Hi Todger, Carey, and Jen! 
First off I am sorry I haven't been in touch more, we were a bit misled and internet at basecamp is basically non existent. .. today we walked about 4 hours to the closest village with internet.. we'll stay here and rest and eat good food and then head back to basecamp tomorrow or the next day.  

If you could, would you mind reading this email top the class and/or posting it on the blog?? (maybe sara will want to help with that :)   )  I actually wrote it the other day in basecamp while thinking of you all, but couldn't send it until now . . 

It's funny, here most people avoid thinking about thier jobs and even dread going back to work, but I think of you all fondly and often.  When you  are doing the pledge in the morning and getting ready to begin your day, we are just finishing up dinner.  We try to stay in the mess tent (where there is a gas heater) and hang out playing cards and drinking tea in the warmth before we retreat to our sleeping bags. Sometimes I lose track of what day it is, but on weekdays I think of you all getting settled at your desks - I wonder how they are arranged now - and think about what special you have that day.  
I'm sure things have changed since I've been gone, and I wish I could see you all and read your latest stories or see your latest drawings.  The Sand Dunes trip is coming up and I'm sure you are excited for that.  I wish I could be there, but hopefully you'll think of me as you are climbing to the top or laying  (probably talking and giggling) in your tent at night.  
As for us, this triphas been amazing and challenging. The mountains here are beautiful and the Nepalese people are wonderful.  The climb has been difficult on days and enjoyable on others.  At times in the ice fall or listening to the glacier shift I have been scared, only to get through it and look back thinking it wasn't that bad.  Climbing the Lhotse face to camp 3 was very steep and terribly exhausting.  There were times when I thought I couldn't make it. .. but I just kept putting one foot in front of the other and eventually got there. :)
Brandon's challenge hasbeen the food here - there are no corndogs :) . . .actually, it is harder to digest food because of the lack of oxygen and he has been sick often because of the change of diet.  
However, through these challenges and missing you all terribly, we are still excited to be here because you really don't know what you can do until you challenge yourself.  
So now we are just waiting for good weather.  Even when it seems nice at base camp, the winds can be blowing 60mph at the summit, so we are reading a lot and going for day hikes to stay in shape and wait for the good summit weather - looks like maybe around the 24th.
I want you all to know how much I think of you and miss you.  I'm sorry again for the lack of communication. . .we can get text messages on our phone from www.irridium.com(I think Jen and Carey, you got the #) 
Lots of hugs to everyone!! :) Can't wait for ice cream party round 2 when I return :) !! 
Mrs. Chalk