Our friends of over 30 years, Bryce and JoAnn Bennett, are going to the Mexico City Temple Friday. They have been rooming just across the hall from us. We have almost ten days to wait before we fly to Perth, Australia. 
The Bennett's captured this photo of us in the foyer of the MTC. This certainly has been a special experience, one we will always treasure.
That's Perth, Australia! Soon we will be there...the other side of the world!
Elder Nielsen and the Twelve Apostles.
Sister Nielsen with a First Edition of the Book of Mormon.
A very cold first day at the MTC and the tulips are in full bloom everywhere.
Spent the day taking family photos at Payson Park during our last chance to get together before taking off for the MTC and Australia. 
We captured this shot at the bridge over Salem Pond.
J.D., Melissa, and kids sure make a handsome bunch.
Grandma, Grandpa and the grandkids on the loose....
Dad's girls all dressed in blue....
As a farewell to the Perigos before leaving for Australia, we joined them for dinner at Cactus Red's.
They snapped this quick photo of us over dinner.
We also had a cookout with all our kids living in Utah County. J.D. and Melissa charcoaled hamburgers and we all gathered around the tables for one last party. Made lots of memories our last time with the kids for a year and a half. These are the times we cherish.
The whole family joined us at the condos at Bear Lake for a week-long stay. We filled out days with crafts, videos, snow shoeing and good food. Here are three of the grandkids making mosaic pictures.
Krista had lots of space to piece together the rag quilts.
Time was filled with browsing the internet, getting the pop gun ready to shoot Grandpa, crafts, snacking and just "goofing around."
Springtime on the beaches of Bear Lake was chilly, but beautiful.
DeVon is enjoying the view of the lake, while Judi (with her camera in hand) is capturing the view of the condos at Bear Lake.
Brea, Derek and daughter DaKoda are checking out the view from the loft.
This is the whole family crowded into the loft for a family picture. Who took the picture?? One of J.D. and Melissa's foster boys who came along for the trip. 
We were given guest tickets to the Sunday afternoon session of LDS General Conference. Since this would be our last chance to attend conference for a year and a half, we decided to attend rather than just watch on TV. WOW! What an opportunity. Just the two of us drove down to about four blocks from the Conference Center, ate our sack lunch, and walked over to attend Conference. It was a special day for both of us. We couldn't help but realize that those in Australia, where we will soon be, would give anything for this same experience!
