Where Have We Been?

Although we don't have only have a few pictures to post, we thought at least we should catch you up on what we have been doing since the last post.

The first part of November we went to Blaine's younger brother's son's wedding (that's a long way of saying nephew). He and his bride Crystal were married in the Houston Temple. We had a great time there celebrating with them. We took Blaine's parents with us to help them travel as Mom Jones can use a little extra help since breaking her hip soon after we got back.

Benjamin and Crystal

The beautiful Houston temple

Most of the rest of our events you will just have to visual as I don't have pictures:

On November 11, (Thursday), we started working at the Mesa Arizona Temple. We work there for 2 shifts. We arrive at the temple to have our preparation meeting that begins at 10:40 a.m. We then work until the last session is finished--thankfully the coordinators stay until everyone leaves the temple. We usually get home between 9 and 9:30 p.m. It is a great place to serve. We are learning slowly all that we need to know.

On Blaine's birthday--November 12--we rode 56 miles on our tandem bicycle. It was one mile for each year. By mile 40, we were wishing that he was a LOT younger than he was. We did finish the whole 56, however.

During Thanksgiving, we had the chance to spend time with both sides of the family. On Thursday (Thanksgiving Day) we had Marylee's brother and his family for Thanksgiving as well as Marylee's Mom. Our daughter Kari and her husband who are still living with us also had dinner with us. We also were able to get Marc home with his girlfriend Eunmi. Marc drove home (to Phoenix) early to beat a winter snowstorm and Eunmi flew in Thanksgiving morning. They then drove back on Sunday together. The trip back was pretty slow--the last 4-5 hours took about 8-9 because of snow.

On Friday the day after Thanksgiving, we got together with the Jones side--Marsha and Chick; Myla, Mike and Sydney Palmer; Blaine's Aunt Verda; Nathan, Chantal, Benjamin and Crystal; and Mom and Dad Jones. We took a short hike, went to the site where ancestors had settled, and to the cemetery where some of them are buried. As a treat by Dad and Mom Jones, later that evening, we went to Rockin' R Ranch--a fun place that has a Western theme, you get dinner and a show. (check out Kari's blog for some fun pictures)

On Saturday, we got together again and had pizza and played games--we played the "taxi" game/thing that we learned from the elders. We had a fun time together and laughed alot.

Getting ready for Christmas this year was definitely different than last year. There are many pluses to having more of a simple Christmas. It was fun doing the cookie baking and the candy making this year, however, because Kari, Kimberly (the daughter from New York), and Marc (who flew down from Salt Lake this time) were here to do it with. We even got Mom Clawson over on one day to help us bake. We made 3 different kinds of cookies and 5 different kinds of candy. (Kari has pictures on her blog)

We made a trip to Rio Rancho, New Mexico, the middle part of December to take Derek's family their Christmas. We gave them some shutters for their new home. We ended up getting to help paint Maeley's and Zoe's bedroom a beautiful blue that Maeley had picked out. After her parents added a hand-drawn tree on one wall, it was such a cute room. (check out Melanie and Derek's blog).

We spent some time playing with the kids before heading home. It was another quick trip, but at least the weather cooperated. We were sorry that they were the only ones who didn't come home for Christmas. But they got to start their own family traditions, which is great!!!!

We got the joy of having Phillip, Stephanie and their boys come home for Christmas. They live in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. We were worried about the weather--but they made it both directions safely. There were definitely times the roads were bad, but they traveled slowly and carefully. They shared their time between us and Stephanie's family, as well as some friends. We were just so glad to be able to have them for the time that we did!!!!
Parker, Phil, Kari and Kimberly

Braden Parker and Stephanie
(Sorry for the lack of Christmas pictures).

Mom and Dad Jones went to Melissa Reeder's wedding. They then spent Christmas with Stan and Sharon--getting back on the 28th.

The day they got back Art (Blaine's eldest brother) and his girl friend Melissa came to visit. It was a fun visit. We had known Melissa and her parents when we lived in Farmington, New Mexico. We visited with them and spend some time with them on New Year's Eve.

On New Year's Eve, we had tickets to Hale Centre Theater along with my Mom, Nancy (Marylee's sister) and Bill. We had tickets for Blaine's parents, but they gave their tickets to Art and Melissa. We were entertained by a great play, had party hats and horns, had cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, and rang in 2011 a couple of minutes early on "Hale" time (as soon as the play was finished, which was about 11:55 p.m--the play had started at 9:30 p.m.)

So that about winds up what we have been up to--periods of down time between moments of craziness!!!!!!!