Merry Christmas 2010

Caden (with Buck looking on) digs through his stocking!

Colton opening up his new ipod Touch...looks pretty happy huh?

Boys opening up their new laptops. It was a high tech kind of Christmas here.

What is it? What is it? Hip waders from Jerry for Caden!

Buck - please say it is over!!

I hope you all had a warm and wonderful Christmas. We sure did. The best gift of all? My Mom being here with us this year. THAT was the best. Love her.

September Birthdays!!

Colton and I both celebrated our birthdays this month. Colton's was a low-key family only party (he is actually having the rest of it this weekend - a few good friends are spending the night. Junk food and Xbox...a teenager's dream.)

Mine, however, was a pretty large affair. A few good friends of mine organized a Fabulous 40th Fiesta. Complete with a margarita punch, sombreros and plenty of mexican food, family and friends crowded around to help me celebrate the big 4-0! Was so nice actually. I didn't feel any different waking up at 40 than I did waking up at 39. huh.

What we have been up to!

We have had a very busy summer! Devin and I did the Alaska Zipline up at Eaglecrest this past weekend. What a blast! That first platform was truly a leap of faith! It was really fun.

Caden started Kindergarten last week. This is Mrs. Currier. She is an awesome teacher and so far (knock on wood!), Caden is doing great!


Before summer came to an end, we took our annual trip up to Whitehorse, B.C. This picture was taken at the Fish Ladder, one of the world's longest all-wooden fish ladders. We could see the fish through a window running upstream to spawn.

We picked lots and lots and lots of blueberries. 16 cups to be exact! I made tons of blueberry jam and if you are lucky enough...some might appear in your holiday gift boxes!

Finally, on July 4th, we had a lot more than just fireworks come to town....Nana flew in from Phoenix to spend a wonderful week with us. We relaxed, we made beer batter halibut, we went whale watching, and we just visited. Perfect!

Caden's 5th birthday!

Today is Caden's golden birthday. He turned 5 on the 5th of April. I had never heard this expression before but it sure fits him to a "T". He is a joyous, bubble of engery. Always inquisitive, always helping, and always full of questions. He is very golden to us!

Opening his treasure box he got from Gramma. It was full of all kinds of treasures. Candy, squiggly creatures, wind up toys, and balls.

He got a huge monster truck too!

AND a movie!

Memories of my Grandmom

An interesting thing happened to me last week. My Grandmom Gerle was heavy on my mind. She always is this time of year and I think it is for two reasons. She passed away a few spring season's ago after a battle with cancer. In addition, her birthday was in April. I still carry around the Easter card I was going to mail to her a few years ago. Her health declined so rapidly in the end, I didn't mail it. I am not sure why I still carry it. Maybe I just don't want to admit she is not here so that one day I will see it and think...geesh I need to pop that in the mail to her!

When I arrived at my weekly ACTS team meeting this past Thursday, I was not sure what the spiritual topic would be. The Spiritual Leader had chose a topic about strong women in our lives as it is Women's History Month. She has us listen to a song and go around and talk about the women in our lives. Here is a few lines from the song:

They are faces in photographs

Heads all held high

Not afraid to look life in the eye

They were women with backbone

Keepers of the flame

with a spirit even hard times couldn't tame

And I know this same blood is in me

And I meet their gaze one by one

Eyes strong and clear

I still feel them near

These are the women I come from

the faith that sustained them is bred in my bones

I know what I'm made of and where I belong

'Cause these are the women I some from"

How interesting! I told them all that my Grandmom had been heavy on my mind for days. I would talk to her sometimes and ask...what would YOU tell me Grandmom? I miss her candor. Her words were sometimes NOT what you wanted to hear, but always right on the money! When I listed to the song's words, I could see the faces of all the women in my life (I am sooo blessed by them all) but when it came time to talk, I talked about my Grandmom. I spoke about how amazed I was that in the end she was not afraid. She was so strong and SURE that she would see my Grandpop and Jesus in heaven. She looked so peaceful and ready. I spoke about wanting that kind of faith someday.

I love you Grandmom and Happy Birthday!

Hawaii 2010

Our cruise ship from the plane in Hilo. It was the Pride of America.

This is the Pu'uo'o Vent in Hilo.

We went to a Luau in Lahaina (Maui). It was incredible!

Ed and I at the Old Lahaina Luau. It was right on the beach.

Ed and I on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri. You can see the Arizona Memorial in the background (long white floating building).

Ed and I had so much fun. It was hard to pick out pictures, it was so beautiful there! It was also hard to come home! We missed the kids but now I sure miss that warm sun!

Devin's 16th Birthday party!

We celebrated Devin's 16th Birthday tonight. A little early but Devin didn't seem to mind!

Devin and his girlfriend Tia.

Devin NOT liking being the center of attention.

One handsome boy (ahem...young man!).

Embarassed by the singing.