Who's MORE excited...

Toree got home from school yesterday, Jenn, Eric & Elli came over for dinner. I don't know who was more excited for Toree to be home - her or Elli. Elli did not leave Toree's side for anything, pretty much she was velcroed to Toree's side you know BFF!! Here are some pictures of the two of them. Elli was trying to teach Toree how to play some "puppy" game on the WII (Toree was a little challenged at the game). They were doing "airplane" and "back flips". It is SO nice to have Toree home!
Back flip














Airplane














Elli TRYING to teach Toree...

Lookin" Good...

We FINALLY got the "sitting room" upstairs done! The guys came on Wednesday and installed the gas insert. Billy did the mantle and I think it turned out beautiful! There is still a little work to do on it but for the most part - done! Oh yeah we still have one little place to paint - I just remembered that. Here are some pictures of the insert

Before















After
















oooooh aweee - atmosphere :













It's kind of hard to see the flames but they are really there you just have to use your Barney imagination.

Thanksgiving

Well I had pictures to put on with this post but I couldn't get them to work so I bagged them. We had a GREAT Thanksgiving this year, my kids and spouses and granddaughter were all home plus my younger sister Marge and her family came up. We all ate way to much (as always) and then just spent the day together playing the WII and just chillin. Isn't it amazing how long it takes to get dinner all ready and how fast we can down all that food!
Toree and her friend Karli Mitchell were able to get in a little bit of studying haha!
It was nice to have everyone home, with Toree in St. George it is a little harder to have everyone together.
Billy & I decided that we were going to do the "Black Friday" thing. Ya our big outting consisted of going to Joanne's fabric store and waiting in line to buy fabric! Can you believe that haha..I tell everyone that Billy is a good wife! We bought flannel and also fleece for blankets. There was NO way we were going to go to one of those other stores...there wasn't anything on sale that was worth the craziness that goes on in them there stores!

Still here

Hey,
Just wanted to let everyone know that we are still alive and kickin'. Not much has happened around the place so there is really no reason to blog. We did get the back patio done which is really sweet. The yard is going to wait until spring to finish - but hey it looks better with just the dirt than it did before. So ya that's all for now.

FINALLY

Well after5 long months of waiting and high anticipation we finally got an egg from one of our chickens. Billy got the new coop out back and we moved the dog run they were in to the back of the yard. Things are looking pretty good for the ol' hen house!

The ol' hen house














The "incredible edible egg"

Sunday tradition in cold weather

Well it is here. The cold weather which brings
out the best in all of us. Billy had this idea to make a
"puzzle board". He did this so that when we do
puzzles the pieces stay together. Well with the cold
weather here this is what we do on Sunday's.
AHHHH nothing like a good ole puzzle to bring the
family together!!

Surprise trip...

Two weeks ago Billy had to go to upstate New York on a business trip. I was wishing I could go, but didn't say anything to him. He called me on Wednesday and told me that I was flying out to meet him on Friday. After almost missing both of my flights, I finally arrived. Saturday we headed up to Palmyra to visit church historic sites. The first place we went to was Hill Cumorah. It's quite the little hill! It was pretty amazing to be standing where the Golden Plates were.














We then went to Joseph Smith's log home. We stood in the room where the Angel Moroni visited Joseph Smith.
















The next place we went to was the Sacred Grove. It was pretty overwhelming to think this is where our Heavenly Father and Jesus visited Joseph Smith.














This is a picture of the Palmyra Temple, across the street from the log home.














This is the Peter Whitmer home where the church was organized.














On Sunday before we flew home we went to Niagara Falls. It was the first time Billy had seen them. When we went to Canada to see them from the Canadian side, they almost didn't let us back in. Turns out the scanner read our license plate wrong and they thought we had a stolen car. Billy was pretty glad to get back into the USA.

Wanna play...

Billy was out "playing" on his tractor so Gracie and I went out to watch. I decided to let the chickens out for awhile. Gracie was like a "sheep dog" for chickens. She herded them all over the place. She would get close to them and wag her tail like "come on...wanna play" Funny, funny dog!!

Boys & their toys

Billy got himself a new tractor so he could work
in the yard. Now he has no excuse when there
is work to be done.

He is moving rocks around in the front of the
house in these pictures. Life is good here at
our house.

My baby is gone

Well Saturday we took Toree down to St. George to go to school. She is pretty dang excited to get out of Brigham City. There are 4 girls in her apartment instead of 6 so that will make the bathroom situation a litte better. Everyone has asked how it was leaving her and I tell them it was a whole lot easier than leaving Brant & Kenny at the MTC. At least I can call and talk to her or go see her if I want. It's a little different around the house with just Billy & I but I think we will get used to it pretty quick.

Sturgis

On Saturday July 26th five couples - Kim & Retta Hawker, Roger & Judy Barnes, Rafael & Graciela Avalos, Karl & Lois Bodily and Billy & I left for our long awaited trip to the Black Hills in South Dakota. The first night we stayed in Lander, WY after a long ride through the beautiful country of Wyoming haha! I have a greater appreciation for the pioneers who came across this awful place with no air conditioning or any way to really cool off.
The second night we made it to our destination of Hill City, SD, after another day across the HOT desert of Wyoming. This was our base camp for the rest of the trip. We went into Rapid City to have the Barnes and Bodily's bikes worked on.
The next day we went to Mount Rushmore and then on the Needles Highway. Talk about a twisted road!! It is sure fun to ride and beautiful scenery - a lot better than Wyoming.
We then went to the town of Sturgis - the rally wasn't really going but most of the vendors were there. We got to see the whole thing but not be in the middle of all the mayhem.
We left to come home after Billy had his bike worked on. The rest of the group went ahead of us and then we got up to them.
After 1700+ miles we got home on August 2. We all had tired bottoms but memories to last a life time.
I have to say that this group of people had to be the best I've ridden with. We all got along and made friendships that were already strong, even stronger! Thanks everyone for making this trip one that I will always remember.

Trip to Sturgis!!

This is Billy & I waiting for the rest of our group.
Not bad for taking it ourselves!

We rode our motorcycles to South Dakota.
This is the five couples at Mount Rushmore.

This is Billy & I at the "Eye of the Needle" This is
a man made tunnel in the middle of a granite rock.
While we were there a tour bus went through.
Talk about a tight fit.

We went for a ride on this old steam engine.
Billy was hanging out the window while the
engine went to the other end. I think it is
a fun picture!!

This is what your hands look like after hanging
on to motorcycle handle bars for over 1500 miles!

Fire in the Hole

Saturday Billy & I decided to get a burn permit and burn off some old piles that have been building up for awhile. We had a nice little place burned off and just kept adding stuff to the pile. After a couple of hours we just lit the "other" pile to speed the process up...no biggy. We figured we were done so we doused the fire with a whole lot of water. We went to Jenn and Eric's for a bar-b-q with Marge, Raul, Derek, Nicole and the girls. Billy thought he should check the fire so he went home which was good cuz it had flared up again. He doused it again and came back to the party. We doused it again before we went to bed at midnight. Thank heavens our neighbor had an early morning water turn cuz he called us at 4:00 a.m. and informed us that we had a fire in the back yard hence the following pictures..

The original burn place
the original place and the 2nd burn pile
at the fence line
the other side of the fence, just feet away from where we have our chickens. I bet they were thinking "KFC here we come"
the other side of the field, thank heavens for wild trees.

Bear lake

Saturday after Billy & Kenny got done working on the roof we decided that we needed to go for a little motorcycle ride. Brant & Ashley came up so the four of took a little jont over to Bear Lake and enjoyed a refreshing shake. That has to be one of our most favorite rides, Logan Canyon is so dang pretty. It makes you wonder how some people don't believe in God, all you have to do is look around and you can see His handiwork.

Brant & Ashley at the scenic overlook of Bear Lake
Billy & Kelly at the same place
And all 4 of us there
Brant & Ashley at Rick Springs

July 4th fun

For the 4th of July we went up to Pineview res. and went boating. We went Friday and Saturday. Jenn, Eric and Elli went with us on Friday and being the lame mom/grandma that I am, I forgot my camera so I don't have pictures of them. DANG IT! I did get pictures of everyone else on Saturday.

Trip to Island Park

Roger & Judy Barnes, Kim & Retta Hawker,
Karl & Lois Bodily, Billy & Kelly.












Billy & Kelly on the "Crazy Cow" at Fuddruckers








Billy & Kelly at one of the most awesome falls in Yellowstone Park

Tragedy at our home

On Wednesday night we had a family tragedy. Harley took up the sport of chasing cars in which she lost. She was hit by a car which was going way to fast and died instantly! Things are a little sad and somber at our house and the bad thing is Toree doesn't know yet because she is in Lake Powell. She will be missed by all (seriously)! Wish us luck in telling Toree about this...it could get ugly!

Elli & Papa

Elli just loves to go for rides with her Papa on his "motorbicycle." Every Sunday she gets dressed up and asks Papa, "Pretty pretty please, Papa, will you take me for a ride?" And of course, Papa will find any excuse ever to go for a ride, so even if it is to take Elli a mile down the road and back, they're gone!

True Love

This is Toree with her true love "Harley"

The Last Dance

This is Toree with her boyfriend Taylor. They are headed to their last high school dance.

Mexico

In March Billy and I went to Mexico for a week. We were about 60 miles south of Cancun. It was so much fun and SO warm. I told Billy I could really stay there and be a beach bunny. We went to some Maya ruins and climbed the pyramid thing (that was a little scary for a girl who is afraid of heights). We also went to a place called Xel-Ha and did some snorkling.