NW Trek

Our anniversary is tomorrow. We have been married for 7(million) years. :) Tim and I wanted to do something fun as a family, and decided to go to the Trek. I had never been, so it was a fun spontaneous day.

We started in the gift shop. The only thing he could touch in there were the rocks.

Moose horns.

Cutest boy ever.

The big horn sheep.

Bison!

Cow bison. The dirt patches are from them tearing up the grass. They roll around in the dirt to keep parasites and bugs off of them.

Bull bison.

At the top. Beautiful.

Elk

Jairus was growling at the wolf in the glass display.

Wolf.

Wolf taking a dump.

Bobcat.

Lynx.

We had such a great day together. It was well worth the 15 minute car ride, and ridiculously expensive food. It is so crazy to realize how many years have passed since we said I Do. So much has changed. We have grown, fought, and become more in love (most days). He is a good man. I am so blessed to have Tim. Here goes for another year! I love you Officer Naughty Pants!

Easter!

Uggh. Baaaad picture, but at least you know we are together.

My sweet niece. The youngest one.


















The three of them. So cute.













dying eggs.











posing.















Washing up.













It was a great day to celebrate what Jesus did for us on the cross. It is not about what we have in materials. Those don't save us, and certainly we aren't taking our things to heaven with us. It is so good to love our family and friends, and rejoice is all He has given us.

Tim's Hunting Trip

Tim went on a hunting trip in March. I am finally posting some of his pictures. He had a great time, and hunted his butt of to no avail. Tim did not succeed over the elk this year, however he got a lot of exercise.


This was his campsite with some friends he met on the "bowhunter's myspace", as I call it.





























I love this picture.













On his drive down, this was in California.






























Nothing makes me feel the gravity of the greatness of the earth, besides seeing open sea.

The Rundown

Well, life has been throwing us some curve balls lately. I will start off with the adoption.... Because of me, our process is being held up. When I was 18, I got into a touch of trouble, and now 7 & 1/2 years later, I am paying for it. This blemish on my record is forcing me into a drug evaluation, 3 additional character references, and recently I had the privilege of telling my pastor all about my "past life." This really isn't a huge deal, we will get through it, and have another child on the other side. However, it truly brings to light my elders telling me that what we do as young foolish teens often comes back to bite us in the butt. This is a classic example of that. Children, don't do drugs, you may want to adopt a child one day...

Last week, all three of us were sick. First Tim got it, and then Jairus came into the flu puking all over our couch. You see the shows of America's Dirty Jobs. Motherhood is definitely one of those. I have never cleaned someone else's vomit before. That is so gross. Just as I got over the flu on Thrusday, Friday came, bringing my dentist appointment with it. It was suppossed to be just two cavities filled. Well, surprise for me, I got a root canal. I came home from it, and Tim left shortly after for the church's men's retreat. Yesterday and today have been difficult to get through alone. Tim is home now, so I am getting a bit of a break.

Our friends and family are in need of prayer. Many have lost jobs and others are in fear of the same fate. Lord, please give my friends and family Divine Intervention, and blessing.

Christmas

I started off my Christmas morning with a nice kiss from Duff.














CHEESE!













This kid colored for hours! Thanks for the art supplies Papa and Grandma.










Poor Miah. I wrapped her present in a Wii accessory box. She was disappointed to find no Wii accessories. Sorry Mi.













Stylist Miah going to work on Auntie Allison.



















I am the designated pony ride. Apparently Jairus had to rush in to have himself in the picture too.














Family in the living room.












Uncle Chris.


















Jaya is such a good big sister.

















All in all it was another great Christmas. We are all so blessed

Winter Wonderland

Finally we made it out into the snow. I remember spending hours out there with my friends, and loving every minute of it, no matter how cold it was. Today was so much fun, but after an hour or so, I was ready to go inside and drink something hot. Jairus had a blast and Tim and I had a snowball fight. It was so much fun.

Us throwing snow around














Our little home, it is so beautiful in the snow.

































Big Daddy. Real men make snow angels.



















Jairus was covering his face with snow.















I just thought this was beautiful.

Baking Christmas Cookies

Let me just set up the scene for you. The snow is falling, and we need something for dinner. Tim insists this should be a family trip to the store. I protest, and still he persists. So we all go to the store together, and Tim is sure I am to drive. Even though I have can't drive in the snow. The following events will prove that. We are leaving the store now, and guess what?.... Our defroster and radio won't work. In 20 minutes of being in the store, two things break. Then I pull out..... What the H-E double hockey sticks is that noise? Every time I push in the clutch, there is a terrible grinding noise. Now, after Tim and I curse the car we are driving home. Now coming down a hill. Tim gives me a crash course in what to do if I slide. Let me remind you, I didn't want to drive. With him next to me, I am nervous, so what happens? Yes folks, I slide, I slide, I slide right into the guardrail. Not once, my friends, THREE TIMES! We were only going about 2 miles an hour, but I can't drive on ice, I panic. So our car has traded paint with the guardrail. Beautiful.

We get home, inspect the damage, and I start to cry. Tim, he just laughs. So after that, we made dinner, and the rest of the evening was much better.



Ready to bake!














Mix it in!



















Making sure the batter
is just right.

And here is the tree!

I should have trimmed the tree a bit, but I don't care, we haven't had a tree in this house in 4 years. Yes, isn't that ridiculous? I think so.














I need more ornaments. This tree is so big!

Light at the end of the tunnel.... Maybe.

We are getting closer to our foster care liscensing!!! Last Friday, Tim and I got our fingerprints done. So those should be coming back in the next couple weeks, but I am guessing after the New Year. What is better is that our homestudy is scheduled for the 20th!!! Once that is done, and our prints come back, then we will be ready for our home inspection! The timeline at this point is, I am guessing around February or March. Who knows though. We feel like we have been working on this forever. Although, I know there are families who have been waiting for years. God Bless the Tacheny's! They should be getting their license soon, and they have been waiting far longer than us. So far in our church we have 7 or 8 families walking through the process. It is so amazing what is happening in our church! I can only hope is spreads like wildfire to anyone with a heart for a child.