Ashlyn's Article of Faith

Ashlyn recites the fourth Article of Faith.

Baptism and Blessing

Tera had her baby blessing Sunday.


Ashlyn had her birthday and was baptized Saturday.


Jesse can count to 30 now.

Jonah and Tera

Jonah enjoying an interesting outfit.


Recent photo of Tera smiling.

Tera Photo & Video

SpongeBob is taking great care of Tera. She is so happy.


This video was taken yesterday, November 22nd.

Halloween Costumes

Jonah, Bryn and Ashlyn dressed up for Halloween. Jesse was sick and didn't dress up.

Setting Apart

I had the opportunity to see my parents set apart by their stake president Greg Powell. It was a spiritual experience. I had mixed emotions. I was excited their time has come to serve a mission, but I will definitely miss them while they're gone.

They were set apart at the Cross Hollows Stake Center in the high council room at about 8:00 pm last night. In attendance were my grandparents Banks, grandma Payne, Uncle Dave & Aunt Jeannie, Leanne, Alan, Ember and her family, Cheryl and Garrett and Brent.

I cherished the opportunity to stand in the circle as my parents were set apart. It had never crossed my mind that I would get to participate in that. It was very special. They were promised great blessings.

My brother Brent is dropping them off at the MTC today. They will be great missionaries. I feel the Spirit so strongly when I think about what they're doing. What a blessing to know the gospel has been restored and to be a part of it. What a wonderful time!

New Baby Tera

We are happy to announce our new arrival, Tera! She weighed 7 pounds 4 ounces and was 20 inches long. She was our smallest baby. She and mom are doing wonderful. We are so grateful for each of our children and the joy they bring to our lives. What a miracle!

Fire, Fair and a Few Weeks

A week ago I took Jesse on a daddy-boy date in Cedar. We stopped by the fire station and got a tour from a ward member. Speaking of fire, Becca came home the other day and the smoke alarms were going off. She was of course scared. We figured out that a battery in one of them had gone bad. Whew.

We went to the Iron County Fair a weeks ago. Jonah loved merry-go-round with motorcycles.

The girls are being silly again. Bryn enjoyed dressing up like pregnant Becca. Only three and a half weeks left.

The Greenshow

Last week we took the kids to the Greenshow. We got a kick out of Jonah dancing. I think they enjoyed the singing and dancing. It's a little different than when I used to go as a kid. I think they would have enjoyed seeing the dancers avoid the eggs. They also would have liked the Punch and Judy puppet show. We let them run around the lawn for a few minutes after the Greenshow got done.

Llamas on Cedar Mountain

We enjoyed our time with the family Saturday at Grandma Payne's cabin. As we were leaving we encountered some llamas on the side of the road. We stopped to take some pictures and they came right up to our van. We opened the window to look at them and they thought they were invited right in. It was funny.

Jonah's Stitches in Chin

Jonah fell off our playset and hit his chin on a wood slat at the bottom. I was at work so Becca took him in to the doctor. Becca held him down as he screamed while the doctor placed three stitches. He is happy and doing well now.

Banks Reunion

We enjoyed a reunion with the Banks side of the family at the Deer Haven campground on Cedar mountain. The kids were able to break a pinata and go fishing at Kids' Pond. They also had fun playing in a log hut that their Uncle Jared built. We enjoyed the devotionals around the campfire and getting to know each other better.

Main Street Mile

I ran the Main Street Mile with my family in Cedar City on Pioneer Day. Ashlyn and Bryn also ran it with me. My time was 5:55. My goal was to get under 6:00, so I was happy. Bryn got about 7:00 minutes and Ashlyn got about 7:20. It was the first time I had run that race.

Elison Reunion at Tropic Reservoir

We enjoyed a few days camping near Tropic Reservoir with Becca's family for their annual reunion. A few of the things we got to do are as follows:

• Break pinatas
• Shoot bb guns
• Shoot arrows
• Find candy in sawdust (Big Dig)
  
• Geocache for treasures (with GPS units)
• Watch movie with projector (Horton Hears a Who)
• Becca got a haircut (From her sister Melani)
• Canoeing
• Roast hot dogs and marshmallows (for smores)
• Skits
• Family flag
  

Playset Finished

Becca's dad came up to our place a few days ago and helped Becca put a border around our playset with wood 4x4's. She then bought a bunch of rubber wood chips from Walmart to put inside the border. It ended up taking way more bags to fill it than we were expecting. We decided we weren't going to spend any more money on them to fill it. She went and got some pea gravel and put a layer in and then put the rubber chips on that. I think it looks fine and should do the job. I appreciate all the hard work Becca did on it. We're excited to have that project done.

Hives

I've been suffering with hives on my arms the past few days. My arms are red, bumpy and itchy. I went to the doctor yesterday and he prescribed some medicine. I don't know what I'm allergic to. We'll see if that does the job.

Wife Rebecca

Marrying my wife Rebecca was the best decision in my life. She truly makes me happy.

Family Portrait

Banks family left to right: Bryn, Jesse, Chad, Rebecca, Jonah and Ashlyn.

Marriage

We were married in the St. George Temple. We met while attending Southern Utah University.

Mission Call

My parents got their mission call yesterday. They are going to the Santiago, Dominican Republic mission. It will be a Spanish-speaking CES mission. They leave on November 2nd. They will serve for 18 months.

Utah Summer Games 5K

I watched Garrett, Cheryl and Ember run the 5K Saturday morning. Garrett took second overall. He took first overall in the 10K on Friday. Cheryl and Ember ran well too. Dad, mom and Brent came to watched as well. It was fun to see them run and cheer them on.

I was planning on running but found out that the Clydesdale division was cancelled.

5K Road Race Results

Sister Jill is Expecting

I found out yesterday that my sister Jill is expecting in October. I was visiting with the family yesterday and they asked if we heard. I told them we hadn't. They asked if we had seen the picture that Jill sent. I told them I had. The picture went right over my head. Each of her kids was holding a ball. There was a ball next to them with no one holding it. It was there way of saying a new baby is coming. I did think the picture was strange because they're more into wrestling and karate. I didn't understand why they were each holding a ball.

Cafe Rio

I noticed Cafe Rio is going up across from the lighthouse in Cedar City. Doesn't Cedar already seem saturated with Mexican restaurants? I also think it's interesting that they're only a block from Costa Vida. Aren't they the same type of restaurant?

Engagement

I official proposed to Rebecca in my dad's bishop office. We were engaged for three months before we got married in 1997.

Mission

I served in the Texas Houston East mission from 1993-1994.

The areas I served are Vidor, Broadway, Pasadena, League City and Orange.

My companions were Richard Rowley, Wayne Ostler, Scott Hegwer, Paul Hess, Bruce Tippets, Elder Dutson, Jeffrey Snow and Thomas Capps.

My mission presidents were Allen Farnsworth and Fred Stringham.

Cedar High School Graduation

I graduated from Cedar High School in 1992.