Happy New Year!

The Winns had a wonderful end to 2008, traveling to Delaware to spend nearly two weeks with Jarom’s extended family. All of his siblings were in town for Christmas and a baby blessing and the wedding of Jolene and Rob. 6 down, 1 to go. I’m pulling for you Kristi! They spent their days lounging around the house, playing games, seeing movies, having family meetings, and eating. Oh, the eating. The house was populated with 4 pregnant women, Nate and Jesse. It’s a good thing that Nancy’s pantry holds enough food for a zoo. Jarom also came to realize the wisdom in the Lord’s plan of marriage before having kids. If a boy doesn’t really love a girl, and have a legally binding contract to remain with that person, the craziness that pregnancy brings would surely drive him away. It seems as though each week Alixa demonstrates a new symptom of pregnancy that brings joy to his life.

Jarom and the former Jolene Winn

Jarom and the former Alixa Hegewald

But he can put up with the crazy because it never ceases to amuse him. This was especially evident in Delaware with other pregos around. Alixa has grown quite proud of the fact that she has still not vomited as a result of her morning sickness. She credits her amazing psychological strength for this accomplishment. Unfortunately, some of the other women in the Winn clan are of a weaker mind, and have given in to the urge to purge, as it were. This led to some wonderful confrontations between the womenfolk, arguing about who is the sickest and/or most mentally feeble.

Psychologically speaking, the strongest woman I know

Christmas brought baby blankets and overalls and books. I also got a present from Bruce and Nancy – I am going to be published! They offered to pay for a book version of my writings for the year to use as the beginning of a family history. I am very excited for that. Sadly, as all vacations do, this one ended and Jarom and Lix had to come back home to take care of me and return to work and school.

Chewie and Adri, and the door that will lead to his freedom

This week, Alixa went in and got approved for WIC, which is a government program that buys food for poor people who are pregnant or have just had a baby. We fit that demographic, and were able to go to Walmart and get milk, eggs, cereal, juice, cheese, and peanut butter for free! Alixa doesn’t feel bad because she plans to pay the government back over the next 50 years.

We also got our first unplanned missionary visit this week. Jarom and Lix were watching TV when the doorbell rang, which never happens. They opened it up and listened to the missionary’s introduction, trying not to laugh. They invited them in, listened to a spiritual thought, and gave them some peanut M&Ms for the road. It was fun.



The 42” plasma that has been sitting in the living room for the past month has finally been set up. Turns out that the mounting system needed metric screws. Stupid inches. But it is great, and I am glad that Jarom did it in time for the end of the bowl season and the start of the NFL playoffs.

Bruce, modeling the sweatshirt that he got for winning the fantasy football league this year

Last year Jarom set a goal to lose 5 pounds, from 195 to 190. Instead he gained 5 pounds. So he is giving up on resolutions entirely. Hopefully you all have better luck/success with your goals this year.