My little Cub Scout

Tonight we celebrated Xander at his Blue and Gold Banquet for Cub Scouts. We had a nice dinner and watched Xander receive his awards that he has worked so hard for.  He are so proud of him!


                           Me and my handsome son

The boys telling jokes for us

All the scouters  (xander front row Khaki pants)

Xander recieving his awards

We let papa Erlyn supervise Xander at the dessert table - YIKES!

Super Bowl 2011

This year was DAD vs. DAUGHTER during the super bowl. My sister, Trisha is a dye-hard Steelers fan and my dad is the always loyal, Green Bay fan. We gathered at my dad's to celebrate this football game in hopes that in the end, no matter who won, it wouldn't break up any of our family members!
Everyone painted there faces and the kids had the best time. Oh, should I mention there was ONLY ONE Steeler fan in the house! Yep. My poor sister.


                           JAIDEN AND XANDER GETTING READY FOR THE BIG GAME

                              MY NIECES AND SISTER CHEERING ON THEIR TEAM!

                                                                

                THE KIDS TRYING TO GET THE CHEESE HAT ON THE STEELERS FAN!

                                                        .......AND SHE PREVAILED!

Chris's *32nd* Birthday

This year I decided to surprise Chris with a trip to spend the night in a forest service cabin. At the last minute I frantically found The Best Cabin Ever! It was located in the Lee Metcalf Wilderness near non-other than a town called, Cameron Mt! It was a two room cabin furnished with bunk-beds and two twin beds. It had a wood fireplace for heat and was stocked with firewood provided by the forest service. It had all the kitchen utensils and cleaning supplies we needed. My sister, Trisha came along for the trip. We had a blast. Spent time playing games and eating lots of delicious food. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY

Steelers Game

So my sister, Trisha is a huge Steelers fan. She thru a party together for the playoff game. Xander went for the Steelers to support his aunt. Big sweetie. I, on the other hand, am not so compassionate and went for the other team because I will not support this so called, "stairway to seven!" Huh!

The Holidays

 As fall and winter approached, summer ended and school began. Xander started 2nd grade at his new school, Ridgeview Elementary, in Belgrade. We've settled in our new house and I am still having fun decorating and creating comforting spaces for our family.  We celebrated with a house warming party in September. It was a blast!

We surprised Xander with an 8 week old puppy. A Great Pyrenese we named, Molly. She fits into our family so well and we love her so much already.

It seemed like we celebrated halloween for the whole month of October with all the parties Xander had! We had Cub Scouts, school, and church. Plus, my school always has a party and then we go Trick-or Treating! So, this year for Halloween Xander had a couple costumes he really wanted to be. Luigi and Darth Vador. Perfect. For cub scouts and church he was Luigi and on Halloween for trick or treating, obviously, Darth Vador. I dressed up as Bat Girl, Chris threw on some football stuff, and we stuck a Supergirl cape on Molly.
Thanksgiving was a little different this year as Chris had to work on Thanksgiving Day. We ate our dinner the night before, watched T.V. and played Battleship. I was supposed to go to my parents on T-day but the weather kept Xander and I home. We made it a fun day decorating for Christmas!
Chris had the month of December off recovering from a much needed shoulder surgery he had on Dec 3rd. The surgery went well and so is recovery.
It was so much this year decorating and getting ready for Christmas in our new home. Xander and I baked lots of cookies and made a gingerbread house. Xander had his school christmas play on Dec 8th. He was an elf! Very cute and did a great job! It was so much fun to watch.
We headed to Absorakee to see family for the holiday mid Dec. Then we spent Christmas eve in Livingston with my dad, step-mom and their side of the family. Christmas day my mom, sisters and step-dad came over to spend the day opening gifts and eating lots of food! Took some pictures and laughed so hard our stomachs hurt! Can always count on mom. :) smile.

The day after Christmas we celebrated my stepbrothers Golden birthday at Chico Hot Springs with the entire family. We had so much fun playing shuffle board, fuse-ball, and swimming.

Christmas break has been a blast. We've spent lots of time with family and friends. Chris, Xander and I went snowshoeing for a day up to Hyalite. This time we brought our beloved, Molly. We went to the movies, played lots of Wii games, slept in and just enjoyed each other.

I thought updating my blog by seasons would be easier, but I am finding out it's not! Seems there is so much to blog about and just keeps going on and on and on....

For the New Year I have a couple of resolutions.  Not going to mention them or I'll feel too pressured to actually fulfill them that I won't fulfill them. Make sense.

Summer 2010

 Summertime is always fun around our house! We have celebrations from the 4th of July, to Xander's birthday on July 13th, lots of pool parties with the neighbor kids, hiking, climbing, rafting and bike riding. We take vacations and road trips to see good friends. Chris and I also celebrate our wedding anniversary August 7th. This Summer our new house was completed and we moved in June. I have been so blessed with many memories, experiences, and people in my life. It was a great summer.

Xander in Virgina City - age 6   (was over 100 degrees that day!)

Me Climbing at Bear Mtn Canyon

Camping with the Matteson's - Hike to Lava Lake

Chris and Xander on a hike in beautiful Montana

Xanders 7th birthday party

Me and my boy -  hike to the Falls

Our new house completed in June

Xander's last day of 1st grade

Camping at The Cabin

At the demolition derby in Livingston

Wedding Anniversary - August 7th - Celebrating 11 years!

My little boy - age 7 and ready for 2nd grade

June 2010

Wow! June has flown by. With many exciting expectations for the month it's hard to believe it's already July. In June we celebrated Xander's final days of first grade. His academic success lies in reading where he has scored at a  2nd-3rd grade reading level the past 2 quarters. So proud of him! The final stages of our house was completed in June and we closed the 15th.  I am working p/t for the summer and Xander gets to be involved in a summer camp during days Chris and I work. He gets to play sports, take swimming lessons and do gymnastics. So far we haven't gone on any trips or hikes yet. The weather has been so rainy and cold - plus with moving and transitioning into a new routine has been eventful in itself. I look forward to posting pictures and updates of new adventures soon!