She finally posts...

I am not dead, but recently back from a wonderful trip. On a whim, I decided to drive 10 hours home to Oregon to spend three weeks with my family. It was an awesome trip. We loved spending so much time with grandma and grandpa Schulthies and getting lots and lots of cousin time. It was so nice for howie to be able to play outside whenever he wanted. He was really great. But the most blessed thing was how well Olivia did with the traveling. She was an ANGEL! I would stop every four hours to top off with gas and feed her and she would return back to sleep until the next pit stop. I had more trouble with howie than with her. It was a pretty easy road trip. Here are a few of the fun things we did:

I actually have documentation that my dad does know how to take care of babies! We even fed Olivia once. He was very cute and loved on her lots. When we went to leave, he asked if I could leave her there so he could raise her, he said I could just have another one. Dad it was so cute to see you bond with Olivia.

One day, I was able to meet up with some friends I haven't seen for a while. It was a lot of fun to catch up with them. We each have two children. We are pictured with Nancy and her two girls and Janice and her girl and boy. Sorry Michelle that you weren't able to be there that morning, we were bumbed. Howie just loved that everywhere we went, he was able to play with other kids.

Okay, yes, I was caught up in the Twilight frenzie. It was nice to have a girls night out again with my family. We went and ate at Costa Vida in Meridian (knock off of Cafe Rio, Boise area finally has a restraunt that serves yummy tex-mex burritos and salads) and then took in the film. I went with my mom and two sister in laws, Maria and Lori. We had a great time. Oh, Olivia did come with us and did great during the film. I liked it. I thought they did a good job and liked the way they filmed it, gray, dark, rainy, etc. Some may have called it "low budget" but I liked the interpretation. Since it has been a while since I read the first book, I wasn't bothered too much by what they had left out. I really enjoyed it and the time with my family. It has been almost four years since our last girls night out. It was much needed.

I was able to snatch this cute photo. Mom and howie enjoying a Sunday afternoon nap. We had such a great time enjoying grandma and grandpa schulthies. During the days when they both worked, we would go and hang out with cousins and play. But the evenings and weekends were nice when they were home. Howie even came up with his own game called "Pet Game". This is where he would act like a pet, but he always chose to be a dog called Frenchy, and he would pant and sit at your feet until you asked him to fetch something. We gave him meaningless assignments which he found enthralling, all the while quiet as a mouse, just panting. Then we would reward him with a doggie bisquit-a piece of cereal. He asks to play this game constantly.While we were there, Olivia started smiling. The real smiles, not the gas or accidential sleepy smiles. The ones where you talked to her and she lit up. That was fun to see.We even had "movie night" twice. Once at Jaynee and Kailani's house and then also at Kenzie and Crayton's house. This was the later. Here, they are watching Swiss Family Robinson. The other night it was Wall-e. This was such a fun item for howie, I think we will adopt your tradition Lori, such a fun thing to do. Movie night with the full trimmings, popcorn, sleeping bags, pillows, blankets. Lori's family does movie night each Friday night. Sometimes they stay in and some times they go to the theater for a movie. Whichever way it is done, Fridays are special because they are "movie night". Sometimes they watch new releases and sometimes the classics or whatever movie they have at home. Howie LOVED "movie night" and we will have fun implementing this in our family.Here are just a few of the cousins howie loved playing with. Kenzie, Thayne, Crayton, howie, Spencer, and Kailani.

Howie got to ride in the tractor with my brother Weston and his daughter Jaynee. He was in hog heaven and even told me the best part was when he would drive super fast! (as fast as tractors can go, he he he). Howie just had an amazing time. There are some aspects about country and farm life that I miss living in the city. Sometimes I wonder how am I going to raise decent children without the value of hard work learned on the farm.

I will post Thanksgiving events later as this post is getting pretty long. Thanksgiving afternoon, after fully stuffing myself, I drove to Burley to spend the night with my brother Wade and his family. Howie hasn't visited them for a long time. It was very nice to have him get to know those cousins better. Angela, it was nice to spend some time with you when Wade got up early and hit the black friday sales. Lorian, Howie, Olivia, and Lucy. Lydia was asleep.

Howie got to help Wade feed some baby calves. You can tell by the look on his face, it wasn't something he liked. He got pretty scared and bailed quickly. I was raised on a farm, but my son is definatley a city slicker.We got home late Friday night. Needless to say, it has been a wonderful three weeks filled with family and friends. But, daddy is glad to have us home. Thanks for letting us take off and leave for so long.