WINDOW PEEKING: 2009

December Fun

The Fun and Parties started early at our house. Mike and Melissa came the first weekend in December and Jessica came the 18th because the spa she works at was closed for remodeling. It would have been a sad Christmas without her to pull my act together for me. Sometimes, mothers take care of daughters, this time, daughter took care of mother. I'm grateful that my children are all happily independent and I'm not a meddling mom but.....it would sure be fun if they live closer! I'm grateful that Melissa loves her family and really wants to move back her and not to ARIZONA!!! ( She may read this)

We had fun making gingerbread houses, going to Drake's Birthday Party, going to the Ward Christmas Party, Taking Drake and Madelyn to see the lights and taking everyone down to see Mom and Dad after Christmas. Dad looks like a natural with those Cache and Annie!

Christmas all kinds of fun 2009

Christmas all kinds of happiness 2009

Thanksgiving at our house the very 1st time!

Because we are both lucky enough to have family that has hosted Thanksgiving all these years, we haven't ever experienced the whole shebang ourselves. Tyra, Hal, Scott, Jorine, Mindy, John and Johnny started the day by running in the "feed the hungry"run. I hope that will be a standing tradition at our house and maybe next year I can do it too. I am old and have never really cooked a turkey that mattered. That seemed like too much pressure! Scott volunteered to cook the turkey for us and did a fabulous job. He soaked it in some concoction in a 5 gallon container and honestly...it was the best ever.

The kids and I made turkeys with our little pumpkins for the tables. The rest of the dinner was an accidental success. The men and kids were funny. They usually have a turkey shoot using real guns out in the fields. They improvised with BB guns in the back yard.

Halloween and Annie's Blessing

I got a little crafty and made these funny cupcakes. I knew if I didn't document the...I'd forget. We went to Mindy's for Halloween because it was on Saturday and Annie's baby blessing was on Sunday. It was fun to spend Halloween with the kids and Tyra is getting kind of old for trick or treating and so.....we had to soak it for all it was worth! They have a great neighborhood to trick or treat in!

After the kids came back from trick or treating, they did the funniest thing! They dumped out their candy and put it into categories depending upon value....based on how much they liked it. Then....they bartered with each other until they got what they wanted or wore each other out. We had to watch over Josie's loot a bit but, it was the funniest thing ever! Our kids used to come home and sort it all out but barter???? That is a Livingstone trait! It was fabulous! Annie's baby Blessing was the next morning. I'm grateful they live close enough that we can spend time with them on special occasions and come and bother them when it's not a special occasion!

(I don't know why that txt is underlined-it's not worth fixing)

Love the Babies!!!

This is the New Baby, Cache Michael. Isn't he a cute little thing!!
We can't wait to have them all come home in December!

Annie has changed so much in 5 weeks!
She is such a dainty little thing and smells so good.

I'm alright with fifty.......

Fifty came and went. I ha

d a birthday cake that my Son in Law made sure said, "Happy 39th Birthday" on it. There were some great gifts. There were all kinds of funny ones from my fun friends and family. There were black flowers, calgon bath salts, a giant remote control, a fireman calendar to hang in my office (really), a vitamins, and etc. And there were all kinds of really nice gifts too. Our first stop that weekend was at Mindy's. We took Maggie with us to St. George. It was fun to spend some time with Jessica and Jordan. They live too far away. I've looked forward to the Marathon all year. It is an inspiration! It was a thrill to see
Barry cross the

finish line. We even saw Amy cross and my friend Kari. Our neighbors husbands all ran in it too. It still shocks me every morning when I have to put my age in as 50 on the treadmill at the gym.....but....it's okay, on my 49th birthday I ran 8 miles and I couldn't have ran 1 on my 19th, 29th or 39th....so, it's okay! I've had a couple set backs but....it's okay.....
I'm alright with fifty!

Welcome Annie Jeanne....such a sweet thing!!!

Tyra and I got to spend Saturday and Sunday at Mindy and John's. What a sweet baby! The kids love holding her. She just layed in their arms like a doll until I changed her.
That's when she did things dolls don't do.
Maggie and Josie were not prepared for such things!
It was hard to leave on Sunday......I guess it 's a mom thing. Even though Mindy's been grown up with her own family for a long time and is such a great mom, It's times like this that-I can't imagine she can get a long without me!

Scott and Jorine's 10 K.........

Scott and Jorine ran the 10k in the Pocatello Marathon!
This was their first 10K. They did great! They are both amazing. It's great that they run and train together. I was glad to find pictures of them on the website.
I feel so bad we weren't there!
For some reason....(I wasn't listening very good) I thought the race was on Labor Day.
This really thrills me!

It was only a couple years ago when they used to tell me they could never get up early in the morning like I did to work out nor, could they or would they want to run although they were working out every night after work, lifting weights and really doing hard work out routines. NOW, they are up about as early as I am every morning-running too.......It's addicting-its' my happy pill.

School Bells are ringing..the years just fly by!!!

Off they all go! Some mothers are crying, some are laughing, some are just
running to grab the car keys and get away while they can! Others will follow
their kids to school and weep. Hummm? What kind of mother are you?

Johnny and Maggie....off they go
and really-a picture? They will smile this once but,
come on already!

Josie's 1st Day of Pre-school
(Check out that body language!)
I'm pretty sure that means, she's ready for Jr. High!

Drake's First Day of Pre-School (Hardly recognize him without his hat!)

Tyra 6th Grade

Tyra Kindergarden

Marathon Four Wheeler Ride

The Saturday before school started we set out on the only four wheeler adventure we've had this year.

We went into Copper Basin. It was really a beautiful ride. It was a really long...long...ride. It was about 60 miles on the 4 wheelers! REALLY! My friend Fred, wanted to ride with me on the four wheeler or.... maybe he could smell our Oreo crumbs. Either way, he was very friendly. I introduced myself and everything. I would have taken him for a ride but- I think he was telling me he wanted to drive. That would have been scary!

The next time we go....I will be prepared. I don't remember where I learned it but....before we left that day, I grabbed a bandanna but somehow in all the excitement forgot I had it. On the ride back to the truck, I folded it in a triangle, tied it around my face-under my goggles. From now on, I'll not go without it....I'll just be bandit on a four wheeler without a dirty face!

My Seattle Ball Game Trauma.......

Friday night after the Yankee and Mariner game, Trent and Hal and I were waiting for the Ferry and a we ran into a distinguished looking man Trent knew that was also waiting for the ferry. Trent told us later he was a Senator. Trent told him we had just been to the game. He told us he had gone to Wednesday's game when they played 14 innings and beat the White Sox. Trent told him we had been at that one too. He must have noticed our long faces and said, "You didn't leave the game to get on the Ferry did you?" "Oh, it was ........." Trent told him he better not say anymore about it with me around.

We did go to that game. It was a great game. We left after the 12th inning to get on the ferry so we wouldn't have to wait until 12:15 a.m. for the last ferry to Bainbridge Island. We just barley made the ferry and Trent was listening to the game on the radio and his radio with headphones. If any of you have walked with Trent anywhere, you know he walks fast. He's at least 6 ft 4" and takes huge steps but I hated leaving that game before it was over! Had I of been two, I'd have thrown a fit. All I could do was stay as close to him as I could. My fear was that they would put Griffey in without me there. Trent knew that. He loves to tease me. Not long after the ferry pulled away from the city, we were on the top deck freezing cold and Trent's eyes light up and he told me they were going to put griffey in. I was sure he was teasing me when he said they until he shared one side of his head phones with me. He did it. After 14 innings, Ken Griffey Jr. ended the game with a run off hit and I wasn't there to see it. I missed exactly what I wanted to see...but....It's been a couple weeks now and I am especially grateful that I was in such great company. The game could have could have gone either way, there was no way of knowing. Trent, Dianne and their family found a way to get me to laugh instead of cry. I did cry when I got a text from Mike just before I went to bed. He sent it from Chicago It said: "Mom, I got up in the middle of the night to see what the who won. I can't believe it! Tell me you didn't leave the game early to get on the ferry." I froze. I couldn't even respond. I was exhausted from the drive and all the excitement that I did sleep that night but this is what I missed:
(At the end, look for the guy in the stand with the white shirt.....see the empty seat behind him.....I would have been there....smiling!)

Our Trip To Seattle

Marvin Hillam Reunion at the Farm

Mom and Dad were in charge of the "Marvin Hillam", my Grandpa Hillam, reunion this year. They did an outstanding job. We divided up into groups that were each taught a skill by one of Dad's sisters. These skills were actually part of everyday living when they were growing up but the methods have been modernized. Examples are: Washing clothes with a washboard, making butter, the process of straining milk and seperating cream from the milk. There was even a demo on making homeade ice cream. Aunt Grace and my cousin Molly had prepared all kinds of treats to top the ice cream or add into it. Somehow, I seemed to find myself at that station

several times. I wonder if they noticed. The only thing I feel really bad about is that I was too busy to take any pictures. These pictures are some that Barry sent-Dan had his camera out and I'd love to see his too. They are both quite the photographers. The farm is sacred ground to me. It represents courage, strength, pride, honesty, love and everything good in the world to me. I feel honored to share the Hillam name.

Swimming Lessons 2009

Week at the Cabin

Mindy tries to finish her book, Jordan is probably wondering if there are really any fish our there

I suspect this conversation has something to do with where Brizzo and the squirrels