Dear Family:

I am beginning a news update for our family. A shorter version of the 20 year old, but now defunct MONSUN. I am hoping that you will e-mail me every Fast Sunday a karlanielson@att.net with 3 lines or more that I can paste into a document to post the the MONSON NEWS UPDATE. I will also call you for information, but I would prefer your own words in an e-mail. Here is the first update:

MONSON NEWS UPDATE-FEBRUARY 2010

Mackie & Kui
Kiona turned 12 in January and he was ordained at Mom and Dad's on Fast Sunday. Mackie continues to work in Social Health at the Fort Defiance Hospital in Arizona. Kui continues to teach piano. All the 3 older children play the piano. Kiona has also played the violin for 3 years. Kawai started playing the cello last year. Mackie, who is a lieutenant colonel in his administrative rank at the hospital may be assigned by the military to go to Haiti for 2 weeks.

Craig & Sandy
Craig is interviewing at LDS business College to teach a class on performance audits for business majors. Sandy is overworked at Salt Lake Regional Medical Center as a medical technologist. Sandy, Craig, karla Y Norm went cross-country skiing in Kamus, Utah this past week and we had a glorious, sunlit afternoon. Chase that smog away!

Sean & Jana
Elise won her school spelling bee and is going on the District competition. The Weber State Dance Company danced with the classes at Creative Arts Academy this month. The 3 maids of creative dance, Elise, Erica & Aubrey, will perform in the Academy's production of Swan Lake at Bountiful High in March. Sean says that he ia a skooch (infinitesemial amount) away from being more excited about this ballet than about a football game.

Ryan & Doris-
Ryan broke his arm flipping over his handle bars while riding his bike. Unsolicited advice from the editor: Ryan, maybe you shouldn't ride your bike during one of the heaviest snow accumlations for Flagstaff in years. Riley came home from his mission during one of the worst snowstorms of the year. He was the last flight before the airport closed. After the snow, the rain came, then a mudslide close to Phoenix. Riley, Doris and Ryan couldn't get home for 2 days.

Norm & Karla
Continuing on with the snowstorm, from the eastern United States, the storms closed down church on Sunday and work and school on Monday and Tuesday for Jason and Kristin. They are getting cabin fever and they are thinking about Aug. 22 (Hope I got the date right), when their first baby arrives. Yeah and Congrats! Amelia spent 2 weeks covering the Sundance Film Festival, Trent is interviewing for a summer internship with a company and Ryan is preparing to leave on his mission. Norm and Karla have nothing to say because this month because the kids are more interesting.

Mom & Dad
Mom had a sharing time assignment to tell about the Haitian members they knew on their missions. Dad has skiied this month with Bill Bassett and yesterday, 2/9/10, Mom drove with Dad to Alta, met Bill's wife Helen and chatted in the lodge and played RummiKub while the old dudes skiied. Cheers for sports & social events with friends from New Jersey.

Conrad & Debbie
Work is fine for Conrad. Debbie got a sassy haircut. Melissa is in her second All State Choir, the only girl at high school who has been invited to join 2 years in a row. I'm booking Melissa now to sing solo at some family event, I'll leave the date open pending further notice. Lyndsey (I think I misspelled that, please correct in your next e-mail Conrad) has a maternal glow and Jace (this could also be misspelled, Conrad, send me corrections) is studying graphic design at the Art Institute of Denver. Kelly, Travis and Brett are working on opening a 11,00 sq. foot shooting arena, with a store in front, in Salt Lake. They also have a pistol range in Orem. Tyler travels and consults with his work. Debbie and Conrad have the best callings in the world, family history consultants. They don't do anything. (quote from Conrad)

Kim & Cary-
Kim seems to travel more than she works according to Sean. She came home from South Africa with Jordan & Tim for 2 weeks of working and is flying out to Ohio tomorrow to visit Cole and Kristi. She is the "Bon voyage" woman.

Announcements:
Ryan's Missionary Farewell will be a 9 AM (no groaning please, we know it's early) on Sunday, March 14th. You are all invited to stay for lunch afterwards.
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Family Reunion-Craig has scheduled Oct. 14,15 and 16. More details to come from Craig.

Dinner with Mackey and Kui Feb 7 2010

We had a lovely time eating and catching-up on what Mackie and Kui are doing. Here's a picture of the group.

6 February 2010--Cross Country Skiing with Norm and Karla!

Hi Folks,

Norm and Karla and Craig and Sandy went on a cross country ski trip to Kamas. In the morning the snow was a little slushy but, curiously, by afternoon it was beautiful. The highlight of the trip was Karla snowplowing down a hill and here it is:



Below are various and sundry cross country skiing pictures