Niko's Mission call arrived today, January 7, 2010!!!!

Here is Niko eagerly reading his mission call letter to us....Unfortunately Chad was out of town but we had him on speaker phone. We also had Niko's mother, Laura and my parents on the other end of the line...isn't technology great?? So where is he going, you ask? Somewhere warm, highly populated and Spanish speaking.....(everything he was hoping for)

He has been called to the Mexico Mexico City West Mission!!! He is sooooo excited! And here's the proof.....
He is supposed to report to the Provo MTC on April 28th. I can't tell you how proud Chad and I are. It is crazy to be at this stage of life, watching your teenager so excited to serve a mission for the Lord. He is a wonderful young man and has great things in store for him. Thank you all for your love and support. HOORAY NIKO!!!

Christmas 2009

We had a wonderful, wintery, snow white Montana Christmas!!! Most of my family was in town at my parent's house so we spent many (late night) hours at the card table and eating yummy food. Christmas morning we spent at our house. Here is Kelsey showing off her new ihome from Santa!!

Katelynn has been asking for a Nintendo DS for 2 years and good 'ol Santa finally delivered! If it was up to her she would eat, drink and sleep nintendo ds games. Thankfully it's not up to her!

Logan and Niko set up Logan's hot wheels race car track. It is way sweet!!!

Christmas Eve night at my parent's house we have a spiritual program and then the kids get to open their "special presents" and their p.j.'s. Here they are posing in their jammies.

The Sunday before Christmas Eve we pass out "special presents". This is a tradition from Chad's family that represents the special gifts brought to the baby Jesus by the Wise Men. Tied on the top of their jammies is something they have really wanted. They can look at it and see what it is but they aren't able to use it or play with it until Christmas Eve. Katelynn and Logan are admiring their Littlest Pet Shop Animals, Kelsey got a pair of shoes and Niko scored an Xbox 360 game.

Katelynn's school Christmas program was centered around the beach, but she wanted to wear her Christmas dress, so we compromised. Her sun hat, styling sunglasses and seashell necklace just scream "fun in the sun" don't they?

Making Gingerbread Houses for Family Home Evening

Every year we make "gingerbread" houses (this year we used graham crackers....yesssss!) and use the left over Halloween candy to decorate them. I think we ended up wearing more frosting than the houses did!!!


Logan...what a ham!! He LOVES his creation!

Katelynn posing with her house. I love her toothless grin!!!

Awaiting a mission call...

Well, we sent Niko's mission papers in on December 1st and he had his last interview with the Stake President on the 2nd! (The Stake President said he will send his papers to Utah on Sunday the 6th). Crazy!! We can hardly believe that mission time is almost here. We will be sure to keep you all posted when he receives his call. Any guesses as to where you think he'll be going???

Kaysie's Birthday

I had a wonderful birthday!!! So many of my family and friends called or serenaded me and I felt so loved. My friends Danette, Rhonda and Susan took me out to lunch (thanks guys, you're the best!) My dad took Logan for the day so I could shop and have a quiet day to myself. Then our family and my parents got together for the evening. Here we are posing in Home Depot (doesn't everyone go there for pictures???) after picking out our Christmas trees. It was FREEZING so buying the perfect one from the store wasn't so hard. In this photo we are missing Chad and my dad but added Niko's friend, Brae on the right.

After warming up in Home Depot, we ventured to IHOP for dinner and opening gifts. Then we drove to our church stake center for the community display of nativities...where they display nativities from all over the world. It is really neat to see all of the different ones.

I arrived home to find a yummy cheesecake on my doorstep from my visiting teachers! What a perfect end to the night!!! It truly was a wonderful day. It was so nice to have my whole family together. That doesn't happen much anymore with two teenagers that have jobs and are busy all of the time. Thanks mom, dad and Chad for spoiling me and for all of you that called me. Love you guys.

Thanksgiving weekend in Utah

We had a great Thanksgiving Holiday with Chad's family in West Valley, Utah! We ate a ton and played several games. We also braved the "Black Friday" shopping and were very successful. Chad's brother, Karl, slept the entire night at R.C. Willey and Chad and his nephews, Brendon and Nate, camped out in Wal Mart. I did happen to get a few hours of sleep, but not many! It was fun!!

Of course Katelynn and Logan had a great time with their cousins Makayla and Ethan. They played lots of games!!

We took the kids to a place with several blow up bouncers. It was fun to watch them run around and it was a great way to get rid of some of their pent up energy! Here's Logan in the dragon's mouth.

Katelynn enjoyed the princess bouncer (of course) and is seen here riding the dragon. The kids started to jump on the dragon while someone else was sitting on it and it would launch them off. It was pretty funny!

Thanks everyone for an enjoyable time. We love and miss you all.

Chad's Trip to Mazatlan, Mexico

Chad just returned home from his 4th annual MDM trip to Mazatlan, Mexico. Chad is a salesman for MDM Supply, a wholesale plumbing supply company here in Helena. The salesmen and several of their clients are treated to a marlin fishing trip by MDM every year. (Too bad the wives aren't invited!!!) The fishing was slow this year but Chad's boat did manage to catch a couple of nice durado. (Chad is on the bottom right)

Here's Chad posing with some clients in a Mexican taxi cab. Aren't they funny looking? The cab, that is!

Here's a view of the bay from the resort they stayed at. No fair that I was home freezing in 50 degree weather!