Happy New Year from the Marcano Family

What a great year! I'm amazed at quickly the time has flown and already we are welcoming in 2009 in a few days. Here's a recount from our family -

Jhonny broke out with Halliburton in April and has been dealing with the frustrations of the oil field. The biggest transition has been in getting used to the schedule and being gone for days at a time. In his spare time he has been busy doing home improvement projects. He teaches the Deacon's quorum on Sundays and tries to make it to Mutual on Wednesday nights.

In June I gave birth to Gavin 3 weeks early due to PIH. It took a while to recover, but I soon found myself looking for more to do with my time. I took on a babysitting job to earn money for dance lessons for the girls and joined the local MOPS chapter. The biggest transition came when I was released as a counselor and pianist in the primary and called to be the Relief Society President of our Branch.

Jessica turned 6 in June and started First grade. She is at the top of her class and has E's on her report card in all her subjects and conduct. The biggest accomplishment came last summer when she shocked the primary by reading her own talk. Everyone broke out in applause and she had a big grin on her face. Her reading has only soared since then. Jessica is also involved in her fourth year of dance. Jessica has been a big helper and great big sister to Lily and Gavin.

Lily turned 2 last April and has been celebrating her birthday every day since it seems. Whenever her dad brings home a treat or when I pull out a new (hand-me-down) outfit she shrieks with pleasure at her new "birthday" present. Lily started dance lessons this year at Lisa's dance and after two lessons of the Mom and Me she was more than ready to move on to the pre-ballet class by herself. Lily loves to learn and play and is always doing something new. For a kid who hasn't grown more than 32 inches in the last year, she sure has gotten "big." Her latest accomplishment is getting potty trained! Yeah!! Mom is most excited about that one. Lily continues to entertain us around here with her antics and latest phrases.

Gavin was born June 16th and has been steady on his growth chart. He has a big grin and loves attention. He is finally sleeping through the night, rolling over and almost sitting by himself. He is a cuddly baby who loves the most expensive pacifier. I'll do anything to prevent another thumb sucker. He also cries alot when he isn't getting enough attention to which his sisters are a great help. We look forward to seeing him grow and develop. He is babbling at us and when he's upset it sounds a lot like, "Mama".

Our family took a couple of vacations this year enjoying Zion's Park in Utah for my grandmother's 80th birthday/family reunion. It was great to see cousins that have grown and catch up on everyone. We also took a weekend to go to Grapevine and visit the Great Wolf Lodge in September. It was loads of fun and we made some great memories there.

We are optomistic about the future. Even though we may pass through some tough times, we are sure of the Lord's tender mercies and his watchful care. We are grateful for our testimonies and the blessings of the gospel. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas from the Garrin Ellis Family

Dear Friends and Family, Merry Christmas from the Ellis Family!

We thought we'd catch you up on the happenings in our home this year. It's definitely been a year of challenge, change and growth for us...but hopefully we're better for it! Garrin has had a LOT of change this year--most of it work related. Earlier this year, we found out that the Utah Dept of Transportation was taking our business property for the new freeway interchange. As a result, we decided to shut down our current business and split off from our partner. This change will happen at the end of Dec and we will open up Garrin's Automotive on Jan 1st. This will be a great change for our family, but not without a ton of work, stress and worry. Unfortunately, we were unable to find property with a current shop so we have decided to build one. We have been working our way through city meetings, offers on properties and all of that and hope to be able to start building by February. In the meantime, Garrin will work out of our home garage to keep his customers happy until we can finish our new shop. By the way--the new shop will be 1 1/2 miles from our home in Lehi--we are so excited! Wish us luck! Garrin still teaches the 11 year old boys at church.

Stefanie changed jobs in April, now working for The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH) Physical Therapy dept as a Patient Service Rep. She works 3 days a week there, and usually the other 2 for Garrin--especially with all the changes happening. At church, she plays the piano for the Primary (3-12 year olds). She started a family blog this year and trys frantically to keep up AND post all the family happenings. Visit us at http://everything-ellis.blogspot.com/

Devin is 19 and moved back home in April from college in St George, UT and back out again in November. He's always on the GO! He is currently living in Provo with friends....about 30 min away. He first had his car broken into and things stolen, and then totalled the same car this September. It was his first car. He is currently working at Anderson Window Well Covers and installs window well covers. He usually works in Denver, CO even though the company base is here in UT. He leaves on Mondays early in the morning and gets home Thursday night/Friday morning---depending on how you look at those wee hour arrival times. He's working on saving lots of money for the future---whatever that may be.

Shawnee turned 16 and began driving and dating. She's in the 10th grade and enjoys being at the High School. She continues playing the violin and has a steady babysitting job 2 days a week in our neighborhood. She joined the ballroom dance class this year and just had her first performance.

Kaylee will be 14 in a matter of weeks and is in 8th grade. She loves soccer and has been on several soccer teams over the last year---most recently Eclipse. She enjoyed being in her first school play "The Comedy of Errors" by Shakespeare and was Luce and a Player. She loves "hanging out" with friends and having fun.

Jaycee is 9 and in 4th grade. She loves playing with friends daily! She has been in the school choir and we just finished up the 4 performances in the last 2 weeks.

We went to on a family camping trip to Goblin Valley with Stefanie's family in April, and to Garrin's reunion above Logan, UT in July. It was lots of fun! We hope that 2009 will be a great year for you and we'd love to hear from you! Email us at stampinstefanie@gmail.com

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Stefanie, Garrin, Devin, Shawnee, Kaylee and Jaycee

Happy Holidays from the Mullen Clan

Dear Family & Friends,

It is that time of year again. Hard to believe that another year has come and gone. We have had a lot of things happen this year that has definitely helped us grow stronger together as a family and as individuals and realize that we have a loving Father in Heaven watching out for us. In September we embarked on a new adventure and moved from Utah to Washington, and were able to go back to Utah for 10 days, and spend time with family before everyone on my side is spread across the country. Spencer and I also celebrated our 10 year anniversary.

Logan is 9 and is so helpful. He is excited to be playing basketball in January at the YMCA, and has been actively involved in the after school club at his school four times a week. We are constantly hearing the bouncing of a basketball, or the throwing of a football and have to remind him we have neighbors that can hear the vibrations of the basketball, and that something will break with the football.

Lincoln is 7 and has sooooo much energy. He just got done playing basketball at the YMCA and had a blast. It is great for him to have something for him to put all that energy into. He has really improved with his reading, and is looking forward to getting baptized this summer. He is loves playing with Linzy and can’t wait to go skiing this winter.

Lexie is 7, and loves to read and draw. She had a hard time leaving her friends in Utah, and her dance team, but has adjusted pretty well. 3 weeks before we moved out here, she fell on the tramp and broke her growth plate in her ankle. She is anxious to get back into dance out here. I will often find Linzy up in the top bunk with Lexie in the morning. She loves being a big sister, and is great at it, and can’t wait to turn 8 also.

Linzy is 2 ½. Time has flown by so quickly. She talks nonstop, loves playing with her friends, reading books with mom, going on walks, talking on the phone, and having lunch every day with Dad. Spencer’s work is only 1 ½ miles away, so he comes home for lunch every day, and Linzy really looks forward to that time. She is such a doll, and makes us all laugh continually. And she is potty trained.

Spencer is working as a Mechanical Engineer at Key Technology in Walla Walla. He is really enjoying it. We just got called as valiant 10 teachers and love teaching that age group. He can’t wait to go skiing a couple times this winter, and enjoys spending Saturdays with the kids.

I am thankful for the sacrifices Spencer makes so that I can stay at home with the kids. I was really scared about the move out here and was not looking forward to leaving all our friends and family back home, but have really enjoyed making new friends out here, and know that the Lord is watching out for us.

I have had fun getting into digital scrapbooking, and am doing great out here with Scentsy. We miss everyone back in Utah and love you all dearly, but we are enjoying it out here na know this is where we are suppose to be, and Walla Walla is starting to grow on us. We know the Lord is mindful of all of us, and watching out for us in all we do.

May we all feel of our Saviors Love this holiday season and remember it is him who we celebrate. Best wishes for a happy holiday and wonderful New Year.

Love,

The Mullen Family

Wow.

Okay, I'm gaining a new respect for Relief Society Presidents of the world. Or maybe it's just my very needy branch. I think I've clocked a weeks worth of service in the past two not counting the phone calls and preparation time for the past two Sundays and four days worth of work trying to straighten out the visiting teaching routes now that our missionary couple has been out to see every less active person on our very long list. I know that I need to delegate as my husband has so poignantly pointed out.
The problem is that I'm still trying to figure out how to do that. The distance is my biggest obstacle currently. It certainly doesn't help to live in the middle of no where. Phew! My poor kids have spent hours in the car on too many days in a row and I'm afraid I've got quite a cranky little two year old who is not getting a regular nap other than a few minutes in a carseat from one errand to the next.
But it is Christmas, I've had a lot of calls that I can't ignore, and I can only think about the talk given by someone a few years ago about how as an adult this person learned to appreciate all the service her mother rendered when she was a child. I hope that some day, my family will be able to look back on this experience and appreciate my example and not begrudge my time away to help someone in need.
I don't think I realized how time consuming this job really is. Mom said that this calling is the woman's equivilant to a Bishop. I guess I just never realized HOW much is involved behind the scenes.
So until I can figure out how to balance all of my new responsibilities with the old, I may be out of blogging commission for a while.
Until then - I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Snow Day

Yesterday, School was cancelled, because of the snow and today it was cancelled, so we got an extra 2 days for our break. The kids took advantage of the snow and went out to play. It was very fluffy. We got a good foot yesterday, and people out here don't know how to deal with that much snow. The roads don't get plowed, and you can tell people don't get the chance to drive in the snow very often. It is funny. I was talking to someone yesterday, and he said that he has been here for 11 years, and there is always one big snow storm, a year but not this much. Usually, when the snow falls, it doesn't stay long. So this is new for here, and they don't know how to deal with it, so they cancel school.
I went to walmart last night and cars are parked everywhere, and there was a road grader plowing one of the streets. None of the streets are cleared off. Yesterday morning on our way back from the optical center, we saw a snow plow, and he didn't even have his blade on the ground on the road. Weird I know. Maybe he had no idea how to use it, since they never have to? LOL.

Basketball

Lincoln had his last basketball game on Sat, and here are a few pictures. He had a ton of fun, and wishes the season would be longer. But he still had fun. The girls watching Lincoln.

He Shoots, He Scores!!!

Someone get open.

Ellis Family Photos

Over thanksgiving we had a good friend of ours come up and take our family pictures, since it will probably be the last time for at least three years that we will all be together at once. It was a really special thanksgiving, and we are so grateful for our family. Anyway, here are a few of the pictures.

Wanted...

I am needing addresses, so if you could post yours for us that would be very helpful. Also, if you have not been invited to view our blog yet, let me know ansd give me your email address. Thanks,
aShley