Best Way Out of Class.....Haircuts!

We had a fun time talking with Elder Pierce on Christmas Day. One of the things we brought up to him was the fact that his hair was SO SHORT...even by missionary standards. He started laughing and explained that while in the MTC in Guatemala he had a Spanish class that was really boring. They had him in a class with beginning Spanish speakers. One of the "legal" ways to get out of class was to get a haircut. Well the photo says it all!!! He said he got 4 haircuts in one week. At least he didn't break any rules...right? Leave to Jonathan to find a way out of class!

Christmas Morning...missing Elder Pierce

The first present we opened was the sweet package Jonathan sent us from Guatemala!

Hailey and I got these cool bags. Dave got handmade leather scripture covers and Aden got a tee-shirt and hand woven scripture covers.

We talked to Elder Pierce for about three hours on Christmas morning. His friends Adella, Alex and Matt came over to chat as well. He is doing good but is struggling a bit with homesickness. I'm not sure whether the phone helped with that or not. It was weird not having Jonathan home but we are so proud of him and his decision to serve a mission. Serving others is what the Christmas season is all about!

We hope all of you had a

WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!

The Pierce family did!!!

Our Christmas Eve...and our new present!

On December 20th Teancum Ashton Gevas was born.

His mom, pictured below,is my niece....so Ashton in my great nephew!

My other niece Marina age 8 is holding him!

He was born three weeks early so he only weighs 5 lbs.

What a sweet addition to our family!

Ashton was appropriately dressed in his Santa wear!

Top 10 Reasons Why I Haven't Blogged....

It has been an incredibly busy week in the Pierce household!

I will try to catch you up with a top 10 list of our week!

10. Thursday night was the Santa Rosa Central Soccer Christmas Dinner. Dave is the president of the soccer league which I guess makes me first lady. We also fed the Missionaries and made dinner for a friend who just had surgery.

9. Friday night was Hailey's final Christmas Concert at Santa Rosa High

(We missed you Brook, David and Carter!)

8. Saturday, after walking, Aden and I went to have breakfast at the Bishop's. We then baked and cooked and shopped!

7. Sunday morning we when to Jimmy Bliss' Homecoming. He just came home after serving a mission in Minnesota.

6. Sunday afternoon we went to out neighboorhood Christmas Party and Cookie exchange. We baked sugar cookies and made wontons for the party. (see #8)

5. Sunday night we said good-bye to Jeremy, Katie and Alexis Whitelock who are moving to Indiana this Saturday! They will be MISSED!

4. Later Sunday night we met Porter James Spencer the new baby of Lora (Scribner) and Mark Spencer. What a CUTIE!

3. Monday night was a cookie exchange at the Harris Home!

2. I baked 100 sugar cookies, 2 cheesecakes, made 200 wontons and a batch of clam chowder for my work's annual Christmas Caroling Party!

1. SLEEP, SLEEP, SLEEP!!!!!!!!

p.s Just in case you were wondering if Santa would fit in his suit this year....here is proof!

(Thanks Jackie for the photo!)

Yes Karen....there is a Santa!

This photo was taken December 1970 when I was 4 years old! It is always the photo I bring to baby showers when we play that game where you guess which baby or child is who. When playing that game, some pictures are easy to guess but others you can guess who it is by the age of the photograph. I had a sudden realization this morning that my photo will now be in the "older photo" category. Yes, I can not deny that I am getting older....but I am STILL young at heart, and really, isn't that what counts!

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas....

Where's Waldo....I mean Elder Pierce!

Can you find that strawberry blond Elder Pierce in this photo?

How about this one?
Both these photos were taken while Jonathan was in the Guatemala MTC. The first one is his "graduating class" from the MTC. The second one was taken in a small city called Antigua! Yes, he is the only one NOT looking at the camera!

Wow!.....Feliz Navidad!....Early!

We received a package from Elder Pierce TODAY!

We haven't opened it yet....17 more days until Christmas!

Also the Mission Office is moving....

This should be Jonathan's address for the rest of his mission....

21 months and 2 weeks but who's counting!

Elder Jonathan Pierce

Mision Guatemala Ciudad Norte

Apartado Numero 951 A

Ciudad de Guatemala,

GUATEMALA C.A

Wreath Making....California Style!

One on the traditions I loved while living in Boston was the annual Wreath Making Party. It was always a wonderful night with Christmas music, great food and great friendships, plus I learned how to make a traditional Christmas wreath. We lived in the Boston Area for three years. The first year I helped with decorations and clean up at the wreath making party. The next two years I helped to make 200 bows for all the wreaths. Well, this year the lovely women in my neighborhood decided we would have our own Wreath Making Party. It was not very formal. Everyone brought things from their yards or things they had gathered around the "hood"!

We held it outside in Lyn Bell's backyard. (Yes, it was 70 degrees outside).

All of the supplies....
Kristin's creation!

Julie's creation!

Lyn's creation!

And two from ME!

I had worked the night before, hence the tired face...

and yes I made that gold bow...a skill I learned 18 years ago!

Body Worlds!

Our sweet sister Lori and her family have our names for Christmas this year! Instead of sending gifts, she wanted us to have an experience and a memory which we were all on board for! Saturday our families went to the Body Worlds Exhibit in downtown Salt Lake!

This is a display of real human specimens, including whole body plastinates, organs, and translucent body slices! The exhibit featured the heart and the cardiovascular system. It was very well presented and actually quite fascinating, not disturbing as some might think! One of the most profound parts of the display was the lungs that had been damaged from years of smoking. Definitely a case of the "black lung" (cough cough)!

Sam and Aden showing off their bodies!

Aden is holding a human heart that has been plastinated!

Thanksgiving in Zion!

After a long night of driving, we arrived in Salt Lake City. Wednesday night we visited with family and Hailey went to the Jazz game with her friend Kevin McGee.

Thursday we went to the movies. Some saw Australia! Some saw Madagascar 2 and some of us saw Twilight. Can you guess who saw what? We also had fun cousin bonding time! Here is Hailey with Cousin Karly!
Also on Thursday we got to spend time with some of our favorite California transplants, Brook, David and Carter. They moved to Utah in August for school. The good thing is we have been able to visit them twice since they have moved! Carter is so cute and is growing up so fast!

On Friday we celebrated Thanksgiving! The meal was great and the company was even better! There was only one cooking disaster...kind of a big one....my sister in law's oven broke when the turkey was only half way done! With some quick thinking and some kind neighbors the meal was a success!

A good time was had by all!

In the Mission Field.....Finally

A week ago Tuesday, Elder Pierce finally left the MTC in Guatemala. For you that know Jonathan, the "confinement" of the 9 weeks in the MTC was not his favorite. Luckily he was able to split it between the MTC in Provo and the MTC in Guatemala. He is now serving in a city about two hours outside of Guatemala City called Palencia. He already has a Baptismal Commitment from a 10 year boy named Marco whose family they are teaching. Marco is getting baptized this Saturday.

Here is Elder Pierce with President and Sister Torres!
Elder Pierce and Elder Walker (from Layton, UT)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Friends and Family!!

WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU IN OUR LIVES!!

We are headed to the "motherland" to spend Thanksgiving with Dave's family!
These photos were taken when Hailey and Aden were in Kindergarten. We don't have one for Jonathan because he went to Kindergarten in Costa Rica.
(Thanks Ellen for the photo idea!)

Girls of 84

Before....Karen in 1984 (don't you love the headband)

After....2008
On Saturday I got together with the Girls of 84 for dinner!
We try to get together a least once a year!
It is fun to catch up with everyone and to remember funny High School stories!

New Address

Elder Jonathan Pierce

Guatemala Guatemala City North Mission

5a Avenida 5-55, Edificio Euro Plaza

15 avo. Nival, Oficina 1504

Zona 14

Guatemala Ciudad, C.A

GUATEMALA

Guess Where I Will Be Friday at 12:01am

Not at work.....that's for sure!

Who Needs a Lucky Rabbit's Foot...

...when you have Dave Pierce!

As many of you know our beloved 49ers have had a few years of losing seasons....and this year is headed in the same direction.
Once a year our friend John Norris gets free tickets to one game and he invites Dave. Dave has been a 49er fan since he was a little kid and his loyalty has never wavered whether they are losing or winning.

Every year when Dave and John attend their one game, the 49ers ALWAYS WIN and this year was no exception. They beat the Rams 35-16!

I think the management should offer them Season Tickets...it certainly wouldn't hurt!!!

Dinner with the Elders

Ever since Jonathan left on his mission I try to feed the Elders a least a couple of times a month. I hope that by doing my part that Jonathan will receive good food and that he will not get sick. Last night we fed the Elders and as you can see....the meal hit the spot. Before the nap we had the Elders make up a top 10 list to present to the youth of our ward at our annual Thanksgiving Activity....they finished it before the nap so I should add Power Naps as #11

10. Thankful for packages from home
9. Thankful for that we don’t have to worry about school for two years
8. Thankful for bigger waist size from member dinners
7. Thankful that we are allowed to wear ugly ties
6. Thankful for awkward experiences that make for funny stories
5. Thankful for people that can’t pronounce our last name
4. Thankful for slammed doors that give us a cool breeze on a warm day
3. Thankful for the wonderful smell of marijuana in Northern California
2. Thankful that girls like men in uniforms
1. Thankful for our testimony of the Restoration and Jesus Christ

Go Team Azul!

This Saturday is Aden's final soccer game of the 2008 season. Although the team's win record was low this year, the boys sure played hard and with lots of heart.

Greetings from Guatemala!

Happy Halloween Pierce Style!

Pumpkin and ghost sugar cookies for neighbors and friends!
Carved Pumpkins!

Hailey and her friend Stephanie as "Michael Jackson"

Aden as Indiana Jones although some people asked him if he was a Hobo.

I was a penguin!

Hope you all had an

AMAZING HALLOWEEN!