Pictures of Jake for Christmas...

Snowed In!

Yes, we spent Christmas snowed in...but finally the wind quit and Brent spent 4 hours on the snow blower digging us out! This morning, the sun came up and the valley was just beautiful with all the snow! These are our little candy canes out front...they almost got buried in the drifts!

Just to get to our front door, we had to dig out a foot or two!

I'm kinda worried how well the deck will hold up if we don't dig it out soon!

Phone Call!

We were able to call Jacob for 30 minutes today! It was actually our only Christmas present...since we are snowed in and our kids won't all be here until the weekend to open presents, so it was wonderful! He sounded very good, and happy and had a lot to tell us of the work he has been doing and people that they are working with! I have posted some pictures that we recieved by email from a wonderful couple in Belgium. They are on his blog page.

Merry Christmas!

Well, it doesn't seem like Christmas yet here...hopefully it will soon come to our house! Our presents are still under our tree unopened and waiting for everyone to come! It was a quiet morning with no little feet running around, no excited parents getting their cameras ready, or banging on our floor at 5:00 am. The wind has blown all night and we are drifted in up to our necks with the snow still flying and the windows all frosted with snow, you can't hardly even look out! But I suppose it is still Christmas Day, so Merry Christmas to you all!

Birthday Surprises!

Yes...another year older...bummer! But I just wanted to thank everyone for the wonderful birthday. I had so many phone calls, from my parents, Brent's mom, my 2 brothers, and my 2 daughters and both son-in-laws! Thanks for thinking of me and making me feel special! I also got a surprise visit from Clint and Katie along with a cake and a gift...thanks! Brent brought me roses, thanks honey! When I went to Salt Lake, Jaron and Heather and the kids surprised me with a cake, gifts and a lunch out to Cafe Rio, which was really awesome! Some good friends in the Ward brought me some great gifts and cards also, and all my YW wished me a Happy Day, so it was GOOD! Thanks everyone for making it a wonderful "old" day!

A Letter and Pictures!

Today I got my first delivered mail from Jacob since the MTC! I was way excited! Ok, so most of you have already had one, but not me. Enclosed were pictures, there were only 3, but he promised to send more next week! Just wanted to share them with you, so I put them on his blog along with a couple of parts of the letter and the things written on the pictures!

SwEet fRuiT!

Ok, so I may be the only person on the planet who has not tried these...Clementine Oranges, Mandarins from California...brand
name, Cuties. Some friends introduced them to me the other day, they are awesome! The are super easy to peel, even a four year old could peel them, and they are seedless and super, super sweet! They are my amazing find of the week, just thought I would pass that along. If you haven't tried them, you must go get some TODAY! I found them at Costco and Walmart, but the Walmart ones were better. Darker Orange, not so soft. Great source of vitamin C and the kids will think they are candy, they're that good! I think they are only around at holiday time, so check it out, YOU'LL LOVE 'EM TOO!

Moon setting

This morning I got up just in time to see the moon set...I know, weird! Most people take pictures of the sun setting, but with it being a full moon and just on the horizon, it was huge and really beautiful, so I took a couple of pictures..within minutes it was gone and light, but I thought I would share. Pictures don't do it justice however.

Cards for Jacob!

Hey everyone! This is just a reminder from me that this is the week to send your Christmas Cards to Jacob! He needs our support and lately he hasn't even been recieving all of his email, so I know that he needs you all to write him via US Mail!! 94 cents, unless it is heavier than a regular letter. PLEASE try to make this a priority this week so that he will have letters and cards from home in time for Christmas! I sent a package last week, and hopefully that will reach him...Now it's your turn, don't let him down, K? His address is on his blog...cards and letters can be sent to Charleroi, if you send a package, it has to go to
the mission office address. Thanks!

Home again, home again...

Yes, we are back home now from our week long visit with Trisha and Danny! We had a great time and Trisha made us a very yummy and delicious Thanksgiving Feast! The turkey was done to perfection...the stuffing was awesome, with a little sausage in it for me...yay! The pies were the best (at least one of MY favorites) and even the yam casserole was truly awesome...(yes Dad, I ate it and liked it, I even had seconds!) The kids were so much fun! We miss being around them on a day to day basis and a week just doesn't seem like long enough to eat up all the fun stuff there is to do with them. Ali is a sweetheart and let Grandpa trick her first tooth out while he was there...she loved the cherry pie, and she loved my lemon meringue pie too!


Grant is a wild and happy little guy. He is walking and crawling... mostly prefers to crawl and not take the extra time or risk to walk, but he CAN walk...and if you give him a laundry basket...boy can he move! He loved Grandpa, and I'm pretty sure he liked me...but he liked to tease me alot with the head shaking when I wanted to squeeze him! All in all, it was a fun week, fun times, crazy shopping, good movies and great food! Thanks guys!

Happy Birthday Carter!

Carter will turn 6 years old on Sunday...the 23rd. We are excited to come down and see him in a couple of days, Happy Birthday Car-Car! We love you!

Ice Cream...

So tonight we had a little Ward Activity and our good friend Dave Wheat came and made his famous home-made ice cream for us.  I have had it before, at Girl's Camp...so I was excited for Brent to try it.  I have raved about it to some of you...it seriously is the best home-made ice cream I've ever had...actually, the best ice cream I've ever had!  So Bro. Wheat was kind enough to pass his recipe along to me and said I could share it with you...make some up for your Thanksgiving pies, it'll be scrupdilyisious!

3 cups of Milk

1 and 3/4 cups of Sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

2 cups of Half and Half

1 Tbls. Vanilla Extract

3 cups of Whipping cream

Scald milk until bubbles form around the edge.  Remove from heat.  Add sugar and salt, stir until dissolved.  Stir in half and half, vanilla and whipping cream.  Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes...then freeze in a 4 Quart ice cream freezer!  Easy as that....but SOOOO Good!

Thanksgiving...

As Thanksgiving time approaches, these are some of the things that I am thankful for...

That I live in a free nation and have all the wonderful 

blessings of being raised in the Gospel.

For a loving husband who puts up with me and supports me.

For wonderful children (children in-law also) and grandchildren, that call me, care about me, love me and even worry about me sometimes.

For great parents that have always been the best example 

in everything they do and in how they live their lives.

For a nice home, good cars, and the means to meet our needs, pay our bills, and still have enough left over for some indulgences.

For good friends and neighbors that are caring 

and great examples to us.

For good health and a great time in life to kick back and 

relax a little...enjoy the scenery.

Thankful for the opportunity to be the mother of an awesome missionary, to serve in the Young Womens, and to have a 

testimony of a living God, Jesus Christ and a Prophet.

Thankful for the beautiful fall season we have had and the approaching holidays with the hope of fun times with our family and grandchildren...Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

Woman!

Since the last post was titled  Man... I think it only fitting that this 

one be titled  Woman!  No one really understood the last one anyway... probably like I don't understand men...but I saw this the other day about women, made me smile, so I will share it with you.  

(equality you know!)

True statements why women are superior...

We got off the Titanic first.

We can scare male bosses with mysterious gynecological excuses.

Men die earlier, so we get to cash in on the life insurance.

We don't look like a frog in a blender when we dance.

No fashion faux pas we make could ever rival the male's Speedo.

We can congratulate our teammate without patting her rear end.

We've never lusted after a cartoon character or a figure in a video game.

We will never regret piercing our ears.

We can be groupies... male groupies are just stalkers!

We don't have to pass gas to amuse ourselves.

It's possible to live our whole lives without ever taking a group shower.

We can make comments about how silly men are in their presence, because they aren't listening anyway.

Man!

Life is complicated!  We think it's easy...you know...but then 

someone shows up with a pop quiz...and you fail!

Christmas Tag...

I know, you don't do tags...well neither do I, but I am starting this one for all of you, my family, for my own purposes, of which I will not devuldge...cause I'm sure it's pretty clear.

(All of the answers below are not directed toward anyone...I was just answering the questions as if I were asked them myself.  I can't ask you to play the game unless I was willing to do the same!)

If I could have a wish for Christmas that was priceless, what would it be?

All of my family here together, in peace, no tension, no competition, just love and friendship, having a screaming good time, playing sardines, making up stupid games, running through the house, laughing, recreating the year in memory...you know, all the fun stuff we have done together!

What would I ask Santa for if money were no object?

Plastic surgery!

What are 5 things I would like for Christmas?  (I'm sure you can't see through this one!)

1.  Kisses from my grandkids - Hugs from my kids  

2.  A new body

3.  New clothes to fit that body

4.  Money

5.  Plane tickets.

What would I ask Mom and Dad to get me for Christmas?

(yeah, you got the idea....)  

Me...a fun trip to visit them in New York!  (Not for them to get me...just to have)

OK...you get the idea, I tag:  Jaron, Heather, Daniel, Trisha, Clinton, Katie, Jake, and Tanessa

(Still waiting on Jaron, Daniel, Clint & Katie, and Jake!)

A week in Florida

Hello from FLORIDA!!  Things are good here.  I have mainly been spending time with Tanessa and Addi.  It was fun to be here for her Birthday and get to see her open her presents and blow out the candles on her cake.  She had a little party at the park.  It was pretty chilly that day...we had to stay out in the sunshine to keep warm, but she had fun.

We also had a fun night on Saturday, when we went to a place called The Colorado Fondue Company.  It was quite an amazing experience...we had a smoked Gouda fondue pot for our appetizer with assorted breads, veggies and apples.  Then we had Sirloin Steak, Filet Minon, Lobster tail, and shrimp for our main course.  This was served with a pot of broth filled with pasta and raviolis, and red potatoes.  Also they brought out 700 degree granite blocks to sear our meat on.  You could cook the seafood in the boiling broth and sear the steak on the hot rocks!  It was really, really, really good!!  The filet minon would literally melt in your mouth!  We also ordered a peanut butter infused chocolate pot for desert...complete with strawberries, marshmallows, pretzels, pound cake and brownies to dip in it!  We were all so very full, we thought we would pop!  It was really a fun time, and something we all enjoyed...Jake for the experience of it...Tess and I were in it for the food!  Ha!

I chose one of the coolest weeks in Florida to come I guess...we haven't been able to go to the pool or anything, but that doesn't matter much...I mainly just wanted to come see the girls and visit and hang out...and with Jake in school, that has been our days pretty much.  I can't believe a week has passed already, but it's about time to go home, so...I will miss Addi's cute little face and her darling little voice...she is pretty funny with her newfound little vocabulary...she cracks me up!

Happy Birthday Grant!

Saturday, November 1st...Happy First Birthday Grant!  What a happy, smiley guy...always talking and telling us the longest stories!  He is adorable, and I want to wish him a very happy day.  I'm so sorry I can't be there, but I love you Granty-poo!!

Happy Birthday Addi!

Wednesday, Oct. 29th...Today is Addisyn's 2nd Birthday!  She is such a cutie...and growing up!  Her vocabulary has increased so much...and she can carry on a good conversation now...she understands so well, and is so much fun to be around!  Happy birthday Addi-cakes!!

Ma-mau loves you!!

Same OLD, Same OLD...

Life is about the same here. Every day is pretty quiet on my end, sometimes endless days and long evenings with only a cell phone to hear another person's voice...but I keep busy and I find life pretty enjoyable (lonely, yes, but still enjoyable).   On Brent's end, endless days of work and then more work...but I told him the other day that this is what will keep him young. If he stops, he'll just age and then get old. 

 Speaking of old...Yes, it's true...even the best get old! My son in law was the first to tease me about being old...but I thought he was just kidding...cause you know, I don't feel old. But the other day when we were out driving and we snapped a picture of the two of us together (rare occasion, I know) I thought, "Who are those old folks in the picture!" So ya, I guess we are getting old, but you're only as old as you act or feel, so I guess that makes us young!

Ok, so I switched pictures...cause I think that one made us look older than we really are...so, I chose these!

Weekend...

On General Conference Weekend in October, our friends Troy and Jennifer Dye just LOVE to go to our cabin!  It has become a tradition since way back when Jacob was a young teenager.  They plan the trip and are good enough to invite us along!  They bring their motorcycles along and have fun on them and it is always fun to go see all the beautiful leaves that are turning and feel the cool crisp air!  We also had some other good friends up there camping just down from our cabin, Dennis and Jerrilee Brower and their family, who happen to be good friends with the Dyes also, so it was a fun weekend!

Looking down in the valley with our cabin.

All the pretty leaves.

The Dye family and Brent unloading for one of our excursions.

Mammoth Hot Springs

On Sunday, we took a drive up to Mammoth Hot Springs to see the Elk.  It is their mating season and the big bulls are in the rutt, and they all come right down into the town and take over!  They are everywhere and it is so interesting to see, as well as the hot springs themselves!

Brent at an extinct cone geyser.

Me at the Hot Springs

Our sidekicks, Troy and Jennifer Dye

There are signs all over and Park Rangers abundantly, to make sure you don't get too close to the Elk.

How would you like this bull's harem in your back yard?

This guy was about 10 feet from the road, and no Park Rangers around!

They are on the roads, in the parks, near the homes, just everywhere!

These were on the front sidewalk of the Elementary School...and yes, the droppings you see are also EVERYWHERE in the town...it is covered in poop!