Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

We woke up to a winter wonderland this fine morning!!!! About 3" of snow and it was still coming down. By the time it was all done we had at least 4". It really feels even more like Christmas with all the snow on the ground. We were visited by our resident quail family dancing along the snow. We just love our little quail family. All the birds seemed to be out enjoying the snow this morning. We were all a bit surprised to seem them out perched on the snow covered tree branches. Keller's new truck looked like it had received a flat top over night. :D

Christmas Tree Decorating

Decorating this year yet again was a blessing. Gracie and Ashten are enjoying all the Holiday fun. We put up our tree on December 1st. A little later than normal but that is a okay. It was enjoyable to pull out all our favorite ornaments from years past and also a few new ones we have picked up on our travels. We have a little tradition that Keller and I started on our honeymoon to get an ornament every where we travel. Gracie loves the bulbs that have sparkling glitter on them. Ashten's favorite is a little chipmunk elf that is working on a "bobot" or Robot. They come out each morning and show me all the ornaments.

We hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas celebrating the Joy of the birth of our LORD and Savior. And a Happy New Year full of blessing!!!!!!

Hippo Stuffing

Gracie's favorite Hippo "Mary Christmas" affectionately named last Christmas. :D Was getting really really skinny and holes started popping up on her tummy and shoulders. So we decided it was time to do a little surgery. We opened her up and stuffed her and she is looking pretty good. Although our little miss Gracie is missing her skinny hippo. Her hippo was picked out by Keller and I for her when I was about 5 months pregnant and she just became attached to it as a baby. It made it that much sweeter to us that she picked hippo as her favorite toy. So here are a few shots of the surgery. HAHAHAHAHA LOL

Wow we are on a roll!!!

Wow after a long hiatus of blogging we are on a roll. We hope to keep updating as the holidays are fast approaching. This weekend is putting up all the Christmas decorations and preparing for Christmas eve dinner at our house. We hope you all are enjoying the blessings of the Christmas Season.

I think we have added about 4 posts so just scroll down and check everything out.

On a huge blessing note my dad is doing really well with his Chemo and we keep praying for it to continue to go well. :)

The New Truck

So, we sold the Green Land Cruiser - which was a total heart breaker - but you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes. We searched for months to find the Land Cruiser, flew to Tucson, AZ and drove it back to Reno. I loved it, but it didn't do anything for us on the new ranch...making us decided that we needed a truck to do the damage on the property we were hoping for. It actually took about 2 months to sell the land cruiser, which made me terribly impatient...however, God had plans of his own and His timing is shockingly nothing like mine. In the end, a young Christian couple with 4 kids from Sacramento bought the LC and that same week we found out that my cousin Greg was considering selling his truck. So there you have it. We made both deals that week and we've been loving the truck since. It is a full 1 ton, diesel, and sits 5 adults. Now, we can ALL go to the hardware store for real and put anything we want in the back. I am already having visions of truck loads of dirt and gravel...trees and trips to the dump...

-Keller

Our big 2 year old

Here are some pictures of Ashy's Second birthday celebration!!!

Thanksgiving

This was a fun year for us we hosted Thanksgiving here at our new house. We had a wonderful time decorating and making a yummy and healthy Thanksgiving dinner. We had help from my parents and Keller's parents in making the wonderful dinner and desserts. We continued our Pumpkin Pie baking contest. My parents have had this tradition for the last 34 years, I joined in when I was able to cook on my own and Keller joined in when he joined the family. Keller's mom joined in this year too!!! And on top of all the fun Thanksgiving celebration we had the best Thanksgiving present of our little boy turning 2!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow yes it has already been two years.

New projects

We have been working on many projects over the past few weeks. We decided to paint our cabinets a creamy white and add black hardware for the doors and drawers. We are also going to change the floor, sink, counter, add a backsplash and lights next.

Keller has been working hard on our new brick hearth. We bought a wood stove on craigslist and we are just waiting for some of our chimney parts that are on order. We are so excited to have a fire for the winter season.

So here are some before and after pics.

Cute Kids

Here are a few photos of the kids since we have been in the new house.

Pretty Idaho and Montana Nature scenes

All we could think through much of this beautiful country was the movie A River Runs Through It. That movie had some beautiful scenery. (not to mention Brad Pitt) HAHAHA :) I believe it was filmed in Montana. It is very beautiful up here. The mix of Aspens and Evergreens is breath taking. All the leaves are changing color there are beautiful mixes of yellow, orange and red with the background of the evergreen. This is one of my favorite times of year and I am so happy we have been so blessed to see it here in Montana.

More Pics

Pictures from the Road

Here are some beautiful pictures from the road. Sometimes a picture does not do it justice. The rainbow was such a treat after a short rainstorm outside of Winnemucca.

On our way to Montana thru Idaho

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On the road to Kallispel, Montana via McCall Idaho. We took some silly road trip pics we always take driving photos. Since we usually take road trips that are long 8 hours days in the car. :) It was overcast most of the way to McCall. It sure made the desert look prettier on I-80. We stayed the night at a nice hotel in McCall and happened to be right across the street from our favorite restaurant the Pancake House. We ate breakfast there in the
morning before heading for Montana. So here are a few pics from the road.

Snow in the Fall

Looked out the other night saw a light dusting of snow all over the ground. It was very pretty but I am just not ready for snow. I don''t remember the last time it snowed in September. So here is a pic of our first snow at the new house. :)

Silliness

Ashten got a new stroller today and Gracie pushed Ashten around the house. They both laughed and giggled and went around the house. We just loved to watch the kids play and how much they love each other. As all siblings they have their moments but over all they love each other and have a grand time giggling and making each other laugh. Ashten loves making us all laugh always making funny faces, doing something or saying something to make us laugh. We are all just a bunch of goof balls over here.

Our little princess

Our little Gracie girl loves to play dress up!!!! Gracie is always in a princess dress when we are at home I can hardly keep her out of them. It is so cute to watch her imagine and play. Today she got all set up for a tea party and then got several dresses out so all her stuffed animals could dress up and one for herself. :) I had to pass since her dresses would not fit me. But I must say she puts on a lovely tea party with all the trimmings. Her favorite hippo got to dress up as Cinderella and Gracie as Tinkerbell.

Sunset

Last night Keller looked out the kitchen window and we saw the most beautiful sunset. We all rushed outside to enjoy the Splendor given to us by our good Lord. We were all in awe!!!! The pictures turned out awesome but I truly think it was even more beautiful in person. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

We are enjoying the new house more and more each day. And the projects began day one. Keller has already put up almost all the pictures, built in custom shelves and rods in our closet, me and Gracie helped put in a closet organizer in her closet and tonight he is installing our new dishwasher. Yes the house did not have one upon moving in so that was purchase #1. :) We have also hooked up the Land Cruiser and tow strap and yanked out sagebrush. We are having a blast with country life. It is so fun making a house a home and putting our imprint on it.