Let it snow, let it snow, QUIT snowing already!!!

Well, this winter has made up for last winter in spades!!!  So far, we have had 100 inches of snow and it is still coming down.  As an added bonus, the temperature right now is -13 degrees.  Yeah!!!

 This was the street on my drive to work on Tuesday.  Note the mound of snow in the middle of the street.  At many points, it was taller than the car.

 This was a picture I took on Wednesday of the front walk.  Bruce had plowed and shoveled that morning before he went to work, and this is what it was like when I came home at 1:00.  Notice the depth of the snow plowed up.

 This was taken a few minutes ago of the same location.  Notice the depth of the snow now.  This was just a three day difference in snow levels.

 This is the back deck taken on Wednesday.  The depth of the snow is deceptive considering we have had two thaws this month and this snow level is just the latest.

This is another view of the front yard.

Winter usually doesn't bother me very much.  I have chosen to live in Montana and know that winter and snow is a part of that choice, but this winter has been a test of my reserve.  I don't actually mind the snow, and I don't even mind the cold.  What I hate is trying to drive in this mess.  I keep trying to convince Bruce that I need a 4 wheel drive vehicle, but to no avail.  Oh well, Spring will be here eventually...maybe July???

I Can't Believe I Took So Long...

Well, I haven't really dropped off the face of the earth, but you might think so.  I realized the other day that I never wrote about our Christmas holiday.  So here goes....

The entire family converged on Shyla & Clay's home in Oklahoma this year.  It was crowded, chaotic and a lot of fun!!!

We had a little bad weather driving down which is to be expected in December, but we arrived safely.  The first thing we saw when we arrived was this...

Yeah!!!  Shyla and Clay are giving Pierce a little brother or sister in July!!!  We couldn't be more thrilled.  They are wonderful parents and another little one will make their life just that more full of blessings.

The day before we arrived, Oklahoma had been hit with an ice storm.  Everything was covered with a thick layer of ice.

This was the ice coating on Shyla's flower bed and patio lamp.  Brrrrrrrrrrrr!!

The tree was overflowing with gifts.

The stockings were stuffed as well.

Because Jim, Alyson and the girls were flying home on Christmas morning, we actually had our celebration on Christmas Eve.  I don't think the kids even noticed!!!  The kids had fun tearing into their goodies.

However, the dogs didn't seem to care one little bit!!!

Pierce fell in love with his Geezer.  He called him "Dudee".  Don't know why but he was very sad when it was time to go.

The day after Christmas was quite a bit warmer so Pierce was able to play on the patio with his car.

While we were in Oklahoma, we were blessed to be able to visit with our friends, Robin & Steve.  They had moved to Oklahoma from Billings just a few months before and it was SO good to be able to visit with them.
We miss them so much!

Well, that pretty much sums up our Christmas holiday.  We had such a wonderful time in Oklahoma with our children and our friends. 

A visit with the Kleins...

We went to Idaho this last weekend to visit the kids. We had a great time. 

Miss Grace

Miss Lily

Miss Clementine

Making Geezer beautiful!!

What a good sport.

The beach bunny.

Geezer & Lily in the Kayak

A couple of cuties.

Making cotton candy.

Clementine wanted to try on the play clothes for me.  Here are the many personalities of Clementine:

On Friday night we went to Wallace, Idaho, to see the Melodrama.  We walked around town for a while before the play.

On Saturday we went to Spokane to pick fruit.  The farm had a petting zoo that the girls loved!!

We had a great weekend.  The weather was perfect and we did a lot of activities.  At night the girls were pooped - as were all of the adults!!

Family Camp 2013...

We were blessed to be able to spend a week at Family camp this summer.  We were doubly blessed to have both daughters and their families join us.  An entire week with our kids and grandkids at camp - it doesn't get any better than that!!!

And now for your viewing pleasure, Family Camp with the Blackketter Clan...

 Grace loved to be pushed in the swing by Geezer.

 Shyla and Pierce in the "boat", "castle", "house", or whatever.

 The sandbox is a great hit with the kids.  They got filthy dirty but had a ball!!

 Grace played in the water at every opportunity.

 Lily spent much of the week chasing and catching butterflies.

 Pierce loved to crawl around on the ground.  He was a big hit with everyone.

 Lily loved to slide down the pole.

 Pierce and his wonderful smile.
Snoozing on Mom is always a good idea.

Lily mugging for the camera.

 Clementine and Pierce both got a lot of mileage off this little scooter.

 Pierce in the chapel. 

 Grace being a monkey.

 A slightly disheveled Clementine.  Note the bandage on the forehead.  She took a header out of a chair and knocked her head pretty good.

 More time in the sandbox.

 A little grandma time.  I loved the cuddles.

 Grace loved to pick flowers for everyone.

 Clay, Shyla and Pierce.

 Gramby, Geezer and the grands.

 Geezer and Clementine.  What a great couple of smiles.

 One last goodbye before the girls head out.

Family camp is always a wonderful week of food, fellowship, and fun.  Can't wait for next year!!!