Kathryn and I went to Ohio over Spring Break to visit Chris and Natalie and kids. We had a great time.




We went to a State Park called Hocking Hills. It was about an hour from Columbus and was really fun. There were caves to climb in and a waterfall and river, which we threw rocks in. Chris had been very busy, but he had Saturday off and went with us.






Kathryn swinging with Aaron at a park where there was an Easter Egg Hunt. It was cool and rainy, but the kids had a great time anyway. The rain actually did not start until we were in the car, what a blessing.
















Laura and Steven in an indoor slide at an Ice Cream Parlor, they know how to do it right in Ohio. What fun to eat ice cream and play on the slides and climb on plastic ice cream cones!!!



























Kathryn went to Jr.Prom with a good friend Tyler. She looked beautiful and had a good time. Tiffany did her hair and it was a great "up-do" Hard to believe that she is growing up so much.













Johanna and Jared, the happy, excited couple. We are deep in planning a wedding and it is fun.

















I will try to keep up to date more often on this blog.

Family Fun!!!

Kelsie enjoying cake and ice cream!!
Amy and Ellen, Amy is a sweet aunt who loves to hold her nieces and nephews!
JJ helping Tiffany open presents!! What fun he had.
Kathryn at the cabin dug a hole in the snow on top of this log. She is looking through the hole. We had a great time at the cabin, sledding, eating and playing games. Wish I could live at the cabin sometimes.

Ellen"s Blessing Day

Mandy and Eph with Ellen
Grandma and Grandpa Mahoney with Mandy, Eph and Mandy
Johanna holding Kelsie and Jared
Grandma Janette Lundstrom holding Ellen

Ellen Janette was blessed by her father on Feb. 1, 2009 It was a wonderful day. Many attended and then we all gathered at Eph and Mandy's home for yummy soup and bread and goodies!!

New Baby Ellen

After more than 20 hours of labor Mandy had a beautiful baby girl on Dec. 30th. All were excited, especially Eph who got his tax deduction!! :) They have named her Ellen Janette, after her 2 grandmothers, what an honor. She is a sweetheart, and as with all babies, sleeps, eats, cries and steals her grandparents hearts.

Family Picture, almost-- 2nd try

Our family at christmas time. Chris is not in the picture and Mandy's baby is in her tummy so they are not included at this time. f

Family Picture

Christmas Fun

Josh and Kelsie sledding at the cabin
Laura and Kelsie in matching pj's
Emma and Aaron, what a pair
Natllie built a snowman with the kids
Johanna, Laura and Steven eating lunch in the sheep camp

December has been full of wonderful family times. Natalie and kids (Laura, Steven and Aaron) came for 2 weeks at the beginning of December. Chris was busy with work and Natalie got some great air fares thanks to her family checking internet in the middle of the night. We loved having them here and spent some wonderful time with them all. Chris missed his family, but they did make it home the week before Christmas. It was not a fun trip home, Natalie spent about 24 or more hours with 3 kids in airplanes and in air ports thanks to the weather closing some of the airports they were headed to. Steven was a great hit as Superman, flying through the airports and planes, saving people as a super hero does. He loves wearing his Superman costume and when he received a small Superman action figure from his cousin JJ for Christmas he exclaimed "It's a toy of me!!"
While Natalie and the kids were here we got together as a family many times. The house was filled with young voices, toys spread everywhere and lots of laughter. Amy came down to spend time with us, Eph and Mandy came up as did Josh and Tiffany and JJ and Kelise. We held our annual family Christmas dinner with each member of the family providing part of the dinner. Amy's delicious artichoke bottoms with cheese filling were a new treat. Eph and Mandy made home-made bagels and Natalie provided a wonderful green salad and dressing. Johanna and Dad cooked skewers with chicken, shrimp, mushooms, peppers and pineapple on the grill. Steve braved the cold weather to provide us all with a treat. Emma and Kathryn whipped up a wonderful strawberry/lemonaide drink and we ate rice krispy treats with ice cream as well as Bruce's famous cheesecake for dessert. Grandma Mahoney provided potato salad and we had a feast. Grandma and Grandpa Mahoney, as well as Bruce, Tim, Zac and Sarah joined us in the dinner and reinacting of the nativity story. It was a little caotic ( Mary(Laura) rode on the donkey(Josh), but Joseph (Steven) and a shepher (JJ) also insisted on riding!!
The few days before Christmas Amy, Emma, Johanna, Kathryn, Josh, Tiffany, JJ, Kelsie, Steve and Jean went to the cabin. (We tried to convince Eph and Mandy to come, Bruce offered to take her on a snowmobile ride in hopes of starting her labor, but she refused). The cabin was great, lots of food, games, snow, sledding, skiing and snowmobile riding. Bruce and kids also came. It was very relaxing. We played a new game, Cruses, and there were times that we were all laughing so hard that my sides hurt. Bruce with arms that could not bend at the elbows and having to scratch like a monkey was a sight to see!
Christmas morning was early, Johanna was up about 4:30 waking the others up. After present opening we got ready for Breakfast. Eph and Mandy came up, but Josh and Tiffany never made it because they got stuck in the driveway!! They made it in the next day and we had Christmas all over again!
We have had lots of snow, enough that we had to shovel the driveway before getting the car out the day after Christmas. It has been a wonderful month of having family around and remembering what Christmas is all abaout, family, fun, food and of course remembering our Savior, His birth and life.