Hermana Loftus goes into the MTC

My sister Cambrai, reported to the MTC on Wednesday. She is going to the San Domingo East, Domincan Republic mission, speaking Spanish. She came in on Monday night to spend a day or so with us before leaving. We had a family dinner & went out to lunch at Costa Vida as sisters(all of us ordering sweet pork salads) to celebrate Cambrai's going (apparently this is now a tradition 2/2 missionaries lunch@ Costa vida) and Danielle's birthday.

Instead of having someone else take pictures for us, we took them in shifts. It must be documented that it was Gabrielle's (the one getting married at the young age of 19 in December, and the only one with brown hair) first time eating Costa vida/cafe rio food from the restaurant. She has often had the homemade version, but it was the first time in the restaurant. ps. Christopher is not pictured because he was at school.

Because they changed the way missionaries are dropped off, and no more MTC signs, we have limited pictures. Oh well, it was warmer than when Danielle went on her mission, and we still had fun! (which reminds me, Cambrai was only going to be in the Provo MTC for 3 weeks, then going to the Dominican Republic MTC for 6weeks, so she only packed a rain coat & 2 sweaters that were 3/4 sleeves. Rob just happened to talk to some people at work (at the MTC) about Cambrai going in (this was monday) and they mentioned that she is most likely staying in provo the whole mtc time because she is the only sister going to the D.R. this transfer (and she couldn't be w/o a companion...) So we ('the sisters' as mom calls us now that we are grown and left the house) searched our closets for sweaters she could use while at the MTC.

By the end of her less than 48 hr stay, Michael loved Cambrai!

Saying goodbye to Aunt Cambrai

Pictures from during her stay: Look, mom wants me to hold still while the camera takes 5 seconds to take the picture.

just missed the kiss

There we go...shoot, bad angle.

Maybe you shouldn't kiss sister missionaries, Christopher.

Cambrai meeting baby Benjamin for the first time.

Michael was sad we wouldn't let his bike helmet be in the picture.

Cute pictures taken by Daddy

Michael loves raising his hand. Christopher will often say things like "if you like candy, raise your hand" and Michael raises his hand. (even if the thing is undesirable)

Helping Daddy rake the leaves.

Smoosh those leaves down!

More Baby Benjamin-When my mom came to visit

Proud cousin Christopher holding baby Benjamin.

Cutie!

Silly smile (you should have seen his school pictures...)

Reading with Grandma

Michael is happy sitting next to Grandma

But he loves cuddling with his Daddy.

They were doing this while I had my nice long turn holding baby Benjamin.

Halloween 2010

Christopher was Darth Vadar.

Michael was a spider. But he wanted a lightsaber. These first 2 pics were taken on Rob's new work phone. The last 6 from our old camera :(

This is Christopher (and me) Halloween 2007. Just so you can see the spider arms better.

When Michael raised his arms, the spider arms raised too.

He's raising them well in this pic, you just can't see well cuz it's dark.

Darth Vader (sideways-sorry)

The spider really wants a lightsaber.

Give it to me! (Not unless you join the Dark side). Michael liked making 'Darth Vader breathing noises' too. And he loved people giving him candy. He would look in their house to see if they had a dog. Oh, and we went Trick-or-Treating on Saturday because that's what you do in Utah when Halloween is on a Sunday.