Melissa, Andy and the kids' Blog

Christmas was a little different this year.  This year was supposed to be with my family, but Andy started being on call for the hospital on Christmas Day at noon.  That meant we had to fly back to Salt Lake City on Christmas Eve, stay the night at Andy's parents' house, and then drive home Christmas morning.  This just meant that we got multiple Christmases!    Here is a picture of the gang on early Christmas (December 23rd). The Baylesses, The Freys, The Auriches, and The Workmans (missing a few family members)   The unwrapping begins!!!       Andrew and Kiera     Mom watching the chaos! Kael intrigued with his toy.     Liam and Shanda showing off the present we got him.     I think the kids love their presents...and even their baby brother's presents.  Silly Mya, dino scooters are for babies!      Eli and Jeremy are just chilling...

Once we got back from Thanksgiving break, we got to work on the laminate floors in the gun room/man cave.  Andy did most of the laying down, but I actually did a lot of the cutting.  I'm pretty good with a chop saw if I do say so!     This corner was a bit tricky, but it looks better than this now.     I love to make gifts for Christmas!   I made a few felt doll folders for our younger nieces.   I made some necklace holders for Andy's 2 older nieces.     Then I made a quilt for Andy.  It was my first quilt, but I got some pointers from my mom and mother-in-law.  Andy had these old towels/flags from his mission in Brazil and a trip to Mexico.  Since we are going to England, I added some strips of English material.  This quilt will represent all the countries Andy has been to, except Ireland.  It is to be used in his man cave.     At the Blue Mountain Hos...

As in most things creative in our lives, Melissa is the driving force behind Halloween costumes.  If left to me I would dress up as; A Pharmacist, A Sleepy Guy, or Andy most Halloweens.  2013 Melissa decided on Clark Kent and Lois Lane, and much to my relief she let me be Clark Kent.    We went to a friend's Halloween party a few days early.  They really know how to bring people together and had at least 20 couple over for food and games. They even had a foosball tournament, and Melissa and I actually won one round.   On Halloween night Melissa helped run the ward Truck or Treat.  She made a big batch of homemade chili, which we still have in the freezer. (Cooked from scratch, but it never made it onto the table as so many extra people prepared food). After the ward trunk or treat we passed out candy to the few kids who came by our house.  Melissa's costume idea won me first place at Montezum...

After all the busy nights and weekends working on the basement Melissa and I decided we needed some time to relax.  I decided we'd spend a few days with Melissa's Grandma Flick at the cabin in Payson, AZ. My plans were to sleep, eat, play bored games, sit on the porch, hike, sleep, eat and sit some more, then repeat X 3 days. The weather ended up a little cold so we went to Grandma's house in Dewey, AZ instead and just took a day trip up to the cabin. Zoe and I were excited to just wander, no projects or tools, just peace and quiet. We even ended up sitting in the screened porch looking at the trees while almost falling asleep for an hour or two. Grandma, Melissa and Zoe as we were getting ready to leave. Melissa and I   Melissa's Uncle Dale and most of his kids live near Grandma so we got together for dinner after church on Sunday.  This was a whole section of Melissa's family I hadn't met before, but they build custom par...