ch fun, and the kids did too:) It was the first time we have taken a day for just family in a LONG time. Away from home, no pictures or video to work on, no cleaning, no running errands, no cares....just us and the kids having fun. Alanys wasn't too p
umped in the beginning, but she warmed up, and ended up lov
ing it too!
tures that you have ever seen! Well, their days are numbered here now...we got our house treated last week! Thank goodness, they were starting to give me nightmares! The only rooms we have seen them in inside are the computer room (off the family room)
and the family room. If they were in any of the bedrooms, I think I would have treated the house a long time ago...I wouldn't have been able to sleep knowing they could be falling down on me! Here are a few pictures to show you what they look like. Be prepared to be disgusted! The first three pictures are the same picture, just blown up a little closer in each one. These are the tracks they build to stay in the dark as they are coming down looking for water. (mind you, these trac
ks are made
out of OUR HOUSE that they are slowly destroying!! Infuriating!)
frans' finger! Gross!
Home Depot is our new home away from home. Guess what that means anybody? HUNDREDS of feet of trim is up in the house. Tonight the floors were started. We decided that they needed something. Will post a new pic of the living room when it is complete. It will be beautiful ... my hubby is such a crafty guy! Last week we did the living top to nearly bottom. I feel like I now live in a world void of color, but the room feels bigger! And ... I am still struggling with picture frames. I love pictures of people. I usually have framed photos everywhere. I have run out of spaces for them. I keep moving the pile from floor spot to different floor spot because I can't decide what to part with.
Last Tuesday we played like it was vacation from school. These photos are actually taken at 12:30 a.m. Jari, Alyx, Brock & I played several games of Settlers. Tia had friends over to celebrate her birthday and they had "hair stuff" going on in the living room at the same time. Fun times!
Today was garage sale day. Considering my usual luck with sales ... today was a boon. Let's hope for great success tomorrow. Jenny and girls came and spent the night last night ... setting up the sale, visiting and munching Valentine candy 'til much too late. 
up on the rooftop of this barn we all stood pulling out nails from the delicate wood
I told them "save this" 'cause i knew in my heart theses were memories, not wood we were pulling apart
Grandpa's hands were like iron, all callused like bone he worked the foundation setting stone upon stone
he built up a fortress to feed and keep warm the animals we raised "up north" on the farm.
the red paint has faded and turned almost gray from the time it was weathered to protect all the hay.
The pictures for you to hang on your wall and have it spark memories by some, or by all.
when you glance at the barn in this old wooden frame remember the wood and from where it whence came.
Nail by nail it went up by grandpa just once..... nail by nail it was preserved by eric, brian your sons.
Merry Christmas Becky!
love, Laurie
in a Manger, then the conformation class joins them, reads the Christmas gospel, then they all finish the song together..Kierstyn 
was not at all nervous, and you could hear her loud and clear! I have had a few people tell me since then that we have a budding singer on our hands! Definately a kuoppala!:) Alyx was one of the lucky ones in her grade to read part of the story. This is the only picture I got of Lindsey. The back row was supposed to be standing on the step behind them. oh well. I love the sunday school program...I just wish that I could have sat through more of it than I did this year. Alanys was w
ay too loud to sit in the church!
the Brainerd bake sale....I did not know before that, that those are Frans' favorite cookies! So we had to make those:) Kierstyn was just fired up to be helping me make them! Lindsey was at school, and the other girls were sleeping, so it was pretty neat. And to all you bakers, don't laugh at my small little bottle of vanilla in the picture!! It was all the store had left, but when I got home, I realised that I did have a big bottle afteral
l!
't let us down, he left us a note again thanking us for them! He gets awful hungry on his route!
and remember what's most important to us...our faith, then our family and friends and our health. And be thankful for all that we are blessed with.
s, corn, cranberries etc, but it was mighty good! Don't forget the cranberries for dad! And the best part.....Frans cooked everything:) All I did basically was put the tablecloth
on the table! Late in the afternoon at about 5:00 we went to my mom and dad's for pie and coffee.A picture of Kierstyn in the middle of the mess in her own little world playing with her new pollypockets, and Toni and Kierstyn playing with their new barbies. Ch
ristmas wa
s all about the kids this year, and it was special!
Looking back on the last year, we have many reasons to be thankful! And we have many hopes and plans for the new year!
I will end my book now!! It is LATE....just realised that I have spent about 45 minutes putting in this post!!
Have a great weekend everyone!
p.s. Steven, you should be getting your gift any day! Sorry it was so late!
Jake is my "muscle." He's the "wheel" dog and pulls closest to the sled. He loves running, is very independent and is up for anything, anytime....let's just get to it!" Wants to go, go, go!!!
Sonny is my talking dog. When he barks, he yells..."hubba, hubba, hubba." He is soooo funny. He is one of Nyla's puppies. : )
Carlos is a very smart guy and lover. He loves me and wants to be my best friend and gives me hugs to prove it. He is almost as tall as me on two legs. I may train him to be a leader, he is definitely smart enough. : ).jpg)
Baby's original name was Brownie, she was born of Nyla. I think they've called her baby, cuz she literally "cries" to get running! She is really a big baby. The most submissive of the whole pack. She will try to instigate things with newcomers just to prove to her pack buddies she's worthy of staying in the pack.
Jimmy is my other lead dog. Very smart, also loves attention but doesn't want you to know that! Very aggressive and wants to put every other male dog in his place! : )
Nyla loves people and attention and is very submissive to people, but I believe
she is the true pack leader (the brains and one of my lead dogs!)
The Christmas tree is up.
Tia hangs Christmas stockings. Still haven't finished the ones I am stitching. One day I was thinking of the 3,500+ miles I have to drive this summer and all the cross stitch floss I could use .... then I remembered that I need to DRIVE!
Aloe vera is ready to bloom in front of the house.
Christmas Eve we went to church for a 3:00 service. So enjoyable with good reminders about the many blessings we enjoy in life.
The freeway on the way home. We got in some good Christmas carol singing and laughing. If you have any questions about why we are pining for the "woods", check out the landscape in this picture. Smog covers the earth like a cotton blanket. Ugh.
Anna as we wait for dinner to finish cooking. We enjoyed scalloped potatoes with ham, ceasar salad, jello and dinner rolls. We missed you all at our table.
The wonderful, fun, quite normal aftermath of paper.
