Chilling in St. George

I took the week off of work to spend with Sue and the boys down at her parents condo in St. George. We got down her Monday night, unpacked and met up with Steve Meyers at Iggy's to watch the Bears game. Great game! Happy to see Brett Favre go down. Tuesday we just relaxed. Spent a couple of hours at the pool.

Today we are gonna take the kids to a movie and possibly go down to the pool again. Sue made her famous spaghetti last night and having it for leftovers tonight. Then tomorrow we have Joe and Kelly Johanasen, and Kevin and Leesa Mansouri coming to spend the weekend. It is nice to relax and have some quality family time before I leave for the UK next week.

Not a Creature Was Stiring....

all snuggled in bed. Ashton and Tristan waiting anxiously Wahoo!!! DS's all around!

Even daddy wants a turn.

Grandma and Grandpa opening gifts.

And All Through the House....

We came back home after eating dinner at the Freemans. Just in time for ......

My parents to open a few gifts.......

And to gather together again.....

for talents of the grandchildren......

and the Nativity Scene.

Then off to put the boys in bed and wait

for Santa and his reindeer to bring lots

of goodies and toys.

T'was the Night Before Christmas.....

This year we started Christmas Eve out at Mark and Mirabai's house. This is them with their 3 kids, Melissa, Scott, and Josh. This year was extra special to have Aunt Pam and her son Mik join us. And we spent some time with Grandma Margie Christmas morning before she passed away Sunday the 27th. (Pic of Das, his mom Susan, and Aunt Pam.) Rama and Alma all dressed to go skiing..... Christmas morning.:) Just finished eating and waiting to exchange gifts. Aunt Kay and two of her girls could not make it because they needed to be with Grandma Margie. Margie and Sue. Margie and her boyfriend Chris. Keli and her boyfriend Randy.

Ratha and Racie Jettie

Sisters, Sisters!

Never were there such devoted sisters. Every year during our Christmas Eve party, after the Nativity scene the grandkids put on, my sisters all gather together with our mother for a photo. It is so much fun to see the changes in each of us every year. I love being part of a large family. Christmas was busy this year but it was wonderful. We will get some more pics up soon. (Top, left):Allsion, Alysa, Lynette, Mom, dianne, and Rebecca. (Bottom, left):Christine, Me, and Amy.

Xactware Chirstmas Party(Das's work)

Every year Das's work has a huge Christmas party. This year it was at Thanksgiving Point. They serve great food and have wonderful entertainment. They leave a gift for The guests on the table

Every year. This year

was pewter candy

dishes. Then they

have a drawing for all

the employees. Das

didn't win anything

this year....again.:(

Kelly works their

too, so we sat with

them. We had a

great time!

Merry Christmas!

Naughty or Nice?

Tristan and Ashton sitting on Santa's lap. Tristan was a little nervous at first. We told him Santa was going to ask him if he has been a good boy and if he wasn't good he wasn't going to get any presents. I would be nervous too. Das and I are done Christmas shopping and everything is wrapped. This is our first Christmas together married. Looking forward to having Das home for a couple of weeks and to celebrate the birth of Christ with him and the boys. Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

No Empty Chairs

Today is my parents 48th anniversary. This photo was taken over 30 years ago in our old house. My mom is pregnant with me in this. Das thinks I look just like my mom. My parents are wonderful and I am so thankful they had one more.(I am the baby of eight) Comments from siblings: Allison, "Awesome picture, I am loving the light fixture! But of course not only did the indian chick beat me up, she is also blocking my photo shoot." Mark, "This is classic! Check out the wallpaper. Thanks for sharing." Dianne, "Very funny Allison! I am of course the cuttest! I too, loved that kitchen. Why do you think I have cream cabinets and bright yellow paint, it brings me back to simpler times, a happy time on Viewmont Street, ghosts, peeping toms, basement floodings, food storage forts, playing in the rice and wheat, eating vienna sausages, the basement sink clogging up, playing barbies in the sewing room, doing dirty things with our barbies in the sewing room, spying on Bruce and Lynette, watching them eat in fron of us, and best of all, our Christmas parties! Best of times!" This picture is 30 years later and 33 grandchilren later. Just missing a few in this, including Das. Oldest to youngest.....The Adams(6 kids), Colligans(6 kids), Marcrofts(4 kids), Hansens(3 kids), VanWagenens(4 Kids), McBrides(4 kids), Weidners(only brother...4 kids....triplet boys), and the Jetties.:) Thanks Mom and Dad for all that you do for us! Love you!

Hangin' Loose

We just had the opportunity to spend a week in Maui, Hawaii at my parents Marriott condo. And we brought great company. Das's brother Ratha and his wife Racie as well as Kelley and Joe Johannesen came with. The weather was perfect and was a great way to end the year. Can't wait to go back someday.Our first night we checked in to the condo, got our beautiful lays, and headed out for dinner. The next morning we woke up and walked on the beach a few miles to Black Rock to try out the snorkeling.......and loved it! 2nd day we took the road to Hana and hiked into some falls. Gorgeous drive but pretty windy and made me sick by the end of it. It was an all day thing. We spent the next few days hanging out at the beach,(came across a nude beach), built a sand castle, watched the sun rise and set, tried more snorkeling, went to a luau, and shopped. It was hard to come home to the cold, but looking forward to Christmas.:)

As you all know, Das travels quite a bit for his job. It is hard to have him gone, but we are also thankful that it allows me to stay home with the boys. And it does come with quite a few perks. We have traveled quite a bit together this year. We went on a cruise in January, where he proposed.We went to Puerto Rico for our honeymoon in April. Yellowstone, St. George, the cabin, Oregon, Washington, and our most recent....Maui!!! I wish we could go with him everytime, but I can't complain.

So as you all know....Das and I are now engaged.:) The date was set for August but the sooner. . . he puts a wedding ring on my finger. . oh wait. . the sooner he puts up with my $&!t. . oh wait. . the better. hahaha Okay...Das took over for a minutes so this is obviously how this blog is going to go. But the sooner he signs his life insurance over to me....the better. Here are a few pics of our beginning. And the man I love! We are very happy and can't wait to spend our lives together. Glad you can all share in our happiness as we have enjoyed being a part of yours. XOXO