The Glorious Chaos!!

Oh, we had so much fun at Christmas!

Papa reading "Seven" to Ciara


"Ummmmmm, Zane, I think that was supposed to be for Dalin."



Is this the cutest little angel??

Family fun

Dalin taking my picture with his new camera.

Happy little face!

I love the excitement! Can't you just feel it??

I think Jasi liked this one!!

These pictures are out of order but I couldn't get them rearranged - this was the big entrance!

Patiently waiting to go upstairs to see if Santa came.

Dalin and Amber were waiting too!

Thank you Zane and Amber for coming and joining us this year!

Thanks to ALL our family for their kindness and love and support!! We love you all!!!!

Christmas Fun

This Christmas Amber and Zane their little ones got to come to Montana. We had lots of fun with each other doing crafts, playing games, reading the Christmas story in the Bible and of course opening presents.

We made Rice Crispy Treat sculptures - this is Jasi's bunny


Jace, the eating machine was waiting patiently to "try out" the sculptures!


We even did some painting


Picaso Dalin painted a little bit of everything :-)

Flying High!

Our newest family member, Nikkie, was successful in her bid to make the Help Flight Team for St. Vincent's Hospital. We are soooo proud of her!! Dalin was waaaaay excited to go see her "honk-a-copter"!!

Amber and Nikkie


Dalin - in heaven


He smiled the whole time!

Christmas Concert

Jasmine had her annual Christmas Concert. She looked beautiful as you can see! The 4th grade class always gets to play their recorders. It was so fun and they did a fantastic job!




Waiting to perform!

10 Years Old!

My Doodlebug turned 10 on December 1st. My how time flies!! I love you Jasi!!

Announcements

As I was looking again at this recent picture of Amber and Zane and three of my angels, I began thinking about how the "announcements" of life are our mile markers. I was thinking about both Matt and Amber's engagement announcements and what wonderful people they both found. I was thinking about how they each have grown with their sweethearts. I was thinking about each of my angels and how excited I was at the announcement of each of their forthcoming arrivals. I love my family. I live for them and would give that same life for them. I am truly blessed.

Pumpkin Fun with Jasmine!

Jasmine and Chantile had a fun pumpkin adventure on Thursday thanks to gorgeous weather and no school! Here are some pictures Chantile sent me from their outing. Looks like they had a great time! (Ciara - Jasmine said today made her think of all the fun we have had on Halloween together and that she sure misses you!!)

What a cute scare crow!


Jasmine picked out a pumpkin for Papa and I as well. THANK YOU JASI!! We are going to carve them next Friday. I'll post pictures of that too!!



Just hangin' around

Jasi being ....... Jasi (I love that girl)

To the Bat cave!

Things That Make You go Hmmmmmmm

"Now why would you ask me if our water is OK?" Phhhhh ... ".....silly question....."

2nd Annual Piano Recital

Jasmine is in her second year of piano lessons and Chantile and I went to her 2nd recital tonight. She really is improving and it was oh so fun to hear her play. She is getting so grown up!! Love you, Doodlebug!!





So grown up!



My beautiful girls!!

Christmas long past

I found this little note while packing that my younger sister left for me many years ago and just had to share it. Jenny would have been only 10 years old and I was 14. This was 36 Christmases ago. (Christmases?? Is that even a real word??...and quit that adding in your head...quit it!) Jenny is the sunshine in our family. She always kept us laughing as she still does today. Jen, I love you!!

Hmmmmph

Last Saturday we had a garage sale. It went really well and Chantile and Jasmine came over to help George and me. Windall was a "BIG" help too. I think her expression says it all, but just in case you need an interpretation............

"Hmmmph...what in the world does she think she's doing making me sit here in this silly basket....like I'm supposed to be all cute and everything.... I mean really ..... doesn't she know I could hunt her down in like ....seconds .............. this is humiliating...I hope the neighbor cat doesn't see.....I'll never live this one down........."

Life is Always Changing!

There are two things we can always count on in this life, Our Heavenly Father/ the gospel and CHANGE! Because of one of those, I have been closely in touch with the other. George and I have made the decision to move to Williston, North Dakota. George accepted a contract to work as a project manager for a development there for a modular home company. There are 104 lots so we expect that to be about a two year gig. After that??? Who knows!! We would love to be able to come back to Billings if the market here is moving again by that time. We consider ourselves so blessed to have our prayers answered with this work. Leaving is going to be extremely hard, but I know Heavenly Father will help take care of my family that I have to leave. My family is everything to me and being away from them is probably the hardest thing anyone could ask of me. But I know what happens when we are obedient and I know the Lord is directing us to Williston. So while I still pang for my family , the peace is greater still . I will send pictures when I can...Its going to be a fun adventure. Housing is incredibly tight in Williston, so the company we are working with arranged for a single wide for us and it was set yesterday on a lot in the sub division George will be working in. We are the first ones in the neighbor hood. (Well, there is another single wide right next door that was also set for one of the salesmen) But its in a great big open field. Kinda has that Iowa-out-in-the-middle-of-no-where look. OOOOOOOoooooo maybe we will see some UFO's! Hopefully there will be no abductions involved though. HAHAHAHA Love you all!!!!

Spoiler Alert - Pictures of a RAT! hahaha

Jasmine is in 4H and she is doing a display in the county fair with Patrick, her rat. He really is a unique and unusual rat. He has such a cute personality and he and Jasmine are quite the buds!! They came over for a photo shoot so Jasmine could put some pictures together for her display. Thought I would share a couple - they came out really cute.

Best Friends


Patrick's Halloween costume - he's a musketeer.


Ready for some fun in the sun!



Is this hilarious or what?

Good luck Jasmine at the fair!! I love you!!!

Oh, and keep scrolling and reading...I put up several posts..catching up on all the summer fun so far....

Serious Protection!

On Sunday July 11, Tabby, Joe, Griffin, and LJ came over for family night. After dinner we had a short Family Home Evening lesson on the Armor of God. Griffin was our model and put on the armor as we read the scriptures explaining it. He had a great time being a warrior for Heavenly Father. It was a really fun evening.

Mom and Dad Fuqua Visit

June was a great month. Not only did we have a surprise visit from Amber and Zane, Mom and Dad got to come as well! Ingrid came with them and we all had a fabulous time with plenty of laughter and fun. It was so great to see them all again. I love you, Mom and Dad and Aunt Ingrid!!

No, I didn't make them sleep in a teepee...hahaha..this was at the Trading Post at Custer's Battlefield. George had just finished doing a remodel and expansion for them so we all went to Crow and take a look. It was a fun drive.


We celebrated Father's Day (late) and Dad's birthday (again, late) while he was here.


Jasmine made the cakes for the celebration...she just might have a career starting!! :-D

A Special Surprise Visit

In the middle of June I got a most welcomed and unexpected phone call. It was Amber saying they were coming for a short visit and would be there the next night. WHAT A THRILL!! It was the longest few hours waiting for their arrival even though I was busy getting everything ready. It was so awesome to see them and feel my sweet babies in my arms!


My Jellybean smiling at his mom...oh how he loves his mom!


Papa and Dalin looking at a picture of Captain Moroni



Ciara showing off her missing teeth...just the right space for a straw she tells me!


A proud daddy and three incredibly beautiful kids!!



Jellybean is such a happy baby...but who wouldn't be when you are as loved as he is.

Baby Fox

On our way home tonight George spotted some baby fox by the road. There were actually three, but one was too shy to come out to have his pictures taken. They sure are cute!

Temple Square

The beauty and power of Temple Square has never faded. We went on Saturday and spent pretty much the whole day there. There were many people there from lots of families celebrating weddings - there was a steady stream of newly weds coming from the temple and taking pictures - to NYS (Not-Yet-Saints) coming to see the beauty and majesty of that building and soak in the Spirit that is there on those sacred grounds. It was wonderful. We went through the church museum and both visitor centers. Here are just a few of the pictures we took.

Nikkie, Zane, Dalin, Amber, Jace, Jared, and Ciara all standing next to the entrance into the Temple


This little nook is on the west side of the temple and is a favorite picture taking spot for newly weds - Amber and Zane wanted one there...what makes it priceless for me is little Dalin peeking up at Mom and Dad!!



Dalin making the great escape (really he just wanted to slide down the granite....he found out it looks smoother than it is )

You can see the blue sky - it was a perfect day.

Dalin peeking out from the podium...future general authority??? Who knows!!!

As always the grounds were breathtaking!

Together forever

Simply amazing

The whole troop...except for Jared who is taking the picture...he was a life-safer that day chasing after the kids...well...ok...mainly Dalin...hahahaha