4th of July

Happy 4th of July everyone! We hope your holiday was as enjoyable as ours. We had fun at the Murray City parade, flying kites, BBQ'ing, balloon launching, water fighting, and watching fireworks. 

In the evening, we were able to share some stories with each other of parents and grandparents who fought in wars to protect our liberties. We are so grateful for all that they did to make our current freedoms possible.

 Deaun is an old soul. She really seemed to get the significance of the day:

Fiona (aka Aunt Jemima):

Sabrina- very happy with the candy loot she collected at the parade:

Fiona:

Fiona launching water bombs:

Sabrina launching water bombs:

Sabrina:

The sparklers made them a little nervous...

Our front yard firework show:

Watching the firework shows around the valley. We could see fireworks from Orem all the way to Thanksgiving point from where we watched. It was amazing!

We had a really wonderful day spending time with both sets of grandparents and enjoying good food and fun. Happy Birthday America!

Visa Application Process- Scotland

I'm sure that anyone who has ever applied for entry into a foreign country knows how long and tedious the visa application process can be. Applying for visas for five people (2 adults, 3 children) was certainly no picnic, but we did it, and so you probably can too.

A few people have asked what the process was, and what types of visas we applied for, so I will do my best to explain. 

What type of visa did we apply for? There are probably one million and one different kinds of visas to apply for depending on the country you are entering and the reason you are going. Because Dallin will be a student in a 1 year graduate program, we applied for Tier 4 Student visas. Dallin was the main applicant, and the rest of us applied as dependents under his visa. We still had to fill out 5 different applications though, and pay 5 different application fees.

How did we apply for visas?
1) We did the majority of it online. First, we filled out applications online (visa4uk.fco.gov.uk) and paid the fee online.
2) Then we set up appointments for Dallin and I to have biometrics done (aka- fingerprinting) at our local immigration office. Because all of our children are under 6 years old, they did not have to do this part.
3) Then we sent off our passports, pictures, proof of biometrics, copies of our applications, proof of student loans, and a postage paid return envelope off in the mail to the British consulate in New York City. One for each person. (Items that we didn't send in the mail because we weren't told to, but were later asked for were our marriage license, and birth certificates for the kids.)
4) Then we waited. We were told that the visas would take about 3 weeks to issue. A few days after sending off our applications, we received an email that they had been received. Then a week later, we received and email saying that 3 of our visas had been issued.  The next day, we got one more confirmation. We are still waiting on one more visa confirmation (which we think will come tomorrow).
Overall, the visas issued a lot sooner than we were expecting. It was a very pleasant surprise.
5) After a visa has been issued, the Consulate will put your documents along with your visa into your return envelope and mail it back to you. We are still waiting to receive these, but expect them next Wednesday or Thursday.
6) Then you can book your flight!

Can I buy my plane ticket before I get my visa? I would not recommend it. Just in case something goes wrong, it wouldn't be good to have a plane ticket if you aren't allowed in the country. If you must buy your ticket before you have a visa, make sure that it is refundable or transferable. We are waiting for our last visa to be issued before we buy our flights.

Do I have to have a visa to come visit for a short period? We would love to have friends and family come visit us! As far as I am aware, you do not have to have a visa to come visit if you are in the UK for less than 6 months, and you have a return ticket, and funds to support yourself while you are there. So come hop across the pond!

If you have any other questions about visa applications, ask in the comments. I will do my best to answer them, although, I am by no means an expert.

Sabrina lately

What is your full name? Fairy Queen

How old are you? 3

Where do you live? At Grandma Truck’s house

What is your favorite food? Meatballs and sauce with sketti

What is your favorite color? Green

What is your favorite book? Fanny’s Dream

What is your favorite toy? My cat

What is your favorite movie/TV show? Cinderella

What do you want to be for Halloween? A doctor

What do you want to be when you grow up? I want to build treehouses

What is your favorite thing about yourself? I love playing with Deaun

What is your favorite game to play? Memory

** Date of interview- July 3, 2014

Fiona lately

What is your full name? Unicorn

How old are you? 3

Where do you live? Here

What is your favorite food? Pizza

What is your favorite color? Purple and pink

What is your favorite book? Curious George

What is your favorite toy? Legos

What is your favorite movie/TV show? I like Cars

What do you want to be for Halloween? A Superman

What do you want to be when you grow up? A mechanic

What is your favorite thing about yourself? I love to be pretty and go to church

What is your favorite game to play? Capture the monster

**Date of interview- July 3, 2014

Lately (AKA Photo Dump)

this is life lately:

playing with grandpa

swimming

piggy-backing

snuggling

and hanging out with family.

it's a good life

Deaun's 1st Birthday

I can't believe our baby Deaun is already 1 year old! Time just flies.

A few fun facts about Deaun:
She is so happy when she wakes up (unlike the twins- wink wink).
She is walking confidently and is getting quite fast.
She puts herself to sleep for naps and bedtime, but still wakes up once or twice a night.
She wants to feed herself and rarely wants any help. She loves bananas, grapes, blueberries, strawberries, pretzels, cereal, bread, pickles, cheese, beans, and pasta.
She loves her stuffed animals and always wants to cuddle them while she sleeps.
She doesn't take a binky and hasn't since she was about 6 months old.
She loves to giggle and when tickled, has a really wonderful squeal/laugh.
She loves playing with legos and books and blocks and her "little people" and doing whatever her older sisters are doing.
She loves to wave and blow kisses to everyone.
She loves to get our full attention by screaming and grunting.
She says Mama, Dada, Baba (Bottle), and Book
Nicknames: Deedee, baby Deedee, baby Deaun

OPENING PRESENTS: Deaun had A LOT of help from Sabrina and Fiona when it came to opening her presents. She seemed to enjoy the wrapping paper more than her actual presents and she is still a tad scared of her new dolly, but she really loves her new books and toys and blanket.

AQUARIUM: We had some free passes to the aquarium, and took advantage of Dallin being off work to go for a visit. Deaun's favorite parts of the aquarium were walking by herself, climbing up everything she could, walking by herself, laying in the floor, and not looking at the camera. Close behind those things was her fascination with the penguins and the shark tunnel.

SWIMMING: We didn't get many pictures swimming (phone safety falls right below child safety on the list), but everyone had a blast. Sabrina and Fiona loved going down the slide, and Deaun loved splashing and being up to her neck in the water. She giggled most of the time!

CAKE! We did a funfetti cake with strawberry buttercream. Deaun was very tentative at first, but then got excited when she realized we weren't going to stop her from making a mess. She even ate it off of the grass after she dumped it off her plate.

We love Deaun SO very much and we are so happy she is part of our family.