Thanksgiving in New Mexico

We traveled to New Mexico for 2 weeks this November, for a support trip and to see friends and family.

Our family (minus me-Ellie) in Old Town Albuquerque.

Clara and I made a chocolate chip chiffon cake with Uncle Mark over the weekend for Amy's birthday the next Monday.

On November 22, Amy turned 21 and she was able to fly out to be with us in New Mexico for her birthday.

Clara and I had fun playing with my cousin Asher.

We got to go up to Santa Fe, and see where my grandpa, John James Michovicz, is buried. It was pretty cold and windy outside.

Walking around downtown Santa Fe was fun.

Thanksgiving always involves lots of family, which means a need for lots of plates.

We also enjoyed very big plates of lovely delicious food. A big Michnovicz thanksgiving is always something we really enjoy. And the Canasta afterwards too.

School and Birthdays

Since school has started we are very busy with getting our assignments done for ECC classes (Ellie with Physics, Clara with Biology and Spanish, Mom teaching Economics and Quilting.) 

But here is a quote from doing Algebra this spring - Mom said it to me (Ellie) while she was helping me with Algebra: "You need to challenge your brain. It will become mush if you do not use it."

September 28th (this Tuesday!) is Dad's birthday.  This Saturday we had dinner with our friends the Braleys, and celebrated Dad's birthday, and on Sunday (today)  we ate delicious barbecue ribs for his birthday. Later this evening some friends brought us a lemon cheesecake pie as a surprise! which was very nice, and we sort of had it as for Dad's birthday also.

Also Melissa came home to visit from DBU, where she is going to school.  She brought some of her friends too, and it was nice to meet them. 

On Friday night I (Ellie) babysat the Fletcher kids with three of my friends, Emily, Jenny, and Sharlena.  Maybe the more babysitters you have, the more fun you have, because we sure had a great time!

On Thursday we went to a birthday celebration for Uncle Kevin with his family and some other friends.

Group Picture from India

Ellie and Clara had an AMAZING time in India.  Here they are with the group (15 people in all) at the gates to the President's Palace in Delhi.

India!

Ellie and Clara will be heading to India in four days, from July 17 to 31. Please keep them and the whole team (15 people in all) in your prayers! 

June

Daddy at dinner on Father's Day
Amy came home Father's Day weekend and Ellie and Clara had a nice treat at a frozen yogurt shop with her.
Ellie has a job as a swim instructor at the city pool, except this two weeks she's doing morning check-in instead of teaching kids.
The group of us who helped at the carwash
We did a car wash at Chick-fil-A to raise money for the India trip.


After the carwash Ellie and Clara and some other girls swam for a while at friend's pool

Mom and Dad's 25th Anniversary!

Dad surprised Mom with roses when we came in to GFA! [June 1]
Mom and Auntie Diane. My sisters and I had a surprise anniversary party (with the Powells) for Mom and Dad on Saturday night.
Ellie and Sharlena licking the beater from making whipped cream! We had build-your-own ice cream sundaes with strawberries, nuts, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream.
Our family, the Powells, and interns/students Meghan and Reuben

And recently: we went to a frozen yogurt place [My Cherryo] on Sunday and Dad tried this Pandan Grass flavor.

Melissa's Graduation!

This Saturday Melissa graduated from high school!  It's very exciting and we're so proud of her, but we will miss her when she goes to off to college at Dallas Baptist University!  Here are some photos.

Melissa and Ellie

Melissa with some other graduates on the stage

Melissa with Dad and Mom right after she received her diploma!

A picture of our family

Some pictures of the party the day after:

Melissa and a friend, Rachael, made cupcakes that were beautiful and delicious.

Melissa with friends: Christina and Darlene

Paper lanterns on the porch outside

Some guy friends having fun with music and fedoras

Walk with Sisters

Yesterday Melissa, Ellie, and Clara went on a walk.  We found a grassy shady place and took lots of pictures.

Clara and her cute panda shirt

Ellie

Melissa

Clara in the tree

Ellie leaping across the stream

Clara riding Melissa piggy back.

This is a video of Melissa and Ellie doing the dance from the King and I dance.

This weekend Melissa and Ellie went to a friends birthday party. We brought Mema's square dance dresses, and some of the girls wore them. We learned The King and I dance, and also did some square dancing (hence the dresses.) It was very fun.

Spring at the Arboretum With Friends

Ellie went to the Dallas Arboretum this weekend with some friends.  They had fun walking around, taking pictures of things and enjoying the beautiful outdoors.

Jenny, Ellie, Emily, and Sharlena

Mom's Birthday

Today we celebrated Mom's birthday.  We had quiche and coffeecake for breakfast, and then went to church.  Then we had lunch with Butch and Mary Lou Cope.  Also, Amy came home again this weekend for the Dallas Acquire the Fire, so we got to see her again.  

About to blow out the candles

Mom and Dad with friends Butch and Mary Lou Cope

Amy and Mom

Easter Weekend

Amy came home on Thursday and was able to spend Easter with us.  On Friday we went to see The Blind Side, and had dinner at El Fenix, and went to a bookstore in Denton.  On Saturday, Ellie and Clara went with Amy to help a friend with her carwash.  On Sunday we made food, and went to church, and finished the food, and ate the food. 

At the bookstore in Denton.

Amy is the hose master.

Amy holding a sign.

Ellie, Clara, and Amy after the carwash on the way home.

Easter family picture

This is Lloyd the Turkey.  It's become a tradition now, to brine our turkeys in apple cider and to name them.

A plate of delicious food

The apple pie that Ellie made