I'm sure you are all happily surprised that we have finally started our blog. Don't get too excited, however for this blog is no match for the creativity of Heidi's or the perfect pictures of Dan and Katie's. We do not have recipe's like Laura's or sweet ski videos like Mark Raymond's...but...on the other hand, it should make all of you real bloggers very proud of your sites so I am sure our new blogspot will be visited frequently :)
This past month has been amazing! Following are some highlights:
1. Christian passed out of biochemistry!! It is so nice to be married to such an intelligent husband! Due to his hard work and bright mind, Christian was able to test out of a five and a half credit class, which not only lightens his incredibly heavy load this first semester of dental school, but also lets us leave for Christmas vacation an entire week early! Wohoo!! We are looking forward to spending time with the family come Christmas!!
2. Grandpa John and Aunt Tenille came out to visit before the little guy was to be born! It was so much fun to see them! We walked all around the Alamo and on the River Walk which actually started Shannon's labor, for which she was very grateful!! Tenille had fun making faces in all of the pictures and looking for Texas A and M paraphernalia for Zach. The best was this T-shirt which had three fish, the smallest of which being Texas A and M which was being eaten alive! I told her she should get it but she was afraid Zach would just burn it...oh well!
3. We had a baby boy!! Tyson James Francis was born on August 13th which we hear is a lucky day since his uncle Matt was also born on a 13th....and we really like him. We are hoping Tyson will pick up on some of his luckiness due to his birthday falling on a Friday every now and again!!
4. Granny Jo (Grandma Tengelsen) came out to help with the post-delivery days. I am so grateful she was here! I don't think I would have made it through that first night home from the hospital had she not been there with her support, wisdom, love, and service. I am so grateful to you Mom!! Thank you!! While she was here she stocked our freezer and fridge with delicious food and also got us a breast pump so Tyson could have his share of dinners in the freezer as well :) We are so grateful for all that she did while she was here!! (We have pictures on Christian's computer so there are none here for you to see...but she is very beautiful and we are grateful she came!!)
5. Aunt Laurs came to visit San Antonio...but really she mostly hung out with us (which we really liked!) If Tyson is strangely attached to his great aunt Laurie at all of the future family reunions, I think we will know why! I have never seen anyone want to hold the baby so much. She stayed up during the long hours of the night playing "wheels on the bus" and telling Tyson all of her secrets (which hopefully won't come back to bite!) We really appreciated her service and company. The trip was really much too short.
6. Grandma Sandra (Grandma Francis) came out for ten days!! We were so excited to have her come! She worked day and night sawing small pieces of wood to finish our wood floor, painting the base boards, caulking our tubs, putting in new shower heads and a peep hole in the front door, ironing curtains, decorating our house, and altogether working much much too hard. We were tempted to stop the airplane so that she could stay with us longer, but Wilbur probably would have thrown a fit, so we let her go home. While she was here she had her birthday. We are so grateful she was born!!
7. Tyson was blessed!! On September 6th, Uncle Jake, Aunt Tenille and Granny Jo came and visited us in preparation for Tyson's baby blessing in church the next day. We spent that Saturday up at the River Walk in downtown San Antonio. It was so great to see everyone! Tyson looked very handsome in his outfit picked out just for him by Granny Jo and Eliza. Christian was a bit nervous about the blessing but it went perfectly. We are so grateful for the priesthood power and know that it is real. We feel so blessed to have the truth and know of God's love for us in this life.
