Christmas In Reno!

We went to Grandpa Vern and Grandma Nancy's this year for Christmas. We had such a wonderful time. It is always so peaceful and laid back there. We had a wonderful xmas morning, I think Grandpa and Grandma had as much fun as the girls! The girls love Libby the dog and Catmando ( I can never remember the cats name, they call it Catmando half the time) the cat who is afraid of the bouncing children. Grandpa taught Maisie how to paint by number, and Addie enjoyed getting held more than usual! I love being at Grandpas, the stories he tells are priceless, Mom would die if she knew some of the ones he tells about her! We always go to the Mall for lunch one day and Grandpa has to buy them something to spoil them even more! The xmas loot almost didn't fit in our car! It was a tight squeeze on the way home!

We went visiting Grandma Nancys Mom and Dad, Eve and Jack. Had a lot of fun explaining great great grandparents to Maisie. GGGrandma Eve made dolly blankets and gave the cutest cloth dolls to the girls. They of course love them!!! She even taught me how to Knit!!!! How excited am I! We had lunch there with them one day.

We also went to visit a great friend of Grandpa and Grandmas, Casey! What a hoot of a fella!! He had GREAT stories about Grandpa. They have been friends for over 20 years. People call him the cookie man because he makes dozens of kinds of cookies each xmas and has a cookie party! Don't have to tell you the girls loved visiting there! Some of the nicest people I have ever met!

Grandpa told us about the biggest sports store in the world. Scheels. We went and rode on a 3 and a half story Ferris wheel in the middle of the store. Bran and I did not love it but the girls had a ball! They did not get there bravery for rides from their parents! There was a plane and the most sporting/hunting/outdoor playing stuff I have ever seen.

Doug and Mary also came over for dinner one night. I haven't seen Uncle Doug in at least 20 years! It was great to visit with them and get to know them. Charlie and Joset weren't able to make it because of roads.

The girls hated leaving, and we can't wait to go back down. We have the best times with Grandpa and Grandma!

Thanksgiving with Nana and Papa!

We had a great Thanksgiving holiday with Nana and Papa! Great food, great shopping, and even better family time. We got to see Tanya and her family!! It is so nice to have them back in Montana. Unfortunately Bran's dad had a stroke 2 days after Thanksgiving. We went home by way of Rigby to see him. He is doing ok, getting better everyday. We thank Heavenly Father for helping him in his time of need.

5 Month in Review!

Ok I know I have been very negligent with this blog. I just don't have the passion for it that others do. But I will try to do better because I know it means a lot to others to see pictures and have an update. I know I love reading everyone elses blogs!

Maisie is in First grade and loving every moment! She grows up so fast. She is trying so hard to learn everything. She really is a child who likes to please. She brings us joy each day with her sweet attitude and loving nature. She is really becoming a good artist. She spends hours each day drawing and coloring! We permed her hair, looked great for a while but is beginning to fall out. She still loves to have time to snuggle and is in the 6 yr old habit of delaying bedtime. She is becoming a pro!!

Addie is getting so big! Well not tall but older. She has decided she will talk now, and won't shut up! She repeats everything and has dozens of new words every day. It's literally like she woke up one morning and decided she would do it, and she had it in her all the time. She has a amazing sense of humor, and loves to tease and play jokes. I really enjoy my time with her each day when Maisie is in school. She loves to help around the house and is always wanting to clean with the wet wipes! She also had her first dentist appointment. It went.... ok... the pictures says it all!

I helped manage a huge pumpkin patch called Linder Farms this fall. That ate up 40-45 hours of my week starting at 3 pm each day. Longest 7 weeks I have had in a long time!! I didn't get to tuck my girls into bed that whole time. Stunk! I have a firmer testimony about mothers staying home now then I ever have. But I did learn a lot, and I now know more about pumpkins then I ever thought possible!

I did a ton ( I mean a ton) of canning this fall. Peaches, pears, tomatoes, beans, apricots, salsa, applesauce, and we put up a ton of stuff from our garden into freezers. We even had to buy a second fridge freezer to accommodate it all. Our garden went fairly well. Some things did great others not so much. I kept a garden journal so hopefully each year will get a little better. Lots of work but I really enjoy it. I am most excited about a 20 ft. row of raspberries we put in. We only got a few berries by the end of the year. I am hoping for a bunch next season!! I also dehydrated tons of fruit puree into homemade fruit leather. We all love it. I don't think I can ever go back to regular fruit roll ups! Thanks to my Dad for giving (loaning) me his big dehydrator. Our lawn came in beautifully thanks to Brannon's hard work and some help from a friend. The girls are loving being able to play out back, and I am loving not having to sit out there with them all the time like I do in the front yard.

Brannon continues to work to much for the military. He does such a great job of providing for us and he works harder than anyone I know. We were scheduled to deploy the first part of 2010... but all of a sudden his unit is off the radar and now deployment is off for now. Being the military I will take it for what its worth, things change all the time. Although I am so happy not to have a deployment looming over our heads any longer. It changes how we live our lives and I do not like that. Knowing Bran will be around for another few years gives me such comfort and I look forward to our time together. Something I quit taking for granted when he last deployed. I am so lucky to have found such a great man who loves me! Mom's not sure I deserve him! I might have to agree!!

Hopital Time

Well as fun as the reunion was, coming home was not! We all came home with the flu and proceeded to puke at varying intervals, and all together one awful night! Addie, Maisie and I all had sinus infections. Addie had been sick for almost 2 weeks, and we had had her into the doctor, 3 times when they finally admitted her to the hospital. She was just to dehydrated to get caught back up on her fluids. Come to find out she also had a bladder infection. ouch! She lost 4 lbs is 3 days and was scaring me with all her laying around. She wouldn't do anything. So we spent 3 long days and 2 even longer nights at our wonderful (snort) local hospital. The hot pink and purple thing on her arm is the way they secure the iv. She tried to take me out a few times with it, just to let me know she was not happy about being there! Addie is doing tons better now and is back to getting into everything she can reach. By the way all those at the reunion who offered to take Maisie for us, we may take you up on that!!! She is wearing me out! If you have never had a baby in a hospital, thank heaven, it sucks and it's horrible to see your baby poked and prodded! We were so grateful to get Addie home. It has been a long month!! But we are off to MT soon and can not wait to see my parents and have some down time!!

Family Reunion

We had a great time at our family reunion this year! We enjoyed staying in a huge beautiful house and spending tons of time with family. We even discovered a new game we love. Killer Bunnies, don't laugh, it really is a great game!! We went to Bridal Falls, Strawberry Days Rodeo, On a hike, to Sundance for suckers, we even had a luah! Lots to cover but pretty much everyone who reads this was there!

4th Of July

We enjoyed the 4th with a fun group of friend this year. We had a bbq and then did fireworks in the driveway with all the kids! Addie did not love them this year! But to be fair, she was still not feeling to hot! I made really cute dresses for the girls out of Brannons old dessert BDU uniforms. I discovered while doing this I don't have any pictures!! LOL I will get one and post it soon.

Drill With Dad!

While Brannon was doing his Annual Training this year, he had the "unique" lol opportunity to show the employers of Idaho National Guard soldier's, what they do when they come to Gowen Field to train. Brannon called it a Dog and Pony Show.. Anyway, Brannon was in charge of showing them the Humvee simulator. Because the Humvees are so top heavy they like to roll over a lot, so the simulator, simulates a Humvee rolling over so the soldiers can practice getting out of an upside down vehicle. It is actually pretty funny, the employers wanted to do it, but alas that would be a safety hazard. Although I think taking them for a ride in the Blackhoks was a bit more of a hazard. Whatever!! The girls and I went into Boise to watch Brannon do the "show" for a few hours since we hadn't seen him in over a week. They loved it, Addie wouldn't let Bran out of her sights! Boy was she upset when we left!! We also got to go into a Tank simulator, very cramped, I don't think I would enjoy that job. The employers where able to go in and do mock missions. The girls and I sat in the command central trailer and watched on the big screen how crappy the drivers where! One even mowed down a civilian!! I learned a ton. I think Dad would have loved seeing how all of it worked.