Chris and Missy's Crew

Have you ever noticed that when you put Chris and Missy's names together you get Chrismissy? I think that is really fun especially at Christmas time. Chris is working as a professor at BYU and is in his third year and up for his first tenure review this month. He loves his work and he got to take a group of his Mechanical Engineering students to Europe for three weeks this year for a speical class. The beautiful part of that is that Missy got to go too for two of the weeks. Missy's mom came out from Oklahoma to watch the kids and I just happened to be there too. Hazel was sick and I was helping Jen. I got to spend some time with Barbara and play anyway, even if I wasn't much help to her. They enjoyed Europe so much, a first trip for both of them. These kids have done a tremendous amount of work on their house and it is looking beautiful. They are kept pretty busy between home, work, school, and church.

Connor just turned 9 on Dec. 10th. He loves to read and build things and sing in his school choir. We even tasted some fine chicken he barbecued for his cub scout badge this past summer! Connor has grown up so fast, he has the vocabulary of an adult and is fun to talk to on many varied subjects. Connor could live on Honey Bunches of Oats! He appeared twice on the local TV news program doing a spot on the animals available at the animal shelter and the local produce market. It was the cutest thing ever to see him all dressed up in a shirt and tie in his glasses~ broadcasting so articulately. Connor is an excellent student and has Julia Mae in his class again this year. How fun to go to school with your cousin. He enjoys doing Lego building projects~a trait he has acquired from his Daddy. Connor made a very scary looking pirate at Halloween.

Connor with Piper and Julia on a bike ride with Grampa

Aynslee is 6 and such a sweetheart. She is loving school and has a special bond with her cousin Julia. It is our hearts' delight to see these sets of cousins love each other and have so much fun together. Aynslee is into all things feminine. Missy says she is crazy about jewelry right now.
She got her hair cut and now has bangs and it makes her look so grown up! She lost her first two teeth while were visiting this year. She survives just fine as the only princess in their home. She is so petite and like a little special Christmas elf just running all around and having fun. She has an infectious smile, don't you think? Who among us could not smile back at her beautiful little face?

Hanging out in the tree on a day trip with her beloved,
Grampa Jim. She loves her Grampa!

Zachary on the same excursion. Zach is 4 and is such a little doll. He is happy-go-lucky and so affectionate. He is loving his preschool experiences at BYU and doing so well. He loves to play with his older brother and sister and is a good big brother. More than once this year as we stayed overnight at their house we would awaken to this cuddly little guy in between us. Zach is always so happy when his daddy comes home an he loves to help mom in the kitchen! Many times he has called me on the phone during the day to share something important. He is a heart melter, this one. Watch out Missy and Chris when the girls discover him! Zach loves to give us pictures he has colored. I came home from church one time with about 20 coloring book pages he colored and then ripped out of the book during church! Of course I still have them ALL!

Here is Zach with Chloe. We all went on a hayride to the pumpkin farm and Jim and I just love the closeness of these little cousins. They use to fight like siblings but it looks like the tables have turned as they have gotten bigger.


This is little Owen. He is the sweetest little guy and now that he is 18 months old he is keeping Chris and Missy on their toes. Owen does not like to sleep. He has fallen down the stairs more than once from top to bottom and has had his share of bruises already. He is running and talking and says "Hello" cuter than anyone I have ever known. I feel we have missed so much of his babyhood being just a few months older than Hazel. We are so grateful for his perfect health and for his parents that understand why we have been at Jen and Lowell's house so much more than theirs this year even though they only live a few miles apart. But as Hazie is doing better and better we are able to be with them more and it is fun getting to know Owen better. He is a beautiful baby boy and looks a lot like Anyslee when she was a baby.

Chris amd Melissa are such attentive parents, we love them all so much!