Christmas 2009

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...
The Christmas of '09 Snow Storm
That snowdrift is my mini-van! Knee deep and still falling!
WOW!!!

I LOVE this photo but it keeps posting sideways! ARGH!

Our Christmas Angels!

Snuggles in Mama's Snuggie!

Telling Mama all about making her gift.

Mama! Is it an American GIRL?!

Doing the happy dance in her new cowboy boots!

Mariah and "Kit"

. Sledding with Brain, Paula and Lola!

Happy Sledder!

Winter Walk 2009

The town lights up and stores stay open late

just for us "Townies".
Fun time!
Papa, Anna, Cheyenne, Nana
Mariah


Anna and Cheye (Best friends)
and Mariah

Mariah and Caera


What is this birthday giftt?

Oh my GOSH!!! Is it REALLY them?

Mariah and her Bitty Twins!

Happy Birthday Girl!

Carol and her daughters

On Carol's birthday... Nov. 22

Cheyenne's First Riding Lesson!

On a beautiful, sunny November afternoon in MN

Cheyenne went to our friend, Diane's house...

We thought she was going to groom the hors and clean stalls

but Diane had different plans!

A girl and her horse!!!

Cheyenne and "her" horse, Joker.

Joker is a big guy... 16.5 hands!!!

Off they go!

Diane has Joker safely on a lead while Cheye learns

the basics... Holding reigns, commands, signals/signs,

and emergency stopping.

Cheyenne was very comfortable but not cocky.

She listened well and followed Diane's teaching closely!
Taking time out to tighten things up!

She did so well she got to ride WITHOUT a lead!

Poop happens!

Rosie moves in

Kitty didn't want to stay in the box.

Mariah was happy to hold her and keep her warm.

Mariah was going through a litany of possible names...

Pure contentment...

Corrine? Sally? Sarah? Abby? Ruby?

One laid back kitten!
Rosie

Cheyenne's 13th Birthday!

Hanging out with sisters and cousins
Swimming at the community center!
Jamie, Mariah, and Alexis

Alexis at the bottom of the slide

Olivia captured an octapus!!!

Cheyenne and Olivia head out to get Jamie, Mariah and Alexis

Oh Nana! I LOVE it!!!!

Halloween 2009!

Our beautiful Cheyenne?
Snow White and Dopey
Gabriel the Magic Dragon

Cheye's First Middle School Concert

Oh YES!!! Middle school choir and orchestra!

6,7, and 8th grade choirs and orchestras...

With a surprise performance by the Honor Choir.

Cheyenne's 6th Grade Choir sang 2 beautiful songs!
The concert was an hour and a half long.
Cheyenne and her best friend, Anna.

Meredith, Cheyenne's "Big Sister" from St. Olaf, came to the concert!

Play Day with Willow!

We are lucky to live around the corner from Mariah's BEST friend, Willow!

Once in a while we are lucky enough to get to hang out for the whole day!

On this day Mariah and Willow are cooks!

Willow never met a pizza topping she didn't like!

Mmmmm! The most delicious pizzas EVER!

They also made PUPPY CHOW!!! Mmmm!

Mariah and I don't like peanut butter

so we use almond butter.

New Friends

Our new friend, Diane, is a neighbor of Mom and Dad.

She invited us over to meet her animals.
She is very sweet and we totally enjoyed our time with her!
Cheyenne is 12 and LOVES horses!
I think this is Reba.
Diane is going to give Cheyenne riding lessons in the spring!
Mommy and Mama hope to tag along for some lessons too!
We have to research and learn everything
we can about horses and their care before then!
Mariah fell in love with this guy.
His name is Elmer.

Diane has horses of every size.

You are bound to find one just right for you!

She also has alpacas and goats.

Carol and Reba bonded.