Singing Sensation!

On Tuesday, 12.16.08, Jasmine had her annual Christmas Concert at school. She attends the Park City Schools which is a very small district. In fact, Kindergarten through 12th grade is all in one building complex. There are advantages and disadvantages with such a small town and school, but one great thing is the parent support! There is always a big crowd - standing room only - for any event the kids are having. I love that about Park City! Jasmine did a wonderful job singing and looked so beautiful!! I love you, Jasmine!!


A very proud Mom waiting to see her little star!


My beautiful Jasmine!


Oh how she loves to perform!!

One of Life's Milestones!

Well, It's been a whole year! Dalin had his FIRST BIRTHDAY yesterday (12.10.08). We had a fun party at Amber and Zane's house - enjoy the pictures!!





(Dalin opened some Christmas gifts early at Grandma Kotter's house and got into a little trouble)










Dalin got Ciara a gift too - a microphone - he's a class act!

Dalin obviously needed a bath after the cake .........

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, I LOVE YOU, Dalin!!!

Love, Grandma Julie

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!