Tyra's Piano Recital

Tyra has been taking piano

lessons from our cute neighbor,
Heidi Anderson. She is an amazing girl
but is leaving for college. At the piano
recital, Tyra played some cute
Christmas songs and even got to play
a duet with her teacher's brother
Jared, who just happens to be
Tyra's good friend. It was great!
We feel so blessed to have such
good neighbors!

Johnny's Baptism & Maggie's Birthday

Johnny got baptized! Can you believe it!
It seems like just the other day he was
teeny tiny little baby boy!
We were thrilled to get to be there
for that special occasion.

Maggie opened her Birthday Present
early. She was thrilled with a backpack made especially for her webkinz. It was just what she wanted! Now she can carry them on her back
while riding her bike!

Always Playing Catch Up!!!

Every month is busy but I don't know what happened to November! It was Hal's, Johnny's and Madelyn's Birthday. We went to Linda and Blake's for Thanksgiving dinner this year. They have a beautiful new house. Linda and Mom can wave to each other from their kitchen windows! It was our married kid's off year and we sure missed them! Putting our tree up this year was a battle but, it turned out beautiful.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!!

Last weekend we met Kerry and Kent at the cabin. It was time to board it all up. I was prepared to complain about the cold wet snow but.....it was too pretty and the sooner we get it over with, the sooner we can enjoy it up there again. Doesn't it look like a Christmas Card?
Halloween

My New Four Wheeler!!!!!

This is the new four wheeler Hal bought me last week. It's so nice and so is he!!! Just think of the fun!

Happy Day!!! 3 Miles Without Pain!!!

Last week I convinced my Doctor that if he would just give me steroid shots, I would be as good as new. He was nice enough to go along with it after I committed to go to appointment with a Sports/Back Doctor he set up for me.

I found my optimism to be a little over zealous when I felt the same pain the next morning and have been a bit sad every since. HOWEVER........THIS MORNING, I RAN THREE MILES WITHOUT PAIN!!!! IT'S A HAPPY DAY....
What???
Okay, you can tell that isn't me because I don't live by the ocean...I was afraid I woudn't be able to fool you!

OH....NO.....Where will I get a Fresh Lime Milk Shake Now???

I am so, so, SAD!!! Following is the first few lines of the article in the Post Register.

Get your box of kleenex!

History Melting Away....
Ashton Soda Fountain set to dry up Nov. 28th
After 70 years as a Main Street icon, City Drug will soon be closed. The store's pharmacy will relocate to the Ashton Clinic, but its soda fountain -- a survivor from America's Norman Rockwell era -- will shut down Nov. 28 if no takers come to keep it alive.

Week-End at Jessica & Jordans

We had a great weekend at Jessica and Jordan's. Mindys Family came with us. It was good to be down there and spend time with them. They live way too far away. It was fun to see their new house.

Hal, John and Jordan golfed, we listened to conference, Hal bought me an awesome pair of running shoes, and we got to watch the Marathon!!!

When the men came home from General Priesthood Meeting Jordan found a huge Tarantula outside! Grandma Peterson would have been proud of him. After showing us all he took it out their back door and let it go.

Not dwelling.....just documenting Dow drops 778 as bailout bill fails

September 29, 2008 --
Stocks suffered an historic and massive sell-off today after the House of Representatives narrowly failed to approve a $700-billion rescue plan for the U.S. financial system.

Tyra at Harvest Festival 2008

Tyra's September Garden

Tyra's Garden Before

Mortality at it's Finest!!!

Friday after school Tyra went to her friends cabin in Island Park and so Hal and I quickly threw some stuff together and went to the cabin too. It was strange being there by ourselves. It was so quiet. Each season is unique up there. In the summer time, there is so much excitement and anticipation. This time of year it is calm and peaceful. I heard a couple fishing boats on the lake and passed a couple other four wheelers and that was about it. We went on a great ride on the four wheelers. We went on the back roads to elk creek and then took that other back road towards Macks Inn but turned off on old railroad tracks trail and went to Big Springs. If I have seen it before this time of year, I don’t remember. It was amazing. The leaves had begun changing colors which lent a beautiful contrast with the leaves that were still green. It looked almost as if I had on 3-D glasses because lightest gold and orange colors popped out in front of the rest. It seemed as if they were just hanging in mid air. When we got to the bridge at Big Springs there were two moose

enjoying a good snack of foliage from the river. We took a few pictures. One thing I loved was listening to the visitors there on the bridge and watching the moose. It was fun to listen their joy in seeing it for the first time. We knew we better get back to the cabin as quick as we could because there were all kinds of storm clouds moving in and it looked as if there wouldn’t be anyway to escape getting drenched.
As we got closer to Buttermilk it started to rain a little bit but the rain drops were big and stung my face as we rode. I could hear the thunder crack around us after seeing lightning flash in front of us. We made it back to the cabin before the storm burst and were glad to be inside when it did. I had been working on the talk I had to give in Sacrament Meeting the next day before we went on our ride. Part of it concerned our choosing mortality even though we knew it was risky. When I felt the rain sting my face as we rode back to the cabin, it made me smile as I realized that had I not have made that choice, I wouldn’t have ever experienced the majesty and beauty surrounding me in this mortal experience. When we came down off Ashton hill there was an amazing rainbow that started right at the farm. A perfect place for one to begin!

Perplexed.........

Wednesday I went to Rigby to get my teeth cleaned. Don’t you love that feeling? No, not while they are doing it, afterwards, when you run your tongue over your clean teeth. Okay, anyway back to TIME. It is customary to line up that next 6
month cleaning before leaving. When the receptionist asked me if March...whatever, was okay, I almost corrected her. Certainly it won’t be March in 6 months! I was expecting December. If I would have counted I too would have come up with March but March...in 6 months NO WAY!!! The next morning on my way home from the gym, I passed this retirement home. I wondered if I’d wake up in a bed in one of those retirement centers some morning soon and feel the same way I did when she asked me if March was okay......

Okay Fine!!! I Quit!!!

I quit! Every morning I get up....4:15, thinking okay, this is the morning I will run without pain and I will run and run and run! For the last two weeks+, I end up in tears, frustrated and dissapointed and discouraged. I am losing my endurance from the lack of consistency and I don't know what to do!!! It's not a good way to start my day!!!

High Adventure Pictures

High Adventure

Saturday we went on a High Adventure. I gathered my courage and Tyra and we joined Hal and Summers for a true adventure. We had the best time. When we took off on the first trail, Hal looked back at me and I said something to him about this being a really rocky road. He said, "Oh, that's how most four wheeler trails are." Well, I hadn't ever gone with them and didn't want to be a waney and so......I went forward, I mean up. The first high mountain lake we went to was, Dairy Lake. It was beautiful! It was so invigorating. There was a little old table under some trees we had our lunch at. Hal, Bryon and McKayla hiked around the lake and we went on to the next one. These trails were trails they had never been on. When we got to the top of the second lake, Bryon commented on these trails being the roughest they'd been on and how surprised he was at how well I was doing. I guess its a good thing I didn't know better. Tyra and I rode Hal's new four wheeler and every time she got a little nervous I told her this mountain machine could go anywhere. If she would have known how scared I was a few times, she wouldn't have had near as good of a time. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if we would have been prepared to stay, maybe next Time! The smell of the trees and the fresh air did me a world of good. I decieded I better quit whinning about all the stuff I think I have to do and play more! That is a stretch but.....I am going to try!

Happy Birthday Dan!!! I hope you had a great Birthday! It was
fun to converse with you via the WWW. I just wanted to tell you and
anyone who reads this blog that I am so proud to be your sister.
When I grow up, I want to be just like you!

A NEW BLOG....A RECIPE BLOG!!!

After searching for a recipe that I knew everyone had except me, I created a new blog where we can post and share all our favorite recipes! It is brilliant! Part of the brilliance is knowing we can't loose them in a box, drawer, bag, binder or book. They will be stored on Google's gigantic server! Check it out http://themagicrecipebox.blogspot.com. It will be an awesome resource.

New SpringWidget

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Chocolate Bliss

It's 9:10 a.m. tuesday morning. Before 7:30, I had been grocery shopping, ran two miles at the gym, picked tomatoes at our garden and pulled the neighbors weeds. I showered, and was ready for the day by 8:00. But now, after finishing a bag of Hershey's "Chocolate Bliss", I feel defeated-weak and ashamed! If knowledge is power, why don't I have any! Someone help me please!

Tyra and Miss Idaho-Sadie Quigley

We had the best Stake Girls Activity. Sadie Quigley, Miss Idaho 2007 came. She did a wonderful presentation. It was amazing. Keeping her high standards wasn't easy during the pageant and the reality tv show. She was bombarded with criticism. Her testimony, prayers and deep commitment carried her through. She let the girls try on her banner and crown and some of them even got to take their picture with her. This was a memory we will cherish. The spirit was so strong as she encouraged the girls to pray and listen for answers to be guided in the direction they need to take.

There is no stopping them now!

Our Week at the Cabin

Last week was the week we look forward to all year! It was our families week at the cabin. We missed Mike's family and Jorine. Hopefully it won't be too long before we can all be together again. Jessica, Mindy, Scott, Hal and I brought our running shoes so we could begin our day with a run around the island. It didn't take long for our abilities to separate us. Scott and Hal ran the fastest, Mindy ran the farthest. Jessica wore blisters on her feet the fist day but didn't let that stop her. There were so many highlights. Following is my top 10 list:
1-Sleeping past 4:15 and still getting to run
2-One on one time with Hal
3-Watching Scott run with Brizzo/Brizzo running with Scott
4-Watching Tyra knee board, Scott and Jordan Wake Board, and Hal finesse his water ski
5-Listening to Mindy and Scott play games with Jessica & Jordan at night
6-Watching Jordan make a sand castle with the kids
7-Telling all of the kids good night
8-Not hearing the phone ring
9-Loved the fudge Jessica brought me home from West Yellowstone
10-Days that were not mine to cook!

Catch a Kitty

Playing at Grandpa and Grandma Hillam's

At the Zoo

STADIUM OF FIRE

Happy Birthday Jessica and Jordan!

Pug Puppy

After we got back from our run, there was the cutest little pug puppy wandering around. He was so little and so cute, for minute....just a minute....I thought about taking him home. They kids loved playing with him. Later that day his owners must have came and got him. We hope they love him!