Our family

We had a great Christmas with everyone at home and took advantage of the opportunity to have a family picture taken.

Visit

We had a great visit with the Schall's - we missed you Megan.

Christmas tree skirt

Kathleen had a Christmas tree skirt made for me in China. It is made from red and green silk. It has the Chinese knots down the front and scalloped around the edges. The colors are vivid and brilliant and it is gorgeous. Thanks Kathleen!

Craft day

Once a month, Melissa plans a craft day and the girls all congregate at my house. We had craft day Friday and Saturday and Kathleen was able to join us! Papa was flying to Logan from Georgia on Friday but Saturday morning,he took Liam and Tyler to breakfast at Angie's (a Logan hang-out), bought dart guns and soldiers to shoot, and roasted marshmallows in the wood burning stove. He had a great time with the boys!

As anyone who knows me, my girls' craftiness was inherited from their grandmother (it skipped a generation) and anyway, I had better things to do!

Trip from China

Kathleen, Liam and Collin arrived in the States Wednesday evening, after an interesting adventure. They had tickets for Sunday, Dec. 9, but when they got to the airport Collin didn't have an exit visa. After pulling a favor, Jeff was able to get him a visa and they arrived at the airport Wednesday morning. While getting their luggage out of the car (from Jeff's company) the car locked with Collin inside. In order for Kathleen and the boys to make their flight, Jeff had to break the car window. The plane ride from China to Los Angeles was uneventful, although very long. Their flight from LA to SLC was delayed 45 minutes and then when they did take off, a passenger had a seizure and the plane had to turn around. We are very, very happy to have them here and safe.

Mission Call!!

This morning at 7:30 am, our postman called and told us Jen's mission call was here and we could come and get it. We went to the back of the Post Office and got her big white envelope. When we got home, she opened it and while we were messing with the camera, she saw the place. Then she read it - "Minneapolis Minnesota." She was happy to have her call, then she read further and it said "Spanish speaking" and she freaked out! She has always wanted to learn a language. It is a perfect place for her.

The mission covers most of Minnesota, except a small part in the west, about 1/3 of Wisconsin, and up into Ontario, Canada. The first order of business is a passport!

It makes it all seem much more real!

New Arrival

Growing up, Jeff was outnumbered by sisters. He would have loved a brother to play with. Instead he had to settle for G.I. Joe harassing Barbie :). The balance has changed!

Collin Jeffrey Reece was born at 5:49 p.m. today (November 19) weighing 3,525 (7.77 lbs) and is 51 centimeters (20 inches) long. Jeff reports that Kathleen and Collin are doing well. I can hardly wait to hold him!

Six things

1. I miss living with Daryl. I'm not picky about where we live, although close to the grandkids is preferable, as well as warmth.
2. I hate cold weather. It isn't just a dislike where you can put up with it until spring - I truly despise it. I don't know why we live in Logan. There aren't even grandchildren in town anymore. Daryl agrees and has threatened not to come home (It has been in the mid 30's at night; mid to high 50's during the day).
3. I love it when the grandkids call. It is the highlight of my life (and Daryl's, too). It is amazing and wonderful that technology allows us to call from places like China so easily. Please keep calling - as often as possible! I would endure the cold for the phone calls.
   
4. I love the ocean, any ocean. Unless it is cold. I'm not a fan of swimming pools unless it involves the grandbabies :).
5. I am not a fan of vegetables - fresh, frozen or canned. I eat them because Weight Watchers insists that I do. Jen is disgusted at my dislike of vegetables. Fresh broccoli is the worst.
6. It is my goal to be "the favorite aunt." I have succeeded with the first generation. Either that or they just humor me. I am now working on the grandnieces and nephews!
   

I tag Tami (get a gmail account and start a blog); Katie (maybe their favorite aunt will start seeing photos of the cute boys); Jake and AJ (two of my favorite nephews)!

Baltimore

On Tuesday I went to Baltimore to an advising conference with other advisors from my office. We spent Wednesday in Washington DC. One of the advisors in the office grew up in the DC area and her dad is a "big wig". He was able to get a tour of the White House and they drove us all over town, dropping us off and picking us up at each site. We had a tour of the Beaureau of Printing and Engraving where they make money. It was an amazing process. We also saw the Declaration of Independence , Bill of Rights and the Constitution. I had not seen them before.

When I was in Dallas with Liam, we watched "Night at the Museum" several times. I went to the Museum of Natural History and had my picture taken with the dinosaur! It made me really miss Liam.

The conference started Thursday night with the awards ceremony and Daryl few in to be there with me. It was really nice to have him there. The conference was really good as was all the fresh seafood!

While I was in Baltimore, I drove to Philadelphia and visited with Ana and family. It was SO nice to see them and the kids have grown so much. I can't believe how grown up Ali is. She will be 10 in January, she comes to my shoulder and is turning into a little lady. Parker ran and jumped in my arms when I got there. He is a sweet, sensitive little guy. Put simply, Paige runs the show! Ana is working in a dental office and Kenny is doing well in school.

My favorite person.

I met Daryl in Los Angeles over the weekend. I am always so happy to see him and spend time together. We met Sunday and went to the beach. There had been a rain storm the night before we we couldn't get in the water. The next day after Daryl and Roger (from Inland Oil) had some training on equipment they purchased, we went sight-seeing. We tried to get close to the Hollywood sign but couldn't find an access. We drove through Beverly Hills and tried to see some of the houses, which were mostly behind fences. We did see some amazing cars however. One of my favorite, which on the lot next to the hotel, was a new Bentley, black with red leather interior - it was a beautiful car. At $180,000 we ordered two :). I flew home Tuesday and Daryl flew back to Georgia. October 5th is my next trip :)

Today is the second anniversary of the van accident that killed Evan Parker and 8 students. The University had a tractor prosession on Monday for Ag Week, which will become a tradition. They are also designing a bronze memorial remembering those killed for their accomplishments and who each were as an individual. It was such a sad day two years ago. I remember Bruce Miller calling late one night and telling me what had happened and asked me to tell Daryl. He was in Virginia and was not able to make it back for the funeral. It is had to lose good friends.

I woke up this morning to a sweet little voice - all the way from China. It is amazing to me the technology that allows us to call all over the world. The difference from when Jeff and Melissa were in Russia compared to now is considerable - easier to dial, connect, hear/listen.
I love when the grandkids call - they are so sweet and I can hear them smile through the phone.

SEPTEMBER
September to me is a time to get things back to a routine. With the kids home for summer, bedtime wasn't as big a deal (except to dad) and time of less structured. I loved it when summer began after a long year of school, homework, etc. (even for me). September was as welcome as June - time to be more scheduled.
I am hoping to get back to a routine of doing laundry and ironing, "cooking" some meals, keeping things picked up. I'm sure there is more. The main thing that has to happen is I have to get back to WW and exercise. I am not sleeping well and I know that is related to the not exercising. I am 4 lbs. over my WW goal (from 7 lbs. under) and it is time to pay more attention.
One stumbling block to the whole routine idea is traveling. I haven't figured out how to keep things scheduled and still be gone - especially the food/exercise thing. I have three trips booked right now -

1. 9/23-9/25 - I am going to meet dad in Los Angeles. He will be there for training on some equipment they bought.
2. 10/05-10/11 - Georgia - probably the last one. Dad hopes the job will be done Oct. 1 and then 2-3 weeks training.
3. 10/16-10/21 - Baltimore/Washington DC - Advising Conference. I'm hoping to see Ana and the kids while I am there.

Looking forward to seeing the two boys soon!

I WAS TAGGED
4 jobs I've had:
1. secretary
2. mom
3. teacher
4. academic advisor
4 movies I could watch over and over (although I don't):
1. It's a Beautiful Mind
2. The Secret Window (if she hadn't been driving a Saab, she would have been able to get the car into reverse and escape)
3. Steel Magnolias
4. Fried Green Tomatoes
4 places I've lived:
1. Idaho (Rexburg, Pocatello (twice), Caldwell, Boise)
2. Utah (SLC, Ogden, Orem, Provo, Logan)
3. Moscow, which I claim as home
4. on an airplane, in an airport
4 favoite TV/reality shows
1. The Today Show
2. Grey's Anatomy - unless it gets too trashy and then I bag it for a season
3. Friends in rerun
4. Apprentice, but I'm done watching
4 of my favorite places I've been (not necessarily in order, and not counting with the grandkids)
1. Caribbean
2. Fiji
3. Vanuatu
4. Japan
4 favorite foods
1. Anything Jeffrey cooks (like peppered bacon wrapped shrimp, grilled)
2. Avacados
3. Bacon
4. Carbs
4 websites I check daily
1. gmail
2. myfamily (blogs)
3. work email
4. MSN
4 hobbies
1. Daryl
2. The grandkids
3. The grandkids
4. Reading

TRAVEL
Sometimes I feel like I spend half my life on an airplane. The thought of traveling used to be romantic, until I started traveling more. The farther the grandkids get, though, the more I will be traveling (North Salt Lake, China, Philadelphia...) and, of course, wherever Daryl is working.
I did have a great weekend with Daryl, going to the beach (Gulf of Mexico) where the water was at least 80 degrees, checking out a BMW, "cooking" dinner, watching movies. I don't think his phone rang once! And I love the Georgia weather, humidity and all - except the gnats. I think of movies where the environment drives people insane (deranged) - that is the way I feel about the gnats. I've decided that Southern Belles didn't carry fans for the heat - it was to keep the gnats away :).

Today Jen and I helped Melissa, Nathan, Tyler and Dylan move to North Salt Lake. I was so sad to leave them there, especially the boys. Then when we got home, Jeff and Liam called to say goodbye before leaving for China in the morning. :( I love hearing the boys' voices on the phone - it is the highlight of our day, week, month ......

While waiting for grandkids, we "adopted" cute little Ali Audria, age two-months-old. She is now nine years old and lives in Philadelphia with her family, Parker, age six and Paige, age five.