Christmas Letter

Gunnell Christmas Letter 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! We sincerely hope all of you have had a lucky and blessed year as we have. We feel very fortunate for all of our blessings. Many wonderful things have happened and we are excited to share them with all of our dear friends and family. Our most precious gift this year was given to us September 6, when we received another sweet, healthy little girl to add to our female dominating family. We named her Elise Leann and she is such a fun addition to our family.
Yes we are still in El Paso, TX and it grows on us more and more each day. Dean thinks we will be lifers here, I’m still not so sure. We went on a few vacations this year and really enjoyed our time together. In March, Dean and I enjoyed our six year anniversary celebration in Santa Fe, New Mexico with my sister Kaycee and her husband RJ. We had a truly relaxing time. In May, we went to Las Vegas; Nevada paid for by Dean’s work and enjoyed our time there with Dean’s twin David and his wife Katie. We enjoyed soaking in the rays at the pool. In July, our family went to California for vacation and to visit our very much missed family. We had fun at the beach, shopping and hanging out with both of our families. We were also able catch Dean’s ten-year High School Reunion. In Mid-August, Dean made a trip to Monte Carlo, France for his work and we were unable to go due to the fact that I was 37 weeks pregnant. In November, we made the trek back to California to bless Elise during the Thanksgiving week-end; it was nice to have almost all of our immediate family there.
Dean is still working at ADP as a Sales Manager and really enjoys his work. He has traveled a lot this year, visiting states east of the Rockies. On his travels, he visited Minnesota, his sister Julie and her family live there and he was able to spend a couple of memory making weekends with them. I still keep him busy remodeling the house and we both can’t wait for it to be done. Dean also still enjoys working with the 16/17 year old Young Men in the Priest Quorum at church. Dean also participated in few softball leagues this year, of course.
I have enjoyed staying home with my two fun girls; they bring so much joy to my life. I keep busy doing mommy stuff and love almost every minute of it. I’m still working on the house and we are happy to have got a lot done this year. I also enjoy working with the children in primary at church.
Melia, 3 in March constantly keeps us laughing with her enthusiasm and zest for life. When coming upon new things we often here a scream followed by “Oh my goodness!!” Upon seeing a mummy statue this year during Halloween she told me as we walked by, “Shhhhh mommy, he’s praying.” She loves to swim in her pool, dress-up and be mommy to her little sister and dolls. We are so glad she’s ours.
Elise, 3 months likes to eat and coo. We can already tell she is a sweetheart and absolutely cannot stop kissing her cheeks and other chubby places.
We would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and are blessed to have all of you a part of our lives.

Love,
Dean, Pennie, Melia and Elise Gunnell