OK - so here goes. I could not download one photo of Stephen and I so you are stuck with the one, where I actually look just the same, LOL, and that was taken at the University of Utah in 1973! I was PG with Jonathan at the time. Looks not so, right? Anyway, back to the reason for the blog.

Christmas to me is about your own families. Those you have created, and they have created, plus the beautiful souls that have helped create with them. This Christmas we spent with the Rasmussen family. It indeed was fun. I learned how to play Ben Ten on the video thingy?? and Kolton was a hard one to beat. We played with the kids, the adults, and had a fun time. One to remember in the so called "Golden Years" or "Reflective Years" as I choose to call it. We returned to Enoch to the quiet of the home, and it felt too quiet. By the way, Britta cooked the best meat I have ever had in the crock all day and it just fell off the bones. Get her recipe!

Early December found us in Albuquerque, NM to help take care of the Hunt children for a couple of days. It was a wonderful time, and to add to it Jonathan, Cathy and Ethan had extended two days before returning to Ohio to see us. Between Ethan and Brennen, Haley and Nader, we had a blast. It was so funny when we took the three Hunts to brunch on Saturday, we were at IHOP, Brennen's request, and all the empty dishes were on the table and Brennen asked if we had to clean up the dishes? That was a funny moment for us. We took them to Deseret Book and to the Library and at the Bookstore Nader kept coming up with all these calendars he wanted us to buy his mum. It was so funny and we were - like - what would she want with that calendar, but it was clear this little guy was so wanting to please his mummy and she was first and foremost in his thoughts. That was so sweet.

This summer Syd, Abby and Nat were here for a few weeks. While Nat busied herself building in the basement with Steve, I busied myself building memories with the two girls. It was a fun summer and full of laughter, frustration, tears, joy and movies. You name it, we did it and experienced it and it was fun. Tammy and her three cuties came for 10 days and in between her visit comes Kris, Em and Noah. What a fun week. We had a blast and Noah found out he had lots of cousins who totally loves him.

In September Cathy and Ethan came to visit for a week and that to was great. Ethan amazed us with his obedience when his mum would say no, that was it, no was no. We had so much fun and especially when we took him to the animal museum down in St.George he had a blast as did we. Another fun filled month.

June found us out in Ohio visiting the Jonathan Olsens. We spent a week there and I learned for the first time about the famous "Moth Man" and even got to see his statue in some place - cannot recall if it was W.Viginia, Ohio or Kentucky. Anyway, somewhere there. It was fun. There are so many trees there I think it even has Ct. outdone. Maybe it is because Ct. has more population than SE Ohio, but it sure seemed like you could not see the forest for the trees.

Thanksgiving was quiet. We spent it alone here, but actually had a really nice day. I did the whole turkey thing but being one who use to do 14-15 pies at a time for holidays, I actually did one and that was a new low for me. But we missed family and I hope that in the future we can spend the time with family.

The trouble with being scattered around the country is not being able to hook up as often as we would like to. However, when I get to feeling sorry for myself, I quickly remind myself that my mother only got to see one of her American Grand Children, Tammy, when she was 10 months old. Then that puts things in the right perspective. Now with having filled in what you already knew, I will get down to business sometime soon of filling in the blanks of my life, which is the reason for this blog. Along with current events in the lives of Stephen J and Maureen A.