Hola Mis Amigos

We left for the airport early in the morning. The Lord definitely took care of us and made sure we were there in time for our departure (didn't He Ryan? ;) ) We got there nice and early and we patiently awaited our flight.



When we got to Chile we had a great time meeting the old Mission President and his wife the Moran's and the AP Missionaries. THEY ARE GREAT MISSIONARIES. THEY WORK SO HARD. We love them already.


When we got there President Moran took us to this look out place to see all of the Santiago Chile East Mission. It was beautiful. Chile is a great place. Ryan keeps saying that it is a mix between Brazil (all the good parts) and the United States. He was also happy to confirm that the milk is sold in boxes in Chile as well as in Brazil just as he predicted it would. It has been a magnificent experience so far, full of miracles and TONS of blessings.


In the first three days of their mission my parents (and all of us) met every single missionary, and so many people here in Chile who are helping the work to go forward. We love missionary work.
_____

After we saw the mission, the Morans departed and we got to explore the house.
It is a beautiful house, older, but very nice for their 3 year stay. Here it is:


Here is Landon, Presidente and Hermana Laycock inside the front door:
Our Luggage:


Here is our first meal in Chile, my parents have an Hermana that works in their house and helps with certain things around the house, her name is Juanita. She had this prepared for us our first day. (WE WERE RUNNING FROM ONE THING TO THE NEXT, AND MY PARENTS DID NOT HAVE ONE MINUTE TO REST).

Old Friends

While we were in Utah this summer we got to finally meet the two little cutie pie twins of our good friends Missy and Taylor Turnbull. They are so cute, and it was good to see them after so long.
Ryan has seen Taylor a few times since Ryan and I got married and each time it was without me, so naturally Taylor thought that Ryan was fibbing about having a wife. So that day it was really good to confirm to him that we are in fact married. :)

We love the Turnbulls and it was great to see them. They are good friends and wonderful people.

Quit Harping On Me...

We had to ship the harp from Laie to Alpine. I was sooo nervous, but good old Arthur from the Pearl City UPS store helped us out and built this box for the harp. He said he had never packaged anything like it before. But, alas, it made it safely...very safely. I am happy that it now resides in Alpine, Utah where it will sweetly await my homecoming in December when Ryan and I graduate and come back to Utah.

Yester Years

This is my parents when they were in high school. They were high school sweethearts. My Dad was the captain and quarterback of the football team and my Mom was the head cheerleader. What a great story. They were best friends, and when my Dad left on his mission, he took my Mom to a special place and gave her a ring box.

Inside that ring box was a ROCK, she took it out and looked at it, he told her that if she started to like anyone more than him while he was gone, she was to THROW that rock at him and turn around and run. It was realistically a rock, not a ring at all. So she threw it at my Dad right then. (I don't even know how many times I have heard that story, but I love it every time and I never get sick of it.)


This was the picture they took when they wrote their books Gathering Christmas and Evergreen Miracles. I remember making packages of their books and Stephens White Chocolate Cocoa. I have so many fun memories of book stores and book signings. As a kid I probably spent like a million hours in bookstores going with them to different book events. To this day, there is something so nostalgic for me when I walk into any book store. I just love the smell and sounds, and I love to browse the shelves, not even looking for anything, just looking.
I have more memories of being rolled up like this than any kid in the world. My Dad used to do this with us for HOURS. He would roll us up so tight that there was no possible way to move an inch. We would struggle for about 10 minutes to get loose only to run and beg him to roll us up again. We did this over and over. My Dad only recently told me that it was the best way to wear us out and that we would always sleep perfectly on the nights he played this game with us. What a great Dad.
I am sure that I will be doing the same thing with my own kids. Ryan and I have already done this to Naomi, our little Niece. It is so fun for some reason.

Thanks Mom and Dad for your great examples and the love you have shown us. We love you.

June 1, 2006

Happy LATE Birthday

Dad Chase,
Happy late birthday. Sorry I haven't posted this sooner. I have not had a chance to update the blog in a few days, but we just want you to know how much we love you and we hope that your birthday was a blast! We had so much fun planning our (and by planning...I mean...I did not know how to do anything...so I sat back and let the boys take care of that) video chat with you. It was so neat to at least "Kind of" be at your big birthday bash. We heard the party was amazing and that everything went well. We are so glad to hear that. You deserve THE BEST!

Happy Birthday! You are such a good Dad, we are lucky to have you, Papa Chase!! We love you very much. We hope your Birthday was perfect.

Love,
Larissa and Ryan

PS Sorry this post is so late!

Maegan and Chris

This was the best surprise ever. Maegan and Chris were on Oahu for their honeymoon. They got married last week on May 14, 2009. Congratulations again you two by the way! I got a text from Maegan saying she was on the island and that they were headed to the PCC for the day and wondered if they could stop by and say hi. My answer: OF COURSE! I was so excited, I hadn't seen Maegan in over a year and I had not met Chris yet. I was so excited all day that I could hardly stand it. School became way too hard to focus and I was just dying waiting for them to get here. Anyway, I got done with work and they finished at the PCC and then they came over to hang out for a bit. It was super fun. We talked about memories from Volleyball, I wish I had some of THOSE pictures to post, those were some fun days. Maegan and I played volleyball at UVU together and lived in Village on the Parkway together when we were both Wolverines! Good times.
Anyway, Ryan and I were planning the whole 9 yards for the interview with Chris to make sure he is good enough for Maegan...You deserve the best Maegs. When they got here, right away, we found that we didn't need to interview Chris. He met the standards straight away. Way to go Maegs. We are TOOOO happy for you both. We love you.

Steve and Karen

Steve and Karen came to the island again and we got a text from them saying that they wanted to take us to dinner. We had so much fun with them. It was great to see them, they were in town for a wedding of a close friend. We also found out that they are related to a great couple in our ward, Steve and Jenny Kolb. It was so cool to learn that about them, now we feel like we are basically family with the Kolbs.
Steve and Karen took us to a great Italian place in Kaneohe called Zias. It was great food and quite a fun place. It reminded me a little bit of a Hawaiian Olive Garden. Then they treated us to a movie. We took these pictures after we were through with the night. It was so fun to hang out with them. They are awesome. (They even encouraged us to get out more last time they were here...and since then we have gone to the beach at least 100 times more than we did before!)
We tried to set this one up and it accidentally cut Ryan's head off. Oops.

#5 Ted's Bakery

When Karen and Steve McArthur came to visit the island last year, they introduced us to Chocolate Haupia Cream Pies from Ted's Bakery. These pies are divine. They are so delicious. I could seriously eat a whole pie in one sitting. Yikes. They really are that good.
We will miss Ted's Chocolate Haupia Pies and the wonderful Mix Plates we can get here. Yum.

Taylor Lee

This is another post I should have posted a long time ago, but have not gotten to yet. The other night Lacey and I went to Ryan's intramural's game and Brett Lee is one of our great friends out here, he is on Ryan's team. Brett brought cute little Taylor, his adorable daughter, to the game and she got to sit by us during the game. It was a hoot!
She thought of the funniest faces to make for the camera. She made friends with Lacey real quick too. She even told Lacey that she wasn't a very good reader. Hmmm.
She is so funny. We had a great time "watching" Ryan and Brett play basketball that night. Shhh, don't tell them that we may or may not have actually been watching the big game. Good Job boys!

Jessica and Markham

I thought I had posted this and just realized that I did not, but a while ago my friends Jessica Endres and Markham Hyde came to visit Hawaii.

This is Jessica Endres. She and I played volleyball together at Utah Valley University (as it is now called). She was an amazing Middle and I loved playing with her. She has such a fun personality and always something fun up her sleeve! Markham was in Know Greater Heroes with me. He was so awesome to work with and was a stellar example for the kids there. He was a Yell Leader for UVU and did a fabulous job.
Jessica and Markham came to Hawaii for a visit and we were so lucky because they stopped by to see us. We were so happy to see them and catch up. Whenever someone from the Mainland comes to visit us we feel like we are so lucky because we get a little taste of home. It is the best to see old friends and spend time with them while they are here. We love it.

They were troopers and camped for their vacation. They seemed like they totally had a blast though, and it sure was a treat to visit with them! Thanks for stopping by you guys! OH and thanks for the Pie you brought. It was delicious. Ted's is the best huh?

Kathy and David King!

Marianne's parents were on vacation in Hawaii this week, and we were so lucky because we got to see them! They drove "all the way to the North Shore" to hang out with us. We went to Papa Ole's for some great BBQ and we had a great time chatting and catching up. We miss the Kings so much. It was so fun to see them.


This is a picture of us all together just outside our apartment. Thanks Melissa, for taking the picture for us.

AND they both look fabulous! They have been working super hard.

Technology in the Classroom

I am taking a class called Technology in the Classroom and we were assigned to make a video about ourselves for an assignment. I put a lot of work into it, and Ryan helped me so much that I thought it would be fun to post on our blog as well. (I have had to make another blog for my class and upload assignments to it) This class has been very educational and really a lot of fun.

Feliz Cumpleanos!

Mom!!
Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to You. Happy Birthday Dear Mom! Happy Birthday To You!!!

We are so excited that it is your birthday today. We wish we could be there with you to hug you and tell you how much we love you, but we will be there soon enough. We love you so very much. We hope that your birthday is perfect in every way. We miss you like crazy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

YOU ARE THE BEST!

WE LOVE YOU!

Laie Temple

We miss the Temple. In December 2008 the Laie Hawaii Temple closed for reconstruction. It has been SO different without the Temple operating. We miss going more than ever! This is what it looks like right now

I can't wait until it is finished. We won't even live here anymore, but we will have to come back and visit the Temple once it is refurbished.

Happy Birthday Dad!

DAD,
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW MUCH WE LOVE YOU. WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT WE GET TO BE IN YOUR FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO AND FOR YOUR GREAT EXAMPLE AS A FATHER. WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!!!

To listen to one of the two songs I have for you on your birthday click HERE.
"We're so glad when Daddy comes home, glad as we can be! Clap our hands and shout for joy and "BITE" him on the knee! Put our arms around his neck, Hug him tight like this, Pat his cheeks, then give him what? A great big kiss!!"
(Obviously this is only the version of the song that we sang as children, some of the lyrics seemed to change when I was younger!)

To listen to the other song, click HERE.
"Happy Birthday Daddy Dear. Happy days wil come to you all year. If we had one wish, then it would be A happy happy birthday to YOU from US!"

We love you Dad!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

LOVE,
RISSA AND RYAN

Kids say the darndest things...

We were at Ryan's Intramurals BBall Game.
Lacey came with me.
One of my friends told us we looked a LOT alike and that she thought people would probably get us confused a lot. (They do . . . in fact, two of Lacey's teachers this semester have said, "Hi, Lacey" to ME!)

A while after Lacey got there we sat down and all the kids literally flocked to us. (We must look like we like to play a lot or something.)

One of the little boys, who arrived a little late sat down and looked at us.

He stared for a long time.

He looked from me to Lacey, and back to me, and back to Lacey -- several times.

He looked so confused and finally asked:

"ARE YOU TWO THE SAMES?"

We laughed right out loud.

We both, not on purpose, said "no, do we look the same?"
He said yes.
Then with a skeptical look on his face, he pointed at me and said:

"What's YOUR name?"
"Larissa"
"Well, then what is YOUR name?" pointing to Lacey.
"Lacey"
"Hmmm....OK"

Then he left and played with his friends.
I DON'T think he believed us!

Two Great Friends

Last week, a week ago today in fact, two of my great FRIENDS visited my apartment in the dark of the night and left the sweetest surprise for me. They heart-attacked my door and left a very sweet note. It was so thoughtful. There are times when we NEED uplifting from others and these girls knew exactly when to strike with a secret friendship-caper. I am so grateful to them for being in tune with the spirit.
Thank you both girls!! (You know who you are!)
We feel our Savior's love by those who love us so much and are stalwart examples of Christ in all that they do. Thank you, you two. It is so nice to have friends! ;)

#3 Lawn Mowers and White Birds

Every time the guy comes to mow all of the lawns in TVA (HUGE INDUSTRIAL MOWER...USUALY AT 7:00am...EXTREMELY LOUD!!!) these white birds follow him. Ryan said it is because the mower makes it easier for them to get the worms.
I don't know why, but it is hilarious, and it does NOT get old. I am amazed at how every time he mows, they get sooo close to the mower, but they never get run over. How do they do it?

Ryan's Mission President and General Conference

Listening to General Conference today was so much fun. We were able to listen to ALL of the sessions. We are so lucky because at Temple View Apartments the cable has the BYU channel and Conference was broadcast on TV during the live viewing. We got up at 5:50 a.m. and started our wonderful weekend yesterday by watching conference. Lacey and Cory joined us. It was amazing to hear the messages of our leaders in the Church.


Ryan with his Mission President, President Teixiera and his wife, Sister Teixiera, in 2005-2006. It was so exciting to hear him speak today in conference.


Today Ryan kept saying that he wanted them to announce that his Mission President, President Teixiera would be speaking. We didn't know if he would get to hear his dear President, but he kept hoping. Finally when we were watching the last session today, Ryan said, "I just want them to say that Jose A. Teixiera is speaking next!!" Then he turned to Lacey to tell her something funny and President Eyring announced that the next speaker would be Jose A. Teixiera. Ryan didn't hear it, but when we all froze and stared at him, he figured it out. He didn't believe it at first, but then we convinced him and he was so excited. We were all happy for him. Ryan has so much respect for President Teixiera and was delighted to hear his message. He shared a message about keeping our spiritual GPS in service and always being in a place, and in a standard of righteousness, that our spiritual GPS system can receive the Holy Ghost as our guide. It was fabulous.
Ryan, we are so happy for you!

Brazilian "Saudades"

Ry was having some serious "saudades" for his mission in Sao Paulo Brazil (that means "missings" of his time and especially FOOD there).

















He has been trying to teach me Portuguese and he was instant messaging with one of his investigators, Ane Rose, and had me chat with her too. She gave us one of the recipes that Ryan enjoyed on his mission. We tried it, she makes it better of course, but it was pretty good. I am trying to learn to cook in Portuguese too. haha!


Here are a couple of pictures of Ryan with Ane Rose and her husband Jose back when he was on the mission. Hopefully Rose can teach me some more recipes so Ryan and I can have more comfort for Ryan's Brazilian "Saudades".

#2 THE CAC

We have spent so much time in this building...
Ryan's basketball games, Lacey's volleyball games, Cory's basketball games, running laps upstairs, School Activities, Devotionals, Firesides, Culture Night, BYUH Idol, and so much more.

#1 THE BEACH

Things We Will Miss in Hawaii Challenge

Ryan and I talk so much about when we will go home from Hawaii back to Utah and how we will miss so much about being here in Laie. This has been a fabulous place to live and begin our marriage. We will miss so many things. In light of this fact, we have decided to challenge ourselves to take pictures of everything we think we will miss (even those things that might seem annoying or not important, we know we will miss EVERYTHING!!)

Our mission should we choose to accept it:
Photograph any and all things that are unique to Hawaii and our experience here, so that when we live somewhere else in the world we can look back on these pictures and laugh and cry and reminisce in all of the great experiences we have had here in the first four years of our marriage.
Our deadline: December 2009

This message will not self-destruct in 10 seconds...

Thanks Brylie

This is Brylie Wynes. She lives in our ward and is in the Primary with me. (I am currently the Stake Music Coordinator and the Ward Primary Pianist) Her mom and dad are Angie and Mike Wynes and they are so awesome. Last Saturday we were at a birthday party for another of our friends' little boy Krew and Brylie saw me there. She came right up to me, took me by the hand and asked me if I wanted to watch her jump in the "bounce house". I said that I would love to and I walked over to it with her. On the way over she looked up at me and she said, "You know, I really like it when you are in Primary." It made my day. Sometimes you think that a calling may be a small one and that the kids don't even notice (especially sitting in the back, behind the piano) but to hear from the mouth of a beautiful child of God that she likes it when I am there made me feel so special. It was a tender mercy that I will never forget, and instantly brought little tears to my eyes! Sometimes the messengers that Heavenly Father sends to tell us how much He loves us are very small, but still so powerful. Thank you so much Brylie. We never know when we will be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. (Thanks for letting me "borrow" this picture from your blog Angie!)

Ouch Couch

Our couch broke because unnamed persons sat on it too . . . easily. It fell through the bottom and we had to ask for it to get fixed. BYUH wonderful maintenance came and took it to their shop, fixed it and brought it back. Ryan vacuumed the floor while it was out. I will say that if only four people sat on it, including Lacey, me, Ryan and Cory and it didn't break because of Lacey and it didn't break because of me...but I will not say who it did break when they both sat on it. :)

Meep . . . Meep . . . Meep . . . Meep

It is funny that we live in Hawaii and this is what we are doing in our spare time. Yikes. No wonder none of us has a tan. Just to defend our case a little though, it has been extremely cold here lately...like in the 60s even. Brrrrr.

For Marianne...

Marianne keeps telling me I need to post something new...I took a serious snooze on my blogging, so here is a new but old post. These pictures were from way back when...2005 I think? We were roommates living in Orem together. It was a blast. We had so many good times, and so many neat experiences. That time with her is a treasure in my memories. Thanks for being so awesome Mar-Bear!