Let It Snow?

(just outside our front door) The only reason we did not make it to Oregon......SNoW!!! Don't get me wrong. We love SnOW. Just not right now! Wouldn't it be nice if we could pick and choose the weather? With icy conditions, closure of many roads and a dismal forecast we did the only safe thing and stayed home, which none of us are happy about. We are sooooo missing all of our family in Oregon, Bruce's brothers wedding and all of the cousins.

Well there's not much else we can do but play in it....

and shovel it.

Christmas Day in our Town

This morning we awoke to the sights and sounds of Christmas. Santa visited us a day early. Being so far North really pays off. We plan to leave for Oregon tomorrow if the weather cooperates. The kids woke up at various times throughout the night wandering into the living room to see what Santa had left. At one point Bruce got up and found Parker in the living room with all of his presents around him sound asleep. The one thing we told the kids before we went to bed was not to wake us until 7am. They faithfully obeyed this command. Various times throughout the night, they enjoyed going through their stockings and finding the many treasures inside while Bruce and I enjoyed the comforts of our bed. At 7am sharp they woke us and we enjoyed a relaxed morning. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday Missy

Happy Birthday to my fabulous friend. I have known Katie for 16 years. I first met her when she was sweet, young, energetic, full of life and an appetite to boot. She could eat me under the Sizzlers table at the all you can eat buffet, that was many young women's camps ago. She is now a busy, crazy, beautiful, quick whit, wife, mother of four beautiful kids and still an appetite that could (i believe) still eat me under the table and yet manages to look fabulous. I love you Katie. Have a fabulous Day. "The birthday card is in the mail (I only sent it yesterday)...talk to your mailman.

On the 5th, 6th and 7th day of Christmas...

We received more white stuff.

The sheet rockers added to our Christmas CHEER. Thousands of pounds (72 sheets of sheet rock) later our cement walls are no longer naked. It's a festivus miracle!

* Hard to read the labels on the pictures. #1 starting at the left, The hallway into the girls kingdom, 2. Bailey's room. Top right Hannah's room, middle right Sidney's room and bottom right, the girls room side, by side, by side...Sisters:)

One the Second, Third and 4th Day of Christmas...

My True Love (didn't have anything to do with it) but we received ....Snow and frigid cold temperatures. The past couple of mornings we awoke to -20 and it reached a high of -7. Reportedly these are going to be the temperatures until Christmas.BRrrrrrr!

One the First Day of Christmas...

My true love gave to me - insulation to help hold in the heat.(Trying to keep with the rhyme of the song, I know pretty bad)

Just a few steps closer to finishing the basement.

The Reason for the Season

Less than two weeks until Christmas. This is the season I wait all year for. I love this time of year. I share in President Hinckley's thoughts:

"We honor His birth. But without His death that birth would have been but one more birth. It was the redemption which He worked out in the Garden of Gethsemane and upon the cross of Calvary which made His gift immortal, universal, and everlasting. His was a great Atonement for the sins of all mankind. He was the resurrection and the life, “the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:20). Because of Him all men will be raised from the grave.
But beyond this He taught us the way, the truth, and the life. He gave the keys through which we may go on to immortality and eternal life.
We love Him. We honor Him. We thank Him. We worship Him. He has done for each of us and for all mankind that which none other could have done. God be thanked for the gift of His Beloved Son, our Savior, the Redeemer of the world, the Lamb without blemish who was offered as a sacrifice for all mankind."

Joy to the world, the Lord is come; Let earth receive her King! Let ev’ry heart prepare him room, And Saints and angels sing. (“Joy to the World,” Hymns, no. 201)

The Perfect One

If it was up to Parker this is what our tree would look like this year. He was not particularly excited about going and hunting for the perfect tree this year. We have a great artificial one, "so why do we need another one"? I can see his point, but of course, for me, it's all about making memories...traditions. We made hot chocolate, grabbed our gloves and headed to Red Lodge a 45 minute drive away. It took us 15 minutes to find the one and we were back on the road. No sledding this year since there was only a skiff of snow on the ground.

We went with two other famlies. The girls brought their cousin, Aspen, with us. They just moved here from Idaho, they live just 20 minutes South of us. Parker and his buddies, Andrew and David.

On our way home we stopped at the candy store on Main Street to satisfy our holiday sweet tooth...Montana monster fudge.

Thankfulness #5

I am thankful for.... Bruces' brothers

and all of my great sisters in law. I love that we both come from big families and that there is always something going on from a baby being born to a wedding to just plain getting together.

Thankfulness #5

I am thankful for... Bruce's parents

I could not ask for better parents. They taught Bruce the importance of hard work, dedication, and taught him gospel principles in which to build a strong foundation. His mother taught him the basic duties of home; to clean, iron, cook in which I am so grateful for(yet if you look at the bottom left corner picture his dad may have taught him a few things). They instilled in him the value of family and to support one another. His parents have seven boys, soon to be 7 daughters-in-law, 24 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. Love you Mom and Dad.

Thankfulness #4

I am thankful for....my kiddos

This is what most of our days are filled with love, peace and tranquility but sometimes we have days like this...

But most days they are kind and think of others. Yesterday Hannah and Sidney made Bruce and I this yummy giant choc. chip cookie for our Anniversary.

Parker always watches out for me. He is concerned if I seem over worked. One day while I was working at the school and unable to have dinner on the table when Bruce got home from work; he told me that I should just focus on being at home and not worry about helping out at the school..so sweet! Or was it just that I didn't have dinner ready and he was focusing on what was most important....FOOD:) Bailey just wants to make me happy. One time she was dressed just a little to casual for school Bruce and I refer to it as the "grunge" look, sweats, layered shirts etc. I asked her to change into something more appropriate for school and she just said, "just tell me what you want me to wear". Could everyone just learn this statement, then we would all be happy.Hannah is my little clean - organized - replica of me...is that so bad? If she wants to make me happy she will just go clean something or organize something for me. One day she cleaned out her closet and reorganized it everything in it's place it was a site to behold....maybe soon she will take over the entire house, oh, glorious day.

Sidney is my snuggle bunny. She fills my requirement of hugs for one day all within the first hour of the morning. She is always there with a hug to boost my emotional level.
I love you guys. I feel so blessed to be your mom.

Thankfulness #3

I am thankful for...He provides for us and loves us. He enjoys just being with the family. He tells me that he loves me daily, treats me like a queen, even when I may be acting like scullery maid. Today we celebrate our 18th Anniversary...6,574 days of eternal bliss! Happy Anniversary Love.

Thankfulness #2

I am thankful for my...

parents

Mom & Dad (our family trip to Yellowstone)

I am grateful for great parents who raised me in the church and taught me the gospel. They taught me the importance of family. That it was important to support each other and made it a point to always be to our activities. They taught me the importance of being honest when they escorted me back to a store and had me pay for a penny candy that I had taken without paying for it, rest assure that was over 33 years ago, not recently. My mom taught me the importance of not gossiping. "It doesn't do anyone any good and only damages relationships". I remember her telling me that her mother taught her this lesson and she passed it on to her children. My Dad taught me the importance financing my money and investing just plain being frugal. It has payed off. (So when some may wonder why we still have our blue van with over 207,000+ miles on it, or why it has taken us 15 years to buy a DVD player you may call me cheap but I prefer to call it being frugal...I owe it all to my Dad).

My parents have also set a great example to our family by currently serving the Lord on their 2nd mission in Hawaii. (some sacrifice) They are true examples of believers in Christ and I am grateful to call them Mom and Dad. Mom and Dad @ the Polynesian Cultural Center

This is the mission home @ the Polynesian Cultural Center where they spend 5 out of their seven days a week.

Thankfulness

I stole this idea from my sister-in-law April's blog, "who stole it from a friend, who stole...", you get the idea. Each day she states what she is thankful for. I am thankful for

My Brothers and Sisters

I have been blessed with three brothers and three sisters. Growing up my brothers were always willing to share with me. Whenever it was their time to babysit the younger siblings they were more than willing to let me have their turn. My sisters were 5, 7 and 9 years younger than I. While I was interested in all that the "80's" had to offer a teenager, they were enjoying their strawberry shortcake dolls and Saturday morning smurf cartoons. My youngest brother, who is 11 years younger than me, was the stand up comic of the family. Now that we are adults, and have families of our own we love to get together when time permits. All of my siblings live in Utah all within 40 minutes of each other. I, being the only one in Montana, more than 500 miles away, it makes weekend get togethers a little hard. We enjoy yearly family get togethers, and whenever I get to Utah we enjoy seeing everyone. I have learned something valuable from each of my siblings. Brad - hard work, Allen - humor, Stephanie - compassion, Eve - organization and design, Nicole - love of life, Johnny - dedication.

Brad, Cami, Micah, Connor, Taylor

Allen, Cheri, Haley, Tanner, Braden, Madison

J.R., Stephanie, Allison

Adam, Eve, Samantha and Ella

Nicole, with neices Samantha and Ella

Johnny, April, Boston, Gennovah

Simple Pleasures

Nothing brings my son more pleasure than a 3 lb bag of these little delicacies from Costco. For scout camp this was the only thing he ask me to pick up for him. NO beef jerky, no bug or tick spray? I guess these were his bartering tools to get whatever he needed while at scout camp.

This tasty treat also helped me conveyed my love and concern for Parker after his recent surgery.

What more could a boy want after just going under the knife.

It is amazing that for only $5.25 I can buy my sons affection.

What are some of your simple pleasures?

Mine and the rest of my families simple pleasures to be posted at a future date- while divulge everything at once:)

Life is Precious

I received a phone call today from an old friend. She told me that a friend of ours from High School had passed away due to a long struggle with breast cancer, leaving behind her husband and three children. Life is so precious and fragile.

Shellie Nelson Ernest
Shellie Nelson Ernest 1970 ~ 2008 Shellie Nelson Ernest, loving wife, mother and friend passed away on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 at her home in Herriman, UT after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.She was born January 18, 1970 in Salt Lake City to Rex and Peggie Nelson. Shellie married Danny Ernest on June 29, 1989 and together they had three beautiful children. They were the love and light of her life. She enjoyed making jewelry, crafts, art, knitting scarves, camping and being in the outdoors. She loved life and practiced selflessness in everything she did. Shellie never used her illness as an excuse. She had a gift for comforting those around her and was an inspiration to all who knew her. She loved her dog Harley who was a comfort to her during her illness. Shellie will truly be missed by family and friends. She is survived by her husband Danny; sons, Jacob and Tyler; daughter, Emilee; parents, Rex and Peggie Nelson; brothers, Max, Doug and Nick; grandmothers, Audrey Retallick and Jean Nelson; mother and father-in-law, Robert and Barbara Ernest; many aunts, uncles and cousins who loved her dearly. A Visitation will be held Sunday, Nov. 9th from 6 to 8 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary, 1950 E. 10600 So. Sandy. Funeral Services will be held Monday, Nov. 10th at 11 a.m. at the mortuary with Visitation one hour prior. Interment in Herriman City Cemetery, 12465 So. Pioneer St. (6000 West). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Shellie's name.

Photo Friday & Thought

"Daydreaming of the past and longing for the future may provide comfort but will not take the place of living in the present. Try not to delay or postpone anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives."

Thomas S. Monson

Thursday Random Thoughts

Babies just make me smile. They make me realize what is most important in this life...FAMILY. (picture of Naomi , my great niece, or would that be my niece once removed)

It is amazing the temperature change we've experienced here within a given 24 hour period. Three weeks ago we received 14 inches of snow in a day and a day or so later it was gone with temperatures back in the 70. On Monday of this week we were in the high 60's and now the tree's are bare and it's 30. NO Fall this year! We went from Summer to Winter in one fail swoop ok two. Ok but what ever happened to cool, crisp, fall days? What ever happened to leaves changing colors?

Bruce took a 1/2 day off from work today. He drove about an hour and a half north of Billings to go scope out a cite to go hunting with Parker tomorrow. He should have just stayed here and hunted from our deck. These are the "shots" I took from my deck. In the top photo they were just hiding behind our pine trees.

Welcome Little One

Savannah Colette Spratling

Born: November 1, 2008

Congratulations Ben and Cindy and big sister Claire. Ben is Bruce's nephew, so that makes Bruce and I Savannah's Great Uncle and Aunt (catch all that). It's always fun to welcome a new baby into the family.

Preparing for All Hallows Eve

Thanks to my niece Amie for introducing me to this fun editing program....I just had too much fun and wanted to share a few of my favorite picks of my cute little trick or treaters.