Our volunteer, 2019 Choate Family Reunion...

For the kickoff, we introduced the 2019 Choate family reunion playlist.

Each family member had submitted their favorite song, or a song they really like, and we played a part of each song while everyone guessed who picked that song.  We had 43 songs! Ha!

 We watched some classic former family reunion home videos.  This one has Jared, Nick and Rick philosophizing about catching spiders - definitely a classic! And then we finished up the kickoff by shooting Chinese rockets!

On Friday, we gathered around 75 family names that about 10 of us had researched and took them to the Draper temple to do baptisms.

 Then, we went on a mile hike up to the Rocky Mouth Waterfall in sandy.  On the way back down, we saw a deer!

 Home for lunch:  Parmesan chicken, rice, salad, roasted green beans and cookies for dessert.

Off to Highland Glen Pond for rafting, kayaking and tubing (courtesy of Uncle Eric getting all the water toys)!

We had pizza for dinner at Michell Hollow Park and several old friends stopped by to say, "Hi!"

Saturday was our Petersen reunion at the recreation property building near Skyridge HS

Celebrating the life of Josephine Brighamine Jensen Petersen

Linda made a yummy rice crispy cake to celebrate all the July birthdays!

Hello hello hello!
We had quite a few good potential meetings that I feel hopeful about, especially one we had last night. I wish we had it earlier so she could have attended church with us. She will try to come next week though. She asked a lot of questions, and she actually thinks we are kind of crazy to be doing what we are doing (away from home, serving, many rules, ect..) she was super kind though.
On Friday we had a split. I went with Sister B. When we were going home we were talking to a friend we had just met and then we ran into other friends we knew and it was just hilarious. we were all just chit chatting on the elevator and our new friend was probably so confused, haha.
 Our day was so fun we went to a random cemetery and met this cute mom and her daughter and fed ducks with them. On the way home we met these people who were living in Finland and Canada but are from here and they were hilarious, they contacted us - haha. It is so fun when that happens. We had a short meeting with a lady. It was my first time seeing a different ward's MCM. 
After split review we booked it to a pishki place (they are like donuts but 5 mil times better). We did this our last split so we decided to do it again, and it was closed!!!! I ran through the city with all of my sleep over stuff for nothing! haha
 Then I reunited with Sister K:))))))
We had a church tour and a discussion about the plan of Salvation.
I just need to say this- my companion's testimony is so strong and so powerful and every time we teach and she is bearing her testimony I'm like man, maybe I need to hear this more than the people we are teaching...hahah it just strengthens me so much. I'm so grateful for her. Transfers is next week and I'm worried I'll be transferred.... I love Center and my companion... I'll keep you all updated! Luckily all the sisters here are awesome. 
Do you remember Tatiana, the babushka who was taking the lessons and stopped after we invited her to be baptized. Sister Gursch tried calling a few times and she could not meet every time and I tried a few times, and same thing. However, yesterday I called and she wants us to come over this Friday! I am so excited for that. 
Victor didn't come to church because he had to visit his temple... 
We want to do better at visiting less active members this week. 
We had culture night this week! we went to a super fancy symphony with our district. It was Beautifulllllll.
Hope you all had a good week!

-Sister Stout

Susan, Spencer and Daniel stopped by on the way to Spokane, Washington.  

Talent show on Friday evening with a fun show put on by the grandkids!

More Petersen reunion...

Welcome baby WESLEY TIMOTHY STOUT!!!

Our family started trickling in for the family reunion with the arrival of Carol, Gavin, Janet, Nathan, Linda, Darrell, Rachel, Kayla, Ryan, Ammon, Bryce, Nick, Kayla, Thomas and Natalie...

Brian wrote and said that Chloe was feeling itchy and it wasn't a good sign, so the doctor decided to go ahead and induce the baby two weeks early. At the same time, Leland wrote asking, "What about the kids." And we didn't know what he was talking about, so he said look on FB.  Rick had written a cryptic message to Kelsee about breaking up.  It was a good thing we were so crazy busy and couldn't over react.  When in doubt...do no harm!  In the mean time, Jim, Angie, Jacob, Ben, Levi, Steven, Nancy, Matt, Bekah, Sam, Leah, Hannah and Juliah arrived.  Jim's, Steven's and Carol's families stayed in the bedroom's downstairs, and Linda's family stayed upstairs.  It was cozy! On Thursday morning Luke went to summer school and then Wesley Richard Stout was born at about 10:30 am.  he weighed 6 lbs. 10 oz and was 19 inches long.  We had lots of people at the house to get Luke off the bus so we went down to Utah Valley Hospital to see the baby.  It was the day that Leland volunteers at the information desk.  He volunteers for a few hours once a week.

Brian and Chloe were not quite ready for visitors, so after Leland's shift, we took him (Leland) to Kohl's to get a few clothes for a late birthday gift. We got word that they were ready for us to come (and that Brian was very hungry), so we picked up some salads in the cafeteria and came up.  On the way, we ran into Chloe's mom who was coming down.  She showed us the most spectacular video of the baby kicking his long arms, legs, and he has long fingers like his dad. Wesley is adorable as you can see from the pictures and we were instantly smitten! We got to hold him for the first time and bond with our newest grandchild.  What an amazing miracle to occur on the first day of our family reunion!

Such a sweet baby!

The reunion festivities were due to start at 5:00 pm, so the timing was perfect and we are so grateful we got to see him when we did!  Brian and Chloe are spending the first week with the Baker family and Chloe is getting the best care from her mom.  Baby came relatively smoothly and is healthy and strong.  We are eternally grateful for the miracle of his birth and for the addition to our family.

Ready for the reunion!