School Delay...Time to Play!

There was a lot of snow and wind one night last week causing a two hour school delay the next day. The morning was sunny and the snow deep so Jeff made good use of his time! He hopes all his nieces and nephews enjoy the story pictures he had me take of him!






Aldo loved being out in the snow...he was a great tunnel digger... Geronimo just wanted to get back into the warm house.

IT'S BEEN MERRY and BRIGHT!

We had a wonderful holiday... There was time for fun, (Dad and Jeff were determined to play until midnight!) seeing friends...(Kayla and Angela have been best friends since they were four)

and picking up Julie at the airport! It was sooo fun to have her come for Christmas.

And of course, having Joe and Allison and kids come Christmas Eve and stay added to the fun! Jeff added a couple of knives to his collection. Derek and Aubree came a couple of days after Christmas. They were here overnight to attend Aubree's brother's wedding reception. With Grant living here too, we had six of our eight here...so much FUN!

The nicest holiday gift came on December 31st. Ada Elizabeth was born! Joe called the evening of the 30th and wanted to know if someone could come over as it was time for Allison to go to the hospital. Why, that was too exciting! We all went over! How neat to have them close by so we can enjoy such special happenings! The birth went smoothly; Allison and the baby are doing well and the rest of the kids think a new little sister is great!

New Year's Eve found us at different places. Jeff had a great time playing German Crossing at the Bienz's tree farm with some of his friends. Dad and I took Joseph and Grant over to the Campbells for awhile; AJ, Grant and Julie were all at friends'. It has been a wonderful holiday...lots of great memories made! And tomorrow...back to school and work as 2008 gets under way!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Today was fun! Dad's birthday started out with him walking into the kitchen this morning to find a gallon of chocolate milk, yummy donuts and orange juice on the table! It wasn't until later on in the day that we found out that Joe and kids had been over early in the morning to delivered the treats. It was fun for dad to call Ryan to wish him a happy birthday as they share birthdays. After Dad, Jeff, Grant and Matt Shinall went to the 11:30 a.m. showing of "I Am Legend", Joe and Allison took Dad and I out to lunch. It was fun to try Japanese food. We liked it! We had an afternoon birthday party, some nice visiting and then a wedding reception in the evening. Driving there with freshly fallen snow on the ground brought back memories of Jana's reception!

Jeff gave Dad one sox! Guess he'll have to wait till Christmas to get the other one! Hum...where have I seen that done before?!!! Tradition!!!!

Dad got an age appropriate ornament: the ROCKING chair says Grandpa on it. It was nice to see Matt Shinall. He spent the afternoon with Grant. He lives about an hour north of Julie.

The kids love to sing along with the cowboy Santa Aunt Jean sent. Santa's rope lights up and his mouth opens real wide as he sings about keeping "those reindeer rollin'- tonight" to the tune of "Rawhide". We are all looking forward to Christmas...we're about 90% ready! The snow mostly melted and I decided we probably wouldn't be having a white Christmas...until this afternoon. Dad was out shoveling the driveway again....we are excited Julie will be coming. She flies into Pullman Christmas Eve! Yeh!! Now if the rest of you would hitch a ride here on Santa's sleigh, we'd be REAL happy!

In the lane...snow is glistening

Considering all the cold and snow we've been having, it's time to realize it really is December! The days are flying by and it will soon be Christmas! We have had a fun month thus far....This week, Joe and I went to three Christmas parties. Decagon's gift exchange was fun as usual. Joe's office party was classy as it was at the director of the Entrepreneur Center's gorgeous home half way up Moscow Mountain. The Ward Christmas party was "Traveling to Bethlehem". And of course we enjoyed it as Jeff and the grandkids were part of the program!

Joe, Jeff, Joey, Hans and Austin met Derek and Aubree in Grangeville to pick up a car Derek sold to Joey. They had a great visit and enjoyed lunch together.

Oh my! Look what happened when Jeff, the boys and scotch tape got together.
Jeff got made a ward missionary. We have some neat elders in our ward for him to work with.
Jeff and the boys had fun at the ward Christmas party. Jeff was part of the Nativity scene and the boys sang with the other Primary children.

The boys each dug a tunnel in the mound of snow...their tunnels met in the middle and they sure have had fun crawling in and out of them!

Joe and I went with Angela and Brent to Spokane to see Manheim Steamroller. On the way, we stopped at a house that had great decorations and got a few pics. The concert was OK. We actually like the tape we have of them better than the live performance.

The Singin' Sons

This will make you SMILE!!!!

(Be sure to start and then pause it long enough to load some of the video so it won't stop on you as you watch it.)

Turkey Trottin' Time...

How could we have ever danced after our Thanksgiving dinner? Somehow, we did and did and did till we couldn't anymore!!

....and here's the rest of the story

Here we all are bowling at Zeppos. Dad was the adult winner and Joseph the kids'. We had so much fun. The little boys got strikes and spares too. Lots of high fives and cheering going on at our two lanes!

I forgot to mention the program the little boys put on Thanksgiving day. We LOVED their Thanksgiving poems, jokes and Cub Scout songs like Boom Chicka Boom. As soon as I learn how to post movies, I'll do it as we got lots of video of the day and then you can enjoy "Oh ya, a-huh etc." too!