A little Christmas Eve fun

Everyone was home on Christmas Eve so we decorated sugar cookies, put together a Christmas scene puzzle and watched The Christmas Story and Christmas Vacation. It was wonderful to have everyone home and under the same roof again.

We woke up to some snow two days after Christmas but it rained last night and today has warmed up to the 40s so all the snow has melted. So far our La Nina winter is pretty quiet. We'll see what it does after the first of the year.

Here are few shots of the kids decorating sugar cookies:

Bailee's last JH basketball game

Bailee played her last JH basketball game on Thursday. It's hard to believe that she will be in high school next year. The photos I took are pretty grainy when you click on them to make them bigger. I forgot my tripod but at least I remembered to throw my camera in the car before school I guess!

The kids and Rick are out of school for Christmas break but I work through the 20th. Zane, Bailee and I hope to get Christmas cookies and treats made this next week. Ashley was able to get a few days off to be here and Amber did too. It'll be nice to have all of us under the same roof again. We are hoping to be able to see mom and Bruce and my sis and her family as well as Granny and Grandpa this holiday. Hopefully I'll be able to get some good family shots.

Family

Ashley was home a few weeks ago and we tried to get a few pictures that might work for Christmas cards. It was wonderful to have everyone under the same roof again.

We just survived conference week! It's hard to believe November is almost half over.

Bailee had her first basketball game of the season yesterday. The Indians lost but they worked hard. It was so much fun to watch.

Last flag football game...

Today was the last day of flag football for Zane's season and "career". Next year he will start playing tackle football. The day dawned foggy and everything was iced up but by the time we arrived for the football field at 11:30, it was much warmer and sunny. It was a gorgeous day!


Ashley arrives this afternoon to spend the weekend. It will be nice to have everyone under the same roof for a few days again. Tonight brings Halloween parties for both Bailee and Zane. Bailee isn't going to dress up but Zane is going as a blue M&M. Tomorrow we will carve pumpkins.

It is hard to believe but November arrives on Tuesday. The months are flying by.


Here are a few shots from today:

Under the lights

The two 4th grade flag football teams were asked to play against each other during half-time of the home football game on Friday night. Zane and his classmates had a great time and it was a fun experience for everyone - especially the parents. I tried my hand at taking photos under the lights. They didn't turn out very well and were really dark and grainy.

Bailee's last volleyball game is tomorrow afternoon (her basketball season starts Tuesday). We are all wearing pink and buying goodies at the bake sale. All proceeds will be donated to breast cancer research. I'm taking my camera and will try to get a few photos in the gym tomorrow and post here later this week. The gym she plays in is old and no matter what settings I try, my photos always turn out a bit yellow.

A trip to the ER

Zane played flag football this morning in Ritzville. About a minute after we arrived back home and while unloading the minivan, Bailee accidently shut the rear door down on Zane's head. That meant a trip to the ER. Amber, Rick and Noah (Zane's friend who is staying the night) took him to the ER while I stayed home to console Bailee who was a mess. As my mom always says, all's well that end's well. He doesn't have a concussion and got 3 stitches. Probably the best news for him is that he is cleared to play football next Friday. Both 4th grade teams are playing under the lights during halftime of the HS home game. Here are a few shots taken with Amber's cell phone of the head wound.

Before the stitches!

After the stitches! Unfortunately the doctor hit a blood vessel while trying to numb the area but he was all smiles as soon as everything was over.

It's beginning to feel like Autumn around here...

A nip is in the air these days and it's really beginning to look and feel like fall around here. The leaves are definitely turning and the temperatures are much cooler. Those around us have even had a few frosty mornings.

I took this picture of the apples that are still in the tree in the front yard. I really need to get them picked and can some applesauce and apple pie filling with them.

Bailee has two volleyball matches this week and Zane has another flag football game on Saturday. I start my new schedule this week as well and will work Full days on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and 1/2 days on Tuesdays and Fridays unless I'm needed to sub on those afternoons at school. Maybe I'll get those apples picked and canned yet!

Flag Football has started

Today was the first flag football game of the 2011 season. Zane's team, the Seahawks, played in Wilbur today. The weather was cool and gray and the ground was a little wet but the boys loved that. I tried to take a few action shots with my camera but many were blurry or Zane wasn't the one in focus. Some of those with him not in focus turned out kind of cool. He played quarterback on offense this game. Next week we are in Odessa.

Grandpa is here for the weekend and we are enjoying that. It feels like fall around here. Our leaves are starting to turn and the berries on the Mountain Ash are red and heavy.

Baby Chicks

Our baby chicks arrived yesterday from Murry Mcmurry. We only lost one little one in shipment. We ordered Silver Laced Wyandottes, Barred Rocks and Black Australorps. There are two little ones that look different from the others and this litte girl is one. The background in this picture is a little busy.

Here is another little girl that looks just a little different than the others.

This little girl is a Barred Rock!

My school days are flying by and here it is almost October. Bailee's busy playing JH volleyball each Monday and Thursday and I am busy running after her. Zane has flag football practices each Tuesday and Thursday and Rick is busy helping out at the practices. His games start the first Saturday in October.

Women of Faith

It's been a while since I've even thought about getting on this blog. The start of school has had me running ragged without much down time. Thankfully I made it through the first few weeks of school with my new schedule!

Bailee has her first 8th grade volleyball match tomorrow and Zane starts flag football on Tuesday. Rick is in the middle of livestock judging and tractor driving contests.

This weekend I went to Women of Faith with my good, friend Inge. We had a wonderful time and I even was able to meet Sandi Patty. I have loved Sandi since I was 13 years old and listened to her songs on cassette tapes. A couple of gals took my picture with cell phones but they are grainy and blurry unfortunately. =( Amy Grant was there for a mini concert as well as Lisa Whelchel, Marlilyn Meberg, Mandisa, Brenda Warner and Patsy Clairmont. Lucy Swindoll was there as well but did not speak. She was in the audience to watch.

Here are a few pictures of me with Sandi Patty! They are not good shots but I'm glad I have at least something to remember.

No time

There has been no time to post pictures this week much less take any new ones. It's been busy. I survived my first week of school! Yay! I had open house for the Elementary School this week and the kids had open house for their schools as well. It's going to be a great year for all!

Tonight we are headed to the Spokane Interstate Fair to watch the rodeo. Zane and Bailee each got to pick two friends to take with them and then spend the night.

Rick's busy this weekend taking kids to livestock judge in Colfax today and tractor drivers and horse judgers to Cashmere tomorrow. I guess we all have hit the school year running.

Look for more pictures posted later this week.

First day of school!

Today is the first day of school for the kiddos. Bailee is in 8th grade this year and Zane is in 4th grade. Look out world! =)

Antelope Slot Canyon

Robyn and I went to Antelope Slot Canyon outside of Page, AZ on our way back to Montana from Sedona. It was truly a remarkable place that has to be seen through the eyes of your camera as well as in person. The colors and textures of the wall of this canyon just do not show up with the naked eye. There were 13 on our truck but there were so many more people there that day. Summer is famous for the "sunbeams". I was lucky enough to catch a couple with my camera.

I spent today in my classroom getting ready for my two Junior High classes. I then helped a friend get her room sort of put together. All of our "stuff" has been put in storage for the summer and has been moved into the new JH wing of our school for this year. Our Elementary will be in this new wing for this year while they tear our part of the building down to the studs and renovate. Zane and Bailee were a big help today too. They start school on Wednesday. Just two more days until the school year starts for them!

Chapel of the Holy Cross

When we were in Sedona, AZ this summer, the Chapel of the Holy Cross was one of my favorite things to see. It was built right out of the red rocks of Sedona by a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. It is absolutely beautiful and must be seen in person to really appreciate the architecture.

This is "Madonna & Child" Rock!

I took a trip today to Learning is Fun in Spokane and think I now have almost everything I need to start school. Bailee went to a pool party today to have a last "hurrah" before school starts next week. Zane is spending today riding in the combine with dad.

It's been so beautiful here today. This evening is warm with a small breeze! Perfect August weather in my opinion.