Friday, March 12, 2010

March 2010-Monson Family News Update

Craig and Sandy
We just got back from a great trip to Texas. Chris and Lisa went on cruise so we
watched the kids. They are delightful, inquisitive and active. They came up with
hilarious comments. Here's a sample:

Since we wouldn't be there for Matthew and Alyssa's birthday we had
cake and ice cream to celebrate their birthdays. Everybody had to say something
nice about Matthew and Alyssa. We said that Matthew is very loving and kind; he
is a great helper and very smart. Matthew said, "I think that's right". There
you
have it--Matthew agrees with how great he is! Obviously he's gotten great
self-esteem from his parents.

I said some good things about Alyssa among them that she is "very fun-loving and
fearless. She isn't afraid to try new things". A few minutes later she said to
me, "Grandpa, I'm afraid of going in to a Lion or a Tiger cage!" OK, so I was
wrong. I should have said, "Alyssa is fearless and will try anything EXCEPT GET
IN A CAGE WITH A LION OR A TIGER".

Ryan and Doris

Parker was accepted at the University of Southern Virginia in Belle Grande, Virginia, He looks forward to the small town atmosphere and wants to study computer science. Riley is hoping to work for the Federal government as a census taker while he is recuperating at home. Mary Ann has a job through the life Skills program at school and is a teacher’s aide for other disabled students. She is in choir, job shadows and helps her Mom after school.

Conrad and Debbie

Kelly and Travis have expanded their SLC store to a larger building. They now have a “Kill House’, an “office complex’ where one person in a group is given a mission in the office Complex and the rest of the group are their enemies. Melissa is going to BYU Idaho. Lindsy’s daughter’s due date is 5-19. Conrad hopes she will arrive on his birthday, 5-8.


Mom & Dad

They have enjoyed a 2 week temple vacation. I took them to a Pearl of Great Price class the 2 Thursdays that they were off. Mary and Dee Jensen, their friends from Shanks Village in New York, came to visit them. Craig helped them move the computer into the main family room where it should be used more frequently.

Sean and Jana

Aubrey, Erica and Elise are all dancing in “Swan Lake’ produced ty the Creative Arts Academy. All they do is practice and rehearse. Elise went to the regional contest in the spelling bee. Aubrey presided (meaning she was the Student Body Officer present) over the Valentine’s Dance at Millcreek Junior High.

Kim and Cary

The trip to South Africa with Jordan and Tim was amazing. We are not surprised by that news. Stuart and Allie are in the second year of their graduate program. They will finish in May and then have interships (I could be wrong, Allie may be the only one finishing in May). Kim visited Cole and Christi in Ohio and found out that their streets aren’t plowed in winter. After playing b-ball with Grant, he told her, “Grandma, you suck at basketball.” Perhaps Grant could offer some b-ball tips. Teral and Eddie are moving into a house in Milwaukee, Teral excels at her nursing program at the Milwaukee Institute of Technology. Eden will have a tonsillectomy soon.

Karla & Norm

We are in the final six days before Ryan leaves for the MTC. He went snowboarding with Grandpa at Brighton and he is currently picking up friends from BYU-Idaho who will be staying at the house this weekend.
Trent helped him shop for clothes, Amelia took his pictures and Kristin will have a niece or nephew for him (actually, it is for Jason & Kristin) when he returns.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

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.
1
Family Reunion-Craig has scheduled Oct. 14,15 and 16. More details to come from Craig.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

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.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

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



Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Thanks to all for birthday

I loved you all for doing this for me except Craig. I hate his unbelieving guts!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

29 Dec 09

Hi All,

We had a lovely birthday party for Grandpa Dick at Karla and Norm's house. Karla's children and THE GRANDDAUGHTER were there; Kim and company were there and Craig/Sandy were there. The birthday boy got an expensive gift from Kim and Karla and a VERY CHEAP gift of tennis balls from everyone else. We played a game of Jeopardy--what would a gathering at Karla's be like without some organized activity? No one knows since it's never happened. A fun time was had by all!

Friday, October 16, 2009

13 October 2009 Tuacan

Hi All,

We went on a trip to St George. We saw Aida at the Tuacan outdoor theater, hiked in Snow Canyon and played tennis. We had a lot of fun. Here is a picture