October 2009
Neil & Mike-Hello everyone, I think I might be coming back from the land of the Lost! I'm sorry I have been such a slacker. This has been the worst year of my life and I just couldn't bring myself to write anything. It's not all that much brighter but a little. Tena is finally out of Juvenile hall and the mental hospital. I won't go into details but that gives you a clue as to our woes. She is now in a treatment home in Chico. It is not nearly so restrictive and we're hoping she is finally at a place in her mind where she can get some help. She has been away from home for 5 months now. I really have to thank my married kids for mothering me through it! I do have some bright moments! Cypress got baptized on Oct. 12th. She has been waiting for that moment for a very long time. She was very excited!! Haylee, Ryan and her family came and Haylee and the kids stayed for a week after so that made it extra special. Halloween begins to loose its luster when you're too old to go trick or treating. (Rachel, Brandie and Tom) So we went to the community Halloween Carnival to boost their spirits and Brandie ended up winning first prize in the costume contest, coming home with a $25 gift certificate to the local hamburger joint. We're all hoping she shares! (they have really good milkshakes). I want to say a big thank you to Jenna for putting up with all of us losers all this time. You're wonderful!! Then I want to thank all of you who write. I so enjoy hearing about all of your families and what's going on in your life. By doing this sharing, we feel like we still know each other at the family reunions. We're excitedly planning to go to Utah to spend Thanksgiving with Haylee and her family. May Donner Summit be dry! We do have so much to be thankful for and as we begin November I shall be indeed counting my blessings. Love Aunt Mike
Trevor & Charmayne-
Haylee & Ryan-
Kalli & Terry-
Paij & Brent-
Jarom-
LaMont & Evy-
Chad & Nan-
Jaimyn & Paul-
Justin & Jana-
Melisa & Tye-
Layne & Frankie-Hi,
We have been very busy with our new arrivals. Pompi is our male, black-tri, Australian Shepherd. He has fathered several litters with Rachel's red-tri and Seth's black-tri. Last year we bought a female, red merle, aussie from Benjamin. (He had Missy, a registered red merle). Of course, when we purchased Snowball, Missy's pup, we didn't know that Missy would join our family this summer. Now we have 2 black-tri and 4 blue merle males from Missy & Pompi; and 2 black-tri and 5 blue merles females from Snowball and Pompi. With all the puppies we have had or been involved with over the years, there has always been combinations of male and females in the litters. Needless to say, we were quite surprised to end up with 2 single sex litters. They should be ready to sell a few weeks before Christmas.
We have planned a trip to Hawaii after Christmas to celebrate. If the puppy market is good we may splurge, if not we will have fun anyway. Layne has been working hard with 16 independent study students after school and at lunchtime. I have fluid on my knee and hopefully only a sprained ligament, thanks to the lively dogs. An MRI is being scheduled to make sure the meniscus is not torn. So, I have done my part to deserve this trip, also!
Other than the older age, aches & pains, we are doing great.
Hope that all is well with you.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Rachel & Rob-
Seth & Rayanna-
Brandon & Laura-
Rebekah & Seth-
Caleb & Ashley-
Kara & Michael-
Jeremy & Leslie-
Benjamin & Megan-
Hi all!
October was a cold month here in Layton Utah. We had to go through and pull out our coats and jackets. We went and took a family picture that we will be sending out in our Christmas cards. Speaking of Christmas cards, I need updated addresses from everyone. E-mail them to me at
MaMeGirl1@yahoo.com
Halloween was lots of fun. The boys enjoyed ringing doorbells and getting candy. Ethan would hold up his bucket again and again until they stopped putting candy in it. I think he got 3 times as much candy as Ben got. It was too funny.
Lots of Love, Ben, Megan, Ben, Ethan, and Brynna
Mathew & Karali-
Calvin & Donna-
AND NOW... LIVE LOCAL LATE BREAKING NEWS!!!! Calvin and Donna's house broken in to AS THEY SLEPT! Useless alarm dog stays hunkered down under covers as thieves rip off flat screen computer monitors, printer-scanner and more. No suspects in custody. Police investigate and confirm (Barney Fife voice) "What you have here is a point of entry... and some missing stuff. I'd say you were the victim of a burglary..."
Well DUH!
Natalie and Jared came up and spent some time this weekend for Halloween. All came over and shared our traditional "AFV" viewing. Meredith is still in Mexico. Husband and kids preparing to depart December 30 to hang out "south of thee border" themselves for the semester.
Sam straightened out his hair for Halloween. It's a great look for him. Donna is still seeking employment. By the way - our POTUS is a falsehood-bearer. The economy isn't all that great just in case you're asking. Am still awaiting bailout. Maybe next week.
Meantime please tune in to the "Cal and Bob in the morning" podcast at http://kblfam.com .
That is all. As the late Lowell Thomas used to say... So long until tomorrow.
CAL HUNTER - PRESIDENT, HUTH BROADCASTING
Damien & Kacey-
Meredith & Bill-
Hillary & Jason-The Rogersons are happy and well and had the cutest little Halloween kiddos ever! I don't know how to attach pictures though so oh well! Jason just worked his LAST graveyard shift and we're hoping for a more routine schedule from the both of us. Hunter almost poked her own eye out with a pencil at school (accident) and Ellie turned 6 this October but says it doesn't feel all that much different from 5. Reese and Max have both had major growth spurts this month making me realize I really don't have any more babies in my house. That went by fast! Hope all is well with you and for those of you locals who may want to see the Madrigal Dinner put on by the Shasta High School music department, public ticket sales are happening this weekend so let me know!
Cayle & Katie-
Sarah & Ryan-Happy fall, everyone! We had a great Halloween here in the McMullin house with way too much candy and lots of fun.
We dressed up as a Star Wars family and got lots of oohs and ahs at our cute little Yoda. Douglas couldn't have cared less about the whole thing, but he doesn't mind a little attention. School is slogging along as usual, and we're at that point in the semester where we realize we're going to be accountable for all the information we don't take in during lectures. Not a great feeling! Emma just got back from a quick 4 day trip to visit Meredith in Puebla, Mexico, where they had way too much fun together. You can see Emma's video travel diaries from the trip here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jO7IbCNNTso
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GaG03P6764
The hot humid summer here is finally over and we've moved to the fantastic Houston fall and winter (high of 76 today) that make the miserable summer worth it. Now that Halloween is over the holiday season is here! We're excited to have a house to decorate for Christmas this year. Hope you are all well and recovering from your Halloween sugar overdoses!
Natalie & Jared-
Sheila & Lyle- How are you? I can't think of much to write about:( However...I think I enjoyed Halloween more this year than I have for a long time. Something about the crisp air outside, leaves falling, lit pumpkins sitting next to a scare crow on a bench, carving pumpkins with family and friends, painting faces, hot soup on the stove and walking grand kids around the neighborhood. You get the picture. It was nice. The only thing that would have made it nicer would have been to have all of my family a little closer. Trick or Treat.
What else can I say about the Mortimers? Leisha got a little honda civic. Don't get to excited its a 97 but she loves it. She was a nerd for Halloween. Tanner got a new job @ Natures Sunshine, which is an herb shop. He takes orders in Spanish. He wore a terminator costume to work and was one of the five winners. Lyle's dressed up as an escapee in an orange pant suit, his face had acid rain, right Calvin? He only gave me ten minutes to work on him o.k. I was the police officer that arrested him. I know...clever. Thanks to Jenna the costume lady.
We are doing well, but can't believe Christmas is only fifty two days away. Oh my. I bet Mike is all done with her shopping. I better get started.
I hope you are all well and happy.
Happy Birthday Greg and Calvin. Somebody loves you in Utah!!!
Love,
Sheila and family
The Utah Grandkids.
(Kaden and Gavin are gone getting a head start on trick-or-treating.)
Chandler (Cowardly Lion), Kellan (Pirate), Chloe (Dorothy), Kenneth (Tin Man), Sage (Grapes), Talmage (Scarecrow), Hunter (Edward from "Twilight"), Quenton (Max from "Where the Wild Things Are", and Emeri (Pretty Bird.)
Jenna & Kevin-We had a great October. Kevin and I went to our first ever "How to Host a Murder" party. Kevin was "Chief Breaking-Wind" and I was "Butch Chastity." The kids enjoyed Halloween ALMOST as much and we did. They trick-or-treated their hearts out.
First term of school was a giant success! ALL my boys brought home straight A's!!! YAY!!! That sure makes parent/teacher conferences enjoyable!!! :)
Kellan turned 6 this month. He is my sweetheart. He lost his two front teeth and now he looks much, much older...darn it! :)
Hope everyone is happy and healthy! I LOVE to hear from you ALL!!!! :)
Love,
Jenna and Fam!
Spencer & Shanille-
Wendi & Aaron-
Adam & Moana-We had a fun October with the whole fam!
We took a trip down to Sea World.
The boys can't stop talking about Shamu.
We carved pumpkins, went to Bryce and Jessica's Halloween party and went trick-or-treating with all our Wizard of Oz children! They were so cute! Hope everyone is doing great. Love you all!
Adam, Moana, Kenneth and Chandler
Our "Wizard of OZ" Babies...
Chandler, Talmage, Chloe, and Kenneth
Bryce & Jessica-
Tanner-
Tanner the Terminator and his friend John a.k.a. Edward Scissorhands
Greg & Lisa-
Beau & Shannon-
Zachary & Kaylee-
Shae-
