Hey Everybody!
I just wanted to officially thank everyone for all our gifts, cards and thoughts during the holiday season. We both miss you all so much. The holidays just aren't the same without family around, but we made the most of our Christmas together.

Aunt Donna, I have to tell you that Richard and I got our DVD tonight, and let me tell you, we both really needed that. Richard said, "It was the coolest!" We laughed so hard!! It was so creative and so well put together. You have to tell all the kids how much we enjoyed it and how good it was to see all of them. You truely have a beautiful family. Oh, and tell Nana she's been holding back on me. I never knew she could shake it like that! Anyway, I just wanted you and your family to know how much it lifted our spirits and gave a sense of home during the holidays!

Well, I guess that's all I can think to say right now. We love you all so much and are praying that each of you have a wonderful New Year. Please keep Richard in your prays as he is preparing to leave for his 6 month deployment on January 9th. I'll try to keep everyone informed about where he is and what he's doing as I find out. I hope to hear from all of you, too.

Love,
Richard and Mandy

This is to, Gina!

Gina, you are my sister and I love you. But you are killing me by making me wait to read the next 2 Twilight books. I'm dieing to know what happens next. Everytime I go to Target or Wal-Mart I see them. I have to make myself walk away. I'm so ready for Christmas to get here so I can finally know what happens next. I want you to know you're torturing me. You got me sucked into these books and now you're making me wait to read them. Why not send them to me now!?! I mean, I already know what my Christmas gift is. So what would it matter....right? No, I'm just kidding! I guess I can be patient and wait. But just know....you stink!

I love you!

Mandy

I hope the craziness is over!

Hey Everyone,
I'm sorry I haven't been around to write or comment or anything. The past 3 weeks have been one big rollercoaster. My grandfather (Papa) pasted away. I got to see him one more time to say my goodbyes, so that made it easier. Then my dad had surgery on his right knee. He had an ACL replacement and they shaved off some torn tissue. Anyway, he's doing fine. Needless to say, he loved having his daughter home to take care of him and keep him company! I took him to physical therapy and doctor appointment. He was a pretty tough patient, though. He was so determined to get back to work it was hard to make him sit down and rest and let us do a few things for him. He loved it when the doctor told him that he was a better patient than his young teenaged atheletes!! He also loved rubbing it in our faces when the doctor told him he could go back to work in 4 weeks. we all thought it would be 6 weeks at least. Anyway, I'm proud of him for doing well and I'm thankful God allowed everything to go smoothly. You'd think after all that we would b done with all the craziness, but no. Scott my nephew was bitten by his dog on his face. He's fine. He only had 2 small puncture wounds and he didn't even get stitches.

So, now I'm back home along with my husband and I'm so excited to be back in my house in San Diego. I think Richard and I both are going to miss living here. we are always going to have fond memories.

By the way, I read everyones comments today for the first time! I hate I didn't get to join in on the conversation, Girls, but it sure gave me a laugh today! And amongest all the craziness I needed it!! I'm sure you will be exstatic to know that I have read Twilight. I bought it when I was back home (in Alabama) to give me something to read on the plane. Well, I had it finished before I got to take it on the plane. I couldn't put it down! So, I had to go buy the 2nd book so I would have it to read on the plane. Plus, I had to know what was going to happen next. I haven't got to read too much of it yet, though. I've been pretty busy this weekend with Richard being home. But I can't wait to drag my husband off one evening to see the movie! I hope it's as good as the book, but I think that's going to be hard to pull off!! I can't believe I'm so sucked into these books.....and I can't believe I'm in love with a vampire!!! LOL!!!

Well, I got to go. Maybe one day I'll be online and get to join in on one of those blogging frenzies!! Oh, and don't worry I don't plan on deleting any of my comments. Gina....it's on! LOL!! I love you all so much and miss you all. Tell Nana not to worry about us....we're fine. Let her know we love her and are thinking of her always. You are all in my prayers. Talk t you again soon.....hopefully!

Really bored!

Well, Richard left to go on a 10 day underway today. Yuck! I'm so bored. I'm just lying on the couch watching Friends. I love this show! Anyway, not too much has been going on here. Hope all is well with you all. I love and miss you all. Well, I'm going to go find something to do. Pray that this undeway will go by fast for the both of us.

Love,
The Carlson's

Hey Family and Friends!

Hey Everyone!
Well, we finally did it. We finally got a blog page. I know alot of you have been asking us for a while now to get one. I'm sorry for taking so long. I have to warn you that I'm not the best at keeping up with things like this, but I promise to try my best. I'll also try to get Richard to write a few blogs now and then but I'm not promising anything!

Not much has been going on here lately. Richard's out on an underway right now and won't be home until Friday afternoon sometime. For those of you that don't know what an underway is.... it's when his ship pulls out in the ocean and they do drills, fire off ammunition and basically keep them prepared for deployments. This house is so quiet when he's gone and it just makes me miss him even more. But I have been trying to keep myself busy since he's been gone to make the days go by faster. Yesterday my girlfriend (Heather) and I went to get our nails done. It was so relaxing and really cheap! It was only $30 for a manicure and pedicure. Richard is always telling me that I should treat myself every once in a while and I think I'm going to start taking him up on it. Besides, I don't know any girl that doesn't love getting pampered. I do need you all to pray for me, though. I'm letting Richard highlight my hair this weekend. I can't believe he wants to do it for me. But I got to tell you, he may be making a mistake because if he does a good job he may end up becoming my new hairstylist! LOL! Anyway, just pray it turns out okay.

I do have one question for everyone....Are you ready for some football!?! Richard and I have been really excited that football season has started. One of our favorite past times is watching sports together. Right now both of our favorite college football teams are doing very well....University of Alabama and BYU!! They are both 3 - 0 and hopefully this Saturday will both be 4- 0. Roll Tide Roll and Go BYU!!!

Well, I hope to hear back from all of you. I'm really excited about having a blog page now and hope that this will help us to keep in touch. We love and miss you all! Hope you all have a great week and a great weekend!!

I love these pictures! These are 2 pics we took when T.J. and Charlotte came to visit us this summer.