No search party needed!!

I am really still here!! Where does the time go!! I have been having trouble with my photo editing program, so didn't feel like posting, since I HATE to post without a photo!!

I have been busy preparing for our Girls Camp Kick-Off this Weds...alot of work, but getting better now that I know what is expected of me!!

Tanner started basketball this month...games every Saturday, which we love to watch...he's a little more aggressive this year..fun to watch!

I made a little scrapbook for my niece who was here for the holidays, and have a layout in the works....then quilt fabric is just calling my name to sew!! Oh my goodness, so much I'd like to do...and NO motivation!! This gloomy weather is a drag!! Then today...school is delayed 2 hours because of a sciff of snow on the ground!! Guess it was a little slick earlier though!

" My new quilt fabric!"

My friend Margee taught me a little about wood working this month. We made a couple of simple little ladders to display my homemade quilts on. So I learned to use a sander, a router, nailer, and a table saw....I can see how this could be addicting as well. She has a cute little barn where all her wood is located....it was fun to learn something new!! Sweet friend!

" The Pro woodworker...Margee"

Using a router!! So cool!!

Then Trina and I put together a little Christmas Organizer that we both got the kit for in November, but had no time to do....so guess what?! Now it will be all finished for Christmas 09!! One step ahead of the game!! It has pockets for reciepts, spots for gift cards...so you don't lose them...and find them a year later!! (hmmm how would I know this happens?!) We have been in a little bit of a creative slump...so this was a fun project to kick us in the butt and get us going again!!

=

We also had our annual trip to see Monster Trucks at the Tacoma Dome again this month...just after a boy was killed from flying pieces...we debated getting a refund, but went anyway....sad situation for that small boy though and his Family!! I really get into the jumps and the demolition!! I think it would be so much fun to see motorcross racing with motorcycles!!!

Jaycee's best friend in the whole world (Kami) is moving to California tommorrow, so I am in the process of making a paperbag book in 6 hours....so the race is on...better get it DONE!!

WHEW!!!!!!!!

Too close for comfort!!! Last night was one of the worst nights of sleep I can remember in a long time!! As was all over the news...Western Washington was in a state of Emergency with flooding occuring in most of the rivers!! Reaching all time highs!! The Puyallup River was racing so fast...we couldn't believe our eyes when we went to take a look. At 5 pm...we recieved a phone call from the city of Puyallup letting us know that our property...and US might be in danger as the waters rised..and that we were advised to evacuate and get our belongings to higher ground....WELL...this was a little alarming as I was sitting with the kids and had this horribly terrified look on my face!! Kevin arrived home from work shortly and we decided to take all of our belongings that were in our basement up to 3 feet to higher ground. So then we felt a little better. News reports weren't encouraging though~ I was checking the computer out for any new info when I heard the Puyallup Police Dept outside on their PA system going from block to block telling us "it is very important that we evacuate"~Kevin took a ride to make sure the water wasn't too close to us, and said...I think we will be ok. So we went to bed at 1 am...then every couple of hours or so, I walked downstairs to make sure the water wasn't seeping into our basement. Kevin got up at 5 am, and said it was ok...so I slept till 8, schools were cancelled, due to potential flooding. That makes 3 1/2 make-up days already that the kids have to make up!

ON Monday Jan 5th the Puyallup River was at 13 feet...and last night Jan 7th at 10 pm, it was at 29 1/2 feet!! 30 feet is flood stage, and 31 is major stage!! By 10 am this morning, it had receeded to 27 feet...what a relief..for us at least!

Not so many others have been so lucky...it makes us feel SO grateful that we were protected and safe. Like for instance...Tiffany's Roller Skating Rink was sandbagging last night...and the water was just at the edge of their parking lot....well this morning...the water had won!! So sad! Really makes you think when you have a scare like this!

Happy New Year!!

WOW...did this ever come quick!! Or is it that I'm just getting old!? No, couldn't be the case...you're only as old as you feel, and having 6 kids and 2 grandkids keeps me feeling young!! We had a great time with all our Christmas visitors...today was the kids first day back to school! They have had a GREAT break with 3 days before Christmas break added to their time...due to snow days this year!! 3 weeks off of school...a kids dream!! Well, back to reality for me I guess...laundry, mopping floors, cleaning....but wait,....I do have fabric calling my name to start a new quilt!! ha ha

Christmas came and went!

Thought I'd better post once more before the New Year!! We've been busy as usual! Kaylee and Shaylin came home from Utah to spend the holidays with us, as well as My niece Melissa, and my Sister Kathy. We had many great game nights, and lots of great laughs!! Spending nights warming up by the fire, watching Mama Mia as many times as we could!! We all went snowmobiling 2 days after Christmas, and there was SOOOOOO much snow in the mountains...it's going to be a great year if this snow keeps up!

Although..,I thought I'd never be so glad to see the RAIN come! It started with 3 snow days right before the Christmas break from school, and it just kept on dumping!! We haven't seen this much snow in downtown Puyallup for years!! Kaylee and Shaylin were looking forward to leaving the snow behind in Utah...but NO such luck! It not only snowed...but it stayed for a WEEK!!
We rode our snowmlbiles around downtown Puyallup a couple of times, Kevin pulled the kids on their new sleds, and we even tried the quads out in the snow!! A riot!! We built a 10 foot snowman. (with Jon's help..Shaylins boyfriend) Wierd to even be able to have that much snow to even think about building such an enourmous thing!! Pretty cool!! It was nice to have everyone here for Christmas...just missing Ryan and Casey and the kids!! They also announced our number 3 grandbaby to arrive in July of 2009!! Hooray!!

Shaylin

Kaylee
Melissa, Me and my Sis

Our 10 foot snowman...yes, we measured!

The snow is here!

Well not actually in downtown Puyallup anymore, but hopefully this week, (since I have to pick up the girls at the airport) on Friday night it will be snowy!! But after Nate Webb's reception, we walked out to the car to find this!!!! Snowing like crazy!! Our first of the year!!

This is Tanner nailing Jaycee with a freshly made snowball!! As you can see, we were totally unprepared for this snowfall!! No coats...gloves...ect!! Oh well....gotta love it when you get it!!And so Kevin gets a huge one to return back to Tanner...because Jaycee is ticked that she got nailed!! They make me laugh!! And this is Tanner running away (very fast) so he WON'T get nailed by the humongous snowball Kevin made!! Tanner couldn't get enough of this snow....I said, Tan......your hands are going to freeze...it's time to go, hop in the car!!!

And this is Tanner saying..........OUCH....I can't even feel my fingers!!!! So he finally got into the car!! We are SOOOOOOOO ready for some snow to play in!! K...gotta get to finishing up Christmas stuff!!

Just for fun!

Tanner says.....ya, this car would be a good 1st car! (get a GOOD job Tan!! :>)

Kevin wanted to send some business Christmas cards out, and knew that his employee's...(well actually just 1 employee) wouldn't be too cooperative with photo's. So...his Family was more than willing to pose and use the convertable to aid in some photo card shots! Not too bad, considering!! Kevin was getting frustrated because we had a MAJOR downpour on our way to the shop, so we were trying to decide how we could get some shots inside...just not the same!! But LO and behold...it stopped raining for 30 minutes while we took some shots~ Thank-you Mother Nature!! Are you ready for Christmas?!

December is here!

Me and Kev
Where did they get this train anyway!! So cool!!

Jaycee and Tanner in the train!

Happy Tanner gets his scriptures early!!

Grama and Grampa House and Tanner

Tree is up and decorated..by the 29th of Nov!!

And I have become a horrible blogger!!! But I am getting ready for Christmas!! So guess some things have to give! Grama and Grampa House were here for a week to spend time with us for Thanksgiving. It was nice to have them here! They will be going into the MTC on January 5th for their mission! Since they will not be able to make it here for Tanner's baptism in May~ they brought him his scriptures early!! He was SOOOOOOO excited!!! He has had mine by his bedside for 3 weeks now...so he was so happy to have his own!!

We got our tree 2 days after Thanksgiving this year...don't know how I talked Kev into that...but he was also on the ball and put the outside Christmas lights up the day after as well!! On the ball or what?! We went to the Red Barn Tree Farm out in Orting to get our tree. I love that place..the kids love the train ride and hunting forever for that perfect tree!!

Kaylee, Shaylin, my Sister Kathy and niece Melissa all come in on the 19th to spend the holidays with us~ SOOOO excited to have them all here!!! Games...games, here we come!!