Elder Gwilliam

Jacob turned in his paperwork for his mission last week, and we were expecting it to take at least 2 weeks before we heard.

And they now deliver the mission calls via email instead of regular mail, so it's faster.   The emails usually arrive on a Tuesday morning and on Monday, when you log into your account, there is a "Welcome" letter for missionaries.

Jacob got the welcome letter on Monday, so if the rumors were true, then he would be getting his mission call the next day.

Then, on Tuesday morning, he got this text:

That was fast!  Sudden!  We thought we had another week!

We decided to have Meghan and Marissa come over later Tuesday night and have Jacob read it to us.  Jacob teased he was going to read it without us right now and everyone told him no.....to wait!

Anyhow, Tuesday night, Both Gma's and Gpa's came over as well, and Jacob brought 16 of his friends and roommates too!  This is how it went down:

Here is is in writing if you didn't catch what he was reading:

So we are all excited!   

And by the way, about Jacob teasing he was going to read it early?  He wasn't teasing.  He really did read it right when it came with his roommate!!!

Happy Bday Jacob

October 27 was Jacob's bday!

He said he's outgrown Chuckeeee  Cheeeeezzesss so we didn't go there.  And he was at school, so we didn't get to see him much.

We did take him to breakfast for some AUCE (all U can Eat) french toast at Magelby's and yummy candied bacon.  

We also had a big family dinner on Sunday to celebrate with everyone.



We had this special candle that was supposed to open, spin and play music.  Well, it did play music, but it basically just caught on fire.

Doesn't he look excited?

Happy Bday Jacob!  We love you!!!!!!!

Hiking Timp

Mt. Timpanogos is the most recognizable mountain in Utah, and it's the 2nd highest being the backdrop to Provo and Orem and all of Utah County.  At the top, it's 11, 752 feet in elevation - the air is always cold, windy and thin at the top.  The exposed portion of the mountain is all limestone and about 300 million years old.

The hike to the top is close to 7 miles each way, with over a mile in elevation gain and is one of the most visited summit in the entire Rocky Mountains.  There is normally a glacier year round that is near the top, and a large mountain alpine lake - Emerald Lake.  There is a pack of mountain goats on the steep slopes that are friendly and like to be seen.

"They" say you have to hike Timp at least once.  Well, we have never done it, and Jacob is carrying on the tradition - so we will hike it via proxy through him.

The most common way to hike Timp, is to leave in time to see the sunrise at the top. That means leaving around 3am, which is what Jacob and several of his friends did.

Due to years of drought and little snow last year, Jacob said the glacier was almost gone and the lake was very small.  He said it was very very cold at the top and super windy.  But totally worth it.  Pictures cannot even come close to the beautiful and spectacular view and sights from the top.

Sunrise just starting

Looking out towards Orem and Utah Lake

The hut where everyone signs their names.  Jacob's two friends trying to stay out of the wind.  Jacob said they had a hard time signing their names because they were so cold and their fingers were frozen!

On the way down, the goats made themselves known

At the peak!

Panorama pic - click to see it better 

Let's go Shopping!

Jacob is now at BYU, staying in the dorms and his dorm just so happens to be right across the street from my building where I work!

Very convenient  to bring him stuff, have lunch with him, etc.

On the first day of school, a local bank was having an open house and giving away free lunch, so of course, he and his friends went.  

There was a drawing to enter to win a "shopping spree" at a very small, extremely over-priced neighborhood market that students can shop at.  They were giving away 3 30-second shopping sprees.

Well, you already guessed Jacob won one.

He went out the day before and looked at the store to see what he wanted - it's a small store and he didn't want to waste time going in and out of the aisles - so he planned his run just along the edges.

The event was the next morning at 7 and I went to watch, along with one of his friends.  Each person ran separately and could keep whatever they could put in their basket in the 30 seconds.  

The first guy went for cold medicine which was all the way to the back of the store and some other things.  Jacob went for cheese, butter, chicken, nutella because "nutella is expensive" even though he doesn't really eat it.  The other guy went for laundry detergent.

Jacob's basket rang in at $101.  30 seconds isn't that much time, but it was fun to watch and participate in!

Here he is getting cheese and berries