Well, here I am making another attempt to blog! How many years later?? Well we won't count. This will have to be an update and then I will have to try and do better and someday learn how to post pictures!

Since my last post Russell left on a 2 year mission to The California San Bernardino Mission and...has returned! I know. Sad. Not that he returned, just sad that during that time I didn't post once! I did, however, write weekly letters via e-mail and did almost as well with the hand written ones and routine packages. Russell served and honorable mission and returned home this past Christmas on December 18th. All of his sisters were at the airport to greet him except Kelly who was travelling with her overly studious and busy dental student husband and three kids from beautiful Arizona! I know... once again I haven't even introduced our two newest additions to the family. Needless to say, Russell had not yet even met them! Well, they weren't the only one's he hadn't met! He came home to 2 new brother-in-laws. It's true! Less than a year from his mission departure, his sister, Rachel married Garret Reynolds and 6 months later his sister, Jaclyn married Jimmy Phillips! Sooo....we now have Laney Grace who was 22 months old when Russ got home (she just had her 2nd Birthday), and our youngest 'grandson' Ray Elo Evers was born October 22, 2010. They are precious and we adore them. Elle turned 5 on Feb. 11, so she had really grown up and Uncle Russell could hardly believe his eyes when he saw her! Russell had not yet met Anna's fiance, Adam Close and so the reunion was amazing for everyone!

Christmas was amazing with everyone home. Even Grandma and Grandpa Elo came for the celebration on Christmas Day. The best Christmas present of the entire day! There were 19 family members all under one roof! We wrapped presents, ate, had devotionals, ate, went to the airport, wrapped more presents, ate some more, laughed till we cried, shopped, ate, airport again, did a little more Christmas shopping... Rachel and Garret were sealed in the temple, had a family picture taken (the most work of the whole season), and finally Christmas Eve was here. We had a lovely dinner and our family version of the nativity with 2 of the most darling 'Mary's' and their beautiful baby Jesus , (Baby Ray), a donkey (he came first), many shepherds 3 wisemen an angel and Grandpa David as the narrator.

One of the most memorable highlights of Christmas was our 7 days of Secret Santa's. Everyone loved it, especially Elle, who continues to secretly make everyone's beds at her own home almost daily. To see the enthusiasm and the special deeds, treats, notes and gifts that everyone was receiving was so much fun.

Anna and Adam were engaged just before Russ came home so we are excited to announce that they will be married here in Colorado on September 10th and we are moving forward with wedding plans, sort of. Anna is busy with a new job in Provo but we are doing the best we can. We found a venue for the reception when Anna and Lindsay were here visiting 2 weekends ago and such a fun time with both of them. (They came home for Sam's sister Laura's homecoming). Kiersten, is 17, a Junior in High School. She swims for the Arapahoe High School Swim Team, is on youth counsel at church, attends seminary is the second counselor in the Laurel Presidency and... (maybe the most important factors in her life) has a drivers license and is dating!!! Not anyone seriously, just having fun! Gray hair for mom and dad. Seriously! You'd think we'd be used to this regiment by now. Huh uh! Not so!

Russell is up at BYUI doing some serious studying, dating and maybe a little snowboarding! He has a janitorial job that he is doing 5 days a week from 4:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. everyday! He is amazing and has jumped right into real life making a pretty good adjustment.

Jac and Jim are back up at BYUI, finishing their Accounting Degrees, Sam and Lindsay are in Provo. Sam is attending BYU and plays Rugby for BYU. Linds is working, doing a couple of online classes to finish her Associates degree and then will transfer to BYU. Rachel, too is finishing online classes and working and Garret is gainfully employed in Oregon and they just bought a darling little home just across the Columbia River in Vancouver, Washington. Kelly and Jeff and their 3 kids are living in Gilbert, Arizona and my parents are there right now for 3 months and they are all loving having the opportunity to see each other a lot more often. Grandma Karen and Grandpa Dick are loving the Great Grandbabies and Kelly and Grandma are doing a lot of spoiling one another. Anna had a chance to go visit a few weeks ago and they all had the best time. She is the sweetest 'Auntie' and Elle cried all day the day she left.

We are so very blessed to have so much in the way of a beautiful family and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives.

Well, those are the highlights of our family for the past 2 years. The biggest highlight was having everyone together again!