Snow; Will it Ever Stop!

We have had record breaking snowfall in the month of December. Jim came home from work and had to plow again. It snowed all day long and dumped at least six inches. It took Jim 5 hours to plow Grandpa's and our driveways. He didn't get to eat dinner until 9pm. The boys and I watch a DVD intitled "On the Lord's Errand" for Family Night and we played Monopoly Express after. We had just settled down to watch Brother Bear when the electricity went out. So we went to bed with extra blankets handy. The power came back on during the night. Grandma and Grandpa's electricity went out earlier in the evening and is still out this morning. We therefore do not have water. (We get our water from their well)The boys went to wrestling practice and will shower there and Jim went to work early so he could shower there. I will have to wait for the power to return.

Christmas with Grandchildren

We enjoyed Christmas Eve with James and Audra and children. The weather was very snowy. We talked them into staying the night and leaving early in the morning. They borrowed Dustin's Subaru and the dash lights are not working. It was much easier to see in the day light. We had already opened their presents before deciding to stay so it was a little different Christmas morning. James Micheal enjoyed giving others their presents and helping unwrap family presents. They were on their way by 8:00 am and Jim headed out to get the tractor and plow the driveway. At 9:00 we called Jordan in Brazil. We were able to talk to him for an hour. Each of his siblings were able to call and talk for 5 minutes using our PINGO account. He is doing well and it was great to hear his voice. Jim had to leave for work at 10:30 so he had just enough time to return the tractor and head for the hospital. The snow continued to fall all day. The boys and I went up to Jer and Jill's and enjoyed the snow and each others company.

Makayla's favorite present from her Aunt Laura.




Gifts from Grandma and Grandpa




Favorite gift from Aunt Laura


Christmas morning

Christmas Eve

James and Audra came up yesterday afternoon. We have been having a great time. The boys went sleigh riding down Grandma's hill. It was very powdery snow and therefore not good sledding. We went to Grandma and Grandpa Divis' for Christmas Eve dinner and evening of family time. Jodi, Rip, and Jerry were all there with their families. We had soup and fruit for dinner and many wonderful treats. We read the Christmas story in Luke and opened presents. Jim had to work and didn't arrive until everyone was leaving, around 8:00. It has snowed all day and the roads are slick and snow packed. James and Audra decided to stay another night and leave early in the morning. I spent the rest of the night wrapping presents. I am days behind schedule but life goes on.

Makayla's Before Christmas Adventures

Makayla enjoyed listening to Christmas music and eating chocolate M&Ms. She looked so cute in her Christmas dress ready to go to Great Grandma's house for Christmas Eve.

 

 

 

Candy Trains

Tuesday night we made candy trains. We listened to Christmas music and enjoyed creating chocolate masterpieces. Makayla enjoyed the music until someone started singing.

Christmas Season Adventure

I left for the airport Thursday morning hoping to get a flight to Denver. I made it out in the evening and stayed with Trissa overnight and we went shopping in the morning. I unloaded presents for her and she gave me presents to take to Laura. I headed back to the airport for a flight to Salt Lake City. A winter storm hit there and I finally made it at 9:30pm. Laura picked me up and I stayed with her Friday night. I unloaded presents for her and Craig and received present to take home. We spent the day together and my sister came and got us and took us to Orem to visit my parents. My mom joined us in some shopping and we had a great girls day out. Laura and I stayed with my parents Saturday night and went to church in my old Orem ward where I visited with all my friends. Craig came and got us and took me to the airport. I got a flight to Denver with no problem and waited 6 hours for a flight to Spokane. I was very blessed to get a flight out and have returned home in time for Christmas. The flights were all over booked through Christmas but somehow I made it home. I arrived in Spokane at midnight and made it to James' by 1:30 am. I brought James Micheal and Makayla home with me so James and Audra could bring the truck. The Honda is staying in the garage. I took the kids to Walmart to get James Micheal some snow boots. What an adventure. The kids were great but getting them and the purchases through the parking lot was impossible. A very nice young man came and helped me pull my cart through the snow. I am glad to finally be home. It snowed all day and Jim has been out plowing the driveway for hours. The forcast is for snow every day this week.

Best of the West

Dustin had a wrestling tournament in Pasco this weekend. He left with the team on Thursday afternoon in a bad snow storm. He wrestled 4 matches on Friday and won them all. He lost on Saturday in the Semi finals and ended up getting 3rd. He arrived home late Saturday night. Jim had planned on going to the tournament but he got sick on Thursday and had to stay home. William got sick on Friday.

Christmas Tree

We set up our Christmas Tree as our activity for Family Night. The boys are disappointed that we have to use our fake tree but we just don't have time to go get a real one. We decorated with glass balls and the ornaments Mirjam gave me.

James and Audra's Family Move into their House

It was a cold snowy windy day but the move happened anyway. With Dustin's Tournament canceled we spent the day helping James move. He had some help from his friends and family. James is recoving from surgery and is not allowed to lift heavy objects. It was hard for him to stay away from lifting and he did carry and lift things all day. James Micheal was excited to see that his toys did make it to his new bedroom. Audra's parents gave her their piano. That was of course the hardest thing to move. Dustin and Jim and Tom were a big help alone with James' friends.

Busy Wrestling Week

This week was not as busy as scheduled. The coach decided not to go to Couer d' lane on Wednesday and the bus driver refused to take them to the Granger tournament on the weekend because of bad weather. But they did wrestle Clarkston on Tuesday inwhich Dustin won his match and they wrestled Selkirk and Kettle Falls on Thursday. William got to wrestle JV twice and Dustin also got to wrestle twice. William was pinned in his two matches and Dustin was able to pin both of his opponents.

Dustin
Colville VS Kettle Falls
Great pinning combination

Here is the pin. Not a good pinning combination. Dustin was in the middle of a move when he looked down and realized the guy was pinned.

William
Colville VS Selkirk

Deer Park Invitationals

Deer Park Invitationals is an individual tournament. Dustin wrestled 171 and got 2nd place. William wrestled 189 and got 8th place. He pinned his second opponent. Dustin's championship match was lost at 2-3. Very close match, his opponent from Cheney which is in his league. He learned a lot and will be wrestling a lot this week. They have a home match on Tuesday, a match in Couer d' lane Wednesday, another home match on Thursday and a Granger Ironman Tournament on Friday and Saturday. What a week.

Wrestling has offically started

Thursday night was the Lakeside showdown. It is a takedown tournament for the varsity wrestlers. Both Dustin and William competed. Dustin at 171 and William at 189. They both won 1 and lost 2. Deer Park Invitationals is Saturday. It is an individual tournament and both boys will be competing. William received a scratch on the side of his forehead and had me take a picture. I only had my phone so I wonder if I can get the picture off to share.

Home again

I returned to Spokane on the late flight Saturday. The plane was late and James had to wait an hour but we finally left the airport at midnight. I spent the night on James couch and enjoyed James Micheal and Makayla Sunday morning. I drove home in time to shower and get ready for church. We ate dinner at Grandma Divis' after staying late for Tithing Settlement. It is good to be home but I have a lot of catching up to do. I miss Trissa and Gavin. I am not allowed to post any more pictures of Gavin. Trissa wants to post them on her blog. We have a wrestling takedown tournament in Lakeside on Thursday and a regular tournament on Saturday in Deer Park.