All good things must come to an end........

Early Saturday morning.......Jan. 26th.....at Fargo airport.....
Good-bye sweet Breiden..........
Having coffee and muffins before leaving on the plane
The part I don't like........see you again in May........

This n that.......

Mikenna and Noah practising their piano and trumpet........
At the studio with Susanne..........
Mikenna and her friend going on a photo shoot with Eric........
The pics turned out great......saying good-bye.......
Breiden.....giggling at his daddy........

Nancy, Susanne and I........plus Kirsten.........so fun......

At the Coffee Cabin...........

At Susanne's..........
At Applebee's..........

At an Italian restaurant in Fargo........just take a look at that wonderful "Turtle Cheesecake".......so yummy and not good for our waistlines..............
At Starbuck's in the bookstore, Barnes and Noble in Fargo..........with my niece, Kirsten..........

Welcome home, Mom and Dad........

We made a "WELCOME HOME" sign and put it up in their living-room.......

Sunday, Jan. 20th ....... Mikenna and Noah's choir sang at both services at church.....so fun to listen to their singing.......
Then it was to Godfather's pizza for lunch.....

Sunday afternoon, Mikenna and I made a cake and the girls decorated it........

The girls are concentrating on doing this just right........

The finished product.........
The table is set.......they made cards especially for their mom and dad.......

Breiden's 1st Birthday.........

I was able to be at Breiden's first birthday.

Here is JP (Breiden's uncle) playing with him.......

Auntie Julie cutting the pizza while Laci looks on........
Pizza, cake and pop.........
Gramma Stender.........
Mikenna and Noah were there......
as was Jose and Andrew........

Didn't know what to think of the cake and candle.......
First time tasting cake and it looks like he is lovin' it.......
I love this picture of the three girls just watching and giggling.......
He loves the phone you gave him Erin......
The teddy bear he got from his Gramma and Grandpa Stender. We gave him a "Pack n Play" to bring with him when he comes to Canada......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET BREIDEN!

Fergus trip to babysit.........

I just had the best time down in Fergus babysitting our grandkids down there. This is just before Sue and Eric took off for Minneapolis on Tuesday night and as usual it is hard to get pictures of my sons-in-law cause they are always doing something crazy!!!!!!!

All ready for school.......
The twins go to a preschool and love it..... Noah and Mikenna are in Middle School now.....

Having pizza with Nanc, Wayne and Breiden......I appreciated Nancy's help so much.....I don't think I could have gotton everyone where they were supposed to go if it hadn't been for her. She worked in the morning and then came and stayed with me in the afternoon, picking up the kids, etc., etc........
Shopping at our favorite store.......good side view........
Kaia stayed home with me the first day because she wasn't feeling good......
Logan and Bella.......
Little Laci......as you can tell Kaia and Laci were into the make-up......how fun!!!
Then there is little Breiden.........

Blessings of family..........

What a blessing family is! Here I am sitting at Sue and Eric's dining-room table blogging this.......18 hrs. away from my home and though I miss my hubby, I am thoroughly enjoying my kids and grandkids. It IS COLD here in this beautiful state, a little warmer today then it has been so we haven't been able to be outside too much. I get to go to Nancy and Wayne's tonight to babysit Breiden during the morning when Nanc goes to work at the church. Then back home on Saturday. The time just flies too fast.
Sue and Eric had such a good time in Mexico and I am awed by the gorgeous, gorgeous pictures they brought back of the wedding they photographed. So many creative, beautiful shots. Susanne and I were at the studio last night for 4 hours,, she was ordering, etc. and all the work that is involved with running a studio while I sat and watched. So interesting! Besides that it was wonderful just to be able to sit and enjoy being with my daughter who I don't get to see very much and have coffee and just chat. What a gift right from the hand of God.....a close and loving relationship with my daughters!!
The time spent babysitting the 5 children went really well but I really could not have done it without Nancy's help. Kaia was sick the first two days and to try to get the kids to school and other things they are involved in would not have happened if it had not been for her. We had such a good time just being together too. I am so thankful that I was able to come and now we are looking forward to spending time the rest of the week.
Pictures will come later when I get home and upload my computer.

More Christmas pics.......

Wonderful, wacky and witty weekend!!!!!!!

There are four wonderful, wacky, witty women in our church and community (although this gal is now a Saskatchewanite) that get together every year for a wonderful, wacky, witty weekend together. It could be in Great Falls or Vancouver or Helena or Kelowna area or wherever!!!!!!! This year it is our fair city!!! So last night, Heather and I went out to the airport to meet one of these wonderful women who by the way is also a well-loved friend of ours and who stayed over with us til this morning. It happened to be her birthday last Tuesday so we are celebrating with coffee and toast by candlelight in our living-room.
This, of course is one of our weird and wonderful morning pictures taken by "yours truly"!!!!

Janet, wise and wonderful, one of the four came to pick Carol up and off they went to Diane's and Heidi's!!!! There is alot of laughter, chatting, eating, shopping.......what could be better!!!! A time of friendship.......how blessed we are that God gave us that very unique and special gift!!!

Have fun, my friends.............

Guests on Saturday night.....

Another one of our "table" pictures. We had these special guests over last Saturday night. Lots of laughing over Dennis's escapades..(truth is funnier than fiction)....honestly that guy could write a book of comedy over what all has happened to him over the years and of course Ron has some great stories too. We spent the rest of the evening playing "Mexican Train". What fun and good fellowship although Dennis looks like he could use a nap, poor guy!

Our two youngest grandchildren........

Our two cute little monkeys holding their monkeys that they got for Christmas.........

A message from us to you........

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS...........

The New Year holds a meaning far beyond the hours and days marked on the calendar........it holds a dream of peace, a faith so strong, it makes the mountains move and stir. The New Year is a promise and a prayer, a new beginning and an open door to hope and joy.......Once more we enter there to meet the challenges of what lies ahead.......