Crazy Week!

Well we have had a busy, fun, scary week! Monday thru Friday I finished all of the shopping! Going out into the crazy world with even crazier people driving in the snow, that for some reason they think it isn't going to snow, so they forget how to drive in it!!! Ryan had wrestling at West Side, his old school, on Wednesday night, against Mountain Crest and Bear River, both from Utah. He didn't get to wrestle any of his old friends, but won both of his matches that night!!! Courtney got dropped off at her friend Samantha's house and they went babysitting later. Joslyn got to pick up her BFF, Claire and her sister, Carrie and take them with us to the school. Thursday was Courtney's 13th birthday! I can't believe I have 2 teenagers now! She LOVES owls, so I scoured this town and found her a stuffed owl, a owl shirt and an owl desk set, plus some other things, namely an "I Love Edward Cullen" shirt from the Twilight book series that she loves. I never thought I would have a daughter that loves owls, vampires and science fiction/fantasy books. She's definitely her father's daughter! Thursday was also Joslyn and Chad's Christmas program at school, or to be PC, the Holiday program - whatever!!! They both did a great job, Joslyn's class sang "Home for the Holidays" and "North Pole Rock and Roll", for that one hey all wore sunglasses and looked so COOL! Chad's class sang Santa Ho - a version of BINGO and Angel Band, which they gave them sticks to hit against each other, who thought of giving 5 & 6 year olds sticks?!?! Anyway, way cute!!! Then Thursday night, Ryan had wrestling at Century, his school now against Bonneville from Idaho Falls and Rigby, he has cousins that go to each of these schools - Josh and Logan, respectively. He beat his guy from Bonneville, but lost to his guy from Rigby, but it was a fun night. Friday, Craig and I went out shopping, loads of FUN!!! We've vowed to never leave the house AGAIN!!! Saturday we drove to Idaho Falls and saw Craig's Dad, his brother, Dean and his wife Deanna, to give them their Christmas gift. Then over to Kevin and Sharlene's for a while, to see wedding photos of their daughter Angela's wedding on the 15th of this month in Portland. Then we hit Sam's Club and McDonald's on the way out of town. This is where the SCARY part comes in - we were just past Fort Hall Indian Reservation on I-15, when the gas pedal gets stuck!!! Thank Heavens Craig is driving, not me, because I don't know what I would of done!!! He had to ride the brakes and try to get it to stop, it wouldn't, so we got off the exit and drove into a parking lot and just shut it off. Even then when we would turn it back on, it would just rev and rev, Craig thinks the line is broken or something. So luckily we were only about 6 blocks from the house, so Craig and Ryan ran home and got the other car and came back and picked us up. I had in the meantime, called the insurance help line and got a tow truck sent out. We had to lead the tow truck driver over to where we wanted it dropped off, because he's kind of new to town. I have never been so scared or prayed so hard in all of my life. But we are all safe and other then being a bit scared and not having the van to drive, we are okay. We are just going to stay in the house all week, enjoy the snow - we have a couple of inches and are expecting some more - have a nice Christmas, watch some football - that will just be me, but whatever! - and have a good rest of the year.

Wishing you all a Safe and Happy and Healthy Christmas and New Year!!! We Love You!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. We made turkey with all the trimmings and had Craig's friend Dominic, his three kids - Miguel, Anthony and Aleah, and his girlfriend, Lisa over for dinner. It was very nice. Finished it all off with pumpkin pie and some football, what more could you want?!?!
We are very thankful this year for so much - our family, friends and neighbors, our health and well-being, Craig's job, our warm and cozy home, the good for us (and not so good for us) food, clothes that keep us warm and dry, our belief in the gospel and the opportunities we have to serve others.
A man in church on Sunday, challenged us to serve others with love and charity this Christmas season by just doing 5 minutes of good. Multiply your family members by 5 minutes and do that much service between now and Christmas.
What a good lesson and what a great way to show your love to the Lord.

Happy Birthday Craig!

Happy Birthday to Craig - he's the big 39! (Not the BIG 40!)He's had to spend the day working, he drove to Boise last night, slept on Gowen Field and is driving back right now. Then he has a bunch of things to do in his office, but we've got a surprise for him, we're taking him to see Mr. Magorium's Wonder Imporium and having cake and ice cream later.

October Decorations

Our family of ghosts dancing around the tree

graveyard

Ruby and Joe in the graveyard

The front porch

Our yard

Chad with his ghost buddy

Joslyn with the ghosts

Our front porch

Joslyn and Chad

Carving Pumpkins

Joslyn with her cleaned out pumpkin

Chad digging in with both hands

Ryan cutting out eyes

Courtney feeling the "guts"

Joslyn - soccer

Joslyn "The Rock" Ockerman, as her coach calls her, was the "best defender in the league". She scored 4 goals also.

It looks hot, but it was freezing cold!!!

Halloween

Chad is going as Wolverine from X-Men

Ryan had to dress up as a ghost, for Zoo Boo.

Joslyn is going as Ginny Weasley from Harry Potter

Courtney loves her velvet hooded cloak I found at Wal-mart and her crow, Captain.

Thank heaven for teachers!

September was a busy month and October is proving no different! Ryan got done with soccer. The varsity team beat Preston 4 - 0 to win a trip to state next week. Courtney is done with cross-country. She really improved her times. Joslyn is just starting soccer, their first game was cancelled for snow, but we're hoping to play this weekend. Chad is just Chad. He keeps himself and me BUSY!!! They had parent-teacher conferences this week and were out of school part of the week. They are all doing GREAT in school. Ryan's French teacher said with astonishment, "He does everything I ask of him." Courtney is getting moved to an honors Literature class, her teacher called her, "A diamond in a puddle of mud." Joslyn is doing well, not so much talking and is fantastic at math! Chad is progressing right along and learning his letters and their sounds. His handwriting is good and his counting is right on target. I do so admire teachers!!!

Family Motto

I'm into embroidering sayings, me and Courtney are having a great time finding new ones. But the next one I am starting is our Family Motto, which is
Obedience
Charity
Kindness
Eternal Family
Righteous Choices
Manners
A Happy Home
Neatness
They spell our last name. The kids have had it memorized for a couple of years now, so I am going to make it into a wall hanging for our family room.

Ryan with his Grandma and Papa, who traveled all the way from St. George just for this!

Ryan and his 2 Scout Masters - Reid and Spencer

Ryan and his Scout Masters and his Young Men's leaders - Rick and Lynn

Ryan with Scout Masters, Young Men's leaders and Zon and Jeff, friends

Courtney, Jessica, Ryan, Craig, Chad and Joslyn

The Order of the Arrow doing the flag ceremony. They take apart the Pledge of Allegiance and talk about what it means

The one in the red is Cole, he played soccer with Ryan for a couple of years.

Tennison reciting the Scout oath

Cake forRyan. The eagle is a magnet. It was marble with raspberry filling.

KIDS

Ryan had his Court of Honor on August 19th, exactly one month after his birthday He had some great leaders who participated in his court. It was a great night with grandparents traveling from far away to be there.

School has started. YEAH But who knew the first day would be so crazy?? Ryan's bus stop wasn't were it was supposed to be, so I had to drive him all the way to Century - 20 minutes round trip. Craig had to take Courtney to her bus stop then drop Joslyn off at her school, all the while, Chad McKay slept soundly through it all at home. So not the morning I had planned Then wake Chad up to go to the doctor by 9:00, to see about his arm. He has a slipped capella. There is a little ball - bone, that helps your elbow bend, and when it does, it scoots out of the way, well Chad's doesn't. It's sitting on the inside growth plate, hence this is why Chad's arm is bowed, only the outside growth plate is growing. But the doctor says we're just going to wait it out. The other option is surgery, which I don't want to do, but I do want his arm straight and have full range of motion, he still can't touch his shoulder, he's about 20 degrees too short. So come home from the doctor about 10:30, then Craig calls and tells me the kids have 2 hour early release. WHAT?? We just got them all thereJoslyn needs to be picked up at 12:49 (why the weird times?) Courtney will be dropped off at 1:19 (again, come on? round up or down) And Ryan had an away soccer game, so he left school early, about an hour, to go to American Falls. So I pack myself up about 3:45 (no weird times for me) and drive the 30 or so minutes to A.F. and watch our JV team cream their varsity team, 4 - 0. They did get beat yesterday by Hillcrest, in Idaho Falls, but it was a good game. They were supposed to drive to Hailey today, about a 3 hour one way trip to play Wood River, but they have evacuated their school, because of the Ketchum fires. His next game is Friday, when Burley comes to town.
Chad starts kindergarten today He's very excited So am I The kids seem to like their schools. Even Courtney is doing well. She is going to go out for cross-country tomorrow. She has a whole class, where all they do is read, she thinks she's died and gone to heavenJoslyn is having a hard time keeping all the boys names straight, but she did get 100% on her first spelling test I am actually looking forward to this long weekend, it will be nice to relax

Before pictures

Dayton City Park

horse shoe pits

the before pictures

nice horse shoe pits

Ryan with his finished project

Finally done!!!

Ryan's Eagle Scout project

It's finally done!!!

pipe and board system

fianl view

Ryan's 15th birthday!!!!

Ryan is 15!