Updates VERY soon!

So we have been having a blast out here in Utah, and I have a billion pictures to share with you all that show the fun we have been having. I will start updating the blog VERY soon. Tomorrow we leave to go back to VA and so I'll have some down time to do some updating. Keep checking back. But here's a little preview of the fun photos I have awaiting you. ;) 

Spencer's First Camping Trip

So this weekend Spencer and I (Tyler) went on Spencer's first camping trip. It was my parent's ward's campout up in park city. So Todd, me, Ally and Spencer packed up the car on Friday morning and headed out to the campsite. This is Spencer and Ally's excited faces as we left the house.

This is Todd in his serious mood. My dad is a very serious camper and we had a three room tent, a kitchenette, two dutch ovens, a propane stove, a bbq, and three coolers. If you think he looks serious now, you should have seen him after the next picture.

We took my grandpa's truck and just as we turned of I-80 to head the six miles up to the campsite we noticed the vehicle was close to overheating. My dad kept looking at it and his face became more and more worried with every hill we climbed. He kept asking me the navigator how much further. Well we eventually made it to the campsite, but the car died before we got to our actual camping spot. So we began moving some of the camp items up a steep hill to the camp site. It was tiring, but my dad was finally able to get the car cooled down enough to drive up to the campsite.

Spencer had fun with Ally. We walked down to the lake and on the way back up Spencer was getting tired and he asked "Why is camping so hard?"

When we got back from our walk, Todd needed to practice his song for the talent show. Spencer sat in his little chair, and although you can't see it in the picture, he sat there and tapped his foot to the rhythm of the music. It was very cute, when Ally wanted to walk around the campsite to find some friends, Spencer said he would rather sit with Papa and listen to him play the guitar.

Spencer then found another friend, Samantha, who is one of Ally's friends. He followed her around the whole campout and wanted to always sit next to her. This campsite that we found was great, except for the fact there was a family of bees who lived there with us. The next morning three people were stung with bees including Ally. She was very sad that she was stung.

That night there was a talent show. This is a picture of Spencer as he was waiting for a puppet show to start. You can't tell from this picture, but he looked a little sad with a band aide on both knees. He had hurt one earlier in the week, and kept re injuring it and making it bleed. The other need he hurt while we were setting up the camp. Too much energy. Spencer was really excited when during the puppet show, he was called up to participate. He played the part of a dog and had to help pull an elephant out of a well.

Spencer was getting cold during the talent show so I retrieved a jacket for him. He looked very cute sitting there all wrapped up.

Ally was in the talent show doing some Miley Cyrus dance. She had alot of fun doing it. Spencer the next day convinced Ally to show him part of the dance and was sitting there reciting the words and practicing some zig zag move.

Dad played his guitar for the talent show, and sang the Chicken song. The ward enjoyed it and there were plenty of laughs over the egg nog, and chicklets. He also played the hymns during the fireside. When he was playing one of the hymns, Spencer told me to quit singing so he could listen to his Papa play the song.

As we were leaving we some some mouse. They were getting a drink as we drove by.

Here are two pictures of Spencer as he was playing around the camp.

Overall we had alot of fun. Spencer says he would want to go camping again. Especially because of the smores. Spencer loves smores.

SURPRISE!!

Jenelle and I decided that since the "boys" (Dannnon and Tyler) would be together this summer, and their 30th birthday was soon (Sept. 28th) then we should throw a birthday party for them. But we made it even better with a Surprise Birthday Party!!! We have been planning this for almost a year now, and it was a HUGE relief to have it happen. It was great, and lots of people came to celebrate with us. I have to say a HUGE Thank You to our family would helped us a TON! We really couldn't have done this without your help and ideas. Thanks! :) 

We tried to get some of Tyler and Dannon's friends from growing up to come. This is Josh Price, he lives in New York, but him and his family were in Utah this summer. So he came the night before the party, since the night of the party he was leaving. Tyler and Dannon loved catching up with him. (don't you think Dannon and Tyler truely look like twins here?!?!)

The cake for their early birthday. :) 
The dessert table, and yes! there is a pig cake there! Jenelle made this from scratch!!! AMAZING, right?!?! It looked so good, and tasted great. 
One more good view of the pig. It isn't a true Luau without a pig roasting with an apple in it's mouth. :) That was the theme of the party by the way...Hawaiian Luau.
Ally standing at the door welcoming our guests. She helped get the leis on everyone with hairclips for girls and fans for everyone. We thought it would be a hot summer evening outside. Well there were thunderstorms, and it was only like 60 degrees outside!!!! So we spent most of the time inside.
Haylee helping getting the food on. Haylee was a BIG help, we stored all decorations and food at her house down the street, so then the boys wouldn't see what we were up to.
Yummy Hawaiian food!!! :) Shrimp, pulled pork, and fruit kabobs.
Kids eating outside. 
Alee and Ashley having a great time. :) 
SURPRISE!!! They look it don't they? :) They weren't quite sure who the party was for, since their birthday isn't until next month, but they loved it. 
Getting ready to blow out the candles.
Jenelle lighting the candles. 
Make a wish!
The next morning. They got up so they could play Rail Baron before church. 

Eight Wonderful Years!!!!!

Happy Anniversary Becca. These past eight years have been wonderful, exciting, awesome, unimaginable, crazy, beautiful, inspiring, and the BEST. I know our anniversary isn't until Monday, but seeing how I will be on an airplane for the next 24 hours I won't have the chance to write this blog about how wonderful you are.

I have added eight songs to the blog, one song for each year we have been married. These are some of the greatest love songs of all time, from all genres and they only seemed fitting seeing how we are the greatest love story of all time. Who would have thought that eight years ago when we were married and sealed to each other for eternity that we would be where we are now?

Some people may ask "Where are Tyler and Becca?" Well I will tell you where we are. We are in a state of bliss. Even though we lived (I guess I should make this past tense since as of tonight we no longer live in the Congo) for the last two years in Mercer's 207th out of 214 worse places for ex-patriots to live (Baghdad is 214), our love for each other not only got us through it, but allowed us to thrive in it. We are still madly in love. My heart still beats fast at even the thought of holding your hand.

The past eight years have been adventuresome and through it all you have stood by me, loved me, cared for me, supported me, helped me, scolded me when I have needed it, encouraged me to pursue my dreams, and put up with my mistakes. Here are just a few of the highlights over the last eight years that let me know how much you love me.
1. Put your schooling on hold, so I could start mine,
2. Moved five times in one year (we made it through those five years surprisingly well),
3. The birth of our son,
4. Allowing me to pursue a job that I love, even though it means being far from your family,
5. Moving to a third-world country, where you don't speak the language and staying here with me even though there were times (probably alot of times) when you wanted to be on the next plane out of here,
6. Moving with me to another third-world country, but at least we get rid of the not knowing the language part,
7. Trips to Hawaii, Paris, Brugge, Germany, Mount Saint Helen, Outerbanks, and front row seats to a Jazz game.
8. All the nights of staying home and watching a movie and eating popcorn.

We do not know what will happen in the next eight years, where we will be, what we will be doing, but what I do know is that you will be there with me, that you will love me, and even if trials and obstacles should befall us I know that we will overcome as we will be together, and together there is nothing that can stop our happiness, our love, our family. I love you Becca, and always will.
Tyler

Trip to UNC

Here are some highlights of our trip to North Carolina...one of them being the walking/driving around UNC. Which is a GORGEOUS campus! It was great fun, even though Spencer pretty much talked the entire way...no kidding...the WHOLE way, twelve hours! But, still it was great fun! Enjoy the pictures. 

Me and Spencer being crazy in the backseat.

Road sign on campus.

The fire engines are even colored Carolina Blue!!!

I thought the Library building looked very unique. 

Tar Heel Nation! Where you can buy anything and EVERYTHING with UNC/Tar Heel's on it. 

The bell tower.

The Dome...kinda.

Where the magic happens. Dean E. Smith Building.

Yes they have a Carolina Basketball Museum!!! We didn't go in, but will next time!

We then started on our way home heading east and then north. Dad knew of this small street which soon became my street of dream houses!!! This was the first one we saw, and it was the one I loved the most. Gorgeous, right? 

Close-up of the dream home. 

Some last ones

Just wanted to post some of our last photos in Congo. We are all moved out, well, pretty much. Tyler is still there for just a tad bit longer. 

Here are the last photos we took:

This one is of two of the guards we have had at our house. Notice the sweaters they are wearing...it was 75 degrees outside, they were cold. :) 

This is our gardener, who was excellent! He had one of the brightest smiles I've ever seen in Congo or elsewhere. Him and his wife just had twins earlier this year, and even named one of them Tyler. :) One reason he might not be looking at the camera is that some people in Congo still believe that your spirit could be taken away with a camera. 

This was our maid, Marie. She was great! 

And the Winners are...(drum roll)

1-The Good Life (Linda Anderson)

2-Mary Delmege

3-Bianca Rose

4-Jen Nicholes

5-The Martinez Family



And the grand winner is Bianca Rose
(These results have been verified by Spencer and Associates)


Thanks to all those who participated by becoming a follower of our blog. For those of you who didn't win, fret not, as we will do this contest once or twice while we are in Zimbabwe. (Remember everyone is welcome to come visit us in Zimbabwe and you will have a place to stay while you go on Safaris, ride elephants, and play with lion cubs. For those soccer fans, the world cup is in South Africa so Harare is a good place to spend some time before or after you go to a match.)


As for the winners what I need from you is

1) If for some reason someone from the family of the winner was actually the one who signed up as a follower and not the actual person listed, please let me know. For example if Jen is actually Lindsey or Ashely or Nathan, or maybe even Bart, or if Mary is actually Scott, or Bianca actually Colby or Luke or Melissa. If the names listed above is actually the person who signed up as a follower then there is no need to let us know.


2) Please let us know what type of prize you want. Some example of items are masks (wood and fired clay, old and new) wood carvings (elephants, giraffes, alligators, pots, bowls, jewelery boxes), jewelry (malachite, wooden, beaded) malachite carvings (Malachite is a green semi-precious stone and there is jewelry made of it and other carvings such as eggs, frogs, elephants, dolphin), paintings (of african scenes), african cloth, kuba cloth, greeting cards, a monkey (wait I can buy this, but it may be difficult getting it past customs), an african doll, or if there is something you collect let us know and we will try and find something to add to your collection (money, stamps, spoons, etc)


3) Almost everybody we will be seeing while we are back in the states in July and August, I think that is everybody besides Bianca. So most of these will be hand delivered, but if for some reason you would prefer we send it to you in the mail let us know.


4) Bianca since you are the grand winner, let us know of two things from the above list that you would like.



In response to the comments. We will do a future post about church here. As for more pictures, unfortunately taking pictures in the Congo is a big no-no. It may or may not be against the law, either way if the military or police see us taking pictures they will confiscate our camera (and since we have already lost three cameras in the two years we have been here, we don't want another one lost.) However I will be taking some video footage over the next couple of weeks and when we are back in the United States with good internet access I will upload the video. In Zimbabwe the no camera rule doesn't exist, so we plan on taking alot of pictures.