Some random post-mission moments during January, February, and March 2014

We celebrated a few birthdays during our first  months home, including Carl's 68th. Here he is surrounded by the grandchildren who have been living with us (with their parents, of course). At the start of our mission, they sold the home they had outgrown in Pearland, and moved into our home. It was a blessing having them here to take care of  our home, and a blessing for them, since they got to save up money needed to buy a much larger home. (They are closing on a home now, and will be moving out in August.) 

 The Zalit grandkids (minus baby Ben) celebrating Grandpa's birthday on March 27

Dan celebrated his 40th birthday in January. We love teasing him about being on "old" man.

 Lauren celebrated another 30-something birthday in March.

Uncle Ta (Carl Benjamin) and Avery celebrate their shared birthdays of March 2.

Evan celebrated his 5th birthday on Feb . 23.

In March, we enjoyed a visit from our New York Rochester Mission senior missionary friends, the Woods. They flew in from Utah to visit a son who lives in north Houston. We enjoyed sharing mission memories and some good Tex-Mex food.

With six of our grandchildren temporarily living with us, we get to enjoy many moments of random  cuteness. Lorelei was just 3 months old when we left on our mission, and is now a funny two year older who loves to "dress up".

Baby Ben eats his first solid food and doesn't know what to think about it.

In February, we got to go to Madeline Rippstein's homecoming talk. Unlike most of the missionaries, who live in Utah, Arizona, or Idaho, Sister Rippstein lives just 20 minutes away from us, in Clear Lake City. She served in the Rochester New York Mission during the time we were there. Our senior missionary friends who live in Utah get to go to tons of homecoming talks -- at least we got to go to one.

Spring fever hit Carl like a tsunami (Spring starts early in Texas), resulting in him buying a chain saw and taking down a good portion of the trees in our backyard. The grass is sure to grow greener now.

Carl got a break from all the chainsawing, by going on a Father/Son camp-out.

Elayna presented this cake at the cake auction the Young Women were having for summer camp.

In conclusion, post mission life has been good. Never a dull moment! (I'll be doing a separate post on the most exciting evens of the first three months home -- the births of two new grandbabies!)