ChRiStMaS! 2010

Christmas Eve in the snow

 

The Idaho cousins!

 

Tradition...



He could hardly stand the wait!



A special hat made by Grandma Kossub




A Washington D.C. puzzle from Grandma Schultz!



Jackson's favorite gifts!



Hannah's favorites



Aubrey's favorites



Taylor's favorites




This gift from Santa really got everyone excited for our upcoming trip to Washington D.C.!

Thanksgiving Traditions! 2010

The traditional Chip with the turkey breast picture....

The traditional starting of a new 1,000 piece puzzle to be finished by Christmas...

The traditional trying to blow out the candle from your seat after dinner...

Started a new tradition last year... lego masterpieces! This year we had D.C. on the brain!

The traditional mom cooking a turkey after STILL having to look up "How to cook a turkey" on the internet.

Traditional "nice" table setting for the feast

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We also traditionally watch the Macy's parade. Shortly after it was over... I saw this on the computer screen just after Jack asked to use the computer...

I love our traditions!!!

Still in awe...

after all these years! That's because more reasons keep popping up! I knew when I married him that he was a passionate person. But I had no idea just how much, and just what he'd make of that passion.

I love when he speaks to audiences. For a minute, I am so wrapped up in his message, that I forget that he is my husband! Then, when I realize I am married to the man captivating the audience, I swell with pride.

My favorite of all his presentations, is when he speaks about the famous Iwo Jima photograph. He explains in detail, each man in that picture. Where they are from, a little about their childhood, and about their lives after the photo was taken. He talks to the children about what it means to be a hero.

Then, he has six boys come up, "swear in", dress in his own uniforms, and portray the men in the picture. One by one, they take their place by the flag as Chip talks about who they are.

You can always hear a pin drop. After the presentation, I always want to stand a little closer to him so people know he is my husband. :)

I love this man. I don't care that he doesn't know where to find the spark plugs or how to change the oil. I love him for who he is today.

He touches people's lives.

He is my hero.

2010 Halloween Festivities

Perhaps I am a little behind.... but it's better than nothing?


Anyway.... this last Halloween, nobody could decide what to be for Halloween! I told them they had to be creative by coming up with a costume that didn't cost a dime. They did well!


Can you see what Hannah came up with for the church party? Underwear!! Get it? Under... "where"? A funny girl she is! Some people got it and laughed... but she hated explaining it to most people.. who didn't get it.


Taylor and her friend Shelby rummaged through their costume boxes and came up with this...


Aubrey made a cute dalmatian!

Jack got creative too! I love this one..... there aren't many people who can say they are literally - "Jack in the box."
Halloween festivities at school are always fun! I love having Anela with me - it's fun for her too. She got to eat lunch with Hannah and her best friend.

For part of Jackson's party, they square danced. I LOVE the look on his face right here when he had to hold a girl's hand!

I'm pretty sure the kid on the right won...

Anela got to make her own pumpkin. I love that the teachers always include her!

For Halloween night.. Hannah decided the weird looks and having to explain herself all night wasn't worth her underwear costume. And Jackson's box was too awkward and wouldn't be easy to run from house to house. So they also rummaged the costume box for trick or treating. When people asked Jackson what he was, he said, "confused!"

The girls went to a church dance. Aubrey as the always good last minute hippy costume, and Taylor as Wendy from Peter Pan. Funny thing was... there was a boy there dressed as Peter Pan! They even danced together! Taylor had to literally be pushed onto the dance floor to do it - super funny.

The year of creative costumes was one of my favorites! Not only because it didn't cost anything, but the kids really had fun coming up with ideas. Whew.


Even Gunner joined the fun!

Double Ones for Hannah

Hannah's Birthday in pictures...

She is a special girl, that Hannah Beth!

She is kind and generous...

She is unique.. definitely one of a kind.

She is excellent with little ones and fun to talk to!

She is a sweetheart. She lights up the room, that Hannah Beth!

And we love her so very much.

Our Awesome Fantastic Blackfoot Trip!

These wonderful people aren't related to me.

But they are related to a favorite family of ours....

The Millington's invited our family to spend the weekend with them where they grew up; Blackfoot, and Ashton, ID. I can't even begin to explain just how wonderful it was.

I am a country girl at heart for sure. I was so happy, the whole time. The pictures (in no particular order) don't do it justice.

Tons and tons of open space for the boys to shoot guns. (I'm not a bad shot myself!)

Hannah loves Larry. :)

Up in the tree house that has been there for years and years. Built by Gayla's dad of course!

Love this lady.

The two most talented on the trampoline was Miss Aubrey...

and Miss Gayla!! Check out the form!!!

Another fun device built by Gayla's dad!

A real working outhouse in the backyard! How cool is that?!?

Lance and Gayla reminiscing...

Homemade cinnamon rolls from Gayla's mom. Simply divine!!

Aubrey had the best hiding place during flashlight tag! That night was the best!

Chip having fun with photography...

Dutch oven cooking!

Wow. Just wow!

Gayla and her mama!

I got to go ATV riding!! (Is that what it's called?!) It was awesome!

This is the front yard of the house Gayla grew up in.

Some of Grampa's old tools... why do I love that so much?!

The barn at their house. Love it!

At the fair in Blackfoot. Oh yes, we did it all!!

To me, I experienced in this weekend what I would consider to be the most wonderful way of life. The feelings, the atmosphere, the openness, the beauty, the simplicity - it's all part of what made this experience like no other for me. But I also believe that had I grown up in it, I wouldn't have the same appreciation. I enjoyed my childhood. I didn't know anything different and have great memories - It was a wonderful childhood! But now that I see places like this, and listen to all the stories about growing up here, it's what I consider to be the most... I don't know - American? Traditional? Whatever it is, I absolutely loved it. And I will always remember how I felt, and how much fun we had. Thank you to the Millington's. I will never forget it! None of us will.