Tyler

This is not a picture of Tyler……its just a picture of what I am assuming that he felt like this weekend…..minus the fuzzy slippers! :) 

Tyler started feeling sick on Thursday and then ended up only working a half of a day on Friday.

Even though Tyler is old enough to take care of himself, I still wish he lived a little closer so I was able to help out when he is sick.  It makes me feel a little better that he has Heather and so he is not completely alone when he is feeling bad.

Today he was back to work and feeling a little bit better.

If you are reading this Tyler…I love you! Mom

Beauty

Outside our back window last week.

This was a beautiful full rainbow, with the hint of a double rainbow.

Every time I see a rainbow it reminds me of a time 5 1/2 years ago. Sandy had passed away and we had made the final arrangements to fly her to Maine for her service and burial.  It was our time to go to the funeral home and say good-bye.  It was just me, Mom, Dennis and Ryan going to the funeral home (Tyler was in Florida and Logen had already said goodbye) .  The funeral home, which Sandy picked out herself before passing away, is a mere mile down the road from my house.  As you can imagine it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do.  The tears were many and my heart was very heavy with grief.  After we left the funeral home we drove right back to my home.  As we pulled up to my house and got out of the car…the most beautiful, clear, defined and  full rainbow was in the sky.  The rainbow was in the eastern sky which was the direction of the funeral home.  It brought more tears and a little peace. 

Still missing my big Sis…….

With Love,

Tina

Silliness

Colin thought the clothes hamper was something really fun to play with.

Funny how much fun he can have with a non-toy!  :)

Logen and Colin decided to try their hand at being a band the other day.

Logen played the drums and Colin played guitar with the good old red guitar….and Colin even decided to be the singer.  He was a pretty cute singer with his limited vocabulary!

With Love,

Tina

Shelbe Popped the Question to Logen

The time has arrived for the Sweetheart Dance at Logen’s school.  The dance is on February 6th,  just ahead of Valentines Day.  This dance is being held at Boise State University instead of their high school.

This dance is considered a “girl ask boy” dance. So even though they had talked about going together, Shelbe had never “formally” asked Logen.

Earlier in the week, Shelbe asked me if I could get Logen out of the house for a little while because she had an idea to creatively ask Logen to the dance.

On Saturday afternoon, Dennis and Logen went out to deliver some firewood to a customer and Shelbe came over to put her plan in action.  :)

Here Shelbe is with the creative sign that she made.  She used candy bars to fill in some of the words of her “proposal”.

The sign said (words in bold represent the candy bars):

Baby,

Will you go to the watchamacallit, umm sweetheart dance with me? It will be nutrageous and a fun time! Don’t be a dud, so say YES for a good time! We can dance to the Milky Way and back.  Please Take 5 and think about it. I will snicker really big if you say yes!

Hugs and Kisses, Shelbe

Shelbe put the sign on his bed then paced extra heart shaped chocolates around the room.

 

Looks cute, doesn’t it??

Then it came time to wait for Logen to get home…..for Shelbe that was the hardest part.  She was, surprisingly, really nervous.

Logen reading “the proposal”

Logen is contemplating the question and his answer……

And he said……..YES!

So we will have another big day planned on February 6, semi formal dress, corsages  and a dinner planned before the dance.

As always, I will definitely share pictures.

With Love,

Tina

Another Field Trip for Colin

Last Monday it was time for Colin to go on another field trip with his preschool class.  Uncle Dennis had the day off, so he offered to go with him.  Perfect….because they were going to Planet Kid…which I “lovingly”  refer to as Planet “yuck-yuck”!  You know the kind of place…big climbing structures, ball pits, slides, kids germs swarming the place.  It is never fun for the kids when I take them to places like that…..I think they get a little irritated with me after I have wiped their hands with the antibacterial wipes a dozen times in as many minutes.  Dennis, and Colin’s teachers are conscious about hand wiping and did make sure everyone washed their hands before they ate their snacks  but are just not crazy like I am.

 

Uncle Dennis rode the bus with Colin.

Colin loved the slide.  I have to admit, as much as I worry about the germ factor this is a great place for kids to play.  For Colin it is great place for some extra  physical therapy . 

The ball pit is a favorite for everyone……except for me!  :)

This was tough for Colin to climb but great practice and exercise!

These climbing structures were great for the kids.  Dennis climbed through quite a bit of this with Colin and he would agree….these are great for kids.  His back and knees were pretty sore when he was done with the field trip. 

Colin was quite happy in this playful environment.

After they were done playing, and after they got their hands washed it was time for a snack.  Then it was time to get back on the bus and head back to school.

It was a real fun field trip for the kids.  It was nice that Uncle Dennis was able to go with Colin.  Out of two preschool classes, equaling 20 kids….he was the only extra help that the teachers had.

Next month, another field trip………

With Love,

Tina

Lazy Days

It was a cold, cloudy and rainy weekend….the kind of weekend that can be summed up  in one work:  YUCK!

I wish I could say it was Lazy Days for me…but I am talking about our cat, Molly.

 

Doesn’t she look cute and comfortable??  As a matter of fact she looks way too comfortable…..all stretched out in…MY CHAIR!!!!

With Love,

Tina

A Day of Haircuts

Saturday brought the day we had not been looking forward to.  It was time again to get Colin's haircut.  I have written before about how much he doesn’t like to get his haircut.  I have tried tons of ideas to get him to sit in the chair and get his haircut.

• I have brought a portable DVD player so he could watch a movie.
• I have tried sitting him on my lap.
• I have tried giving him a lollipop.
• I have taken Logen and had him get his haircut first, so Colin can see that it is okay.

We get Colin the simplest of haircuts, just buzz it all down because he won’t sit through anything else.  The gal that cuts his hair can usually get in done in less than 10 minutes, if he sits on my lap and I hold him during the process.  :)
Saturday we headed out to get haircuts for Colin and Logen.  On the way out to the salon we happen to drive by McDonalds.  Next thing I know Colin is asking for a happy meal.  Then I realized there is one thing that I hadn’t tried to get Colin to sit through a haircut:  BRIBERY!  Before I could even debate in my mind, if I should or should not bribe him, out it came, “If you get your haircut like a big boy,  Aunt Tina will buy you a happy meal.” 
As we walked into the appointment, I kept saying to him, over and over, “If you get your haircut like a big boy,  Aunt Tina will buy you a happy meal.”  ….I sounded like a broken record.

Colin’s before picture

Well let me tell you he sat up in the chair on the booster seat, with the cape on (he had never worn the cape before) and got his haircut with not one peep or complaint…just like a big boy!  We were all so proud of him.

And the big boys new haircut!  He doesn’t look to happy in this picture…he was….he was just sick of Aunt Tina telling him to say “cheese”!
Then it was Logen’s turn.  Now I do not need to bribe him to get his haircut but he had something up his sleeve that he wanted special for dinner for him and Shelbe, after all it was their 7 month anniversary.  :)

Logen before

Logen enjoys getting his haircut. 

after

Logen likes his new haircut--that is just his “goofy” look.
Well I sure hope that this is something new with Colin and he will start liking his haircuts……or maybe he will just expect a happy meal every time!  :)
With Love,
Tina

New Years Eve

On New Year’s Eve Dennis and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary.  This May will mark  17 years that we have been together as a couple.  I am still crazy for this man, whom I consider my very best friend.

December 31, 1996

Oh my gosh, I was so thin and no gray hair!! 

We did not have a big wedding.  We rented a suite at a really nice hotel and invited our family and friends to attend.  My dad was unable to be with us, so my mom walked me down the “aisle”.  Both Dennis’ parents came over from Eastern Idaho to share in our day. We actually were pretty fortunate how many of his relatives came out to support and share in our ceremony with us, considering the weather wasn’t the best.

At that moment, I knew that we would always be happy; I knew that we would have lots of adventures and happy times; I knew there was no “mountain” we couldn’t climb as long as we were together; and I knew that he was my very best friend.  Of course time has brought us “mountains” we have had to climb…..well maybe not mountains, but a few hills. :)  But I know with my best friend along with me and we can do it all. 

We have  so many great memories!  If I had to do it all over again I would still say “yes”!!

With Love,

Tina

Dennis’ Gift…..

I had to share what we bought Dennis for his Christmas gift this year.  It is something he has been looking at and thinking about getting for a long time………

It is a  Camp-Chef two burner camp stove! 

You may not be too impressed but if you are a camper who likes to cook for their family, like Dennis does, this is the ultimate.  It has a griddle that fits over the top to get all the cooking done but also can use the burners to cook with pans…like the big pot of corn on the cob that I am dreaming about right now.  Ooops back to reality—still cold and wet outside—not camping season yet.

Most of all the men in the family that we camp with already has one.  We have always cooked inside the trailer and had just a small propane BBQ grill for outside grilling.  I can guarantee this stove will get a lot of use!  When we all get together for the annual family reunion all the men cook our great Sunday morning breakfast on these stoves. 

This is a picture taken a couple years ago at our family reunion.  As you can see there is some serious cooking going on…and everyone has their Camp-Chef stove…..and now Dennis will have his very own stove to use at this years reunion.

Last year when we were camping at the family reunion.  Logen was sitting around with his cousins (they are all around the same age as Logen) explaining that some day it will be their turn to take over the family cooking like their dads do today and like the older generation did before them.  I thought it was great that Logen has the foresight to look toward the future to keep the reunions going but also how the change of time will pass responsibilities down to him and his cousins.   His grandfather, Don, would be proud.  I know our family reunion is Logen’s highlight of the year and I believe it was his grandfathers too.

Since camping season is a few months off, hopefully we will have an early spring and maybe we can try out this stove on our patio with a family get-together brunch…Hey, a girl, can keep hoping for nice weather, right?

With Love,

Tina

And the Final Score was..........................

Can you see it?? 

Boise State University 17    

TCU  10

  Logen doing his celebratory jump!

We won!!!!!!!   I say WE like I was out on the field playing the football game right along with them!  :)  We may have not been out on the field but we were here, on the edge of our seat, for all four quarters cheering them on. 

What a fantastic game....a nail biter a few times but that is what makes it exciting, right? 

The Boise State Broncos 2009 Football season now stands at a record of 14 (wins) and 0 (losses).  This is only the SECOND team in NCAA history to have a 14-0 record.  That is quite the feat and honor.

The football team will be arriving in Boise today at their stadium at 2:30 to bring home the trophy.  We won't be able to be there.....but rest assured there will be a large crowd at the stadium to cheer and congratulate this team.  Boise State has an incredible fan base.  As our Coach Pete always says, "Thank you to the fans, Thank you to Bronco Nation"!

We take our football seriously here!

Its time for the Fiesta Bowl

 This horse leads the way for the football team to charge the blue field for every home game. The horse also traveled all the way to Phoenix for tonight's game.

Tonight OUR Boise State Broncos will be taking the football field against the TCU (Texas Christian University) Horned Frogs for the 2010 Fiesta Bowl.  Yes, I said “horned frogs”—I don’t know what that is --and I saw an interview with the TCU football team and not many of them knew either!!  :) The Boise State Broncos did not lose a game this season (13-0) and are well deserved to have the invitation to play in the Fiesta Bowl.

We wanted to make the drive down to Phoenix to cheer on our team but a lot of things were against us to make the trip.  Even with the money factor set aside ($150 per ticket), they scheduled this game on the evening of a school night.  When you have a student in high school it is not as easy to miss school as it was when they were younger.  At Logen’s school, the students are only allowed to miss 3 days per semester. With flu season and a vacation that we took in October, we are at our limit!

You can all be assured that we are all wearing our blue and orange today.  Texts have gone out to Tyler and Heather to remind them to wear BSU shirts and colors today in support of the game.   We bought Heather (Tyler’s girlfriend) a “scrub” shirt (she works in a doctors office) to wear to work today, also!  Remember when YOU are getting dressed today the colors of the day are:  BLUE AND ORANGE!

This is only the second invitation BSU has had to play in the Fiesta Bowl. The first game was in 2007 and if you remember I wrote about that game as being called one or the “greatest college football games ever played” earlier this year on my blog.  The BSU Broncos won that incredible game. They are one heck of a team and I am hopeful that the Broncos will bring home the trophy again.

So feel free to tune in to the Fiesta Bowl tonight on FOX to join us in cheering on our team….we will be here in the comfort of our family room for every second of the game….

GO BSU BRONCOS!!!!! 

With Love,

Tina

Happy New Year…..

 

……to our family and friends.  Wishing you all the best in 2010.

With Love,

Tina & Family