Christmas Morning 2008

Merry Christmas from the Puyallup Winter Wonderland. After many years of wishing we finally got our White Christmas. I took some pictures from around the house so you can get the effect. The sun even came out for a while which just added to the beautiful Christmas setting. The rest of the pictures are Marlena, Ryan, Marcilyn and I opening presents this morning. It is wonderful to have Ryan and Marcilyn with us for Christmas this year as Marcilyn was in London and Ryan on this mission in Ogden Utah. We are having a lot of fun with them. Of course I am in Aloha Christmas mode. We miss everyone who is not here and all the sweet grand children but it has been fun to talk to everyone today. Love to all and to all a Merry Christmas!!

I hate politicians

It's been Marlena's birthday long enough.

I like how McCain keeps harping on Obama for raising taxes. Really? Really?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html

And depending on what kind of small business you own, or are starting one candidate will benefit you, while the other will hurt you.

It looks like McCain's claim that Obama is raising taxes is crap for most americans. It is true that there are some tax breaks that Obama will allow to exprire, such as estate tax, but for most americans there is a larger income tax break.

I really hate how both will make the others plans look completely idiotic when neither is amazing and are't as different as they would like us to believe.

Don't worry, this is my last political blog. I just can help myself .... Sorry .... Sorry.

Happy Birthday Momma

It's the best day of the year! Happy Birthday Mom. I just want you to know how much I love you. You are truly the best Mom and the greatest Grandma ever. Today I celebrate YOU. Thanks for all of the fun and happiness and goodness you bring to our lives. Thanks for always taking the time to chat on the phone. Thanks for everything you are. I love you.

Happy Marce Day

We are celebrating this auspicious day here in the land of people who miss you! Happy Birthday Marcilyn!!

Happy Birthday, Marcilyn!!!!!

Happy Birthday Marcilyn!!! Here is your poster and ballons celebrating your birthday all day today. We miss you and love you!! Hope you have a great Birthday knowing how much we love you-- MOM and DAD

Birthday Boy

We had a little birthday party for Jeffrey tonight. It was just a small celebration with Dave's brother and his family. He didn't eat much of the cupcake, mostly it just got smashed, but we just couldn't let the event go by without a proper Mann family birthday party -poster, cake, and all. Happy Birthday Jeffy.

Picking up Ryan From His MIssion

Well this blog is all out of order since I can't seem to be able to move thngs around. So the last pictures I import end up at the top completely out of order. So you will have to read from the bottom of the blog and up for the right order So....After touring Ryan's mission we went to Provo and visited Grant and Brit. We are pictured here outside Mimi's where we had lunch and Ryan was also visit with Lonnie who he met before the mission and wrote him. And then you can see us arriving at the airport and havng Evan and Heather with Conner and Orion and Camila with Owen and Sullivan greeting us there. Ryan met Sullivan, Orion and Owen for the first time.

I

Our first day we went up to Logan and met up with a wonderful group of missionaries in the Logan Tabernacle . We were also able to attend a session in the Logan Temple. Later that day we met with Pres and Sister Joyce. We cannot tell you how much Pres and Sis Joyce expressed their deep love and appreciation for Ryan. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at a very fine restaurant that evening and were invited to stay at the mission home that night. We had such a wonderful visit with the Joyces.

The next day we visited a couple areas where Ryan served. We had a great time visiting people in the town of Garland. He is pictured here with the McKee family. Bro McKee served as Ward Mission Leader and worked with Ryan while he served there. Again, it was so wonderful to hear the expressions of gratitude for the work that Ryan had done there.

Here is Marlena and I when we first saw Ryan as we picked him up from the mission office in Ogden.

We had a wonderful trip and it was great to be a part of Ryans completion of a very successful mission.

DAD

Picture Proof

Here is the picture proof, here he is actually crawling. He is getting fast too. Although he still frequently decides it's too much work and it's just easier to wail at mom so she can come move me. He's crazy.

Jeffy Crawls

He has defied the camcorder, but I saw it with my own eyes. The kid crawls. So he doesn't seem to like it, but has found that to get places it can be useful, but still prefers screaming at us until we pick him up so he can take a ride ..... but he crawls.

-- Dave

Ryan's back!

We set up an email for him tonight so everyone should email him your email addresses at RyanDMann@gmail.com. If you have google chat (Marcilyn!) he is set up for that, too.

A Christmas to Remember 2007

Thank You Nana and PopPop for the wonderful Christmas to remember. It was so much fun and we are so glad we could be there for it. You are the greatest parents and Grandparents around. We love you tons and tons.