This past week we enjoyed a visit with Kenneth's brother and sister-in-law, Bryan and Faye Nix, who were here visiting from their home in Virginia. We loved having everyone over for a family dinner on Tuesday.
Kenneth J Nix with his 3 children, Kenneth C, Suzanne, and Bryan.
4 Generations, Grandpa Kenneth C, Great Grandpa Kenneth J., Mommy Becky, and baby Adam.
On Friday, December 3 we had our second annual Christmas Sleepover Party at Grandma's house. Seven of the grandchildren were able to join us. We thought of all those who live too far away to be here. Maybe some year everyone can join us.
Baby Ellie made a brief appearance at the party.
Tanner and Adam entertained each other while the big kids did several activities.
We started by making sugar cookies. Everyone helped measure and pour and stir. Cracking the eggs was the favorite task and luckily the recipe called for 4 eggs so the 4 bigger kids each got to do one. We picked out a few shells and proceeded. I was glad that Becky was here to help out.
While the cookie dough chilled, we made french bread pizzas and had dinner.
After dinner we baked and decorated our Christmas cookies. Everyone was very creative.
We painted some ornaments and Grandpa took individual pictures of everybody so we could make ornaments with their pictures.
Easton loved playing with the train set and taught Adam everything he knows.
Addy and Landon enjoyed a game of slam-dunk basketball using the trampoline as a launch pad. Such boundless energy!!
The kids exchanged presents to finish off the evening.
Ellie Elizabeth Nix arrived on November 26. 8 lb. 7 oz. Chubby cheeks and lots of blond hair. This makes 15 grandchildren for us. We are so blessed. Congratulations Dan and Betsy.
Baby Jacen Nix arrived on September 17. On October 2 I went to Houston to help out for a couple of weeks. Kenneth joined me on the 14th and on October 16 we went on a 5 day Western Carribean Cruise with our good friends Billie and Vernon Johns.
It was so fun to spend two weeks playing with our fun Texas family.
I enjoyed going for walks around the lake with Jared, Rocky, sometimes Dad, Dave and Evan.
Arriving at the Port of Houston. Dave took us to meet Billie and Vernon at Billie's brother's house in Houston. Billie and Vernon drove us all to the port.
Formal night.
In the port of Progresso, we took a 2 hour bus ride to the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza. They were fascinating. 
We loved walking at sunrise on the top deck. We also enjoyed some miniature golf there on a very windy day.
Arriving in Cozumel.
In Cozumel we took a 2 hour taxi tour of the island.
Relaxing and eating....and eating....and eating at our favorite place at the back of the boat.
In July we enjoyed a visit with our 5 Goodman Grandchildren. Eric brought them and then came back and got them 10 days latter. We had several family activities and visited some of the local attractions.
Loved wading and having a picnic at Bridal Veil Falls. 
Enjoying Dan and Betsy's new backyard with cousins.
We also had fun doing puzzles together.
In terms of weather, this has been a strange summer in Utah. We had snow in June and last night, July 3, this picture of Grandpa and Grandma Pat and myself shows that it was very windy and cold as we waited for the fireworks to start at Thanksgiving Point. We brought jackets and blankets just in case and wished we would have brought more. The fireworks were great and worth the windy, cold, shivering wait. Happy 4 of July. I'm very grateful to live in this beautiful free country.
A year ago for Easter 2009 my office manager, Linda, brought a beautiful Easter Lily to our H&R Block office where it bloomed beautifully. After it finished blooming, Linda sent it home with me to plant in my garden. Well, I brought it home, put it in the garage, and forgot all about it. It spent the winter in the cold garage with no water, light, or love. This spring about Easter time, I moved some pots and much to my surprise found the lily with a couple of little green sprouts on it. I brought it in the house, gave it lots of sun, water, and a little love and it bloomed beautifully for FATHER'S DAY!!! I know there are some great life lessons to be gained from this pretty flower like persistence, late bloomers, etc. but I just know I enjoyed its beauty and fragrance. Now my question is: should I put it back in the garage and ignore it until next spring or try to keep taking care of it inside?
Kolob Canyon
It is time for some catching up on some wonderful events that have happened in the last few weeks. Now I am sorry that this entry is not in the exact order things happened. We now have 2 computers and 2 cameras. Some pictures were downloaded onto Ken's computer and some to my new laptop (which by the way, I really love) and so I made some entries from each computer. Now that is already enough to send my tech-challenged brain into a tailspin but then you have to enter everything on this blog backwards in order for it to come out in order. So I'm just grateful I got things posted.
The view from our window. What a beautiful place to be!!
After the12 inches of snow on Monday it warmed up some and we had some great times in the nice heated pool. Dave's family stayed with us for most of the week and Dan and Matt and their families came up a couple of times for swimming and eating. So fun!!
KC's sister Suzy works at Snowbird in the Public Safety Office. We enjoyed visiting with her several times during our stay. She says people does some very interesting things at a ski resort!!
We enjoyed having the kids come up to join us for some fun at Snowbird. Here Jared, Landon, Addy, Easton, and Evan are gathered around the TV watching a movie and eating popcorn.
We returned from Snowbird just in time for Adam's blessing on May 30.
The family gathered at a Pleasant Grove park after the blessing for a picnic. Most of Scott's family came from Arizona for the occasion. They helped make some mighty yummy food!
Dave returned to work in Texas on June 1 but Tam and the boys got to stay with us until June 18. On June 2 Matt and Jess went to St. Louis for a wedding and so Chloe, Landon, and Tanner stayed with us for 4 days. The cousins had lots of fun playing together. Chloe helped a lot with Tanner and loved reading stories to the younger kids. On Saturday one exhausted grandma turned Matt's three over to Aaron and Diane until their parents got home on Monday. Why is it harder than it used to be? I can't be getting older. But don't get me wrong, I loved every minute I got to spend with my precious grandchildren.
We all enjoyed an evening at the Thanksgiving Point Farm Country. The kids got to pet a new baby chick that was born that very day.
Evan, Jared, Chloe, and Landon loved riding the ponies.
We all had fun feeding the goats, even Adam! There were several cute baby goats.
Tanner at the farm. Such a happy little camper.
