Mom (or Grandma depending on whose reading this) is moving to Kissimmee, Florida in January 2010. She has purchased this lovely little home down the street from Dean & Maria and is looking forward to her new life in the sunshine state where it is seldom cold but rather warm and muggy just like she likes it, but best of all, will finally be close to her favorite child. All are welcome to visit her any time at your earliest convenience.

Me and Maria at the Gaylord Palms Hotel's Annual Ice Fesitival. Very fun and very cold. (9 Degrees...we didn't stay too long). Had a great Thanksgiving Dinner and actually celebrated ON Thanksgiving (cause I am normally flying on the actual holiday) so that was nice....and then we were ready to move on to the next holiday so we decorated the house for Christmas. Maria wanted to put up the Christmas decor while handing out the Halloween candy to the treat or treaters....but I insisted that was way too early. Christmas in Florida...divine. (even without the snow.)

Maria wanted me to make her pumpkin pie. So here is my first attempt. I mixed it up a little bit and add my own flair. So I added a layer of dark chocolate ganache as a bottom layer so it kinda tastes like pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. It turned out great, Maria loved it. I did however forget to cover the crust edge as it overcooked. Next time it will be perfect.

Opening Day for Lady Danburry Tailoring & Design was a triumphant success! It all came together because of Sheila's brilliant spacial reasoning in constructing every table I needed, Scott's amazing kindness in transporting everything & telling me what to do, Claudia's generosity in a truck-load of fabric, and Drew's immense love and patience.

I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!

I don't want to steal any thunder... but I can't help be excited for Lynette and Drew's new adventure. (No - she's not pregnant)

Check out Lynette's blog over in the sidebar!

from Rhett, Jessica and Rhett James! Hope everyone has a great Halloween this year! We'll be with the in-laws this year. I'm excited he's old enough to trick-or-treat a little this year.

Whitney & Joshua White (her future husband on 18 December 2009)

visits Orlando Florida.

An update from Summer:

Our end-of-summer trip in August was to Southern Portugal.

We had a spectacular time.

Go here to see more.

(email me if you want to be invited to our private blog at crlygrls@yahoo.com)

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On the way home, we stopped by Eric & Carma's for some fun.

Field trip to the Library of Congress;

then headed sown the pathway to the Botanical Gardens.

We relaxed, told jokes and ate our picnic lunch.

We all had such a blast together, we stayed an extra day.

They are fabulous hosts!

That night for the family talent show Ivy won the cute contest.

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We wish you all a Happy Fall!

We carved pumpkins last night. It was fun and messy.

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Ems showing off her new darling, handmade backpack made by Jessica.

Go here to check out her other creations.

Ems is in love with her new pack.

Thank you Jessica!

Beach at Tanjong Jara

View from restaurant at breakfast

Me

Beach, during Monsoon season this disappears and water level goes to the trees!

Dana, David, John at Traders Hotel Penthouse Bar, view of Petronas Towers

Batu Caves, nice outfits huh!?

Elephant Sanctuary, they were a bit smelly!

Petronas Towers

Hi Everyone!

We are back from our amazing trip to Malaysia and settled into our lives back in Geneva. Weather is starting to become more fall-like, however, today's forecast has a high of 80, then tomorrow high of 68, weird I know!

Anyways, we spent 6 nights in Kuala Lumpur, after the 1.5 hour flight to London, then the 12 hour flight to KL, we arrived. Our friends Tom and Annie and their lil baby George came down from Hong Kong for the weekend and we also hung out with John's brother David a bit. Didn't do much as far as sight seeing, lounged by the pool and ate loads, but that is about it. We stayed at the Mandarin Oriental which is right next to the Petronas Towers, so had nice views of those from our room.

We went to the Batu Caves and the Elephant Sanctuary to tick off some culture! Batu Caves is a Hindu Shrine and the Elephant Sanctuary speaks for itself. The Asian elephants are different to African elephants though, their ears are much smaller and they are just smaller in general because they would not be able to roam through the jungle and trees in Malaysia.

Then we flew to the east coast of the peninsula and stayed at a beautiful resort on the beach, Tanjong Jara. A lot of eating, lounging by the pool, reading and going to the spa. We went diving one day and that was about it. Was so nice and relaxing.

We are really looking forward to the winter this year, John and a few other partners have hired out a ski chalet for the season in Morzine, France, about 45 mins drive away.

Hope everyone is enjoying the fall! Happy October!

Dana and John x

Me and Maria at SeaWorld. Had a great time as it was

my very first time. I think of all parks in my neighborhood,

this is my all time favorite.

Had a nice long layover in Philadelphia and saw a ton

of neat historical stuff. Had a delicious berry pie

for lunch made by some Amish lady.

My hotel was right next to the graveyard

where Benjamin Franklin is buried.

Had a great time at our Lakewood Gang Reunion

in St. George this last weekend.

GOOD NEWS!

Herschel was invited to train with US Olympic Goalball Team at Lake Placid in New York. He'll be there the second week of November. It's kind of an audition camp as they begin the process to determine the Olympic team for the London 2012 Paralympics. Whatever happens in the next couple years, being invited to this training is a big honor.

Herschel is excited and we're all proud of him.

Chris Dodds, who plays with Herschel on the Utah Men's team has been on the olympic team for the last two summer games and was asked to recommend and rank 4 players he knows of to replace his spot on the olympic team (Chris is retiring) and he told Herschel he turned in his name as, in Chris' opinion, the #1 potential replacement. So that is kind of how the invitation to the training in NY came about.

I think at this point it is a far distant dream of Herschel's to go to the London Olympics, but this opportunity is awesome for him on its own.

Another Drew Danburry show, another great night.

SO amazing. So energizing. Thanks Drew! (and Lynette!)

and finally, the wakeboarding pics!

Ok sorry for the mass posting, i should have been better about this and posted as these events happened. . .here is a pic around Geneva and the view from our new place, that is Mt Saleve in the background and technically in France. . .France is only like 2 miles away from us. . .

John went downhill mountain biking in Morzine, France with his American friend, Craig, who came out to visit. I opted out of this trip since I like my teeth and the idea of having to wear a full face helmet does not appeal. Also going up the ski lift to come down, not my kinda fun and, its very muddy. I had to wash the clothes John wore, twice and his shirt is still stained with mud, its now his official mountain biking shirt!

Fete de Geneve, this is a festival that lasts about 5 weeks in the summer time, carnival rides and food stalls and a stage are set up along the lake and in the Jardin Anglais. . .at the end of the fete they do a 50 minute firework show, its incredible, but you kinda are over it after 10 minutes. But I do love fireworks, this show puts Disneyland to shame!

Monaco, we stayed in friends apartment, nice view of the Med!

Cinelac. . . went to see The Proposal at the Cinelac in July. . .what a nice way to see a movie, right?!