William's 9th Birthday

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Check out this digital scrap book of Cora Barnes and our granddaughter Tyler:

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MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

"The most vivid memories of Christmases past

are usually not of gifts given or received,

but of the spirit of love,

the special warmth of Christmas worship,

the cherished little habits of the home."

~ Lois Rand

Christmas 2010 is over.  I spent the day yesterday "putting Christmas away".  That meant taking down all the decorations around the house...emptying the remaining candy from the stockings (along with empty candy wrappers!)...and replacing each ceramic figure from our Nativity set in its styrofoam bed for another 11 months.  As I put decorations away, my mind replayed the laughter and joy that filled our house this Christmas.  All our children except Bethany, Tanner and Ty, were able to be home for the holiday.  My Dad drove out from North Dakota to be with us as well. There was much music making, cookie baking, last minute shopping and non stop talking in our home. We also enjoyed a few Christmas movies all together. 

Our New Year was spent at the hockey rink just down the hill from us.  Erik played in a High School tournament which Missoula hosted.  That meant parents had to volunteer for many jobs.  I learned to do the score sheet and run a penalty box!  We are never to old to learn new skills.  The tournament was great fun and Erik's team won the championship!  I will post a few pictures in a day or so.

Now I turn my attention to music...preparing for two Symphony concerts.  Our table is full of stacks of music waiting to be placed into folders: Bizet...Copland....Tschaikovsky...Beethoven...Holst...quite an variety!

...and I hear the weather man has predicted more snow tonight.  Let it snow!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER!!



Our precious Tyler Elizabeth turned One this month!!
I actually heard her say "Nana" so that is officially my name now.



I went to visit Beth, Tanner, Tyler and Monica last week
to celebrate Tyler's Birthday.
We had a wonderful time...Tanner and the girls!
Monica was just preparing for a trip overseas.
I was able to spend some time in the Prayer Room at
Every Home for Christ
as well as enjoy Colorado's autumn colors.
Jim stayed home with the boys: spitting, drinking straight out of the milk jug
and wrestling.  (The things boys will do when Mom is away!)
Tanner, on the other hand had to endure conversations about feelings
and drink hot cider from "delicate mugs". 



Two of my beautiful girls!



Happy Autumn Everyone!!







A FEW SUMMER DAYS IN MINNESOTA

After many miles of driving, Jim, Erik, William
and I arrived in Minnesota. We first stopped
at my sister's home on Spider Lake.....
amid flowers and fairy houses.
Had a wonderful albeit brief visit.

Jim let me get a really cool camera as a gift.  I still have much to learn about photography but here is one of my experiements:
A photo of the lake where Jim spent his boyhood summer days...
Lake Minnetonka.
Beautiful place.

...and then I celebrated my 51st year of life.

     

 Some fun words from the Caribou Coffee Company:
"Life's to short for -
   Grudges
     Fake anything
  Putting profits before people
     Over-roasted coffee
  Waiting for change to happen
      Wifi you have to pay for
    Crabby people"
At 51 I am thankful for forgiveness, authenticity, good coffee, the chance to continue growing and changing....and best of all...wonderful family and friends who are not crabby!!!

William Gets Baptized

Today William was baptized by his Dad!

In this photo, our new pastor, Josh is praying for our son.

One of William's very good friends at church also got baptized

so it was a very special day for them....a day they will

 long remember, I am sure!

SPRING BREAK IN FLORIDA!!

We had an absolutely beautiful time with Grandparents in Florida over Spring Break! After a rainy, cool winter for the people living in the "Sunshine State", we were blessed with warm sunny days....beautiful blue seas...toasty white sand and great times of laughter and talking with family.  (And the girls beat the boys in water volleyball!!!!!) We were all together except for Peter and Amanda - who we missed terribly. 

The highlight of our trip was, of course, Tyler Elizabeth.

Now 6 months old - and still with blue eyes!!

Here she is all dressed up for Easter Sunday with her Grandpa Jim.

 We keep saying she looks so much like Bethany!

What an amazing gift of God!!

5 letters: R - E - L - A - X

Good bye, sun....see you tomorrow.....

Well, in Missoula right now we have to say,

See you in a few days.....

Florida!!

On this final day of March,

the sky is blue,

the sun warm

and the Atlantic Ocean inviting.

I am here in south Florida enjoying time with my Mom and Brother.
Friday our family will join together on the Gulf Coast to celebrate Easter weekend.
We sadly will be missing Peter and Amanda.
But for now I am thankful for a few warm days of sunshine
before I return to Montana to await Spring.

U-16 State Hockey Champs!

Well, the boys did it!

They won State for the second year in a row.

Today they beat Salmon 8-0.

All the forwards pose. Erik is 2nd from the left.


Soaking it all in.

Of course we have to do the "Parent Pose".

Jim was manager of the team this year.

He was a great manager!

There it is!

HOCKEY!!!

We spent this weekend in the Tri-Cities, WA

watching Erik's hockey team play in a U-16 tournament.

The team played great and faced some excellent

competition. They took 2nd place in the tournament.

I always know how to find Erik on the ice

by his yellow skate laces!