I talked the kids into dressing in matching shirts for our annual family photo for the Christmas Card...can you believe I can still talk them into it?

I've not been very good at the blogging thing but I really love reading those of others...so I keep trying.

Here's the update...

Christina and husband, Cliff, along with their beautiful daughter are still living with me. So with Russ and Joey (and Kyle also coming to visit frequently) I just feel so blessed to have them all so close. It is so awesome for me to see them grow and progress in their individual lives.

Since it is Thanksgiving I must say how grateful I am for wonderful, talented, beautiful and loving children. They have all been such a help and support for me.

Okay, from top to bottom...Christina is working hard at home. She cooks and cleans and chases Haylie...she takes such good care of all of us. Cliff is working at Fugal's in Pleasant Grove though they send him all over and to surrounding states (which Christina hates!). Haylie is the most fun. I have heard people say that Grandkids are the best but you just don't know till you have them...it is so true! She is so busy like Christina was. She can crawl so fast...and loves to make us chase her as she heads for the stairs. She is starting to walk and can make us laugh so easily. I am so lucky to see her everyday.

We are so happy to have Russ home from his mission in Spain. He has stayed pretty busy since getting back. We have all been amazed at how long it takes the Army to do ANYTHING! He needed to get "in-processed" so he can return to his reserve duties. His Medic license expired while he was gone so he has really been trying to get things going. He finally got tired of waiting for the Army to get their paperwork done and took a job at AT&T's call center. He really wants to get a hospital job and is anxious to get his stuff renewed so he can follow his passion. He missed the deadline for fall semester so he will start his pre-med stuff in January. He is still thinking he wants to go to medical school and maybe do Pediatrics. He has been on a few dates but has sworn off blind dates forever...ha ha...it is so fun having him home....

Kyle is really busy. He is doing pre-med at UVU. He is working as a Surgical Tech at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. He also doesn't want anyone to know that he is doing some modeling as well. I guess they don't care how long his hair gets ;-). He is smart and talented and we love having him around. He has been dating Mandi Saxton for two and a half years now. Kyle is planning on Medical School too and is thinking of Anesthesia. He is also toying with the idea of doing the military route.

Joey is everyone's little buddy. He is going to a new private school this year and he loves it. He is doing really well. He stays really busy too with Karate twice a week and Scouts. He is getting really good at Karate and will have his Brown belt in a few weeks and plans on having his Black belt in about a year. I'll post some more pictures soon.

I am working at Alta View Women's center doing nights again. I still love what I do but am really tired of the night shifts....I would like to do fewer...or maybe take a leave to get my body and mind back into shape...but can't figure out how to do all of that. I really feel like I am blessed beyond what I deserve certainly. Like I said I have wonderful kids but I also have the most wonderful and supportive extended family! I honestly treasure my family more than almost anything in the world. We try to do "girl lunch" fairly regularly. It is a good time to catch up on what is going on with everyone. We also spend a bunch of Sunday's at Dad and Donna's for dinner or at Joe and Sue's for bar-b-que. I can't say enough about how much I appreciate all of their love and support. I am teaching Sunbeams at church...hmmm...they are BUSY...no honestly...I love them. They say the funniest things. I am always looking for a man cause believe it or not....I still like them....ha ha. I have been trying to work on my Basque family history when I get a chance...this has been really addicting....I have been known to stay up half the night chasing some clues.

Okay I guess that is about our year...hope you are all well and happy too!

Fifteen days and counting. Elder Kennington has a baptism scheduled for the Saturday before he comes home. How awesome is that? Joey started school and is really happy at ALA (American Legacy Academy). It is so fun to see him come out with a smile. We all went to Boondocks on Saturday for my work party...we had a fun time and got a little wet. More later...

Okay...don't laugh...I haven't done this for so long, but the creative girls at work have inspired me. Here is what is going on in my world...

My darling grandbaby, Haylie, has started to crawl...really CRAWL! That is hands and knees. She has been doing the army crawl thing and could really move...but now she is right up on her hands and knees. She is such a little doll and so happy and smiley. She has two little teeth now.

Russell is finishing up his mission and is really enjoying life. He is always so positive and upbeat. I am so proud of him. We miss him so terribly and will be so excited to have him home. He will be home on Wednesday, September 24th at 7:19 pm. He will be so busy when he gets home. I just can't wait to have him back home.

Kyle is always so busy. He is working in the OR at the new hospital in Murray and he seems to love it. He has done a little modeling which was fun and he is going to school at UVU. He still manages to find time to come and play with Joey and the rest of us. He is such a good kid.

Joey is my little sweetheart. He is so happy and spunky. He has the most amazing imagination and even more amazing energy. He is always ready with a hug. This summer he had three karate camps and now has his green belt. He has really improved so much. He is really good and really loves it. He will start school after labor day at American Legacy Academy and mom is really excited about the new school...to Joey..it's just school...ha ha...but he liked his teacher when we went to meet her on Monday. Joey just doesn't give me grief. He likes to help...he does what I ask him...he is respectful...he is so patient with me...even when I am in a sleep deprived stupor...I am so grateful to have him around.

As for me...I am still working labor and delivery at Alta View Hospital in Sandy. I have had so many really special families that I felt so close to and with whom I felt it was such and honor to be present at their birth and/or labor. I don't like the night shifts...but I love the work. I was able to go with Joey and my mom to a big Hales Reunion this summer where Elder Hales spoke. It was a lot of fun. We stayed at the Ogden Hilton and had good food and good fun. Joey swam and hung out and we learned a lot about our ancestors. We had my immediate family camping party at Flaming Gorge. It was wonderful to get together. We missed Bob and Shirley, Brian and Becky, Nick O., Tim, Johnny, Michael Sean, Mandy, and of course RUSSELL. This Saturday I am in charge of the big Russell Reunion...more about that later but for sure I will be happy when that is over...much bigger animal than I had anticipated. Over-all I feel so blessed and happy. I would love to be home more to do more family history, exercise more, be a better grandma and mom and generally feel more human but I am happy to have a way to support my family that I really enjoy and find so rewarding. I have good friends, the BEST family and I am healthy and happy. What more could I ask for? Oh...wait...still looking for Mr. Right ;-)