Toronto Temple

Also on Saturday, we visited the Toronto Temple. Sadly, it didn't look like the picture above. It was too cold, all the plants were sleeping for the winter. But it was still beautiful and amazing!

Saturday

One of the touristy things we did on Saturday is visit Castle Loma, which is supposed to be "world famous," even though none of us had ever heard of it. Built in the early 1900s, Casa Loma took three years and $3.5 million to build.

My Mom

My Mom just completed an 18 month mission in Canada. She served in the Canada, Toronto mission as a proselyting Sister. Her time was spent helping in the wards she served in and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
When she was released, my brother, sister-in-law and I went to Toronto to bring her home, we were afraid she'd never leave! She loved her time spent there in Toronto and in Bancroft, where she served the last 9 months of her mission. Being there in Canada and seeing where she lived, meeting the people she served and getting a feel for what her life has been like the past year and a half was quite a learning experience for me. My Mom worked really hard and she's a very strong person, spiritually and physically! I'm greatful she had this opportunity and I really hope and pray she'll be able to go out again and serve another mission soon. Not because I want to get rid of her! But because I know she was truly happy doing the Lord's work.

We flew into Canada on the "red eye." Our plan left Wednesday night at 11:30 pm Phoenix time. Our 4 hour flight landed us in Cleveland for about a 2 hour lay-over. Then had an hour flight to Buffalo, NY. In Buffalo, we rented a car and drove to Toronto.


We drove strait to the Mission office to pick up my Mom.

It was great to see her and meet all the people she loved that worked there at the mission office.

We spent the rest of that afternoon driving around Toronto. We saw her appartment she lived at, we went to Lake Ontario, and some other stuff, I'm sure. We were in the car for a long time! All 4 of us, with 7 pieces of luggage, crammed into a 5 seater PT Cruiser with not a lot of trunk space.


We were freezing in this picture. Correction, I was freezing, my Mom was handling it like a pro.



Some of my Mom's friends agreed to let us stay with them while we were in Toronto. Their names are Clloyd and Maria Burns. They also have 3 boys. They could not have been more hospitable. We felt right at home and became instant friends!
These are their 3 boys, Jesse, Joshua & Jason

And this is Maria. She is from Dominica and her husband is from Jamaca.

That said, we ate some interesting things at their house, salt fish for breakfast, chicken foot, goat and ox tail for dinner.
This is my brother Danny going to town on his chicken foot. I am the only one who wouldn't try it. Call me crazy, I don't care. I don't think I could eat anything that looks like kid's fingers.

YUM! The ox tail and goat were yummy, like beef and chicken.

But we were very greatful for beds to sleep in, meals served and a hot shower. She promises to visit Phoenix, I hope I can return the favor. You can stay with me Maria!

Soccer & Basketball

This winter, our boys played to different sports at the same time. It was a little tricky at times, especially since Scott coached Jared's soccer team. But we made it through and it wasn't too bad. What will it be like when we have 3 in 3 different sports?! Yikes!









This next picture is of Brad and one of his best friends, Josh.

My boys!

I am the only daughter in my family with 6 brothers (2 of those brothers are not in the picture above). Growing up, there were times when I loved it and there were times when I hated it. When it was Father's and Son's weekend and all the boys would leave and I had my Mom all to myself, I was very happy. But, when my younger brother, who was closest to me in age, would take sides with my older brother because he was a boy, I hated it. I always thought it would be fun to have a sister, but I didn't mind being the spoiled princess. Now that I'm an adult, I love being the only girl! I have 8 Sisters-in-law and they are some of my best friends.

As a Mom, I have 3 boys. Once again, I'm the only girl, surrounded by a husband and 3sons. My kids remind me that I have Lucy (our dog) but it isn't the same. But once again, I'm comfortable. I understand boys. I can handle boys.


I do have 2 daughters who are not with us on this Earth, Aubrey and Abigail, and I look forward to getting to know them when we are reunited.

I love, love, love my boys and are very proud of them!