I can't believe the New Year has already begun! Christmas Break went by way too quickly! Steve had 3 weeks off of work which was so nice. And V, was home from school for about a week and a half, It was so hard this Monday having them leave and go back to work and school, I also had work this week as well. I can't remember if I've mentioned this on this blog before or not; I'm a substitute cook for the school district,  This is my third year doing that Every year I seem to get called up more and more often to work, Usually it averages to about once or twice a month, But last month and this month I've been more busy, I worked the last week and half before Christmas Break and this whole first week back. I've really come to enjoy the work. I'm grateful they've worked with me in that most shifts start at 7:00 in the morning {a few start a little later in the morning} but I don't come in until about 8:15 after I've taken V, to school, So it's nice that I can still drive V. to school and this job really doesn't affect our home life at all. I only work during the times when I normally would be home alone anyway, But I am glad that this week was my last full week of subbing. It'll be nice to get back to my old routine next week of hitting the gym in the mornings and getting housework and errands done before V. is home from school.
 Anyhoo, enough about that....
We still have Christmas up and I love it!! But I think we'll be taking it down this weekend. Our tree is so pretty I don't want to take it down but it does take up a lot of space in our little living room, so it's time for it to come down. Steve will probably just toss it out in the back garden and in the Spring he'll chop it up to use for firewood, It'll smell real nice when we use it for our fire pit this Summer!
I'm looking forward to tomorrow and having V, home {we don't have school on Fridays}. We're just going to get some work done around the house and hit up Costco and Winco for some groceries.
Well, it's late and time to sign off. I'm hoping to post more often even if it's just to jot down some thoughts or to journal my day. 

More snow fun!

We have had such a good Winter for snow this year!

During the Holidays Steve pulled V. and her cousin on a sled behind the 4-wheeler. {And maybe I joined in on the fun as well!}

It was so much fun!

 Almost everyday when V. gets home from school she asks to go play in the snow. She has loved it!

There have been a few times where she'll come in and ask for a spoon or a cup. Or both. When I looked outside I found her digging in the snow with the spoon and I'm not sure what she did the cup!
But I love seeing her imagination at work! Such a cutie!

We always follow snow playing with hot cocoa and sometimes a warm bath. I'm so happy we've had good snow to play in this year!

Winter Fun

In February some friends of ours invited us up to their cabin with them for some snow fun! We drove up to Kilgore then from there we had to take snow machines up into the hills to the cabin. Because of my back I couldn't ride a snowmobile. :(

So I rode up in the snow cat with all the supplies.

V. and the other girls all got along great! They always do! We might not see them for a few months but when we get together the girls pick up right where they left off!

 Steve and V. had fun playing in the snow! The snow was so deep it was up past Steve's knees! He buried V. in the snow in this picture.

 Playing around!

 V. and our friends' girls. They had so much fun!

 Steve and V. on the snowmobile.

I was pretty bummed that I couldn't go for a ride. But I sat by the fire and read and still enjoyed myself.
Thanks to Nic and Jenna for inviting us along! It was fun and we hope to do it again next year! {Maybe I'll be able to "play" next time!}

Jackson/YellowStone October 2012

Last October we took our annual trip to Jackson and Yellowstone. Steve's brother Mike came with us. I think he said he'd only been once before.
We went up to Jackson and stayed the night. Then the next morning we drove up to Yellowstone and came home later that night. As always, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!
The year before there was snow on the ground. This time there was no snow but it still was very cold!

Here we are in Jackson Hole!

 Looking at Lewis Falls.

 Waiting for Old Faithful to go off!

 Tuckered out.

Steve's brother Mike really enjoyed the trip. And he was a good sport to play knock-knock jokes with V. and let her follow him around. She loves that he calls her kiddo!
I think we all decided we'd like to go back in the Spring when the bears are out. So maybe in a couple months I'll be posting about another trip!

Today's thoughts....

* Last night my dream was in black and white. I vaguely remember Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra and Will Smith. That's it. That's all I remember!
* The wind has been howling non-stop since sometime last night. Even now, I can hear it blowing the snow against the windows. But it almost sounds more like a rain sound then snow...I just checked. It's snow. Just harder sounding I guess.
* My back has been feeling better the last few days! I'm hoping this means that as I continue taking it easy my back will continue to heal!
Steve and V. have been so good! V. has been vacuuming for me, helping me carry in groceries, and helping to remind me to not lift this or that. Steve has been taking out the garbage, carrying laundry around for me, and all sorts of other stuff!
I hate being more dependant on them, but am so grateful for them!
* Steve and his dad gave me a priesthood blessing the other night. I am so grateful that Steve honors his priesthood and actively exercises his priesthood power. I know that my back will heal if I follow my chiropractors advice, and have faith that the Lord will help with the healing process if I follow His promptings, and guidance.
* Here in a little bit we are going to go for a drive in the truck. We enjoy sometimes just driving around as a family. There should be some awesome snow drifts to drive through!

My Thankful November

Day 1} I am so thankful for a husband who does so much for us, for me.
Day 2} I am Thankful V. has been out of school the last 2 days. I've enjoyed not having anything to do but sleep in, hang out and just being together!
Day 3} I am Thankful for a lovely daughter who has taught me every aspect there is to Motherhood.
Day 4} I am Thankful for the opportunity V. and I had to listen to a beautiful violinist last night.{ Jenny Oakes Baker} I'm grateful we had the means to attend, grateful we have the gift of hearing so we could enjoy the music, grateful for the gift of music, and grateful for a wonderful person who is a great example to my young daughter and young ladies everywhere!
Day 5}  I am Thankful for my crockpot. We had a busy evening but it was nice to come home to a yummy smelling home and a delicious hot meal!
Day 6} Today I am Thankful I have the right to vote! I love this country I live in!
Day 7} I am Thankful for the opportunity I had to go to the Temple today. And I'm Thankful we have one so close to us.
Day 8} I am Thankful for the wonderful sisters in my ward!
Day 9} I am Thankful for beautiful snow!
Day 10} Even though it was freezing cold, I am Thankful I had the health and ability to run a 10k this morning.
Day 11} I am so, so Thankful for Steve working hard to provide for us and enabling me to stay at home with V.
Day 12} I am Thankful for movie nights with my hubbie!
Day 13} I am Thankful that I can help in V's classroom every week. I absolutely love it!
Day 14} I am Thankful for the opportunity to serve others.
Day 15} I am Thankful that my daughter has a teacher who loves and cares for her. V. loves school and is just soaking it all up!
Day 16} I am Thankful for modern transportation.
Day 17} I am Thankful for wonderful extended family members!
Day 18} I am Thankful for gospel doctrine/teachings discussion moments with my little girl.
Day 19} I am Thankful for the beauty of Nature and the sound of rain!
Day 20} Today I am Thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who is always there, just a prayer away.
Day 21} I am Thankful for the love of my family.
Day 22} Today I am Thankful for all the many blessings in my life. I am honestly so blessed!
Day 23} I am Thankful I was able to take a little bit of time for myself today!
Day 24} I am Thankful we live close to my parents and could come over to help them put up Christmas!
Day 25} I am Thankful for the sweet innocence and simplicity of my daughter's faith in Heavenly Father.
Day 26} I am Thankful for whoever took the time to answer V.'s letter to Santa. They help make this time of year so magical!
Day 27} Have I already said this? I am so Thankful for the Plan of Salvation and the knowledge that families are forever. I LOVE my family and am Thankful we will be together always!
Day 28} I am Thankful for my wonderful parents!
Day 29} I am Thankful for the sound of laughter in my home!
Day 30} I am Thankful for the wonderful friends I have in my life!

Christmas!!!

We had a fun, busy Christmas season.

This year, I wanted to try really hard to teach V. about the importance of giving. We have a cute, little house advent thing that has drawers that pull out. Last year I tried putting scriptures for us to read in each drawer. But we also have a really good advent book that also has scriptures and it got a little confusing. So this year I thought we'd do random acts of kindness. In each drawer there was a slip of paper with an act of kindness V. could do. Some were small like do your chores without being asked, tell a family member you love them, be kind to another child at school, etc. Some were things we do every year anyway like give a gift to your school/piano/ballet teacher, take treats to nieghbors, etc. Some were fun like tape candy canes to atm's around town or tape quaters to vending machines. Some were a little bigger: bake and take goodies to the library staff, to the fire and police departments. And some required a money sacrifice from V. like buying a toy to donate to Toys for Tots and buying some canned food for the FoodBank. And yes, V. used her own money for those.They were all fun and V. couldn't wait each morning to open up a drawer and see what act of kindess she could do that day. We will definetly be doing this every year from now on! And I enjoyed doing it with her as well and giving to people all season long!

We had a family party at my parents.

 V. and her cousin loved watching the train go around and around grandma and grandpa's tree~

 My dad in the background, my brother, and my sister holding my niece. Isn't she a cutie? And V.~

 Steve and V. having fun!~

 Some family chaos. We had the kids put on the nativity. {Unfortunately I didn't have the camera ready for that.}  This photo is everyone getting ready for the white elephant gift exchange~

 My Dad and V. watching all the fun~

 I tried taking a couple of panoramic photos of everyone. But I still only got a few people in the photo and not everyone~

 Then we started fun Christmas time with Steve's family.
Here's a photo of V. and her cousin and her Aunt Randi making cookies~

 These two are so cute together. A regular little Thelma and Louise.~

 Our Christmas tree and village at home~

 V. in her Christmas pj's watching Santa's flight across the world. She couldn't wait for him to get to the United States!~

 Making chocolate milk with daddy for Santa~

 We got V. a bike for Christmas! We knew her reaction to it could go 2 ways~ She could be all excited or be like,"yay. I got a bike. whoop-dee-doo." Lucky for us, she was excited! First thing she did on Christmas morning was see the empty plate of cookies and empty glass. She knew Santa had been here! Then her eyes moved up into the living room and she exclaimed," A bike!" Went running into the living room to look at it, then saw her stocking from Santa on the couch. Here's a picture {blurry, sorry} of her bike~

 V. had seen this little doll at the local bazaar that she fell in love with. I told her to ask Santa for it. And every since our West Yellowstone trip here, she has been wanting a bison. I, again, told her to ask Santa for one.
Santa delivered  both and she was thrilled!~

 Christmas morning!~

A better photo of her bike~

Unwrapping gifts~

After we did our own Christmas we went to Steve's parents.
Again I tried to take a panoramic~

Steve's 96 year old Grandma opening up a gift~

Steve's Grandma and Dad~

Steve's mom made all the boys these hats with moustaches. We were all laughing so hard!
Steve is in the blue one. Don't they look like the Mario Brothers?~

A couple days after Christmas, Steve's sister Nona showed up with her two little boys. This was our first time meeting baby M. { I don't know what's up with Nona's face here}~

V. loved playing with her aunts~

Aunt Jo painted with the girls~

So there's a recap of our Christmas!

A fun, busy, family filled Holiday Season!

The North Pole Express

In December we did our annual North Pole Express trip. This year we invited Steve's nephew to go with us as well as my parents and me sister and her family. It was alot of fun!

Here's a picture of us waiting to board~

 V. and some of her cousins~

 Steve on the train and V. looking out the window. The scenery is always so beautiful!~

 Me on the train~

 V. and her cousin at the North Pole having fun while waiting to see Santa~

 Steve and I looking silly~

 V. and her cousins with Santa~

 My two cuties~

 Two weirdos~

 Santa and Mrs. Claus on the train ride home. They took time to visit with each child~

As always, this was a fun trip with lots of memories! We can't wait to go again next Christmas!