The Mullis Family extends our best wishes for the holidays and a fantastic new year. Yes, once again we are finishing up a year and welcoming the arrival of a new one. The one thing for certain is that the new year will be full of surprises. Every year seems to bring some of the normal expectations but it always seems to include the unexpected. I guess that is suppose to keep us guessing and help us keep paying attention throughout the year.
2011 for the Mullis Family was very much like the norm…the unexpected! The year begin rather quietly with kids going to school, Mom keeping things moving around the house and Dad looking for a job while helping Grandma get through her chemotherapy. We had just got Jason married off, were getting excited about Eric’s recent engagement and the arrival of a new grandson and anticipating the high school graduation of Mandy. Normally, that would be enough highlights for a given year and provide a very interesting family newsletter. Then came 2011…..
Marital BlissWe knew that Jason’s wedding in 2010 was a huge event but we didn’t realize it was only the beginning. Last December, Eric (25) and Marinda Anne Morgan announced their engagement. The engagement wasn’t a great surprise as they had been an item for several months. So, they concluded that May would be a good month for a wedding….in Portland, Oregon. Dad was excited for the wedding and the fact that it would be in Oregon, where he served his mission. He was also able to get a family golf outing included during the event. The ceremony was performed in the Oregon LDS Temple and the Open House was held in Washington at the Morgan home. Fortunately, Marinda’s family were prepared for the NW rain factor with a huge tent. Everyone survived without getting too wet. Eric and Marinda will be graduating from Brigham Young University in April so they will be trying to figure out where their next address will be in 2012.
Two weddings in 6 months would normally be enough for quite awhile. As usual though, Ryan (24) felt he had to follow close behind Eric so in early October, he formally proposed to Alexis (Lex) Shea Hatch. Ryan was performing a role in the play, “Little Women”. In the play, he had a big proposal scene. After the play, he repeated the role in front of the audience by asking Lex to marry him. Fortunately, she said yes. They were married in the Draper, Utah LDS Temple on December 10, 2011. They are both working and attending school. Ryan is attending Utah Valley University and Lex is planning to spend more time on her music. She is a great singer so we’re excited for her.
New Arrival
The Mullis Family has grown a lot since the additions of Jodi, Marinda and Lex. However, the family grew in other ways in 2011. Shaun (30) and Melanie welcomed another baby boy into their family on September 24, 2011. Dallin Nicholai Mullis was welcomed by his big brothers, Landon and Caden. I understand that they have already made inquiries about even adding another baby to the family so they must be happy with Dallin. Mom, Dad and the girls were able to go to Rhode Island in October for Dallin’s blessing. It was a great trip! Shaun and Melanie stayed with us in early December until Ryan’s wedding so were able to get to know Dallin a little better. He was even able to attend a basketball game with Grandpa. That made Grandpa’s day. He is an awesome grandson and he will learn quickly with Landon and Caden as his big brothers. Shaun and Melanie continue to live in Rhode Island where Shaun is working in IT and making great progress on his Masters Degree. They have a great family!
Pending Arrivals
Jennifer (28) and Jason continue to live in Lehi, Utah so Grandma and Grandpa have the opportunity to have Kiera and Rylan around fairly frequently. Kiera is really growing up and reminds all of us of Jennifer when she was 4. Rylan is developing his climbing skills and the ability to find chocolate anywhere in the house. He hasn’t perfected his climbing skills yet as he continues to enjoy numerous accidents. Moving chairs around to help his efforts is a trademark. Jason graduated with his MBA in 2011 and Jennifer does a great job with the kids. So much so, she decided she was ready for another challenge. They are expecting child #3 (grandchild #6) in June 2012. We are very excited to have another grandchild nearby. Congratulations to Jennifer and Jason!
Jennifer (28) and Jason continue to live in Lehi, Utah so Grandma and Grandpa have the opportunity to have Kiera and Rylan around fairly frequently. Kiera is really growing up and reminds all of us of Jennifer when she was 4. Rylan is developing his climbing skills and the ability to find chocolate anywhere in the house. He hasn’t perfected his climbing skills yet as he continues to enjoy numerous accidents. Moving chairs around to help his efforts is a trademark. Jason graduated with his MBA in 2011 and Jennifer does a great job with the kids. So much so, she decided she was ready for another challenge. They are expecting child #3 (grandchild #6) in June 2012. We are very excited to have another grandchild nearby. Congratulations to Jennifer and Jason!
Jason (32) waited a long time to find the right person to marry. Fortunately, the wait was worth it as Jodi seems to “complete” him. However, they have decided not to wait too long with the next step so , in December, Jason announced very enthusiastically that a baby was on the way. All of his siblings are excited about the prospects of paybacks that will be forthcoming. Hopefully, there will be enough influence from Jodi to balance some of the personality. The baby (grandchild #7) is expected to arrive in July. Jason and Jodi continue to live in Phoenix, AZ where they are attorneys.
The Graduate and the Hound
Amanda (19) graduated from high school in June and began her college career at Utah State University in the Fall. While the school part was acceptable, she started to miss family and friends and made several trips home during the semester. At one point, she was fairly lonely and went to Taco Bell for lunch. While there, someone was outside giving away puppies (black lab/boxer mix). “They were so cute!”, she would later remark. Somehow, she picked one out and she became the mother of a new puppy. Unfortunately, the plan was not well developed so the puppy soon ended up with Mom and Dad back at the ranch. If you know Mom, you can understand how this was not easily accepted. Considering how she ended up with Jack, most of us would have thought this would never happen again. But, we now have Jack and Belle roaming the yard…together. The good news is that they seem to get along and Jack is much more active. The bad news is walking through the yard is much more challenging. Mandi has elected to transfer to Utah Valley University next semester so she can see family, friends and Belle more often. This is probably a good thing as there is no telling how many more pets we might have to adopt.
Driving Me Crazy
With Kristyn (15) this is a very accurate slogan. She has begun her car driving experience and after going through this process 6 other times, Dad was not looking forward to it….again. The good news is that she is doing pretty good on the driving front except Dad hurts himself every time he gets into the car after she has been driving because Kristyn has forgotten to re-adjust the seat. Aside from that, she has shown a definite interest in boys….a boy. Kristyn also participated in the Trek experience in July (see definition in Parental Unit Update). She also began the 10th grade in high school and is continuing to develop her skills with the violin. She has fully reached the teenager years so that comes with all of challenges for parents.
The Importance of Health Care
Kari (12) is in the 7th grade this year. She continues to aggravate Kristyn every chance she gets and is developing her skills with the piano. Perhaps the most important lesson Kari has taught us is the need to always have health insurance. Earlier in the year, she slipped on the floor in falling hit her throat on a garbage can. After a visit to the emergency room, it was determined that she had only a bruised windpipe. For several days, she sounded like Marlon Brando in the Godfather. Later, she tripped at school and broke her foot. Then, she was bit by a friend’s dog and had to have some stitches. We are all holding our breath as we move into 2012.
Parental Unit Update
Mom and Dad continue to hang out around the house. Mom continually strives to get the projects done that she wants to complete but other projects keep popping up….weddings, kids to college, kids back home, kids back to college, kids to the doctor, etc. One of her favorite times is when she and her sister-in-law, Charlotte, get together for an extended period of time. She is also beginning to tackle a lot of projects from Church to keep her from getting bored. Both Mom and Dad tackled one of those together this summer. They went on Trek 2011 (several days of pulling carts across a barren wasteland to better understand how the pioneers came to Utah). The Trek is mainly for the kids but a lot of adults have to attend. Mom and Dad were on the food committee so they got to set up breakfast, lunch and dinner at different locations for about 600 kids. Kristyn also attended and enjoyed pulling the hand carts for several miles a day. She did a great job. It was a lot of work but Mom and Dad really enjoyed the experience and all of the people they met. Mom will be tackling youth conference next year so here we go again.
Dad continued his efforts to find a job in 2011. He did get a consulting assignment in July and has been working with that company on a special HR project. As 2012 begins, it appears he will have a more permanent assignment. Aside from that, he and Kari seem to have a lot in common. He had a knee injury, a wrist problem and a gout experience. He had surgery in October to replace his left thumb joint. Apparently, that was causing a problem with his wrist that he claims was impacting his golf game. He did get the opportunity to golf in Arizona with his friend, Jim, and Jason and Jodi last January, play wth his brothers-in-law in Texas, and a couple of trips to Virginia to golf with Jim. The 4th Annual Mullis Invitational was held in Utah in July and Jason and his friends team prevailed. With a new thumb joint, Dad is optimistic for revenge in 2012. Dad also enjoyed Jimmermania last Spring and tries to attend all of the BYU football and basketball games. He has gained a glimpse of true retirement but Mom has helped him understand that it is not time for retirement.
Grandma Update
Finally, we are pleased to report that Grandma Mullis is regaining her strength and doing well. She finished chemotherapy in March and has continued to progress. Her hair has returned and she enjoys cooking again….or is it the eating part. She enjoyed her trip to visit Jason in Arizona and was able to see all of her great grandchildren this year. Jackie, her niece, also came for a visit and they had a good time together. Grandma spends a lot of time doing family history work and attending the temple. She continues to get good reports from the doctors.
More Scenes from 2011
