2010 A New Year - A New Life!!

Hello Everyone! It has been a very l-o-n-g time since I've posted so I thought it wast time to bring you up to date..... We had a great 2009 holiday season beginning with Thanksgiving here. Shannon, Chris, and Brandon's families joined us along with GG Joyce for good food and fun. Since it was not my year to have the family here for Christmas we packed up and headed for New York to spend it with Taylor, Susie and the boys. What a blast we had! Even though it was absolutely freezing we ventured in to the city a few times and ate at some fabulous places including Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill and my all time favorite Max Brenner's (a chocolate lovers haven)! Taylor took a few days off so the six of us had a ball together shopping, eating at famous and local spots and sightseeing. Those of you who know Susie also know that she is one amazing "chef" and we were the happy recipients of some delictable dishes including her famous beans. (She'd win a throwdown with Bobby Flay!) Tay and Susie are the greatest for opening up their home and providing great entertainment as well. Of course the best entertainment for Poppy and I was the boys. They really are the BEST!! It was very sad to leave them, but with their baby sister due in March we plan to see them soon.
We returned to Salt Lake after the new year and celebrated Mike's 61st birthday! He recently had a lens replacement in his left eye and is thrilled that he's been able to give up his glasses. We traveled to Arizona the last week of January for Kiewit's District meetings and enjoyed the beautiful weather there. My good friend Debbie picked me up one afternoon and we had a fun afternoon together at the Scottsdale Mall.
February 6th was Sofey's baptism. She is one special little lady, and we are so grateful to have her in our family. I wasn't sure I would be able to do it, but I finished her baptizm quilt just one hour prior to her getting wet! This has been a tradition in the past with GG Hughes embroidering a cloth with the granddaughter's name and baptism date on it. The girls choose several different (coordinating) materials and after they are cut into squares they design their own quilt. I incorporate the embroidered cloth and bind it to their wishes. I'll post a picture of Sofey's quilt soon. We're also finishing a book for her which will include letters and testimonies from family and pictures of her special day.
A Valentine tradition in our family is grandchildren receiving a bathing suit from Grandma and Poppy..... but this year the three older girls got a card with some money to go towards a bathing suit, but all the others received their valentine suit! Fun for grandma and thanks to Abbey and Sofey for trying on over a dozen suits to help me find sizes!!!!
Emrey is now dating and driving!!!!!! Sooooo she went to the Bingham high Sweethearts dance for Valentines and I'll post pictures of that, too. She is a beautiful, sweet, talented YW and a great example to her sisters and cousins.
Chris and Kristen and girls are getting settled in their beautiful home after months of remodeling, and are enjoying life here in Utah. Brandon and Dawn absolutely love Midway and now that their best friends from AZ have moved up there with them I don't think they'll ever move down to the valley, and I don't blame them! Shannon and Jaren love their new home and neighborhood and are busy with their church callings. Shannon will turn 40 years old tomorrow. It seems impossible. I think it was just a few days ago that Mike and I were coaxing our little volkswagon up E street to the LDS hospital where she was born?!? My how time flies.
Life is good, and I am more than grateful for good health, family, and friends. I am getting used to the "new" me (as my doctors put it) and I think my family is too. I love them more than words can say, and thank the Lord that so many are near me and I'm able to see them often. I'll post pictures soon, but gotta run. It's my bookclub night. I love bookclub, and my friends there. till next time......
Shirlene