January Fun

Since I haven't put anything on for a while here is a random blog about what has been going on.

* Mike started a new semester in school. He is taking two classes one on Tuesday and Thursday during the day and one on Tuesday night. So now he is not home until around 10pm on Tuesday.

* My friends Anita and Joey are in a Bunko group and asked me to a substitute last year. Then this year Anita asked me if I would like to be a permanent player. So the second Tuesday of every month I go "hang out" with just girls and play Bunko. If you have never played here is a little of how it goes. You play with 12 people (4 people at three tables), then you roll the 3 dice and try to get Bunko which is all dice the same number that you are on. You start with 1 then 2 and so on until six. For official rules here is website http://www.buncorules.com/. It is a lot of fun.

* Last summer we replaced all the windows in the upstairs and the bathroom window downstairs. In the process the casing that was around the windows had to be taken off. We have been trying to decide how to refinish them and Mike finally finished the one in the basement (not seen a lot so easier to experiment on). We also finished the basement bathroom. It has been an on going project since we moved in. I will try and find the original pictures I have of how it looked, but here is the finished project.

Here is the trim work:








The window turned out very well.



This is the shower Mac tiled when they lived with us.



Mike and I sponged the paint on. I think I went over the bathroom at least 3 times to get it to look the way I liked. The trim was the hardest part. We painted the ceiling and then the walls, should have done it the other way. Oh well it is done now.

* We thought the snow from Christmas was going away, Yeah, but alas we were wrong it snowed again. That's right a week ago it snowed again from about Thursday night to sometime Monday night.

* Last Saturday Tallene, Mac, their kids and Krystal came over and we played in the snow. The kids wanted to build a fort. Well that lasted a couple of arm fulls and then it was left to the adults to finish. We then had a snowball fight with Mike and Taylor on the snowmobile, Mac and Eliza on the 4-wheeler and Tallene, Krystal and I in the snow fort.

Building the fort.













The snowman Taylor and I built.

New Year's Eve

HAPPY 2009 !!!

This year for New Year's Eve we ended up staying home and having the party at our house. At first Mike, Krystal and I had decided that we were going to to do something, but had no specific plans. A friend from out of town, Nate Palmer, wanted to spend New Year's with us. Then I talked to my friend Rachel and she and her son were not doing anything so I invited them to come over. Her son Sascha and my brother Nathan are about the same age so I invited him to come over and my mom decided to come as well. Then my sister Tallene, Mac and their three kids decided to come over. Non the less, we ended up with a full house.

We decided to make home made pizza's for dinner and as usually everyone enjoyed them. For most of the night we played Wii Sports and had bowling, tennis, boxing, and baseball matches. Then the grown-ups went upstairs for some card games of Response and Rage. We ended the night ringing in the New Year watch the ball drop and dring sparkling apple cider. Everyone had a fun relaxing night.

Christmas Weekend Adventure

Merry Christmas!

This Christmas can be summed up in one word, Adventure.

That's right this Christmas is an Adventure just trying to get where we needed to go. About the Saturday before Christmas it started to snow in Idaho Falls and didn't stop until after Christmas. We had family coming from Utah, on both sides, who weren't sure if they were going to make it. Gratefully they all made it here and home back safely.

On Christmas Eve we spent the evening at Mike's moms house with Gary, Krystal, Auntie Marsha, and Grandma Pack. We ate a nice ham dinner, played games, opened presents and watched a movie Krystal had made until it was time for church. For the last few years Mom, Mike, me, and whoever else happens to come have been going to the midnight Christmas service at the Presbyterian church. This year Grandma went with us. We were giving her a hard time because this year she decided not to change into something nicer and just wore her jeans. She commented that it was probably the first time she had ever wore her jeans to a church service. The service was very nice and we commented that it helped with the Christmas spirit feeling. All the other worries seem to slip away when you sing Silent Night and the candles are lit and then the bells ring in Christmas.

This is where the Adventure comes in. On Christmas day we woke up exchanged gifts, got ready, and headed out for breakfast at Tallene's house. As we rounded the first S curve we noticed that there was a guy in a small pickup stuck near the second S curve and another guy trying to push him out. Mike stopped and went to help, they were able to push him out. Then the other guy got into his larger truck and tried to go. He was stuck as well. We backed up and tried to pull him out, but my Durango was just not heavy enough to pull him out. Mike decided that we would go back to the house and exchange vehicles to his dads truck that has the plow on it.

On our way back home another truck was coming and we stopped him and let him know that there was some stuck up ahead. By the time we switched vehicles, put on our snow gear, and headed back the other truck had helped the guy that was stuck. Mike decided to go ahead and try to clear a path so no other vehicles got stuck. As we started to plow the snow sucked the plow in, the truck went sideways and we were stuck too. Mike was able to rock us out and get unstuck. We then decided that the snow was too heavy here to plow and that we would try the other way out.

There were a couple of vehicles that pulled up behind us just as we were getting out that turned around as well. One truck was ahead of us and as we watched her try to go the other way, she got stuck as well. Now the guy that lives at the house on the straight next to the first curve, had been riding his snowmobile around and warning people that they might get stuck. He got in his truck with a plow, and backed up to try and pull the lady in the truck out. Mike went and helped and him and another guy were able to get her unstuck. The guy in the plow tuck decided he would try and clear a path. Just as he was getting to the end a teenager decided to go around all four vehicles, mostly large trucks, and try and get through in his little SUV. He got stuck as well. By this time I had called Tallene and let her know that were not going to make it and we decided to just go home and wait to get out later.

At around 1:30 we decided to try again to get out. We loaded up the truck with presents and food and set off again. We had watched a number of vehicles go by and not come back so, we decided to go back the same way again. As we rounded the S curve the guy with the truck and plow was pulling another SUV out. Mike helped him again and he told us that just as fast as he plowed it the snow would blow back in. We decided to try another road past our house that has more houses and fences. It worked! This road was drifted in, but not as bad and Mike was able to bust through the drifts with the plow. It is nice to know now how to get out when this happens in the future.

We arrived at my mom's house and ate dinner (ham again), opened gifts, visited and made gingerbread houses. Tallene, Mac, Mike and I decided it was going to be too cold to go out and play in the snow. So to keep everyone entertained we decided to make gingerbread houses. Everyone seemed to enjoy decorating their house and it kept the kids entertained.

We headed home, now knowing the best way to go, with no problems. It may have been an adventure getting to see everyone and to enjoy the day, but it will not be soon forgotten. It was nice being with all of the family. This year we had all six kids, their families and both sets of grandparents there.

The next day the roads were cleared by the county. Yea! Mike and I met Mac and Bobby for lunch. While Tallene took Taylor and Eliza to the movies. I then watched Bobby while Mike and Mac cleared out families drive-ways. Then everyone met at our house and we played on the snowmobile. Later that evening Auntie Marsha and Grandma came over and we watched the Jazz Game, they won Yeah!

On Saturday we went to my Grandma Turnbows house for the Turnbow family Christmas party. We ate and visited with Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins that we have not seen for awhile. It was nice to see everyone and catch up.

A new year is right around the corner. Have fun with your Adventures, you never know what is going to happen.

Christmas Activities

Christmas time is definitely here.

The past two weeks we have been to Christmas parties, the Nutcracker Suite Ballet, the Museum of Idaho's Christmas Time display, shopping, decorating and baking.

Saturday December 6th started the Christmas activities. In the afternoon we went to a Party at my friend Tiffany's House and then in the evening saw the Nutcracker Suite Ballet. My two nieces Taylor and Eliza are now tacking ballet classes and every year the ballet studio performs with a professional ballet studio from Utah. The last time I remember seeing the Nutcracker was in grade school and it was only half of the performance. It was fun to go see the whole show and the girls did great.

On Sunday the 7th, I took down all the Thanksgiving decorations and started putting up the Christmas decorations. Take a look at some of the changes:

This year we decided to decorate our tree a little different, we decided to do more of a theme tree. Mike found LED Snowflake lights that were white and blue. After we put the lights on we decided that the tree did not need much else, so we just put on some blue and clear bulbs, frosted icicles, and few other decorations. Here is the best picture that I got with the lights on:

Last weekend was candy making. Mike and I decided together what treats to make. There is always the traditional treats of peanut butter balls and triple peanut butter bars, but the rest

changes. Here is two days worth of work:

Top: Brownie fingers and Chocolate toffee truffles

Bottom: Fudge, Peanut butter balls (107 balls), Scotcharoos, Triple Peanut butter bars

Last Friday we went to the Museum of Idaho. They are having a free Christmas exhibit, displayed are Santa Clause's, Gingerbread houses and Nativities. It was neat to see how talented some people are with decorating the gingerbread houses. My favorite nativity was from Africa. If you are in Idaho Falls it is a nice thing to go see. We went with Krystal and Tallene's family and the kids enjoyed it as well. The exhibit goes until January 7th.

I hope everyone is enjoying their Holiday's and that you have a very Merry Christmas!

Snowman

Saw this on a website and thought it was cute, enjoy!

Things I Learned From A Snowman

• It's okay if you're a little bottom heavy.



• Hold your ground, even when the heat is on.



• Wearing white is always appropriate.



• Winter is the best of the four seasons.



• It takes a few extra rolls to make a good mid-section.



• There's nothing better than a foul weather friend.



• The key to life is to be a jolly, happy soul.



• We're all made up of mostly water.



• You know you've made it when they write a song about you.



• Accessorize! Accessorize! Accessorize!



• Don't get too much sun.



• It's fun to hang out in your front yard.



• There's no stopping you once you're on a roll.

I made myself a snowball
as perfect as could be.
I thought I'd keep it as a pet
and let it sleep with me.
I made it some pajamas
and a pillow for its head.
Then last night it ran away,
But first--it wet the bed!

You Are My Snowman (Tune: You Are My Sunshine)

You are my snowman, My only snowman. You make me happy, On days of gray. And when the sun's out, You'll hear us all shout. Please don't take our snowman away!

The sun came out,and the snowman cried.His tears ran downon every side,His tears ran downTill the spot was cleared.He cried so hardThat he disappeared!