Then Lovely Coronado

Still shocking that this cute family calls Coronado home....someday I hope we get to follow your example!

Tom smile! ok, then Steve will make you smile!

Natalie captured the feel at the beach...lots of nature, lots of fun with cousins and hanging out.

With everyone under one roof for a time, we had lots of chances to get to play together!

Well, they do look tough, don't they....

Just feels good to be together.

Natalie's stunning shot of the SD coastline

All these blue eyes makes my heart melt.

I love the look on Brauer's face..."Are you kidding me? I can pick whatever I want?"

It is sooooo fun to see long time friends. Charlotte and I obviously still think alike!

I could eat this kid up.

"Ahh. Spotty Dog. I missed you!"

This group makes me smile! And Taft-man, you stole the show on this shot!

First stop was Princeton

'Wow Rachel, I love this present. You picked the perfect one!" Good job Rach. You knew what your little sister would love. (Notice the packing boxes in the background. We slept at their house just one night after they moved in. Don't you think Mel deserves a double good mark for hosting her in-laws that quick after a major move???)

I know Mel already posted this, but it is such a crack-up. 'Give me the frosting but I don't want to get messy!' She is an adorable one year old.

The cheerleaders of Kate's first birthday.

Jake and Mel's cute townhouse and their new van. From city folks to real suburbanites again. I loved their neighborhood and the town of Princeton. Super quaint.

I took the kids to the community pool. Great little swimmers. Jake said, 'they better be after all that money on swimming lessons!'....being there reminded me of our community pool in

Virginia. That was really the only thing I truly missed when we moved to Belgium. Such a great idea to share a huge pool instead of everyone owning a tiny one.

Good 'ol Rach. Still quite the bookworm. She is most happy when surrounded by her books. However now, instead of looking at them she reads them. They grow up way too fast!

The kid is Back!

Proof: Work and wear out your life in the service of the Lord. Good job, Elder Herway!

Meeting this little family was one of my highlights. The mother was inactive, but through Elder Herway(as the instrument) she became active, her husband joined the church, the kids are baptized. The oldest child just got the Mel. priesthood and is preparing for a mission. He was at work and is not in the picture. The mom kept saying, "if it weren't for this Elder, where would my family be?" By the time we left both she and I had had a good, happy cry!

We had to go to the library b/c we needed the internet. Steve gets us set up on our computers, and this was the point where he realized he was free to go anywhere on the internet. It was almost more than he could take. See where he went first? Facebook!

We ate lunch at one of his favorite spots. He thought it was funny that it was finally approved by the Board of Health....guess while he ate there it wasn't!

Elder Herway has been released, but not really. Still directing, still guiding, still leading. He took a call and went to the map!

Really super companions. Fun to meet them.

Loved going to his apartment. He took over, answered calls, etc...

Jake, Mel and kids drove up with us to collect him from the Mission Home. He still has his tag on, so officially he was still a full time missionary!

President and Sister Jeppson. Steve only knew them for a few months. Pres Bahr was his Pres for the majority of his mission.

It's fun to get phone calls from Steve again. Actually, it's still a shock to get them. Sort of feel like I am breaking the rules or something. He has had a lot of 'firsts'....the internet, swimming in the ocean, a movie, and a date! Go get 'em Steve-o. Nice to have you back home. And good job. Well done!