December 2014

One day last December, Kyla asked if she could use the big camera to take some pictures.  Maya grabbed her camera and they both headed outside to take some winter pictures.  Several weeks later, I came across Kyla's Canon pictures.  This snowy footstep one struck me and  I immediately thought of this snowy footstep quote.   And as I think of my sweet daughter, I'm reminded that she will soon be turning over another page in her book of  life, starting another chapter, taking another step into the future.  It seems like only yesterday that I brought her in to her first day of Kindergarden.  Now, in less than two months, she will be graduating from 8th grade...

Here are some other goings on in the month of December

You can tell how much your sister loves you, by how willing she is to lie on the hard floor and play multiple games of Candy Land with you...

We got to have Devin with us for a couple nights.  We heard a rumor somewhere that he could play the saw, so we found an old saw in the garage and Kyla's violin bow and he played it.  Needless to say, we were IMPRESSED! :)

The next day, Devin and the kids all went out sledding and then built a snowman together.  Needless to say (again), Devin is a favorite at our house and we hope he can come back again someday!

Slumber party...

You can tell how much your brother loves you, by how willing he is to help you put together your favorite flower puzzle...

This middle girl of mine doesn't let me take pictures of her very often, but I ended up with lots of pictures of her in December, so I'm gonna load up this post with them...

Holiday Concert time...

In front of the gigantic tree at Fairmont Hotsprings, where we spent the first few days of our Christmas Vacation...

Back home we enjoyed out two weeks off for Christmas/New Years.  Here Maya is helping make Gingerbread men...

Later we decorated them with family...

In the shadow of the house on a sunny morning.  Colter and cousins are trying to get the snow mobiles running...

Games around the kitchen table...

White Elephant gift exchange...

Gathered...

Kyla helped Melita make an Olaf snowman in the back yard...

Another beautiful picture taken by Kyla on the Canon...

Overall, it was a wonderful month.

Goodbye December,
Alison

November 2014

The computer is in higher demand these days as the kids get older, so I'll have to fit my photo editing and blogging in when I can. :)

November of last year was a beautiful month.  We started out the month by cutting up and processing the kids deer.  Here they are dissecting the heart of Kyla's deer...

It was great to fill up a couple baskets in the freezer with lean, fresh and healthy meat.  K.D. for "Kyla's deer" and C.D. for "Colter's deer".  We also ended up making a lot of jerky with some of the meat and really enjoyed it...

Then Colter wanted to tan his deer hide.  We used a lot of salt and made a trip to Cabela's for tanning solution. After it dried, we tucked it away in the crawl space, so now when the weather turns warmer, we'll take it out and soften it.  Another thing this mother never imagined I'd do in my life...

Grandpa Larry came to visit in November.  Love this picture...

This was late one Sunday night.  It started to snow the first snow of the winter, and with only a little skiff, the kids got on their snow gear and ran out side to play.  If I remeber right, it never did amount to much snow.  We didn't really get much snow at all until just before Christmas...

Just a funny Saturday morning at our house...

The sisters came to stay which was so much fun!  Just a warning to Laura and Maya- If you take selfies on my phone, they're likely to make it onto my blog! ;)

We got to go skating with Laura too!  

And then there was evening entertainment with Kyla and Carolyn...

The end of the month found us headed to the farm in Eastern Montana for Thanksgiving with family.  It was a very special time.  We got to see Grandma Ruth there in the nursing home one day.  We didn't know that it would be the last time we would see her.  Here we are having Turkey Dinner with Grandpa Larry, Rob, Aleta, Evan, and Lana...

Such a tired little girl...

The guys got in some hunting for pheasants...

and porky pines...

We enjoyed some nearly snowless walks under the big sky, through Grandpa's sleepy fields...

I love this picture Randy took of the kids on one of their walks through the badlands...

One of the days that we were home, Aleta and I went over to Grandma Ruths house to go through some things.  On the wall, I found a copy of this poem... 

The Open Home

There's a home I know that I love next mine own,

It's a fold where God's people meet;

It's a place where they gather in God's approved way,

To share in the fellowship sweet.

It's a "haven of peace" from a troubled world,

It's a "upper room" for God and the meek,

It's a "Bethel" to many, both servant and saint,

Yes, to all who true charity seek.

There's a chamber for prophets and closet for prayer;

There's a kitchen where Martha is found;

Hospitality warm from hearts who do care,

Young and old often gather around.

It's one of those hundred-fold homes that God gives

to the homeless dear strangers we know;

And their sweet peace descends upon it to bless

Those remaining, while onward they go.

It's a home that to me is a "Heavenly place";

It's a place where the cup overflows,

It's a place where Jesus Himself feels at home,

What is means to me, only God knows.

-author unknown

I love how it makes me think of her and my other grandparents.  And so many others who had homes like this.  It makes me want to have a home this this.  An open home.

All for now, Alison