Christmas Tree Quest.....

Hunting season isn't quit over! On Monday 12.8.08 Papa, Grandma Julie, Matt, Chantile, Jasmine, and of course Cody went on a Christmas Tree Quest. This is our fourth year to get a tree permit and go and cut down a tree. We always go to Red Lodge. We usually end up in the Greenough Lake area. This year the snow wasn't quite so deep and made trekking around for a tree a little easier. It was snowing off and on that day so the skies were quite interesting looking AND we saw a bull moose and three cows right off the road - really close!! It was a great afternoon!



Following in Papa's footsteps..


"Come on you guys!! I just found the perfect tree... don't worry..I peed on it so no one else will take it .. it's right up here!"


The mighty tree huntress!


Ahhhh....those happy smiles mean success!



Mountain Man Matt



Isn't this a cool shot?? It looks awesome on my computer! I just LOVE our camera!!



I love this shot - is it a mountain range or the sea floor????
Things that make you go hmmmmm...........



The mountains were stunning that day........


So was the moon!!



Can you spot the moose??? There's 2 !!

Poor guy...he only had one paddle....

But he still had three cows with him..here's one of them

Cookie Epiphany!

Today I was baking cookies to take to the sisters I Visit Teach and I had an epiphany! Don't you just hate how the idea of baking cookies sounds good until that 4th or 5th pan goes in the oven and you're thinking - man, aren't we done with these yet??? Well, how's this for an idea - I put a sheet of tin foil on the cookie sheet and loaded the dough. Then, while that first batch was in the oven I tore off several sheets of tin foil (one at a time) the length of the cookie pan and laid them on the counter and put the dough on the foil like I would have done on the pan until all the dough was used up. (I had like 5 sheet of foil with cookie dough balls on them. About that time the first pan full was done so I took it out of the oven and slid the foil off the pan - cookies and all - onto the counter. Then slid the pan under the next sheet of cookie dough balls and threw it in the oven. All I had to do was to keep sliding the cooked ones off and the raw ones on! No fuss trying to find something to put the hot cookies on to cool and YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO WASH THE PAN! Just throw the foil away when the cookies are cooled. No mess on the counter either. Yep, I'm feeling rather "Martha Stewart-ey" right about now. In fact, some cookies are baking as I type! Mmmmmmm they smell good!

(Lots of pictures to follow - keep scrolling down!)

Birthday Bash at Fuddruckers

On Monday, December 1st, we all went to Fuddrucker's for dinner and had a birthday bash! We were honoring Matt (his birthday was 11/13/08), Zane (12/1/08), Jasmine (12/1/08), and Griffin (12/4/08), and Dalin (12/10/08)! Five birthdays in a short period!! It was great fun for all!!



The evening started with Jasmine and I having a date at Build-a-Bear. We stopped by to see Ciara on our way to the restaurant. I love my girls!!



"Cheeeeeeeeeeeeese"



Everyone at the restaurant


Dalin opening his gift from Matt and Chantile - oooooooo



Jasmine showing off a gift from Amber and Zane - SPA stuff!!




OH NO --- THE BIG 3 0 !!!!



Ciara wrote this all by herself! She's only 4. I couldn't feed myself when I was 4!



Griffin opening his gifts from Papa and Grandma Julie - yep, you guessed it - CARS!!!



Shhhhhhhhhhh - don't tell mom I'm drinking Dad's root beer!




Belated Birthday Boy Matt and his sweetheart!


"Here, Jasmine, let me help you. I'll clean off this cake topper for you!"


P.S. - Keep on scrolling down - the Thanksgiving pictures are next!!

Thanksgiving 2008

For Thanksgiving we went to see Nate and Heather in Idaho Falls. LJ rode with us and Joe, Tabby and Griffin came the next day. We all had a great time and Heather prepared a delicious dinner for everyone!! The only negative was that it was too short!



Nate and Heather were wonderful hosts!




Tabby and Joe arrived Thursday afternoon - just in time!



Little Griffin was ready to get out and move!




Nate helped carry in all the bags -
training for when little Ella comes!

The kitchen was the happenin' place - isn't that always the case?!




TURKEY COMMA!

Joe and Griffin playing together - Gigga boy is in the background -

(George and Nate were the Gigga Twins with their "Crackberrys")

Oh, the magic of Christmas! Who better to bring it to life

than a two year old!!!

Griffin got an early birthday gift from

Nate and Heather - His special day is

the same as mom's - December 4th! He

LOVED his cars - I didn't get a shot of

his face when he saw the cars in the package,

needless to say it lit up like the Christmas

tree he was admiring!

Getting ready for "Black Friday!"

Well, Christmas is just around the corner and will be here in a flash. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Sure grateful Dad got to get out of the hospital by then. I love you Mom and Dad!

Lunch With Jasine

On Friday, November 21st, Jasmine's school had their annual Thanksgiving Dinner for students and family. Matt and I were able to attend. (Thanks to Chantile! Thank you Chantile!!) We had a great time together. It's always so fun to see Jasmine floating on air when she gets excited. She was so thrilled to have us there with her - isn't youth wonderful??!!

Waiting in line for a yummy lunch! Hey, who's the tall kid!

And where's the basketball coach, he's gotta see this!

Jasmine and Matt enjoying lunch together...

Check out this happy face!! Not your typical lunch lady! The

kids just love Chantile - it isn't hard to see why!!

Kill da wabbit....

Couldn't resist putting this picture up - LJ was only about 13
or 14. We were on our favorite "varmint" run and LJ spotted
this rock chuck - good eyes, huh?!



Geoff Lees, LJ, George, and Curt Rawson
The "Mighty Hunters" left on Wednesday the 12th of November and hunted until Friday night. Not much luck though - not this time anyway!! Geoff did get a young buck - pretty small but probably good eating. There's always next week......the last week.......


Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!!

My Heavenly Father Loves Me

I know my Heavenly father loves me and if I am watchful, I see that love clearly everyday. Yesterday was no exception. I have had a difficult time sleeping because of a six day run of migraines - yea. I had committed to babysit for Amber on Wednesday but was feeling pretty yucky so I changed it to Thursday. The commitments I make to other people to do things are very important to me. Amber offered to find someone else, but I love seeing the kids and every mom knows how easy it is to find a babysitter last minute. Wednesday night was another sleepless night - well, does 3 hours count? But at least I didn't have a migraine - YAHOO!! As the sun began to rise I figured I would quit torturing myself and get out of bed. I knelt down for my morning prayers and pleaded with Heavenly Father to give me energy and strength and to help the kids to understand that Grandma wasn't at her top form. Oh, how my prayers were answered. The kids were great. Dalin didn't make a peep when I layed him down for his two naps and slept a little longer than he usually does. Ciara was content to draw and play quiet games with me. Dalin had a new "trick" and knows to fold his little arms when we say prayer. He just figured it out the night before, so when I sat down to feed him his breakfast and he folded his little arms, my heart melted and a powerful sense of peace spilled over me. He's only 11 months old - amazing, no?! The timing of him learning that couldn't have been more perfect, tender mercies of the Lord - they are everywhere - we have only to look! I know my Father in Heaven loves me. Nothing is too trivial for Him. When I need Him, He is there. If it is important to me, I know it is important to Him. I love my Heavenly Father!!

Magical Moments.....

Sometimes in life we are blessed to have magical moments. The nature of those moments change as we age, but they are magical none the less. Jasmine had one just a couple of days ago. "Look Grandma, I got to meet Barbie!" was all I heard as Jasmine raced off to retrieve the priced picture. Her excitement vibrated through the air as she danced around me as I inspected the picture. "Wow! Jasmine, this is so exciting!" I say breathlessly as she twirls in delight, "I know!" still dancing. It truly was a treasure for me to see her delight and drink in the the magic of the moment! Oh, how I love her spirit! I love you, Jamine!


Barbie and Jasmine!

Kicks and Giggles

Chantile sent me a whole bunch of these hilarious pictures. I laughed until my sides hurt. I picked out my favorite four. I hope they give you a good laugh too! We can all use a good laugh now again!

Keep that in mind ladies! "Better out than in, that's what I always say" ~ Shrek


Come on, admit it - someone came immediately to mind, didn't it!!

Have a great day and a good laugh !!

Happy News....

Dad had a successful surgery on his knee! Sounds like it was a real mess, but the doctor was able to do what he needed to do. (thankfully the doc worked on the correct knee!!) Now comes all the rehabilitation - not so fun, but when it heals, Dad will be glad to be able to walk with out so much pain. Ingrid went with Mom to give her some emotional support - thank you Ingrid!! I am so grateful you were there with Mom!! I love you Mom and Dad! I will call this weekend to check on you both.

I think this picture is on Amber's blog too, but I just couldn't resist putting it on mine as well - is this the cutest "little old man" you have ever seen?!?!