The Oregon Coast trip

Ever since Sam returned from his mission in Madrid, Spain, he has talked about his favorite restaurant, Döner kebab. Sam found one of the restaurants in Portland. So when Karen, Sam and I went there this week, Sam ordered us sandwiches. We were short on time so we took the food to go. Here I'm chowing down on the sandwich outside the car. It was really good. But something didn't sit right with Sam because we spent an extra hour and a half driving home because he continuously added to the scenery along the side of the freeway. Poor kid was so sick!! We got to stay with G&G Nic on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. While I attended meetings on Thursday, Karen and Sam drove to the coast. They stopped at the aquarium in Newport and checked out lots of sharks! Here Karen is getting the chance to touch a little shark. Sam and Karen had a great time at the beach. But the trip home was a little exciting. During one of our many stops with Sam coughing up his lunch, we stopped at the rest area at Deadman's Pass. As Sam got out to walk to the restroom, a 30ish aged man walked past him towards the car. As he walked along side of Sam's car on the passenger side, he reached out for the door handle and opened the door. Karen is freaking as the guy looks around before sitting down. I said, "Can I help you?" The poor guy had not looked in the car and so he jumped out of the car with a swear word, shocked to death, and apologizing like crazy. His buddy was driving a car just like Sam's and had moved while he was in the restroom and we had pulled into that very spot. It was so funny -- and scary. Karen's heart got all the exercise it needed that day!!

Almaty pictures from Zack

Two weeks before Zack's mission president, President Collins and his wife, finished up their mission, they flew to Almaty to be with the missionaries there. As a group they took a several hour trip away from Almaty to visit the Red Canyon and Zack sent us these pictures from the trip. I also have a few pictures from Nizny mixed in. I know I email some of these out, but they didn't go through to everyone. Zack liked this trip!! Holding a golden eagle. At the Red Canyon.

A yurt.

Zack's great companion at the time, Elder Harker. He left a couple of weeks ago to become an assistant to the new mission president. When a new missionary comes to Kazakhstan, they can't talk about the gospel or wear their name tag until they are registered with the government. That generally takes a couple of weeks.

The Red Canyon area.

Zack with his favorite Nizny grandma.

Group picture outside the church in Almaty. President and Sister Collins are on the front right.

Outside the yurt.

Inside the yurt.

Group picture in Red Canyon.

New York City and Washington, DC trip 2009

In March 2009, the younger two kids accompanied us on a 25th wedding anniversary trip. We spent 10 wonderful days in NYC and Washington, DC. It was a truly great trip!!! We went to church at the chapel in Manhattan. We actually went to three chapels in Manhattan but attended sacrament meeting here. You had to get right in front of the building to see the sign. It had four floors and an elevator. Our first sight-seeing day and it was freezing! Here we are in Battery Park in lower Manhattan. On the ship to Liberty and Ellis Islands!! Statue of Liberty! We loved the subway system in NYC. These two kids were awesome.

Outside the US Custom Building in lower Manhattan. I found that what I enjoyed most with the various sites, was looking at the architecture. Not the technical stuff, but I enjoyed see these huge old buildings. There were four statues outside this building representing the world.

One day we took the subway to Brooklyn. We were going to eat pizza at the joint with the green awning, but the wait was about 2 hours. So we got ice cream and walked the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan.

Taking the Roosevelt Tram to Roosevelt Island. The next day at church, Jake learned that one of the young men in the ward lived on the island. None of the boys in the ward attended the same school.

Karen and Jake checking out remains in the Museum of Natural History.

It seemed that every night we ended up outside the temple. Courtney and Jake attended a fireside there on Sunday night. We also did baptisms and Karen and I did a temple session while the kids road the subway home -- alone.

Jake lounging outside one of the buildings damaged during the 9/11 attack.

After enjoying NYC for a week, we took a train to Washington DC. Here we are checking out the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

We really enjoyed Arlington Cemetary. Here we watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

Looking out from Robert E. Lee's old home over Washington, DC. Arlington Cemetary was Lee's home prior to the Civil War.

Outside the White House.

My nephew Grant and his family live outside of Washington, DC. So we spent an evening with them and we checked out the temple visitor center with them. What a great family he has!

The Washington DC temple!

One of the many special sites in DC. This is the Korean War Memorial.

We were in DC as the Cherry Blossoms came out along the Potomac river.

Outside the Capitol!!

Teaching Early Morning Seminary

For 2 1/2 of the past 3 1/2 years, I (Greg) have taught early morning seminary. This past school year, 2008-2009, was an exceptionally fun class. I loved going to seminary every day to teach these great kids. This year we learned of the Savior Jesus Christ by studying the New Testament. This fall will be really fun because Karen is also going to teach early morning seminary. She is going to teach the older kids (juniors and seniors -- including Courtney) and I will teach the younger kids, including Jake. My studious students are in the above picture starting on the front left: Colten Richards, Austin Cline, Matt Hibbard, Jordan Davis. In the back row starting on the far left: Abby Farber, Scott Nelson, Skyler Young, and Tim Smithson.

Elder Zachary Baxter in Almaty, Kazakhstan

Our family picture is missing child #3 - Zack, because he is serving the Lord in the Russia Moscow West Mission. Zack entered the Missionary Training Center on April 9th, 2008, a day before his semester at BYU-Idaho ended. So he had to quit school a week early. It was a stressful time, but as the months have passed it is clear that the Lord had His timing for Zack. At the end of May, 2009, Zack was transferred to Almaty, Kazakhstan. He is approximately 2,500 miles from the mission home. The country has 135 members and you are looking at all the missionaries. There is only one branch in the entire country. It was dedicated by an apostle, Elder Russell M. Nelson, for the preaching of the gospel in 2003. Zack writes awesome emails and it is amazing to see the hand of the Lord in action in Kazakhstan. We miss Zack but we wouldn't want him anywhere else!!! Zack is the second elder from the left in the front row.

Brooklyn

Our granddaughter, Brooklyn, is 10 months old, and what a doll she is. Her parents graduated from BYU-Idaho recently and are moving on to law school. We will miss seeing Brooklyn as much as we have. She is so cute, crawling everywhere and making scrunched up faces. She loves her Uncle Jacob! Great-grandpa Baxter has a wonderful way with children. Brooklyn adores him. Brooklyn waiting for food at our favorite Mexican restaurant.

The Big 22!

Sam turned 22 today! We had a lot of fun with his birthday. Last night he worked the graveyard shift at the restaurant where he works. When he went to work at 10 p.m. we sprang into action. Kacey and Courtney put together a ballooon bouquet in a jar filled with Reeses Pieces. We were all so tired, but we did exercise tapes to stay awake. Then at midnight we (everyone but Grandpa Greg and Brooklyn) drove to the restaurant which was full of people eating breakfast. We walked in and started singing Happy Birthday to him. Several people joined in singing and clapping. It was a lot of fun and a little embarrassing, but he loved it. Today, Kacey and Courtney got creative again and made Sam a Bart Simpson cake. It was a surprise to him. He thought they were making a Spongebob cake, but since The Simpsons is one of his favorite TV shows, he was thrilled with the "El Barto" cake. We also made homemade raspberry ice cream. Grandpa and Grandma Baxter and our good friend, Pattie, came to celebrate with us. Happy Birthday, Sam!

We're bloggers now!

We've joined the blogging world. Our daughter-in-law, Kacey, taught us what to do. She, Greg, and their baby Brooklyn, have been visiting for a week. Greg just got finished mowing the lawn so he's a little sweaty. Brooklyn loves her granddaddy-o. We started this blog to keep in touch with Greg and Kacey when they move to Florida this month and to keep in touch with Uncle Zack, who is on his mission in Kazakhstan.

Courtney's Young Women Recognition

Courtney had her Young Women Recognition Night last Sunday evening. She planned the entire event--the invitations, program, displays, and refreshments (Mississippi Mud Pie!). We planned to hold it in the Relief Society room, but so many friends and family members came that we had to move into the chapel. We appreciated everyone who came to honor Courtney that night. She especially wanted her grandparents to come, since none had come to her baptism eight years earlier (Grandpa and Grandma Baxter were on their mission and Grandpa and Grandma Nicolaysen couldn't come then because Grandma had a major heart attack). It was wonderful to have them all here for Courtney's special night. Other aunts and uncles and cousins from out of town came too. This is one of Courtney's display tables. She completed a wide range of projects, beginning when she was 12 and finishing the last value project (Virtue) after she turned 17.

Courtney with Grandpa and Grandma Baxter and Grandma and Grandpa Nicolaysen. They are such good examples and role models for our family. We love and appreciate them very much.

Since Courtney has had many young women leaders and many of them aren't in our town anymore, she asked me to speak. It was a privilege to speak about Courtney and her YW experiences and about what a great young woman she is. She, Jake, and Shannon and Garn Brady sang, "Jesus' Love Is Like A River," and it was beautiful. Bishop Collard paid her a huge compliment when he said Courtney is always smiling. The Stake YW president presented her with a statue of a young woman and a white handkerchief for the temple. We're proud of you, Courtney!