Only Child

Last night the girls had a sleep over at their cousins. They were so excited! They painted ceramics, did dress ups and played wii. What fun they had(thanks Shelli). We went to pick them up and they decided they wanted to see Alvin and the Chipmunks so off they went.. Dennis and Shelli (Bruce's brother & sister-in-law) and 8 children 12 and under (you are so brave). The kids love playing with their cousins, they said the sleep over was "the BEST!"

Parker hung out with us, he thought it would be great to have his space. He hung out with his cousin Joe today played XBOX and watched a movie. It was so quiet around here without the girls, secretly i think Parker missed them. What a fun vacation it has been. A lot of driving by the time we get home we will have been through Idaho twice, visited Washington 4 times, back and forth to Oregon 3 times.

I so enjoy being with family. My sweet niece Amie taught me how to change the template on my blog. I shared my birthday with Cindy, another great niece. My amazing sister-in-law, Colette, let me play wedding planner and help decorate at Sarah's, my niece, reception (so fun). Grandma make us yummy meals, baby back ribs one night, tri-tip roast the next; food glorious food, thanks mom. We're back to Montana tomorrow. I guess all good things must come to an end, back to reality:(

A glimps into Eternity

Today we attended the sealing of Bruce's nephew, Tony to his new bride Bree. It was a beautiful day. Fun to see the newlyweds excited about their new life together. The wedding luncheon was @ the Red Lion, yummy delicious of course. Parker was sad that only those going to the temple were invited to the luncheon quote, "that's the only reason I came". I reassured him that there would be cake at the reception.

bright and early

This morning i woke up @ 6am, still dark outside, and thought perfect time to exercise! Work off the extras from Christmas and start off my vacation on the right foot. I changed in to my workout clothes tip-toed downstairs making sure not to wake any one and found all the kids up (who knows for how long) playing the Nintendo and computer...had they even gone to bed?

I decided to just continue with my workout on grandma's treadmill. By the time I worked out, showered and had breakfast the kids were dressed, had been into grandma's magical freezer(filled with everything from ice-cream sandwiches to old fashion drumsticks) a child's dream or should I say Parker's dream. While I was sitting down to enjoy a book Parker was suiting up to ride Grandpa's four wheeler and now , as I am blogging, the girls are on the four wheeler with Grandpa. Can I mention it is only 10:30am and we still have 6 more hours of day light.
If your wondering were Bruce has been during all of this time he ran to town, picked up oil filters, change the vans oil, check the brakes (played mechanic). Playing with all the toys in his dad's shop...he was in Heaven!

The kids are having a blast, Bruce is loving the simple life and I love having everyone happy. Life is good.

Over the River and through the Woods...

to grandmother's house we go. We are in Oregon until New Years. It was a 10 1/2 hour drive, pretty good timing that included three bathroom stops. It was a beautiful drive and of course i forgot my camera (i am lost without it). The last hour of the drive is always the longest.

Have a Holly, Jolly, Christmas!

Our jolly Christmas began at a reasonable hour this year. Parker was stirring @ 5am but he did not disturb us(Bruce and I). He did however wake Bailey so he could have a partner in crime. They could open anything in their stocking and play with anything that was out and not wrapped. At 6:00 Bruce and I got up as did Sindey and Parker decided he was heading back to bed. Finally at 6:45 Bailey decided to return the favor and woke Parker. He was just a little surprised. Everyone received exactly what they wanted even down to the cashews. It is 1:00 and we are all still in our pj's, playing games and stuffed from eating all the treats in our stocking. We will have to move the smorgasbord to later tonight:) Merry Christmas everyone in blog land.

Sweet Dreams

Good night:) We are off to bed and anxiously awaiting Santa's visit.

T'was the Night Before Christmas

Our Christmas Eve: We enjoyed National Treasure II at the movie theater this afternoon and then came home and prepared our traditional smorgasbord feast. We had hot wings, roasted butter and garlic shrimp, peel and eat shrimp with cocktail sauce, veggies and dip, pineapple and kiwis. The new addition to our smorgasbord was pomegranates, yum! We enjoyed the Polar Express, opened our Christmas pj's and we are going to do our reading from Luke 2 the girls are going to play their instruments to Holiday Medley, Up on the House Top and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. May the visions of sugar plums dance in your heads while you anticipate Christmas morning, I know it will come early for us.

Christmas Wishes

Merry Christmas

This year I am doing a Christmas blog. It is December 23, two days before Christmas and I am sending you my Christmas wish. May you enjoy today, cherish yesterday and anticipate your tomorrows. We send our love and wishes...You can look forward to our US postal delivered card next year....Yes, Annie this is my Christmas card this year.

Happy Birthday Katie

Happy Birthday to my dear friend Katie...and yes I know that it is today, thank you, the 23rd of December. I don't know what I was thinking. I'm sure it is just that I have everything together and wanted to be ahead of schedule (two days early). Have a fabulous day. Happy 30th:)

slumber party

T'was four days before Christmas and all through the house
All my creatures were stirring, and even my spouse
The stocking were hung by our chimney with care
And all of my girls wanted to sleep out by there

Once the girls were all nestled and sung in their make-shift beds,
They read from their books and filled up their heads
And Ma with her camera and Dad taking a short nap
We just settled down and began to enjoy all that

When at my computer there rose such a clatter
I sprang from the couch to see what was the matter
Away to the monitor I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutter and threw up the sash?

The light from the monitor of the new hp aglow,
Gave a luster of midday to the keyboard below
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature blog and eight tiny comments left there. (i could only hope for)

With a middle aged blogger so lively and quick,
I knew for a moment it must be a trick
More rapid than eagles the comments that came
And i whistled and shouted and called them by name

Now, Katie! Now, Annie! Now, Cindy and Amie!
OK, stop laughing at me...i thought i could make it work

I digress, the girls are all asleep under the tree and I am off to bed. I love the classic edition of The Night before Christmas. Hannah read it tonight before she snuggled next to her sisters under the tree. This is one moment I will treasure seeing my girls now all cuddled up together, it reminds me of when they were a month old and all shared the same crib. By morning they were all cuddled into one big ball. We'll see how they fare tonight:)

gifts

The girls wanted to make their friends gifts this year...pillows. I think they did a great job.

Odds & Ends

Today is my get everything done day. Just a few days before Christmas and yes, i am not done yet. I decided today is the day! I am finishing up all the last minute odds and ends and enjoying what? The few days before Christmas. My list today

blog

shower

pick up around the house (which has been organized chaos since Dec. 1)

wish Katie a Happy Birthday tomorrow:)

pick up Caren's gift who's birthday is on the 25th

pick up last of stocking stuffers

enjoy Christmas lunch with friends

pick up kids

homework, practice instruments

Christmas Band/Choir Concert

A fun, enjoyable, somewhat relaxing day

The Few, The Brave, and The Ugly

Yesterday was our first day to, Finally!, hit the slopes. It was a beautiful day, sunny, and no wind. The day was perfect up until the last run when Parker was side swiped by a fellow snow boarder who lost control. It caught him by surprise from behind and knocked the wind out of him. When he met up with me in the lodge he said, "maybe snowboarding is not for me". Minutes later Bruce came in and stated what a run he had. It was "awesome" but had misjudged the bottom of the hill and wound up on his back. He was fine, just bruised his ego a little. Today Parker asked when our next ski day was and can't wait to get back on the mountain. What a difference a day makes.

I decided to enjoy the weather and the slopes and opted to leave my camera in the car while we skied, thus no ski photos. You can imagine this to be me, it looks pretty similar (ha!)

As we drove home, through the small town of Red Lodge, we enjoyed a fun sight of those few that survived Turkey Day.

When we arrived home the only two that were ready for bed, after a fun day of skiing, were Bruce and I, the kids were wired. Oh, to be a kid again.

Sweet Gifts

Snow! Every few days Montana is dusted with a new, fresh, blanket of white. It is so pretty in the morning but by afternoon the wind picks up and blows it all away. I am ready for the snow to stay. Every year the kids hope that this will be the year for a white Christmas. We can always hope. The girls love their jingle, charm bracelets that Parker gave them. They go through their closets every night to find what they have that is red and white to wear...we are running out of clothes!

Randomn Things I Love

I couldn't sleep and thought I would enjoy a quiet moment to myself. I turned on the Christmas lights, put in my favorite Christmas CD, A timeless Christmas, lit the fire and made myself a cup of chamomile tea. I love this time of year! It truly is "the most wonderful time of the year". There are so many things I love about this time of the year.
1. I love receiving Christmas Card in the mail: hearing from family and friends, seeing how their family has grown.
2. I love how everything comes to life with twinkly white lights.
3. I love how most everyone is in the spirit of giving and joy.
4. I love fresh snow, when Montana is transformed into a winter wonderland.
5. I love seeing my kids play, build snowmen and create snow forts.
6. I love when it is 20 degrees and my children can play in the snow and not sub zero.
7. I love making English Toffee with my kids. We love sampling it and trying to put a few bag together for neighbors and friends. It usually takes several batches since we enjoy sampling half a batch.
8. I love watching the Christmas specials, Rudolf, A Year Without a Santa, Polar Express, Holiday Inn, White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, Mr. Kruger's Christmas.
9. I love that Parker and Bruce gave the girls an early Christmas gift. The gift was a jingle bell bracelet with fun Christmas charms. They even picked out a silver snowman pin for me.
10. I love my boys.
11. I love when we have nothing at night and can sit by the fire, enjoying the Christmas lights and just be together.
12. I love skiing with the kids. We haven't been this year not enough snow...hopefully Christmas Eve the mountain will be covered and we can enjoy an outing.
13. I love reading friends and family's blogs, it is one highlight of my day. It has been a fun way to stay in touch and see what is going on in their life.
14. I love Bailey's fascination to rearrange the nativity scene on a daily basis.
15. I love my kids hugs, especially at night as they are dozing off to sleep and their sweet, "I love you mom".
16. I love my dates with Hannah. I love the one on one alone time.
17. I love sitting with Sidney and working on Christmas samplers that she is giving as gifts.
18. I love when the kids have gone to bed, sitting up with Bruce, and enjoying the Christmas lights by the fire.

a side note: The water for my tea boiled dry while I was typing this blog, which set off the fire alarm and woke everyone up. At least it's 5:55am. What a way to wake everyone up.

The Mom Song - Sung to William Tell Overture

just thought you might enjoy a view into my day.

Saturday Afternoon

The older I grow the more earnestly I feel that the few joys of childhood are the best that life has to give. ~Ellen Glasgow

Holidays, when I was little, meant decorating, and baking. We were fortunate to have my Grandma Bailey live with us. One of her Christmas goodies was Fattigmad bokkles pronounced (Fotamun Buckles) a Norwegian Fried Cookie. She would let me help her do everything.


Today we decided to strike up the Christmas music, pull out the baking ingredients, and try our hand at these classic Christmas Cookies.


1 square butter
1 3/4 c. sugar
7 eggs (oh my)
4 tsp. vanilla
5 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
4 tsp. cardamom


It was an adventure. I wish my grandma was around to let us know if the texture was correct. The last time I made these was probably when i was 10 with my grandma.


We mixed up the ingredients, rolled them out, like sugar cookies, and cut them into diamonds.


You then twist them into a buckle, thus the name and deep fry them for 10-12 seconds.

No picture of the frying process, it just went too fast.


The finished product, little buckles. The kids thought they were OK!? What? They should think they are the best cookie ever. They were fun to make and it did bring back a lot of memories for me. That is it though, they are my Christmas Memories and so today was for me.

I think this will become a new holiday tradition with the kids, and just maybe when they are older and have kids of their own they will want to make Norwegian Christmas cookies with them.? If not, for now, it is fulfilling a holiday tradition for me.

Childhood is a short season. ~Helen Hayes

A Favorite Holiday Treat/Tradition

A holiday favorite of ours is English Toffee. Usually right after Thanksgiving we begin making a batch and continue to make several batches throughout the week. We eat a lot and share some. This is one thing we give to our neighbors and friends around the holidays. Super simple recipe and super yummy.
2 cubes of butter (that is why it is so yummy)
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. water
melt butter, add sugar and water and stir until combined do not stir after that
bring to boil on medium heat (never stirring or it will turn sugary)
cook to 300 degrees hard crack stage (use a candy thermometer)
pour out on a large Texas cookie sheet lined with tin foil do not scrape pan
cover with favorite chocolate (I prefer dark chocolate Parker likes milk choc.)
and chopped almonds
enjoy.

To note we have already made it two times and have not given any away(doesn't last long enough). The kids have enjoyed it in their lunches, after school, and, of course before, breakfast.

When I was little we would make this several times during the Christmas Season. It would not be the holidays without English Toffee.