Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

The time during the Christmas season was filled with family and friends. On Christmas Eve day, Bobbie and Gina made a road trip from Twin Falls to share Christmas and pick up Bobbie's aunt and visit Gina's brother. Later that night, we had a wonderful primerib dinner with the Mom's, Tom, and Joel. After dinner, Doug and Margie wondered across the street to visit and stay for part of the gift celebration.

This year I was "santa" (note the hat!) and handed out the gifts one by one while we oooh'd, aaah'd, and took pictures of what we received...it was the best Christmas yet! Of course we say that every year! That evening it started to snow so Dee spent the night rather than drive on the the slick roads.

Christmas day started out shoveling the white stuff before picking up Linda's brother, Tim, from the airport. That afternoon we had a spread of the turkey with all the fixings and the leftover primerib with the additions of Tim and Doug and Margie.

On Sunday the 28th, we had our final Christmas with Sylvia and Jessie (Linda's stepmom and her granddaughter) at Macaroni Grill to celebrate - after 4 days of munching on leftover and goodies we needed a dinner out! A good time was had by all...which was evident by Tim going for the big bottle of wine on the table! The time until Tim left on the New Years Eve morning, the family got together whenever we could just to visit and enjoy each others company.

We would like to thank all our family and friends who helped make this the best Christmas ever! We love you all and wish everyone the best for 2009 - may all your goals and dreams come true!

Mother / Daughter Baking Night

Linda and I happily take on the challange___The kitchen in progress___Two bowls of cookie dough ready


Dee wrapping each cookie____Delores taking a break

This year Hopewell wanted to make chocolate cookies to send out to customers and friends, so Delores and I decided that we should have a mother/daughter baking night. I talked to Linda and we agreed that a double mother/daughter night would be twice the fun!!! We started at 5:30 at night and finished up just before midnight... our kitchen was set up into "stations" for the batches...butter and eggs first, then onto sugar and flour, next to mix in the chips and nuts, finally into the "big" bowl ready for the cookie sheets. We were able to bake over 3 dozen at a time, then onto the cooling racks before getting individually wrapped and boxed up. We estimated that we made about 55 dozen cookies and agreed that it was a good time right up until about 9:00 when it was determined that it felt like an assembly line and somewhat work!! We still agreed that next year we would do it again but maybe start just a little earlier in the day!!

Thanksgiving

We have so many pictures that we decided to put up a slide show...if you click on it a new window will open up for a better picture....

Everything went well on Thanksgiving, Linda and I hosted the dinner for the family and friends. We deep fried the Turkey and baked a couple of extra legs and thighs so we would have extra dark meat and the juices for the gravy.
Everyone showed up while the turkey was cooking so we ended up on the back patio visiting and watching the pot. Everyone knows that a watched pot doesn't boil so that ensured us that the fire extinguisher wasn't needed....

Dinner was fab-u-lous and all the side dishes everybody brought over were delicious!!! After dinner everyone relaxed and took a little snooze if needed.

We decided to dig out the Uno game and have some fun. Everybody remembered playing differently and by the time the "rules" were agreed upon it basically was a fun version of "crap on your neighbor" - a draw four blue, then a draw two, then a skip, then a reverse, then a skip and the original person who played the draw four has to draw 6! After a while we had to break out an additional deck and tried to guess who was holding the most cards. Thankfully the only way we kept score was 1 point if you were lucky enough to go out.

The next day, Linda and I relaxed and since the deep fryer was still set up, Linda fried up another turkey...Her first time and it was better than mine!! We took the meat off the bones and it is in the freezer for Christmas.

We hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving as well and enjoyed the time spent with friends and family!! We love you all and wish you the best Holiday Season! May your shopping be pleasant, the parking close, your tree straight, and all your lights lit!!!
~ Denise and Linda

BSU Football

Well, here we are...finally went to a BSU football game!!! Sylvia, Thanks for the tickets, they were great!! Deby couldn't remember the last time she went to a game and Linda, Aislynn, and I have never been. We had to do the "touristy" thing and get our picture by the Bronco in front of the stadium. All the fans are to wear either blue or orange...it was also supposed to be "orange" day......normally the sections are seperated and the fans know where they are sitting on what color to wear. However, not that we are rebels, but orange is not our color. The only time Linda and I wear orange is during hunting season!! BSU (#10) played Utah St (#8), it was a big game and I heard the BCS standings and a bowl game were riding on it. What ever the reason, BSU kicked ass and final score was 49 - 14....and the team should be going to the sugar bowl!

Deby wanted us to get on the horse!____Hey, look up here!_____We still have room to spread out!

Of course, there's alway the self portrait____The band takes the field_____Here comes the players!!


The opening kick-off______Aislynn brought the "big" book for luck______It helped, score was 49 - 14

San Francisco - Linda's Trip

The week before Halloween, Linda went to San Francisco to visit her brother Tim and Boris. Her mom, Dee, met up with the family later on in the week. She was also able to take time to visit her long time friend Joni, do a little shopping and visiting her old stomping grounds....

Tim relaxing in the morning __________Lucky is definately spoiled!________Boris, Tim, and Linda "touring"

Boris, Tim, Dee, and Linda_________"Noooo, my shoes are more comfortable!"_____Holloween Hats!!!

Linda and Joni____________________Linda and Mom__________________Sea Lions @ Pier 39

Linda with Tim and Lucky___________View's from Tim's Neighborhood (Twin Peaks)

Pictures of the Kids

Young Malibu after "gardening"____Chancey, Malibu, and Lindey ready for a treat

Chancey wants her treat first____Ready for clean up in the kitchen

"To-Do" Day

Awesome breakfast, Thanks Syvia!_________Linda's new daffodil!_________The bag o'bulbs will be safe back here!


Lefty Loosie...Righty Tighty!___ Sylvia and Linda sharing a moment___Denise and Sylvia as well

We started off by having an awesome breakfast with Sylvia, Jessica, Keith and Ginger (Linda's step mom and family)...Everything was so good, I don't know how we had the energy to start the "To-Do" List for the day. But we did...

I winterized her sprinkler system while Linda and Sylvia talked gardening (actually Linda was getting some daffodil bulbs - she also tried for tulips but I just couldn't do it!)



She's still looking good!_________This piece is really supposed to fit!____I think I saw that part over here!

Denise and Buddy taking a break_______Pull...Push...Pull! Oh what the hell!__________Come on Helen, it's this way!

I thought you had the right side!______Oh Me?...I'm holding the bungies!_________And I still have the power!!

Tada!! The boat is covered!________High Five and do a little dance_____Linda taking a well deserved union!

Then it was off to Linda's mom's house to put up a cover over boat (we bought it in June...we are right on it!!). How they can get a 10'x20' portable carport in such a small box I will never know...but at least all the pieces were labeled and the directions could be followed after reading them 4 to 5 times! What a team...although at times it was the blind leading the blind! The boat is now covered and ready for the winter...Yeah! We had to do a high five and a little happy dance! Now we are counting the days until we can use again- especially since next summer I will not be in school!!

Another Deck is Done!

Three words: Fab -You-Lus!____Even a view of "The City of Trees"

Doug giving the joists a facelift_______Even the underside was refinished!________and the 50' Catwalk was really fun

This was the deck I started before going to North Dakota...the center two railing sections had to be raised because the previous owner was short and had the rail lowered so that she could enjoy the view of the city. Everything was powerwashed and stained...have to thank Linda for the patience to stain the pickets underneath. The 50' catwalk on 4' centers made for a three-ticket ride if you were standing just right, its no wonder why they have a lockable gate getting to it - have to make them party proof whenever you can! Also repaired the joists underneath since a couple were starting to rot (add an extra ticket if you were on top)...Much better to walk on after we got done and defininately much better to look at!!! The taller owners can now enjoy the view of the city and the awesome sunsets!