation Saturday, shopped for a party that evening, had a great time with friends and prepared to move Shauna and drive out Saturday - all while recovering from upper respiratory infections. Okay, we're crazy but it was a lot of fun. Thanks to my sister-in-law, Jodi, we had a lovely home to celebrate in and bought all the yummy goodies at Costco.

Scott, Shauna, and Steven jam.

Our friend, and my former Seminary student, Walter Zinck, all grown up. Walter returned from a mission in Paraguay and works as a court clerk in Salt Lake. Walter played the piano for us and the guitar while Shauna sang.

Shauna's boys minus Scott Sprague, who already left for home. You might recognize Scott Skousen just behind Shauna. We thank the Scotts for taking great care of our little girl.

Congratulations to Jacob & Cori too! Jacob graduated with his Master's degree in English and will be starting a Ph.D. program in Houston next year. I can't believe we've known Jake since his 8th grade year. Here he is with beautiful Cori, Enoch, and Zion. It was wonderful falling back into conversation with old and treasured friends.

Our niece, Kenya, is attending UVU in Orem and drove up with her boyfriend to help us celebrate. We really liked a boyfriend who met her parents first when he was a missionary on the Navajo reservation.

Sadly missing were Aunty Mili McQuivey, now serving a mission with Uncle Jay in Hawaii, Aunty Melinda Looman, Uncle Rex. We appreciate all of you who gave our daughter hugs, home cook meals, rides to the airport, emotional suppport and a place to lay her head when we couldn't. Thanks to all of our family and friends for helping Shauna reach her goals.

A Tour of Shauna's Favorite BYU Buildings

Shauna's favorite building on campus is the Joseph Fielding Smith Building - a lovely mix of modern and classic architecture. Here she poses by the lovely fountain. Shauna with her little sister, Ariel.

Shauna graduated with her friend, Kaela Reed Athay.

Bro. Reed, Kaela's dad, is Miranda's seminary teacher.

Lin, Tutu, Laura, Lin, Sonny, Shauna, Ariel, & Mandy relax outside the Harold B. Lee Library. Most of the library is underground and behind us you see the glass entrance one of the skylights.

Shauna spent many, many hours at the Harris Fine Art Center just like her daddy did.

Sorry we didn't get pictures of my two favorite places: BYU Bookstore-love their books and all the fun BYU & LDS stuff and Bakery at the Cougar Eat - Mint brownies and fresh bread with honey butter. YUM!

Congratulations Shauna! BYU Class of 2009

A "Where's Waldo" picture of Shauna and the Class of 2009. She's the one with all the leis.
Cousin Sonny, Tutu, Ariel, Mandy, and Lin pose in the Marriot Center.
Big Hugs! Sonny, Miranda, Shauna, and Ariel

Mommy and Daddy are very happy and proud of our little girl.

Our beautiful Shauna Malia!

We were very happy to drive to Utah this weekend in a whirl-wind trip to see our eldest daughter, Shauna Malia, graduate from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. This was Shauna's very first graduation ceremony. She left high school before graduation at 15 to start Cypress College and transferred to BYU before graduating from Jr. College so this was her very first graduation ceremony at age 20.

Christmas in AZ - Part 2

Big kisses snow bears! We loved our time with family in AZ.

Cousins Sharon, her daughter Georgie, Laura, and Shauna.

Little Laura Lin was very happy to get Minnie Mouse for Christmas from her big sister, Shauna,

and didn't want to open any more presents after this one.

I really wish Blogger would make it easier to move around pictures. I have a headcold and I'm ditzy so nothing is in chronological order. Here's the yummy spread at the Christmas Eve dinner. Everyone's favorite...Amy's ham dip :) Yum!

Mandy trying to pin the nose on Rudolf.

The fun started on Monday with Karaoke night at the "Big-big House" (our rental). Jared and Brian lead a enthusiatic chorus of Thompson Cousins. The tallest are David's boys Jace and Jeremy. The brothers - Lin, Paul, Dave, and Roger all did solo numbers. I think everyone was shocked when Roger sang TWICE.

We're always happy when Lynette and Dave schedule visits at the same time. Lynette is now married and living with her husband and new baby daughter in Idaho. Uncle Dave, Marcelle and boys live in Indiana.

We must have emptied out Lynette's mother-in-law, Sis. Walbom's front yard. Isn't this the cutest blow up of the reindeers' stable.

I love this man!

Little Lin and his cousins Blake, Casey, and Dallin.

Christmas in AZ

Lin's favorite present this year was a new Buzz (that Santa's helper found in a never opened but beaten up box that had been donated to Goodwill) Funny how an "after thought" gift ends up being the favorite and the big flashy gift just fizzles. I'm so glad Lin found love.

Here he is very shy sitting on Santa's lap about to get Buzz.

Ariel helped our little Laura play her part of an angel in the nativity.

Blake (Kent's eldest) played Joseph. Hailey (Brian's eldest) played Mary. Little Julia (Lynette's first child) played the baby Jesus.

Lin was a very excited little shepherd.

Elena was another happy angel proclaiming the holy birth.

Lynette, Marsha, and Lynette's sweet and talented mother-in-law decorated the entire cultural hall, primary room, and classrooms for the event. It was beautiful! Here are Shauna and Roger's girlfriend Bethany posing with the penquin. They were in charge of the Pin the Nose on Rudolph and Mail a Letter to Santa game room.

Laura Sue was in charge of the Snowball Toss room. Here she is posing with Ian, Lin, Elena, and Blake next to the Snow Bear.

Shauna and Lin pose next to Frosty in the cultural hall.

On December 26th, Lin really got to play in snow for the first time. It was more slush but he had a wonderful time with his big sisters in the slushy snow at Aunty Marsha's.

Merry Christmas to all! We love you!

Thank you Mandy!

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Thanks Sarah! Captain Nathan R. Thompson

We thank Sarah for sending us this great picture of US Army Captain Nathan Thompson, our very handsome son. We hope all those years of shooter game addiction, archery, paintball, and shooting pay off for him on the range. We're very proud of Nate and Sarah for making the move to Germany. Change is always hard but the military needs good couples like Nate and Sarah.