Computer Crash & Family Pictures

Yes--My poor, poor, computer crashed on November 30th.
So we went almost a whole week without a computer in our home--talk about pure torture!!!!

I love modern technology--it keeps me more "organized" with the many, many hats that I wear. 

I do the following things on the computer:  my primary music, piano lessons, cub scouts, PTO, kids up-dates, journals, and a lot of my financial stuff.  And a ton of other things too!!!

Luckily, I am diligent in backing up everything.  The only thing I had NOT backed up were the family pictures I had just downloaded the day before & started editting.  But I still had the camera disk.

So last Friday, Rusty & I went into town to look for a computer. 

And we got a Dell desktop for the family to use, and a nice Gateway laptop for ME!!!

So we had Christmas a little early.

Ok--now here are the pictures that we took at our land, and some others that I haven't posted of our family.

Ethan wants to see if we can use any of these pictures for his Senior pictures.

I think they turned out good.

Nice, ETHAN!!!

Beautiful Brienna :)  I can't believe she is 13!!!

She is my lifesaver at home--helping wherever help is needed.

Here is Zane holding his cat--Gray Stripe.  And Callum in the background.

Zane's cat is a really calm cat.  But he is definately an outside cat!!!  The only time he comes inside, is when Zane is holding him (or the occasional times he sneaks in when the door opens).

Santa came to town Saturday.  Zane decided to go ahead and tell him that he has only been "a little" nice.I guess he gets points for being honest!!

Callum on top of the "cliffs" on our land.

He is too cute (don't tell him I told you that)

Callum giving Benjamin a piggy back ride.

Callum  wasn't too sure about talking to Santa--I guess he doesn't visit the big guy too often.

Emmalee found a perfect resting spot on the side of the cliffs.  And in this one she is showing how she can look like the "Emmalee" scarecrows" that I found at Wal-Mart.

Occasionally Emmalee will get to take a bath in the kitchen sink--and here are the 2 cutest expressions of pure happiness.

Don't you just love her beautiful eyes????

Emmalee wants a truck & car for Christmas--and then a few days later see added:  A Doll.

I took this picture because Ben was wanting my attention right then, and I was taking pictures of the other kids.  And when I looked at the picture, I noticed you could see how swollen his gums are--he was cutting all 4 molars at the same time.  1 top one has popped through, and 2 others are close.

I wish he would do this more often!!!  But I take any naps that I can get.  He usually takes 1 nap a day, for anywhere from 1 to 2 1/2 hours.

Benjamin stole Mommy's computer chair!

Rusty & Michelle

And our dog, Zeb. 

So that is my up-date for now.  I hope that I get to the blog more often now that the computer runs so well.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I am so blessed--I am thankful for more things than I can list, but especially my family!!!

This was our Thanksgiving day:

It started out with playing games.  I made 3 pies, rolls & bread, and Rusty got the 26 pound (yes--26 pounds!!!) turkey cooking & peeled/cut the potatoes for our mashed potatoes.

Benjamin came running to me every second he could--he is really into his board books (notice the one on the floor).  And he also thinks it is a really fun game to see how fast he can empty out the toys that some one has just picked up!

And he is a climber--I just told him to sit down before he pulled everything off the shelves, or toppled off the boxes.  He loves to carry stools around and stand on them.

This is one of the 2 tables we sat at in our little house.  Callum & Emmalee joined Grandma & Grandpa & Uncle Reed (Rusty's side of the family).

Table # 2 had Brienna, Rusty, Pamela, Zane, Me & Ethan.

(Benjamin was napping)

I included this picture, even though it is blurry, because I got a half-way decent picture of Ethan!!! (and Pamela is in the background).

My camera is slowly dying--a lot of my pictures are blurry, and I can guarentee a blurry picture if I zoom in.

Rusty & I are going to attempt a shopping trip to town tomorrow & then go to lunch.  We aren't going to hit the stores at the early hour of 5, but more like 8 or 9. 

I am glad we have a long weekend!!!  Hope everyone else had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Quick Up-Date....

Emmalee trying out my new sunglasses--she gave me the Dumbo toy for my birthday.  (I collect elephants).

Rusty's birthday--he can always guess his presents, no matter how hard I try to surprise him or disguise the package.

Benjamin & mommy (before he got his haircut).

This is his favorite place to be--in my arms :)

Playing with Brienna & showing off his new haircut

Playing pat-a-cake with me.

I am working on more pictures, but I haven't been able to edit them yet.

My week last week was more than crazy--I was in town (or out of our little town), 5 days last week.  So it has been nice to be home for a few days this week.

I also decided to change my comments--I am having weird comments on my blog.  I hope you will still want to leave your comments.

Benjamin's First Haircut

Saturday I gave Benjamin his 1st hair cut.  He has the most hair (at 1 year old) out of all of the children.

He is looking a little apprehensive.

But I had a lot of distracting toys/items for him to play with.

And about 10 minutes later:

He looks like a grown toddler--not my baby anymore!!

I think he approves--the back of his hair isn't as straight as I would like, but he looks so handsome now! 

So all of the Stewarts got their hair cut this week at the most inexpensive salon I can find:  our home, by me :)

Benjamin's 1st Birthday & Football Play-offs

Happy Birthday, my baby Benjamin!

I can't beleive he is 1 already!!

I love how Ben is looking so lovingly at his sister Emmalee.

I make angel food cake for their first birthday (I think I started that with Zane)

He had no idea what to do with the candle.

(I did get a good picture of Ethan in the background!!!)

And he really wasn't that interested in the cake.

But he did take a small handfull out of the cake.  And ate a couple of bites.

And of course, he was more interested in the wrapping paper than the presents.

This is the team as they announce the starters & team members at the beginning of the game at Hyshem, MT.  (Hyshem is about 75 miles east of Billings--which is where we stayed Friday night.  The game was on Saturday.)

Ethan started on the defense, as nose.

This is the Clark Co. Bobcats.  We traveled over 425 miles to play this game.

This is when they announced the starters & they shake hands (or high five)

Now too bad they didn't win.  They had  a slow start, but the other team was a really good team, that hit hard.

Ethan had a headache for the last 3 quarters, and played a better 2nd half than the first.  He even played offense (which he doesn't very often) and he caught a pass for a gain of about 5 yards. 

I am glad I was able to go and watch Ethan play his last football game of his career, even though the drive was long, long, long!

Our hotel was quite nice, though, and the pool was nice & warm (we were able to go swimming 2 times--but thankfully NO pictures).

My kids are growing up so fast!!  My baby boy turned 1 and my big baby boy played his last football game!!!!