Hunting and Holiday Celebration

The Grin's best attempt at a family pic.

We went hunting in attempts to get the "BIG Buck" for Dean this year but we only were able to fill the doe tags we had. So at least we have meat for sausage and will be making that some time soon, maybe next weekend?
We also celebrated Thanksgiving with my family on the actual day along with Chris, Brenda and family. We had lots of fun and had the most beautiful weather!!!!!
I think I will let the pictures tell the rest. After all that is what I enjoy the most!

Sara's Photo Fun

Keely Kinsey and Z - fun at Grammy Grin's on Thanksgiving

More photo fun - trying out new lens with no flash.

The rest are from Ski Thanksgiving at our place. Lots of fun and as you can see baby Karlee was a hit!

Allison, Z and Karlee

Gramma Bee and Jacob

Karlee

Big Yawn!

Cousins and Best Friends!

Reunion with Friends

Sandy & Jacob; Wanda, Andrew & Grace; Sara & Zach

Good Times at the Zoo!

The last weekend in July we went for a little trip to meet up with friends. We stayed with Wanda and crew, and Andrew my Godson & Grace showed us all around the zoo! We had a blast!
Later we met up for a picnic with another one of my friends from my college days, Sandy and her son Jacob. It was so fun to reconnect after years have gone by.

Summer Visit 2009

This past weekend my Godson Andrew and his family (Wanda & Michael and sister Grace) came to visit. We had lots of fun! Check out the pics!

Independence Day 2009

We had a wonderful celebration with all our family this 4th. Grammy & Gramps came up and we went to the parade with all the Ski's and then to the fair for some more fun!
Later the Ski family had a pig roast picnic in Gramma B's backyard. Mmmm...Good. We ended our celebration by watching the fireworks!

Party @ 5

On Zach's 5 month milestone, we loaded up the Chev and headed south for the weekend to celebrate birthdays with friends and family. Alexis had her 2nd Birthday on Sunday and we partied it up with all the cousins Sat night. Then Sunday we hung out with Andrew & family - as it is his 6th birthday this Tuesday. Andrew & Grace and all the cousins kept Zach entertained, he loved all the activity! It was such a nice weather this weekend, they had to wear their shades! (Pictured below: Z, Andrew & Grace) The cousin party was to much of a whirlwind to get a still picture! Hee Hee!

Child of God

To add to the weekend we also had baptism. What a wonderful and special day. Zach's other birthday - as he was born into God's family. What a great blessing from above.
Grammy Grin made his beautiful baptismal gown, we were glad we didn't have to wait any longer for baptism as he may have outgrown the gown! He's a very healthy little guy, growing by the minute!

Beautiful Day with Friends

Saturday we met up with Wanda, Michael and kids for a little fun day. We went to the Scandinavian Heritage Center, rode the little express train and did a few treasure hunts. Unfortunately we couldn't find one of the treasures but the adventure of finding second one made up for it! What a beautiful, extremely wooded park! After finding the treasure, Andrew had fun chasing squirrels and collecting acorns (I think he had hopes of baiting a squirrel). :) Always fun to visit and play with these guys - figure we had better take the chance while we still have it. We couldn't have gotten a better day!

Garden Goodies!

A little garden report along with some pictures of our little niece Allison enjoying her first summer of garden fun! She really liked chewing on the carrot. Nothing better than those garden goodies! We have been sneaking some of our potatoes for a few weeks. And just lately have had some fried zucchini and our first pick of green beans. Mmmm...can't wait to taste some more!

Visiting Andrew

This week I got a chance to visit my Godson Andrew, his sister Grace and of course parents Wanda and Michael. As I was in town for work. We had fun exchanging Christmas gifts, eating pizza and playing. It was fun to see him and his whole family for an evening!

Christmas Celebrations

Our Christmas Celebrations were packed into 2 days this year. Christmas eve with the Ski's and Christmas day with the Grin's. We had fun but it sure went quickly! As I look through all these pictures and see all our family I am in awe of the great blessing God has given us. We are so thankful for "Your Love, O Lord", the gift of Jesus Christ, and for all our family. It was great to be able to see all of them this Christmas!

Friends! Camera! Action!

This weekend we had company. My college friend Wanda, husband Michael, my Godson Andrew and little sister Grace. We had lots of fun, took lots of pictures (one of Wanda's and my favorite hobbies). I think I let the many pictures tell the rest of the story in this and the posts to follow.

Horse Highlights

One of Andrew's highlights for the trip was getting to ride horse. He was so brave! He wasn't scared one bit of those big tall horses!He did say it was a bumpy ride though!

Fall Leaves

Another fun thing we did was make a HUGE pile of leaves and play in them. We all had a blast!

Carving Pumpkins

Saturday evening we carved pumpkins. Andrew thought the insides were gross! Wanda brought a neat tool that you put on your drill to help clean out the insides.
Andrew made a happy face on his pumpkin and was going to make a scary face on the on he had at home.
For my pumpkin we made a bat. Wanda had lots of neat carving tools and patterns!
Our finished Jack o Lanterns! Spooky!

Ballison Five

Our Goddaughter Allison, is now 5 months old! Seems I was just stopping at the hospital to see her for the first time.

Fun Times

Boy has it been busy, I haven't added anything for awhile, there is so much to tell. One blessing is that I have been able to visit my Godson Andrew and his family quite a bit this summer. We had made a trip to visit them in June thinking that would be the one time this summer. Then it worked out to stop and stay with them on our way back from Medora and now just last week I was able to visit them and have a pool party at my hotel, since I was in town for work. Andrew loved the pool! In the picture I am with Andrew(Batman)and his sister Grace.

Summer Visit 2007

We went on a little trip this weekend for our bi-annual visit to my Godson Andrew's house. I have been friends with his mom Wanda since college. We have a fun time getting together with her, husband Michael, and kids Andrew and Grace. Andrew and I had a lot of fun fishing with his new fishing pole and accessories.
And as you can see Grace is a happy, smiling girl. We had fun with her too! She is ready to walk, and is making a few steps on her own and was always kicking her legs in excitement!
It was a blast to see these guys again!

Our Godchild

Today we celebrate the baptism of Allison Elaine, our first Goddaughter.
We are so honored and proud to be her Godparents! And excited to welcome her into God's family!
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7

A Prayer for all of our Godchildren,
Andrew O., Alex, Andrew M., & Allison (Our A team!):

Lord, surround our Godchildren with goodness, lead them in Your light each day; Help them walk the path You've chosen, guide their steps along the way-Teach them, Lord, to trust Your wisdom with a faith from up above; Keep them from all harm, and bless them always with Your grace and love. --B. J. Hoff