It took us a couple of weeks to pack and prepare to fly home. We bought a luggage hand held weight scale and so Elder France found himself lifting bags over and over until we had all of our eleven bags weighing just right. It was worth the effort...we paid no overweight charges. We had a lovely dinner at the Mission Home and flew from Helsinki to London on 18th December. From London we flew on the beautiful 777. We had excellent seats on the right side. The service and food were excellent and very much appreciated. Our flight was eleven hours "over the top" to Los Angeles, California. We stayed the night in Los Angeles and flew the final flight the next evening to St. George, Utah.
Family greeted us at the airport!
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| "They're coming! I can see the plane!!" |
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| We met our newest grandson for the first time! |
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| Three of our beautiful daughters were able to meet us! |
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| Emotional reunion for Grandma and granddaughter! |
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| Back home in the beautiful Land of Dixie!!! |
All of our children arrived for Christmas and we had a wonderful holiday time together!
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| Great family photo taken! |
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| This handsome grandson won the guess, "Where will Grandma and Grandpa go to serve their mission?" He guessed Russia and was the closest, winning $100. |
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| Cooking for our crew is no small endeavour, but everyone pitches in and does it with such great fun and willingness ! THANKS goes out to all!!!! |
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| The house was all Christmas decorated! We decorated the tree together...thank you daughter-in-law for putting the lights on! |
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| Having all these grandsons around was so wonderful! Merry Christmas! |
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| Laughing and talking together is one of the most precious things about gathering! Making memories and connections! |
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| All the grandkids opened their stockings! |
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| Just what I wanted! |
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| Grandma was given a new HD+Nook...what a surprise! Grandpa was given cash for his choice of a golf pass! Our children and grandchildren know us and love us. We are so blessed!! Thank you...thank you! |
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| We were given the newly published and amazing Brainy Bookiacs Book for 2012 vacation! FRANCE FIGHTERS...each grandchild wrote a part of the story and did their own illustrations (see below) with Grandpa and Grandma Finland as main characters in the story. Our daughter, children, and grandchildren did a fantastic job again of pulling it all together! |
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| Our grandchildren are the most talented on the earth! Well, they are. |
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| Finland gifts all around! It was so fun to see each family enjoy what we brought them. |
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| Our five granddaughters like their handmade mittens and hats. Grandsons liked their hats and knives too, but I couldn't get the fifteen of them all together just then! Go figure...such energy! Wish we could bottle it for our old age. |
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| Swimming was also fun for all! |
