"Hey Metal Back...

So, if you're wondering how our dearest Brother is doing and the toll that the mission has taken on his sense of humor, just read the "sweet" LOVING letter to our sister Becky.  Becky just had back surgery and has been a little under the weather.  I made a pre and post video for Ry to see.  This was her reward for putting up with my video making for Ryan.

AND WE QUOTE... STRAIGHT FROM DEAREST RYAN:

Hey metal Back... hahah i hope that you are doing good... i have been doing good now i think i have the black lung from all the dang smokers here! gosh i cant breathe plus my allergies are kicking me in the but! Cough Cough... i think i have the black lung pops, its not very well ventelated down there... hahaha One LooK!?  {THINK DERRICK ZOOLANDER} oh i still quote movies yes sir... i think that the vid terri sent me is like the first time in 15 months i have seen you talk haha it so wierd! well i love ya g2g bye!
> get feeling better dont set any metal detectors off... ps look at the plus, if someone kills you and burys you not to deep in the ground, we can find you with a metal detector hahahahaha bye love ya!

Oh, how we miss him, life's a bit more quiet around here... if you can't tell why, read the letter again.

P.S. BECKY...DON'T KILL ME, I DIDN'T PHOTOSHOP THESE, NOR DID I TAKE THEM.

Our Happy Halloween Treat...

Look how Martha we have become!!!

Kar found this cupcake idea with white chocolate spider webs, so Nicole and I made some carmel apples for Bunko, with the help of Caitlin's carmel spreading expertise.  It's super simple, you all should try!

Ode to the PRETTY SISTER (Karly's late birthday blog)

      

So, just so you know, we... the James Girls did not forget the youngest Sister's birthday.  Karly kindly reminded me that I didn't do the "Ode to the PRETTY SISTER {aka Karly}" for her birthday.

Her face kind of looked like this when I was told, not a mad face but a face that just doesn't look like things went smoothly....

At least I didn't tape her hand to something that would shock her...  This is the only way that Karly will play this game by the way.  Look at our little sisters keen reaction to a shocking moment:

We had so much fun with Karly's last birthday that it was hard to top that.  Hopefully this late post with all these beautiful pictures will try and measure up.  This is us at Sacre Coure in Paris...

Our "Pretty Sister" as we have lovingly nicknamed her...  Her beauty is ageless...kind of like the Colosseum (I know it's cheesy but you try and make up something to explain the random pictures I found!)

Karly is so beautiful, she could be an Egyptian princess, although this is the closest that she will probably be to a pyramid...

Who else could look this great riding a donkey......

And have the best story of how she got on...

Not too many people have had their butt grabbed by a Donkey King from Greece, on their birthday no less.  Kar we hope you had such a wonderful birthday, hopefully it was better than having a Greek man "cop a feel"!

There, enjoy your Ode to the Pretty sister!  And don't complain next time...haha.  P.S.  you'll always be our favorite sister with word vomit.

Update on Ryan

Well Ryan is still currently in Burlington KY... He is loving mission life, here is Ryan's most recent email:

Hey, another month down, i cant believe it i am on the down hill side it is wierd how fast it is going by. Yesterday was General Conference it was very very good! Elder Holland gave the best talk i have ever heard. Anywho, we have been doing good as a mission we have had about one baptism a month. Each of our goal as a companionship is to have one baptism a month. So we have been working hard, trying for 20 lessons a week keeps you busy thats for sure. We are still working with April and Jamie, April has cancer so it has been hard to get a good meeting with them because they have been out and about a lot trying to keep her mind off of smoking. On the way home from Zone conference we saw a car on the side of the road and two people who looked like they had no idea what they were doing, so I rolled down the window and asked if we could help, surprisingly they said we could. So we pulled off to the side around the corner and another guy had blew out his tire and he had a tone of tools to fix that, so we asked if when he was done he would come and help. Well we went and helped and it was a good thing that we asked the other guy because our tools wouldn’t fit the bolts and he had it, anyways we helped then we started talking about the book of Mormon and The lady wanted to learn about it and said we could come over, sadly they didn’t live in our area, so we just let them go…. KIDDING we sent the referral on to the Lakeside park elders, well after they were leaving 2 cars pulled up behind us and had just got in an accident on the freeway… long story short we got to talking and one of them was a less active member from Missouri or Wisconsin and the other had some Mormon friends he was from Chicago. i pray for you all the time! We are on the Lords Errand we are entitled to the Lords Help! 

Elder James

Ryan and basketball??!!  thats funny!

WRITE HIM!!!! :)  I am sure he would love letters!

Exactly one year ago today...

We were on a plane to Paris.... :( It's hard to believe how fast time flies!!! It is DEPRESSING!!!

Pretty sure it is time to book another trip!!!