Can You say OVER ACHIEVER!!!

Lauren had a Physics Project due for school - she was suppose to make a roller coaster and show all the math and physics angles and what not (not a real physics person)Most kids just drew it on paper or made it out of tissue paper and I am sure at a much smaller scale. We had to take it to school in my Sequoia - And Lauren already told Grace she could have it after it was graded! UGH!!! Where are we going to put it!!!! Anyway - she of course can not just do a project she has to DO the project - this is what she came up with! I wish I could take some of her over achiever Gene and give some to Derek!

The finished project!

Those are the riders - skittles

Here is how she labeled the angles

I Love little Girls!

Grace got an American Girl Doll for Christmas and LOVES it! She named her doll Lauren! (cute-I know she loves her big sister) Her friend Ashley also has one and named her Annie! ( the real Lauren -her sister- has a best friend whose name is Annie! Cute! ) Anyway Grace was going to play at Ashleys house today after school and wanted to take along Lauren (the doll) but didn't want her to suffocate in the back pack - so this is how she fixed the problem so the doll could breath! hehehehehe Little girls are my favorite!

Lots of breathing room for Lauren

Grace and Mackensie (our neighbor) off to school

They walk to school - rain, snow or shine- or right now ICE

Birthdays & Basketball

Thank you all you camera people - great advise - plus I found a great website that gives me tutorials on my camera! It was also my birthday yesterday! It was great! I worked out in the morning, went to lunch with Lauren, took a lot better pictures at Dereks games (they had one on Friday and one on Saturday) - which they won (both games- which still has them at undefeated) - and then had a great Mexican dinner - Arroz con Pollo - MY FAVORITE!! Lauren gave me a fabulous purse, Derek gave me a super soft blanket, Savannah gave me a super cute frame with pictures in it and Grace gave me beads she is going to make a necklace for me, Jackie and Justin sang to me a beautiful rendition of Happy Birthday over the phone & Steve gave me that great ski trip we went on last week! Friends brought homemade bread (thanks Holly!) and muffins (thanks Kendra) and lots of cards even from my long lost best friend Alisa! Thanks Family & Friends- It was a Great Day!Just before going in -Really paying attention to the coach!! Always a good idea!

Notice where he is shooting from - 3 point line- Nice action shot Rachel!!!

Even these were not so clear last time!

Look at that great action shot!

Nice block - and the boy knocking my son over didn't make the basket! WOO WOO!

Basketball - Figuring out my new camera

Derek had a basketball game tonight - I took about 100 pictures but with all the moving around they were mostly blurry! They won - of course! They are still undefeated in basketball too! Tonight wasn't his best game he only had 6 or 7 points - very low scoring game for him - But the team won! Any picture shooting advise from all you photographers out there! I had to put the ISO up to 1600 because the lighting was so bad! I think I need to change the shutter speed or something!Derek & Aaron taking a break in the game

Derek with the ball - notice two defenders - not a problem for him

Stole the ball and took it down for a shot - (a little blurry-sorry)

School?????? NOPE!!!!!

We really are feeling like we live in Alaska - except the kids would still go to school!!! Today was to be the kids first day back to school and we woke up to a couple feet of new snow and the wind blowing - that is the perfect combination to make a snow day! Needless to say the kids were very excited - 1st snow day of the season! The snow was so deep Our neighbors the Brockbanks decided instead of shoveling so much snow - they turned half their driveway into a sleding hill! I love snow - but even I am done!! The kids are now hoping for another snow day - could happen more snow is expected tonight? Global Warming?????This was a good idea! But I didn't get over there to take pictures until it was getting dark!

Savannah & Taylor on the sled!

Going a little to fast! Gotta love Snow days!

Ski in the New Year!

We spent the last few days up at Schwietzer Mtn. Ski resort - It was great! That is one great thing about a lot of snow - SKIING! I didn't get many pictures - we were having to much fun! Justin learned how to ski and did Great! Derek & Steve even made it up for a couple of days! Derek Loves his new snowboard - Thanks Uncle Cory (you're the greatest!) We made it home safely- the roads are still not real safe around here! The kids are all sad school starts tomorrow! They are all hoping for a snow day! They just may get it - big snow storm moving in tonight!Derek & Savannah getting ready to head out to the slopes!

Relaxing in the hot tub after a day of skiing!

This was this morning off my back porch! One thing about snow - it sure is beautiful!

Winter in Alaska!

We decided to get a blade for our 4 wheeler and good thing too - it has snowed everyday! Our deck was so full of snow we had to get it off before the next round comes! Needless to say - it looks like winter in Moscow! We are glad for all the snow now - we are off to ski for the next few days! Lots of powder! YAH!!!

We have already shoveled this Deck twice this week!

Steve & Grace shoveling the deck

Steve and his new toy!

He was having so much fun he did the entire neighborhood!

Christmas Day 2008

Christmas Eve we take all the Mosman kids (our neighbors) to a movie and then go to their house for a Fabulous Dinner and a Nativity play. We then come home and open Christmas Eve Presents Which this year surprisingly was PJS! We give a gift to Christ - we write something we are going to work on this year in a Christmas card - like pay a full tithe, be kind to my brothers & sisters and so on - we put these on the tree and they get packed away and we open them the next year! We had a little sparkling cider and Grace put the cookies for Santa down by the fireplace. Jackie and Justin slept upstairs in Savannahs room and the rest of the kids slept in Graces room! They were up at 6:00 to see what Santa Brought and open presents! It was such a great day! We watched movies, played, took a nap, Derek & Steve went and played basketball with some friends and had a nice Prime Rib dinner with the Missionaries. Grace made a birthday cake for Desert to celebrate Jesus' birthday! It snowed all day and we just stayed inside nice and warm!!

Derek was Joseph this year - Isn't he a handsome Joseph!shepherds, wisemen, angels & All

The kids & Steve waiting for Jackie & Justin to come home for Christmas Eve

Christmas PJS - Derek giving his sister lots of love - isn't he sweet!

Jackie skiing on the Wii Fit

Steve with his Present from Jackie - Pictures of her growing up & a Wedding picture!Derek gave Grace a necklace with a big heart and little heart - he said the big heart was the big brother heart and the little heart was the little sister heart! she loved it so much she ran over to him and hugged him!

Jackie & Justin their first Christmas together

Savannah & Grace with Sing it -xbox

I got a new Camera - Look I made Lauren Disapear

Snow, Snow & more SNOW!!

Okay - 2 weeks ago we were really sad because there was no snow!! None of the ski resorts had opened and we were afraid that we would not have a white christmas! WELL - it has snowed non-stop for 2 weeks -the resorts are of course open - which we are really glad - but could it stop!!!!!

Grace and Ashley out sledding

Sure is pretty
Pictures courtesy of Tami Hansen

GET OFF THE ROAD!!!!

Derek got his license today! CRAZY!! He took his drivers test in a snow storm - I guess he might as well learn how to drive in it since it is just the beginning of winter around here! He is off with Savannah to Baskin & Robbins - in Laurens car - she is not that happy about that!