Elder Tryon

We just found out yesterday that Christopher is being transferred on Tuesday. He will be leaving Boca del Rio and going to Tuxpan. For many years I have heard from other people how great it is to have a missionary out, and how much fun it is to get their letters. Now I know how true that is. I was talking to a friend yesterday who also has a missionary out. She commented on how much she used to hate Mondays, but now that's her favorite day of the week. I can so relate to that. I can't even begin to describe the joy I felt when I saw these pictures. He looks so happy! I am so proud of him!!

More Baptism Pictures

Baptism Day for Melissa

Melissa got baptized Saturday, September 5, 2009. She thought that was a pretty special day because it is her Uncle Larry's birthday! There were two other children getting baptized in our ward. She was also super excited to have her brother baptize her. It was a great day!!! I can't believe I have gotten to the stage in my life when my last child is baptized. Where has all the time gone? I am so proud of all of my children and the decision they made to be baptized. They are great examples to me! After the baptism we went to eat breakfast at IHOP. It is always so much fun to have friends and family gathered together! Thanks to everyone who helped make this day so special!!

First Day Of School

First day of school is always an exciting day at our house. Sorry I didn't get a picture of Mandy and Tyler, but they had to get up early for band. I have to admit that I was not up at that hour with my camera ready. Jacob and Melissa were especially excited this year, because it is the year when they can ride their bike to and from school all on their own. It gives them a sense of independence. Jacob is in 5th grade this year and Melissa is in 3rd grade. I cannot believe how fast my children are growing up. I remember when Chris and Tyler were this age and I just couldn't wait for them to grow up. Now I have Chris on a mission and Melissa just turned 8. Now I wish that time would slow down....way down!! I am in no hurry whatsoever for them to grow up!! They are so much fun and keep me laughing all the time! Tyler is a Senior and Mandy is in 10th grade. I started working at the High School this year, so it is fun to be there with them. They stop by my room occasionally to say Hello, but usually looking for a treat! I am really looking forward to this year it is going to be a great one!! We are so blessed!

Go Allen Eagles!!!!

Football season is here!!! And we love our band!! The Allen Eagle Escadrille is the largest band in the nation - 600+ members. It's hard for people to believe, so I took a video so you could see for yourself! Mandy plays the clarinet (I think there is about 80) and Tyler is the section leader for the trumpets.(I think there's about 96 trumpets). It is quite a sight to see this band perform. They cover the football field from endzone to endzone. To begin their season every year, they march through the streets of Allen, for a total of about 10 miles. It is hot and miserable, but they have a great time. We enjoy going to all the football games to watch them perform!!

Princess Birthday

Melissa turned 8 this year!! All she wanted to do for her birthday was to have a princess party. Not just any party, but one at a place called Sweet and Sassy. It is a salon for little girls. So I told her she could invite one friend to go with her. They started off with getting their hair done. And to my surprise they came out with Rock Star hairdos. You can't see it very well in the picture, but Melissa had pink and blue stripes in her hair and her friend had lime green with orange and blue polka dots. Now that is not what I had in mind when they talked about getting their hair done. They were just giggling and having so much fun. Then it was off to the manicure and pedicures. And to finish it off, it was make-up application. They had so much fun. It was fun to just sit and watch them and listen to their conversation. They are such fun little girls!! When we arrived home, Jacob and Mandy had decorated up the house like Melissa's castle. They had made a paper crown for her and made a throne for her to sit in. Jacob was dressed in his Sunday clothes and was appointed to be her servant for the evening. It was quite painful for him. Melissa knows that he doesn't like to wear his Sunday clothes very much. So after a while she gave Jacob permission to change his clothes. But before dinner, she made him put them back on. It was a fun day and I know that she felt very loved!!!

End Of Year Trumpet Recital

Tyler loves the trumpet. And I love listening to him play the trumpet. This is a video of his trumpet recital this Spring. I am sad that he is a Senior this year. Not only will I miss him being home, but I will miss his concerts and recitals. I am so proud of him!!

Too Much Fun

Christopher is having a great time on his mission. He is enjoying every minute of it and is having some great experiences. He loves the people in Mexico. This is a picture of him and his companion posing with a statue of the Pope.

I'm Not Great At Blogging Yet

I am still trying to figure this whole thing out. I'm not doing so well with pictures. The first picture is of Christopher after his blessing.

And I Was Worried About Swine Flu

Christopher has been out on his mission 4 months now. Wow, time is flying. A month or so ago, I received an email telling me that he had been sick. One morning he woke up to find red spots on his lips. Not thinking much about it, the doctor told him it was cold sores and gave him some medicine to put on them. The next morning his face was swollen. You can tall that in this picture his nose, lips and chin are swollen. It continued to get worse until his eye was swollen shut. The doctor prescribed him some medication. When he got to the pharmacy they handed him two syringes and a vile of medicine. He had to go out and find someone to give him the shots. He found a lady in one of the wards to do this. It continued to get worse, so the mission president told him to come into the mission home, which was about 25 minutes away. They told him that he would have to go into the hospital to receive IV antibiotics. When he got to the mission home, the mission president and his companion gave him a blessing. Almost immediately after the blessing, the swelling started going down. He did not have to go into the hospital. What a blessing!!! I am so grateful for Priesthood Power and those men that honor their priesthood. The picture on the left is after the priesthood blessing. You can see that his lips are almost back to normal and his eyes are not swollen shut. I was so grateful that I didn't know anything about this until after it was all over and he was better.

Eagle Scouts

They're finally done!! I am so proud of the boys! It was a lot of work, but they finally finished. Chris finished a year ago, but had been waiting for Tyler to get finished. They wanted to have their court of honor together. I don't know that Chris would've waited so long, if he had known how long it was going to take Tyler to get finished. But it was worth it to share the evening together! They are such good friends and really enjoy doing things together! And of course, they couldn't have done it without the great scout leaders that they have had over the years. The quilt in the picture was made by their grandmother Tryon. It is truly a work of art. It will be a treasure forever!!

Cousins in the MTC

Life Changes

I have never been one who likes change. But life changes whether we like it or not. One of the recent changes in our lives is our oldest leaving the nest and flying out on his own. That was hard for me! As many of you already know, Christopher left about three months ago to serve a mission in Veracruz, Mexico. After experiencing two wonderful months in the MTC (He loved every minute of it) he headed off to Mexico. His departure was delayed a week because of the swine flu. But finally, on May 11th he made it to Veracruz. He was so excited to get there. He said that it reminded him of visiting grandma and grandpa Wagner in Mexico. I think that lasted the first day, and then reality set in. The first email we received he talked about doing laundry by hand. I warned him that the food he would eat would not be the same kind of mexican food he was used to. He quickly knew what I was talking about. He said it was good, but he said he never asks what it is, he just eats it. Smart boy! In the short time that he has been in Mexico he has really grown to love the people. As much as I miss him, I know that he is where he is suppose to be and this is yet another step in his progression. I am so proud of him!