Rick & Justines Wedding

Samsons Winery is where the big event took place. After weeks of planning and a few days of mad work the place was set.

Rick and Justine after 2 1/2 years decided to tie the knot. July 23rd, 2010

Justine had been working on a quilt for her and Rick, a huge under taking. A lot more than she thought. Her mom Lisette helped out to get the finishing touches done....Turned out better than they expected.

Kala the flower girl came all the way from Eastern Idaho, a town named Rexburg to fulfill her part.....She was so excited to be apart of the wedding.




And here we have Andrew, Ricks son 6 years old and a very important part of the day. Not only do we gain a son in law but we gain a grandson.

Welcome to the family

And the people kept coming from all over the place. Aunts and Uncles. Cousins and niece's and nephews. They all came to join in the festivities.

All the grooms men had tuxes, cowboy hats, canes and aviator sun glasses. Cool idea. And it looked great.

The Brides Maids wore beautiful red dresses.

An out door wedding and the weather could not have been better. Reverend Jack performed the wedding ceremony.

Here Justine and her Dad walk down the isle.....See that smile on Dad's face....It has nothing to do with the wedding....This is the last daughter to be married. You should see him jumping for joy...(ha ha ha) Not really, he is happy for Justine and that she will be happy.

Here Rick and Justine exchange vows and become husband and wife

The Big Kiss....and they are off

The whole wedding party

Time to cut the cake

And then some dancing

and more dancing.

There was lots of food....hmm I wonder why no pictures of the food showed up. We had a BBQ (hamburgers, hot dogs, and lots of salads. A lot of different types of drinks also

The party was great. It could not have happened if it were not for all those who helped. I won't mention names, just be it known that your help was greatly apperciated

Just another beautiful day in the life of Lisette and Toyke

Accidents Happen

Not to long ago we were visiting TJ and his family. While there we went on a few bicycle rides in the neighborhood. Now while we were out on our bicycles riding the street was clear except for this lone truck. Now let me tell you that the truck was minding its own business. Parked on the side of the road. So as we were riding we passed this truck, went around the corner and then came back. Kala was riding and was all over the place, which is normal for a 3 year old. Anyways the closer she came to this truck the more I watched...she's going to more over....she will move now....Oops she didn't move and bang. She was stuck. Thats right she drove into the truck and got stuck just as you see the picture. It was soo funny....But as you can see she was not to happy. So I got off my bike to help get her unstuck. It took a little to get her loose and then checked to make sure there was no damage to her, the bike, and the truck.

The next time we drove by that truck it was parked in the driveway....I guess they saw what had happened

The life and times of a 3 year old.

What brings me JOY!

In China a man is selling his son...is that legal? Whale Wars are trying to stop the killing of whales...what about that dolphin slaughter bay... Sometimes it just gets too much for me and I feel a lack of joy and I have to stop and think about what brings me joy.

Going out to my chicken coop and finding 16 eggs brings a smile to my face






Playing the accordian (yes, I took 6 weeks of lessons and don't play well) and having Maria "lead the music" brings me joy. Cooper is our audience...

Looking out my window and seeing the radishes sprouting brings me joy....

If I was THAT kind of Wife....

It finally happened! I was the kind of wife who when her husband called to say that he was taking two other guys out to lunch to Bob's Burgers and Brew...I could say, "Honey, why don't you bring them home. I just pulled some bread out of the oven and have some Meredith homemade Chili along with Chad & Rachel's homemade strawberry jam"

It certainly doesn't happen very often at all and that's what made it really sweet!

And for all you bread makers...this is Rachel's neighbor's bread...they call it Mama Bread. If you want instructions maybe Rachel will post them but here's the ingredients and essential information:

2T yeast

1/2 brown sugar

1/2 c warm water....together in bowl

1/4 c melted butter

3/4 c molasses

2 c warm water....put together and then add to yeast and then put into bowl big enough for all flour to be added

1 c white flour

1 T salt

6 c wheat flour... add 2 cups at a time until well mixed. You want the dough to be moist but not gooey...I had to add another cup of white flour to get it not gooey.

Rise in bowl...into pans...rise again...350 degree oven, 40 - 45 mintues cooking time. I put foil over top for the last 10 minutes as it was getting brown.

Considering this is a 6 to 1 wheat bread recipe....it's really really good.

Maybe you too could have one of those moments when your husband can bring home the guys for lunch!

Rachel's House

It fun to go to Rachel's House...of course it's Chad and Lily and Eden's house too and its so great to see them all.

Rachel is fun because she has some great ideas that she wants to do...doesn't always know how to accomplish them but that does not stop her. She cut up a single down blanket and made two out of it...then wanted pink and red duva covers for Lily and Eden. Not having enough of the pink and red didn't bother her...we added the yellow and white and a little strip of all the colors! Cute cute cute...how fun...
another p.s....the crib sized day bed....Toyke made it when Justine was little and he's going to make another one for Eden and Maria...when he gets his wood shop set up - and it's getting close...

My Favorite Things....

In my kitchen...on top of my new tile back splash that a FANTASTIC General Contractor installed for me...I have a new T-Towel!!!! Yeah for T-towels! Can't get enough of them...I love them. Heidi found this one in Holland - it's a circle with a tab in the middle for hanging on the knob....I love it! Heidi also brought me back some sugary sweet waffle cookies but I can't get a picture of them for you because....they are gone! They did come in a cute tin though...
and p.s. another of my favorite things is reusable grocery bags..."Australian Labradoodles" is my newest bag...thanks Heidi.

Birthday Time Again

Yup, Happy 29th Birthday for the 23rd time...you do the math.

TJ called on his birthday and said...we're the same age now! 29 and holding.

I am thankful for my mother, who without her none of this would be possible!

I'm also thankful for Toyke and all my kids - yes, that's you Stephanie, Marco, Rachel and Rick along with all the little ones.

I'm thankful for friends who are sensitive about my aging!

I'm thankful for these beautiful flowers from Cindy...thanks.