This is the picture of the hotel Bailiff's Court.

Hello Hello!
So you have all heard the news and John and I are so thrilled and excited. I am still in shock and have not been sleeping, its all I can think about! I will give you the lowdown on how he proposed. . .I knew he had planned a weekend down in the country in Sussex and that we were going to have a nice picnic on the Saturday and that was pretty much it. We checked into our hotel (picture above) http://www.hshotels.co.uk/bailiffs/bailiffscourt-main.htm In case you want to get the full effect! Hehehe, can you tell I am excited! Then we picked up our pre-arranged picnic. We had asked reception where they suggested to have a picnic, John isnt like we have to go here so no flags that something was up. They mentioned a few places and one of them was Arundel Castle, so we went there. We found a nice secluded field just along the base of the castle and we set up the picnic and then it all began! Before we started eating John was telling me how much he loved and still I was like I love you too, and how he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, won't get too mushy and then he pulled out the box. I don't shop in DeBeers much, so didnt recognize the box like I would have with Tiffany's (I mean come on, everyone knows the blue box) and then he opened it and I am a lil fuzzy as to what happens next, but I think I screamed and said yes and then immediately hugged and kissed him, and wouldnt let go for I think 10+ minutes. After calming down, he had to ask me if I wanted to see the ring! It is gorgeous, I love it. He had been looking for over a month and some and he picked it up on Friday before we left because he had it changed to be the right setting, etc. I love it and am so touched that he went through all of the hassle that he did to make it the perfect ring for me. The next day he had made arrangements for me to have a massage and manicure. Have to have pretty hands since people are going to be staring at my hands! Like my dad said, we are hoping for August 2007. Will keep you updated as the planning comes along. Lots of Love Dana (Soon to be Mrs. John Melsom!)

Dana and John are engaged. The wedding date is around August, 2007. The final date depends on availability of venues. All of this was as big a surprise to us as it was Dana. John called Ken on Friday to ask for his permission to marry Dana and for his blessing. We knew that they were going away for the weekend and were having a picnic on Saturday. He was going to ask her then. Needless to day, at 5:05 AM Saturday morning (3:05 PM London time) I received a phone call from Dana; she was so excited.

Fortunately, John has a mate whose wife works for De Beers so hopefully he did okay with the ring. It is quit beautiful and Dana’s says she can save on electricity because it “lights up the room”.

Now the planning begins…..I know Dana has a handle on everything that needs to be done…….She you at the wedding…….Ken

Dana Says

Greetings Everyone. Just a quick update on what is going on with me! As most of you know I was back in CA for the month of July visiting friends, family, etc. Had a chance to see Grandma and Grandpa's new place in St George and catch up with those who were there. Went to Vegas with a few friends and hung around home. I went to Ireland for 5 days with my friend Erin, from USC, we were in the same sorority. We went to Dublin for a few days, then Galway for a few days, then came back to London for a couple days. Had a great time. John and I will be going back to CA for a brief trip. I have a good friend getting married and then we are planning a mini holiday up to San Francisco and Napa Valley. A week after we get back I will be starting school. If you dont already know, I am going back to get my Masters in Marketing at Kingston University. It is a year program and I am very excited, especially now that it is getting so close. Going to really cramp my lady of luxury lifestyle, but what can you do. Hope all is well with everyone!

Maria and I flew to Salt Lake yesterday to spend the day with Whitney. She picked us up at the airport in her car (shown here in the photos) and chauffeured us around. Can you believe she is that grown up!? She is registered to start school at Salt Lake Community College this fall and will be studying Journalism. She is currently living with Grandma Hancock until she settles in and finds roomies and her own place to stay.

Adam, by the way, closed the deal on this motorbike and is now riding around like a bat out of hell....and once again, let us all pray.

Me and the folks at the SLC Sheraton Hotel. I had a long layover and they picked me up, visited Scott's store, picked up Adam at his new job, had taco bell (of course) and checked out Adam's (maybe) new wheels...photo to follow below. It was good to see them all and so glad they are in Utah so we can spend more time with them.

Adam checking out his dream machine...

If all works out with the financing and insurance details...he will become an official "hells angel"....

Let us all pray.

Maria @ Rockefeller Center in New York City, 30 July. Umbrellas shown below are covering tables used for outdoor dining during the summer. As you all know, in the winter, this is a famous ice skating rink. Hard to keep ice frozen outside in 91 degree heat. So cool nonetheless.

Had a long 20 Hour (Delta Dream Vacation) layover in New York City this last weekend...Maria tagged along and we had a great time. Weather was perfect (91 degrees) and the food, people, shopping and stuff was fine.

Under the Empire State Building

Shopping @ Macy's on 34th Street
(actually we didn't shop there, but did use their bathrooms after my New York pizza didn't agree with me and shot out like a clown out of a cannon...Couldn't make it back to the hotel!)

Thanks for all the news and photos,love this blog stuff,just getting back for us, we had a great time with Mom and Dad, just a couple shots of the trip,no Nate has not taken up a new career but I felt this was a photo op,and our grandkids sure love each
other. Love you all and keep in touch .

On the way home from the St. George trip, Ken's stopped in Las Vegas to shop the annual Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (can't miss that) and saw a show titled "Love"...lots of dancing around, swinging from ropes to the tunes of the Beetles.

More of Ken's visit to St. George with Jim and Nita

Cute little baby Sandhill Crane taking a rest by our back patio.





Other bird news...Mourning Doves still laying eggs in our flower pots. One egg incubating as we speak.

Cute Brooks' Kids! (with future very cute daughter-in-law hanging on to Zach for dear life).

Had nice visit in St. George with Mom and Dad, Brooks', Ken's and Scott's (no kids). Had a ton of great food thanks to Sheila and tons of candy. Here are some pictures of the gathering but mostly of Mom and Dad's new place. It really is nice...you should all make a plan to go visit soon.

Diane, Dana, Grandpa and his twin playing Scum. (Diane was president at this time)

Hi everyone. This is Dean in St. George with Mom at the library showing her how to post something on the blog. More to come later.

Hello from Across the Pond -

Just a quick hello to update you on what is going on in London. John and I went to Monaco for the Grand Prix at the end of May. It was awesome, those F1 cars are so loud. It was my first Grand Prix! It was quite the glamorous weekend and so many very flash cars. We were invited out there by a brokerage firm that John does business with. It's so nice to have everything taken care of for you. Actually, John and I might be moving to Monte Carlo for his work. John and another partner in his firm are thinking about setting up an office out there. I am very excited about the opportunity and my fingers are crossed that things go through, I love it out there! A few weekends ago John and I went to a Bon Jovi concert up in Milton Keynes. Another work weekend, they organized limos and everything for us, it was a lot of fun. And just last weekend, one of John's best friends got married in Seville, Spain. John was one of the 4 Best Men. We flew out on Thursday morning and flew back Sunday afternoon. It was a beautiful wedding weekend. Other than that, we have just been hanging out, have had a few BBQs at our flat and watching the England World Cup games. I have attached a picture of us in Seville, near the Cathedral and Alcazar and at the concert and one of Monte Carlo Beach. I will be heading back CA on the 30th of June for a visit. I will be back for the entire month of July. Hope all is well with everyone else, and hopefully I might be able to see some of you while I am back in the Homeland. X Dana

...just in case you don't "recognize" jimmy....

that is James Scott Kelly.

Post Meridian

Jimmy's Band

Click on this link

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=29846457

You can hear some of their stuff

and see a video clip of one of their "gigs" at

the Muse Club in Provo, Utah

Jimmy's Band

Post Meridian

Jimmy Jammin

Ken said,

So we don’t hog all the picture space, I will delete this pretty soon.

Barb’s anniversary is coming up so we bought her a brand new Bentley Continental GT. It is black (Beluga) with black interior. It is equipped with a 12 cylinder twin turbocharged, 6 liter, 552 horsepower engine, 6 speed automatic transmission with manual paddle shift levers on the steering wheel, all wheel drive and push button ignition. We upgraded to the Mulliner which gives burr walnut interior and burr walnut door panels front and rear and front and rear consoles. There is contrasting diamond quilting stitched leather seats, wood and leather steering wheel, custom Mulliner 20” 7 spoke sport rims, knurled chrome and leather sport shift knob, drilled alloy sport pedals and lambs wool floor mats. The Bentley emblem is embroidered into the seat backs, dual front heated lumbar massage seats ( moves up and down along your back), navigation system, 6 CD player, fancy radio, blue tooth phone system, etc. Vroommmmmm , Vroommmmmmm

Family Portraits! Please get your individual family pictures to Sarah as soon as you can. She and Claudia are chomping at the bit to get this quilt finished, and we can't do that until we have everyone's photos... Or I guess we could always insert this photo if we don't get yours:

Our little girl is growing so fast. She is seven weeks old. We are falling in love with her more and more..
love, dar and nate