Out with the old, In with the new

9 years, and 2 kids later it was time to get a car that fit our lifestyle. 

We are selling the Bronco... (This is an old pic from Matt's college days with one of his roommates.  Probably around the time he got the bronco.)

 We sold the Mazda...(This pic is from when we first bought it in 2007.  It was a great little car and we kinda miss it already)

And bought a 2009 GMC Yukon!  It has a lot of great features and best of all, we all fit comfortably!  My knees don't touch the dash anymore with the infant carseat behind me and I feel confident behind the wheel in the snow.  It will be an adjustment with being a one-car family but we are happy to have the change.

Christmas 2014

Here it is a few days after Christmas and time to publish our Christmas Blog.  I think we all had a great time and Mom and I appreciate all those who traveled, called, texted, Face-timed, sent cards and letters, slept on bunk beds and the floor, ate, and sang.

 

 Travis and Kelly flew into Spokane Monday night so Mom and I drove up and visited with Kevin, Matt, and families and then picked them up at the air port.  Tuesday we visited and then drove down to Moscow.  This picture is Kanyon, Raya, Adria, and Braxton in their living room.

 Travis and Matt took on the luminary project and had to battle the wind and cold.

 The stocking were hung on the new rail with care.  Kelly's bucket was there too.

 Mom had planned a delicious enchilada dinner on Christmas Eve.  It was very traditional except we were missing the T-shirts and ties.

 Time for the Christmas Eve program and out came the costume box.

 Here is our little troupe of actors and actresses.  Even "Lucy" (Riley's somewhat worn lamb) got into the act.

 Can't remember exactly what Cole was supposed to be but I thought it was a cute picture.

 I think Travis represented the Three Kings and Wise Men (checking their phones for any last details).

 I played Star of the East on our new piano.  Some said it sounded better than last year, thanks!!

 Mom, Kelly, and Kimbre, did a super job of singing all the Christmas songs we could think of.

 Christmas morning was so exciting I forgot to take many pictures.  As you can see, Riley was excited.  Matt and Cole - not so much.

 Riley helping Grandma make Butterhorns.  Great Grandma Zirker was looking down and smiling I'm sure.

 Kevin, Lisa, and family came down Christmas afternoon.  Mom, Lisa, and Kelly back in the kitchen fixing Christmas dinner.

 Adria at the piano.  The headphones are a life saver.

 All of us at Christmas dinner.

 After dinner the knitting began.  It is amazing what these three ladies can turn out.

 Friday Uncle Chuck had made arrangements with Steve Berglund to come out and shoot on his farm.  The Richards couldn't make it till Saturday and since Kevin's family had to leave Saturday morning to return home for a youth temple trip we went by ourselves.  We had the usual arsenal of hand guns and rifles.  It was cold and windy but no snow (yet).

 Braxton and Kanyon with 22's, rifle and pistol.

 Matt explaining the finer points of his personal hand gun to Kevin.

 Kevin putting the instructions to use.

 Matt demonstrating the fire power of his AR-15.  Berglund's house in the background.

 Travis's turn.

 Even Braxton gave it a try.

The next day (Saturday) it snowed.  Travis, Matt, and I, bundled up and went out with the Richards to do it all over again.  There were lots of adults and kids and luckily no one was injured.  You can just see the back of Matt and Kimbre's new GMC Yukon in the driveway.  Matt and a co-worker drove to the Seattle area and picked it up a couple of weeks ago.

We had a wonderful time but as always good things must end.  Monday, Matt and Kimbre went home and Mom and I drove Travis and Kelly to the airport.  All arrived home safely.  We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and is ready to give it their best in 2015.

P.S.  I have lots of pictures I didn't use.  If you want some of your family let me know and I can e-mail them or put them on a flash drive for you.

Snow in Post Falls

Gingerbread houses, we couldn't not do them.  It's tradition.  

When we thought we weren't going to have snow...we whipped up these.

Christmas jammies and new "rice" bags to keep them warm in the night.

Soccer goals for the boys from Santas workshop.  They are thinking perhaps they could make a snow fort out of it until spring when they can actually use it.

Santas workshop for the girls. They got matching ones, just the names are different.

We finally got snow Saturday.  We ventured out to make a snowman.  He ended up being nearly 8 feet tall.  We had to pull out some ramps and a ladder.

This how the snowman looked this morning.  Already melting.  Kanyon looks like he is showing him something on his Ipod.  

Christmas went well around here.  We enjoyed our trip down to Moscow.  We especially enjoyed being lazy!  One more week off school....and what are we going to do?

Andra's Nighthawk T.V. Audition

My middle school has a news program called Nighthawk news for 7th and 8th graders.  You have to make a video and do an audition for it.  I made this video for it.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxmhTH5rkfnXa3ROYk9oVlNZU0JKN0Y0VmctQ0R5aHNvWFlR/view?usp=sharing

Christmas Fun

A week ago I organized a winter carnival at the girls school.  It was crazy busy but it all turned out wonderful.  Even Santa and Mrs. Claus came and took pictures with over 100 kids.  It was a fun and hot night!  

We're looking forward to coming to Moscow for a visit in just over a week. I hope you guys have signed up for good weather, warm food, and a nice white Christmas. We'll be expected them when we get there. Here's a few pics from the last few weeks. 

This guy is just down the road from Kelly's parents' house and right next to a stop sign. Every time you roll up to the stop, you see him out of the corner of your eye and think he's about to jump in your car with you.  

Kelly picked out our Christmas tree this year. Since we trimmed all of his trees over the summer, Kelly's uncle gave us one for free. Kelly had her eye on this one from the time she trimmed it way back in July.

 It's a major award!

The Eyesore of the Neighborhood

A house in our neighborhood has gone a little overboard with Christmas decorations this year. This picture doesn't do it justice. 

Every time we leave the house Riley requests we drive by the house with the "big reindeer." I swear that thing must be 8' tall. But the most unsettling to me would have to be the life-size Elsa maniquin on the door step. 

Needless to say...YIKES. 

Bedroom Switcheroo

A family in the ward gave us some bunk beds. Andra and Maura are on the bunk beds. Shelby finally moved out of the crib.

Shelby's reading nook

Dallin and Hallee got the small room. 

And We have our room back to ourselves (before)

No more dragging the crib out of the way while trying not to wake him in the early morning hours. 

Thanksgiving

We had a great time!!!  Brant's family arrived in Post Falls Saturday evening.  Mom and I drove up Sunday morning to attend church with everyone.  Lisa was one of the sacrament meeting speakers and Kimbre sang a duet.  Both did a wonderful job.  We visited, stayed overnight Sunday and on Monday visited some more.  Some went shopping.  Brant, Matt and I took his sheriff's car in to the office for service and then visited Kevin at his job site in Post Falls. Then loaded up and drove to Moscow.  Brant, Ty and I jacked up the front leg of the fort and put a brace under it.  It was totally rotted off just under the ground.  Next summer the whole thing may have to come down.  Tuesday night Matt and family arrived to stay the night on their way to Caldwell to be with Kimbre's family.  Wednesday night Kevin and family showed up.  Thursday Lacey's family arrived.  We had lots of fun talking and playing.  Most adults had a bed of some sorts and the kids slept all over the house.  Thursday afternoon we had a great dinner.  Friday morning Brant and family left for Utah/Colorado.  Friday afternoon Kevin and family left for Post Falls.  Sunday Matt and family came back through from Caldwell and stayed for dinner.  Seth and Lacey left for Seattle.  All was quiet by Sunday evening.

 

 Lots of electronic devices.  Our router was smoking day and night.

 Thankfully our new piano has a headset jack.  It was kept busy too.

 Grandma came through with her usual crafts.  Beads, duct tape purses, para-cord bracelets, etc.

 Breakfasts were vintage Grandma too.

 Lots of TV (parades, football, Studio C, football, movies, and football).

 We jacked up the front leg and put a brace under it.  I think it's days are numbered.

 Lots of reading and sleeping.

 More beads and para-cord bracelets.

 Dinner was great.  We had all the usuals.  Some of the men actually helped.

 Seth perfected the football watch.  One on TV and one on this IPad or phone.

 We all enjoyed dinner.  Due to new carpet the kids ate in the dinning area and the adults ate in the living room.

 Yes, we had Grandma's butterhorns.

 Friday at Hordeman Pond.

 It hasn't changed much, just a little shallower and browner.  It looks nice in this shot.

Saturday it snowed (Weston, Ivan, Koper) and that night the temperature dropped to 3 degrees.