My Cheeks Hurt!

I has been a long time since I have laughed so hard my cheeks hurt. Val and I went to see the movie New in Town with friends and we laughed so hard. At one part I was crying so much I couldn't see the screen. There are some great one liners in this movie so listen close. I was trying to find some of them so I could post it but I can't and I don't remember the extact saying so I won't ruin it. If you are up for a laugh, I recommend it. I know all the parts Dad would laugh at and Monte would pick up some great one liners. Ken would get a kick out of it too. To really appreciate the movie you have to live in the frozen north where the lake freezes hard enough to drive on. Well it's my two cents and you know it has to be an okay movie if Val even says he would like to see it again. I bet Granny would get a kick out of it. Go watch, laugh, and enjoy!

Back to the Races . . . ugh!

Well we have made it through the first week since the holidays and the days off. I don't like it. Chad's teacher made the comment that we are probably glad to get rid of the kids again and I disagree. We had a lot of fun, playing, having birthdays, partying, staying in jammies, and not doing anything. This week back in the race of life and having to be somewhere and taking kids to their activites made me appreciate the week I had off even more and I really loved Saturday. Today started stake callings again. I didn't have to travel very far this week, just to Bigfork for their ward conference and then back to our ward (we are the icky late time). Keston had Priesthood Preview tonight and let me tell you it is very scary. Have we prepared him enough to receive the Priesthood in just 6 short months? Will he grow enough to be a Deacon? Well all . . . it is time to go to bed because another busy week starts bright and early tomorrow. Good night and love to everyone.

It Snowed . . . a lot!

The first jump - feet first and he sank.

Being the party animals that we are; we were up at D and J's until after midnight and there was some snow in the drive way but when we went out to shovel around noon today we realized just how much snow came overnight. It is up to my waist in the yard. The piles of snow from the driveway are taller than me (okay so that is not hard to beat but when I'm the one throwing the snow up there it is a long way up). The boys were jumping off the porch railing into the snow. I even jumped off the back of the truck into the snow and was buried. It was fun until hours later when the driveway still wasn't cleared. It was a fun time. The kids put on snowshoes to walk around the yard. I was on top of the truck pushing snow off. I still love all the snow but ask me in another month and the answer will probably be different, especially when vacation is over and we have to be somewhere.

Before the jump!

After the jump!

I jumped off the back of the truck.

Christmas Surprise

The new baseball bat

A watch and legos

Go Griz!

The yoga mat and Chucky just glad he is in the house and warm

Thanks cousin K for the matching hats

I am worse than the kids. I was up and ready to get the show on the road by 7:00 a.m. but I had to wait. I heard a couple of the kids get up but they didn't come get us so finally at 7:30 we went downstairs and found Tylissa and Keston sitting quietly by the tree waiting for Chad to wake up. We had a great morning. The kids wanted to watch their new dvds but I told them to wait because there was a surprise later. They would play and then ask about the surprise and we'd tell them it was in a little while so they went and played some more. Finally around 11:30 I told the kids to go get three things to keep them occupied, their pillows, and blankets. They asked a lot of questions and got very nervous but we didn't crack. We couldn't be leaving town because they hadn't packed anything. When everyone was in the car we pulled out of the driveway and I asked if it would be fun to surprise the Canadian cousins and Granny - a whoop went up and we were on the way. The surprise wouldn't have happened better if we planned it. We decided to pull right up in the driveway and we knocked on the door. N answered the door and did the shhh and walked right in the living room and said Merry Christmas! We surprised all and there was still plenty of food for everyone. It was a great time. Family was up from Arizona and snow had confused their smarts because even with the car in the driveway no one figured out that we were inside. It was a great couple of days, lots of food, sledding down the big hill (although it was better when we got towed back up the big hill), 5 pin bowling in the city, hockey on the ice in the back yard, fun games, and lots of family. Granny definitely deserves a nap. Here are some pictures of Christmas morning.

Chad making Christmas breakfast in his new chef apron and hat.

Merry Christmas!

We made it through the holidays and what a great time. We did the traditional Christmas Eve of BBQ stake, the not so traditional nativity, pinatas, jammies, cousin gifts, and great friends. Dinner was great. Our nativity was a everyone telling the parts they remembered and acting it out. J and D were Mary and Joseph, little B was a very squirmy baby Jesus (she wouldn't hold still for long), Val was the abrupt inn keeper. There were shepherds, wise men, animals, and Chad was the star. Then came the pinata full of jammies and treats. Gifts and games ended the evening. What a great night full of love and fun!