Friday, February 17th, 7:45 AM:
My cell phone begins playing the "Marah tune", which she programmed into it at Thanksgiving. I thought, "Marah must be bored and walking from her car to class", but NO. I hear a shaky, tearful Marah voice say, "Mom, I've been in an accident". NOT a good start to the day but especially THIS day. She was hit as she pulled out of her apartment to turn right onto the main road. Gratefully, she only got a bump on the side of her head. For the next week, she walked an average of 7-9 miles per day (and it snowed) while we waited for the insurance company to make a decision.
This picture was taken the day the final verdict was announced - TOTALED! Farewell little blue Chevy Cavalier with the most difficult stickshift known to mankind. (Megan hated that car - call it a 'beast'! Bethany never could master it...) Marah loved her beatup high school car and was buying it so she could have transportation for student teaching.
Friday, February 17th, 7:45 PM:
After getting estimates, unloading and leaving the car at an auto body shop, then walking home, it was supposed to be date night (in Park City). We knew Stephen's plan for that night but with the events of the day, we weren't sure if it was possible - especially on foot!
After convincing Marah to let him go with her to get estimates, unload and drop off the car (she didn't want him to see her so emotional and teary), Stephen somehow managed to adapt his plan with assistance from his good friend/roommate Blake. They walked from Marah's apartment to a restaurant (long walk). As Marah finished her meal, a dessert tray was placed in front of her. She thought it was odd because usually the server will ask before bringing it. She looked down and saw the tray filled with an assortment of M&Ms (her high school nickname - Stephen's was 'Skittles'). Then she noticed the printing on the M&Ms. 
Marah LOVES her ring - Stephen clearly understands 'hints'. After celebrating with sparkling cidar, Marah called us and the CHEERING began! We have loved Stephen since Marah was a head taller than him (which didn't stop her from having a HUGE crush on him).
Our first picture with both Marah and Stephen after his family moved to Tucson in 2000 - their Primary class did a skit for sharing time. Stephen is the King (with the crown), and Marah is standing 2nd from the right next to the Queen (Hillary).June 22nd - Mesa AZ Temple. Marah Catherine Koford, it has a good sound to it!
Then Valentine morning at 5:35 AM, Bethany walked out to get in the car for seminary and found her car heart attacked. Add rain a few hours later while parked at high school and this was what it looked like when I saw it. 
Snow (and snuggies) on Valentines afternoon! Yes, in Tucson AZ.
Meanwhile, Kenna & Brian drove through a short snowstorm to meet good friends and have a 'getaway' in Sedona AZ.
Meanwhile their dog Camo (yes, grandma even babysits gigantic granddogs) stalked his love - our cat Mulan.
After Valentines, it is BIRTHDAY TIME in the Mikesell family! February 16th was Kenna's 25th birthday. She and Brian had to drive back to Texas on her actual birthday to be responsible working adults so we celebrated a day early. It was the first time since Kenna was 17 that she's been home to party with on her birthday :))
Next up was Princess Catherine's 1st birthday on February 18th, but the birthday girl's dad was away being a responsible Boy Scout Leader. Her party was delayed a day, but big brother Seth decided they still needed to have some birthday fun. Catherine got a balloon from the Dollar Store, French fries from Chic-Fil-A (mostly so Seth could jump in the balls), and then they partied at their library that has an awesome playroom. 
Party day - NOT a happy Catherine. Church and naps (hers and other party goers) did not correlate so by the time the party began, Catherine need another nap (or just to go to bed for the night). The only thing she was interested in was holding a bottle of Motrin. (I think her parents needed a few Motrin by the time the night was over...)
She did manage to cheer up later to place the crown from her cake EXACTLY where it belongs. She is, indeed, the PRINCESS.
On to February 27th - my baby girl turned 17. Yep, I'm feeling OLD!!!
Bethany started her birthday at seminary (she loves Bro. Evans), got out of class at 6:40 AM to drive to high school, and found her car decorated and filled with balloons!
February 18, 2011 - Sara Catherine Blood is born
February 27, 2011 - Bethany's turns the BIG 16
and becomes a licensed driver 
April 24, 2011 - Carnahan Reunion/Easter Sunday
and spends her summer in Maryland as a camp counselor/ropes facilitator
ALL CAUGHT UP - until Christmas 2011 anyways :))
Meg blogged our Thanksgiving family gathering so click to hers for that crazy, eventful, but fun week. My parents and sister also joined the chaos!
Kenna and Brian get married in 6 days, and Kenna started a new BrianandKenna blog so click on there for some fun wedding news. 
Marah and her roommate Kellie's started a blog about their teaching adventure in Puebla, Mexico last summer so click on that link for some fun pictures and information.
Maybe 2011 will be a more organized year for me - Ha Ha Ha - it's a nice dream! Oops, almost forgot - I turned the BIG 50 in 2010 :O
This is Bethany and my FIFteen and FIFty picture.
Looking pretty good after a 5 1/2 hour flight from Baltimore to Phoenix. Meg brought Seth and stayed for a couple of days to get him acclimated before flying to meet Jon for their cruise.
Bethany really wanted Seth to call her "Auntie Beth" but his mother already had him trained, "Bubba, Bubba, Bubba" he says excitedly when he sees her.
Meg hopped in when it was time to take Bethany to her tennis lesson so she could say hi to Miss Diane.
Diane thought it would be fun to have her former and current students play each other.
Good game! Beth won by a point.
Beth and Seth assisting Meg and Russell with the dead battery. Actually the battery was fine. Megan's skills at starting a stick shift car were just a bit rusty...
Helping Aunt Bubba drive Grandpa's truck (she wishes he'd let her drive...)
Grandpa's home to see Seth (for 36 hrs). Seth helps Grandpa fold laundry. Dryers are a little scary because they have 'leaves' (dryer sheets) . They are also classified as a "man man", which are fans.
This is how Grandpa became "Lawnmower". Now when we point at picture of Russell, Seth beams and says, "lawnmower". 
Grandpa and Seth sharing Seth's snacks. 
Mojo after being bopped acrossed the head by Mulan. He had been missing for 24 hours. The entire neighborhood was looking for him. Seth cried himself to sleep in the stroller calling, "Mojo, Mojo". Where was Mo? In the couch. Had he meowed to get out? Nope, not once! He only meows if water is running. He cries and cries and cries if the tub or washing machine is filling, but if he's trapped in a couch - ABSOLUTE SILENCE!
Aunt Bubba protecting Seth by battling the bees making a hive under our deck. She won that night, but the next day they won. We had to call our favorite bug guy.
Stealing Grandpa's tub!
Grandpa really wanted to read and hold Bruce's paw anyway.
My beautiful Mother's day blinds from Meg and Beth. Working her way through college as a handiman certainly taught Megan some awesome installation skills!
The "Virtue" girls showing their rubies for completing the new YW personal progress requirement (even though they were both done and it wasn't required).
Seth spent his last night in Tucson making a huge mess with the chips at Chilis. We cleaned it up as much as we could and doubled the tip!
Goodbye Grandpa! Raz wanted a picture with Seth while wearing his 'grandpa' tee shirt. 
Last "no no" to Bruce. I bet you didn't know that dogs say "no no" and not "arf arf". Can you see the scary 'leaf' in the background. After 2 weeks, Seth isn't afraid of the scented Wallflower plugins. The first few days we toured the house several times a day as he pointed out each 'yeeve'. (And we have a lot of 'yeeves' to mask pet smells...)
