A Year in Review

Well, here it is. Another year down the tubes. I really should not be surprised. This will be my last post of the year so I decided to do a little 2008 recap. So here goes:

Luke started out the year by passing his Journeymen's exam and he received his license to become a full-fledged turd chaser (side note: his words, not mine). Then things began to sour at the company he worked for for 5 years. He finally decided it was time to move on. The very 1st placed he applied hired him that afternoon. It was a scary decision for Luke but it was meant to be. The company he works for really takes care of him and he comes home happy. It was a total blessing all the way around. Luke also got tired of watching me take karate and decided to join up himself. He is a natural!

Kristian had a big year as well. He lost a bunch of teeth which was a little traumatic on the guy, but he got over it and found he had something to brag about. He started 1st grade and is doing really well. His reading is off the charts. He loves to learn and he really likes math (did not get that from his Mother). He started taking piano lessons. He really seems to enjoy playing the piano. 2008 was a major growth year for Kristian as well (did not get that from his Mother either). All in all, he had a pretty good year.

In August, Luke and I traveled to Troutdale Oregon for a karate camp. It was an eye opening experience. We certainly got our butts worked off and we met a lot nice karate people. The road trip was a little long but we saw some really pretty parts of our country. In September, I teamed up with my MIL and SIL's to do the Montana Marathon. Kristian's school hired me to be their volunteer coordinator. And in October, I received my High Purple Belt and since I had no one else to spar with, I sparred with Sensei Kevin and that's all I'm gonna say about that (using my best Forrest Gump voice).

We also lost our sweet Frannie in 08'. This was the toughest part of our year. Or maybe I should say mine. Tough on Luke and Kristian because they had a very out of it Mom and Wife for about a month. The pain has eased up a bit but I still really miss her. She was one in a million. We still don't know what went wrong, I guess that no longer matters. The big thing for me in 2009: Forgiveness.

23.jpg" border=0> And then we have the wild thing, Remi. She was the wildest thing about our year. Kittens! They are more work than kids! She was spade yesterday and I brought her home this morning and she is totally wild. They say: try and keep it quiet for her over the next week. Yeah, right! It has not slowed her down one bit. On the other hand, she has made our grief easier and she is so cute. She is the complete opposite of Frannie and she has the potential to be a good cat. As I type, she is being totally naughty. Remi's big thing for 2009: getting bit by our bird. Then maybe her fascination will end even if it involves some pain.

Well, there it is. Some of our bigger moments for 2008. It was a pretty good year and it certainly had it's challenges. We just want to say thank you to all our friends and family who helped us get through 2008 in one piece. We love you, guys!! Until next year!

Montana Snow-Thaw Massacre

Yesterday the weather was absolutely beautiful. So we decided to go out and build Snowmen. We ended up building a Snow Dad, Snow Mom and Snow Kid. They turned out totally awesome, we put hats and scarves on them and they even had carrot noses. But, alas my camera was still at my Mom's and I did not think of using my cell phone until is was to late. It was then that I made my shocking discovery. It looks like we had some sort of crazed social path go after our Snow Peeps. Limbs lying everywhere. All that was left of the Snow kid was his arms and all that remained of Luke's was his lower half. Snow Mom was the only one left standing. The sole survivor left to tell the tale. Total chaos. But it makes one funny photo op.

Kristian says, "Move it along folks, nothin to see here!"

I Have a New Follower!

I am so excited! I have another follower of my Blog, my SIL Keri. I feel so loved! Because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me! OK, maybe I went a little overboard there, nothing much exciting has been going on and I don't have much to blog about. Well, that's not true either. I still have to blog Luke's promotion. COMING SOON: LUKE'S PROMOTION PICS. Can we say ADD! Whew! But I still feel special, hence the picture.

Finally, Luke's Promotion

Well, here it is finally 3 weeks later. Luke did really well on his promotion. He scored 9 points above average so I would have to say that is really good. He has one mean side kick. We even had to spar together, which was very interesting.

Here he is performing a roundhouse kick.

Stocking Stuffer

Last night, I was feeling a little bored so I decided to put Remi inside one of our stockings. She was very patient, considering her tendencies toward wildness. I am in a festive mood. I am excited for Christmas and I look forward to driving around looking at Christmas lights and being with family and friends!

Oh Yeah, It's That Time of Year!!

Well, Merry Christmas everybody!!!! Here it is December 1. Maybe we will have some snow tomorrow, huh!!

Remi and Josie Sittin in a Tree

What else can be said of these pictures? Remi was in ultra sweet mode and Josie was laying on the couch so I put them together. Remi could care less. Josie on the other hand was a little irritated but she handled herself very well.

Everybody now! How Sweet!

My African Daisies in November

We planted these flowers way back in June and they finally bloomed in November! They are going crazy! They are so pretty. Too bad everything around them is dried up and dead. I will definitely plant these guys next year. I just had to take a picture and post them before the weather changes again.

Remi Makes New Friends

Remi is doing really well. She is really coming out of her shell (a little too much perhaps). I forget what it is like having a kitten around. They think they can go just about anywhere like the table or the counter. We had a couple of visitors the other day and I was wondering how she would handle it. Bret and Carol came over and she did just fine.

We caught her napping on our bed and I put Bret right beside her and as you can see, she really could care less. What a lazy crew!

Nice Kitty!

Ohhh! It's so hard to be so dang cute!

After a hard day of napping, I need another nap!

Fitting In

Remi is finally starting to feel comfortable after a week in our household. Anytime we even got remotely close to her position she would run away as fast as her little legs would let her on our slick floor. She would spin out on the floor (and still does - but i think she does it on purpose now). Here she is inside Luke's karate bag.

Don't let her sweet look of innocence fool you, she is totally wild. It has been an adjustment with a kitten in the house again. Luke and I were really tired on friday and we went to bed at 9:30. Just when we start drifting off, guess who jumps on the bed and decides to attack our feet! Luke said that he is going to have to "train" her. Sully will not jump up on Luke's side of the bed and he knows not to attack any feet or walk across Luke. This one could care less right now.

Remi really likes Josie. She chases her tail. It is the perfect cat teaser! Isn't this picture sweet? Frannie never did learn to like Josie. She was her arch nemesis.

Josie was laying on her bed and Remi decided to go lay down right next to her. She also likes Josie's bed. When we had her in the bathroom, I had bought her her own kitty bed (which Sully happily took over) but she wouldn't lay in it. So then I decided she needed to get used to Josie's smell so I put her bed in the bathroom with her. She checked it out, saw that it was good and napped and has been ever since.

Ahhhh coexisting in harmony. Life is good!

Introducing Remi

Yesterday, I decided that I needed to get out of the house. This is what happens when Michelle "gets out of the house". Well, not exactly. Anyways, we went to Petsmart, looked at their kittens but decided that they looked a little sickly and we moved on. We finally ended up at the shop where we purchased Sully and Luke was drawn like a magnet (seriously, I did not see these kittens) and decided he liked this kitten. We asked about them and the girl informed us that they were males. Bummed, I decided it was too soon and we went home. Luke told me to take a nap and then make my decision. Luke stated that he really liked him and thought he would be a good cat. Finally, after several phone calls and pep talks from my husband, I decided that I wanted this kitten even if he was male. We discussed names and we all agreed that Remi was a good boy name. So this morning I arrived at the petshop at 8:30 and told the ladies that I was in the day before and I wanted him. The best part about this whole ordeal is that he is actually a she! I realize that she is not my Frannie and it is time for me to move on and it is not as easy as it sounds. I still cry for her but there is a void that needs to be filled. I just hope that she likes me someday!

Happy Halloween

Yes, it is 2 days late but we have been busy. So here it is finally, Luke and Kristian went as the Super Mario Bros. for Halloween. Kristian was Mario and Luke was Luigi. Kristian was sooo excited about his costume. Yes, I know what you are saying "Well, they don't look excited!" That is because they could not smile, the mustaches kept wanting to fall off.

Hmmm this picture is interesting because something obviously has their attention, including Josie. I have no clue.

My Mom's dog Bailey was a ladybug and obviously she was not happy about her costume since every time I tried to take her pic she would turn her back to me. My Mom's other dog Lexie had a little cowboy hat on her head with a little cowboy saddled to her back, it was so cute. She was impossible to get a pic because she was very humiliated about her costume.

And then we have Josie Feathersword. She was probably the most humiliated of the three seeing how she would never look directly at the camera. And she knew when you were laughing at her. She was not happy.

Then we have Grandma here getting busted giving Bret candy! Grandmas!!!

Bret was not amused by Uncle Luke's costume. Normally, Bret loves Uncle Luke and goes to him very eagerly. Not this time, nope. He would shake his head and say no no. If he could lean any further Auntie would tip right over!

Bret made the cutest little Charlie Brown ever. Very clever thinking on Mama's part! He was sooooo funny. He has spotted a trick or treater. Clearly he is not amused by this shady character. He thought Uncle Luke was bad, get a load of this guy!


LORD VADER!!

This guy was my parent's good friend who stopped by to say Hi! He was pretty cool. But, sadly Bret did not think so.

Our dinner. A jack'o lantern pizza! Thanks, Kris & Carol!

Luke was such a good sport. He even took me to the bank in costume and all the tellers had to check him out.

Cousins Seth and Sarah stopped by and we had to do our yearly Halloween photo. My, how they all have grown!

We took Bret and Kristian trick or treating and Kristian was a little weary of this witch in the ground. He walked by it very cautiously.

Bret really liked trick or treating. This lady thought he was too cute! People pretty much let him take as much candy as he wanted. Must have been using his Jedi mind tricks again!

Look at how cute they are! We had alot of fun with our family and it will go down as another memorable Halloween.

Now this is just plain funny

Birthday Boy

We now have a 7 year old. I cannot believe it. It seems just yesterday that we brought him home. His birthday was friday and to celebrate it we took him to a local fun park with our friends Jason and Stefanie and their 3 kids. Kristian had a blast on the jungle gym (which was free by the way, what a smart boy) while Luke and Jason spent their time on the video games.

Later, we went to my Mom's house where we had lasagna (not for his birthday party, Daren's sister Cindy was visiting and we just happened to be invited) Aunt Cindy got the kids cupcakes and they all got to blow out their own candle. It was a nice time to visit with them and Kristian got to spend time with his cousins Seth and Sarah.

On Sunday, he had a pizza party where he got to open all his birthday presents.

Luke decorated the birthday cake this year. He did an awesome job!

And here he is opening his last birthday present. Luke wrapped this one which was really funny because it was loaded with walmart bags and the present was at the very bottom. Walmart bags were flying everywhere. I wish we would have used the video camera to capture the moment. Thank you to our family and friends for all of your love and support these past 7 years. We could not have survived without you!