Labor Day in Jellystone...

Okay, it is not yet fall, but I really like autumn time...so I am jumping ahead with my new background. I have not been good at all about keeping this up-to-date, but I decided to post photos of our first trip in our new little a-liner to Yellowstone Park. It is fun to have it so close to us now, although we don't get there often. We happened upon Todd and Bethany on their bikes, so there are a couple of photos of them as well :-)

This is at the park in West Yellowstone--the girls finally outweigh John!

John in our "new to us" a-liner

"Trout Art" in West Yellowstone

Mattie Culver's grave on the Firehole River (I am kind of a history person--you can get on google and find out about her)

At Black Sands Basin

More West Yellowstone--Taylor is heavier and taller than Madi now...

I think the sun was too bright for our Madi (squint). They are serious when they tell you to watch out for bears (this is why we now own an a-liner--it is hard-sided so it is a little more difficult for them to have you for a bedtime snack while you are sleeping :-)

The lake at Fishing Bridge

Playing on the beach at Fishing Bridge

Aren't we artistic?

Bethany and Todd with their bikes and gear (102 mile bike tour around the Yellowstone loop for their first anniversary)

We were excited when we happened upon them!

Hopefully our indian summer will last a bit longer!

My Madi...

...musically gifted, much loved, compassionate and generous, no one I would trade her for :-)

From Elder Hull...

Nazareno's house, the one built out of the orange bricks, is the average humble home. Argentina is built out of these orange bricks. They are cinderblocks put together with sandy mortar. In caseros they built a seven story apartment building out of them. If there is an earthquake in argentina, argentina will probably fall apart. The gross thing about the armadillo is that there isn't anything inside,It is just the shell with the tail attached. We had a couple of baptizms. They are both from less active families.

Nazareno wants to be baptized, but he is very frustrated that he has to get married first. We have to wait 10 more days for the divorce of his girlfriend to go through, and then it takes another month to get them married. In past years divorce was impossible because of the influence of the catholic church in Argentina.

Now it is legal, but it usually takes two years and two month's salary to get it finalized. So about half of the population is living together in sin.... It is really bad when you find two good investigators who are living together and both married....to sombody else. It is very difficult for them to progress. But Nazareno is lucky because the divorce will be finalized soon, and he can be married within two months. (Which gives him plenty of time to stop smoking).

I went to the zoo today. I kissed a grizzly bear, petted a Lion, rode a camel, and threw fish heads to a seal. I had to put a piece of dulce de battata in my mouth before the bear would kiss me though. My companion is leaving this next week. And it is very possible that I could train this next transfer. Thank you for the packages. He was very happy to receive his package and did squirt me several times. The problem is that the two junior companions now have water duels daily. I have not yet received the birthday package, but we get mail tomorrow, so it will probably come then.

I lost my keys at the zoo, which makes me sort of sad, because now I have to go make copies of the other key. And I have to ask the branch president for a copy to the chapel.

General conference was good, but I had to watch it in Spanish, which made it a little less good.

Thank you very much Grandma Jean and Grandpa John for the package. The chocolate was wonderful. The pants however, which a year ago would have been too big, are now a little too small. I am a little chubby right now. They do however, fit my companion, so now he has to buy me pants here.

I love you all,

Elder Hull

Wondering...

...why life is so bittersweet at times? I like dark chocolate, but I am ready for some smooth, creamy milk chocolate for just a while...

Spring in Eastern Idaho...

Yesterday was our 3 year anniversary of moving onto our little acre west of town. In some ways it seems like we have been here an eternity--in other ways it seems like things are still new.
It has been a really long time since I have been here in Blogland, so here is a little update:

John has been working really hard on our basement. It now has beautiful tile on the family room floor, texture and paint throughout most of it, and a wood stove. Next comes the trim and carpet...

Bethany and Todd are finishing up the semester at BYU-I and then going on tour with Dance Alliance to Texas for 2 weeks. They are doing well after their accident--just a little physical therapy for Bethany here and there.

Madi is the top high school clarinetest in the state of Idaho--she spent a few days last month in Seattle playing in the All-Northwest Band 2011--she was first of the 5 who were selected to attend from Idaho. All-Northwest includes Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

Taylor is 12 now and attends Young Women's in our ward. Her favorite class at school is band--her instrument of choice is the baritone. She is hoping to spend a week with her cousins in Hailey this summer and attend Sun Valley Summer Music Workshop.

Elder Seth Hull will be 21 years old at the end of this month, and will spend his birthday with his companion and the wonderful people in Argentina. Hopefully he will get his birthday presents--the mail can be a little unreliable. He is in a place called Mercedes. Besides an occasional cockroach in his bed and a nasty bout with tonsillitis, we hear good news from him.

I have 2 and 1/2 weeks of school left. So ask me why I am updating my blog instead of doing my math homework? Well--of course I am procrastinating! I take being a student seriously, so I'm making sure I play the part well! Plus I have a little spring fever--imagine desiring to rake the dead grass out of my lawn! But here I am, homework sitting next to the laptop, trying to make myself endure to the end. I just have to keep reminding myself...in 3 weeks I will be free!
(To keep up the laundry, dishes, and all other general chores--by then I think my desire to rake will have worn off!)