Cuong's house opening presents. You see Liyan Huy,Linl,Cuong,Reagan,and Su LuuRich with some of the grandkids Kennedy,Victor,Reagan,Sara,Eva,Rich ,Felix,Kayla with Alica up in the left hand corner.
The new piano students,Eva,Kayla,Kennedy, and Sara. They just got a keyboard so no I get to teach  tham also. Kennedy has been taking for 3 months and is doing really well.
Sierra Jane (CC) with her stash on the stairs. The dress is also a new item.
We had a very fun day.

Christmas Day visits

Letter to Santa Fromt he Nic and Hailey Vial familyThey all got dolls for Christmas
Hoa's youngest boy and Nate our youngest boy. Looking at all the boy toys Dillan got from Christmas.
Working on the floors. Fernando, Terry and Rich.
Snow at Rainbow beautiful

Day after

Rich left at the crack of dawn to go work on the house. Terry Mecham and he have been working on it off and on for  the past week putting down the hard wood floors. Terry being the boss and Rich the slave. Or Terry the expert and Rich in  training. Nate went to exchange present with Catilin. Who loves to takes things back.

 I put on Neil his Hot August Album and started to clean from one end to the other and sat down to eat lunch. 

A recap of yesterday. A very different Christmas for us. 

We started at Hoa and Thuys. They had waited for us. We had prayer and then presents. Very fun relaxed and organized. They fed us Pho chicken very yummy!! Photos to follow

Then off to Nic and Haileys. Where the cute little monkeys live. We laughed we cried and we swang from the chandeliers.So to speak. Did presents and planned to have them take alicia to The Dallas to meet up with Tuckers family. We took Kennedy with us to visit the rest of the kids.While they got packed up to go to Utah. Kennedy is such a good traveler.

Next was Cuong house. WE once again prayed,  opened presents. and had More chicken Pho. YUMMY twice in a row. We were in Heaven. HAd a fun visit with them. 

Then off to Hai and Kyle apt. A high raise on the 11 floor Down on the water front. We had our first visit with them after they had gotten married on  the 13th of Sept. They are a very happy family. Kasandra is 17 and will graduate from college that is right college this june. Then off to grad school or law school she hasn't decided yet. Jake who is going on two and a very big hand full. He cries and they all come running. He has them all wrapped around there little fingers. He is the perfect King TUT. Very handsome young man. The delight of his Mother, father, and sister. 

We were able to have a very quick chat with Kevin. He is doing good and has 4 months left. He is a Zone leader with that comes more blessings and different kind of missionary work . He has loved his mission and all he has learned while there.

We were able to get home just as it was getting dark. Made a quick snack and I went to bed. I didn't have to plan a meal all day or entertain any one. It was a great day. So who knows what will happen next year. It worked out so well We may do it again. Hope you all had a good Christmas. Love to all 

Here is the right one

Maddie(2)  Eddie 3 months, Moose(SAM) 1 1/2 months,Oakley 1 month We went up to visit Jenney and Oakley . We picked up Christine and Moose and Chelle and I and the 2 kids. We had a fun visit with all at Eva and Dave's house.Then we went to visit with Liyan and see Baby Felix. but i didn't get any pictures Of them That was dumb!!

It was a whirl wind and I only have a few pic of the kids to prove it even happened. I will have to steal a few from Rich.

Maddie and Mia hugging good bye!!
Eddie wrapped up for the ride on the plane
Maddie I will walk thank-you very much and I will pull my on suitcase!!!! Any Question!!
Grandpa with one last squeeze of Mushie Maddie Moosie
Ok breath deep!! I can do this ! I will be Ok I will SuRVIVE!!  123 here we go!! Back home to Vermont. To Brig and Anders

Maddie Eddie and cousins over Thanks giving

Maddie and Eddie
3 cute heads. Moose on the bottom-Oakley on the right and Eddie on top. Eddie and moose are 2 weeks apart. With Oakley born a month later on Halloween
Ok baby doll of Maddies on the left with Eddie the oldest on the bottoom, Moose on the left and Oakley on top.I got the wrong pic there is one of Maddie  I will try and find.Not the baby doll OOPs

Grover's are gone. Man was that a whirl wind sure do miss them

Then last picture of hte Grover family with Grandma and mother helping pack up for 4 days
The empty truck the night before
Good-bye to Maryn
Grandma helping
Caleb discussing what do we do now???

Halloween I know I'm late getting these in

The end of the evening trading the loot
The line up Kennedy,Dillan,Vivian,Lyann

CC,Ava,Mia, Bree
Dillan  Darth Vadar
Nate the cutiest Hairyest,Tooth Fairy
Kennedy the styling witch

Still working on the house this was in Oct.

This is of Kaleb who helped me most of the day sweeping the floors and cleaning up the sawdust

Delivery of  the new stove. Hey how did the type turn blue??Terry and Rich putting down the hard wood floor in the master bedroom closet. Mostly Terry he is the one sweating the most.
It turned out beautiful. WE were pushed to get it in because the closet guys were ready to install. 2 months later It has been trampled on and sheet rock dust every where. There will have to be a lot of cleaning on this floor.
Thanks Terry !!

T-day over

It was a blast. when I can get to my camera I will post pictures. 

It all started with Michelle and Rich coming home at the same time Monday night. Rich had been gone for the past 3 weeks. Michelle hasn't been home since a quick week-end when Chris got married.We all came home got settled and started tuesday. We anxiously awaited the arrival of Alicia who was driving home with Tucker. Whom Michelle had not met yet. WE got up and stayed up for a couple of hours just talking and hanging out in Michelles room with the babes. First late night

Wed getting ready for t-day.Cooking cleaning running around with trips to Rainbow ( the new house)Nate was getting Rock band for us all  to play over the week -end. It was a huge hit. When it worked.The first time it did not work so he had to pack it all up and return it with Caitlin and Michelle.  Nic and Hailey were to take off for Utah. So we had a late night visiting with them because they were going to be gone, and not be able to send any time with Michelle and kids.They ended up not going and coming over for dinner the next day. Thuy had brought some greatt crabs so ham turkey and crab all you could eat. Hoa has been crabbing and had caught over 100 in the last few weeks.YUM-O

WE had quite a crew over for dinner.

Chuong, Liyan and family Eva,Victor, and baby Felix

Cuong , Linh and kids,Kayla and Reagan

There mother SueLu and son Whe

Her daughter Chee and husband Dep and daughter Sarah

Nic ,Hailey and girls Kennedy,CC,Ava and Bree

Nate,Rich and Me

Alicia and Tucker

Hoa ,Thuy , and kids,Lyann,Vivian,Dillan, and Mia

WE ate and played games and had a great time.Thanks to Michelle and her great planning with the Right to Left game. It was a hoot.

Afterwards some stayed up and played games.

Friday we got ready to play some serious games. Settlers and apples to apples etc. Another late night See a pattern here.

Saturday Shopping all day getting clothes for Alicia. A fun lunch with Hai and her family. Leaving Rich home to prepare for his case in Utah. Then   a serious night of rock band. Another Late night

Sunday church and getting the first crew to the airports with a guick visit with my sister Tamie and family and cousin from Texas and his wife and son.

Monday a little running around with Michelle and dinner at Hoa and Thuys 

So that leaves us with Tueday and getting stuff for Michelle and lunch at her favorite Viet resturant. Pho Van. With the sisters and brother and spouses. Then more shopping then one last game of Rock band with the brothers and sister and kids. Boy are thee kids good! WE ended the day with Rich coming home

Wed leaves us with packing up Michelle after packing all night and getting her to the airport. What a quick week. I don't think we could have packed any more into it with out all of us geting sick from tooo much food and not enough sleep.

So here I sit . WE just had Rich's office party the first one I had not been involved it at all. It was sooo nice to just go and be a part of the party instead of the planners and hoping it would turn out . Cameron did a great job with the place the food and the games for the kids. WE even had Santa come. HO HO HO.

Rich and I spent 5 hours shopping for light fixtures on thurdsay and Friday all morning  on door knobs and plumbing fixtures. Got them all ordered loaded up and delivered. 

Tomorrow is Sunday GOOD I need a rest! Rich and alicia go back to Utah tomorrow night. Alicia to finish her finals at law school and Rich to work.

I will stay home and spend some time at Rainbow with the plumbers and electricians and sweeping the floors. Plus collect the rest of the musical instruments for Alicia to get to Sowers of Hope her school in the Congo.

Maybe squeeze in the auditions for the play at groner thursday and a few piano lessons.

Then I can get some serious shopping done hopefully on line and cross that off and move into the new house before X-mas. Tis the season!!!

Life here on the farm for a bit longer

I have been awhile since i posted, we have been busy, to say the least.

Finishing the new house. So many decisions to make. But is is coming together nicely

Picking out a play to do for Groner and dates and times

taking care of adorable grandkids 

teaching piano

Trying to decide what to take to the new house and what to get rid of and keep.

Taking care of my Knee . Which means going to portland twice a week and getting it stronger.

Trying to get rid of the mice and finding more that moved in while I was gone to vermont last summer. YUCKIE

Taking a quick trip to Hawaii, where we attended classes and Rich taught a class, met some amazing people and made new friends.

Put up a play structure in the barn so the kids could still go out and play during the raining days. NO more cows

Getting all the cars repaired and taking care of

Then of course just the everyday life stuff.

Rich has been gone on an amazing trip down the amazon so I have been keeping myself busy so I would not miss him to much.

 Read the twlight books in the last 5 days. I don't sleep much.

Now to get busy and get this house ready for t-day!!

Making a run to the airport Sunday to get Rich and monday to get Michelle,Maddie, and Eddie.

Buying alot of groceries. Something I haven't done in while. With just Nate and I home.

 I will post pictures after t-day. Have a great Thanks giving everyone.

The Masons are moving tomorrow :(

A gathering at the Smiths to say good bye to some dear friends. The Whitnah's with Mitch and Rich
Janeke's with Sarah and daughter Becca
Good friends Karen and Lynn. Ok I got more then you faces. I still don't know how to crop. So don't t mad at me.
More good friends given one last hug
Treats by Racheal Wight, Jane and Nick Coakley. Fun evening by all.  Then my camera died.The end of a great Sunday.

Jenny Vial Smiths Baby shower

She is very cute pregnant . Yep that little bulge is a baby girl. Oakley
Opening the cards after the presents. I t was a fun party at Lealies house. She made a great host with yummy treats and good games form Monica and Emily. Directed by Eva. A true Vial Girls party. With one male in attendence Little Moose below.....
Baby Samuel Jeffery (MOOSE) Vial. So cute. There is definitely a look with he and Eddie Larson. Christine and Mike did GOOD. Making this little one!!! 

Losing a child for 1 1/2 hours...was like....

I had her attached to me most of the night CC that is. With Kennedy sitting beside me at the shower for Cousin Jenny Vial Smith.

Ok this cute little thing made my heart stop yesterday. How did this happen?? you ask read on.....

I had the girls here. Kennedy, CC the above girl. The twinkies. We were all out digging up potatoes and being amazed at how big they were. CC got bored and took off on her bike to go see Maryn her friend here on the hill. So we kept digging. I felt  it was time and go check on her. My cell home was in my car with Hailey so I didn't have phone numbers to call and make sure everything was Ok. So we walked down to get her. Well no one was home. So knowing CC I knew she just went in and started to play. She loves Maryn's toys. So I went in calling CC. Where are you?? No answer. SO I'm not going to panic I look everywhere. In all the bedrooms. bathroom yelling CC...I can't believe I couldn't find her.Ok so maybe she went out side and into the motor home. I look in the barn in all the stalls. In all the autos in the barn . Then down to the swing?? I'm scratching my head where could she be. Then we got into the car and drove around to see. I still had the other girls and was dragging them everywhere. We have blisters on our feet to prove the running around. So we are now in the  van now driving everywhere.  I say OK she might have gone home. SO I go home and look in all the rooms here and in Nicolina's house and no CC. So now i start to panic. I could not find her......What do I do?? I got Robert out of bed bless his heart. He got on the 4 wheeler and off he went. Now don't panic I will go out into the field and look. I called Hailey hurry and get here I can't find CC. I was so distraught she didn't even know who I was on the phone. I just needed some one to help me think. I really couldn't go out and look dragging 3 with me. So I called Darilyn,andthe Barfuss because Darilyn knows this property and so does Lance. I needed someone to help me get the 4 wheeler started. I couldn't pull it started.I knew Jenna was always on the e-mail. Because i didn't have her phone number I e-mailed her. She had called me just as I was starting to look knowing something was wrong. But I wasn't in the house to get the phone. So Hailey gets here and I said I didn't look at Feinauers so go there. In the mean time Grovers get home and they find CC in Maryns room playing toys!!!!!!!!!!!! What the ........( put your own word here). How did I miss her!!!I still don't know other then maybe she feel asleep and was cuddled down in a little ball and why didn't i step on her????So everyone showed up here at the same time and  I was a mess. Just as the grovers called. So all is well ..........and I'm still learning how to be a parent or grand parent???and they can still stop my heart.

Burnign hte leaves

I have been trying for the last hour to get this on the video. I was a big boom and we all jumped and Hailey screamed and we all giggled. I was a fun leaf day
LIGHTING THE LEAVES    BOOM
WE GOT THEM DONE! RACKING Jumping and playing then burning what a good day.Tigger would have said it was a blusteryDay. yes in deed it was!!

Three cute girls
Queen of the rock water fall
1,2,3,jump Nathan was catching.
Look at Bree in the back ground she was also the queen
Two cute girls