Christmas 2009

3898.3 Miles



66 Hrs. 43 Min Driving Time (Love the Garmin)



19 Days



6 Stops



2 Great Kids

1 Amazing Husband...who can drive and drive and drive and drive

= A wonderful Christmas

Stop 1. Reno, Nevada home of Grandpa Vern and Grandma Nancy

Riding the Ferris wheel which is inside Sheels the worlds largest outdoor store

Sweet Jessie too little to ride

#2. Boise, Idaho where we got to stay a couple nights with Grandad Roger, GG Donna and Hannah

Petting "Prancer" the Reindeer who, Justin informed me, stinks.

HAPPY 7th Anniversary for the hubby and me




#3 was a quick 3 hr stop and dinner with my cousin and her family in Salmon, ID (wished I had gotten some picture)

#4 Libby, MONTANA home of the Libby Loggers and the Greenchains biggest fans...My Parents (yes that means you too mom).

I got to hit up my 2 favs Pizza from Red Dog and Taco from Burger Express. We also got to participate in the annual family potato bar, home wrestling match, board games and family pictures down by the river with no coats in 20 degree weather.

Christmas Morning

Sunday after

Never to cold to ride the 4-wheeler

# 5. To the in-laws in Florence, MT

Here Justin got another special ATV ride with papa to the woods for hot chocolate and cookies, All you can eat best food ever from Jeff, shopping with the girls in town, most loved dog hunter, kids played played played with cousins, a visit from my cousin Kari, and another round of family pictures outside in 20 something weather.

Fondue with cousins on New Years Eve

#6 Last but not least Sheridan, WY where we got to spend the night with my best girl Stacey and her husband Rob.

It was a great trip and so nice to see our families and ALL of our siblings and many of our friends. Thank You to our parents who made this year a great Christmas and special for our kids.

HAPPY 2010!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.....

To the guy who has been nothing but a Father to me from the very beginning (almost 18yrs ago). Our lives are only better because of you and your patience, love and faith. I would not be where I am today with out you.

THANK YOU for who you ARE and ALL that you do for our FAMILY.

We Love You!

*I got permission to post this*

I was about to give Justin a hair cut and right before I started he said:

"Just don't cut it like Grandads"

I am cracking up and asked "Why Not?"

"Because he only has a little on the side, a little on the side, and nothing on top"

This kid can say some of the funniest things......I laughed the rest of the day.....

So I call my very optimistic dad at work to tell him....his reply:

"I'm glad he was thinking about me"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY!

He brought home a picture of a bunny that he colored at his class in church and it said 'I Can Be Kind To Animals'
Me: "Justin, you did a good job coloring this. Did you learn about being kind to animals"
Justin: "Ya, but my dad just shoots rabbits"

He was watching me get ready....

Justin: "Mom, When you look pretty I'm going to love you"

Me: "Thank you Justin"

J: "Ya, and if you don't look pretty I'm still going to love you"

M: "Thats really nice, Thanks"

J: "Ya, because thats what families do"

At the Library checking out books...

Librarian: "Justin can you tell (the other librarian) what you dad is doing?"

Justin: "He is with the Capitol Christmas tree going to D.C."

Librarian: "Well, thats neat. You have a pretty cool Dad"

Justin: "Ya, but he is just getting old."

Wanting to know so much about everything....

J: "Mom, what is way deep down in our tummies?"

M: "The food we eat and the drinks we drink"

J: "Oh"......."So if we fall and crack our heads open will food come out?"



Waiting for Birthday Surprise....and he had to wait 4 extra days until Chad was home (for a total of 17 hrs)

YEA! It's a new bike!

VERY EARLY THE NEXT MORNING.....................

READY TO RIDE!

WHO KNEW?

Oh Where Oh Where Could My Husband Have Gone,

Oh Where Oh Where Could He Be,

He Packed Up and Left On a 24 Day Trip,

To Protect The Capitol Christmas Tree!!! ???

http://capitolchristmastree2009.org/

PETER PAN & TINKERBELL

Tinkerbell not cooperating at all for the camera

Peter Pan busting out some dance moves....this boy can move!

This was the first year we took the kids door to door trick-or-treating and they loved it! Jessie caught on so quick. She wanted to be set down in front of the door so she could knock w/Justin, she liked to pick her own candy (always only took 1) and would put it in her bag and turn around ready to go to the next house....When did she get so big?

It was also the first time I have made the kids costume....kind of fun...already thinking of what I can do next year.

Happy Halloween 2009!

FALL

On my list of things I love about AZ is the beautiful fall season. Here are a few pics of the kids doing some fun things you can only do in the fall.....

Picking Pumpkins at the pumpkin patch with Justins joy school class

Going through a corn maze
Jessicas very first friend, Amelia...born on the same day, a few hours apart, and her Mom and I shared a hospital room together. Not fun sharing a room but I got a great friend out of it.

Picking Apples....and then canning and canning and canning...apple slices, applesauce, apple pie filling.....alot of work but they are so pretty when they are done

finding a few raspberries

"APPLES!"

Kids after eating chocolate chip cookies....honestly the first ones I have had turn out in 3 years...high altitude issues???...I don't know..but I wasn't giving up....how hard could it really be to make a cookie?




Cute girl in a cute cowboy hat