Thanksgiving with family

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving in Burley with Mom, Keith, Chad/Marne and kids, Jeff/Tami and boys, Niels/Tara & Gage, Chay/April and girls, David/Tisha, and Chase (Tonya and Ryan stayed in Texas). We had a great time with our white elephant gift exchange - the kids enjoyed it except when their gift was being taken away! I especially enjoyed cuddling with Casen (when he would let me) and holding Julia. Friday morning after Thanksgiving, the ladies went to the Twin Falls Temple and did initatory work. The temple is very beautiful - last time I was there was during the openhouse. Tara, next time remember you are Mrs. Tara Hansen, not Mrs. Niels Hansen! Heee heee heee. By the time our stay was over (we were the last to leave) - many families returned home with a sick member. Vivian was the unfortunate one in our bunch. It was fun to be together, but it also nice to return home to a quieter home!

Christmas photos

I have to tell you that I find it extremely hard to take a decent picture of the family using the timer! I am constantly running back and forth to set the timer and check the last photo. Everyone quickly looses their patience during this whole process. I would really like to learn how to use my Canon Rebel - (these pics were just taken with my little point and shoot). Anyone have any advice - I know some of you are very talented. Do you want to share some of your talents with me? I think it is about time that I learn.

Bye Bye Belle

Well the day finally came that Paul and I decided to let Belle join another family. We all loved her, but there were those times that I wanted to pull my hair out! I didn't like the accidents she had when the kids took her to their bedroom before she had gone outside for the morning, or even all the poop in the backyard. We thought if we got another Boston Terrier that it would help keep her entertained - but that was only double trouble so Patrick only lasted 2 weeks in our home. We enjoyed Belle for a little over a year. The kids were very sad to see her leave - but I have to say that we don't have anymore arguments about who gets to hold her, or distractions of playing with her when we are supposed to be doing something else (like getting ready for school), etc. Our home is more peaceful and I don't have to worry about being here to take her outside. We have promised each other (Paul and I) that we will be dog-free for a very long time. I know many of you know our past with dogs, I always fall in love with cute little puppies and want to bring them home. We try to enjoy other people dogs whenever we get the chance.

Olivia's 7th Birthday

The girls and I attended the Disney on Ice show with the our Richael friends. We all loved the performance - oh, it makes us want to return to Disneyland!

The night before Olivia's birthday we went to Pojo's Fun Center. The kids enjoyed the bumper cars, the thrill of winning tickets and redeeming them for prizes, and all the games. Paul and I were hoping to spend only a short time here so we purchased a limited amount of tokens for each person. Porter used all of his tokens and then went on a hunt for more - he found 11 more tokens that were hiding under machines that people had dropped! It was a bit embarrassing when he was laying on the ground scouring the carpet for more. Eventually we had to tell him to stop. We all had a lot of fun, and I'm sure we will end up again here soon when Porter turns ten in February!

Olivia loves birthdays- she talks about her birthday all year long. She will make sure that you don't forget anything. She reminded me that we needed to plan a special breakfast and get down the special birthday plate. She will be the ultimate party girl because she loves celebrations. She had a great day - it ended with a cake (frosted and decorated by Paul!), ice cream, and a movie (plus fun with the Richael girl's). Olivia happens to share a birthday with Craig Richael, Tisha (my sis), and Jason Steed. So we are busy on this special day of the year!

Halloween 2008

The kids had a great time at the ward trunk or treat. Olivia and Vivian hung around Allie, Emily and Amanda (pictured above). After this, we went trick or treated to a few homes in our neighborhood. After going to the first house Porter disappeared. I thought he may have went home for his skateboard (he was begging to get it). But later I found him trick or treating alone - oh, this boy! I reminded him that it's not safe to be alone. After all the candy collecting, we went home and had the Richael's over for a movie. The kids watched their own movie upstairs while they traded candy!

I love the picture of Craig and Jody - she is a snow queen and he is Mr. Clean! Paul and I need to get in the spirit next year and dress up.

This is Vivian's preschool class. They had their own party, games and fun.

2008 Election

This was a historic day in America where the first African American becomes President of the United States. I am truly worried about our country and the direction it will take under Barack Obama - socialism, here we come. Yes, it frightens me to think where we are headed. I know it is time to buckle down financially, continue following the prophet and church leaders, gather my one year food storage, read the scriptures, pull together as family, strengthen my testimony, and be joyful for what I have. It looks like California's proposition 8 will vote for marriage to be defined as a union of a man and a woman - that is the bright news today. Where is our world headed?