Family Friday: Featuring My Great-Niece Hannah

This week on Family Friday I'm featuring the newest member of our family, in fact, she is so new....I haven't even met her yet (hopefully soon). This is my great-niece Hannah. I became an aunt for the first time when Hannah's Mom was born, and when Hannah was born (almost 3 months ago) I became a great-aunt for the first time. Isn't she a cutie!! I'm looking forward to meeting her and giving her a squeeze. I love her already!!

Four generations of our family; each of these generations are exactly 24 years apart: Hannah with her Great-Granpa (my Dad), Hannah's Grandpa (my brother Tim), and Hannah's Mom

Here are some things I know about Hannah: She's beautiful. She has lots and lots of hair. She is a daddy's girl. She likes hearing her great-granpa sing. She is now giggling (I saw and heard her on facebook). She is loved very much by her family. She is the first grandchild. The circumstances in which her name was chosen are very special. She's a good baby. We're all so happy and grateful that Hannah is in our family and we love her.

Hannah's family: Melissa, Hannah, and Adam

Family Friday: Featuring My Niece Melissa

This is my niece Melissa; isn't she beautiful! I love this picture of her. Melissa was born on October 10, 1985, that is when I became an aunt for the first time; I was twenty-seven years old. Just over a month ago Melissa gave birth to a beautiful baby daughter and I became a great-aunt for the first time. That is what I refer to as a tender moment. My parents have 12 grandsons and 11 granddaughters, Melissa is the fourth grandchild and the oldest granddaughter.

Melissa was born nineteen months before my daughter Ashleigh. At Easter time in 1988 they were the only granddaughters out of seven grandchildren. By coincidence that Easter, Melissa and Ashleigh both had new Jessica McClintock (Remember Gunne Sax?) dresses so Margie and I took them to get their picture taken together as a gift for Granma.

One of my favorite stories about Melissa occurred when she was just a toddler, some of the family went to meet Alan, Marivic, and Christopher as they arrived at the Salt Lake airport for a visit. Uncle Alan was complimenting 2-year-old Melissa on how how cute she was and how big she had gotten since they had last seen her, Melissa's response to Uncle Alan...."and potty trained too."

On the day that I received Melissa's high school graduation announcement in the mail, I was quite confused when I opened it and read Melissa Nicole Marsden. I knew that Melissa didn't have a middle name, but apparently she had always wanted one, so she decided to give one to herself (I believe she even named herself after Nicole Kidman ).

I have watched Melissa grow up and she is an exceptional young woman. Last year Mike, Caitlin, Granpa, Granma, and I spent a few hours in Las Vegas where Melissa met us for dinner. Granma was telling Melissa a story and I was impressed with how Melissa listened intently and without interruption as Granma was talking to her. I think being a good listener is a talent.

Melissa is loyal and devoted to family, and she is also very proud of her heritage. I love (and share) her enthusiasm about the family and I would say absolutely with no doubt, that if our family had a cheerleader, it would be Melissa.

Melissa attended BYU-Idaho and that is where she met her husband Adam. Their story is unique; Adam came to Melissa's apartment thinking he was picking up another girl for a date....and the rest is history, they were married on August 5, 2006. They moved to Las Vegas soon after their wedding, and they just purchased their first home last month.

Things to know about Melissa: She is tender hearted. She loves un-conditionally. She's loyal. She's happy. She has faith. She is trusting. She keeps a spotless house. She's committed to home and family. She is wise with her money. Shortly after she became engaged, Melissa spent several months in Russia teaching kindergarten. She has been in several countries including England. She loves Uncle Mike's impersonation of a gorilla (now). She is anticipating her graduation from UNLV in December. She's going to be a teacher, but first....she will be a stay-at-home Mom. We all love Melissa Maloo, and are so grateful that she is in our family.

Melissa's family: Melissa, Adam, and baby Hannah

Family Friday: Featuring My Nephew (by marriage) Adam

When you decide to highlight 47 family members of assorted ages, longevity in the family, and their personal relationship with you, there are going to be some of them that you haven't known as long or as well as some of the others. Adam falls into this category as one of the newer members of our family.

The first time I met Adam was at my nephew Sean's Eagle Court of Honor. I remember thinking that he looked just like one of the Osmond's (only Adam has whiter and straighter teeth). A few months after I met Adam he and my niece Melissa became engaged; and shortly after they became engaged Melissa went to Russia to teach kindergarten for several months.

While Melissa was gone Adam continued his education at BYU-I where he was studying to become an elementary school teacher. Melissa returned home just weeks before the wedding, which was in August of 2006 in the Bountiful Temple.

Shortly after they were married, Adam and Melissa moved to Las Vegas where Adam did his student teaching; currently he is an elementary school teacher (can you imagine all of the little crushes on handsome Mr. Turney?), and last week Adam graduated with his Masters Degree in Education Leadership.

Adam and Melissa are anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child; a daughter who is expected this August. They are also in the process of buying their first home and should be moving a few weeks before the baby comes.

I don't know very much about Adam, but here are a few things that I do know and that I've observed: He loves and takes care of my niece, he is motivated and hardworking in his education and his career, he is a good son, he is a cancer survivor, he served a mission in Australia, he has come into a pretty loud and fun loving family and he sits back and observes...respectfully, and I'm sure with a bit of amusement/confusion. We love you Adam and are happy that you are one of us.

Adam and Melissa on a recent trip to New York