100th post...

I just noticed that we had our 100th blog post 

here at branches 'n' twigs. 

How crazy is that!

It's been a fun way to stay in touch with family and friends. 

I love reading your blogs & facebook posts, and seeing your instagram pictures! 

I'm a picture kind of gal and you do not disappoint.   :)

Thanks for dropping by once in a while.  

 

xoxo

The trainer...

A long long time ago, 

our eldest twig left on a 2 year mission 

to serve and to teach all he'd meet of Jesus the Christ. 

These two young men were his trainers.

 One called California home, the other, Utah. 

Just a few weeks ago, the trainer from Utah had his last transfer

 and finished his mission to the fantastic people of North and South Carolina. 

We got to meet him and hear his testimony 

of Jesus Christ and the restored gospel. 

It was the next best thing to having our Zac home. 

His trainer knew about Zac's new area 

so we listened with bated breath as he told us about the great people of Catawba.  :)

Thanks Elder "B" for being a great trainer, a great friend, and a great missionary. 

 

All our love and best wishes as you begin your next chapter in life.      :)

Harvest dance...

One of my favorite things about having teenagers 

is listening to them laugh, 

especially when you get a whole passel of them together. 

There were 22 teenagers here on Halloween, laughing and enjoying the holiday. Loved it!!

The twigs High School Harvest Dance was just after Halloween and they were in a group together.

It was a group of only 8 teenagers but laughter still filled the house - my favorite thing.    :)

They played ping pong & pool while we took a few pictures for them.

It was a casual dance and the theme was "Super Heroes & Cosplay".

 

They ate a little dinner, played the good old classic board game, Clue, and...

...were off to the dance.    :)

After the dance they were back to watch "The Incredibles" and have root beer floats.
It was a fun night!    :)

A unique UEA...

Historically, we like to get out of Dodge on UEA weekend and have some hiking fun

but we have big doings coming up so we're pinching pennies. 

That meant hotels were out. 

Instead, we did homework...

(Thanks Melody for the encouragement and insights into Frankenstein!)

...and picked apples...

...and raked leaves and pulled out and tidied the garden.

I LOVE freshly turned dirt!!   :)

We worked on repairing the deck too.

Sheila came for a little visit and is always up for fun so we grabbed the twigs friends 

and played some racquetball - my favorite thing!  :)

We also headed up the mountain for a evening hike to watch the sunset. 

By the time we got there it was a "night hike" but it was so much fun!!! 

Okay, the part where the teenagers ran ahead and hid in the bushes

then leapt out roaring like mountain lions 

so they could make the mom scream wasn't my favorite, 

but the teenagers totally loved it.   ;)

We visited Grandma...

...and the next morning the twigs went with the youth in the Stake 

to clean up flower beds and have a pizza party at temple square.

(Thanks for the cute pic, Leaders!)

Our unique UEA weekend was pretty great after all.   :)

Partaking...

I love to hike! 

I'm not a fast hiker but my family is willing to put up with that.

I think it's because I bring along trail mix for them.   :)

So when I heard the Relief Society was going to have a little "Trek" activity I was super jazzed!

It was the best! Wonderful friends to visit with...

 a beautiful little trail along a mountainside with colorful Autumn leaves dotting the ground...

and sweet talks filled with encouragement and the spirit.  

 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ,  

who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, 

 and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him,  

and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him,  

and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end;  

and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.   -Omni 1:26

Plastics in Pittsburgh PA...

After General Conference, the Mr. had a work conference in Pittsburgh, PA. 

The conference was good but he especially appreciated the tour of a mold-texturing shop they were given by one of their subcontractors. It was a multi-generational family business 

using the latest technology - very interesting.

 Thanks Pittsburgh for treating the Mr. well and especially for sending him back safe and sound. 

We love having him home with us!    :)

Breakfast on the island and General Conference favorites...

General Conference weekend started super early Saturday morning with the twigs going 

on a group date to watch the sunrise and have a picnic breakfast on Antelope Island.

Let me back up a little to explain the Mr.'s mischievous smile and not-so-threatening bb gun. 

You see, our girlie just turned "16" one week before this date. 

She's been watching her big brothers have tons of fun on dates

 for a couple years. She's the youngest, and decided to follow the counsel

 in an inspired little guide for youth called "For the strength of Youth" which says... 

"A date is a planned activity that allows a young man and a young woman to get to know each other better. It can help you learn and practice social skills, develop friendships, have wholesome fun, 

and eventually find an eternal companion. You should not date until you are at least 16 years old. When you begin dating, go with one or more additional couples. 

Developing serious relationships too early in life can limit the number of other people you meet. 

Invite your parents to become acquainted with those you date. Choose to date only those who have high moral standards and in whose company you can maintain your standards."

This was her second date in one week! 

Yup, she hit the ground running. We weren't well acquainted with her first date 

so the Mr. took pity on him but this second young man is a super guy that we know well 

so the Mr. decided he could pull out his "gun" for the rite of passage...

"father armed with his gun, meeting the young man at the door 

who's come to take out his daughter." 

What a great sport her date was!  He made the Mr.'s day!

Then they were off for the Island. 

It was cloudy so there wasn't much of a sunrise 

but they said it was still really pretty and they had a good time.  

As soon as the twigs returned from their date, we headed south 

to watch the first session of General Conference with Ty and Suzanne's family. 

Thanks for the invite guys! We love having you nearby!  :)

We made it back home just in time for the afternoon session of General Conference 

and for Hunter's soccer game.

His totally fantastic Sunday School teachers left this for him too.   :)

There were so many great conference talks, how can I even pick a favorite to share?

I can't, but here are a few of the quotes I liked and sent to our missionary, Zac (Elder Branch).

Elder Lawrence said both of these quotes in his talk. The pictures were found on instagram. 

Good stuff!!

:)