Cannariato~Almond Adventures

As many of you know, Dawn recently started oil painting. She is doing VERY well. What you may not have known is that early in life she exhibited artistic qualities as evidenced by these two stunning pictures drawn by Dawn at age 5. It isn't a yellow polka dot model, but these bikinis are sure "itsy bitsy" I am proud.

We are pleased to announce that Alexis Ann Cannariato designed the winning project in the National Kitchen and Bath Association competition. Out of 152 entries Alexis was awarded 1st place!!!!!! She received a $2,500 scholarship and an all expense paid trip to the NKBA convention at the end of April in Las Vegas!!!!! We are so proud of you Alexis. C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! Love, Mom & Dad

http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/2011/01/worse-then-death.html Seriously So Blessed is ending!

Dear family, I just got a call from the National Kitchen and Bath Association about the project that I submitted for competition. I AM ONE OF THE FINALISTS!!!!!!!!!!! I will find out where I place next Friday afternoon. No matter what I place, I get a paid trip to KBIS which is a design conference in LAS VEGAS! AAHHHH! I'm SO happy!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you all and want to say thanks for loving me even though I disappeared off the face of the earth while I was working on that project. You guys are the best family EVER!

I am having so much fun learning to oil paint! My teacher is very encouraging with me and I am trying to learn a little patience while working on a project week after week. This just goes to show that you are never too old to learn something new. I am ready to start hanging my paintings up in the garage art gallery!

Since Gma Ham wasn't feeling well last night, we took dinner in to her. As we visited the topic of what to name new little Romney came up...and boy did the creative juices start flowing! Here are some of our favorite - first the serious ones, THEN the...well more "creative" names. Boys Daniel Douglas Henry Clark Jack Jackson James Joseph Joseph Steven Landon Luke Allen Russell Paul William Daniel Girls Annie Avery Eliza Jane (Steve's great grandmother) Elizabeth Grace Katherine Maren Rose Meryl Molly Rachel Sadie Zina NOW THE MORE CREATIVE ONES - Boys Donatello Herkimer Horatio Humperdink Raphael Rock N. Zedekiah Zebulon (ZZ for short) Girls Jaknicqua Jicama Nicjakqua Lajaknicquanda Marshamarcie(say it fast) Penelope Pearl Ruby Rose Rainy Dawn Sunny Dawn Partly Cloudy Dawn Yeah, you think you can do better...Bring it on!!!!

In preparing for our Stake Parent's Fireside I found some mighty fine quotes. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. Before I got married I had six theories about bringing up children; now I have six children, and no theories. -- John Wilmot If there were no schools to take the children away from home part of the time, the insane asylums would be filled with mothers. -- Edgar W. Howe If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders. -- Abigail Van Buren Teenagers are people who act like babies if they're not treated like adults. -MAD Magazine. The trouble with learning to parent on the job is that your child is the teacher. ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out. ~Erma Bombeck

This picture is amazing. And the architecture is a dead giveaway that it was taken at one of the many Mormon chapels. Thank you Awkward Family Photos for making life interesting. Click here to enjoy!

Thank you all for such a wonderful Christmas and New Year holiday. We love all of you and appreciate you travelling home during this special time of year.