Hey Everybody - Check out the links to everyone's blogs on the sidebar. Send me yours so I can include it! Steve Stamps at gmail dot com!

Dean, Gidget & Adam.

Had a fun trip to Utah. Spent a few days with Adam and was able to visit Gidget our sweet dog that we adopted out when we moved to Florida...cuz we knew our resident alligator Albert would have eaten her alive like a "scoobie snack" had we moved her here. I was curious if she would remember me after 5 years (can you believe we have been in Florida for 5 years?) but she TOTALLY remembered me and it was so fun to see her. Adam is doing great, still in a band and loving his guitar and working for Musicians Friend in Draper and still dating Jessica (will be 2 year in August).

Hi Family,

Quite a busy time for the Melsom's. We just got back from a 2 week holiday in Dubai and now we are moving to Geneva, Switzerland! As most of you know, I was in California for almost 2 months in February and March, John was also in town, but for only a month, he was able to meet Grandma and Grandpa and some other family, lots of scum playing - it was great, think John injured his hand playing so much! I was also able to celebrate Di and Ben's engagement with them and the family, so that was really exciting.

Flew back to London, a couple days later, we flew out to Dubai. It was so hot, interesting place, lots of construction but cool restaurants and hotels there, and the malls are nuts, we went to one with a ski area inside! We didnt do much, lots of sleeping and eating. Went to the famous Burj al Arab for dinner and drinks (the sail hotel, that is supposed to be the most glamorous in the world) and went to the Jumierah beach which is the one shaped like the wave. For the first week we stayed at the Ritz Carlton, beautiful place and then the 2nd week we stayed at the Shangri La (guess George Clooney stayed there when they filmed Syriana). The Shangri La was really close to another famous landmark in Dubai, the Burj Dubai. It will be the tallest building in the world upon completion, it is nuts how tall it is. Our hotel had 42 floors and this was more than double in height. To give you an idea, the World Trade Center buildings were 1776 feet high, this is 2,064 feet high.

I flew back to London on Friday, meanwhile John flew to Nice. He had a friends stag weekend (bachelor party) and I had a friends hen weekend (bachelorette). Was lots of fun, we went paintballing and went on dirt buggies, was a very dirty weekend, but I really had a blast, was a bit nervous at first about the paintballing, but was really fun!

Im off to Geneva tomorrow, so have been busy getting things organized here. We will still have our flat here in London for a few more months until we figure out what is going on, we need a plan.

Busy month coming up for us. I will be in Geneva for a week, back to London, then off to Austin for a friends bachelorette party (im her matron of honour, how old does that sound) and then back to London, then we have 2 weddings on the next consecutive weekends (John is a groomsmen in both) then back to Geneva, so lots going on!

Will keep you posted on the Geneva happenings.

Lots of love

Dana and John

"people who say they sleep like a baby.....

usually don't have one"

Congrats to all the new babies in the family.

Miles is here!!! And it is NO April Fools Joke!!

Our lil Miles is finally here and he is as wonderful as we knew he would be. He was born at 12:19 April 1, 2008 and was 6 lbs 12 oz and 18 1/2 inches he's an April Fools baby. Congrats Stac and Rob and we love you!

Hi Family,

Not sure if grandma has spread the word, but Ben and I got engaged last Friday! He planned a romantic proposal at one our favorite restaurants, Crustacean in Beverly Hills. It was our anniversary on Thursday and Ben had booked me in for a manicure and pedicure and had dinner reservations on the Friday. He coordinated the proposal with my mom and Dane and the owners of the restaurant. Without my knowing, Mom, Dane and Ben met at the restaurant earlier in the afternoon and set up a hidden video camera to capture the proposal, make the table all pretty with the most beautiful floral arrangement of orchids and rose petals all over the table, they also arranged a bottle of champagne for us to celebrate. After they set up, mom and Dane went back to Ben's parents house where Dad was hanging out with Bens parents and they waited for Bens cue to head over to our apartment. I was so fooled. . .while we were on our way to the restaurant, Dane, Mom and Dad and Ben's parents went to our apartment and decorated it with tons of rose petals, chocolate covered strawberries, and sparkling apple cider. They even put a heart of rose petals on our bed with our initials inside it, they are so sneaky, I had no idea I was in for another surprise when we went home. Little did I realize, when I called them to tell them the news that they were already on their way to the restaurant to celebrate with us, it was such a nice surprise to be able to celebrate with our family.

Just wishing everyone a Happy Day! Does anyone have any exciting news...post it! Staci has created a new blog for Miles, http://milesofsunshine.blogspot.com/ so check it out if you get a chance. It will be full of fun things once Miles arrives! Everything in Virginia is going well. Travis, Adalei, and I can't wait for spring to get here so we can go do some fun stuff and see some cool places in D.C. and the surrounding area. Come out and visit we would love to have family! Love you all loads and loads!


Adalei loves carrots!

Just wishing everyone a wonderful day! Adalei turned 6 months old yesterday! I can't believe it, she is getting so big. Hope everyone is doing well. We love you all!

The Stamps kids all say hello!



Fox lost his other front tooth this week:

Brian and Dean transplanting a Majestic Palm Tree

in Dean's backyard...only about 300 pounds...UGH, but

it turned out great (hope it survives.)

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Here are some pics from Switzerland last weekend.

Dana and John x

Just another day at the Stamps home with the kiddies! THIS is livin'!











Julia was a snake in her past life.

Hi Family

Been a while since our last post, but across the pond in the Melsom household has been very busy. After returning back to London after our honeymoon, I immediately went back to CA to apply for my visa. Came back to London in October, started working at Tiffany & Co for the holiday season, spent Christmas up in Northampton with Johns family (my new in-laws) and New Years down in London. Working at Tiffany's was a lot of fun and I am still working there, but only temping. Its working out perfectly with my schedule and flexibility. I have been working a few days here and there and will be working a bit more regularly since Valentines Day is coming up. Im heading back to CA at the end of the month for the entire month of March. Hoping to make a trip out to St George to see Grandma and Grandpa, just not sure when that will be yet.

Last weekend John and I went out to Swizterland to visit with Alan and Pauline at their chalet. We got a lil skiing in, weather was beautiful, such a nice relazing weekend. Will send a pic soon, just need to upload pics!

Other exciting news, our wedding is feautred in Ceremony Magazines OC 2008 edition! You can check it out online, since its only available for purchase in Southern California and online, but please check it out!

http://ceremonymagazine.com/featured.html then scroll down to Kelly Melsom!

See you all soon

Lots of love

Dana and John

Me and Maria spent 2 days in Savannah, Georgia and Hilton Head, South Carolina for a little get-a-way. We ate lunch at the famous "Lady & Son's" owned and run by the celebrated television chef Paula Deen. The food was divine...lots of bacon grease in absolutely everything. We walked the entire city and saw everything. This bottom photo is of the Mercer House where the movie "The Garden of Good & Evil" starring Kevin Spacey was filmed. So much fun and so historical.

Dean & Maria @ Disneyworld MGM Studios

to celebrate Maria's 40th Birthday.

We had fun, you should have all been there.

I commissioned Steph to paint a portrait of Maria using my all time favorite photo that I took of her on our honeymoon almost twelve years ago. Look how fabulous and fantastic Steph did on capturing Maria's soul in every brushstroke of this piece of art. It is exactly and identical to the photo I gave Steph to copy. Steph you are so incredibly TALENTED.

Unfortunately, thanks to FEDx, the portrait was lost during shipping to Florida. I opened the tampered with package to only discover 2 pieces of bubble wrap. You can only imagine how sick I felt knowing how much work Steph slaved to produce such a great piece of art.

Dean & Maria visiting Celebration, FL (The fake little town designed and owned by Disney...a bit of Stepford Wives in real life) where they make fake snow blow around. It acutally felt like snow as it was only 40 degrees the night we visited. [How do you like my new glasses? Trying to look like my older brothers Brooks and Scott...DUH]

Whitney visiting Florida for Christmas.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone.

Love, Dean & Maria