A Few Christmas Shenanigans for 2011

The tradition continues.... Gingerbread houses with Toby and Alisha's boys!

Wehad two houses, one house for each boy and one train to share!

I think this year was year #5 of making Gingerbread houses with Matthew and Peter and they get more and more creative every year! This year we had bridges, ponds, beavers, beaver dams, railroad tracks, spotting scopes, ice skaters on the pond, trees, shrubs.... it goes on and on!

We always have so much fun with this tradition and hopefully next year

William will be old enough to participate!

The Willowcreek Red-Neck Christmas Tree

I think the pictures speak for themselves, however I will give a brief explanation.

Vickie stayed an extra day at the Vickery house because neither of her boys with their wives were able to come home for the holiday's. Mom kept saying, "We have to go see the Red Neck Christmas Tree." None of us (Dan, Vickie nor myself) were jumping at the idea, but we ended up going,

and let's just say, we are glad we did!

The Red Neck Christmas Tree is a tree branch tied to a stop sign (star at the top and all) decorated in Red Neck decor.... some of the decorations were slightly horrifying!

There were even gifts under the tree :)

We probably spent 30 minutes taking pictures and laughing.

Gotta love Willowcreek!

Thanks to you crazy people who put the tree up!

Final wedding of 2011

Annie Rice (Jordan's sister) married Jamon Frostenson Nov 4th 2011.

It was a beautiful wedding, a wonderful reception and Annie was a breath taking bride!

I don't have many photos to share, however, here are few!

I am the worst.... I don't have one in my camera of Annie and Jamon... I guess I was all weddinged out for the year and was slacking on my candid shots!

New Year, New Job

There is nothing like bringing in the New Year with a New Job!

I am still working for Boise State, however I no longer work for the Athletic Department.

A great opportunity presented itself in a round about way, and I now work for the College of Education, Center for School Improvement & Public Systems.

Research & Data Assistant is my new title with the Idaho Leads Project.

See Facebook for more information:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Idaho-Leads-Project/279649745416123

I am really excited to be a part of this amazing new project and I am honored to be part of such an elite group.

Here is a great 2012!

Hunting Season & Football Season

This year Jordan had 2 deer hunts and he was a successful hunter with both tags.

Left is his Idaho deer; land owner tag.

The deer on the right he shot at Catalina Island last weekend on a work trip.










While Jordan was hunting at Catalina Tiffany joined me for the BSU vs. TCU football game. Of course, Tiffany proudly wore her Oregon gear, but she was polite with it, didn't wear anything too flashy! Sadly, the Broncos lost, but Tiffany and I still had a great time! Thanks for joining me Tiff!

Spare bedroom- before & after, curtains

A few weeks ago, my mom came over to Boise and helped me with some curtains for our spare bedroom. I had purchased the fabric months ago, but feeling a little overwhelmed (because I hadn't sewn in so long) mom came to town to "get out of Willowcreek" and helped me get started.
Before curtains:

Weird storage space above the closet.

We got everything set up together and she sewed about half, and then I finished the rest after she left. Below are after pictures! It really makes the room a lot nicer. Our spare bedroom has a lot of storage space, so the curtains make it MUCH nicer!I am very happy with how they turned out!
Now all the spare room needs is a coat of paint!!!!
But that will have to wait until another day.

Happy Halloween

We carved pumpkins last night, well, I carved pumpkins last night!
Jordan struck me a deal, he would "gut" them if I carved them!

Perfect!

While I was carving he was doing our favorite
Halloween tradition; baking the pumpkin seeds!
This year, we tried something new; flavors (rather than just Johnny's Seasoning Salt.)
"Spicy" with hot sauce and "Savory" with garlic salt and Worcestershire sauce.
Very yummy!

Then Jordan said "You haven't made those pumpkin cookies in a while"
(I have only made them once, and that was last year for Thanksgiving).

They are delicious and REALLY easy!
1 14oz can of pumpkin filling
1 spice cake mix (we used yellow cake mix because we had it)
Chocolate chips
Mix together and cook on greased cookie sheet at 350 for 12-15 minutes

They are REALLY moist and REALLY great!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

We have also had a number of trick-or-treaters!

Wyatt, Wyatt and more Wyatt

I haven't posted any pictures of Wyatt lately, so here ya go!

We go to a school near our house and play in the large fenced in field.
Wyatt during our play time

We didn't want to leave Wyatt at home ALL day in his kennel during the first home BSU football game, so we brought him down to the tailgate for a while, then I ran him home before the game!
He loved it! So many people to play with and say hello to! Doesn't he just look excited?

At the tailgate Wyatt enjoyed the shade under the vehicle.
It was about 110 degrees that day in the parking lot. Wyatt and Mador (Jim and Tina's dog) enjoying the couch in Hill City (Wyatt isn't allowed on our couch upstairs so this is a treat in Hill City). Wyatt (left) is about 5 months old in this picture and Mador (right) is about 2 years old.... they are almost the same size!

Wyatt sleeps very funny!
He also SNORES a LOT!

Enjoying the sun through our sliding glass door, it was cold outside, but this was a nice a warm spot for Wyatt to lay down after a long walk with me!

Wyatt saying goodbye to me as I was leaving for class last Thursday.
I believe he was saying "Goodbye my looooovvvvveeeeee!"

As you can tell, we love him so much! He is very spoiled and doing well.
I weighed him last night, is now 55lbs at 5 and a half months!