First Snow

Alaska & Kira enjoying the first snow of the season.

We have grass!

We finally have grass in our front yard. The sod was delivered yesterday and Scott has been laying it all day (and doing a nice job, too).

Always Love Weddings

My brother got married last week. It was a beautiful wedding!


My brother and new sister-in-law.

Scott and Jen

My brother and all the nephews. Unfortunately I missed the picture of the bride and all the little girls. :(

Jen & Scott at the reception.

Nephews enjoying the chocolate fountain.

Niece and nephew at the candy table.

Another Year . . .

Celebrating my birthday.

Why did you get married?

I don’t usually watch Oprah, but today they were advertising a show called "Why did you get married?" They asked a few questions of several couples that got me thinking about our marriage and how I feel about it.

Why did you get married?
I got married because I loved Scott and I couldn’t imagine being without him.

What did you expect of marriage?
I was pretty independent when we first got married, and I think I expected that I could be my own independent self, separate from Scott, not relying on anybody else to take care of me but me. But it wasn’t until I let my guard down and began to rely on him that our relationship really started to grow in ways I didn’t know it could.

What did you NOT expect?
We were good friends from the beginning, but I didn’t expect how deep our friendship has grown over the years. Also, I didn’t know that love could grow so deep. I didn’t expect that I would have to rely on Scott’s support so much, and I appreciate that he is always there for me when I need love and support.

Celebrating the Pioneers

Every summer we usually have a Pioneer Day celebration with family. Grandma (my mom) hides buffalo chips (Chips Ahoy cookies) and ropes (licorice ropes) in the back yard and our nieces and nephews go on a hunt (like an Easter egg hunt). The last few years it has kind of become a tradition to water slide before dinner. The guys tack down a few large pieces of plastic sheeting on one of the slopes in the backyard. Then we soap up the slide with dish soap and run water down it so it’s nice and slick. Everybody has a blast!

Kira the Bunny

Kira has always loved carrots (sometimes we give her 1 or 2 as a "treat"). But lately she has started doing something that is so funny. When I get into the fridge, she comes running and looks through the crack in the door at the veggie drawer - she’s looking to see if I’m getting carrots out. Silly dog.

Christmas in July

I’ve got the Christmas bug already. It’s only July. Might be because I didn’t feel like I was able to enjoy the entire season last year as much, and I missed that feeling. Anyway, this morning I’ve been listening to "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "O Holy Night." Scott thinks I’m crazy :). (Right) Christmas 2007 - making gingerbread houses.

Quote of the Day

If you want to move mountains,
you’ve got to start carrying stones.
- Chinese Proverb

Alaska's Great Idea

Whenever we go to the vet or take the dogs for a ride in the car, we always start off by taking them out to potty beforehand, usually at a time of day that is not their normal "potty time" (that’s what tips them off that something out of the ordinary is going on). Alaska had a great idea this afternoon: she insisted on going out to potty in the middle of the day. Then as I was waiting for Kira to finish, she went to the car door and wanted in. Nice try, Alaska.