Whew!

I'm back! Wow it has been a busy, busy last couple of months! It seems like I haven't stopped since before Thanksgiving. I love the holiday season but its nice when its over too and we can get back our schedule. I'm usually one that's always up for a party, but its nice to be a home too!

Here's some of the things we've been up to:

1. Roach family

• Gingerbread houses
• Aaron, Nic's brother, and his family were in town. We had a wonderful time playing with them (dinners, movie parties...) and wish we could see them more often.
• I took charge of the Christmas gift for Clyde and Marj. I wanted us to give something meaningful from the entire gang Hansen kids and Roach kids alike. I got the idea just after Christmas last year... a memory quilt. Each member of the family had a quilt square they had to make (or have parents help). It was a whole LOT of work, more than I bargained for. But it turned out great.
• We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas breakfast with Nic's family. One thing we do on Christmas Eve is go to the cemetary and put some candles on Nic's mom's grave.
• Roach family pictures (boy, that was an event!)

2. Allen family

• 100th birthday celebration for Grandpa Allen
• My parents took the grandchildren on the Polar Express (Heber Valley Railroad)! Mom and Dad got them matching pajamas to wear. They got to met some elves, Santa, and drink hot chocolate.
• Baird Christmas party (Mom's side of the family)
• I put together a book for my parents from all of us kids. It had a letter from each of the families and was loaded with fun family pictures
• Aidie's birthday party
• Allen dinner and gift exchange
• The other part of our Christmas gift to my parents was to help them with some projects they needed done. I helped organize us into two teams on two different days. We organized and painted...
• New Year's Eve party

3. Callings:

• Nic and I were called to be Youth Conference coordinators for the youth in our ward. (We'll discuss this more later...) It has been busy already and this is just the beginning.
• I was also released as a Relief Society teacher (which I loved and will miss) and was called to be the 2nd counselor in the Young Women's organization. I am excited to work with and learn from the young women. Between the two callings, things really have been busy!

Well, those are the highlights in a nutshell. Now do you understand why its been so long... I'll add pictures soon.