Kloe's blessing week end

Even though this is Kloe's blessing week end, I don't have any pictures of her. I didn't have my camera with me when we at the chapel. She was blessed in Rexburg, Idaho, Most of Matt's family lives there, or very close, and they could all get together that week end. Matt and his brothers and sisters sang and it was just beautiful.
This is a manger scene reenactment that the Ritchie family puts on every Christmas season. Many of the youth are involved with either speaking or singing parts. The young man seated by the lamb is our friend Jared. He is a nephew of Brent and Janice Ritchie, and he lives with them. I spent lots of time with them while our girls were going to Ricks college, now known as BYU Idaho. They have a dairy farm and it was always fun to help out. I was never very good with the 4 am milkings!? Hilary stayed with them one summer and she took care of all the milkings while Janice went away for a couple of days!! Holly was able to help out one summer, and she even got to help birth a calf, which they named Holly. Janice had a Hilary and a Heidi calf too. It was VERY cold that evening, Paige looked like a little Eskimo all bundled up! The Ritchies served hot chocolate and HOMEMADE doughnuts.

Below is a picture of the front room of the bed and breakfast Steve, Holly and I stayed in. Out the back window was the Snake River, and it was just beautiful. Each morning we woke up the river was frozen over a little more.

This was the Sunday of Kloe's blessing and the owner of the B & B took this picture.

This is what we woke up to the first morning we were there, and it stayed like this just about the whole time we were there. It was a Winter Wonderland!!! Steve was a little nervous about the roads, but they were clear and we didn't have any problems.

S'mores

Paige fell asleep on Steve's lap with S'mores all over her face. Just all worn out!
Matt said it was the best S'more he ever had!!

Think Hilary liked hers!?!?!?!

Thanksgiving at the Russell's. We were all together and it was wonderful!! Roasting marshmallows at the fire pit in their backyard!! This was just part of the fun we had that week-end!

A Reminder

After coming home from bringing Paige back to N.C. I saw this little wooden block display she left. Made me smile, but made me sad, because I really missed her. These blocks were our girls when they were small.

Paige's visit

It is always fun when Paige spends some time with us. That little stick horse was given to our girls when they were young. I think it was by Steve's mom. Our grandchildren have fun playing with it 25 years later.
Paige is bundled under the those covers. You can see her little pink blanket sticking out, and if you look real close you can see the top of her head. Our room is too far away from the other bedrooms, we let her sleep on the love seat in our bedroom. Hope she can fit there for a while.

A visit to Kuhn's flower shop is always a treat. The windows are decorated sooo neat. Paige and Austin are really buddies!

Birthdays

This is Hilary's birthday. So nice that they live close and can come over for a birthday dinner. It is sad I can't remember what we gave her, but she did have one of her favorite deserts--french silk pie! That's a happy face!

This is Chris's birthday, he likes to work out, and very much aware of staying fit. Last year I made him a CAKE out of Reeses peanutbutter cups (his very favorite)! This year it was only one, and always with a glass of milk. I think that is a happy face~!?

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin cheesecake, gingersnap crust AND gluten free!!!!!