Living The Life

Happy New Year Family!

We had a little different New Year's Day.

Still awesome.

We have had a party the

 last couple of years, but it didn't work this 

time, so we did our own thing.

Part of that "own thing" was to go

 to the lake, skating.

And it was marvelous.

Short, because of achy feet.

But marvelous.

Mia being awesome

It was a really beautiful winter day in the upper 20's.

More awesomeness

We are so fortunate to live where we do.

We had the place almost to ourselves.

We wondered if we were super scary, because

 the few people who were there left when we came.

 Haha!

I really love that they put a Christmas tree in the rink.

I wished I could skate so much!

Doing a dance?

My Dr. says I can skate next year.

A little fancy dancy?

So fancy

something was clearly amusing

Like Dad's double hat?

I especially like this one of Mandy and Mia.

Classic Dad: a little crack-the-whip

I love this one!

Strike a pose

I just hung around the snowy perimeter of the rink.

I didn't want to take the chance of slipping.

Ouch!

Mom and Mia selfie.

Ah yeah!

The Mom and The Dad

Disclaimer: I don't know this guy.

I pretended to take a picture of King's house so he wouldn't 

think I was a creep. It is just such a classic Minnesota

winter picture I couldn't resist.

And there's King's House so I am not a liar. 

We asked a former teacher of Sam's to take a family photo for us.

I couldn't even help but take some sky pictures.

It was just so dramatic and lovely.

We live in such a beautiful place.

Again with the classic Minnesota

The skating rink at beautiful buffalo Lake

I will hopefully get some Christmas pictures posted here as well.

I was just so happy with these pictures I wanted to share them

right away. 

I am sad for Christmas break to end, sad for Dad to go back to 

work, sad for Mandy and Mia to head back out west.

 I guess all good things come to an end?

I am already looking forward to next year when we can hopefully

 be all together as a family.

But.

I do find it exciting this time of year:

The new beginning

the fresh start

the renewal.

I like the idea of starting again. I know with

the sacrament that we have that opportunity

every week, but I feel it so keenly at the new year.

Also,

we spent some time talking about setting 

goals and then actually doing it.

One of the goals we set for the whole family, is to

go to the temple in August and do a baptism session.

If you don't have a recommend start working on it so 

we can all go together.

Good idea?

We thought so.

Love you all like crazy!

Mom

It Is A Wonderful Life

Last weekend Sam was in the BHS production of 

It's a wonderful Life.

Sammy and Spencer looking rather dapper

Sam had the Plague 

(just a yucky virus the cast was passing around) 

and actually had to miss opening night.

 Luckily it was done as a radio show

 so someone (or someones) could fill in for him.

Sam and Johnny goofing

I took a few pictures after the last show.

I think Sam was in Samland having a Sandwich in this one.

The costumes were so fantastic.

The kids all  looked so great.

More Sam and Johnny goofing

Sam. Why so grumpy?

The cast looking generally fabulous.

How good looking is this boy even with a 

silly Spencer photo bomb?

The show was really well done and super fun.

It followed the movie completely. 

The kids did such a good job with all the voices.

Sam did a really great job as the radio announcer.

And can I just add my voice to those 

reminding us that all of us matter? 

 I like this song a lot. I really like the message

 that all of us have something to contribute, 

no matter how small it seems.  Each note, phrase,

 oom pah, and even the rests come together to 

create a beautiful symphony

Anyhow,

Have a happy happy day

 and let your lights shine

and your music play.

I love you so, so much!

Mom

Unexpected Snow Day

One week ago today Winter came.

You know when you are expecting company for a party 

at 1:00pm and they show up at 10:00am?

And your house isn't clean and the food's not ready?

And you have rollers in your hair and no make up on?

That is kind of what it felt like.

School was cancelled, which is always a bonus.

Still, I really love Autumn.

I feel so cheated.

But what do you do?

You can't argue with mother nature. Haha.

So we stayed in and I made yummy bread.

And it was delicious!

I hope you are warm and have something delicious today.

Love,

Mom

Last Days of Fall

Hello Family!

Here is a peek at the last few days of fall at home. 

We had a ridiculous bumper crop of apples this year.

We pretty much ate them breakfast, lunch, and dinner

for weeks, and still picked three 5 gallon buckets. 

And then we shared with three other families!

A little cozy for the porch.

Luna loved to lay here.

Your handsome apple picking brother with

 a serious case of I-don't-care bedhead.

Look close and you can see the

 morning glories tangled in the tree.

Sam had a day off for the end of the quarter.

He graciously accompanied me to (where else?) the 

Ney Nature center. I didn't get to come the whole summer

and it is one of my favorite places to walk.

Scummy, yet lovely.

There was no current at all, so there was no Pooh Sticks.

Exuberant as always.

Mom and Sam selfie.

What did people used to do?

I love this picture of Sam.

I especially dig that little flip of hair.

The Mom in a silly, rakish, too small hat.

The hats in our house were all hiding that day.

It's a good thing we went when we did, 

because winter ensued soon after.

Love you like crazy!

Love,

Mom

The summer-flower has run to seed

And yellow is the woodland bough;

And every leaf of bush and weed

Is tipt with autumn's pencil now.

-John Clare