Ping Pong Champ!

On Derek's "drill list" we have down learning to play ping pong. Bob and I tried last night, but both of us had different techniques, which probably made Derek more confused than ever. Today Taylor went out and taught him a thing or two. Wow, he picked it up.

This is for you Heather, Gina, Jen, Jenny & Felicity!

Breakfast with the Missionaries

This year we celebrated Christmas on Wednesday. Rebecca and her family had to leave on Thursday, so we celebrated a few days early. Today, being December 25th, was going to be a quiet one. All the gifts are put away, the wrapping paper is swept up and it sure is quiet without the Bledsoes. But, we were very happy and honored to have the missionaries over for breakfast. Bob makes the best omelets! He cooked up left over ham, some hash browns, and we had some yummy Costco muffins as well.
It was so nice to have Elder Farnbach & Eaton over. Notice, they too like Capt. Crunch cereal. (Elder Farnbach likes to put eggnog in his cereal, but we passed on that request) The missionaries just get to call home 2 times a year, one being Christmas. Elder Eaton will call his parents later today, but Elder Farnbach got to call his family while he was here. I had tears in my eyes watching him dial his family. I'm sure they were so happy to hear his voice! Thank you missionary parents for sharing their sons with us here in Bend, Oregon.

You're never too old! Ho Ho Ho

Last night was the church Christmas party.
We had yummy food, great conversation, a cute program put on by the children, and than... you guessed it, the big man in the red suit showed up.
Derek was just as eager as the rest of the kids.
Thanks Santa and Santa's Elf for the great goody bag, and the nice little "visit". I sure hope you come through with the Kit Kat bar Derek wants! Merry Christmas to you.. Ho Ho Ho

Derek went to Delaney's 4year old Birthday Party

Abbey Davis, one of Rebecca's "bestest" friends invited Derek to her daughter Delaney's birthday party. Wow, Delaney turned 4 years old today. What a cute little princess Delaney is. The party was held at "Bouncing off the wall." Another place we haven't ever been (you'd think I don't get out much)to. There were huge slides and jumping castles, obstacles and much, much more.
Thanks Abbey and Delaney for including us in your special day!


We loved the cupcakes and the goodies bag was full of "FUN" Thanks again!!!
(We will be by for junk mail this week Abbey) Abbey does have great junk mail!

Rebecca's got Photography Skills

Rebecca has such photographer skills! She has been taking an on-line course, and wow, she is learning so much. Check out her blog and you'll see some great pictures.
She tried it with our family (Minus Taylor who didn't make it home for Thanksgiving). We weren't the greatest models, we were a little bit cold,but it was fun non-the-less. We did it in our front field (we don't irrigate this part), you'll see our house in the back distance. I will post several. Thanks Rebecca for practicing on us!

What we did Thanksgiving Weekend

It all started with a trip to the Central Oregon Livestock Action... It was time for Poor Number 9 to meet his death. After that, it was all fun and games!
Rebecca, Justin and the boys got here on Sunday night. Our house comes alive when the 4 of them come to visit. Trey loves hanging out with Derek, and Tian tries to keep up!

While they were here, we went to the Reindeer Farm. All these years of living here, we hadn't a clue it existed. Larissa & her family & Abbey and her family joined us. It was fun just trying to get close to them. Most of the herd were already "checked out" making appearances. I guess they are rented out a lot at this time of year. But we are able to say we saw them, and had fun being together.
Robert came along, and stayed over. The noise level raises with Uncle Robert around. The boys couldn't get enough of him.
We had Thanksgiving on Wed. since the Bledsoes had to head back to Idaho on Thursday. While the turkey was cooking (oops, who turned off the oven) we went to the snow. (As I'm typing this, I'm looking out at our fields that are covered in snow), but last month we had to travel to find it. We hooked up our trailor with the 4 and 6 wheelers, and some little sleds and went to Lava Butte to play in the snow.When Rebecca wasn't taking photo's she was having fun with the guys.

The boys love "GrandpaBend" He makes for a fun time. He can't wait for
Christmas so we can have some more fun! We are counting down days!

My new favorite tool... Thanks Terry

I called Terry Virgin this morning and asked this question, "How do fishermen make their holes to icefish?" He told me about this drill thing. Well, I certainly didn't want to put that on my Christmas list, so I thought I'd just stick to not doing a very good job with my shovel. Anyway, Terry, being the nice friend came over with his Pulaski Axe. He made 2 great watering holes that my cows are going to love (If I can do it again tomorrow) drinking from. Today when I went to work on the holes it was -12 degrees. Yup, it was cold.

Right now it is -4, better than last night so I may be in luck.
Thank you Terry for coming to my aid. I'm going to enjoy using your axe and hopefully will return it sooner than later. (Like I said Bob, please don't buy one for me, Terry said we can use it until the weather warms up...whenever that is!)

P.S.
I'm posting this Wednesday morning. I just came in from
"swinging" the axe and chipping away at the ice. It was a cold -7 degrees when I came in. Thank you again Terry for the Pulaski and for the ski mask. Now when you look at me in this picture you'd think that it was snowing. No it wasn't snowing, the ice that is being chipped away flies in my face along with the water, on my coat and on my legs, gloves too. But I was successful and kept pretty warm while doing it. If Derek had have been in the hallway while I was in the house looking for my camera, he certainly would have thought that there was a stranger in the house.

Lets see if my clothes dry out before I go out this afternoon.

Friends come to visit!

How long has it been since I've written a post? Guess nothing "memorable" has taken place.. (I forgot to tell you Uncle Kent, that on October 22nd I went for my annual Mammogram, sorry I didn't tell you) except my Say Yes to Cancer Awareness month and my mammogram.. I'll hurry and put that picture up.

Anyway, Our cute friends, The Simpson's came to visit on their last trip to Bend. We miss them so much since they moved to Pendleton. Austin is my buddy! Gillis is getting used to me. Thanks Jenn on your great posting and letting me use your pictures.


Derek has played Top Soccer for many, many years. He was one of the youngest players when we started.. and look at him now. He is the oldest. At the end of each season we have a team party. All the families come, all the soccer helpers come too. It's great fun. WE had it on October 30th, so the kids came in costume (Derek came just as himself.. his mother isn't big on the costumes...to many years of that)and had a big pizza party. The kids love playing in the sports court, the trampoline, and than running in the yard to find the bags of candy.
Thanks Coach John for all your help through these years. We love this program and Derek does too.
Next, one of our friends from West Linn dropped by. Well, not just like that. Sylvia's daughter Lindsay was Rebecca's very best friend (And also her brides maid). We had lost touch of Sylvia, but thankfully Sylvia still had our number and called us. Her and her very nice boyfriend Mark were coming to Bend (By way of Proghorn, Madras.. and several other stops) to watch the Bend vs The Dalles football game. They came by and we had such a nice visit. I can tell that we will stay in touch from now on. Bob and Mark are sooo much alike, have so many of the same interests. While they were talking (Non-stop) Sylvia and I just laughed. She knew they would have common interests!
Thanks Sylvia for calling and making the trip to see us!(It was a windy day.. thus my hair, Sylvia's looked great.. SHE looks Amazing.. can't wait to see her sporting braces on her teeth)


Sylvia and Mark came on October 31st, and than the next afternoon we had "Empty Nesters" come for a Break the Fast. We do this every other month. It works out great in our "game" room. This time we had soups and rolls, and a birthday cake to celebrate the birthday's in the month.
Alright, the mission- aries are not empty nesters. We just knew they couldn't pass up a yummy meal!

Come to think of it... October was a busy month!

I'm counting down days!

Enough is enough!
Today as I was out chipping the ice off the wheels of the wheel line I thought to myself.. "I think I will have to throw myself a party on Friday." The water gets turned off for winter on that blessed day!
Today I did go back in the house to get my camera.If you'll notice, the hanging wire on the fence.. yeah, that is electrical.. Humm... I'm wondering if it is currently working? Notice the ice build up around the sprinkler heads.. You've guessed it.. they weren't turning. I've learned that when it is 22 degrees, things freeze!But I'm not complaining. I'll have a winter free of moving irrigation pipes!(Oh yeah, and chipping ice in the pond so the cows can have a drink during the day) The fun never ends!