No christmas card from me this year....

But I am thinking of you all!

 So here are a few pics of my girls and the thought was there...

I just got a little sidetracked by another sinus surgery.

I did manage to get everything done before this surgery...

except my card.

I hate missing this opportunity to send my holiday wishes out

to everyone, so 

Happy Holidays!

Sew what?....

 I've been sewing a little lately...

This little monkey is for my cousin, Haily's new baby boy.

 They are fun to make...

 When we moved into our rental, the curtains were plaid, country looking.

They didn't quite go with my stuff...so...

This is for Pen's baby girl.  She had seen something similar...so I winged it.

I love the pirate girl pattern.

Now if I could get my jean quilt done...

pics to come.

Was this just last week?

 The girls were out of school for Fall Break.

We enjoyed a nice, warm day...

 at the pumpkin patch.

 This is how I envision Fall time.

Still warm and sunny.

 They had this straw maze...looks easy right?

 I stayed out side by the entrance which was also right next to the exit.  They all ran in and about ten minutes later, Sicilee came running out.  She was so excited to see me and was like "that was easy".  Then she turned around and saw that she was at the "entrance" sign.

This happened 2 more times. :)

Pretty funny stuff!

 Finally, after not seeing Indee for 15 minutes, I went in!  

This is what I found.

She was wondering around....lost.

 Time to find the perfect pumpkin.

 Maybe you better get a wagon...

 Mia's always one for a free ride.

 What a fun day...and I can't believe how the weather has turned on us.

Come back sunshine!

Fun with cousins!

 An oversized strawberry marshmallow and Mia...

What more could Jack want?

Camping with cousins in Island Park.

This is Indee and Audrey, Misty's #3. 

We love getting to see them at this annual get together.

These were a mess!

And of course, Ave was rocking it for us all to enjoy!

Love it!

Nothing like dirty kids on day 3!

Silas, Jack, Ryann, and Mia.

We also went with the Kunz and Eddins cousins to Yellowstone.

 The Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center.

The Days Inn in West Yellowstone has this waterslide in it.
It is a free for all in there.
NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY!
The kids love it.
Backwards, trains, stopping, headfirst, etc...
Definitely the highlight!

This you won't see everyday.
Chad and Faren snuggling.
This is what happens when you go cheap!

 We had a great big slumber party at the hotel.

2 rooms adjoining, 3 beds, 1 sofa sleeper, 16 people, 2 cheap adult males, & 1 unemployed adult male = good deal...

(I guess)

 Next stop: wildlife....check 

Bonus:  Car crash...tourists trying to seeing buffalo

 Yellowstone!

This was a little jaunt of a walk for small children, pregnant women, and those out of shape...not mentioning any names.  But we were taking a break and I said to my little group "we gotta quit smokin'".

This lady with her total hiker family said to me "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?"

And the dad said "I think we passed you on the way down".

ok, seriously?

Definitely a highlight of the day.

Taking an ice cream break at Old Faithful Lodge.

Indee is in her "Happy Place"

 Grandpa Jerry loaned us this horse for a few months.

Indee has been in heaven!

She gets up every morning to feed and water her.

In the evening, she is out riding her in the neighbor's arena next to our house.

This picture is kind of hard to see, but she has a huge grin on her face.

The first time she got on her, Indee had a serious

MELTDOWN!

Indee couldn't micro-manage that dang horse. 

But they are getting along just fine now. 

 Thank you grandpa Jerry, for giving my little spunky, micro-manager something to micro-manage!

Mia...

 Mia turned 4 this month!

 It was just after we moved here...

and kind of anticlimactic.

But she was excited all the same for her MAKE-UP!!!

WAHOO!!!!

And what's a birthday at our house without a new Barbie?

 And look at that face...

(a little side note for Kelly...note the cake)

Happy Tu-To my Mia...My baby...why are you growing up? 

Why?  Why?

Ok, so all my girls have gone to preschool when they were 4 years old.

I was justifying not sending her "because we just moved" and "I don't know anyone who teaches".  But really I just wanted to keep her home with me for longer.  (selfish, I know)

But a part of me (a small part) wanted her to go and have that experience.  Sicilee, Haddi, and Indee all went.  Mia's scrapbook would be the only one that wouldn't have that "Pre-School" page in it.  And some years down the road would she ask me "Why didn't I go to Pre-School?"

    So.......

 We have to stand in sacrament meeting last Sunday because they received our records and they introduce us all.  Afterward, this nice lady that leads the singing with such zest for music comes up to us and asks if Mia is in Pre-School?

I reply no and give her my excuses...

She goes on to say that she teaches and she has an empty chair that someone backed out of.  She said that she has a waiting list of 15 kids but that none of them has seemed right to her and she's been praying about who should fill that spot.  And you guessed it....

 Mia was supposed to be in that spot...

She told me how much it was a month and that she could start the next day (Monday).  Then she said if I couldn't afford it that it would be free for her because that's how strongly she felt that Mia should be there.

And so then I began to pout a little and tell Mia that I didn't know what I was going to do without her while she was gone.  She replied that Trixie (our cat) would help me and be my buddy.

I'm still not quite sure what to think about Mrs. Onda K. Smith for ripping my baby from my arms.

(just kidding)

(I'm appreciative...especially with inspiration like that...I better not question her, in fact, maybe I should start consulting her on a regular basis...)  

New town, New school....

Here are the girls on the first day of school...I'm a little late posting but better late than never.

 "Good luck on your first day"

"Smile and make friends"

 "Have fun"

I

I felt like I was sending them to the wolves. 

But the best part of the day was me waiting for them when they got off the bus.  I had my camera ready...they were dying!  I'm starting to love this phase of my life...the phase where I embarrass my kids.  When did they grow up and hate the camera...maybe it was the bus full of kids watching me taking their picture?  Hmmm.....

Funny all the same.