Sunday, December 23, 2007

Jesse and Julie fail driving test....

This is Renae demonstrating the discovery of a new wonder...her voice!

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Britt and Ethan sledding

Grandpa goes downhill fast....

Christmas 07 with family here......
Here are some random shots from our time together...so far. It's been so much fun having the kids and grandkids here (with the exception of greatly missing Trey and Kari). The first day here we took the Idaho bunch sledding in our next door neighbors' back yard and into ours.



Britt and daughter, Kaylin. (photo is foggy due to my camera being in the cold temperatures too long.)




Mom Britt pushing Ethan and Krystin down our little hill




Jesse and Julie...about to crash. In spite of many failed attempts at a successful sled run, Julie was still a great sport.



Super Mom!!!



Grandpa is still a boy at heart. Having grown up in New York, he is at home in the snow.



My daughter, Britt enjoying the fun in the snow.



Kaylin was fearless. She'd go down the hill laying flat on her back...with her eyes closed.



Yep, that's our Julie!




Grandpa and Krystin...sledding buddies.


Back at the ranch...


Dad Dan making morning coffee. Ethan and Kaylin both love to push the "on" button and took turns every morning. Ethan watches as Kaylin has her turn.




Krystin...a happy toddler



Bedtime for Ethan, but just a little more snuggle time and a little more backrub before retiring.



Grandma Penni had to work this morning. Aunt Julie brought out her bare sugar cookies and let the nieces and nephew decorate. (Thanks, Julie.)



Hey, Grandma! You stole my cracker!



Mom needed a break, so Grandpa won the lottery and fed/burped baby Renae.




Kaylin and Ethan helping Grandma make homemade noodles for the chicken noodle soup. Absolutely fascinating machine to the little
engineers!


Aunt Britt finally is able to meet niece Renae!



Love Britt's new do! She looks absolutley beautiful! Renae, on the other hand, has her own do.




Great Gma and Great Gpa gave tic tacs to the great grandkids as part of their Christmas gifts. The tic tacs were the biggest hit!



"Where are my tic tacs?"



Ganging up on Uncle Jesse. He cried, "No, no...I don't like face massages and I don't like hugs!" Of course, we all know what Ethan, Kaylin, and Krystin proceeded to force on Uncle Jesse.





Thanking Great Grandma for their Christmas gifts.



...and Great Grandpa, too.



Ah...my very own tic tacs.



Per Mom Britt's request, her kids with Gma and Gpa.



"Well, if I can't have my own tic tacs, I'll settle for my pacifier."




Renae fixed her hair for this shot with Aunt Britt.



"I'm so happy to meet you, Kaylin!"



The girl cousins getting to know each other.
Kaylin and Krystin were fascinated with baby Renae.



All the cousins on Jesse's, Britt's, Trey's side of the family.
(Ethan, Jesse, Krystin, Kaylin, Julie, Renae)



Dad Dan and Kaylin.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Grandpa designing and making a Christmas present for...hmmm, can't say.





Our Christmas tree


More photos of ice storm aftermath:


lilac tree right behind the house







Okay...enlarge this photo. These 2 deer we spotted today while driving home are like none Kevin nor I have ever seen before. They are slightly smaller, but also slightly stockier build than "normal" white tail deer common to this area. They were rather wooly and had a face almost resembling a kangaroo's face. Disappointed I couldn't shoot a better photo, but we were in the car and the deer bolted when we stopped. Can anyone identify these deer?




Ice-encased viney plant




Lilac buds...very colorful with red and yellow



This evergreen is next to the parking lot where I work



This was from the snowfall we had just prior to the ice storm



Again...just before the ice storm




I was fascinated with this evergreen...the frost beneath the ice encasement



A crab apple



very fine nylon netting around plants



The clouded sun shining through the crystal treetops





I pulled into a parking lot to take these 2 photos






Icicles hanging from the wires in our backyard. Notice the poor lilac bent to the ground



lilac just behind the house



a leaf on same lilac bush



Night photos





under city street light



street sign in front of street light