Dreamy Changes

Antique ceiling and cafe ole walls...new floor and new bedding...

Well I can't wait until it is finished...we may never leave our bedroom =)

Proof it is Hard Work to be Santa

Cole started doning his Santa hat yesterday, and hasn't taken it off yet. He seemed to be having a Sugar Plum crash! The magic is still in this house...oh how wonderful, each and every year.

Happy Birthday Mom!

So how do you keep looking younger?

Wow- How Did This Happen?

Must have been all the times I keep forgetting my camera!

Our Christmas Card

Okay, I know we have not been good about sending out Holiday cards the

past while... so in case you don't get one AGAIN this year...

Love,

The Pirate, the Party Monkey. the Reaper and the Knight.

Cole is Eight! This Face...

This is the face of tried and true
Made precious because it belongs to you

The man inside is yet to be

the little boy I love to see

You give us love and joy, my dear

my little one who bends my ear

Each new day, I think of you

and thank the Lord for all you do

I love the young man you've become

my youngest child, my loving son.

Happy 8th- Coleman the Great!

Sensational

Sensational was the name of the Fashion Show both Gary and Jen were in. It was a fundraiser that has survivors model wonderful clothing from Macy's. Oh and a yummy luncheon too. Proceeds got to St. Jude for cancer treatment.

God knew what he was doing when he put me in this family! Oh so proud, so very proud am I.

This day was like rainbows after many unexpected showers!

Check out the HOTTIE!

Everyone was behaving themselves...having fun mind you, when...out of no where comes this short woman giving her all who absolutely stole the show! This woman has been working on healing, loving life and celebrating for a very long time. If this woman doesn't inspire us...I don't know who will.

We were absolutely not prepared for the walk she was about to give. It took us til she was half way down the ramp before she started getting taped. HUGE shout out and thanks to Boel for getting all of these moments for us!

Celebrate! Shout it from the rooftops!

Throwing "Kisses": the wrapped in foil kind.

By now the audience couldn't wait to see Jen come down the runway again, it was as if everyone was on the edge of their seats! The whole place erupted in cheers when she took the stage again ...we were ready this time.

If she had done it any differently, it wouldn't be "Jen".

And the crowd wouldn't have had nearly as much fun!

A great time, A grateful time, was had by all!

Yes, even her doctors were impressed!!!

It Does a Mommy's Heart Good

I can't begin to express what today's mail brought into this house.

Today we got Cole's first state test report card.

I had trepidations to open it, because Cam has always done well, and we make over him like crazy for it....so what if?

I figured he would do well at math, as his first grade teacher still calls him Mr. Math.

In a flood, the memories of OT and Speech several times a week combined with our home district wanting to put him in SDC preschool.

We have only asked him to do his best...and always, he has pushed harder than we've realized in some ways.

Holding a tiny bit of air in, I opened it. Halelujah! This little engine that could received "advanced" in both categories (math and reading/ language arts).

It rushed over me like freight train and I burst into tears of joy. When I showed him his scores and we discussed what that meant, he smiled ear to ear and said "well yes, Mommy, I tried my best".

Its not about a test so much as accomplishments. I love that his attitude has always been so great and he has never-ever stopped trying his best.

Mrs. Oppy and Mrs. Ellefson are tremendous!

God bless all of you mommies out there!

Seriously, I can't seem to stop myself

A whole new level of domestic-ness (probably not a word).

The pressure seems to be on to get ready/ do / fix...especially be creative.

I am having the most fun with recipes to test. I know the movie Julie & Julia had a little to do with it.

Pork Chile Verde
Turkey soup/stew

and ham and turkey melts

I am making soup in 90 degree weather to store in the freezer. I have three meals preping at the same time. I am obviously feeling the pressure that I will be very busy again soon.

And this whole jewelry thing is out of control! (thanks to Cole again for modeling)

summer salsa

I ran accross a great and simple recipe that is awesome on fish, chicken...or even as a dip:

See what you think

4 or 5 diced roma tomatoes

1/2 cup capers (drain off vinegar)

1 bunch chopped green onions

5 or 6 chopped basil leaves

salt and pepper to taste.

drizzle two tablespoons olive oil over all of it and mix together.

bling baby!

In Little America, I found this necklace and fell in love.

So, I decided I would try my hand at it and this is what I came up with so far (special thanks to Cole for modeling).

Rushmore and Cody Photo Link

http://www.slide.com/r/hEuruUD30j_wz5P9YitvKqUDe2VAP4y1?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

Pics from the trip...

Outside Ten Sleeps, WY. This is one of the most beautiful areas I have ever seen. It is called Ten Sleeps because the Indian tribe would measure distance by how many nights or "sleeps" it took to get from one place to another.

Okay...we are getting close now!

Here, as a great highlight is Cole's most favorite person in history. Wow, we thought we would have to wait to go to Wasgington DC for him to see a statue of his hero.

Mount Rushmore was created by a man named Borglum. On the way in is a museum about his life and accomplishments...not to mention how Mt. Rushmore was made, and what it took to do it.

By the time we got to the monument, we were very familiar with its history which made it so much more enjoyable.

We Are On the Way Home

Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole and a wonderful little town called Dubois. We are now in Salt Lake City. Gary is flying in tonight to drive home with us. We have had so much fun and so many mishaps...see you soon!

white water wow

One of the highlights of the trip...thats for sure. The great thing about river rafting on the Wind River is that it is located on an Indian Reservation, and only one company has a permit to raft and fish there. Two boats, the whole river. It was so incredible to have that experience without the crowds.

What? Me Worry?

AND then......