I was sooo excited!! This year I am going to get into the Christmas spirit!!! We put three trees in our house. One on the plant shelf (fake), on upstairs in the loft (fake) and a real one downstairs in the living room!!! It was all going so well... until I started to remember why I don't put up a real tree. The stupid thing will not stay up straight. I am pretty sure it will end up falling over before the big day arrives. I am happy every night when I walk in the door and it smells like pine thougth. McKayla loves it.

We had a funny conversation about "real tree". One day she asked me, how would we get real tree? I told her we would get a saw, go out in the woods and cut one down. She said "no really mom... I am not joking". I told her I wasn't joking either. She was sure "they" would not allow us to do that. Then she commented, the tree would fall over. I said yes it would then we would drag it to the truck and load it up. She was getting slightly irrated with my comments and proceeded to say "no it would fall over in the house". (she was so right) I told we would put it in a stand and all would be good (I was so wrong). She then got excited about the prospect of going out and cutting one down. Well, we went to the grocery store parking lot to "cut" our tree. I had plans to do it right... but sometimes things don't work out as planned. Maybe next year we will do out and get one.

There was a constant line to hold baby Braxton!! He is such a sweet boy! It was really nice to get to spend the holiday with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Kristine, Uncle Clayton, Uncle Kevin and (almost Aunt) Courtney. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if Aunt Katie her family would have been there!!

Thursday was sunny and warm. Thursday night it started snowing and we woke up to a white morning. It was pretty fun. Good thing there was a firing going in the arena to keep us a little warmer.

McKayla on Kid... the horse Aunt Kristine rode all through high school. He is a good horse and McKayla enjoys riding him. Grandma Donna roped off of him that day.

McKayla sitting on the fence in the arena. She had a blast watching everyone rope. She likes to hang out with the horses and all that stuff. There was little boy there that was seven and participated in the roping. It inspired McKayla to want to learn how to be "real" cowgirl. She did have a close encounter with a steer that was not so much fun. A steer got loose and came pretty close to her. She was up on the fence, but it did come pretty close. I was up in the timing booth watching... thinking someome grab her. Jeff grabbed her and pulled her off the fence and out of the way. I am sure she would not have gotten hurt, just scared.

GRIZ vs. CATS Game 2008

Getting ready to head out the door to the best game of the year... McKayla and I really enjoy going to the games and seeing lots of friends! I really missed the GRIZ games when I lived in Phoenix. There is nothing like seeing the stadium full of people in maroon and silver. GO GRIZ !

This is Debbie and Stanley. They are the pugs that hang out at a tailgate a little ways away from our tailgate. The girls love to stop by and say hi to them almost at much as they like to watch the game. If it wasn't for Debbie, Stanley and Monte I am not sure McKayla would be as excited about going to the games as she is. We will be able to see Monte at the basketball games... Debbie and Stanley we will have to wait until next football season!!

The little girls having fun at the tailgate before the game. Hanging clsoe to the little heater even though there was no snow... which is not the norm for this time of the year.

Having some shots to keep warm... at the tailgate before the game. It is the only occasion that it is acceptable to drink alcohol at 10 am.

The GRIZ came out in their "old school" colors!!! It was surprise that made the crowd even noiser. The only bad part for me was... those were the school colors when I was going to school there. Does that mean I am "old school"....

McKayla, Sarah and Heather at the game!! It was a really good game and of course the GRIZ won 35 to 3!!! We did our usual tailgating before the game and then headed in. It was beatuiful day!! It wasn't that cold and the sun was out for most of the day.

Baby Braxton

McKayla holding her newest cousin... Braxton Dale Marxer. My little sister Kristine had Braxton on October 17, 2008. He is a sweetheart! I have gone to Dillon a couple of time for "work" and to hold him for as long as I can. Kristine is an awesome Mom and he is adorable. McKayla had a good time holding him.

McKayla looks way to grown up in this picture. She is my baby... it seems like she was just little like Braxton. She is an incredible little girl and looks forward to baby sitting Braxton when they both are a little older. I told Aunt Kristine we would baby sit anytime she was willing to give him up. I am sure we will be line behind Grandma Donna.

Katie, Nick and I at the BSU vs U of I Game

Katie and I had to go to the Chinese Village for dinner. Our Dad used to take us there when we were little girls and would visit him in Moscow. We would frequent there in our college days too. It was a quick trip over the The Plantation to play a little darts after that. It was great food... Katie had not been there in like 15 years. Nick had never been there. Katie said it was as good as ever and Nick was surprised by the good food. Being the party animals that we are we went back to our hotel in Pullman and were asleep by midnight. It was a little more tame that it would have been 15 years ago. It was an incredible trip. Thanks for inviting me along Sister... I love you!!!!

Katie and her husband Nick. They are sooo good together. It is fun to hang out with them and see how much they enjoy each other.

Katie and I at the game. It was very fun. Boise State killed the U of I... which made Katie and Nick very happy. I was happy too... but more along for the ride and visit with my sister

Katie and I having a little lunch at Arby's in Moscow... we were wishing Weezy was there with us!! Just like the good old days.

Halloween

Here are the pumpkins that we carved. McKayla carved one in Helena and the rest we did tonight at our house. It was very fun... as always!!! One McKayla did with mommy one with her dad... grandma, grandpa and Jeff watched. One mommy did all by herself. McKayla said..the one with the eyebrows was very difficult.

hi this is mckayla. i am 8 yeas old.it is 10/28/08 stay tuned for the picture of me carving pumkins.