Heavenly Protection

Today Zane had a basketball tournament in Lima, Montana--45 miles north from our house.  The weather forecast for the past week and a half has been snow & storms--and we didn't get much (if anything!).  So of course, on the day we're heading to Montana, we receive a few inches of wet snow--and it's still snowing.

So we left a little early so we could take our time.  It took us a little more than 45 minutes to get to the Montana line.  We had mostly rain (with just a few snowflakes) all the way to Montana.  And that's where we cross the continental divide & the weather usually changes there.  The roads were much better in Montana.

We watched the 3 games our boys played in (Jr. High 8th graders won their games so they are still undefeated)  & then headed home.  The last game actually finished a bit early, so we were a bit excited to get home by 4 pm!  (we left at 9).  Brienna (with the help of Callum) has been babysitting the kids while we have been at the basketball games/tournaments plus every Wednesday now (for 10 weeks), Rusty & I have a class in IF so she is babysitting from right after school until we get home at 9-9:30 pm.  

The roads in Montana were much better--almost dry--so we were hoping for the same in Idaho.  And for the first couple of miles, they were pretty good.  But because of the warm temperatures & the rain, the roads were messy with slush.  

About 10 miles from Dubois, the right lane was really slushy & so Rusty started to move into the left lane that was mostly clear.  As he changed lanes, the back of the truck fish-tailed and continued to turn until we were almost side ways on the interstate.  As he corrected, the truck started to go back the other way and then we went into a spin.  The truck spun around 3 times.  As fast as it happened, I felt that I had time to brace myself because I was certain we were either going to flip, or slide into the median or side of the interstate.  I was so scared, but with divine protection (& intervention?), Rusty was able to drive out of the spin & pull off the side of the road.  

We were blessed that:  1) no one was right behind us to hit us (that was Rusty's first worry); 2) we didn't flip; 3) we didn't leave the road & 4) the road had enough dry (or at least no snow on parts) spots to finally give us traction.  There was a semi-truck a ways behind us that I saw as we were spinning down the road.  He was far enough behind us that he passed as we pulled off the side of the road.

I told Rusty that we needed to say a pray of thanksgiving because I really could not believe that we did not crash!  Rusty asked me to say it, but I told him I had to stop shaking & catch my breath before  I could speak.  (I was able to say a prayer about 2 miles down the road).  But I was still a little shaken up & my legs felt "heavy" when I got out of the truck at home.  I gave the kids an extra hug & we are still thanking our Heavenly Father for protecting us in our travels.  We are so blessed!

Laundry

Almost 2 weeks ago (Monday, Jan.9th) I was doing my usual Monday activities...

 which include tackling the laundry that piles up over the weekend.  I had started my 2nd load when I hear a terrible screeching sound coming from the washer.  It sounded like gears were grinding.  So I stopped the load in mid-cycle & waited for Rusty to come home to check it out.

When we bought this washer (it is a top-loading "front" washer--you load the clothes in the front, but it washes like a front-loading.  But instead of the door/opening being in the front, it is on the top of the barrel), Rusty picked this particular one because it was a heavy-duty washer, and the ease of being able to fix the washer yourself.

 When you take the front cover off, this is what it looks like.  My washer has washed so many loads of clothes, it is amazing!  And a sleeping bag fits in (or a comforter, etc.) so I can do any and all of my laundry.

Well, after Rusty heard the terrible sound, he determined it was the ball-bearing, which he can replace, but it is a major repair.  He pretty much needs to take the whole washer apart to get to it.  So he called the company to order the part.  And wouldn't you know it--it wasn't in stock so it is on back-order.  They are supposed to e-mail us when the part is shipped, and as of tonight (Sat. Jan. 21) still no e-mail.

Thankfully, Rusty's dad lives right behind us, and he is willing to let us haul our dirty (stinky-boy smelling) clothes over & use his washer.   So that is what we have been doing for almost 2 weeks.  

I told the kids that before the clothes get into the dirty basket, they had better either look dirty, or smell stinky!  I knew I washed a lot of clothes with as big of family as we have and with the activities/sports that everyone is involved in, but we have done close to 20 loads of laundry!  (towels & sheets included)

The first weekend, Brienna was an angel & did 5 (??I think??) loads while we were at Zane's basketball games.  

We have been hauling the wet, clean laundry back to our house to dry, because it is so much easier to fold, sort & hang up the clothes at home than somewhere else.  For the past 12 years I only fold out of the dryer--I don't put the clean, dry clothes into a basket & fold elsewhere/later.  I used to do that when I only had 1 or 2 children, but then I would put off folding until I had too many loads out, and some of the clothes would be very wrinkled (so I would have to iron or re-dry/fluff them).  When Zane was a baby, I said that I would take the extra 10 minutes of standing in front of the dryer & take care of the clean laundry there--it saves me a lot of extra (& unnecessary) work later.

We are hoping the part comes in so Rusty can take all morning/early afternoon Friday to fix the washer.  I feel for my husband--he is so busy anyways with work, planning/designing a house & chores, that any "free" time he does have, all goes to repairing things that break down at our house!

Zane's Basketball Games

Junior High basketball practice started right before Christmas.  

 They have 8 days of games--all 4 weekends of January.  But then they are finished.  I actually like this schedule for a couple of reasons.

 First--they are done the end of the month!  And second--they have the opportunity for a lot of playing time and experience because 3 of those days are tournaments where they have at least 2 games.  

The first picture is from a tournament at home--the last 2 are at the tournament in Twin Bridges, MT from this past Saturday.  I haven't taken a lot of photos at the basketball games because I am usually videoing it.  Zane did make a 3-pointer on Saturday & was quite excited about it.  The 8th grade team is undefeated & hope they can finish out the season undefeated.

Our first 2 weeks of January have been very busy with scouts, Young Men & Young Women's activities, basketball games, Brienna & Zane playing in the band at games, a dentist appointment for me,  speech therapy for Benjamin, and the class that Rusty & I are taking in Idaho Falls.

The state of Idaho is requiring all K-8 teachers to take a Math class by 2014.  It is every Wednesday for 10 weeks, from 4-8:30 in Idaho Falls.  Our first class was last Wednesday, and we are discovering that while there is some math involved, it is more geared towards how we teach math.

Home! (First 2 Weeks of January)

While it was nice to take a break (and I mean a break--we had some nice "lazy" days!), it was also very nice to be home & get back into the routines of every-day life!

 Brienna made cupcakes--in honor of the new "Smurf" movie.  The pictures don't do the cupcakes justice!  

 They were all very cute! (Papa Smurf, Brainy, and even a few mushrooms)

 Benjamin wanted to take my picture--and even told me how to pose!  Silly kid.

 Here he is playing hide and seek--he's sure no one can see him!

 Especially now!

 Benjamin's snowman made out of his new play dough.  (I think this is the way he build it?)

 My winter decorations

 And our family of wooden snowmen my dad made for us quite a few years ago. 

 This is how our back yard has looked for close to a month (it's the shadiest part of the yard--so it still has a touch of snow!)  It's been crazy weather!

 Our creek still has "water" (ice) in it.  And in warm weather, the water runs on top of the ice & so it is just building up.  

 I'm afraid we might be in for some flooding this spring unless somehow the ice breaks up.  

 This is looking across the creek from our house.

 I've been told that this is only the 3rd time we've had water year-round in the creek in the last 20 years.

 It sure makes for some pretty photos!

This is what we woke up to this morning--maybe 1 inch of snow!  The kids were excited.  And we are supposed to have storms all week--but I'm not holding my breath!

New Year's Eve--Pamela's New House

During the week we were in Lander, Brienna, Callum & myself all were sick with the stomach flu.

I rarely throw up, but the night we were to leave, there was no escaping it!  And it reminded me why I would much rather be sick for a week, then need to throw up!  

So needless to say, we didn't get an early start heading to Pamela's.  Even though I didn't feel 100%, I decided I was okay to drive to Pamela's.  The first little hour was the most tiring, so I had to stop in Dubois, WY for a 15 minute cat-nap.  (Usually I snack to help me stay awake, but food didn't sound appealing.  I mainly snacked on soda crackers & drank some orange juice)  We ran into some stormy weather just outside of Dubois (heading toward Jackson) & the roads were snow covered.

I was thankful to arrive in Thayne & rest.

 And so were the boys.  I took a bath, and then had the boys hop in when I finished.  And no--Pamela does NOT have any bubble bath--they said it was just from the soap & shampoo they used & when they turned the jets on, all the bubbles formed.  I told them they had to have poured some of the shampoo into the tub because I used the jets, and it didn't produce a bubble bath for me!

 Callum (through his giggles) admitted that maybe some of the shampoo might have "spilled"

 Silly kids!  They had a blast & I think they stayed in for about an hour.

 Benjamain watching a movie on my computer--since he didn't want to watch "Cupcake Wars" with Brienna.

 After watching "Cupcake Wars", Brienna decided she wanted to make some of her own.

 Rusty kept telling her the clock was running & she had better hurry up before she was out of time.  

 Emmalee & Benjamin helped her decorate the cupcakes.

 I think it's amazing what she can do with a baggie & frosting!

 Benjamin had to take a picture too!

 We decided to ring in the New Year with the east coast (Aunt Janna Lee & her family) so at 10 pm, we let the kids blow on their horns,

 and make all the noise they wanted to.  And they made a lot of noise!

 I finally told them that all the noise makers were getting put away at 10:15.  And so for 15 minutes, there was constant noise.

 Two and one time!

 Rusty was still awake!  (He usually goes to bed around 9 since he is up about 4:30 each morning)

 Yes--I finally captured Zane on film!  He kept turning his head or ducking behind furniture. Notice Callum heading downstairs to make more noise on the carpet-less floors.

I think the kids would have kept making noise until midnight our time!

Zane took advantage of the acoustics downstairs & played his trumpet as loud as he could.  I stayed upstairs & could easily hear him playing!

Pamela is ready to have her basement finished and be able to move things into the downstairs.  And everything should have been finished over this past weekend (Jan. 15th).

Snow Fun in Lander--Dec. 2011

 My parents didn't get any new snow while we were there, but it warmed (close to 40) up a couple of days

 So the kids decided to build a fort...

....and a snow princess.

 What a darling snow princess!

 And Emmalee had to try making a snow angel.

 Snow attack!

Watch out, Alyssa--maybe Zane needs to be...

...buried in the snow!  We were glad they were able to have some fun in the snow.