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!

Blessings Right?

This has been quite the day. I had a speaking assignment in Polson (about an hour away on the south side of the lake) and the high councilman I was to speak with was given the instructions that if a big storm came through then I would not be there. Sure enough a storm came through on Friday night, wind, snow, cold it was all there so Saturday at noon I called and left the message that I was not going to drive and the other member of the presidency didn't want to make the drive either. Well I hadn't heard back from him so I called again last night and he never got the message so, of course, now I felt guilty leaving him high and dry and because I can't let anyone down I make other arrangements. So Val is going to drive me to Polson and we'd just take the kids with us. Guess again. The kids don't want to get up in the morning and again I don't like to disappoint anyone so I make some calls and ward members are going to pick up the kids to take them to church. Two different families because of space issues and then we would be back to pick them up from church. So Val and I got up this morning and take off. Just before we hit Polson I call and make sure they are getting ready to go but Keston is worried because he may have pink eye and he is coughing a lot, I'm 45 miles away how do I know if it is pink eye or not. Yada Yada Yada, the talk went well, I popped in on the Polson Primary and we head for home. Well we needed to stop at the house to get the other vehicle and Val and I want to eat cause we didn't get breakfast. We walk in the door and Tylissa is still at home. One family picked up the boys and the other family forgot Tylissa and didn't remember until the other family asked them after sacrament meeting if they forgot. So our darling daughter sat at home by herself for an hour and a half and no one called, I didn't need to call cause she was supposed to be at church. Then to put the cherry on the top Tylissa reminds us that she is always the one to be forgotten because her dad forgot her one day at kindergarten. Poor some salt in that wound. So we finally make it to church, they boys have major bedhead and toys in their pockets, but they are at church. What a day! So the question is . . . will we get the blessings for being obedient and making it to my speaking assignment or am I the world's worst mother for abandoning her children. Remember tomorrow is a new day!

A Band First

Last night was Keston's first band concert. I have a greater appreciation for band and orchastra teachers because teaching a whole new class every year the finer points on instruments and making sure everyone plays the same thing takes a lot of patience. It was a wonderful concert and I tried to get a picture but Keston was swallowed up by all his classmates because he vertically challenged. Every picture was arms, elbows and, if you look closely, a few spikes of red hair. Keston played his flute beautifully! His favorite piece was Up on the Housetops. The best part was watching those trombone players because their cheeks would expand and their eyeballs looked like they were going to pop right out before they could take their next breath and move on to the next note (especially with the young man who wore glasses - eyeballs popping).

Well it is off to work I go - Have a great day everyone!

The Babysitter

This is how Keston babysits . . . prop up the Pokemon book and go into great detail on which card has the most power and what card does what. It actually held her attention for a long time. Oh, if we could only find out what babies think.

Football is my life!

A few weeks ago Val and Chad were able to go to the Griz Football game. It was a great day, the weather cooperated and they had a blast. Val thought the game was boring because the Griz ran away with it but then ask Chad what his opinion is and you get a totally different story. It was the best day of his life, because "Football is my life". They returned home with posters and the Griz "head" towel that you swing around. Chad is always up for demonstration so ask if you run into him. Go Griz!