Why did they talk me into this?

I drive a bus for Athol Elementary.  At the end of the year the school has a talent show - I wouldn't call this talent but the kids laughed.....

Darren Darren Darren

What can I say except that my baby has gotten married.  It wasn't as hard to accept as Darren graduation high school or going off on his mission to Hong Kong.  I figure because he hasn't lived at home in 8 years.  The only child that didn't get married here at the Spokane temple.  We went to Denver.  One very crazy fast weekend.  The best part was of course being there to witness the wedding but a close second was to see all my kids together.  My only regret was that there wasn't a late night card game.  Some of the highlights.....

 Learning the new camera - should have used the flash - oh well

 The day before the wedding

 All my favorite children

 Just out of the Temple into the cold snowy weather.  Only married for about half an hour.

 The "parents" picture

 On the stairs at the chapel.

 "I remember having to put up with all these pictures - so glad I never have to do that again"

 All the brother and sisters.

 Cake - yum!!!!

 Girls never get silly - well, not like boys.

Me and Lucas - Troy kept telling me to "go away" - The joys of living to far away.

Wish I had passed the camera around a bit more.  I wish Darren and Laura all the happiness they can stand and then a little bit more. 

Jack frost came for a week

I'm having fun with my toy.  If you can enlarge these - do so - much better.

Outside of the snow on the ground - what is on the trees is frost.

Up close and personal.

So I have discovered two kinds of frost - first the prickley kind - it looks like little thorns - like it would hurt if you touched it.

Then there is the softer kind.  More like balls of cotton - poofy.

I have been enjoying finding the beauty in all this cold. 

New Toy

So for Christmas/birthday I got a new toy.  A camera - a Nikon - I'm learning and I am very thankful we don't have film any more.  It is so easy to delete.   Went to lake Coeur d'Alene and this is my first time playing with my new toy.

 I like the zoom on this camera -

 Lake Coeur d'Alene on a cold December afternoon

 Looking for fish - or ?

 Roots of a tree on the beach - looked like a snake to me

 Dead fish all over the beach - Eagles like them alive

This is for Nathanial

 Two - one on the left stands on one foot

 Had to take a picture of this duck.  He was way far away but I liked the reflection on the lake.

Such a nice pose.

Not bad for my first play.  

Rudy the red nosed school bus

First you get Santa to come and help.    He is sitting with his legs hanging down one of the roof hatches.

We have decorated the bus for the past four or five years.  Lights covering both sides of the bus, antlers - all lit up, lashes on the headlights (eyes) .  Rudy is pulling Santa.

Even a red nose.  Even made ears next to the antlers.  

This year the Parade was canceled.  Not a good thing  - so my boss decided we would get Rudy out and go around and collect food for the food bank.  It was very cold - got down to 24 - but Matt and I volunteered to be a walker.  We got to hand out candy canes and collect the food.  I didn't get pictures of us doing that - but we had a blast.  We got a lot more food then we thought we would - and that was way cool.

I love North Idaho

Had a relaxing Saturday on a train ride in Ion.  Just a few pictures - of home - for those who are missing it.

Heaven

It is a good three weeks when you get to see.....

Georgey  

Maddie  

Sadie  

Grayam 

Jack 

Hallie 

Troy 

Gibson 

Kevin  

Ezra 

Lucas 

....all your grand children.
And all your children too.
More in a few days