Merry Christmas...

We are in Idaho for Christmas. We are fortunate enough to have Shyla and Clay with us as well, so we are all together. The weather is cold but not too bad.

Last night we went on a cruise on Lake Coeur d'Alene to the "North Pole". We had a great time and it wasn't too cold.

Here are some of the lights from the dock.

Geezer and Lily get to pose with Frosty.

Every Christmas we say we are going to tone it down with the gifts, but I think they multiply under the tree. Here are a few select scenes.

Lily trying to peek into her stocking.

Grace had a little trouble opening her own gifts, so Lily helped.

Shyla loves Star Wars!!!
Grace loved her music machine

Clay, decked out in his new Packers sweat shirt, looking at his Canadian coin.

Peanut and Hazel love aunt Shyla because she keeps them warm.

Aunt Shyla is great fun!!!

A big smile from Grace lets us know that Christmas was a success.

Jim is always available to read a new book.

"Dr. Lily" giving her mom a checkup.

We pray that you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a healthy, happy new year!!!

Happy Thanksgiving....

There are far too many things for which I am thankful to list, but I will name just a few.

I am thankful for my wonderful husband. I don't tell him often enough how much I appreciate his work ethic, his energy, his love. God blessed me far more than I could have ever dreamed when he gave me Bruce.

Next I am extremely thankful for my two daughters. Girls, you are bright, beautiful, wonderful Christian women and I am more proud of you than you can ever know. Both of you bring me more joy than I could ever deserve or expect. My prayer for both of you is that you continue to grow in the Lord, that you love your spouses with all of your heart, and that you call your mom more often.

I have always claimed that I have the two best sons-in-law in the world, and I stand by that claim!! I could not have hand-picked two better men for my girls to spend their lives with. As of now I don't have sons-in-law, but I have two great sons. Guys, I just want you to know I love you and appreciate the men you are.

Grandchildren are the blessings that no one can prepare you for. Lily and Grace bring me such joy. I truly enjoy the times I spend on the phone with Lily - she is truly the master of the non-sequitur!! (A hint to her parents - lets video conference more often) Grace brings me joy by just looking at her. She is so quick with a smile and is such a joy to cuddle with.

Last, but certainly not least, I am blessed with friends whom I cherish. True friends are rare and precious, and I have some of the best. God has given me friends with whom I can share my true self, and in the end, they are still my friends.

"Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods."

Aristotle

I have been blessed in my life with a comfortable living and material possessions, but I would trade anything I own for the things I mentioned above.

My prayer for each of you this Thanksgiving day is that God blesses you with all you need and that he fills your life with love.

Snow, snow, snow, snow.......

For those of you who live south of the Mason Dixon line, the white stuff in the following pictures is snow.

Yes, we have had our first snow fall of the season - certainly not the last. We received the arctic blast last night. The highest temperature for the next few days is supposed to be 29. BRRRRR!

We knew it would come, but always seem to be surprised when it arrives. Well, here's to Winter. The sooner you get started, the sooner you will go away! I can dream, can't I????



All of you who got the White Christmas reference - 10 points.

The Grandgirls...

Last weekend, Bruce and I went to Idaho to visit the kids. We had a great time. Here we are, Gramby and Geezer with Lily and Grace

Lily - the future cheer leader - with her Geezer. She really glomed onto Geezer this weekend. He helped Jim build her "cubby hole", so he was super cool!!!

The above mentioned "cubby hole". Lily with her dad in her "cupboard under the stairs".

Grace is such a sweet baby. She is so quick with a smile and loves to giggle. Here she is bonding with Gramby.
Lily loves her play camera. Here she is taking a picture of Gramby taking a picture of her.

Lastly, here is Sassy trying to stay out of the line of fire of a busy two year old.

We had a great time, as we always do when we visit Jim, Alyson, Lily and Grace.

Halloween - office style.....

Today was our Halloween party at work. We had a costume contest and a pumpkin carving contest. We had more participation this year than ever before. Here are a few pictures of the festivities.






The "Puking Pmpkin to the left is the one our unit did. We tied for 3rd place.

This, obviously, is me. The teeth really make the costume, don't you think?????

Fun with the Grandgirls...

Last weekend Jim, Alyson, Lily and Grace came for a visit. We went to the zoo on a blustery, but fairly warm, October day.

Here is a picture of Lily feeding a very eager goat.

Here is Alyson, Grace and Geezer muggin' for the camera.


The weather on Saturday was very rainy, so we spent most of the day inside playing with the girls.

I am loving on Miss Grace. She is so sweet and so quick to smile.

Geezer is making Grace giggle.


Lily enjoyed playing with the Fisher Price Farm and House. These are the very ones her mom and aunt played with about 30 years ago. Hooray for quality toys!!!

We had a wonderful weekend with the kids and can't wait to see them again soon.

The perils of fishing...

A couple of weekends ago, Shyla and Clay came up for the guys to hit the river and slay some trout. Well......check out the pictures. As you can see, fishing in the wind poses some unique hazards. Bruce has always teased about wanting to pierce his ear - I don't think this is what he meant.



The fun part was me trying to pull it out. Bruce said it didn't hurt, but I beg to differ. It hurt me quite a bit.

And now I leave you with an appropriate quote.....

"The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad." ~A.K. Best