January

This may be a long blog. But so much has happened this month.

NEW YEAR'S EVE
Mike and I spent New Years Eve with friends, playing games and ringing in the New Year at midnight, even if we are old folks, we managed to all make it to 12 am! New Years Day we put away all the Christmas decorations and getting ready for a normal work schedule.

KELLY VISITS
The following week, Kelly was in town for a few days for the CES convention (Consumer Electronics Show not Church Education System). Her group from work flew in on a Thursday and left Saturday. Her boss was very kind and gave her a flight home on the following Monday night, because he knew she was from here and wanted her to have time with her family. We enjoyed spending time with her.

MELISSA AND KIDS

The Wednesday of that week Melissa and the kids arrived. Melissa came to spend some time with us while Curry is in Ghana working with his Signs of Hope Organization and to get out of the snow. We had fun days of visiting quilt stores to pick out fabrics for a quilt I have started, playing in the park, going to Build a Bear, and just playing with the kids. Kelly and her special friend, Luke came in Friday night to join the fun and to celebrate Kelly's birthday.

Lauren had not seen Melissa to give her Christmas gifts yet, Lauren had made plates etched with each of Melissa's family name on them.


Jaman with Garn playing with a lego set

Lauren with Asher playing with Asher's gift, a tea set

BUILD A BEAR

The kids has so much fun at Build a Bear on Friday night. Jaman made a teddy bear and Asher made a dog. Asher did not understand that we had to stuff the dog to make it look like the sample dog in the store. She carried around the store sample until we got hers stuffed and when it looked like a dog she was willing to put the sample one back on the shelf. Jaman was so happy with his he picked out clothes for it including a hat, then made it dance all over the store.

Jaman and his teddy bear that he made at Build a Bear

Asher and her dog ( it only looks like she is choking her dog) We picked out a dog sweater but after we got home, she wanted it off, she said doggie wanted to be naked!

KELLY AND LUKE ARRIVE

Luke and Kelly arrived Friday night very late. I was the only one who waited up for them! Kelly and Luke had some interesting news for us...after Luke and Mike (AKA "Daddy" had a little talk). They are engaged! We are planning a wedding for April 11Th! We are very excited to welcome Luke to our family. It will be strange to him for awhile since he is from a family of 5 boys. He is not used to being with all us women!

Luke and Kelly

While Mike and Luke had their little talk the rest of us went to a bridal store to try dresses on. I won't show you THE dress I am going to make, but we did get some cute pictures there. Kelly and Jaman

A future bride

Lauren and Leslie

Guess how excited Garn was with the whole thing?

(Garn had worked a graveyard shift the night before)

KELLY'S BIRTHDAY

That night the whole family went to the California Pizza Kitchen for dinner to celebrate Kelly's birthday. Here we all are...

Nancy, Kelly and Luke

Jaman and Mike

Lauren and Garn

Leslie and Asher
Leslie, Melissa and Asher

SUNDAY

Sunday we all went to church and Kelly and Luke left for home. That night I still had a gingerbread house to be decorated that we did not have time to do at Christmas time. So we had some fun with it.

Jaman with our creation.

Asher and our decorated house

I think a lot of the candy ended up eaten!



Asher pretending to be asleep on the stairs.

All too soon it was time for Melissa and kids to start home. The house was so quiet. We missed Jaman's babbling and Asher asking for snacks because she was SO hungry!

LAST NEWS

Today I had an interview with a councilor at the temple. I have been called to be an Ordinance Worker at our temple. I start next Wednesday. I am very excited to be able to serve the Lord this way.