Happy New Year

It is unbelievable to me that 2008 is already coming to an end. Remember when we were young and all those old people talked about how quickly time was passing. All I could think about was how slow the school day was and wishing I could have some of that time that was on full speed ahead. How different things are now. I look at all the things that I have on my "to do" list and I long for just a little more time to accomplish them. The girls are growing so fast, the work comes in quicker than I can get to it, and the laundry is on overflow. (Not an exaggeration). Sometimes it seems overwhelming. I think we all probably feel that way at least some of the time. Then I start thinking about all the ways that I could really do better to organize my time and keep up better, but I think the most important thing is to make sure to keep God's things first. I'm horrible about getting so busy that I forget God. Really it is the same principle as tithing. When we give God the first fruits then He will bless and multiply the rest. If I could learn to give God His part of the day then He can bless the rest of it. It comes down to what is really important. There is no contest. God should be first no matter what else is going on. Looking to the New Year is a great time to start over. I just wonder what God will do this year. I can't even begin to count the blessings from this past year and I know that God wants only to do more. How exciting!!!

Ok, so let me tell you the funniest story ever. I was looking outside and noticed how much our trampoline was sagging. I told Monty about it and he went out to shovel it off since we don't want it ruined. There is about 3 feet of snow in our back yard so it was no easy job I'm sure. Anyway, when it was all clear he decided to jump off. Of course, being the good wife that I am I was watching him do all this through the window. When he went to jump, his feet slipped out from under him. He looked like he was diving into a pool head first except I'm sure it wasn't refreshing like a pool is. He did the most hilarious nose dive into the snow. I couldn't get there in time while his legs were still up in the air, but I did get a good pic just as he got up. I'm glad it's not blurry from my laughing while I took it.


Monty working hard


Monty recovering from a snowy nose dive
Tossing the girls and making them stick in the snow was great. They loved it too.








I hope each of you have had a very Merry Christmas. We have had a great day. I'm glad the meal is done though. Now I can sit down and relax.

Merry Christmas

I ventured out this year and made nightgowns for the girls. I still need to add the button to the back but otherwise they are done. They are warm, cozy flannel. Have a Merry Christmas!!!

Sometimes you just have to laugh

Natalie was watching Home Alone tonight and I got a couple of pictures of her. She has her legs bent at the knees and then stuffed into the bucket. She stayed this way almost the entire evening. It didn't look very comfortable to me, but she scooted all over the basement and had a blast. I guess when you are cooped up in the house you have to get creative.

Snow day

What to do with a snow day? Well, after shoveling, shoveling, and shoveling some more you have to something fun. The girls played outside for a little bit, but when the snow is taller than you it is hard to get control over it. Natalie played the longest and probably would have stayed out if someone would have stayed with her. Rachel had fun, but she gives up on the cold fairly quickly. Hailey lasted all of 5 minutes, but she got stuck. She was screaming at the top of her lungs scared to death because she couldn't move and the snow had taken her mitten. We will probably find it sometime in the spring. Anyway, after all of that Bradi asked if we could make the sugar cookies that I had said we would make. Bradi did most of the dough and then she had to go. We rolled it out, cut out shapes, and frosted until we were sick of it. The girls had fun and I only had to vacuum twice. That's a record I think. Anyway, I hope you enjoy. We sure did.


Rachel, icing her cookies. I think she ate half the frosting though.


Hailey enjoyed working on the cookies too. She had to taste test occasionally though.



Natalie strikes a pose to look cute while she is frosting her cookies.

Hailey enjoying the fruits of her labor

Natalie working hard to make it perfect
Sprinkle time.

I just had to put a picture of my snowman. I think he is cute.

AND MORE SNOW!!!!

Spokane got a record snow fall of 17" in 24 hours. Check out the child's swing. (Far right) I am gald we do not need to take the garbage to the street today.

This is our back yard.

Can you see our two vans? This was shoveled clean 12 hours ago.

This is snow that has drifted up onto our porch. Can you find the driveway? I don't know why it took on a blue tint. The picture before and after are white.

SNOW!!!

Our first real snow of the season and it's a doozy (Not sure if that is the how to really spell doozy, but it works.) It started this morning when I left for the school and still has not stopped. It has snowed about 8 inches at my house with no signs of stopping. It took over an hour to get home from school. Thankfully we didn't see any accidents over here. I know there have been tons of them though and they have shut down many streets. Anyway, it is supposed to snow all night so I'm hoping some will be sure to stick around for Christmas. I love white Christmas'. I have to admit that I don't want the snow to stay as long as it did last year. That was a bit on the overkill side.

Just having fun

Hello all,
This background said it was for New Years. I haven't quite figured out the connection it has to New Years, but the green was kind of bothering me and there is only two weeks until the New Year. If I'm going to use a New Year's background, I had to do it now. With all that said, I'm actually just procrastinating from the work I know I should be doing right now. I hope all of you are having a wonderful Christmas season. We are so blessed. God just amazes me. We are so undeserving and yet He loves us anyway. Merry Christmas to each of you.

Rachel has had pink eye and looks pathetic. Her eyes aren't pink anymore, but she has rubbed them so much that they are very swollen.




Rachel was trying to smile, but it didn't quite make it.

Monty has moves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

More elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Elves in the making

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Rachel is five!!!!

Well, today is a special day in more ways than one. First of all, Rachel made it to her 5th birthday. I can't believe that time has gone by so quickly. In spite of all her craziness we love her tremendously and she is a blessing to our family. I don't know what we would do if we weren't always wondering what she is up to. It will be wonderful to see what God will do with her. She has no fear and will talk to absolutely anyone. Her heart is gold. Happy Birthday Rachel, I love you with all my heart!!! The next reason it is special is because it is also Belinda's birthday and I had three of my very close friends over for Breakfast. Belinda, Amy, Cyndi, and I have had some very interesting times. I cherish each one of them. They are my friends in spite of my downfalls and yes, they will tell me when I'm being dumb. Anyway, I made a small goody box for each of them and we enjoyed the morning just visiting. I took a picture of the table before they got here. Have a great day.


Rachel is enjoying the loom she got from Grandpa Goodman and Grandma Betty. I like it because she has to sit still to do it. YIPPEE!!!

Just some thoughts

Hello family and friends,
I am supposed to be doing work right now, but you know how that goes. What better to do than procrastinate. It seems that lately I have been more reflective than usual. I don't know if it is just because I'm getting older and seeing more or if I am just working through the feeling that are going on inside with my mom leaving and getting hurt. Maybe it is a combo of things. I am not struggling in a bad way. I just don't like emotion very much so I'm not quite sure of what to do with it. I of course have been reading all the Thanksgiving posts and remembering all that I have to Thank the Lord for. Now as Christmas approaches I look around at all the people rushing around and wondering how many of them really have a clue as to what Christmas is. Don't get me wrong, I love the decorations, the food, the family times, and of course the gifts, but I have to wonder how many of us would be content to be without those things and just be content with the gift that Christ gave. We will have our fun times this year and we will go to the Christmas parties, but what I really want to do this year is reflect on the real Christmas gift. I have had emotional struggles the last few weeks with all that has been going on that I could not change, but through it all there has been Jesus. He has been there with arms wide open just waiting for me to turn over my fears and worries to Him. That is a gift that cannot be ignored. When I look at the past few months I think that God is trying to stretch me. How incredible that He would care enough to make me a better person. I'm so thankful and I want to use this Christmas season to reflect on Him a little more than what I have in the past.

I like the Christmas-y background. Cool!

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is over already. We had such a great time at Cheri's house. It was a very lively place to put it mildly. With everyone there were 15 people. I am so blessed to have the family that I do. The pictures are kind of backwards, but you will get the point.

We were out on the front of the Ferry boat when the other was passing. The girls thought it was great to be on one "ship" and see another.

I just had to get a picture of the handsome guy up by the railing.
Natalie and Rachel being still for a second so I could snap a pic (Hailey was asleep and there was no way I was waking her up)
Rachel and Daddy (Rachel made me nervous. You never know what she will try.) The boats captain had just waved at her from the window just above so she was very excited.
Natalie is not sucking her thumb. She was wiggling her tooth the whole time. (It came out today. Now she has all 4 of her front teeth missing.)
Their first moments out of the car were filled with excitement
All the girls dressed for Church. Hailey didn't want to smile, but at least they all look pleasant.
They had a blast looking at all the sheep and llamas. I didn't realize it was raining so I took them in right after this picture. They were soaked.
Hailey found someone's hat.
Aunt Cara did great with the Veggie tray. She has some great help from the kitchen crew.