Meet the Staleys

After 12 years of marriage, Joelle and John got their boy. What an exciting family to be part of. With those girls there is never a dull moment. Julia is our fashion conscious teen and is precise in everything she does. Rachel is fun loving and was impacted by a teacher that is really making a difference in the lives of each of her students. Grace keeps the family on their toes. No one ever knows what Grace will come up with next. Tessa, who was dethroned as queen by the arrival of Jack, is now setting the fashion pace with brand new glasses. There are women at Church, who openly talk about what the Staley girls will wear that Sunday....if we could only get Grace to like dresses...

Meet the Robisons

The Robisons moved into the neighborhood at the beginning of September all the way from Park City, Utah. Their super-sized family consists of Reid & Lisa (mom & dad, ages undisclosed...), Dallin (10), Amanda (8), Emily (5), and James & Henry (aka “the twins,” both 1). When he's not working at the University, Reid (originally from Toronto, Canada) enjoys golf, tennis, music and pretty much anything else that comes his way. Lisa (born and raised near Lake Tahoe) enjoys long walks on the beach, running, and frantically chasing children around Costco. Dallin is a master cellist (Suzuki book 2!) and a self-proclaimed math whiz. Amanda and Emily are the official family drama queens, and can often be found singing and dancing rather loudly. Amanda is a also a retired violist, turned guitar player, and once held the part of Chip the Teacup in a Beauty and the Beast musical. James and Henry spend their time babbling, throwing food, and lovingly pulling each others hair. To clear up a few common misconceptions, James & Henry were not named after Henry James the author, nor Henry & James the cartoon trains for that matter. So say hello to Robison family, and stay tuned for more adventures in the the carpool lane.

Missionary Twins

Copy Paste

Justin and Lisa's twins - Henry and James

Updating for you the quest to get a photo of those babies...the picture that was meant to be

...As related by Justin

"Joelle & Jack are back in town, so we were planning on trying our luck at another photo of the 5 new grandbabies for the West Indies mission home wall. Joelle found us some formal baby attire, and after lunch and some shopping, we started to gather back at my place for the picture. It had been raining all day, which is very rare at 7000 ft in January, and by 3pm or so it had turned to snow and Jenny's miniminivan couldn't make it up our street. She turned back to park at the entrance to our neighborhood and then catch a ride with someone else, but in the process she got stuck in the parking lot. We couldn't push her out, so we made a trip back to the house to get Cooper and a rope to tow her out, and she was going to hit the road because it was snowing pretty hard and starting to get dark. We were going to cancel the photo so Jenny could make it home safely. We towed her out without a problem, but then her car battery was dead! So we made yet another trip to the house to get jumper cables, and thought we might as well take a quick picture or 2 after all. The snow had let up, and the babies were relatively well behaved, and we were able to get Jenny & Jamie on the road before dark."









But the best photo of all has to be:



"Sorry, Henry, we forgot that you don't know how to sit up yet."

"Bye Jack! Thanks for visiting... All your little cousins are jealous of your fancy 'Ed Hardy' apparel. (OK, you're right... they don't care, but their mommies think you're cool)"

The Challenge of Getting A Picture

In 2008, we had five grandsons who were born. Prior to this we had 8 granddaughters and only 2 grandsons. Last night, the grandchildren were together for the first time since the birth of the two youngest grandsons a month ago.



Getting all 15 grandchildren to look at the camera at the same time, to not cry, or to even stay awake was an impossible task.



Ah, we almost got one, but Sylie (age 2) has decided this is too late at night to be trying to get a photo.

Merry Christmas 2008!

Dear Friends,

It has now been three Christmases since we left our home in mountains of Provo, Utah and came to the West Indies. Upon our arrival we did not even know where most of the islands in our mission were located or even their names. Now as we approach the final six months there are faces and memories associated with each of the islands and countries within the mission. We have come to love the people, the richness of their traditions and culture, and their demonstration of faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Here's a few pictures
We love our mission - can you tell?

Our favorite kind of Christmas tree - the Tree of Life (created by Suriname Elder Koenen)


We are constantly surrounded by beautiful sights







and beautiful people









What a wonderful mission!

Hurrah!


Hurrah!


Hurrah for Israel!


Here's a glimpses of West Indies missionaries at work (to view full screen, click on the icon in the lower left of the screen)



If you liked that, we have more mission slideshows here

Our Family

We face coming home to a world that has changed immensely since we left in June of 2006. But we are very much looking forward to being the best grandparents and parents that we possibly can and helping our family face the challenges the world now presents.

The family back home is healthy, happy, and growing. When we left home in July 2006 we had these ten sweet grandchildren - eight granddaughters and two grandsons


Now we have eight granddaughters and seven grandsons! Here is what has happened in 2008

Joelle and John Staley welcomed Jack into their family in August


Here's the new Staley gang


Justin and Lisa were surprised when an ultrasound of baby #4 showed identical twin boys. James (7 lbs) and Henry (6lbs 10 oz) were born in November


Looks nice and peaceful, right?


Life with the Robisons requires all hands on deck as Justin finishes his med school residency (actually expanded into a 2 yr fellowship)





The new expanded family


Jenny and Jason Moyer welcomed Mason into their family in March (on Reid's birthday!)


He joins Taylor


and Cooper


Here's the Moyer crew


Jeremiah (JJ) joined Jeremy and Karenin and Sylie in May


Big sister Sylie


The family


Jamie is busy in school at BYU, working at CPK, hanging out with family, playing in a band, and generally having too much fun



We are excited about our army (basketball team?) of baby boy future missionaries and feel that their safe arrival in 2008 is one of our precious mission blessings.


The two hardest things are:

Not being home to help out
Getting a picture of all 15 grandchildren

The best thing is:

Working side by side with great people doing the Lord's work in establishing his church here in the West Indies


We are grateful to each of you for your support, your notes from time to time letting us know how things are going, and for your friendship. We have been influenced greatly by your example and goodness. At this wonderful Christmas season, we remember the traditions of Christmases past, the message of the restored gospel and the greatest gift of all times, the gift of the baby Jesus to the world. We rejoice with you in the celebration of His birth, life, and atoning sacrifice. May the Lord bless and watch over each of you as we recommit our lives to serving Him not only this season but in the months and years ahead.

With love and appreciation,

Reid and Diane Robison